CLAUDIA AND REMUS woke up the next day with content smiles on their faces as the beautiful lingering in the air of the events of the night before lived on.

The night during which they had completely melted into one another as nothing but love and passion was shared.

Claudia could honestly say that her first time couldn't have been better.

Remus was so gentle. So kind and assuring and respectful that it nearly caused her to scream at him wondering why he was so perfect.

He cared for her every step of the way and there wasn't a moment during which Claudia felt that she was uncomfortable. There wasn't a moment during which the two didn't care about how the other person felt or how they both could feel good together alongside one another.

And, yes, Claudia would truly say that she enjoyed every minute of it. Maybe she would say that she loved every minute of it.

Because all those times before when people had spoken of sex and similar topics around Claudia, it had been in a way that either made it sound like something people did just to do it or that it was something that never ever could make her feel good about herself.

She wondered if she would ever get something back. But with Remus, that wasn't even a question.

Before, Evan had joked about it around her in a way that indicated that he would one day get to have it with her, and that he one day would get to have that power over her.

That only made Claudia's body feel almost tainted.

But she could never feel tainted around Remus. All she ever felt was loved wholeheartedly, and that was what that night was all about.

Love.

You see, because when Inez had done it with people who weren't Marlene, or Sirius and Betty had done it despite them fading away as a pairing or Evan had joked about it love had not been apart of any of it.

But, when Claudia and Remus found themselves in a new stage, attraction and pleasure weren't the only thing present.

Those things were simply inferior to the love that the two shared.

The way Remus' simple touch always could make Claudia shiver and the way he as a whole could make both her mind and her body tremble called for nothing but a night of both of them feeling good.

Remus and Claudia both fell asleep after; completely entangled in another after soft kisses being left on foreheads and hands.

Hours later, the two woke up. Still entangled in one another and still in the Room of Requirement.

"Morning," Remus whispered as Claudia peeked one eye open and found him already looking at her out of admiration.

She giggled, "Morning."

"Sleep well?"

"Perfect," she smiled. "You?"

"Meh, alright," he shrugged, speaking fairly sarcastically as Claudia giggled yet again.

"Liar," she said, turning around dramatically so that he was facing her back.

Of course, Remus wasn't having that since he sneaked an arm around her waist and brought her so close to his body that there basically wasn't a gap between them, kissing her behind her ear which only caused her to giggle again.

"I lied," he whispered. "I slept perfectly."

"Knew you did."

Remus chuckled slightly, growing silent for a moment before kissing her on the back of her neck. "You sure last night was good?"

"Last night was perfect," Claudia smiled, turning around so that their foreheads nearly touched.

"Really?"

"Really," she whispered. "I wouldn't have had it any other way."

"Good," Remus smiled.

"And how was it for you?"

"For me?"

"Yes, for you," Claudia said seriously. "This was both you and I. I wanted it to be good for you too."

"It was perfect," Remus assured, leaning forward and pecking her softly on the lips. "You're perfect."

"So are you," Claudia giggled.

"No, you are."

"No, you are!"

"No, you are!"

"We both are," Claudia decided.

"Oh, what have we become?" He said dramatically. "One day we were making fun of cheesy couples and the next we're acting even worse."

"It's painful to witness, really," Claudia sighed. "It's such a pity that being cheesy with you is my favourite thing."

"It really is," Remus laughed, growing silent yet again for a moment as he simply just looked at her.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing," he said, his cheeks slightly pink. "I just love you so much."

She smiled sheepishly, "And I love you even more."

"I love you more."

"No, I love you more!"

"No," Remus laughed. "I won't have it, Claudia. I love you more. And now we're being cheesy again, which is disgusting."

She sighed dramatically, nuzzling her face in his chest. "Then let's stop talking before it gets too bad!"

Following her sarcastic request, the two went silent for a while as they took in their final moments before they would get up and face the consequences of taking such a risk as having sex in the Room of Requirement on a Saturday night after being chased around by Filch.

Eventually, though, Remus found himself smiling foolishly back at the girl who was simply just admiring him.

"What is it?" He asked her as she gave him that look.

