a/n: unedited and unread for now cause i'm too tired so i'll do it tmrw! so if you see many mistakes no you didn't  ;)

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CLAUDIA WOKE UP DUE TO SOMEONE POKING HER CHEEK. She opened her eyes, fully prepared to glare at whoever was in front of her, but she couldn't do it for the life of her as she spotted Ella's smirky little face looking at her.

"It's noon," she said. "You better get your ass up before mom notices you're still sleeping."

"It's my house," Claudia said with a yawn, turning around and burying her face in the decorative pillow she had rested her head on all night in that uncomfortable couch. "My rules."

"She's still a mom even if she isn't your mom," said Ella. "And why the hell did you sleep on the couch of all places anyway? And where did you disappear to last night? Were you drunk?"

Claudia groaned, finally sitting up and giving Ella an ashamed look, "I wish I was drunk. That would've made it all a whole lot easier."

Ella narrowed her eyes slightly at her, nodding understandingly even though she had absolutely no idea what Claudia was on about.

"So, it was a rough night to say the least?"

"The roughest," Claudia sighed. "That's why I slept here. Wanted to annoy all human contact, even if Regulus is an acceptable person."

"Is 'acceptable' all I get?" Regulus, who was suddenly walking into the room with a napkin in his hand, asked. "You better be nicer or I'll divorce you."

"Please, you wouldn't divorce me if I was the world's biggest prat," Claudia said with a small smile.

"Which is exactly what you are, my cheater of a wife."

Her face fell, "It's too soon for that joke, Reg."

He chuckled, very aware of how her lips twitched upwards slightly as soon as she finished her sentence. "It is. But you still found it funny, Dia."

She rolled her eyes, that smile on her face growing as  Ella looked between the two with a confused look on her face.

"Okay, you better fill me in on what happened last night before I lose it!" She exclaimed, looking at Claudia with wide eyes. "Did you have sex?"

"No!"

"Were you about to have sex?"

"Merlin, no!"

"No?" Regulus asked with a raise of his eyebrows. "Surely you were close-"

"We only kissed, nothing else!"

Ella gasped, "So you did get some action! That's my girl! Who was it?"

"Remus," Claudia said, crashing back down onto her pillow with a groan as Ella grimaced.

"So...you kissed your ex?"

"Yes."

"Well, we've all been there," Ella shrugged, patting Claudia on her back. "As long as it didn't mean anything."

"Which is exactly what it did," said Claudia. "It always means something when it's the two of us. Merlin, I wish I was dead."

"Don't get all depressed," said Ella.

"It's kind of difficult when he still loves me and I still love him and he kissed me about twenty minutes after he had kissed another girl who probably hates me right now and is plotting my murder, and who also is a beautiful girl who I literally cannot measure up to because she's a model and I look like a mouldy asparagus and-"

Regulus snorted, "What the hell does a mouldy asparagus look like?"

"Like me," Claudia sighed. "Like a stupid idiot who messes everything up-"

"And who definitely just needs to take a breath and chill," said John, who too was in the room by now alongside David and Cora. "Holy shit, you look like a raccoon."

"Which is far better than a mouldy asparagus I hope," said Regulus as Claudia rubbed her eyes, that were covered in mascara hence John's comment.

"Got boy problems, honey?" Cora asked, walking forwards with a comforting smile.

"Nah, she's got life problems," commented John, who was met by several glares from his family.

"So he still loves you?" Ella asked.

"Well, that's what he said. But, then again he was also kissing another girl just moments before, so."

"What a slut."

"Tell me about it, Ella," said Regulus.

"Let's just unpack all of this, yeah?" Said Cora. "What happened?"

"Remus, my ex, kissed me," Claudia said quietly.

"And what about the other girl you were talking to just now?"

"Her name's Tallulah," she began. "She has the prettiest name and the prettiest face, and she should hate me because she seems to like him and all I do is show up and ruin that for her."

"Have you ever actually spoken to her properly?"

"Not really, no."

"Then you can't know a thing," said Cora. "I bet she's pretty, but if that boy loves you a pretty face won't change that."

Claudia sighed, "He said that."

"Said what?"

"That he still loves me."

"Then Tallulah is not someone you're supposed to be worried about," said Ella. "Well, I do think you should worry about her since Remus was acting like a complete ass, but you don't have to worry about him liking her, I think."

"I know," Claudia sighed. "I hate him for what he did."

"So do I," said John. "Told him I'd hate him forever if he did something bad."

"You met him?"

"Yes," he nodded. "He was one nervous guy, that's for sure. But he looks like I imagined...but with more scars."

"Well, you don't have to hate him forever," said Claudia, avoiding the topic of his scars.

"I also told him I would make sure that he never saw you again if he hurt you."

"That's my decision to make."

"I know," John nodded. "But I will still hate him forever."

