The Love Of A Wizard

CHAPTER 10
Retro

July 12th started like any other day. Most of the Order members spent some time at Claudia’s house over the past week and a half. But this day was different. Not only would she be actually doing something for the Order, she would be doing it with Severus.
She was so anxious through the day that two times Sirius asked her if she was OK. He had come back today, probably to keep an eye on Severus, and had been following her around all day. Remus was gone doing something for Dumbledore. Molly was coming over almost everyday helping Claudia with the household duties . She was also staying over to watch Emma while Claudia was gone.
After Claudia inhaled her dinner, she went upstairs to shower. She took her time getting dressed that evening. She looked at the clock. 7:12pm. She put on makeup and fixed her short brown hair. She appraised herself in the mirror. Not bad. She thought. So I haven’t completely lost it. She wore a pair of blue jeans with a sassy red blouse that was breathtaking. It had a plunging neckline, in truth, it almost showed her navel. The back was low cut as well, so that the top of the blouse hooked around her neck and the back connected around her waist. There were strategically placed rhinestones that glittered as she twist and turned in front of the mirror. Last thing, she placed a pair of red, high healed sandals on her feet. If Severus doesn’t die over this, at least I know Sirius will. She laughed and sprayed perfume on her neck and wrists. She looked at the clock again. 7:46pm. She sat on her bed and waited for about five minutes before going downstairs, She had no idea the reaction she would get when she showed up looking like this. It was hot for the muggle world, but probably obscene for the wizard one. She grabbed her handbag and closed her bedroom door. She peeked in on Emma who was just off to bed. She blew her a kiss and closed her door. Down the stairs she went, her heart pumping double time. Sirius was sitting on the couch reading when she entered the living room. He looked at her and his mouth fell open. She flashed him a smile and turned in a circle with her arms out.
“What do you think?” She asked him. She laughed at his face that was frozen in a half smile half surprised look. “I promise, I look just how the others will.”
“You’re beautiful.” He said it in almost a whisper.
“Why thank you.” She swooped down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Just as Molly walked in the room and gasped, Severus walked in the front door. Claudia was enjoying herself immensely. Molly kept trying to adjust her blouse so it wasn’t showing off so much skin and Claudia kept laughing at Sirius’s face. Severus just stood and stared. She caught Severus’s eye and said, “Shall we?” He nodded and out the door they went.
They walked to the yard and Claudia turned to him. “How are we getting there? Driving? Flying?” He turned to face he slowly.
“No. We are apparating there. Come here.” He held out his hand and she took it. “Hold on to me tightly and close your eyes.” She did, but not before she turned her head up towards his and saw his eyes. Beautiful black eyes they were too. She closed her eyes and had the worst sensation of her life. Her whole body was being plunged into a space too small for it. Her ears were popping and her eyes felt like they were going to come right out of her head. In just moments, they stopped and she clung tightly to Severus’s arm. “Can you manage?” he asked her. Still having her eyes closed, she nodded her head. For the first time she realized he was no longer wearing his normal black robes. He was still wearing all black, but they were black pants and a black button up shirt. He looked almost normal.
They had landed in an alley way, and Claudia could hear the distance thump, thump of loud music near . They walked around the corner and the street jumped out at them. People were everywhere and the sidewalks were crammed with young and old people alike.
He led her down the street a little ways to a smaller club named ‘Retro’ in neon lights. They entered the club and Claudia noticed first how dimly lit the place was. They found a table far in the corner to sit. A waitress came along and placed napkins on the table. She was over weight and sloppy looking. Severus couldn’t even look at her.
“What can I get ya love?” She asked, all the while smacking gum. Claudia looked at Severus and saw he was, for the first time, at a loss. Claudia decided it was time she took over.
“Oh, I will have Martini. My friend here will have…red wine.” The waitress muttered something that sounded like have a good time and left. Claudia looked around the room and saw that it was not as packed as the other clubs were, but it had a fair few. Mostly men and a few women scattered through. The place was a bit dodgy, but it was a great place to have a meeting in secret if that is what they were doing.
“So…are you going to tell me who it is we’re looking for?”
