Francesca's eyes lit up when they reached the entrance of Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, her eyes eagerly scanning over all the flavour options. Reaching the counter, the witch wasted no time ordering.

"Good afternoon Mr Forterscue!" she greeted, resting her arms on the counter.

"Well, if it isn't Francesca," Florean heaved a hearty welcome, " Looking as radiant as ever, might I add."

Blushing under the praise, Francesca couldn't help but giggle at Remus' reaction to Florean's boisterous ways. Though he wasn't safe either as Mr Fortescue tackled him with a hug when he realised who it was.

"My God, I nearly forgot the day I last saw you here, Remus Lupin. Running about with that group of yours, acting the maggot!"

Awkwardly returning the gesture, Remus scratched the back of his neck, "Don't worry, Mr Fortescue, I'll be on my best behaviour."

Florean waved him off," You always were! Keeping your friends in line, but sure, it was only harmless fun."

"He's a professor now in Hogwarts!" Francesca added with a cheeky smile.

"Fair play to you, my boy!" Florean exclaimed, catching him in another hug.

Soon after their conversation, Florean hurried around back to get their orders on the house for his prized customer. Snagging one of the tables, Francesca relished her ice cream, savouring every scoop. The pair looked mad sitting in the cold eating ice cream from an onlooker's perspective, but it was a secret tradition.

Eating a scoop, Francesca tilted her head when she saw Remus chuckling away to himself," What's so funny?"

"You-you have ice cream all over your lip!"

Francesca blushed profusely, quickly rubbing her mouth with her sleeve to no avail, "Really?"

"Here, let me just-"Reaching over the table, he delicately wiped the cream off her top lip, locking eyes with the witch.

As he was doing so, Francesa's heart was doing somersaults. She'd never noticed how beautiful his eyes were, how you could get lost in them for days trying to find the answer that lay beneath them. When too much time passed, Francesca internally cringed as she adverted her eyes elsewhere.

"So, Mr Fotescue is still quite the character," Remus broke the silence.

Gazing at the scarce passer's-bye, Francesca put down her ice cream, "That's one way to put it, but I suppose he hasn't had it too easy either. He buried his son two months ago."

"Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry," Remus offered his condolences, placing a hand on hers.

Francesca felt a wave of electricity surge through her veins, and like before, pictures played like an old movie on tape in front of her eyes. 

"Thanks so much for helping us move, Henry," Francesca thanked him, unpacking a box of plates.

"Anything for you, darling,"  Henry replied with a grin, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Though he didn't get very far when Remus emerged from the bathroom, wielding the toilet brush like a spear," Hey, that's my girlfriend!"

He chased Henry around their flat, duelling fiercely and looking rather handsome in Francesca's opinion when she wasn't doubled over in laughter. She took it upon herself to stop their antics, scurrying between them.

"Francesca! Tell Remus it was only a joke," Henry pleaded, throwing his hands up in surrender as he hid behind her.

"Merlin, you're worse than children, the pair of you!" Snatching the brush of Remus, she began to chase them around, a taste of their own medicine.

"Wait- Wait, peace offering?" Henry suggested.

 Remus nodded along enthusiastically to his idea, both sharing looks of mischief.  Keeping the brush unlowered, Francesca listened intently.

"If we surrender and you lower the brush, I will ask Dad to give you free ice cream for a whole day."

" A week," the witch countered.

Forming a huddle, Remus and Henry deliberated her offer for a few moments, exchanging hushed whispers. Whipping around, it seemed they had made a decision. After their foolery had worn them out, the group decided to reward themselves with some nice cold butterbeer in the Leaky Cauldron.

"You know that ice cream will come out of my paycheck?" Henry complained.

"And that's why we love you, Mr Henry Fortescue!" Francesca giggled, happily drinking her butterbeer surrounded by her best friends. 

"It was hard, but I like to think he's in a better place now," Pulling back her hand, Francesca busied herself with her ice cream.

Noticing she didn't enjoy talking about it, Remus suggested they go on a quick walk back to Flourish and Blotts. 

"Oh! I never asked how your first day of teaching went!" Francesca exclaimed.

Remus replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck, "It went well... I think. The students loved the boggart; I'm just worried about Jack."

Francesca's face soured," It was his father. The boggart?"

Remus nodded his head. 

Francesca remained silent the entire walk home, having a relentless battle inside her head.

 Should she confide in Remus? But it wasn't her secret to share. But he cares for Jack, just like her! Ugh, why was she even talking to herself- well, thinking to herself, it's not like it's solving anything. Wait a minute; this is her head! She could do and believe anything she liked. 

"Great chat, Francesca. Thanks, Francesa," the witch internally cringed at herself, unlocking the door to the flat above Flourish and Blotts.

Looking back, she felt guilty for leaving Remus so abruptly, but there was something she needed to do. Throwing her keys in the ashtray, she hung up her cloak and headed to the kitchen.

"Hey kiddo, whatcha doing?" Francesca asked Jack, sitting at the table covered in scrolls and books.

"Homework. Professor Snape gave us a 12-inch essay, 12 inches!" he complained," The man needs booze, weed, or even just a good bang to get him to be nice!"

"Jack! You shouldn't be talking about Professors like that," she scolded him, "Even if it is Snivillus,"

The pair burst into giggles, something they liked to do often. Since Jack's mother died, the boy didn't have many happy memories, so Francesca made it her life's goal to give him all the happiness and joy in the world she could offer.

"I have a great idea! Why don't you grab your coat, and we'll go to that muggle restaurant you like?" Francesca suggested, seeing as she wasn't the best cook.

Jack's face lit up, " The Chinese one?"

"That's the one!" 

Francesca had never seen Jack tidy up as quickly in her life, putting all his books away and tossing an empty crisp packet in the bin. She smiled to herself, hoping that his mum was looking down on him and Henry was too, as she locked the door behind them.

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- I know it's very late, but here we are! I've just finished my university exams, so I'm hoping between work, I'll be able to update more frequently.

*The_lost_flower*