"Nothing," she said quietly. "I just want to feel like this forever."

"Then let's stay forever," he replied.

She chuckled, "That's a bit impossible, isn't it? Considering how we'd serve detentions for the rest of our lives if anyone knew that we were here."

"That's not what I meant," said Remus. "I meant let's stay like this forever."

"Forever?"

"Yes, forever," he nodded, kissing her softly on the forehead. "Grow old with me."

"Remus-"

"I know what you're going to say," he interrupted. "Don't."

"I wasn't going to say anything like that," she replied quietly.

"You weren't?"

"No. I was going to say that that sounds perfect. Growing old with you, I mean."

"It does, doesn't it?" He said as he grinned like a little child, his eyes gleaming.

"It sure does," she smiled.

•••

All good things must come to an end. That's why Claudia and Remus simply had to eventually leave their little moment of peace and get on with their days; Claudia going to her friends and Remus to his.

Sitting in the Great Hall during lunch, Claudia couldn't help but to think about Remus' touch and the way he had made her feel the night before and...

"Claudia!"

"What?" The girl questioned, answering Inez who wore a face of suspicion as she sat next to her.

"Whatcha thinking about?"

"Homework," Claudia shrugged. "I've got to go get started with my Transfiguration essay in the library after lunch."

"Oh, can I come with you?" Pandora asked.

"Of course," Claudia smiled, tucking some hair behind her hair and causing Inez to choke on her pumpkin juice as she spotted a very interesting mark on Claudia's neck.

Quickly reaching over and pulling Clauida's hair back over the lovebite on her neck, Inez grinned widely.

"What?"

"Nothing," she shrugged. "Just noticed that you've been having some fun."

"Some fun?"

"Mhm," Inez nodded, leaning in and whispering in Claudia's ear. "Looks like my baby is all grown up. Or at least, that's what the mark on your neck is telling me."

"No," Claudia gasped, leaning back and shaking her head out of embarrassment since Claudia and Remus had always been so careful on not leaving trails. "Is it bad?"

"No," Inez chuckled as Betty and Pandora continued with a conversation of their own. "But you can see it clearly. So keep your hair in check."

"Will do."

"So...what did you two do?"

Claudia smiled awkwardly, giving Inez a look that caused her to know just what it meant.

"Oh, fucking final-"

"Shut up!" Claudia whisper-shouted, slamming a hand over her mouth. "I like my privacy, Inez, so don't go yelling it out so that everyone can hear!"

"Hear what?" Sirius asked as the boys arrived, Remus sitting himself down next to his girlfriend and kissing her on the cheek.

"Nothing!" The two girls chorused.

"Okay..." said Sirius confusedly.

"You know, Claudia," said James. "Peter and I have detention because of you."

"Really?" The girl asked, receiving a nod in response from Peter who didn't look angry at all.

"Yes," James nodded. "But it's fine, really. At least we got to witness you having your pranking debut."

"I'm sorry," Claudia said guiltily. "But I thought Filch went after Remus and I? How did you two get caught?"

"Filch caught us after you and Remus disappeared," Peter explained. "And after Sirius escaped into a broom closet."

"Which I still don't understand considering you were literally with us five seconds before he caught us," James said. "How the hell did you even escape?"

"Well," Sirius grinned. "I already had some...plans with a girl in Hufflepuff, and let me tell you, she-"

"Stop," Claudia said, scrunching up her nose slightly and receiving amused glances from everyone. "What?! I was just trying to spare us the details!"

"Which we're grateful for," Peter said.

"Yes, we love you for it our little prude," James smiled.

"Prude?

"Prude."

"I'm a prude?" Claudia asked in a rather surprised tone.

"Sort of," Betty shrugged as Inez chuckled amusedly. "But there's nothing wrong with that!"

"What exactly do you mean with prude?"

"You just get all awkward and red in the face when things like that come up," Sirius smiled. "But it's adorable, don't worry."

"Does a prude have to be a virgin?" Claudia asked curiously, causing Remus to experience the second case of choking on pumpkin juice that lunch.