“No.” Severus was eyeing the front door, not even looking at her.
“Really? So why am I here?” He finally did look at her this time. He took a deep breath and exhaled it.
“Apparently, some of the Dark Lord’s followers are recruiting others to help them in their cause.”
“So?”
“So, they are recruiting muggles.” He drummed his fingers slowly on the table. The waitress placed the two drinks on the table and left. Claudia looked directly into Severus’s eyes.
“They are recruiting them for what exactly?”
“Well, that is where you come in. Headmaster seems to think this is your area of expertise.” Then the reality of the situation hit her head on. No doubt Dumbledore knew about her life and now he was calling her out of retirement. She looked away and sipped her drink. Sour as they are, Martinis are excellent for calming nerves. They are not good however, if you end up having to fight your way out of a bar.
They sat in silence, each sipping their drinks for an hour or more. The waitress came by twice to see if they needed refills, but they said no. They now had not seen her in half an hour. As the bar saw people come and go, Severus watched the door.
It happened very quickly, that Claudia didn’t have time to say much of anything. She saw Severus’s eyes grow large and a flicker of fear crossed them. Claudia fought the urge to turn around. She instead stared at Severus. He leaned into her and whispered, “I mustn’t be seen.” Claudia’s mind was racing. They could not get up and leave, that would take the right passed whomever it was standing at the door. “They are walking around, they can not see me.” His voice was urgent. She wondered why he didn’t disapparate right there, but realized there were too many people around. Someone would notice if a man up and disappeared. So Claudia did the only thing she could think of in the seconds before the unknown people reached their table. She slowly got up and moved to Severus’s side of the table. She looked him dead in the eye and quietly, as she sat on his lap, she said, “We stay this way until they pass. When they are going the other way we can get up and go. Do NOT move Severus. Trust me.” She was speaking directly to his ear. Her face was but a breath away from his. She could feel his quick, wine smelling breaths hitting her on the face.
For a moment, it felt as if everything had gone still. She was vaguely aware the there was a group of people approaching them from behind. She closed her eyes and said a quick prayer. Severus chanced a look over her shoulder and closed his eyes too. She wasn’t sure if he was praying. Did wizards pray? She had to remember to ask him that when they got home. She felt Severus tense underneath her and she knew too that the unwelcome guests were stopping right next to them. So Claudia did the only thing she could think of. She grabbed Severus ‘s face between her hands and kissed him.
His lips were dry and still. She made a show of wrapping her arms around his neck, thoroughly covering his face. She pressed her lips to his and prayed that he wouldn’t seek revenge for this later. Her ears perked up at the sound of a low, drawling voice near to them.
“Filthy muggles everywhere. Can’t get away from them.” Another voice chuckled and yet another made mention of how disgusting it was to watch them actually kissing.
“Let me curse them.” One said. Another said “No.” They stood there for a few seconds and the first voice said, “There they are.” They moved quickly away, from what Claudia could hear.
She pulled herself from Severus, but stayed very close to his face. She looked down into his face. He was staring right at her with an extremely intense look. They were both breathing very hard, partially because they had come so close to danger and partially because they had kissed for almost ten minutes.
“Where did they go?” She whispered to him.
“Towards the door Lean a little…” He glanced over her shoulder and cursed under his breath. “They are sitting right in the middle of the room.” He looked back at Claudia. She looked back at him and thought how wonderful it was to finally kiss this beautiful man. She only wished it would have been under much different circumstances. He stared at her and then she felt his hand on her back. He was pulling her toward him, pulling her into another kiss. This kiss was different. There was still urgency, but this time he kissed her back. She felt his lips press against hers tightly. After a few more minutes, they separated again and he looked over her shoulder.
“There’re leaving.” His voice was hoarse and low.
“They all are?” She was hopeful that this would all end soon.
“No. The men they came to meet are still here. But there don’t seem to be paying much attention.”
