WITH THE ARRIVAL OF the first day of June came the arrival of two very cheery boys as Claudia sat alone outside in the courtyard with a book in her lap.

"How does it feel to be two weeks away from freedom today?" James asked with a smile, sitting down next to the girl and feeling the sun soak on his skin as he referred to the Mandrake leaf that had for two weeks been tormenting Claudia so that she could finally become a damn Animagus.

So, with that out of the way, let's catch up a little.

Since returning after Easter, Claudia had been doing everything in her power to heal and get back to her old ways after everything with Evan.

And it had worked rather well considering the circumstances. Why? She had no idea.

Maybe it was because Claudia was an expert at healing and moving on since shitty thing kept happening to her, or maybe it was because of the endless conversions that she had had with Ingannamorte. Or, maybe, it was the fact that Evan had been punished plenty by being pranked nearly every day by the Marauders, getting his prefect position removed and having to stay a certain distance away from Claudia at all costs.

Which meant that Claudia for once felt grateful for her headmaster since, thanks to him, she was left alone by the boy who she despised more than she could even describe with words.

Still, she wished that he would've been expelled. But, he only had a few months left of Hogwarts and he was a boy, so the sad truth was that it wasn't exactly very likely that he would.

And she tried not to think about the fact that they were still engaged. But at least, for a while, she had gotten rid of him, she had people to talk to and she was kind to herself, and somehow that just made everything feel lighter as she continued the process of getting comfortable in her own body again.

Things were overall pretty good.

But, she couldn't help but to wonder when it all would go to hell again.

If she herself would guess, she would say that the living hell would start in about a month - when she would return home - and then be over by September 1st.

And she would definitely be right about that.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Claudia really was doing better. Her friendships were stronger than ever, and so was that strange relationship that she had with Ingannamorte, who she would honestly call her friend if that even was appropriate.

As James asked and reminded Claudia of the Mandrake leaf in her mouth, she sighed audibly considering that she had spent at least thirty minutes not thinking about it for once.

"Every day that I'm closer to getting it out is a blessing," she said, grinning at Sirius who sat down on the other side of her. "Where's the rest of you?"

"Peter's with Inez I'm pretty sure," said Sirius. "And lover boy will probably get here as soon as he's done tutoring that boy in first year."

Claudia smiled faintly at that, because whenever Remus tutored that boy with glasses and jumpers to big for him, a fluttery feeling arrived in her stomach and she suddenly loved him even more.

If that was even possible.

"That's good," the girl said, shutting her book and giving the two a serious look. "That means that we can discuss the plan."

Sirius groaned, "Again?"

"Again," she nodded. "So, are you sure that everything is set for the potion?"

"Yes," the chorused.

"And that I haven't forgotten anything crucial?"

"Yes."

"And that we haven't forgotten anything not crucial?"

"Yes."

James chuckled, "Honestly, Claudia. We've been working with this for nearly six months. There shouldn't be any problems. Especially considering that we have done it before and succeeded."

"He's right," said Sirius. "And if you fail, we try again. As long as you failing doesn't involve death-"

"What?!"

"Pardon?" Remus asked as he too arrived, standing in front of them with a questioning yet amused look on his face. "What involves death?"

"Sirius' near future if he doesn't return my eyeliner," Claudia said quickly, far too quickly for Remus to ignore the bells that were ringing in his mind, telling him that they were all lying about something.

"Okay," the boy said, disguising his suspicions with a chuckle.

"How was tutoring?" James asked. "Is he getting any smarter?"

"He's going good, actually. He was never not smart, he just lacked confidence," Remus explained.

"And you're helping him with that I presume?" Sirius asked.

"Well, having someone believe in you helps," Remus shrugged.

James nodded, "So, anyone up for dinner? I've got to get to practice later."

"I'm starving," was all Sirius said as he too stood up alongside James.

"You two coming?" James asked Claudia and Remus with a knowing smile as Claudia packed her bag.

"Actually," Remus said, clearing his throat slightly so that Claudia would look at him. "I was wondering if you two could leave us be so that we could talk. Alone."

"Sure thing," Sirius grinned, winking at Claudia as James wiggled his eyebrows, and then the two were off, already quarrelling like an old married couple in the distance.

Claudia laughed slightly at their ridiculousness as Remus sat down next to her with a serious look on his face.

"What's up?" She asked.

"I just needed to ask you something," Remus said, receiving a nod in response. "How are you doing?Because I think you were feeling better for a while, but I've noticed a few things and I just wanted to make sure that you're telling me how you're really feeling."

"What 'things' did you notice exactly?"

"Well," he chuckled nervously. "You've been eating less. A lot less, actually. You've just been staring at your plate instead of eating, I guess. And then, also, you haven't...been kissing me."

"I haven't been kissing you?"

"I know it's ridiculous," he said with a small embarrassed smile. "But you usually do, and I mean, after everything I get it that you haven't been doing it that much. It's not that, not at all! I get that you're kissing me less and such, but you started doing it more just recently and now you've just...stopped. And whenever I try to kiss you, you move your face so that I kiss your cheek instead. Which doesn't matter, of course, but I just wanted to make sure that he hasn't talked to you or something or maybe that you haven't been dreaming or-"

"I'm fine," Claudia chuckled, knowing damn well that the reason why she didn't eat as much and didn't kiss him at all was because of the damn leaf in her mouth. "I promise you, I'm fine."

"So it hasn't gotten worse?"

"No," she said with a sad smile. "It's still hard, of course, but honestly I'm on my period right now and I'm feeling all shitty. That's why I don't really eat, because my stomach is always cramping. And I also don't really feel like kissing you because I just feel gross and stuff. It's brutal, really, you don't wanna know the details."

