"If you're the lord, what does that make me? The lady?"
The war is over and all seems to be going minimally well until everything comes crashing back down for Adhara to the point where she would trade her existence to fix everything that had gone wr...
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Lord Lestrange took the book unbidden from his brother's hands, opened it and cleared his throat, preparing to read the next chapter, but before that could happen, they appeared. Helio and Cassiopeia.
And Adhara for the first time gripped her father's hand tightly as she looked at the little girl.
"I think we're a little late, Helio," Cassiopeia whispered as she saw that someone already had the book open. "Nice to meet you all, my name is Ai Cassiopeia Kisaragi," she introduced herself, smiling from ear to ear as she gave a quick bow.
"Helio Asteri Malfoy, at your service," the man introduced himself as he smiled at his family.
Cassiopeia gave him a gentle nudge to come towards them as she walked towards Adhara, or tried to, as she decided to disappear.
"I guess it wasn't a good time," she muttered somewhat disappointedly as she watched Thomas leave the Great Hall to find her. "I guess I came at a bad time, do you mind if I sit here?" she questioned, approaching Severus and Regulus.
They both agreed and she sat between them.
No one was sure what to do. They never imagined Adhara would run off like that.
∞
"Are you all right," Thomas asked cautiously as he approached Adhara.
It was clear to him that if she was fleeing anywhere in Hogwarts, the Astronomy Tower was the most likely place. The wind was blowing hard, but that was probably her doing.
"I'm scared," she admitted without looking at him, "I don't know if I can face this version."
"You're her little sister."
"I was the sister of the Ai who gave me a name, not the one who I don't even know if she started thinking about what to call me when she gained my trust."
"She loves you," Thomas said, wrapping his arms around her waist. "She loves you like Lucien loves you, like Aelia loves you, like Egan loves you, like everyone loves you. She loves you and will love you as much as you do, but not as much as I love you," he murmured, kissing her scalp.
"Don't make this about you, Grandpa," she giggled looking up at him with a smile before kissing him. "Thank you. I love you," she confessed before pulling away.
Or try to, for Thomas was not prepared to let her go so easily after that long-awaited declaration.
He would not be able to enjoy her closeness at the next readings, so he had to make the most of it now.
∞
Adhara and Thomas returned to the Great Hall after about ten minutes.
Calmer, she sat back down in her seat. She didn't say anything and Ai didn't try either, there was nothing to worry about. Ai always gave her space when she needed it and now she really needed it.
