ABOUT A WEEK OF SUMMER had gone by as Nicolas entered Claudia's room and found her sleeping in her bed, holding tightly to her stomach that had just recently been the victim of a curse from Louisa that gave her a rather nasty wound.

The blonde boy had a letter from none other than Fayola Ingannamorte in his hands, and just as he had promised the professor, who he had agreed to help out when it came to contacting Claudia, he did not open and read the letter.

So, Claudia woke up a while later to an empty house and a letter on her nightstand.

The girl grabbed the letter quickly and expected it to be something boring or possibly a letter from her friends, considering that her father always read everything first.

However, the fact that the letter was still sealed caused the girl to frown a little. But, the handwriting was one that she recognised every so much after being the writer's student for a year.

The girl opened the letter eagerly like a little child, expecting some sort of invitation from Fayola, who had after all hoped that Claudia would visit her so that she could tell the truth about everything.

And that was exactly what it was.

Basically, Claudia was told that she could come anytime she pleased on that day if she was free, which she of course was. So, she sent a letter back where she wrote saying that she would be there soon, and then she got herself ready before sitting down by her desk and picking up a quill as she opened the book that Remus had charmed and wrote:

Going to see Ingannamorte today. I'll write to you tonight, so don't worry!

Smiling contentedly to herself as Remus immediately answered with an encouraging few words, considering that he knew everything about the fact that Fayola refused to tell her certain things, the girl got up, fetched her jacket due to it being such a chilly day, and then she apparated away after having locked the door to her room.

She landed in Diagon Alley on the specific street where both her mum had lived when Claudia was a baby and where Fayola was living now.

Of course, she had been there before with her mum when she went shopping for school supplies for her first year at Hogwarts, and alone afterwards once she went shopping for all the other years.

So, Claudia took a moment to just look at the flat where her first memories had been made, her first words had been spoken and her first steps had been taken.

And the flat where her first signs of magic had been showed.

She smiled to herself as a beautiful sense of nostalgia washed over her, and then she left the flat behind to find Fayola's - something she did quickly due to the woman standing out on the street with a smile on her face.

"Oh, Claudia," she said, her smile faltering slightly at the sight of the girl who already looked far less healthy and happy than she did at Hogwarts, despite it only having been a week since she had left. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," Claudia said, and, truth be told, she wasn't sure if she was lying or not. She wasn't sure if she was okay or not.

Because she was more hopeful than ever. But that didn't disclose the fact that she had already faced some horrible nights and lonely moments.

But the sun had been shining, and Claudia had been hoping. She had been imagining things to be okay, just as she had spent so much time doing ever since her mum had passed.

But, somehow, it seemed more possible than ever before that things would be okay.

"Come inside, please," Fayola said, opening up the front door to the building where her flat resided, and leading the way up some stairs and inside the orangey flat that was full of plants, paintings of butterflies, music, magazines and random clutters.

But, somehow, it wasn't messy. It was homely. And the last time Claudia had been in a place as homely as this one was the Potter manor.

Before that, it had been her mum's house.

"This is a very nice place you've got," said Claudia, looking around at the open space as Fayola darted towards the kitchen and prepared tea for them.

"Oh, thank you," she responded happily. "I'm very glad you say so."

Claudia smiled, "If I would live with you, would it be here?"

The girl didn't see the way Fayola smiled so happily that it was surprising that she didn't squeal, but she did hear the giddiness through her voice.

"That's right!" She said, leaving the kettle on and walking towards a door and opening it. "This would be your room."

Claudia walked inside the room, that was rather empty for now with the exception of a bed, a bedside table, a dresser, a bookshelf with some books in it and a framed picture that was standing on the bedside table.

And Claudia knew just who that picture was of.

It was a funny thing, seeing a photo of her mum that she had never seen before. But it made her so happy, because she had no photos of her mum.

Actually, Claudia had nothing but her own memory and a few books left.

So, seeing her again if even so in just a picture frame felt like a gift from the world. Her mum was beautiful, and Claudia had always known that, but never before had she noticed just how much they looked like.

She had gotten everything from the long brown hair, the small nose and the plump lips from her. And, turns out, she had gotten her sense of style from her to.

The photo pictured Anne wearing a floral dress as she stood next to someone who was around the same age and looked sort of like Fayola.

However, if Claudia would guess, she would say that it was just someone who resembled her in the slightest. But, actually, it was her.

"I found it in a box the other day," Fayola explained. "You are practically identical to your mum, it's insane."

Claudia nodded with a faint smile, keeping her eyes set on the photo. "And who's that next to her?"

"Me," Fayola chuckled, causing Claudia to raise her eyebrows at her. "I know, it doesn't look like it, but it is me. Just me with more hair, a bigger nose, a chubbier face and a talent for knowing how to dress. However, I do think that was your mum's doing."

"Why do you look so different?" Claudia asked bluntly, causing her to give Fayola an apologetic look as she chuckled at her.

"I guess it's time for tea," was all she said, walking out of the room, showing Claudia to the dining table and bringing her a cup of tea as she sat down in front of her.

