Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 21: Friendly competition

"We'll be fine, Dad," Nova whispered, wrapping her arms around Remus as leaned against the now empty case-trolley, balancing his weight on it while clutching his cane in his right hand.

They were on platform 9¾, just about to get on the Hogwarts Express. Somewhere in the near distance, Nova could hear Harry walking back over to them, he'd gone to make sure Hedwig was settled and comfortable in the owl department, but Nova knew he really just wanted to give them both time alone to say goodbye. They'd never ask that of him of course, wherever Nova and Remus were, Harry was always welcome, but still she appreciated the thought.

The brunette pulled back from the hug and smiled at her father reassuringly as the bespectacled boy came to a stop beside her. The older man glanced over at the pair of them, then at the train behind, letting the worry unintentionally linger in his golden irises.

"Be careful, if you have to come home... either of you, just write me. I don't care if they don't let me, I'll come get you."

Ever since the incident at the Quidditch World Cup, Remus had been a bit reluctant in sending them back, or even letting them out the house matter of fact. Nymphadora had called him of course, before she'd dropped them off at the burrow where Remus was already waiting, ready to take them home. Between his never letting them out of his sight and Sirius' nervous rambling, they'd barely had a minute to breathe.

Nova softened her features, pulling her lips to the side tenderly, while Harry reached out and pat the man's shoulder. "Don't worry Rem, we'll be safe at Hogwarts," he insisted. Remus sighed dropping his head down before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out two small tableware boxes and handed one to each of them before leaning closer, making sure no one else could eavesdrop on his words.

"Padfoot asked me to give you these... but if they happen to fall into the bin then he doesn't need to know," he mumbled, clearing his throat.

Harry and Nova shared a humorous look before accepting the boxes, opening them to see a bunch of lumpy-lopsided cookies.

The brunette smiled to herself fondly and placed the lid back over. "Tell him we loved them and we'll be expecting more when we return," she beamed.

Harry furrowed his eyebrows at that from beside her, glancing her way sceptically. "Will we?" he mused, picking one of the cookies up and hitting it against the side of the box, it was rock solid.

Nova gave him an unhappy look and nudged his side, making him drop the cookie back into the box, where it cracked it half stiffly. Harry pulled a face at the cookie box.

"Yeah we are, and we're going to eat every single one," the brunette said sternly, reaching over and pushing the sides of the younger boys cheeks up into a forced smile before sending a matching one over to her father.

Remus raised an eyebrow, smirking beneath his mustashe at the pair. "Better you than me," he mumbled, rubbing at his chin.

Nova shook her head in a false sense of detest as her father and Harry shared a chuckle, and then he leaned forward to kiss the side of her head, waving them both off as they stepped onto the train.

-

The train compartment was already pretty full when they made their way inside. Hermione was in one corner of a compartment, reading over a newspaper article about the recent quidditch attack. Nova tried to wave to her from the glass outside but she didn't seem to notice as she turned the page with a worried expression.

The twins stood in the corridor outside the carriages pestering Magnolia. The pink-haired girl in question had her arms crossed, leaning against the wall glumly.