The Love Of A Wizard

CHAPTER 38
All together now


Claudia couldn’t scream. She couldn’t move. She felt her face flush red from embarrassment and rage.
“You!” Harry yelled. Claudia wasn’t sure who he was yelling at. Severus stood with his wand pointed at Harry and the three young wizards were standing close together, still pointing their wands at Severus and Claudia.
Severus gave a flick of his wand and the door repaired itself. No one moved or said another word. Claudia looked back and forth between the trio and Severus, wondering what was going to happen next.
“Haven’t heard from him, huh?” Harry spat at Claudia. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She realized how bad this seemed and how the three young wizards must feel.
“Harry…you have to listen to me-” He cut her off.
“I don’t have to listen to anyone! You….you…” He raged at her and she saw Hermione flick her eyes at Harry.
“Put your wand down Potter. You can’t do anything to either of us.” Severus crooned. Harry did not lower his wand. He was breathing so hard Claudia saw his nostrils flaring and sweat begin to form on his forehead. Claudia stepped out from behind Severus and spoke to Hermione.
“Hermione. Please…listen for just a moment to what I have to say. This can all be explained. I promise.” Claudia pleaded.
“Don’t talk to her!” Ron bellowed. Claudia was taken aback by the tone of his voice. He was always so mild mannered, like the other Weasleys.
“One of you has to listen-” She was cut off by Severus.
“They will not listen to anyone. They enjoy making a fool out of anyone who tries to help them. See Claudia, they think they know everything. When in truth, they know next to nothing.” Severus said. Claudia was beginning to get angry, but they were all stirred from their thoughts by a pounding at the door. Boom, boom, boom!
Claudia walked to the door, knowing who was on the other side and opened it. There stood her friends, some with guns drawn, all of them with fierce anger on their faces.
“Put those away.” She said in Russian to them.
“What is happening?” Nick asked, looking frightened. Claudia opened the door more and revealed Severus, still pointing his wand at the trio, who were still pointing their wands at him. Claudia rolled her eyes and ushered them all in.
So here she was with Severus, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Nick, Zulu, Bones, Rod, Chester and Antonio, all looking from one person to the next. Claudia could stand it no longer.
“Severus, put your wand down.” She scolded him. He flinched for just a moment and lazily lowered his wand. Claudia turned towards the three wizards and addressed all of them.
“I ask that you all three do the same. Severus was telling the truth, you can’t use any magic on us. Rather, any of your magic will not work.” She lifted the amulet that shone an angry red and everyone eyed it.
“It still works?” Hermione asked. “I read that if you don’t love the other wearer of the amulets, that they lose their powers. So you…” She was thinking fast and Claudia prayed she was thinking along the correct lines.
“Of course they still work.” Snapped Severus. “I, unlike some of you here, am very accomplished when it comes to Potions.” He said with his back turned to them. Claudia looked and realized with a snort, he was making more tea.
The young wizards must have gotten tired of holding their wands, because they lowered theirs too. Only Harry’s wasn’t all the way down. Claudia shook her head and faced Severus.
“Well? Here they are! Everyone is waiting for something and I can’t tell everything. So you need to start talking to them.” Claudia said, rather sternly to Severus’s back.
“What can he say? He killed Dumbledore! He was the one who told Voldemort about the prophecy-”
“What prophecy?” Zulu cut in. everyone turned to look at him. It was most out of character for Zulu to say anything at all, much less in the presence of strangers.
“I’ll explain later.” Claudia said to him.
Severus sipped his tea and sat at the table again. Everyone was quiet and watching his every move. He flicked his wand sharply and nine chairs appeared out of no where.
“I guess this means we’re supposed to sit, huh?” Bones said. A few laughs and titters and everyone sat. Almost everyone. Silence.
“Severus!” Claudia yelled. She gestured to everyone sitting, at attention, waiting for something to happen. She also realized, that Harry didn’t sit.
“Harry…please sit and listen…” Claudia pleaded with Harry who ignored her and she threw Severus a pleading glance as he sipped his tea. These good for nothing childish men! She thought. Fine, it was up to her.