The two sat there in a comfortable silence for just a little while, sipping on their teas and taking expecting glances at one another, until Fayola finally cleared her throat.

"I don't really know where to start," she confessed. "I've gone over this a million times in my head but now that you're here it feels...strange."

"Well, I've got time so there's nothing to worry about," Claudia said with an assuring smile.

Fayola nodded, "When I told you things about my life I obviously left out a whole lot, as you know. And I guess the first part is the fact that I was born with a different name."

"What name?"

"When I was born, my parents had already decided to move to Surrey," she began. "So, for some strange reason, my mother wanted to name me something that people would be able to pronounce around here. Which was ridiculous, because Fayola is extremely easy to say, but my mother was very frightened of me being treated differently due to where I was from. So, my parents named me Natalia Fayola Abebe."

Claudia nodded slowly, "Natalia doesn't suit you at all."

"So I'm aware," Fayola chuckled. "I prefer Fayola. However, your mum always called me Natta, and that I liked."

"Wait," said Claudia with a thoughtful look on her face. "My middle name is Natalia...am I named after you?"

"I suppose you are," Fayola said with a look that Claudia couldn't quite read.

But she knew that it was most certainly a look of missing Anne.

"So," Claudia said after another few moments of silence. "You were born with the surname Abebe, which means that your husband's name is Ingannamorte, right?"

"Not exactly," Fayola responded quietly. "Ingannamorte is the name that I chose to carry once I returned. You see, I was gone for 18 years. And that's the thing that I need to explain to you now, okay?"

"Okay."

"When I graduated Hogwarts, I began working at the Leaky Cauldron. It was dreadfully boring, let me tell you, but then, one day, a very nice man came in. He was fairly older than me, sure, and I was never the type to care much for romance. But, after talking to him despite the fact that I probably shouldn't have, I found myself wanting to do so again. So, that's exactly what I did. And then, a few months later, I was merely twenty and married to him."

"And what was his name?"

"Albert Maple."

And there they were, two simple little words that turned Claudia's mind around completely.

Albert Maple. Her uncle. The uncle who had died before Claudia was even born.

The uncle who had died 18 years ago.

"What?" Was all the indescribably shocked girl could croak out.

"I know that you're in shock now, Claudia," Fayola said with a rather guilty look on her face. "But there's more to tell."

"But...how? I mean- no! He's dead...and if you're my aunt then you're supposed to be dead too! This can't be right, you're-"

"I'm not lying," she interrupted. "I promise you that I'm not lying. I am telling you the truth through and through. And that's why I need you to listen very carefully, alright?"

Claudia nodded wearily.

"I married him when I had been twenty for just a week. And he was a lot older than me, specifically by ten years, actually. But it didn't matter to us, because we were in love. You see, he was a good man. Through and through. I know that you may not believe that, but he was. And he loved his brother so, Claudia, he really did."

"My father?"

"Your father, yes," she nodded. "Things were always strange between them, but Albert tried to be the best big brother he could. Anyway, we got married and soon enough I was both a Maple and pregnant. And, you know, your family were so pleased to hear it."

"They were?"

"Well," Fayola chuckled. "Margaret was. You see, I was always quite friendly with her. She was incredibly kind to me, which I never understood and I still don't today. But she was. And your grandfather was polite as ever. Your father, however, he was a tricky one. He didn't say much, and he seemed rather annoyed by the thought of a baby entering the family."

"And what happened then?"

"Your father happened, dear."

Claudia frowned, her heartbeat picking up the pace immediately.

He couldn't possibly have...could he?

"What do you mean?"

"Claudia, I think that maybe we need to take a break-"

"What do you mean?!"

Fayola sighed, "I was about four months gone, and we were asleep. Your father was staying with us at the time, due to something with work. But then I woke up because the baby was kicking, and that's when I heard this strange sound. I couldn't identify it at first, so I got up, of course, and walked down the stairs...only to find that our house had been set on fire. So, I did what I had to do. I ran up the stairs again and woke up Albert and he helped me out of the house safely. But, our wands were g-gone and most likely on fire at that point...and before Albert could think things through he went inside again to find Charles."

"And...?"

"And he never came back," she said in a whisper, refusing to meet Claudia's eyes. "So, I decided to go after him. And I got stuck in there, and I was so close to...to dying. I had such dreadful burns, Claudia. It hurt so badly. And I was stuck. But, somehow by some miracle, I managed to get out with the last strength I had in me. And then I..."

"And then you?"

"The last thing I saw before I passed out were your father's eyes. He was looking at me, but there was no sadness on his face. There was just triumph."

Claudia stared at her as her mind suddenly went blank. It was a strange thing, because clearly she was in shock as she realised just what had happened.

Charles had killed his own brother.

"I woke up the next day at your grandmother's house. Albert...h-he was dead," Fayola said, and Claudia wanted nothing more but to remove all the pain that she felt from her. She wanted nothing more than to take it upon herself instead. "He was dead, and I nearly was too. But your grandmother saved my life. However...she couldn't save my son."

