𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, harry potter

one hundred and five

105 || surprise visits

Harry had been off with Adelaide. That much was clear by the zero words he had spoken to her since Slughorn's Christmas Party to where they stood on Platform nine and three quarters. He was going to the Burrow with the Weasley's and Adelaide would be going back home until Christmas Day when she was supposed to be going to the Burrow. She didn't want to.

Another fact, it had now been a year since Marlene McKinnon died. A year since Adelaide broke and almost killed Dumbledore. Her, Sirius and Regulus were going to do a memorial kind of thing. This involved sitting in a circle, drinking and telling stories about the woman. Fun times ahead clearly.

"We will see you all at the Burrow," Sirius said and the three apparated home, "Alright, now tell me Adelaide, what the hell is going on with you and Harry?"

Adelaide sighed, "If I knew I would tell you," She said, "He was fine until Slughorn's party and ever since then he's just given me the silent treatment."

"That's not good," Regulus stated, "I'll have to have a word with him."

"No, you won't," Adelaide quickly interjected, "No way."

The two men looked at each other, "Okay fine. But, while we're all here, we have to go to an Order meeting tonight. I'm assuming you won't want to come to the Burrow, so stay here and don't let anyone in."

She stared at them, she didn't like the fact that they were both in the Order and still doing Dumbledore's dirty work, even after what happened to Marlene, "Fine. I'll just watch a film."

"Good."

Night fell and the two Black brothers flooed to the Burrow, leaving Adelaide alone. Before they left, Sirius and Regulus did a thorough search of the house, checked all the windows and locked all the doors. It was all a bit much to be honest.

Adelaide knew she was going to grab a glass of water, have some chocolate and lie on the sofa for the whole night. That was until she heard a creak.

Instinctively, she reached for her wand that was resting on the side table and paused the film, letting silence fall over the house until there was another creak. It was the floorboards upstairs. Adelaide stood up slowly making no sound, ensuring that if someone was in the house she could get them by surprise.

She pressed herself up against the wall in the kitchen, right by the door that led to the staircase and listened as the creaks got louder until they stopped at the top of the stairs. Adelaide forced herself to breathe quietly, barely breathing at all. It was clear now that someone was in the house, distinct steps sounded down the stairs and Adelaide's wand was held close to her chest.

This person knew Adelaide was waiting, they had to. They were making themselves known to her, it was easy to step quietly down the stairs, and if you wanted to attack someone, you definitely would. She guessed they were about three steps from the bottom now, and when the sound of shoes collided with the wooden floor Adelaide rushed out, grabbing the person by their shoulders and shoving them onto the wall with her wand in their back.

"Hello daughter," The person coughed, "What a welcome, I did tell you I'd find you again, didn't I?"

Adelaide blinked, "Alexis."

"Yeah," The woman said, "I only came to talk."

She applied more pressure, "You can talk here." Alexis reached into her pocket and threw her wand on the floor, "You can do damage without a wand." Adelaide stated.

Alexis nodded, "Sorry about that."

"No, you're not."

"You're right, I'm not." She brought her head back, letting it smash into Adelaide's face and took the moment of weakness to take Adelaide's wand from her, the two now swapping positions, "I want to talk."

Adelaide laughed, "You said enough last time."

"If I remember correctly, we got interrupted," Alexis said, "And I gave you Lucas back, that shows I'm not as cruel as you think."

"No, you're cruel and wicked. You took my cousin for almost a year, allowed Bellatrix to kill my best friend and then stabbed me and left me to die. That's literally the definition of cruel," Adelaide said, struggling to get out of Alexis' grip.

The woman sighed, "I had no part in Lucas Black's capture. I think we both know that even if Theo had gotten out of the Ministry alive, there was no way the Dark Lord would let him live. And I've explained why I had to kill you, but alas, you are alive, so you can't really hold a grudge against me for that."

Adelaide froze, "Are you serious? You're defending your actions as if you're one of the good guys?"

"There are no good or bad guys, this is war, Adelaide," Alexis said, "I believe even you said you'd be willing to do whatever to survive, and that's what I'm doing, surviving."

"You're a psychotic bitch," Adelaide spat, "Surviving and killing people is completely different."

Alexis let go of Adelaide and handed her wand back to her, "Please, can we just have a civil conversation?"

She looked at the wand and took it, leading her mother to the kitchen table where they sat opposite each other, "I know that you know about Malfoy Jr's mission, to kill Dumbledore."

"Yeah, he won't be able to do it," Adelaide said, "He's not strong enough."

Alexis nodded in agreement, "Either way, I want you to stay out of it, and away from the Malfoy boy."

"What does it matter to you?"

"It matters because I don't want my daughter falling into the hands of a man in power," Alexis said, "I want you to use our family's gift in your way, not because someone tells you that you have to. And I include Albus Dumbledore in that too."

"I don't even know how to use it." Adelaide stated.

"It's in you, and when it feels right, the power and ability will come naturally to you," Alexis said.

The blonde girl retreated into her seat, sat in silence.

"I know you don't think I care for you," Alexis continued, "But I do, and I want to protect you."

"I can protect myself," Adelaide stood up, "I don't need you to look after me because I think it's evident that being around you causes pain and suffering. So, I can care for myself."

Alexis sighed, "You're not a hero, Adelaide," she began, "You couldn't even save yourself. Never mind those around you."

Her face dropped and her mind went back to the ministry, "What?"

"You're a child." The woman said harshly, "I don't care how much you've been through, that doesn't make you a soldier to a war."

"I didn't get a choice in that," Adelaide snapped, "Because of you. My family. Myself. I'm a target, there might as well be a big fat fucking red circle on my back saying kill me because that's how I feel. It doesn't matter how old I am, because in the end, there are casualties in war, and no one cares who, neither side."

Alexis sighed, "I tried to help you Adelaide, but if you refuse my support and protection, I can do nothing for you."

Adelaide nodded, "Great, fuck off then."

The woman looked back, "I do hope I'll see you again, preferably alive and not dead."

Once Alexis had left Adelaide sighed and fell back on the sofa. She would not be telling anyone about this.