"I know," Claudia said with a small smile. "So will I. But I will also probably always love him, which fucks the whole hating-him thing up."

"You still love him?" Asked Regulus.

"I do. I know you always said that I'm supposed to make sure I don't fall in love with him again...but I never really fell out of love in the first place, Reg. I just didn't know how to admit it to anyone, let alone myself."

"I know," he said, taking her hand and squeezing it comfortably. "Just be careful, alright?"

"Yeah, and don't blame yourself," said Ella. "It was all him last night. Everything was his fault."

Claudia shook her head, "I kissed him too. We mustn't blame him when all he does is try his best. He messed up, sure, but so did I. And...and I think we need to distance ourselves from each other again because it never turns out right anyway. It's just a disaster waiting to happen."

Regulus nodded, fully prepared to give her some encouraging words before something else caught his attention.

Two people. Coming out of their fireplace. Covered in floo-powder.

Nicolas started coughing like crazy for he had choked on some of the powder as Rosamund watched him with no sense of worry nor amusement on her face, patting her husband awkwardly on his back as if it was a chore of hers.

"Uh...hello," said John, who was sharing several confused glances with David. "Who are you?"

"Rosamund Chang," said the girl, nodding politely at him as Nicolas recovered.

"And you?"

"I'm Nicolas," said the boy, sending everyone a forced smile.

He was in a good mood that day, it seemed.

"Claudia's stepbrother," he continued, causing her family to nod wearily for they had no idea who was who of the two blonde brothers who had played two completely different roles in Claudia's life all at the same time as they had been the same.

"What're you doing here?" Asked Claudia with a frown, finally standing up properly.

"Are you alright?" Nicolas asked, ignoring her question since she looked a mess.

"I'm fine," she said quickly. "What're you doing here?"

"You're traitors," Rosamund said in a blunt tone.

"We're what?"

"Traitors," she repeated, looking at Claudia with no expression whatsoever on her face. "You're betraying the Dark Lord."

"Uh..."

"Get out," said Cora sternly, hiding the worry she felt. "Now."

None of Claudia's relatives understood what was going on. All they knew was that the situation could be a trap of some sort, and that Claudia and Regulus were possibly in danger of the Dark Lord knew something about it.

And, they also understood that the two people in front of them definitely weren't the nicest ones they could find.

"Wha-"

"Hang on," said Regulus, nodding assuringly to Cora. "What're you on about?"

"Last night," said Nicolas. "When Rosamund' grandmother had a vision...you reacted as if you knew something about what she said. And we realised that that must mean that you have something to do with it, or otherwise you wouldn't have been so urgent on writing everything down and asking so many questions. So, we were wondering if we could help you out."

Claudia looked at Regulus, "The hell is he on about?"

"Uh..." Regulus said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I have something to tell you all."

"What's it about?"

"Uh...the secret."

Claudia shook her head, "No."

"No?"

"No."

"What?"

"No!"

"We just want to help you, Claudia," said Nicolas. "I promise."

"Promises aren't exactly your best league, Nicolas," said Claudia slightly bitterly. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"Because you can," he said in a tone of begging.

Claudia looked at him for a moment, before turning to Regulus again without another word.

"Let's talk outside, Regulus," said Claudia, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the door, before turning back to the strange mix of individuals left standing in the room. "Stay here. And don't murder one another, please."

"Why would we do that?" Asked John with an amused smile, that fell the minute Claudia sent him a pointed look and disappeared out the door, dragging Regulus with her.

As the two disappeared, nothing but silence washed over the group of people who were all just standing awkwardly, suddenly very aware of how weird standing up was.

"So..." said John, who had decided to make it less awkward. "Which brother are you? Idiot one or idiot two?"

"John!"

"That depends on which idiot is which," said Nicolas.

"Well, idiot one is more of an ass, I suppose."

"You've got to give me more than that."

"Idiot one is older..."

"Then I'm idiot two," said Nicolas.

John took a breath of relief, "Thank god you're the nicer one."

Nicolas nodded awkwardly, looking at Rosamund who was merely judging Claudia and Regulus' drawing room.

"So...uh, were you two at the wedding last night?"

"Yes," said Rosamund. "Henry is my twin-brother."

"Interesting," said John. "He's a nice guy, for sure."

Rosamund said nothing to that, she merely nodded absentmindedly as she continued to look around the room.

"Do you two like mac and cheese?"

"Okay, so," said Claudia in a loud voice as she and Regulus arrived back inside. "How about we talk over some tea, yeah?"

☾

Claudia poured Rosamund some tea, and was met by a pair of very weary eyes.

"I'm not going to poison you," Claudia said amusedly. "That's your thing."

Rosamund nodded, "I know. Good."

The Americans shared confused glances as Claudia sat back down and switched her tea with Rosamund's.

