ONLY A DAY had gone by since Regulus Black had chosen not to reveal Remus and Claudia to Nolan, and Claudia was still thinking of each reason to why that could be.
Claudia and Regulus had spoken a few times. He was a rather quiet boy and not very talkative, but since he was closely involved with her brothers and their fellow blood supremacists, Claudia wouldn't exactly say that she had a strong liking towards him.
Remus couldn't explain it either. Regulus was, after all, Sirius' brother, but their bond at home was pretty much nonexistent and Regulus would most certainly waste no time in getting Sirius' friends into trouble.
Sirius didn't know why he did what he did. When they returned to the party, and finished listening to the group's teasings over how long they had been gone, they explained it all - Remus and Claudia leaving out the parts about how close they were - and Sirius only frowned as he said something along the lines of "he probably wants to blackmail you two."
When Claudia woke up that Monday morning, which was also Sirius' birthday, she found her dorm empty with the exception of Inez.
"Where is everyone?" Claudia asked the girl who was getting ready.
"Betty's having breakfast with Sirius, and I don't know where Pandora is."
Probably with her boyfriend, Claudia thought in secret.
Claudia and Inez left their dorm and made their way to eat breakfast, dressed in their Ravenclaw robes. Claudia sat down with her pancakes and golden syrup, only to frown as she met eyes with Regulus.
Just the person she was thinking about.
Regulus didn't give her any expression as his cold eyes met hers, and then he moved his gaze to Nicolas who was talking to him.
"Hi, Claudia!" A cheery voice suddenly spoke as James sat down next to her, the rest of the Marauders and Betty also seating themselves around the table.
Claudia wouldn't deny that she was panicking a bit inside as she saw how dark Nolan's eyes were turning. Nicolas wasn't looking however, he was to busy conversing with Regulus.
She didn't know why she didn't walk away. She didn't know why she stayed, and she didn't know why she gave Nolan a bold look. Claudia knew she was going to regret it, but seeing the pleased look on Betty's face as Claudia greeted James and smiled towards the rest of the boys made her stick with her initial decision; she was going to stay.
And the Marauders and her friends were so pleased to see it. Betty had explained to the boys that Claudia's brothers didn't like them very much, which was why she avoided them as much as possible. They said that they could just beat their arses if they said something bad to Claudia, not understanding that words would be an incredibly mild punishment for the girl.
"Any updates on Reggie boy?" James asked with an interested smirk.
"Nope, just a look", Claudia said as she took another bite of her pancake.
"A look?" Sirius repeated.
"Yeah", Claudia said in a confused tone.
"I don't understand how that works, how is 'a look' an update?"
"Looks are crucial", Claudia said like it was obvious. "You know, humans communicating without words?"
"I don't do that", Sirius shrugged.
"Well, you do seem to have the emotional range of a teaspoon so I mean", Inez chimed in.
"Hey! I'm the one with a girlfriend here!"
And the group went quiet, because Betty and Sirius weren't official yet.
"Girlfriend, aye?" James smirked as he wiggled his eyebrows.
"Uh..." Sirius said insecurely as his cheeks flushed a bit. "I-I don't k-know."
Who would've thought that a girl could make Sirius Black stutter?
Betty was still frozen in time as her eyes were the size of Jupiter. Inez took to waving her hand in front of the girl's face from the other side of the table, but there was still no expression evident.
"Great, looks like this whole weird conversation has turned Betty permanently paralysed", Claudia sighed as she looked at her friend with a concerned look.
"I-I'm", Betty stammered as she tried to find the words, not looking Sirius in the eyes.
"It's alright, sweetie", Claudia said as she rubbed circles comfortingly on her back. "You want him, right?"
Betty's eyes grew even bigger at that, but she nodded her head nonetheless.
"Great, so he's now your boyfriend and you are now his girlfriend. Is that alright with you people?" Claudia said to Betty and Sirius, but instead the entire group nodded. Though, Sirius did nod more enthusiastically than the rest.
"Great, now I think you need to go kiss her up or something so she starts functioning again", Claudia said to the boy who stood up with a bright smile, grabbed his new girlfriend and walked away.
"Best birthday gift ever!" He cheered as they left the hall.
"That was weird", Claudia sighed as she continued with her pancakes.
"You just got Sirius Black his first serious girlfriend!" James exclaimed as he stood up from his seat, thinking about the fact that Sirius only really had flings before and no commitments. "How would you like to be my new partner in crime? You can turn Evans into my girlfriend!"
"Nope", she said, popping the 'p'. I think you'll do just fine on your own."
"Really?"
"Well, Mary thinks so. I have no idea", she shrugged.
"Okay, I'll guess I'll be forced to convince you to help me, new friend. Come on, let's go to DADA", he said as he grabbed her and she tried her hardest to finish the remains of her pancakes.
And so, Claudia left the Great Hall with Inez and three boys who were excited to make new friends.
She left the Great Hall at the same time as Nolan left to grab a piece of parchment.
•••
After a day of classes, conversations with four boys who all were in a very good mood, accidental looks at Remus and excessive studying with Lily, Claudia had prefects patrol with some random lad from Hufflepuff named Jamie.
Except, she didn't have prefects patrol with some random lad from Hufflepuff named Jamie.
As she reluctantly left Inez alone, since Betty was with Sirius and Pandora most likely with Xenophilius, she didn't see Jamie at the entrance; she saw Nolan.
"Oh", she breathed as she saw his fuming face. He looked like he was about to commit arson, and Claudia wouldn't lie; she was a tad bit scared.
