106. new year's eve

IT WAS NEW YEAR'S EVE. Claudia found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror, taking a few deep breaths before she would head down and attend the small little New Year's ball that the Potters were holding.

However, after discussing it plenty with a very concerned James, it seemed that the "ball" was more of a formal dinner than a ball.

The Potters had only invited their closest friends this year, and to get that to happen James was forced to tell his parents that Claudia's dad didn't know that she was there, and that she wanted to keep it that way.

Though, that wasn't exactly something that fazed the two at all considering they had for many years been practically smuggling Sirius inside the house so that his parents wouldn't find out.

But, Euphemia and Fleamont did know more about Claudia's home life than James thought they did. There was no denying on that.

The guests that night consisted of the Potters' closest and most loyal friends, as well as Betty, Inez, Pandora, Marlene and Lily. They were all invited mainly for the sake of Claudia, except for Lily of course.

"Are you ready, sweetie?" The brunette girl heard Hope ask from where she and Lyall appeared by the door.

"Yeah, I think so," Claudia replied, straightening out her green dress, which was the very dress Euphemia had bought from that store in London for her.

"You look beautiful," said Hope, nearing her and placing her arms around her almost protectingly. "Absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you," Claudia said with a weak smile.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Lyall concernedly, keeping his distance.

"M'fine, thank you," Claudia said quietly, smiling thankfully at him for asking, but also for helping so much for the past few days.

Ever since the visit in the village life had been strange for the entire household. Everyone knew that someone Claudia knew had killed Alvin - the man who owned a bookstore - but only the Marauders knew that that person was her father.

Claudia didn't take it well. Which wasn't strange, of course. She had watched another life end in front of her and her father was a murderer.

So, the girl had spent most of her time alone in her bed alongside River, eating the meals by the table with the families but not saying much as her thoughts took over.

They really did have a tendency of doing so.

And Remus had spent his past few days looking after her, even if doing so from afar. Giving her chocolate, getting her River and holding her the previous night when she actually came to him after having a nightmare of the same thing happening to him.

The boy was worried out of his mind. And so was everyone else.

Including Lyall and Hope, who had done everything in their power to convince Claudia to come down the stairs that night, both to take her mind off of things and to make Remus smile.

"Let's go then," Hope said in a motherly way, leading her towards the door by her shoulders as Lyall followed.

"I'm sorry, by the way," said Claudia, causing them all to stop. "I haven't been the best guest. Well, I guess maybe I should tell Mr and Mrs Potter that, but what I mean is that I haven't been much fun and-"

"Don't say a word," Hope chuckled, picking up the walk towards and down the stairs again. "Why do you always apologise so much, dear? Nothing's your fault."

If only you knew what they tell me, Claudia thought, her mind tracing back to each and every time the blame for everything had been put on her.

"Sorry," said Claudia.

"Ah, you're doing it again," Lyall spoke amusedly.

"Sorry," Claudia said, and this time around she allowed herself to laugh.

"And there's the infamous laughter we all love," Lyall spoke happily. "Do you hear it, Hope?"

"I do hear it, Lyall," the woman replied with a content smile. "And I think he heard it too."

Remus did hear it. That laugh was almost like an old song he had heard a million times over and loved for years.

It felt like listening to a lullaby he had been sung since he was a child and continued to be sung as he grew up.

And, of course, he knew it belonged to her, which was clear to all of them since he turned around as she came down the stairs with his parents and found himself becoming a nervous mess at the sight of her.

"Y-you're here," he blurted. "I thought you weren't going to, uh, come."

"But she's here now, love," said Hope amusedly, patting him on the back and whispering, "Now's the time you tell her how gorgeous she is."

"I know, mum," he whispered back with a sheepish smile on his face. "I'm just having a hard time forming words right now."

"You can clearly whisper to me, so-"

"But you're not Claudia."

"Are you trying to tell me that I'm not beautiful?!" Hope said in a pretend way of being hurt, the whispering disappearing completely. "I'm your mother, Remus, so you better watch your mouth! You wouldn't have been so handsome if it weren't for me!"

"Are you saying that dad's ugly?"

"Remus!"

"Mum, you're gorgeous," said Remus amusedly, blushing slightly. "Now leave me and my girlfriend alone."

"Alright," Hope sighed, turning to Claudia with an amused smile. "So bossy. Run whilst you can, sweetie."

"Mum!"

"I'm only joking," Hope said innocently, grabbing her husband who was examining a glass of champagne and running off, not forgetting to send Claudia a wink.

"She's insane," Remus sighed, grabbing Claudia by the waist.

"Oh, but I love her," Claudia smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck, and finally looking up into his eyes after laughing at Hope. "Hi."

