The Love Of A Wizard

CHAPTER 13
Birthday Parties

Claudia had a hard time calming herself as she sluggishly pulled herself into bed. The sun was rising, and she knew that Emma would be up soon. She just wanted a few minutes to herself to ponder the night’s events. Severus kissing her. Severus touching her. The things he said as they worked their own magic together. Most of his words were inaudible, but she caught words like “Unbelievable” and “Need”. But she remembered most the look in his eyes. At first, he was almost charming and flirtatious. Then he became almost…desperate. His eyes clouded over and he looked more at peace than she ever thought possible for him. As they held each other, knowing the end of the night was upon them, he kissed her bare shoulder and asked her to come back to him soon. She vaguely remembered being the one who was asking to see him again not more than a day ago. As she turned to go, she looked back and saw him sitting in the chair, staring into the fire. His face was back to an empty mask, void of all feelings.
Claudia lay for more than an hour before she realized, she would get no sleep. Might as well get coffee. So she dutifully made a pot of coffee and went to check her email. No messages. She shrugged her shoulders and realized how sore her body was. This made her smile a satisfying smile.
Mid-morning, after Emma was already up and around, Tonks and Molly came to visit. Bursting forth from the fire place, bringing energy and warmth back into the house.
“Morning Claudia dear!” Molly was already tightly embracing Emma as she spoke. Molly, became somewhat of a grandmother or aunt to Emma. She knew how to charm anyone, Claudia thought. I am in trouble in a few years.
“So Claudia…how is everything?” Tonks helped herself to coffee and stifled a smile. Claudia shook her head and smiled.
“Everything is just peachy. And you? How is everything with you?” She gave her most annoying, knowing look. Both woman laughed.
“What is so funny?” Molly had finished coddling Emma and joined the two sitting at the table.
“Oh…Tonks enjoys being nosey.”
“Nosey? About what?” Molly asked.
“Nothing.” Claudia shook her head to dismiss further questioning. “How’s the new digs?”
“Oh that place! I have never seen such a wonderful place gone to utter rubbish! We have a lot of work to do before it is even really inhabitable.”
“Yeah mate, it’s disgusting.” Tonks said in between sips of coffee. “Sirius really hates that place.”
“Yeah, he told me about it once. His parents were into some pretty shady stuff apparently. He ran away when he was seventeen.” Claudia’s heart flopped in her chest at the mention of Sirius. She knew how he hated it there and how miserable he would be. Had she not got involved with Severus…No…she would not regret Severus. Not even for Sirius. “So what’s happening on the war front?”
“Just trying to get people to actually believe You-Know-Who is back. The Daily Prophet is having a go at Dumbledore almost everyday. I tell you something,” She leaned into the table. “I have never seen Dumbledore more upset than he is at Cornelius Fudge.”
“That’s the truth. If I was Fudge, I would be cowering behind my desk begging Dumbledore to help him. But no!” Tonks was very animated and descriptive when describing what she thought this Fudge was. The three women sat and enjoyed a nice morning together, finishing their coffee and completely tearing poor Fudge to tiny pieces and eating him up.
Tonks and Molly left some time before lunch to meet with Dumbledore. Claudia was so sad to see them go. All she wanted was for things to go back the way they were before…NO she told herself again. Do not do that. It isn’t Severus’s fault. If anything, it was her fault. She knew she had to try and make amends with Sirius soon. But not right now. Right now, she wanted to float away into her memories of last night. And look forward to more. Sirius be ****ed.
Severus and Claudia met just about every night in their cottage in the woods. Claudia suggested more than once that they should consider meeting in her house, seeing as though no one was staying there now. But Severus was attached to their hideaway cottage. Claudia envisioned them entering a fantasy world every time they met there. He conjured wine out of mid air and poured them into wine glasses that were once Claudia’s slippers. They had fallen into the habit of reading to each other by candle light. Severus’s long thin body laid out on the floor made a wonderful pillow for Claudia’s head. His voice was Claudia’s magic. Smooth, low and deep. He read to her from random books they picked from the shelves. Oh, to hear him read Dante Alighieri’s Inferno was heartbreaking. Sometimes, as he read, she would watch his eyes dart back and forth on the page. His lips barely moving and his brows slightly drawn together. She would absently play with his long black hair, curling it between her fingers. Greasy, stringy hair it was. But it was HIS.
Weeks went by, Claudia celebrated her twenty-seventh birthday with a small dinner party. All of the Weasley’s (Fred and George being her all time favorite people), Tonks, Lupin, Minerva (Whom she didn’t know very well, but liked all the same), Hagrid and Mundagus all were in attendance. But no Sirius. She had sent an owl to him asking him to come. No response. Severus did not come either, but this was prearranged. He said he would be by later to give her her gift. She would be surprised if he gave her one at all.
The night was full of laughter and food. Molly conjured all kinds of food to the table, including a wonderful drink called Butterbeer. But Claudia learned that she preferred the fire whiskey Mundagus passed to her in a flask better. There was dancing too, mostly from the Weasley Twins. They had to be the most jovial people Claudia had ever had the pleasure of dancing with. Claudia received an array of gifts from her new friends. Molly knitted her and Emma matching sweaters that brought tears to her eyes. Tonks gave her a book called Wizard Love by Mandel Stockington. It appeared to be a trashy wizard romance novel. Tonks and Claudia had a good laugh at that, much to everyone’s bewilderment. Hagrid brought her flowers and Mundagus handed her his flask of Firewhisky with a wink and “’appy Birthday.”
The party was short lived However. The Order members were needed back in London. Some apparated and some left using Floo powder. Goodbyes all around and hugs and kisses from everyone. Including a very hairy one from Hagrid. Claudia decided the mess could wait until morning. She had another party to attend, and she was running late.
When she reached the cottage, Severus was there and sitting sipping wine from a goblet. He stood as she entered.
“You’re late.”
“No, I’m here right when I meant to be.” She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Where is my present?” He fought a smile that was dancing on his thin lips.
“Patience is not a strong point for you I take it.” He said as he gestured to a brown package on the small table. Claudia went to it and picked it up. It was small, about the size of a pocket book.
“Can I open it now?” She brought it in front of the fire and sat down. Severus stretched his cat like body on the floor.
“By all means.” She carefully opened the paper and revealed a small book. It was black, leather bound, and had no name on the spine. In fact, There was no writing on it anywhere. She looked at his face with a questioning look.
“The gift, is not the book. For in fact, that belongs to me. Your gift is what is in the book.” He gently took it from her and opened it to a page that had been dog eared. He turned it around for her to read. It looked like a recipe. Herkimer diamond dust, amethyst dust, dried violet leaves…these she understood. But there were things here she didn’t understand. What’s a lacewig? What’s a mealerag? Claudia frowned and looked at Severus. He pointed to small writing at the bottom of the page.
“Read it.” He was so casual as he tipped his wine glass back and drained the glass. Claudia motioned for him to get her some. He obliged with a flick of his wand. Claudia read:

