"MS. MAPLE!" Claudia heard a familiar voice call after her on her way back to her dorm after dinner one a Thursday night. "Wait up!"

Claudia knew that the strange mixture of formal and informal words could only belong to one person, and that person was her Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Fayola Ingannamorte - who was in the middle of some kind of jog as she approached the girl, wearing a flaming red pantsuit.

Claudia wondered what the parents of pretty much half the school would think if they found out that the professor wore Muggle clothes.

"Professor," Claudia greeted with a nod, trying her hardest not to sigh as the woman stood next to her with a bright smile on her face.

"I take it you haven't made a decision regarding my club yet?" Ingannamorte asked.

"Not yet, no. I'm sorry-"

"There's absolutely no need to apologise," the professor replied. "I just want you to know that you are very welcome, and I would be delighted to have you."

"Do you really feel that way?" Claudia asked unsurely.

Because, let's face it, the only reason Claudia wasn't apart of the club was because of the way Ingannamorte had treated her at first. It was cruel and uncalled for - and Claudia couldn't understand how she had switched her opinions about her so easily just by a single conversation with Remus.

"I do," she smiled. "And I understand that my previous behaviours are a contributing factor to you wondering if that is the case. And once again, I sincerely apologise for my behaviour and I hope that you will consider joining."

"I'll think about it," Claudia said with a small smile. "But do you mind telling me why you behaved like that? I'm sorry if it's a bit blunt to ask, but-"

"It's a perfectly reasonable question," the professor said. "And I will try to tell you one day. Just...think about it alright? Have a nice evening!"

"You too, Professor," Claudia said, causing the woman to stop for a second with a dreamy look on her face.

"I do wish one day you all could just call me Fayola," she said. "I'm not very fond of my last name."

"I think it's pretty," said Claudia.

"Thank you," Ingannamorte smiled. "Yours is also very pretty. I've always liked it...the word Maple, I mean."

"Well, I'm not so sure I agree with that," Claudia said with a rather solemn look on her face.

"Well, I mustn't hog you any longer," the professor chuckled. "Your boyfriend is waiting for you."

And with those words, the professor left Claudia alone with Remus, who was approaching her - looking like a complete daydream according to Claudia.

"Have you eaten yet?" Claudia asked, receiving a chuckle in response.

"Aren't you going to say hi?" Remus asked. "What happened to common courtesy?"

"I see you're sassy tonight too," Claudia snorted. "So, hi. Have you eaten?"

"No, but I will," he said. "I've just been talking to Sirius a bit."

Remus and Sirius had finally talked out about the whole Snape-situation, and finally Remus felt like everything was back to normal.

"Are things better?" Claudia asked, tracing her finger up and down his hand.

"Yeah, I think so," said Remus. "He's a complete arse. But he's my best friend."

"I'm proud of you," Claudia smiled, picking her hand up and caressing his cheek.

"Why?" He asked, leaning into her touch.

"For always being so good to everyone," she said. "For being so forgiving."

"Thank you," he said quietly with a dazed smile, taking her hand from his face and intertwining their fingers. "I actually wanted to ask you something. Or, two things."

"Yeah?"

"Well, so the first thing is that I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go on a date with me on Saturday? I just thought, you know, since we're together that I wanted to take you on one. And it probably won't be perfect, but maybe it could be fun? I don't know though."

"Of course I'll go on a date with you," Claudia laughed. "There's no need to be nervous. I was going to ask you myself if you wouldn't."

"Oh, okay, good," he smiled. "So, Saturday in Hogsmeade?"

"Sounds good. What was the second thing?"

"Well, technically it was kind of the same question. I was just wondering if you are still going to Slughorn's Christmas party?"

"I am," she said. "And I sure hope I'm going with you."

"Really?"

"Yes, of course, silly," she laughed. "You're my boyfriend now, remember?"

"I couldn't possibly forget," he spoke softly. "I've got to go eat now, though. But I'll see you tomorrow, and on Saturday, and at Slughorn's Christmas party?"