"Hi," he replied. "You're bloody gorgeous tonight, you know that?"

"I think I do. Otherwise your eyes wouldn't have gone all wide and flickery at the sight of me."

"That's true," the boy said shyly. "But I think they do that every time I see you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I'm positive they do," he said, pecking her softly on the lips. "So you're sure you're okay tonight?"

"I'm having a good day," she shrugged. "And after last night I think I need to be with you instead of being alone."

"Sounds good to me," he chuckled. "But, just a little warning, I might be a bit clingy tonight."

"Then we'll be two," Claudia smiled, not even hiding the way she was clearly checking him out.

Merlin, he's bloody perfect, Claudia thought. With his floppy brown hair, disgustingly warm eyes, scars and perfect hands.

And that bloody white shirt.

"And you're as handsome as always," Claudia smiled, wanting to say more but clearly finding the spot a bit inappropriate considering all her friends had apparently arrived considering all the yelling she heard from next to her.

"Claudia!" Inez exclaimed happily from her right. "Oh my Merlin, I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too, Inez," Claudia smiled, letting go of Remus and hugging the girl. "How was your Christmas?"

"Uneventful," Inez shrugged. "Well, sort of. Come on, and we'll have some girl talk! All of us!"

Inez nodded towards the girls that consisted of Marlene, Betty, Pandora and Lily, who were all clearly in the middle of some sort of freak out as a very content James arrived by Remus' side.

"Ah, isn't it a lovely evening, Moony?" He grinned, draping an arm over his friend's shoulder. "What a way to end the year!"

Claudia shared a confused glance with Inez, who clearly mouthed Lily to the girl, causing her to nod out of understanding.

"Well, Remus, would it be alright if I just go with the girls for a little while?" Claudia asked. "Actually, no, I don't need your permission for that-"

"You don't, lame, but go on," he said amusedly, pulling her closer by grabbing her hand and kissing it like a true gentleman. "I'll save you a seat, okay?"

"Okay," she smiled.

"I'm sensing some real sexual tension between you two tonight," Inez grinned as she and Claudia neared the girls.

"Inez, we're dating," Claudia remarked.

"But there's still sexual tension."

"Between who?" Asked Marlene as they arrived.

"Claudia and Remus," Inez grinned, a grin that only widened at the sight of Lily. "And Lily and Potter it seems!"

"Oh, drop it!" Lily exclaimed. "I only said that he was handsome! Which, by the way, was just me being polite since he told me that I was pretty!"

"I don't think pretty's the right word," Marlene said amusedly. "What was it again? Oh, wasn't it heavenly?"

"He said that?" Claudia questioned, internally groaning over the dramatic boy who was supposed to be playing it cool.

"Yes, and for some bloody reason I responded that he looks handsome!"

"Oh, he's never going to live this down, Lily," Claudia snorted. "Never."

"And did you just curse?!" Marlene asked.

"I said bloody!" Lily scoffed. "Thats not a proper curse word!"

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is!"

"No, it's not!" Lily exclaimed with a sigh, turning to Claudia. "What am I supposed to do now?!"

"Well," Claudia grimaced, turning to the boys and spotting James rambling to a very amused Remus. "Did you mean it when you said it?"

"What?"

"Do you think that he's handsome?"

"Uh...I don't know," Lily confessed. "Oh my Merlin! I can't- No! Not Potter!"

"He is quite handsome," Betty stepped in. "Nothing wrong with thinking so."

"Exactly," Pandora smirked. "I think Lily's attracted to James Potter!"

"No!" Lily scoffed. "Absolutely not!"

"Yes!"

"No! And can we please drop this conversation now?!"

"Nope!"

"Are you guys serious?!"

Claudia snorted.

"What're you laughing for?" Lily questioned as the girl broke into laughter.

"Sorry, it's just every time someone uses that word," Claudia giggled. "Serious. Sirius. Get it?"

"Your humour needs some help," Inez sighed.

"Well, in my defence, I've spent more than a week in this house with boys so I mean-"

"Your humour needed help long before that, darling."

"Whatever," Claudia sighed.

"So, how was your Christmas, Claudia?" Asked Pandora sweetly.

Claudia stiffened as the bad thoughts came back, "It was perfect."

"Then why did you stiffen?" Asked Betty concernedly.

"Just, uh, a death eater attack," she explained. "Remus, his father and I were there. It wasn't good."

The girls didn't say anything further about that, but Inez could tell that Claudia had more to tell of the story as they shared eye contact for a brief moment.

"How about we go sit down with the boys?"

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a/n: we're almost back at hogwarts! just the rest of this night and some more left...

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