Coagmento Pectus,
Or the joining of souls through magically linking two or more people to each other. One of the most advanced protection and psychic shield potions known to date, it should be created under extreme caution. If one or both parties are not true in their love, the potion is rendered useless and possibly dangerous.

She didn’t know what to think. She just stared at the page and kept reading the paragraph over and over. Severus eyed her from beneath lazy eyes and sat up to face her.
“Do you understand it?” She shot him terse look.
“Of course I understand it. It’s a love potion or something.” Severus shook his head and frowned.
“No. Love potions are for silly school girls. This my love, is something far more…intense. I will skip the details-”
“Please do.” Severus pretended her didn’t hear her.
“-but the basic idea is that through a potion, this potion, two people have a piece of the other’s love. A piece of them that loves that person. That’s why it is so dangerous. If you don’t truly love that person you can take something different.”
“What could you take?” He shrugged his shoulders quickly.
“I have never done this particular potion before. This is old magic. Mostly used in religious rituals long ago. But I know it is powerful. It has the ability to link one another together. One could say they would know of their loved ones well being at all times. Protection from evil and psychic intrusion.”
“Severus…you want to do this? This is my birthday present?” Claudia’s eyes were already brimming with tears. Severus moved forward and held her face in his hands. They were kneeling now, in front of the fire and he looked deeply into her eyes.
“I see what has happened between us. I feel it. Every moment of everyday. That is both dangerous for me and liberating. “ Claudia choked back sobs. She wasn’t sure why she was crying, only that she never expected this. Did she really love him? Yes. She knew she did. That animalistic, blindly follow you love. The kind of love that is understood without words. He wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
“Severus…are you trying to tell me that you love me?” She whispered.
“I could tell you everyday for years and there would still be a little doubt in you. Oh Claudia...yes…I know what you think sometimes. You forget, I can see in you. I have the advantage to do that. You do not.” He was trying to level the field. Nothing could have prepared her for this tonight. As much as she adored Severus, she always thought this moment was not possible. She didn’t think it could be possible for her either. But here they were, knelling on the floor, making plans to magically declare their love for one another with a powerful potion she didn’t completely understand. But she knew she wanted this more than anything in the world.
“Well…” He kissed her softly on her neck and waited for his answer. She closed her eyes and gave into every feeling she had. While tears of happiness still fell from her eyes, she whispered, “Yes Severus.”


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A/N: Don\'t we all want to whisper, \"yes Severus...\"
S no replies as of yet huh? Is it really that bad? Or are you all waiting for the action? Either way, I hope to get some sort of response...I hope you are enjoying it if you are reading!