The Love Of A Wizard

Picking Up The Pieces

Claudia lay on the ground still clutching the hand of a man. She rolled over and looked into the face of Sirius Black.
“Oh my God…” She said. Shock spread through her body like cold water being thrown on her. Remus came running up behind them and stared down at them.
“Is he…” Nick had his head in his lap and looked up at Remus.
“He is alive.” Nick motioned for the others to help him and they lifted Sirius up and carried him to the steps. Claudia sat and cried. To her right, lay young Harry Potter, being cradled by his friends and other members of the Order. But Claudia wept alone. The remaining Death eaters were promptly gathered by the elves and put into more blue bubbles. The Goblins that were fighting with Voldemort had disappeared and all that was left now was their bitter sweet victory. For the darkness had fallen.

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It was over a week before Sirius was able to talk to them. Claudia tended to him around the clock, for she didn’t have anything else to do. When he lay sleeping in her bed, she sat weeping over the amulets Severus had left her. His amulet broken. Hers, shining a deep black. For Severus knew he would die that night, Claudia was sure of it. He gave her his amulet to say goodbye. No one had yet been able to figure out when exactly Claudia’s amulet had stopped working. But it had protected her as she reached through the veil. Afterwards, it just glowed black and was not able to deflect spells any longer. Claudia believed that the amulet protected her because Severus died loving her. She believed he loved her still, somewhere in death. The only injury Claudia suffered was the arm that she had reached inside the veil. She never regained full feeling in that arm.

But finally, Sirius was able to talk and move about. He remembered nothing except waiting. He said he had the feeling as if he were waiting for something and then the next thing he knew, there was a hand. He was never as boisterous as he was before his fall into the veil, but with time, he became Sirius once again. Emma came back and was happily surprised to see her two friends Sirius and Remus returned to her. Remus and Tonks came by to visit often and they enjoyed quiet nights and peaceful days. Remus and Tonks told them the news of everyone else that had been a part of that fateful night.

Minerva returned to her post as Headmistress of Hogwarts. The Weasley’s were spending time together at the Burrow. For they were lucky beyond reasoning. They lost no one in the war. Hagrid had married Madame Maxine almost directly after the war was over. It was rumored that Neville was engaged to the weird girl, Luna. Though no one knew for sure. He was teaching Herbology and Luna had taken up post with her father at his newspaper. Ron and Hermione were still together, though no talk about marriage from either of them. The remaining Death eaters were imprisoned in Azkaban with a life sentence. All except for Draco Malfoy.

And they had buried Harry Potter in a private ceremony at Hogwarts. Other funerals, including Alastor Moody’s, happened very quickly with little recognition. For the Ministry of Magic wanted desperately to put the whole business behind them. Only a small paragraph about the downfall of Lord Voldemort appeared in the ‘Daily Prophet‘. However, rumor had it Luna was writing a spectacular account to be published in her newspaper within a month. For it was a matter of weeks before the truth finally came out in its entirety. Hermione and Ron filled everyone in on what really had been happening. They also were the ones who told others of Severus’s innocence.

Draco, after many months, sent Claudia a letter explaining that his mother told him the truth about his father. And he asked if it were possible, after he returned from traveling abroad, could he come and see her? Claudia wrote him back and said yes.

The guys took off for more relaxing endeavors and they promised they would be back soon. For they had to come back for the wedding.

Claudia had allowed herself the luxury of falling in love with Sirius. He said he loved her, not despite the fact that she loved Severus Snape, but because of it. So the night he got down on one knee and produced a pink tulip from his wand and proposed to her, she accepted. She had learned to not take love for granted. Though she still saved a part of her heart for Severus, she loved Sirius deeply.

After much debate and discussion, Claudia consented to a double wedding. Remus and Tonks were married along side Claudia and Sirius. On a bright afternoon in September, Claudia became Sirius’s wife in her backyard in the country. A mere three months after the fall of Lord Voldemort.

********

Claudia still brought the amulets out of her jewelry box every now and again. Especially lately. For her expanding waistline was keeping her indoors of late. She and Sirius had spoken at great lengths and they decided that they hoped it would be a boy. For his name would be James Severus Black. The growing child within her would one day know of his real father. They would tell him how he was brave, strong and a hero. And how he saved the world with the love of a wizard.

THE END
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A/N: Well...there you have it folks! Hope you liked it! Above any stories I ever write, this wil always be my favorite. Please drop me a line and let me know what you think of this fic. I appreciate all of the reviews and well wishes...I write these for you guys!