Claudia didn't realise when she started crying, but she could feel the salty taste on her lips and it told her that she was, just as much as the aching in her chest did as she, naturally, thought about the pain of losing Remus.

But her train of thoughts didn't stop there. No, she thought about the poor woman in front of her who had lived such a horrible life.

She had lost the love of her life. She had lost her son. She had lost her best friend.

She had lost all that she knew.

"Why did he do it?" The girl asked shakily.

"Simple," Fayola said. "He wanted the money. He wanted to inherit it."

Claudia gasped without being able to hold it back as she wondered just how many times her own father had plotted to kill her for being the one to inherit the money.

And she still couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that he had killed his own brother.

"I spoke with Margaret when I had healed," Fayola said, trying to get the last parts over with before she would completely fall to pieces. "I...I didn't know what to do. I had lost my husband. And my own unborn son. I had lost my son when he had been kicking in my belly just days before. So, Margaret saw no choice but to tell me to leave, because Charles had unfinished business."

"He still wants to kill you?"

"Of course," Fayola said bitterly. "That's what he told her, you know. When she found out that night, he told her that she was a terrible mother who always picked Albert's side. He told her that he didn't care that his brother was dead. And that he couldn't wait until I was too."

"But...how could one be so evil?" Claudia asked quietly, her voice showing clear disbelief.

"I don't know. It's impossible to fathom. But he hasn't ever said anything like it again, apparently. He got his way, somehow, but he screwed it up anyways."

"Yes, he had me-"

"No," she cut off. "He lost his mother's respect that night. She wouldn't sell him out to the ministry, of course, because of what it would do to the family name and because he was all that she had left. She couldn't do it. So, she sent me away with some money to get me started, and then she made an agreement with Charles that she would make all the decisions from that point on."

And that, that explained a lot.

"Your father is scared of his own mother, so naturally he agreed. He does everything that she asks for, because he had hurt her so that he couldn't do it again. But, he still asked about me over and over. He asked if she knew where I was. And your grandfather still didn't know a thing about any of it."

"He asked her where you were?"

"Of course. Still does, apparently."

"But why did you come back?"

"Simple," she said. "Because of you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Anne's girl. I never knew that she had a daughter. You see, I left without saying goodbye. I left without another word. And your mother thought that I was dead, most presumably. But I wasn't. I just couldn't come back home."

"But then you did?"

"Yes. Every year I got a letter from Margaret. I think that she felt some sort of remorse for everything, so she would write to me and tell me if there was anything that I needed to know. And I could also tell that she was checking up on me, of course."

"But, anyway," she continued. "She mentioned your mum in the letter that she sent last summer. I knew who you were, of course. I knew that you were Charles' daughter. But then, when she mentioned how Louisa had brought your mum up in some argument the family had had, Margaret told me her name and I realised it."

"But mum didn't meet father before, right?"

"No, no, no," she said. "She meet my husband, of course, but never once did she meet Charles. But, merely two years after everything they meet since your mum was writing about the family in the prophet, and the rest is history. She felt sorry for him because he had lost his brother, and he pretended to feel bad that she had lost her best friend, is my guess. And then, all these years later after your mum's death, I returned, because I knew that I had to meet you."

"But you hated me at first?"

"No," she said quickly. "When I wrote to Margaret and told her that I wanted to return, she got in contact with Dumbledore and got the job for me. And then Dumbledore made me promise to not raise any suspicions, and to be cold to you. So that's what I did. But I do think that I was acting a little more mean than intended, because at first all I saw were your eyes. You've got your father's eyes, Claudia, and it brought me back to the last few moments of that night."

"And then, I realised that you were Anne through and through. And I realised that you were a girl who was living in a horrible place with horrible people. And I wanted to be your friend, but most importantly I wanted to be your aunt. I am, after all, your double-aunt in some ways."

Claudia cracked a small, yet weak, smile at her. "But how did you manage to return after everything?"

"Well, first of all, I was tired of escaping. And I wasn't scared anymore, so I changed up my appearance even more after having changed it due to hiding and due to the burns on my skin, and then I changed my name to Fayola Ingannamorte. Fayola's my middle name, and Ingannamorte- well, Ingannamorte actually means "cheating death" so I thought that it was quite fitting."

Claudia nodded, "And now?"

"What do you mean?"

"What happens now? With you, I mean?"

"Well, your father still doesn't know that I'm here of course," she said. "He didn't recognise me at Hogwarts and I haven't raised any attention to myself. But, I will do so soon."

"What?"

"You're my neice in every way," she smiled. "You're my husband's niece. My best friend's daughter. I want to give you a home that makes up for all the pain that horrible man has caused on you. Because that's all that he has done, right?"

Claudia nodded solemnly, "Yeah. But don't you realise just how difficult that would be? Taking me in, I mean? If he knew that it was you he would-"

"I'm tired of hiding from him," she interrupted. "I'm going to do everything that I can to get you out of there."

"And what will you do?"

"I have a few ideas, of course."

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a/n: and there you have it!!!! but if you've got any questions about fayola's life, ask away so that i can answer next chapter!