"When can I see dad again?"
I looked at Leah as we sat on a bench in Diagon Alley after I bought her some ice cream.
"We've talked about this, baby." I said, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"But I miss him." She sighed and sunk into her seat, continuing to eat the ice cream.
"I know you do."
I hated every part of this. I knew how much Leah adored her father.
I had made up my mind. I was cutting him out of our lives, no matter how much it hurt her.
It was what was best. I had already seen the way Elsie hurt because of Malcolm continuing to disappoint and Leah had been through enough in her life. She didn't need to experience her dad disappoint her over and over again.
"You know I love you, right?" I asked, causing her to look at me with a smile.
"I love you too, mum."
I smiled at her.
"I was thinking we could go see George at work." I said. "Once you've finished your ice cream, of course."
Leah shrugged.
"I guess we could do that."
"You don't sound too excited?"
She let out a heavy sigh before she turned on the bench to face me.
"It's just... I want you to love dad." She said. "He loves you so why don't you love him?"
"It's not that simple, Leah. I did love your dad once but—"
"Did he hurt you badly?"
I nodded.
"He did."
"I'm sure he didn't mean to!" She said. "I'm sure he'll apologise if you just hear him out."
I looked at Leah for a moment. The way she looked at me with her puppy eyes, so full of hope.
She didn't understand the seriousness of a relationship like the one I had with Malcolm, how dangerous it was and that concerned me.
She needed to know these things. She was going off to Hogwarts soon and while I would be there doing the day, I couldn't be around to protect her constantly.
"Leah, I need you to promise me that if you ever get a partner who lays a hand on you, tries to change you or control you in any way, you come to me."
She nodded.
"Okay." She said. "Even if he loves me?"
"Leah." I said, my tone turning more serious. "If he hits you, he doesn't love you."
"But dad loves you."
"He doesn't. Your dad just doesn't like the fact that he's not in control of me." I said. "You don't lay a hand on the people you love."
Leah shrugged and slid off the bench as she had finished her ice cream.
"Can we go now?" She asked, and I nodded at her before I grabbed the many bags and stood up.
Leah led the way towards George's shop, walking in her own world while looking around Diagon Alley which was packed at the moment.
I kept an eye on Leah, making sure not to lose her in the crowd, which I didn't.
She pushed open the door to the shop, holding it for me as I walked through.
"Leah can you help me out with some of these bags?" I asked, but Leah had already made her way to the other end of the shop to where George stood.
I watched as he pointed towards his office with a smile and Leah then happily walked in there.
George's eyes met mine and he smiled while I walked over.
"How did the shopping go?" He asked, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me close so that he could kiss me.
"Well, I've got my hands full." I said, looking down at my hands, and George chuckled as he took half of the bags.
"C'mon. I think Leah will be happy with what I've got for her." He said and followed me into the office.
Leah was sat on the sofa by a white box full of what looked like products from the shop.
"I see you found them." George said as we put down the bags before he closed the door behind him.
Leah looked at him.
"What is it?"
"Well, it's different things we've been selling over the years. These are from last season. We don't sell them anymore — not because there's anything wrong with them, but because we came up with new ideas." George explained to her as she went through the different things. "They we're going to be thrown out but I was wondering if you could use them."
Leah glanced up at him before she picked up an item and turned it over in her hands, looking at it.
It was a snow globe with some tiny house inside of it and a spray on top. I had seen it around the shop before.
"That's the Weasley's snowstorm." George explained. "It sprays magical snow that never runs out."
"What's this house?" She asked as she looked carefully at it.
"The shrieking shack. You've heard of that, haven't you?"
"That's the shrieking shack?" I asked and walked closer.
I crouched down by the sofa and Leah showed it to me.
Inside of the globe was a very small model of the shrieking shack. Completely identical to the real one.
"What's this?" Leah asked and picked up another item which was a box that contained something.
"It's called the peace disturber. They're fireworks."
Leah's eyes widened.
"Cool!" She exclaimed but at the same time, I grabbed the box from her hands.
"That is not happening." I said and gave the box to George. "We're not having our house blown up."
Leah shrugged and grabbed a third thing which was a tall jar, the lid shaped as an umbrella.
"Weasleys wet weather." George nodded. "It causes artificial rain."
Leah looked at him, then at me and then back at George before she put it down and moved away from the box, folding her arms over her chest.
"Leah?" I asked, exchanging a glance with George.
"You don't have to take them." He assured her. "It was just an offer. If you don't want them, I'll just throw them out."
Leah turned to look at him again, staring at him with a rough expression on her face.
"You are not my dad." She said. "So stop acting like you are."
George who had been in the middle of moving the box, straightened up while I unfolded my arms from my chest.
"Leah..." I said hesitantly.
"Just because Elsie sees you as one, doesn't mean that I do." Leah continued. "I already have a dad and he is much better than you!"
"That is enough!" I raised my voice, causing Leah's head to snap in my direction. "I understand that you miss your dad, but that gives you no right to speak to George like that. He is not at fault for—"
"No, it's your fault!" She yelled at me. "You need to get back together with dad!"
"Leah, that is not happening."
"Why do you have to ruin everything?!" She yelled. "Dad told me why you left him! You don't want us to be happy!"
I took a deep breath.
"When did you speak to your dad?"
Leah shrugged.
"It doesn't matter. You're only with George because he brainwashed you." She said. "That's what dad says. George is one of the bad guys!"