"There you go," she said. "Nothing to worry about."

Rosamund nodded, taking the first sip of her tea as Regulus cleared his throat.

"So, uh...I guess we need to start with some basic ground rules. Number one, everything we say in here is confidential. And I mean it. If any of you tell anyone I will murder you."

Nicolas laughed slightly, and on an instant he became painfully aware of how he was the only one doing so, which only made him shut up again and awkwardly nod.

"Okay."

"Does everyone promise they won't tell a thing?"

"Yes," they all chorused.

"You two?" Asked Claudia, looking at Rosamund and Nicolas. "Will you tell anyone about this?"

"No," they said, and Claudia recognised that look of suspicion of Rosamund's face immediately.

"And will you promise to help if that's what you wanted to do?"

"Yes."

"Alright," said Regulus. "Good. Now that that's covered, I think I need to start explaining to you two what's happening."

Regulus took a nervous breath, and soon enough Nicolas and Rosamund knew all about the locket, the fact that it was a so-called Horcrux and that Claudia and the others were going to try to defeat the Dark Lord.

It may have seemed stupid to tell them the truth, considering that they were Death Eaters and all.

But, there was no chance in hell Claudia and Regulus hadn't thought their actions through.

"And that's that," said Regulus, finish off the first explanation. "Which brings me to what happened last night."

"What?" Asked Cora.

"When I was sitting down at our table, and Claudia was away with...when Claudia wasn't there, Rosamund and Henry's grandmother had a vision."

"She is a seer," said Rosamund, sipping on her tea again despite her suspicions.

"And she had a vision," Regulus repeated, pulling out the napkin he had written it all down onto out of his pocket. "'They have betrayed his trust and will meet their fates together. One in familiar halls, one in a different land, one amongst treasures of generations and one below where the eye spots. But don't be fooled, innocent blood will be spilled. Some traitors will meet their unfortunate fates and some will see the light of day!m. But they shall attempt to restore the calm.'"

"What?"

"That's what she said when she had her vision," Regulus explained. "And I think...I mean, I don't know for sure, but I think that maybe, just maybe..."

"What?"

"That there's more than one Horcrux," he said, looking straight at Claudia. "Think about it. You and I are the traitors she talked about. We're trying to restore the calm. The peace. And then...one in familiar halls, one in a different land, one amongst treasures of generations and one below where the eye spots. I think these are-"

"Locations," said Claudia. "Holy shit, you might be right. What do you think, David?"

"I think that it's actually highly reasonable," he said. "The Dark Lord doesn't take me as someone who wouldn't try, at least."

"So that means that..."

"That means that we have a whole lot more to find," said Ella. "Fun!"

Regulus chuckled, "I wouldn't know about that. She also said that innocent blood will be spilled. That we'll meet separate fates. Maybe..."

"Maybe...?"

"Maybe we should just leave it," he said quietly, and it was clear to everyone else that he was ashamed to say it. "It will be dangerous if we tried. I mean, both Claudia and I almost died when we found the first one. It's bound to get even harder than that."

"We have to try," said Claudia. "We have to."

"Someone needs to end it," said Nicolas. "I'm in...I want to help if that's alright with you."

Claudia nodded, and Nicolas was extremely surprised that she seemed so okay with it all of a sudden.

"I'm also in," said Ella. "Like I said, fun!"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," said John.

"Well, if my daughter's doing it I need to make sure she behaves, so," said Cora. "I'm in."

"And I don't think you'll get on without me so," said David with a grin.

"The same goes for me," Claudia smiled.

"I am in as well," said Rosamund. "However-"

"Well, I don't like being left out so I'm in as well," Regulus said finally, returning the small little smile Nicolas gave him. "Guess we have a project on her hands now, huh?"

"Yeah. Good," said Claudia. "Now-"

"I have a question," said Rosamund.

"Yeah? So do I," said Claudia with a smirk. "Actually, I have several questions."

"What?"

"Rosamund, who is prettier, me or Regulus?"

"You."

"And do you love your brother?"

"More than anyone on earth."

"And is Cho cute?"

"She's perfect."

"And, Nicolas?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you tell people is your favourite band?"

"The Broomsticks."

"And what is your actual favourite band?"

"Queen."

"And what did you do the first time you met me?"

"I hugged you," he said, and as soon as those words left his mouth he knew what was happening, for that was something he never would've told a soul on a normal occasion.

"And do you regret doing so?"

"No," he said, smiling faintly at her as she smirked proudly at him. "Veritaserum, huh? Good idea, though. To make sure we weren't trying to trick you. Surprised we didn't notice sooner."

"Speak for yourself," Rosamund mumbled.

"Wait," said Ella. "You used Veritaserum? Is that even legal?"

Claudia and Regulus shrugged as they clinked their glasses together, "Oops."

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