“Should we go?” She really didn’t want to. She looked at Severus again and wished for more time with him. She felt his hands caress her face and he kissed her again. This time slowly and softly, for just a moment. Then he said, “We must go.”. She nodded and they got up to leave. She noticed how different everything was. He helped her to her feet and placed his arm around her waist as they walked out. As they hit the door, Claudia glanced back at the men at the table. Nothing could have prepared her for the utter shock she felt. She stopped dead in the doorway and Severus looked down at her.
“What?”
“No. Oh my God. Go Severus. Go!” They were almost at a run as they left towards the alleyway where they originally apparated. As they quickly walked, Severus asked her if she knew the men in the bar.
“Know them! Yes I know them. And if that Dark Lord of yours is getting them to work for him, then we are all in huge trouble.” They reached the alley and looked around to make sure no one was looking.
“Remember to hold on tightly.” Severus was looking at her the way she had once dreamed he would. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. “Hold on.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. The whole while she felt her body once more being pressed through a small space. But she didn’t care.
Moments later they stopped spinning and were once again in Claudia’s front yard. But they stayed wrapped in each others arms. Every once in awhile pulling away to look at each other. A few moments passed and Severus was running his finger over her cheek. When from out of the darkness she heard, ‘Stupefy!’.
Severus and Claudia were thrown away from each other with such force she felt like a truck had hit her. Severus was on his feet again pointing his wand at, Sirius?
“Claudia! Are you alright? I didn’t mean to get you too. What the hell do you think your doing Snivellus.” Severus aimed a curse at Sirius, but it looked as if he blocked it.
“Sirius! What the hell is wrong with you?” Claudia got to her feet and began cursing Sirius as loudly as possible. He was walking quickly at Severus and Severus stood still waiting. Both had their wands drawn and pointing at the others face. Claudia realized what was about to happen and she jumped in between them facing Sirius. “Stop it now.” Her voice was low and threatening.
“Your joking Claudia. You mean you really want this slim ball touching you?” He was shaking with rage.
“It’s none of your business Sirius.”
“Yes Black, be a good dog and run home and hide.” Severus spat at him.
“Shut up Severus.” Claudia shot over her shoulder.
“Is there a problem?” A new voice was heard this time. All three heads turned up to the front door where Albus Dumbledore stood. He walked out to meet them and eyed both Sirius and Severus until they lowered their wands. “Sirius, could you go inside please.” Sirius looked as if he would explode at any moment. He backed away, not taking his eyes from Severus or Claudia until he reached the door. He slammed the door shut.
“How did it go tonight Severus?”
“It was Malfoy and Goyle. They were meeting a group of men, muggles. Claudia recognized them.” Severus said.
“Did you? Tell me, did they see you there tonight?” Claudia had to fight the impulse to laugh. Then she remembered Dumbledore’s uncanny ability to extract thoughts from her head. She just looked down at her shoes.
“No, I was not seen. They only met briefly and then left. We left shortly afterwards.” Dumbledore turned his attention on Claudia. “Rumor has it Voldemort is recruiting some very questionable people to cause some trouble. People you know?”
“Yes. A long time ago. My friends and I had a run in with them some years ago. These men are brutal Dumbledore. We need to talk about this.”
“ I agree. But not tonight. I am leaving soon and I was hoping you, Severus, would accompany me.” Severus nodded his head and Dumbledore turned back towards the house. Over his shoulder he called, “I have left something of importance to me inside. I should be about three minutes..”
“Severus, I am so sorry.” Claudia grabbed the front of his shirt. He lovingly stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
“Black is nothing. Go inside.”
“When will I see you again?” Claudia refused to let go of his shirt. He pulled hr hands away and kissed her finger tips.
“Soon.” Dumbledore appeared again and he and Severus walked a little ways and then they were gone. Claudia was alone and in the dark. She felt as if the entire night had been a dream. She was numb from too much happening too fast. She walked to the house and into the living room. Molly greeted her and Claudia told her she was very tired. She thanked her for staying and wished her a good night. She saw Sirius’s light on in his room. She didn’t dare knock on his door. She was too angry at him. She went to kiss Emma goodnight and then she went to bed. Her dreams were filled with one person. Severus Snape.

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Hmmm....can\'t you just imgine being put in that position with Snape? And what was Claudia talking about with those guys????