"Walk", he said coldly as he took ahold of her, much too harshly like normally, and began the patrol that was going to end up being quite short-lived.
"Where's Jamie?" She asked as she winced at his strong hold on her.
"Doesn't matter", he said coldly as he continued dragging her along. "I needed to take this one."
"Did you do something to him?!" She exclaimed worriedly.
"Doesn't matter!" He snapped. "Now, I've sent an owl to father and mother about everything that you've done!"
Claudia knew this was going to happen. But still, she couldn't help but to stop breathing as they stopped. This ensured that things were going to take a bad turn, and it would be soon. Way too soon.
"So I suggest you be on your best behaviour!"
"And what if I'm not?" She said as she narrowed her eyes.
"Then someone is going to be forced to take precautions you couldn't even imagine", he said menacingly. "Hide and seek will be nothing against what will happen to the people you surround yourself with. Harper, Arnaud, Ollivander, that small Ravenclaw! And those stupid boys! They will all face painful-"
"Don't you dare say anything else!" She hissed as she tried to wriggle out of his grip, unsuccessfully.
"Don't you dare interrupt me!" He snapped as he returned her favour; he slapped her hard across the face.
That was just Nolan Clarke; mean, short-tempered and way too full of himself.
"Mr. Clarke!" A voice boomed as Claudia and Nolan stood giving each other threatening looks, her hand touching her burning face. "Come with me, please." McGonagall said sternly as a glimt of disgust was written on her face.
"I suggest you head to the hospital wing, Ms. Maple", the Gryffindor Head of House said with a tight but reassuring smile. "I'll come find you tomorrow."
"But what about the patrol?" She managed to croak out.
"I'm sure these halls can do without you for just one night", she said as she grabbed Nolan and took him away. He had absolutely no regret on his face as he walked away, only that same old devilish smirk.
"Oh my god", another voice said as she took a deep breath. "Claudia."
Claudia turned around to find Inez standing there, looking like a ghost. She had just witnessed it all, and suddenly pieces began falling into place.
"Inez", Claudia sighed as her eyes flickered to the ground. "I-it's not what it looked like."
"What?! He just threatened you, and us too! And he slapped you, Claudia!"
"It's alright."
"It's certainly not alright! Is he always like this?" She asked as her voice shifted into a terrified one rather than an overly-concerned one.
"Well...", Claudia said as she grimaced. There was no going back.
Maybe it would be nice to have someone that did understand?
"Oh my god", Inez breathed as she wrapped her best friend in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry", she whispered.
"It's not your fault", Claudia whispered back with a waver of her voice.
"But still, I should've seen it earlier."
"It's alright, Inez. Please don't worry about it."
"Oh, Claudia", she said as she took her face in her hands as the hug broke. "I think you need someone who worries for you."
•••
Claudia explained, well, a lot to Inez in their dorm that night, with still no Betty and Pandora around. She told her how her brothers truly were, how they would hurt her and threaten her and the people she associated herself with. She even told her that her stepmother was a complete bitch.
But what she didn't tell her was that her father was one too.
Because if she did, Inez could get into trouble if someone found out just what she knew.
It wasn't like Inez didn't have the thought; she saw Charles Maple as a cold and scary man. He had left no good impression on her whatsoever, but Claudia said he didn't lay a finger on her.
Which wasn't exactly untrue. At least not most of the time.
Claudia knew that she needed to truly be on her best behaviour from that moment on, like she had been before. She didn't truly do much wrong, except from pulling a "prank", dodging Evan and punching Nolan. Other than that, it was the boys who came to her, Nolan who was being an idiot and Pandora who punched him.
But that didn't matter. She still messed up, and she was going to pay for it as soon as she was outside the safety of Hogwarts. And if she didn't pay for it, if she didn't face to consequences, someone else would.
That meant that Claudia Maple had to avoid the Marauders and Mary at all costs.
Betty, Inez and Pandora were somewhat acceptable, being from noble families and all. Her father wouldn't despise her for still being with them, because their friendships involved good connections and opportunities for him. And their friendships also involved that Claudia was doomed to be good enough to have friends, which would make her doomed good enough to have a husband.
A girl completely alone in the world was a risky thing.
But for her to be friends with so-called blood-traitors, as well as halfbloods and muggleborns would be an embarrassment to the family and to Claudia's status as an eligible future wife that had the big flaw of not being a pureblood, but a big perk of being a Maple.
Inez cried after Claudia told her the basics of things. Claudia shed a tear as well, and then the two girls fell asleep next to each other as Inez stroked Claudia's hair. It was like a small weight had lifted off of Claudia's shoulders. She was still heavy, but lighter at the same time.
Oh, how nice it was to have a friend.
Claudia now had someone who could back her up when she needed to get away from the boys, and her brothers, and the Slytherins. She didn't know why she didn't say anything sooner, maybe it was the same reason that she decided not to tell Betty.
She didn't wish to feel like a burden, and the easiest way to achieve that was to make sure not that many people knew of her personal burdens.
So, Claudia and Inez had a secret of pain, fear and sadness. A secret that they shared, and that Claudia treasured to have shared with someone for the very first time.
Things might have been left out, but that didn't matter to Claudia in that moment.
Because Inez Harper was her best friend, and she never knew just how much she needed one.
__________________________________
a/n:
ok so it's kind of implied here but sirius still lives with his parents at this point in my story! good thing to note for future references...
minnie is my fav person ever<3333
also both inez and betty are icons!!!!! i know it's kind of horrible that betty doesn't know, but that doesn't make her any less important to claudia, they're still just as close as her and inez!