The Hidden One

26. hospital visits

Rose was waiting downstairs, trying to hear what her godfather and father were saying. She stood up and was about to storm up the steps when Remus exited her room. The pair just stared at each other, Moony purposefully taunting her.

"Well?!" Rose yelled.

"We're all good," Remus said with a laugh. "Your dad was able to get you a ticket to the Quidditch World Cup so you can write to Ron and see if the offer is still on the table."

"So I can see Harry! And the others of course," Rose said, adding on the last part as her godfather sent her a look.

"Yes, you can see Harry," Remus said, enunciating Harry's name to show his displeasure at the girl being so excited to see him, despite the fact that the Mauraders had all decided that they were going to make sure that Harry and Rose got married before Rose was even born and Harry wasn't even one. And he knew more than she did about her relationship with Harry and her future, so he couldn't really be upset.

"And Hermione and Ron and probably Cedric," Rose said, trying to cover up for herself.

"You know, your dad would probably kill any boy that looked at you other than Harry...maybe even Harry."

"You guys are crazy," Rose groaned. Remus snorted and turned around, looking through the pantry for dinner ideas. Sirius had kindly put some money into Remus' bank account as a way to thank him and also to make sure that his daughter was eating healthy.

"What do you want for dinner?" Remus asked.

"Ummmm... I don't know. Maybe some chicken and dumplings," Rose suggested.

"I think that can work. How about you go write that letter?" Remus said. Rose nodded and raced up to her room to grab paper, coming back down in record time. Remus was glad that she didn't really hold grudges and was pleasantly surprised at how kind she was being.

"Oh! I've got to tell them that you're not a giant home-breaking douchebag!" Rose exclaimed. Remus choked on the chips he was eating.

"You told them?" He asked, reaching for a glass to drink some water. Rose nodded her head quickly, not looking up from the letter she was rapidly writing.

"Oh, yes, of course!"

"Rose! That was private!"

"Oops," Rose said with a smirk that matched her dad's. Remus turned back to the chicken and dumplings he was making, realizing that all her friends now thought he was a bad person.

"You know... your dad left it up to you if you want to meet your mother or not," Remus mentioned, trying to sound casual. Rose was silent for a few minutes, acting like she didn't really care as she sent her owl away with a letter to Ron.

"I want to meet her," Rose whispered. Remus nodded and cleared his throat, trying to get rid of the tears in his eyes and the tightness in his throat.

"Ok, we'll go tomorrow and then you'll leave the next day for the Quidditch World Cup. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good.... Thank you, Moony," Rose said, giving him a hug from behind. Remus quickly turned around and gave her a full hug.

Unfortunately, neither had been paying attention to the soup on the stove, and it blew up behind them as they hugged. Remus quickly tugged Rose down and shielded her, thinking that they were being attacked. The pair looked at each other with wide eyes as they realized what happened. Laughter quickly filled the small house.

"Takeout?" Remus asked once they were done laughing.

"Yep," Rose replied with a small giggle. "Sounds good."