Different

prologue

"You're back early," Millicent said, trying not to frown as the girl entered the kitchen.

"Remus wasn't feeling well," Claire lied.

"Hmm," Millicent said, pursing her lips as she turned back to the stove, not meeting Claire's eyes. It was obvious to everyone who knew that that Millicent wasn't exactly a big fan of Remus'.

"Did I get any mail?" Claire asked hopefully.

"Why are you asking about that?" Lauren DeBlanc asked as she entered the kitchen. Lauren was her older sister who loved to taunt her. "No one would want to talk to you."

"Lauren," Millicent chastised feebly, as she was wondering the same thing.

"Remus said-"

"Oh, yes," Lauren said teasingly. "Remus, your wonderful father who doesn't love you enough to keep you."

Claire's cheeks burned red from both anger and embarrassment.

"Lauren, can you please just go get your brother?" Millicent said tiredly. Lauren rolled her eyes but stomped off to get Matt, their younger brother.

"Can I eat in my room?" Claire asked softly. No one had acknowledged her birthday yet and with the last comment by her sister, she didn't think she could last the whole dinner without lashing out or doing accidental magic, as Remus called it.

"No," Thomas DeBlanc, her father, said as he entered the room. Claire looked away when the man entered. She never knew why, but the man always made her upset and uncomfortable. She did everything she could to stay away from him.

"Come set the table," Millicent ordered. Claire couldn't help but notice that she was the only one who ever set the table, and she didn't think it was very fair. In fact, she was the only one to do chores at all.

Dinner was a somber affair for Claire. As the DeBlanc family laughed and joked, Claire thought about her father and the name she had been told.

"Do you know an Emaline Rosier?" Claire suddenly asked, cutting Lauren off as she talked about her boyfriend for the tenth time that night. The table went silent.

"Where did you hear that name?" Thomas asked darkly. Claire regretted asking when she saw Thomas' eyes turn dark, glaring at her.

"Re-Remus told me," Claire stammered. "He said...he said that she's my mum."

"You are never to see Remus again," Thomas said, his voice going deep as he stared right at her with an intensity she had never seen before. 

"But-"

Claire's protest was cut off when Thomas slapped her, sending her off her chair. Tears immediately fell down her face as both Matt and Lauren screamed.

"Thomas!" Millicent gasped. Her pale hands were shaking as she looked between her angry husband and terrified adopted daughter.

"Forget that name," Thomas ordered. "And forget that Remus ever existed."

Claire wanted to argue, but she was in too much pain to say anything. She weakly nodded.

"Go to your room," Thomas growled. Claire whimpered and ran up to her room.

The upper room of Number 3 Privet Drive wasn't anything special. It was the smallest room in the house, but Claire didn't mind much except for the fact it was filled with her siblings stuff. She barely had enough space for her things, but it just meant that she was good at staying minimal. Luckily for her, she had a friend just next door.

It took Claire longer than usual to find her flashlight because she was clutching her cheek and crying. When she finally did find it, she wasted no time in sending her message to her friend, who responded within seconds. Claire tried to wipe her tears off, locking her door and climbing out her window as quietly as possible. For an eleven year old she was really good at sneaking out, but that made sense since she had been doing that for years.