𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 | 𝐡. 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝟎 - 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐤𝐞

It was a warm and calm evening in the Lupin household.

In the fireplace was a quietly crackling flame which went along with nicely with the cold weather that swirled outside their tiny house, adorning their worn-out jumpers, which overall made the room feel very cosy.

Remus Lupin was sat in his armchair resting, as his monthly night activities had worn him down to exhaustion. But he wouldn't go to bed, not while his daughter Ophelia was still up, though she had told him to go to bed countless times.

He liked being in her company even when he wasn't good company himself, she was very much aware of his condition, but it didn't faze her, never did. She was a very strong-minded individual and stood by what she believed in, meaning that she, at times, could be terribly stubborn, but it also meant she stayed with him nevertheless. While Remus rested, Ophelia was busying herself in the kitchen, baking a carrot cake. His chair was positioned rightly so he could see every move she made; he smiled softly.

Ophelia looked over at her from her view of the kitchen, she did always feel awful seeing her father how he did after each transformation, so she always tried to make it up to him by making him a sweet treat to bring his sugar levels up, she finished the cream-cheese frosting on the cake, she sprinkled a couple of sugared carrot shavings on top as a small garnish before slicing two hearty slices for the both of them.

Stepping into the warmth of the living room, she gently placed the plate down with the fork on the nearest reachable place for her father while she went to fetch the tea that had just finished boiling; quickly pouring them both a cup, she put herself on the floor by his feet. Finding herself getting comfortable as she tucked her legs under herself, without looking, she pulled out the book that she had discreetly tucked under her dad's armchair. Remus felt the warmth of his only daughter leaning against him, forcing himself to open his eyes as he could smell the warm frosting that clung to the air. He noticed that her head was resting ever so gently on his knee; smiling warmly to himself he asked her in a tired but soft voice.

"What's the current read?"

She glanced up from her page and said softly, "Sherlock Holmes."

"Muggle book?"

"Mmm-hmm," she replied, turning the page delicately as she took a sip of her tea.

He then asked, "Who's the author?"

"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."

"Sounds posh," he said with a smirk; she laughed lightly and replied

"He is. He uses words like vehemence and equinoctial."

"Enlighten me, what is this book about? The title seems incredibly familiar, " he asked, his eyes shutting again though he was still awake to hear how she described the story.

A few relaxing moments passed as Remus enjoyed the content nature of his relationship with his dear 'Phelia.

"Carrot cake? You do treat me, and it looks delicious." Remus said amusedly as he rubbed his eyes and looked at his plate.

He noticed a few pieces of chocolate that had been put beside the cake, something he imagined she had picked up from their discussions over the summer about dementors and how chocolate made people just the slightest bit happier. His eyes creased as he smiled fondly down at her.

"Are you looking forward to returning to Hogwarts?" he asked, picking up the slice and taking a bite.

"I suppose it'll be a lot better with you going to work there. But I'm not looking forward to being in potions. I swear Snape hates me. He set us a nasty 10-page essay; I swear sometimes it's like he has it out for me." she ranted quietly, taking a sip of her tea to stop herself from saying things that would be out of character and that would make her dad's hair stand up with how crude it was.