“Severus, if you won’t. I will.” She warned him. He reached out his hand and beckoned Claudia to him. She took his hand and sat at the table with him. She realized, his hand was sweaty and he was holding to hers tightly. She gave him a squeeze of solidarity and he took a deep breath.
“Where to begin…” He mused, almost to himself. Harry’s voice broke out loudly.
“How about when you murdered Dumbledore! Try that! I was there! Did you know that? I saw you kill him. So don‘t try to deny it!” Harry was raging and Claudia could only imagine the anguish he felt.
‘I have never denied that. But to start there, would be like reading a book from the last page to the first. No…I have to go father back. But I need to tell you that once I start, I insist I be allowed to finish with NO interruptions. Once I tell you all, since some of us” he sneered at Harry. “have not mastered Occlumency, I will be in danger once more.”
“I don’t care about you being in danger!” Harry screamed.
“Severus, stop playing around. Just talk.” Claudia said curtly. He nodded with an amused look on his face.
“I see you are aware of certain…mistakes I have made. I-”
“Mistakes! You call getting my mum and dad murdered a mistake?”
“I said no interruptions Potter!” Severus screamed. Claudia had had enough.
“That’s it. Harry shut the hell up! Severus you need to stop acting like a child. You have no reason to speak this way to Harry. He has EVERY reason to speak this way to you! Remember that! Start by telling him about his mother-”
“What about his mother?” Hermione asked. Harry was standing still and staring at Claudia.
“Severus?” Claudia said. He nodded.
“Your mother was a good person. A strong willed woman who was fierce in everything she did. She was talented at potions. Aided by me...and my mother.” he flicked his eyes at Harry. “She tried to help make my life better during our years at Hogwarts and I was indebted to her. I admit it was I who informed the Dark Lord of the prophecy, but I was unaware as to when you were born. For I also did not hear that part of the prophecy…until much later. I had no idea it would lead to her death. Or your father’s. The Dark Lord was so grateful for what I gave him, he allowed me to make a request. I requested that your mother’s life be spared once I knew who it was he would destroy. When the Dark Lord said she needn’t have died, it was because he was allowing her to live due to my request. However, due to her…choice to sacrifice herself for you…he did not keep that word.” Severus’s voice was the only sound to be heard. He sipped his tea and continued.
“At that time, another woman I knew was forced into doing something she did not want, at the Dark Lord’s request. Claudia my love, I have kept this from you for no other reason but necessity. I beg your patience and forgiveness.’ Claudia was feeling her heart race and beat loudly in her ears. She was barely able to nod. All eyes were on her and Severus as he spoke. For this time, he addressed her alone.
“I was in love…with a woman once before you. Her name, was Narcissa. We were very much in love and planned to be married. However…the Dark Lord thought it best I go to Hogwarts and teach, living the bachelor lifestyle and Narcissa should marry another. Lucius Malfoy. They soon had a son, Draco.”
“Pro-whatever…Is Draco your son?” Hermione asked with wild eyes. Every head turned back to Severus and waited with baited breath.
“You may call me whatever you wish. And it is possible that Draco is my son.” Claudia felt the room spinning. Severus looked into her eyes and Claudia squeezed his hand once more. It was alright. She tried to tell him.
“What about Dumbledore?” Harry asked. This time, his voice was slightly lower and more thoughtful. Severus nodded and stood to grab the Pensieve on the desk. He placed it on the table and leaned, with his arms crossed, on the wall.
“I am forced to show you the memory I hid with Claudia now. For I know you will not accept what I have to say without seeing it for yourself. You are all aware of how a Pensieve works? Then let us each grab hold of anyone not carrying a wand.” Severus reached out for Claudia and also allowed Nick to come to him. Everyone was waiting and Severus looked at Claudia.
“The time my love…is right.” And he poured the contents of the vial into the pensive. Claudia, as well as everyone else, watched it flow into the basin. He pointed his wand at the white fluid in the bowl and Claudia felt like she was falling. Then…she wasn’t.