"Uh, I mean..." Sirius trailed off. "I guess-"

"Wait!" Betty exclaimed. "No way!"

"You didn't?!" Pandora questioned.

Remus and Claudia shared weary glances, that suddenly turned into simple smiles as they nodded slowly.

"Oh! That's wonderful!"

"What're they on about?" James asked Sirius, who merely shrugged in response as Betty, Pandora and Inez looked at them out of disbelief.

"Rowena, Gryffindors are stupid," said Inez.

"Hey!"

"Okay, I only meant that you three are stupid," Inez said. "You really don't get it, do you?"

"Nope," the three Marauders chorused.

"Well, to put it plainly," Inez sighed. "You all owe me money now."

"Why?"

"Oh, Merlin!" Pandora exclaimed. "They have done it!"

The three boys finally realised - which they showed by whistling and wiggling their eyebrows at the two - and Pandora blushed as students stared curiously at her for what she had just yelled.

After some awkward questionings - during which Claudia and Remus had only answered "no comments" - and some galleons being passed to Inez who apparently had won the very invasive bet they all had formed in wonder of when Claudia and Remus would finally do it, the conversation slipped back into normal just for a little while.

However, as Claudia was nearly finished with her meal, the girl spotted Regulus waving her over from the entrance of the Great Hall.

Frowning slightly at the sight of his troubled face, the girl got up and quickly made an excuse to a worried Remus, and then she found herself speaking to Regulus alone.

"Is everything alright?" She asked him, completely able to tell that things weren't but asking him nonetheless.

"It's fine," Regulus lied. "But I have to tell you something."

"What?"

"It's hard to say," the boy sighed.

"That's alright," Claudia smiled. "Just try your hardest."

"Nicolas said that the Dark Lord wants to recruit more people this Easter," Regulus said, catching both Claudia and himself off guard as he cut straight to the chase.

The girl lost the ability to speak for a moment as she felt her face practically crumble into what Regulus' looked like; tired, grey and completely terrified.

"Oh..."

"And our families want you and I to join him," he continued, speaking quietly and sadly.

"No!"

"Claudia-"

"No," she said sternly. "It's not happening. You're just about sixteen and I'm a halfblood! It can't be-"

"It is," Regulus persisted. "They want us to. And if we don't do it..."

"They'll hurt us," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "Regulus-"

"There's more."

"More?"

The boy nodded, "Apparently the Dark Lord is...very interested in you joining him."

"Me?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"Why me?"

"I'm not sure," he said, grimacing at the thought. "I think it's because your father is one of his...closest members and that...I don't know."

"Shit," Claudia whispered. "So you're telling me that we're going to be getting...the mark this Easter?"

"I am," Regulus nodded. "But you're going to get away."

"No!"

"Yes," he said. "We can figure it out, Claudia! We can come up with an excuse and then you'll be able to stay out of it!"

"But what about you?!"

"What about me?!" Regulus yelled, lowering his voice immediately as he searched the empty hallway for possible by-passers. "I'm a lost cause already, Claudia!"

"No, you're not!"

"Yes, I am! I was made to do things like these! You were not!"

"I'm a Maple-"

"You're Claudia," he said. "You weren't raised for this in the beginning. You're not like the rest of us."

"Oh, because I'm halfblooded?!"

"No, because you can find a way out!"

Claudia went quiet for a moment as she stared at the boy who deep inside didn't want it, "I'm not letting you go there by yourself."

"Why not? What's the worst that can happen?!"

Claudia sighed, "I am not letting you get that mark by yourself. I'm not letting you join him alone. If I have to do it too I will-"

"Claudia!"

"I promised Sirius that I would take care of you!" She exclaimed. "So I will. That's what I'm going to do. I'm not leaving you to handle things like these on your own. I'm coming with you, and so be it. And when we're there you and I are going to figure out a way to make sure that we leave without those ugly arse marks on our skin and without our families hating us!"

"Claudia-"

"I'm going with you!"

END OF PART IX
__________________________________

and so it goes - part ix.

let's see what happens at easter!

i'm sorry for what is to come...

<3