The Love Of A Wizard

CHAPTER 41
An Agreement

Severus came to Claudia late in the evening. He let himself into the room, just as she was hanging up the phone with her mother.
“Hi. I’m almost ready.” She said as she headed for the closet. Severus lazily sat in a chair and watched her change clothes. She felt his eyes on her and it started that familiar prickling sensation she had come so accustomed to She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes and saw him sitting with his hands folded under his chin.
After she had pulled on a sweater she walked over to him. She placed a soft kiss on the base of his neck and breathed in the scent of musky spices he always smelled like. It was her favorite scent in the entire world.
He reached up, slowly, and held the back of her head and kissed her. She felt herself giving in and didn’t even try and fight it. He pulled her to the bed and they spent a blissful hour there.
“I was ready to go…” Claudia joked with him. They dressed again and he lead her out the door and into the night. They walked around the corner of the hotel, into an alley way and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Hold on.” he said. She was reminded of the first time she apparated with him from her home in the country. All that seemed so long ago. The familiar squeezing sensation, she could forever do without, was over quickly. They were standing in another dark, and somewhat rundown, alley way.
“Where are we?” She asked. He walked quickly around a corner and showed her a street sign. She looked and read, ‘Spinners End‘.
“My home.’ he said to her. Her heart beat a little faster and she felt a rush of excitement. She was going to his home. Claudia, unbeknownst to Severus, tapped the small piece of plastic in her ear. This would alert the guys that she was at her destination and they could follow. For she did not distrust Severus. She merely was taking the advice of Nick and not wondering into anymore situations without adequate backup. So they were ready and waiting in the truck, monitoring her moves with GPS tracking. That was the best that they could do.
They arrived on the doorstep of a decrepit house and she watched horrified as Severus tapped the door knob with his wand. This, was his house? She thought. He opened the door and she smiled. Yes, this would be what his house looks like. Books everywhere, one small table and a couch.
“Welcome.” He said. Claudia lifted her eyebrows and starred at him.
“Geezz Severus. Could you have picked a more depressing place to live?” She said. He cut her an evil look and spoke rather harshly.
“I didn’t pick it. My father did. This was my home when I was a child. I inherited it when my parents died. It is useful…” He said as he poured wine into goblets. Claudia immediately felt sorry for saying anything and realized how little tact she had.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” he ignored the last comment and emptied his goblet of wine in one drink. He motioned for her to sit and he pointed his wand at one of the bookshelves. To Claudia’s surprise, it moved and opened up into a stairway. There, standing there was a short, pudgy man looking frightened and bewildered.
“Severus! I didn’t know you had returned! I was just coming up to see what the noise was and-” He stopped talking when he saw Claudia sitting there. His small, beady little eyes scanned her up and down and she was reminded of a mouse when she saw his nose twitch. He turned to Severus and then back to Claudia.
“You! I know who you are! You’re the muggle who killed Grayback!” He squeaked. Claudia gave Severus an annoyed look and Severus snorted.
“Wrong Wormtail. Someone else killed the werewolf that night. Claudia was just delivering, weren’t you?” Claudia nodded her head slowly. She didn’t feel right about being here all of a sudden. And who was this Wormtail? Wormtail…Wormtail…she had heard that name before. But where?
“Sit Wormtail.” Severus commanded, much to Claudia’s surprise. The man named Wormtail hesitated for a moment and only sat when he saw the look on Severus’s face.
“Now, Claudia…this is Wormtail. Otherwise known as Peter Petigrew. He is an old friend of some friends of yours.” Severus said as he poured more wine and sat down. She still couldn’t place him and Severus seemed to read her bewildered face. “This rodent is the reason…no half of the reason the Potters are dead. He was James and Lily’s secret keeper. A poor show of judgment on their part, might I add.” Claudia jerked her head towards the fat little man. She remembered. Sirius spoke of him, the traitor, who gave Voldemort James and Lily.
“Why is he here Severus?” She said sharply. He sat back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. When he spoke, it was to the ceiling.
