Remus shuddered as he and Sirius trudged through the forest toward the cottage in the distance he was not looking forward to doing this but he knew his friend needed a better place to hide, at least until he was in better health and able to move better. The poor man was weak and wounded. The escape from Azkaban had taken everything from Sirius, not to mention the run in they had not to long ago with Pettigrew.

Remus had left the school and found Sirius hiding in a small cave, trying to get what rest he could before he moved on, at the time the man was barely able to stand. The werewolf knew he needed to help his friend and find a better place to keep him, thankfully he was good friends with the perfect person to take care of him just for the time being.

The sky had clouded over with darkness, stars glittered brightly some more so than others and the once full moon stood prominently within the sky sending only minimal light to the forest floor below. The once mild cold had now turned into a harsh biting breeze cutting into the men like a knife, it made the thought of walking into the warmly lit cottage that was slowly approaching all that much more exciting.

The cottage they stood before was nestled within a small patch of forest far on the outskirts of a nearby town, it seemed peaceful here, a perfect place to hide Sirius until he was in better health.

Remus held his breath as he tapped on the door, he knew that the person on the other side would not take kindly to this intrusion. Yet he waited. Making sure to check back to Sirius who clung desperately to buck beak, his eyes barely staying open. The injuries he had weren't to bad but the attack from the dementors had taken most of his energy.

The door thankfully creaked open after a moment slowly and a woman with a peachy face decorated in a few brown birth marks peaked out, her green eyes wide as she scanned the three before her with a mix of shock and confusion..

"Are you trying to get me killed?" She snapped anger and fear taking over her face.

Remus quickly stepped closer. "Adelaide. Please listen to me, what I told you, its true." he explained. "Sirius is innocent, Harry was a witness to this, Pettigrew disguised himself as a pet rat and had hid with the Weasley family."

Adelaide looked over the men suspiciously. "Remus you know I would love to help you but I just haven't got the time for this trouble, I already have enough on my hands." she sighed.

Another biting cold wind blew past them, she shuddered and looked to Sirius who leaned closer to Buck-Beak, his form was noticeably weak and wounded, with barely any clothing on him. The poor man was close to death. Adelaide felt the guilt slowly creep in, she once loved his man and if Remus promised his innocence and Harry was a witness who was she to deny him help?

With a tired sigh the woman opened the door further, revealing her bloated stomach covered in a long nightdress. "Take the bird round the back. There's a shed he can stay in." she sigh. "I'll help Sirius."

Clutching her Lilac night robe that draped over her shoulders the woman rushed over to Sirius, carefully pulling his arm over her shoulder. Remus quickly tended to Buck-beak, taking the bird around to the back of the house where a fenced off back garden lay blocked off from the rest of the forest.

Adelaide helped Sirius in and slowly lowered him onto her sofa. "I had a feeling I would see you again Sirius, just not like this." she smiled.

It was fruitless to add light to the otherwise dire situation but she couldn't help it, her comment was however rewarded with a weak chuckle as the man lay back against the pillows. A sympathetic smile hovered at the woman's lips for a moment before she looked around and shuffled over to a seat that was once occupied, it was placed by the fire, a blanket was crumpled on the floor in front of it and an open book lay perched on the arm.

Adelaide picked up the blanket and walked to Sirius, carefully draping it over him. "Get some rest, I'll talk to Remus and make some tea." she hummed softly.

After closing the front door the woman entered the kitchen, just as Remus stepped in from the garden, she turned on the stove then turned to her friend with a disapproving look. Her hands on her hips and her brows raised, like a scolding mother.

"I hope you've thought this plan of yours through Remus." she mumbled, keeping her voice low. A disappointed tone slipping past her lips.

Remus sighed. "Everyone is looking for him, my home is to close to on lookers and he needs a place to rest, you're the closest person I could find." he told her, walking closer and leaning against the counter, tucking his hands into his pockets.

Adelaide sigh and turned, opening up a cupboard to grab some mugs. "Remus I'm hardly in the condition to be playing nurse."