"You sure will," Claudia said, giving him a kiss on the cheek and then leaving to go to her dorm to get some long-awaited rest.

"Hey, Bets," Claudia said as she entered the dorm to find Betty perched on her bed, staring out the window. "Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine," Betty said quietly, though the paleness of her face and her glistening eyes told Claudia that something was up.

"You sure? You look a little pale."

"I'm sure," Betty nodded. "I've just got a lot on my mind."

She really did have a lot on her mind.

"Oh, okay," said Claudia, sitting down on her bed and taking her shoes off. "Anything you want to talk about?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Betty said hesitantly. "There's one thing I've been meaning to talk to you about, actually."

Claudia nodded assuringly, "S'alright."

"It's about last spring. I've just been meaning to tell you that...you know I'm so sorry. And I it regret more than anything. And I just want you to know that...I'm on your side. No matter what."

"I know," Claudia said with a sad smile. "I think...you know, things have been different between us and I know you've noticed it too. But it doesn't mean that I'm not on your side either."

"You're the greatest friend there is, Claudia."

"I wouldn't know about that," she chuckled. "But thank you. And I want you to understand that I was upset of course. And sometimes I still am when I think about it. But at the end of the day, you were incredibly sad, and fragile, and lonely and you made a mistake."

"That's not an excuse," Betty frowned. "I don't want you to excuse my behaviour. I was a terrible friend even despite that. I didn't notice everything that was going on with you-"

"Nobody did, really," Claudia said, her lips then turning into a soft smile. "Except that stupid boy."

"I'm glad you have him. Remus I mean," Betty smiled. "I haven't seen you this happy since like...first year."

"I haven't felt this happy since first year," Claudia sighed contentedly. "And Betty?"

"Yeah?"

"We'll be alright," Claudia said, moving over to sit next to her.

"Why do you say that?"

"I just needed it said."

"Oh. We'll be alright."

"Yeah. And Betty?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want you to ever want you to call yourself a bad friend ever again," Claudia scolded. "I honestly wouldn't have made it through all these years without you, and Inez, and Pandora. You three saved me."

"You were the only one who saved you," said Betty. "We just made it a little more bearable if anything."

"No, you made it all brighter," Claudia stated. "Thank you for...all of it."

"Like I said, I'll never leave your side," Betty spoke, leaning her head on Claudia's shoulder. "I promised you that in first year."

"I remember that," Claudia chuckled.

"You know you can tell me anything you want to, right? I know I messed everything up but..."

"You made one mistake on a bad night," Claudia said softly. "It was a mistake, sure, but I'm not going to hold it against you. I trust you, Betty. I always have and I always will. You were my first real friend here."

"And I'll always trust you," Betty said as the door opened.

"Why are you two so damn emotional?" Inez questioned with a confused look on her face. "Did something bad happen?"

"No, we were just talking about last spring," Claudia said, taking Betty's hand. "We've got the Eagle Chicks back in full motion."

"Oh, great! I was wondering when things wouldn't be as awkward," Inez smiled. "I mean, it hasn't been that bad but sometimes I really just wanted to cry."

"It definitely wasn't that bad," both Betty and Claudia said.

It really wasn't. Things seemed to be good, but sometimes all of them felt the smallest amount of change within the group - something that only really appeared in their minds when they thought about it too much.

"Maybe not," Inez shrugged. "Well, anyways, since the topic isn't that sore anymore. Can I just get something out of the way, Betty?"

"What?"

"You didn't...have sex with Claudia's stepbrother did you?"

"Ew, Inez! Do not speak of such foul things!" Claudia yelled. "But, did you though?"

"Why the fuck are you of all people asking me this too?!" Betty asked Claudia.

"When the fuck did you start swearing?!"

"I always have, just in french!"

"Can you answer the question, please?!" Inez laughed. "Did you or did you not have sex with Claudia's brother?!"

"Yuck!"

"Please," Betty scoffed. "We only snogged and did a few other...intense things. Not even the drugged version of me would let that pig get inside of me."

All three girls took to separate looks of disgust.

"Let's never ever speak of this ever again."

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