“Wormtail here gets very confused about whose side he is on. Don’t you Wormtail? For awhile, he was listening at doors and running around, hiding all the time. Then I decided to watch him and realized what he was doing. He was spying.” Severus said. The fat man, Wormtail stood up, knocking his chair over backwards.
“That is a lie Severus! I am not a spy. I am loyal to the Dark Lord. I brought him back didn’t I? He gave me this!” He lifted the sleeve of his shirt and Claudia noticed for the first time, his hand was glowing silver. Severus laughed an empty, knowing laugh.
“Slimy little rat you are Wormtail. I know what you are doing. You forget…I have abilities you know not.’ He said softly. Wormtail stood, breathing heavily and looked at a loss for words.
“My, my, my…we are not at a loss for spies, are we Severus?’ Claudia joked. Severus eyed her from across the table and flashed a smile at her. She smiled back and they sat that way for a moment. For in that instant, she understood what he was doing.
“Sit down Wormtail. We have business to discuss tonight. Claudia, wine?” He asked and she nodded. She sat back and stifled a giggle when Wormtail looked offended he was not offered any. After sitting in silence for a few moments, Severus began to talk again..
“To whom were you planning on going to with the information you have gathered from the Dark Lord’s servants Wormtail?” He asked in a threatening tone.
“It is a lie! I am not-” Severus bolted from his chair and held his wand at Wormtail’s throat. Claudia watched, slightly horrified, as the tiny little man crumbled.
“OK…please! I…I…I haven’t given anything to anyone. I swear it! I was just listening and trying to…to…” He looked as if he could cry.
“To what?” Severus hissed.
“I…just….just…wanted to know…” Wormtail was franticly looking around the room and Severus dug his wand in deeper.
“What reason can you give me to not kill you now?” Severus hissed in his ear. The little man squeaked and was sweating profusely.
“Nothing…nothing…I know I shouldn’t have…but…but…” He stammered.
“But…you are a rat and will always be a rat. To whom were you going with this information?’ Severus asked again.
“I..I..I..didn’t know! I hadn’t planned on-”
“Liar! You were going somewhere tonight Wormtail, weren’t you?” Severus said. Claudia raised her eyebrows and watched intently as she saw Wormtail burst into tears.
“Lupin! I was going to see Remus! Please Severus…have pity…I didn’t do it. I know it was wrong. I just…just…miss my friends.” He said, Claudia noticed, rather smarmy.
“Does the truth ever fall past your lips?” Severus asked. “Claudia. Wormtail here was going to find Remus tonight and give him some information he thinks will be helpful to the Order. See…he is trying to repay a debt…a debt he has with Potter.” Claudia nodded her head. She really didn’t understand anything going on, but she thought it best to pretend.
“I have to! I must! I owe Harry…it was to be only once that I did it. Just enough to warn him…” he stopped talking.
“Warn him of what?” Severus asked.
“Of…of danger. Then…then I can repay my debt and serve the Dark Lord completely again.” He continued to cry and squeak as Severus sat back down.
“What should I do with you Wormtail?” Severus asked him.
“It is not for us to decide Severus. It is none of our business. We could…pretend… to look the other way. For now…and Wormtail can repay his debt to Harry.” Claudia said. Severus nodded and Wormtail got immediately excited.
“Yes! Yes! Then I can come back and no one will know! I beg of you Severus….’ Severus gave a snort and looked at Claudia. He then took a long drink of his wine and nodded his head slowly.
“If I agree Wormtail to look the other way and allow you to continue this…folly. What is it that I get in return?” Severus asked. Here Claudia’s ears perked up. Interesting…
“Whatever…you…you want Severus. But Please do not tell the Dark Lord!” He begged.
“Alright Wormtail. You have my silence. However…you need to hear what it is I want, before you agree.” He said softly.
“Anything! Anything at all!” Wormtail said rather loudly. Severus placed his glass on the table and looked at Wormtail.
“I wish you to kill Nagini.” Silence.
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A/N: Ohh...interesting. Will he do it? Claudia is stepping out into the \"dark side\" a little, huh? What we do for our men.....Please Review!