REMUS COULD TELL that something was wrong. As they sat on the train on the way back to their respective homes for a week of Easter holidays, Claudia did nothing but stare out of the window, watching the landscapes drift on by.
Remus could tell that something was wrong with her. He didn't think that her being nervous about going to the manor for a week was strange. In fact, he didn't understand how she was even sitting there in a calm matter.
Remus himself had been a slight mess leading up to the journey home. His mind had been racing in the evenings; showing him glances of a bloodied up Claudia who was all alone, crying and shaking.
He hated his mind for doing that to him. And he hated that what he imagined could be true in just a few hours time.
Ever since the start of February, when Regulus had had that conversation with Claudia that no one knew about, Claudia had been acting strange.
No, she wasn't exactly acting any different most of the time - she was still very much in love and happy - but every now and then her mind would drift off and not even Remus would know what was going on inside her head.
And she wouldn't tell him. Simply because she didn't wish to worry him, and because she was sure that somehow she would get out of it.
Why did she think that? Well, Claudia, despite so much pain and unluckiness, still had some hope left in her.
Meeting her friends and Remus had given her that.
So, pushing those thoughts away, Claudia had had some great months. The period between early February and now the middle of April had been great.
Remus' birthday had come and gone, and that was great and filled with her surprising him with gifts and more just as he had surprised her on her birthday.
Slytherin had won over Ravenclaw during the first quidditch match of 1977, despite Claudia catching the snitch in a fierce battle between her and Regulus. Gryffindor had won over Hufflepuff later on.
Claudia, Remus, James, Sirius, Pandora, Marlene and Lily had all taken part of the scheduled apparition exam for the people who had turned 17 at the time, and all of them had succeeded - this whilst Inez, Betty and Peter sulked considering that their birthdays were in the summer.
This also meant that Claudia could both apparate away and use magic when she returned to the manor. Something that comforted her plenty.
And, during all of this, Claudia had gotten closer and closer to starting the actual process of becoming an Animagus - the process that involved her having a Mandrake leaf in her mouth for a month.
She had no idea how she was going to pull through with that, nor was she sure on how she would explain what was going on to a very suspicious Remus.
But, even if he refused her carrying on with the process, Claudia would do it nonetheless. The past three full moons had all proved that to her.
She couldn't take not helping him, and she couldn't take him wondering if he was enough despite the way she was always there holding his hand once he arrived in the Hospital Wing the day after.
On the train, as Remus took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly, trying to bring her some sort of distraction and peace, Claudia found herself finally thinking a bit about boy next to her rather than the Dark Mark that soon would decorate her skin if she didn't do something about it.
The past few months had been good on Claudia and Remus' relationship.
Sure, by now the honeymoon phase was pretty much over, considering that they were nearing their five month anniversary. This meant that Claudia and Remus weren't exactly all over each other all the time. Instead, they had found a balance that they both loved.
You see, once Sirius and Betty entered the stage after the honeymoon phase, they had become a completely different couple in a bad way.
But Claudia and Remus had only become a different couple in a good way.
They knew each other's boundaries and they knew just how to make the other person happy and content.
Sure, they bickered slightly every now and then, but it was all sarcastic and neither of them were really the type of people who took part in any dramatic fights over nothing.
So, they continued on with their joking and kissing and discovering, but at the same time there was more to life than each other's lips which was completely fine.
Claudia could take care of herself and Remus could take care of himself - but the company of each other was always the preferred circumstance for both of them.
They communicated, spoke about each other's feelings with one another, cared about each other and told the truth. Well, this was of course excluding the way Claudia was keeping her Easter plans and the Animagus situation from him.
But that was just to make sure that he didn't worry so much that his poor heart gave up, because, let's face it, Remus needed to stop worrying about Claudia just for a little while.
Which of course would be impossible.
But his worrying and overthinking were apart of who he was, just as her uncertainties and urges to protect him were apart of her. This was another thing they had come to learn, just who they were as people deep inside.
And, despite the beautiful flaws, Remus and Claudia both adored each other to no end.
And that would never change.
"Tired?" He asked softly after she had let out a small yawn.
She nodded, causing him to smile widely and allow her to lean her head on his shoulder until she woke up as they neared King's Cross.
"I'm gonna go find Regulus," she announced, letting go of Remus' hand and ignoring the look Sirius was giving her. "See you all in a week, I guess."
The boys all shared funny glances, James standing up and sighing dramatically as he placed his hands on his hips, causing the girl to turn around before she even got the chance to open the door.
"You're honestly not going to give me a hug goodbye?"
And she smiled as her brother dramatically opened his arms for her.
"Sorry, Jamie," she chuckled, going forward and wrapping her arms around his torso. James smiled contently, and soon enough the rest of the boys had joined in.
"You'll be fine, Clauds," Sirius said with a comforting smile as the group hug finally broke.
"And if anything happens you apparate straight to my house, alright?" Said James.
"Alright," she nodded, finally looking at Remus who had yet again taken her hand and was now stroking his thumb over her knuckles.
