black coffee | remus lupin [2]

10. old friends & hopeful words

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

IT SEEMED THAT CLAUDIA and Regulus were nowhere close to leaving Grimmauld Place and finding the locket that the Dark Lord had hidden, for every time they set their minds on doing so, something else came in the way and ruined their plans. 

First, Claudia's grandmother had come to visit. As always, it was awkward and the visit lasted way too long, but Claudia was grateful that she at least wasn't forced to deal with her awful father, stepmother and any of the other people who would do nothing but hurt her feelings like always.

Margaret seemed fairly happy to see Claudia. It wasn't that they never saw one another, but it was still plenty less than it used to be.

And, honestly, Claudia was grateful for that.

Still, it seemed that her grandmother was trying to do better. After saving her from Evan, Claudia had found herself back on square one when it came to her opinions of the old lady. Margaret had, after all, allowed her father to abuse her for so many years, and she had done nothing about the lives that had been lost because of him.

But, Margaret had also protected Claudia in her own twisted way, so somehow she felt that she had to respect her.

Even if she sometimes also hated her.

Margaret announced to Claudia and Regulus that there was to be an end of summer ball held at Maple manor, and that they were to attend. It didn't exactly sound like an ideal set of plans for the last Saturday of the month, but Claudia and Regulus mostly didn't have a choice when it came to deciding if they would attend or not.

So, they said that they would be there.

After Margaret had left, the two found themselves exhausted and in no place to pull through with the so-called "Horcrux-plan" they had made, so nothing of the sort happened that day.

Nor did it the day after, for John and the others invited them out to dinner to thank them for their hospitality. And then, the next day, Regulus had another meeting.

And then, on that very Friday, a special someone arrived at Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

Claudia was upstairs reading Rebecca when loud chatters were heard from downstairs. She didn't think much of it at first, for Regulus had followed Cora, John and Ella to Diagon Alley for some well-needed shopping, and so she only assumed that they were just returning home.

Which they were, for the record. But, they hadn't arrived home without a surprise each for Claudia and David; a new book for David and a living person for Claudia.

"Dia!" The girl heard Regulus call from upstairs, causing her to roll her eyes slightly for she wished to stay in her room and read. But, she left her room nonetheless and walked down the stairs.