Claudia wasn't exactly lying when she said that. She was indeed on her period, and it was indeed brutal, but she definitely would've eaten more than normally and kissed him more than normally if it hadn't been for the damn leaf that caused her to gag whenever she ate and feel guilty whenever she kissed him because of the possibilities of it smelling or tasting weird or something.

Remus nodded, smiling as he took a deep breath of relief as he stood up and extended his hand for her. "Well, in that case. Come with me."

"Where are we going?" She asked, taking his hand and her bag and allowing him to help her to her feet.

"To my dorm," he said, dragging her along with him. "I think I can make you feel better."

"How?"

"I've got enough chocolate for a lifetime just for you, and a warm bed and jumpers you can borrow!"

Claudia squealed slightly as he picked up to a running pace instead, one that he stopped immediately.

"Sorry!"

"Don't worry," she laughed, and then, a while later, she found herself in his bed, wearing his jumper and eating chocolate for dinner as he brought her a heating pad along with a smile.

And it was just the two of them. Something that hadn't happened in a while, which made it more obvious just how much they needed it.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked her after a moment of just laying in silence as he ran his fingers through her hair.

She nodded, "Much better. Thank you."

"Of course," he said, leaning down and placing a small kiss on her forehead.

"I've got to ask you something," said Claudia.

"Yeah?"

"It's just...earlier when you talked about me kissing you less, I just got to thinking. I don't know, but I just wondered if maybe you're starting to feel impatient about the whole sex-thing?"

Remus frowned, "What do you mean?"

"It's just...we haven't done it since before everything happened, and I just don't want you to be forced to-"

"Don't you even dare finish that sentence," he interrupted in a stern yet loving tone. "I don't want to do it unless you're ready. And I'm not impatient. That's not what I meant at all when I talked about you kissing me less. I just noticed a change in your behaviour, is all. And, don't get me wrong, I love having sex with you but I will wait until you're okay, alright? I'll wait until we're both old and grey if it's necessary."

Claudia laughed, "Ew!"

"I'm just saying," the boy shrugged, smiling brightly to himself. "But don't worry about it, okay? Take your time."

•••

It was the day later, and the two teenagers were sitting in the special class held by Ingannamorte for her little "club".

Claudia was listening, well, not so intently. She was far too distracted by her exhausted self, trying not to fall asleep in the spot where she sat next to Remus.

Remus was watching her droopy eyes come to a close, an abrupt open and a close again with an amused and loving smile on his face.

It wasn't that Ingannamorte wasn't interesting. No, she was the most interesting professor they had.

However, even if Ingannamorte was, fittingly enough, talking about Animagi, Claudia was completely exhausted from the nightmare about Evan she had had the night before.

But, when Ingannamorte said this one sentence, Remus noticed how Claudia's head perked up as a sudden take of interest was shown on her face.

"Your Animagus form does not have to be the same as your Patronus," she had said, and that had got Claudia to wondering if she wouldn't be lucky and transform into a smaller animal such as the bird her Patronus was, but instead turn into a large and not so discreet animal.

Sighing to herself slightly, the girl went back to trying to stay awake, and that's when Remus connected the dots and realised what the hell was going on.

So, naturally, once class was over and Claudia had gotten ready to leave, Remus grabbed her hand and dragged her rather carefully all the way to the Gryffindor tower, where he entered his dorm, told the rest of the boys to leave and sat Claudia down on her bed.

"What's going on?" She asked for what felt like the millionth time, having received no response all the way there.

"Are you trying to become an Animagus?" He asked simply.

Claudia stared at him, "Remus-"

"You are, aren't you?" He asked quietly, sitting down next to her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

She breathed in heavily, and then she spoke, her voice slightly strained from feeling quite nervous over what would happen next, "I knew you wouldn't hear me out."

"So instead you lied to me?!" He asked, sounding more harsh than he intended to do.

"Please don't be mad at me," she pleaded, turning to face him. "I know you don't want me to, but I've thought about it a lot and-"

"Have you?" He asked. "Because this is far more dangerous than I think you realise. First of all, it's illegal, Claudia. You could end up in Azkaban for this. And second of all, what if something goes wrong? I guess your intention is to help during the full moons, but that simply won't happen on my watch."

"Remus-"

"You could get hurt, Claudia. Badly. You haven't seen just how much I've hurt the others. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to hurt anyone of course, but especially not you!"

"You won't hurt me," she said with a sad smile. "First of all, I'm doing this even if you don't want me to. I'm going to help you! I want to prove to you that I still don't care and that I accept you no matter what. And, second of all, you won't hurt me. When you turn you aren't you, Remus. I know you're in there, but you would never intentionally hurt a soul. Have I forgotten to mention that you fold your socks?"

"Claudia-"

"No! I won't hear it! I want to do this, not just for you but for myself. Think about what an asset this could be in the future! I can escape, and I'll probably turn into a bird since my Patronus is one so that'll make everything so much easier! I'm doing this."

"No, you aren't," Remus said. "Absolutely not. I'm not letting you put yourself in danger."

"I'm always in danger," she said. "If that's what you think, sure, but I'm doing this no matter what. With or without you."

Remus sighed, and then he spoke so quietly that Claudia barley could hear him.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," she said, placing her index finger on his chin and bringing his face up to meet hers. "You'll hurt me even more if you don't let me help you. So, please, just let me do this for you. Let me do this for myself."

"No."

"Think about it, okay?"

"No."

"You're being annoying now," she said with a small smile. "Think about it."

"No."

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