Remus looked to her guilty as she placed down the mugs, her back was turned to him but the tone in her voice left suggestion that she was not happy with the intrusion or the arrangement, just as he had anticipated. But he was desperate, he had no one else he could think to turn to. No one would have believed his story. Adelaide was the closest person to him, the only person he felt he could confide in.

"I know Delia and I'm sorry." He sighed. "But he is as much your friend as he is mine, he is not in the best shape right now and all I ask is you help him."

Adelaide looked to him. "Very well, I'll take care of him." she muttered lifting the now screaming kettle from the stove.

Remus smiled widely and quickly kissed her cheek. "Thank you Delia."

Adelaide smiled softly and shook her head. "I did wish to see you both again, just not like this." she smirked.

"I would have rather this be under better circumstance but im afraid fate took another path." Remus chuckled little.

Adelaide smiled sadly. "Will he be okay?" She asked, nodding her head toward the living-room.

Remus nodded. "He will, he's held on this long, after meeting Harry i'm sure he wouldn't be willing to give up that easily." He chuckled.

The woman finished making the tea and handed her friend his cup, she picked up hers and leaned against the side, rubbing her back softly with her free hand. A moment of silence passed between them before Remus suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder, a guilty look on his face.

"Thank you Delia." He muttered softly. "I know you've got a lot on your hands right now with the baby."

Adelaide warmly smiled, she was annoyed at the situation but she knew that Sirius needed help and to cast him out would be the worst thing she could do especially if Harry knew of his innocence, the poor boy would be eager to see him again once all of this dies down.

"Anytime Remus, just let me know next time."

A chuckle passed the wolfs lips. "Of course, hopefully it will be on a more positive note if we do ever visit again." he smiled before grabbing Sirius's mug and walking to the living room with her in tow.

Sirius was already asleep, exhaustion had taken over and completely consumed him, the blanket covered him completely leaving only his head on show, the light of the fire flickered upon him detailing as his expression as it changed rapidly within his slumber. Switching from a twisted and uncomfortable to a completely relaxed expression. Adelaide placed the mug on the coffee table in front of him and blew out the lantern leaving the dim glow of the fire as the only source of light.

Remus took a seat. "Now, I should tell you what happened." he began, placing the mug on the table and leaning forward, his elbows on his knees.

Adelaide took a seat in her chair and ran her hand softly over her belly. "Yes, you should." she hummed, sipping her drink.

The man then began to tell her the truth, everything that had happened at Hogwarts, from the map to Pettigrew and the hiding that had taken place after words, he spilled it all, relieved to see her focused on every word. Remus knew this all had to be kept quiet, he made sure to explain that to her too and reassured her that with this new evidence, Sirius could be freed.

Remus noticed a few tears form In his friends eyes as he finished up the story, he quickly frowned. "I'm sorry, its horrible to hear but with Pettigrew alive we can set him free."

Adelaide felt a few tears roll down her cheeks. "He went through all of that knowing the whole time he was innocent." she croaked. "and I didn't believe him..."

"He forgives you Adelaide. Believe me."

The clock chimed as the hour soon changed, quickly interrupting the two. Adelaide wiped her eyes dry and composed herself, taking a sip of her warm drink to calm her nerves, her eyes darted over to Sirius as he groaned lowly, his hand gripping the blanket tightly. No doubt the toil he had been through was infecting his dreams. Maybe staying here tonight was a good idea.

"I'll sleep here tonight. Just in case."

Remus finished his drink and got up. "Ill bring some fresh things for him tomorrow." he informed her, walking to the door. "Again, thank you Delia."

Adelaide raised a brow. "Don't think you don't owe me for this Mooney." She huffed, before smiling widely.

Remus laughed and shook his head. "Goodnight Adelaide."

"Goodnight Remus."

With that the man left, leaving the woman alone with Sirius, she settled herself into her seat and stared at the man as he rested, she placed her mug on the table beside her and ran her fingers gently over her pregnant belly. Of all the events to take place this had to be the one. A baby on the way and an ex convict sleeping on her sofa.

The woman chuckled a little. "Who would have thought." She murmured to herself.