Different

safe house

"She got hurt last night," Claire responded awkwardly. Remus cleared his throat a few times, starting a sentence but not finishing. 

"You know....you know I would never hurt you," Remus finally spat out, his voice wavering. Claire looked up and saw that tears were filling his eyes, a few falling down his face. He looked much older than he actually was and a deep sadness had overtaken him, making his body hunch over. He was fiddling with his hands and his knee was bouncing nonstop. 

"I know it wasn't you," Claire assured him, having to look away from his hands which sported scratch marks that she knew came from her. Remus put his hands into his pockets when he noticed the look on her face. "It was like a monster took you over. I didn't recognize you but then you would fight and for just a second my dad was back. But I know that it wasn't you who...y'know."

"My memory keeps coming back in waves. I remember trying to fight and seeing you look at me with fear in your eyes. Fear that I never wanted to see, much less be the cause of," Remus sobbed, fully breaking down. Claire couldn't judge him because she was almost as bad as he was. 

"It wasn't your fault," Claire promised him. "It was all her. I promise, I'm not scared of you. I just need time."

"You have all of the time in the world."

------------------------

The men were careful around her for the rest of the day. Remus was finally able to sleep, but Sirius was on high alert, his wand in his pocket and his eyes scanning the windows. Claire was kept in his sight, even though Regulus was there. With all of the fuss, the Death Eaters had left Grimmauld unguarded long enough for him to escape. Sirius found him at their house when he went back to grab some clothes and brought him to the safe house. Arthur Weasley was on guard, but Sirius somehow convinced him that they didn't need a guard so the man went home. The Order was still unaware that Regulus was alive and they were in no hurry to announce it to the world.  

"Have you heard anything about Draco?" Claire whispered to Regulus. The curl-haired man looked at her from the side of his eye, pushing his hair behind his ear. Everyone in the house needed a haircut, but no one was eager to leave. The two younger ones were sitting in the small living room while Sirius was in the kitchen where he could easily get to them, the front door, and the room where Remus was asleep.

"I'm not in the Order," Regulus whispered back. Sirius glanced over from where he was sitting at the kitchen table, making the two quickly pretend that they were still reading. Claire had asked about Draco, but neither adult would tell her anything. 

"But Sirius tells you stuff," Claire argued once the man looked away and started writing his letter again. 

"You didn't hear this from me," Regulus sighed. "Draco and Harry are coming to visit later. I don't know when or for how long."

Claire nodded gratefully, but she was scared at the same time. She was particularly excited to see Draco, but she didn't know how Harry would react to seeing her again. The last thing anyone wanted was another fight. 

"Sirius," Claire said loudly, making the man raise an eyebrow at her. "My dear Dadfoot. My second father-"

"What do you want?" Sirius asked, but he had a smile on his face. 

"When is Draco coming?" Claire questioned. Regulus threw a pillow at her head, but Claire put up a forcefield that was strong enough that the pillow went flying right back at the young man. 

"No fair!" Regulus exclaimed, rubbing his face where the pillow hit him. He tried again just for the same thing to happen. "Sirius! Make her stop!"

"You're instigating all of this!" Claire argued. Regulus gasped like that was the worst accusation he had ever heard.