The Love Of A Wizard

Claudia did not see Severus Snape again for a long time. The winter months were in full force and the only news that came from the wizard world was that nothing was happening. Remus worried night and day about Harry and what he had to face in the tournament. He worried about what it meant that Harry was even competing in the tournament. In February, Remus told Claudia about the underwater adventure Harry and the other contestants had to face. Claudia thought this all sounded wonderful and very exciting.
Letters from Sirius continued to come for both her and for Remus. Always saying for her to not worry and that he was being careful and missed them all very much. Claudia felt a pang of guilt as she read his letters because she felt as if he had feelings for her that were more than friendship. She did think he was exciting and fun to be with. But he was no Severus Snape. Remus had on a couple of occasions asked Claudia if she and Sirius were a couple.
“Of course not Remus! What makes you say that?” She almost shouted at him.
“Just that I know Sirius very well. He rarely let a woman turn his head. He was always playing with James and trying to get the biggest laugh from the crowd. But he does look at you though…” He smiled at her as he said this. He looked as if he would burst with laughter at any moment.
“Sirius is my friend. Like you are my friend. I don’t see you out there turning your head at any women. Or perhaps…the woman you want to see keeps popping in and out of here all the time. Tell me, do you not notice that Tonks stares at you constantly?” Claudia knew this would shut him up. Remus never spoke about women and she knew he would be mortified by the thought. On cue, his face flushed a deep pink from his neck to his cheeks and he shook his head.
“You’re wrong. Stop it.” Claudia was laughing uncontrollably.
“If you can’t take it, don’t give it.” Claudia and Remus were wonderful friends. She thought he as indeed very handsome, but he was emotionally cut off from everyone. He disappeared every once in awhile and then showed up looking terrible. Whatever Dumbledore had him doing must be dangerous and scary. She really wanted to know what it was. When he was there, she thought of him as a brother and a friend. He alone knew the majority of her secrets about her life before. They spent many, many hours talking together. Not once, since they became such good friends, did she ever look at him in any way other than a friend. However, she got the impression, as she did when they first met, that he had secrets too.
The rest of winter and into spring was marked by Easter break. After sending out loads of owls, Molly and Arthur Weasley, Their son Bill Weasley, Tonks, Remus , Claudia and Emma sat down for an Easter feast. They dinned on roasted duck, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, vegetables and pie. It was the best evening Claudia had had in some time. They drank wine and swapped stories about their youth. And through it all, Claudia watched as Tonks eyed Remus from her seat. He really didn’t notice a thing. He would talk mostly to Arthur, who in turn kept trying to get Claudia to teach him how to run the vacuum cleaner. By the end of the evening, all were fat and happy from the feast. Claudia was falling asleep in her chair, so Remus scooped her up and carried her to bed. Claudia watched them go with a smile. He was so good with Emma. He would make an excellent father one day. When she turned back to the table, she found herself staring directly into the very unfriendly eyes of Tonks. Her manner had changed completely. Her eyes were narrow, and her mouth was nothing more than a thin line. Claudia frowned, and Tonks looked away. Now that’s strange, thought Claudia. Wonder what’s up with her. The conversation at the table turned to the triwizard tournament at Hogwarts,
“I am sick with worry about him.” Molly said with tears in her eyes.
“Dumbledore will never let anything happen to him.” Arthur patted his wife’s hand as he spoke.
“I just can’t figure out who could have put his name in the Goblet of Fire to begin with…” Molly’s voice trailed off.
“I’ll tell you something,” It was Bill who spoke next. “Severus Snape is still a dodgy character in my book.” With those last words, Claudia’s ears perked up.
“Severus Snape is a powerful wizard. Dumbledore trusts him and besides, he would never let Severus teach at Hogwarts if he were not trustworthy. We should all just trust in old Dumbledore to know, even if we don’t.” Arthur was cleaning his glasses as he spoke.
“Yeah Dad, but still…I mean I just don’t get a good feeling about him.” Bill was pouring more wine for his mother and himself as he spoke. He offered Claudia’s glass, but she knew she had had enough. She already felt a little light headed and drowsy. Remus came back from putting Emma to bed and he joined in.
“Talking about Severus?” He asked.
“Why do you all question Severus? I mean…Dumbledore told me he was coming here and said he was sending a friend. I think Dumbledore is one of the most powerful wizards in your world, why would you not trust his judgment? Claudia was looking in all the faces of the people sitting at her table. Everyone either had downcast eyes or were so deep in thought that they were not focusing anywhere.
“Claudia, I think you can understand that some people are not what they seem.” Remus looked at her as he spoke. He was right of course, but what did that mean?
“Yes. Some of us are not what we seem Lupin.” The voice from somewhere in the dark hallway made everyone jump and turn. Standing in the doorway was non other that Severus Snape. Claudia repressed a smile. Her excitement on laying eyes on him again was almost unbearable. She had a crazy vision of running up to him and throwing her arms around him. His eyes were on her and she actually blushed. How mortifying if he ever knew!
“Forgive us Severus.” Arthur rushed to break the silence. Remus sat with his head bowed and Tonks was eyeing Severus with a nasty look. Molly had gone red and was busying herself clearing the dishes from the table. Bill sat and stared at Severus as he walked into the kitchen. “Can we offer you some wine?”
