𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 ━ Golden Trio Era

━chapter 3

Chapter 3
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"ARE YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE?"

"Positive."

When Hermione showed up at their cottage that morning, Harry had been hopeful. But now, with every word that poured out of her friend's mouth, doubt and guilt started to claw him out from the inside.

"But why?"

Harry didn't understand. Sirius was proven innocent. Sirius was now free. He had custody of both him and Adhara. Adhara could now leave Aleyne. Sirius could now go and get her.

So why wasn't she here?

"If she wanted to leave, she'd already be here. Instead of ignoring all of our letters," supplied Hermione.

That confused Harry even more. It just didn't make any sense.

"But she hates it there! Even I hate it there! It's the same for me as with the Dursley's! She normally takes any opportunity she can take to leave the place. Now that she can permanently leave, why wouldn't she?"

Hermione slowly shrugged, her arched brow making her look somewhat calculating and suspicious.

They were both in Harry's bedroom. A real, actual bedroom at Lupin Cottage and not some run-down storage room they shoved a broken bed in. Harry's bed, a double, was placed in the corner, beside the window. A night table at his side, and a desk at the foot. There was a bookshelf on the other side. Empty it may be for now, but it was full of a promise to be filled up to the brim.

Harry only got here two days ago, and it still all felt like a dream. He has yet to unpack, not that he has much stuff to begin with, but the first thing he did when Sirius and Professor Lupin left him alone was owl Hermione.

And now, here they were, on the floor, summer homework sprawled across the rug because Hermione knew Harry wouldn't touch his without her prompting. But all of Harry's attention was stolen by their conversation, instead.

After all, Adhara was much more important than a DADA essay.

"Maybe she isn't comfortable around her uncle yet. After all, until recently, she thought he was a murderer."

"So did I. And Adz' more capable of adjusting to new situations than I am."

"Yeah but did Sirius ever refuse to take you in?"

Harry froze.

"He didn't want her, Harry. She knows that. Maybe she's still bitter about it, rightfully so."

"Yeah but —" Harry's mouth opened and closed with unspilled words.

He didn't know what to say. He's brought her up to Sirius and Professor Lupin multiple times already, but both have been weirdly dismissive. In fact, the latter even became downright upset at the mention of her.

But that — it just didn't make sense? After all, Sirius brought Harry here, so why wouldn't he bring his actual niece home?

Harry couldn't enjoy living with Sirius and Professor Lupin while his sister was still stuck at that awful place.

"She can't — Hermione, she can't stay there anymore! Adhara just can't!"

He stood up abruptly, letting the parchment fall off his lap. "Aleyne sucks. That Matron — I — I'm fairly sure she never said anything to you but you're smarter than all of us 'Mione. Surely, you must've noticed something was off!"

Hermione's brows furrowed, looking even more calculating than before. "Yes. Millie and I both, actually. Specifically, about her gloves. But, Harry. You're giving me too much credit. I'm not as smart as you're making me out to be. I've definitely missed a lot of things."