"I've got you something," he said quickly as that look in her eyes told him that she really had to go and find Regulus, who was supposed to be spending a few days at Maple manor alongside his parents due to his and Nicolas' close "friendship" and the growing friendship between all the parents as well, who were all pleased to know that their sons had such a "close and special bond".
Of course, they had no idea that a friendship wasn't exactly the right term to describe the two.
Not even Claudia knew what the right term was. Actually, not even Nicolas and Regulus themselves knew. They just continued on with their lives without caring about labels.
"You've got me something?" Claudia questioned as the boy took out two books from a bag.
And what she saw were two regular potions books, just like the ones they had in class.
"Oh, thank you but I've already got-"
"It's not what you think," the boy said, handing her one book and opening his one. "Open yours and look."
Claudia stared at the first completely blank page for a few moments; doing so as Remus quickly wrote the first thing that came to mind down with his wand considering he had no quill around.
You look pretty today.
"What's this?" The girl asked, smiling slightly at the message. "You wrote this?"
"I did," Remus nodded. "I charmed it with a Protean charm. So we can talk whilst you're there. That's why it's a potions book because I know your father wouldn't be suspicious about you doing your homework and I also know that he respects the subject well enough. It should be fine."
She quickly wrote a message back as she sported a smile that showed more certainty and calmness than before.
Thank you.
"But I want you to promise me something, alright?" Said Remus, causing Claudia to nod in response.
"You have to write me back at least once a day. You have to tell me what's going on. And if you don't say anything...well, you know. I'm not just doing this to talk to you. I'm doing this to keep you safe."
"I know," she replied. "I'll write, okay? Every day."
"Good," he said, bringing her into a hug as the rest of the boys decided to let them have that one alone. "The book doesn't make a sound or light up or anything, so I get it if you don't respond straight away. Just try to do it once a day."
"I'll probably be staring at it all day," she chuckled. "So expect fast responses. And you've got to give me updates on River! I've got to go now, though, okay?"
"Be careful," he said, breaking the hug. "I love you."
"I love you," she smiled, opening the door and taking her trunk with her. "Bye, boys!"
Leaving them behind, Claudia then found herself in a compartment with Regulus and Nicolas as the train came to a halt.
"You two ready?" Nicolas asked as he stood up but Regulus and Claudia stayed put. "We're going there by ourselves, you know? They're not here."
"We know," said Claudia.
Nicolas paused for a moment as he tried to find the right words.
But he knew that nothing could help.
"Look, I'm not going to stand here and tell you that everything will be fine because you two are definitely not bound to have a good week."
"Geez, Nico, no need to rub it in," Regulus said bluntly.
"Sorry," the boy apologised. "But it's not that bad, okay?"
Claudia stared at him, "What do you mean?"
"It's not that bad," he repeated. "You're not even out of Hogwarts yet so you won't exactly have to go out and do stuff if that's what you think. And he isn't that bad, you know? The Dark Lord. He's a good leader."
"Are you saying that you like this?" Claudia asked with a disgusted look on her face.
"No," Nicolas said calmly. "I don't like all the killing and...stuff, but I just don't think that it is the worst possible fate to have, you know? It's fairly plausible. And I think that you're lucky to be trusted enough to be asked to join."
"They're killing innocent people!" Claudia exclaimed, causing Regulus to become rather uncomfortable. "You don't honestly think that that is plausible?!"
Nicolas sighed, grimacing slightly, "I don't know."
"Do you believe in what the Dark Lord believes in, Nicolas?"
"That's what I've been raised to do, so-"
"But do you believe in it?"
Nicolas stared at his stepsister for a few moments, and then he sighed audibly, picking up his trunk. "Let's go. They're expecting us home by now."
Glaring at him the entire way out of the train, Claudia was suddenly not sure what to do. But she had Regulus and a fairly protectant Nicolas and grandmother, so maybe things would turn out alright.
Though, the slight feeling of hope disappeared the moment she breathed the air of that cold, cold manor again.
As the three came inside the manor, they were created by Clauida's entire "family" and Regulus' parents. However, Evan wasn't there, which explained what Louisa said to her before her eyes could even take in where she was.
"Go upstairs and stay there," Louisa said, and Claudia immediately did as told, doing so far too gleefully because staying in her room all week was the best case scenario.
So, she entered the room, locked the door using magic and hoped for a good night's sleep after the nights spent pacing instead of sleeping due to what was to come.
She sat down on the dusty bed, taking off her clothes and picking up the fake book Remus had given her to see that a message already had been left.
Miss you already. Everything alright so far?
Claudia smiled faintly, getting a quill out and responding as quickly as she could.
Miss you too. Going to sleep now, everything is fine.
And Claudia didn't lie. Everything was fine. No one had made any plans to hurt her that night and she was alone in her room with the door locked and she had a way of communicating with Remus that only made things feel better.
So, she fell asleep early that night; not feeling safe but feeling hopeful.
If only she knew that it was just the calm before the storm.
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