“No. I need a word with Ms. Moore.” His voice was low and almost a whisper. All eyes moved to Claudia. She hesitated for a moment ,then flashed a wonderful smile in their direction. She looked at Severus standing a little ways from her and gave him her warmest smile.
“Of course Severus.” Claudia actually had a hard time wiping the smile from her face. He turned from the room and Claudia arose from her chair. “I’m, fine.” She assured Remus before meeting Severus in the hall.
“Why don’t we go in here.” She gestured for them to go to her study. In her small, darkly lit study an office chair and a small couch. Claudia motioned for Severus to sit on the couch as she took up post in her chair. Her heart was beating wildly. No Severus, I’m not afraid of you. She thought as they sat down. She made it a point to look him dead in the eyes. You may be a handsome devil, devil you may be. Severus looked deep in his own thoughts for a moment, so Claudia seized the opportunity to break the silence first.
“So? What word would you have with me Severus?” She sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. She couldn’t help her mind racing as she spoke to him about running and plopping right in his lap and kissing that frown away. She waited for his response. Was he actually flustered? His face registered a small amount of shock.
“Dumbledore sends a message to you. He wishes to come and see you during the summer break. Apparently, he says you will be useful to us. You and your friends?” His eyes narrowed as he said it. Claudia’s face fell as he said it. No. It couldn’t be. How in God’s name could Dumbledore know? “He says he wishes to meet your friends sometime this summer if you can arrange it. He didn’t want this message in writing because he knows you have not told anyone. Is he correct?” It was he who sat back now, legs crossed. It was Claudia, whose face registered shock.
“Do you know?” She asked him.
“Parts.”
Claudia bit her lower lip. “Tell him I will do my best. It has been awhile.” Severus nodded, but gave no signs he was ready to leave.
“Another one of Dumbledore’s wishes is for you to accompany me on a short journey.” Still no sign of any emotions now that he had the upper hand.
“A journey?” Claudia could not believe her ears. “Why me?” She had a wild thought that maybe Severus chose her instead, but she quickly realized he could not have. He obviously hated her. She saw no softening of his eyes. Maybe she was wrong about him. Maybe…
“He chose you because you are a muggle. We have intelligence that some rather unfriendly wizards are meeting together and we wish to know more about them. The meeting will be in a pub, a muggle pub, so we will have to go as muggles. What better way to look like one than to travel with one? I will send you an owl shortly when we have more information.” He stood to go.
“And what if I decided not to go with you?” Claudia found herself ready to do battle. Who did this man think he is? Granted he was every bit as attractive and appealing to her as before, but he was pushing his luck. She stood and faced him.
“You wouldn’t.” He smirked at her.
“No?” She raised her eyebrows and stared at him with as much intensity as stared at her.
“Unless you would rather Lupin take you?” This was by far the nastiest look Claudia had seen in some time. She couldn’t help herself, she smiled.
“No Severus. I would much rather torture myself in your company.” Her smile grew wider at the look on his face. “I would much rather go with you.” She really couldn’t help it. He seemed to enjoy getting under people’s skin. He miscalculated her abilities of doing the same.
“I will send word to you of our plans. No one is to know right now. Refrain from confiding in your bosom buddy Lupin everything I have told you tonight.” Claudia kept on smiling. Clearly, this was how to annoy him the most. She nodded her consent and he swept from the room, closing the door with a snap.
A few moments later, a knock on the door told her the others were waiting to hear what had been said. Molly, Arthur, Remus and Bill filed into the office.
“What is going on?” Remus asked.
Claudia waved her hand and sat down again. “Dumbledore had some questions for me. But they are to remain between us. Really it’s fine. I do enjoy it when Severus comes over. Everyone gets so feisty. Where’s Tonks?” Claudia noticed that Tonks was no longer there.
“She said she had to go dear.” Molly answered. But her face was filled with worry.
“What did Severus say?” It was Remus who spoke again.
“Remus, I already told you Dumbledore asked me to keep it quiet for now. Do I ask you what you are doing all the time? No! Please have the same courtesy for me.”
“Of course Claudia, we understand. It’s just that…well…Severus can be hard to handle sometimes. And…” Claudia cut Arthur off.
“Like I told Remus before - I can handle Severus Snape. I am capable of handling more than you can imagine. Please trust me when I say that I can handle it.” She didn’t mean for her voice to be so hard, but she was tired of being handled with kid gloves. If these people only knew…
“Of course, you’re right.” Arthur waved a hand in the air. “If we can’t trust Dumbledore, who can we trust?”
“I think it is time we go home Arthur. Bill, are you coming?” Molly turned to her eldest son.
“No Mum, I think I will stay for a bit longer.”
“Well alright then, goodnight all.” The elder Weasleys left Claudia’s house, leaving Bill and Remus with her. She sat and looked at them both.
“No matter what you say, the conversation between Severus and myself is private.”
“Yes, we understand Claudia. Just be careful with him.” Remus stood and he and Bill left the room. Claudia decided to go to bed after checking her e-mail and sending out some very interesting messages to her friends. As she went upstairs to bed, she waved at Bill and Remus playing a game of chess. She went to her bedroom and closed the door. This was, by far, the most interesting and scary day she had had yet . Obviously there is more to Dumbledore than she knows. How does he do it? Can he read minds? What a scary thought. He would know all about her. It would be worse, she told herself, if Severus could do it. With that thought racing around in her mind, she turned out the light and went to sleep.

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A/N: Does Claudia have a little secret of her own??? Hmmm...