"So let me get this straight, you asked Claire and she said yes?" Dean asked Seamus as the sat with Harry, Neville, and Ron that night in the dormitory.
"You asked Claire to the dance rats I was planning on doing that." Neville said annoyed.
"Sorry mate you snooze you lose." Seamus said.
"Claire said yes to you?" Harry said Seamus and Dean stopped laughing.
"Oh Harry I forgot you two dated for a while you don't mind do you mate?" Seamus said trying not to laugh.
"Why should I mind Seamus?" Harry asked looking at him now.
"I don't know because you two are so close I figured she would ask you." Seamus said.
"She told me she wasn't going I asked Ginny but she is going with Dean so Cho and I are going." Harry said.
"Well she said no to me at first but Hermione did something so she changed her mind." Seamus said.
"You mean she rejected you at first." Ron said.
"I bet she did." Harry said pulling his covers down and climbing into his warmed bed.
"Look Potter I can hear the jealousy in your voice, I'm sorry if she wants to move on from you." Seamus said.
"It's not me she has been sad over you know…Seamus it's Cedric he died." Harry said.
"What does Cedric have to do with any thing?" Seamus said.
"Gosh Seamus you are daft, Claire is in love with Cedric she is trying to get over him." Harry said.
"Well how was I supposed to know I barely knew the guy?" Seamus said.
"He was your brother's best friend I believe?" Harry said.
"Yeah so my brother doesn't know Dean so really it shouldn't matter." Seamus said, "Maybe I can help Claire get over Cedric completely."
"Don't force any thing on her Seamus…she is very smart she'll pick up on you if you try to force her out of any situation happy or sad." Harry said.
"Thank you Harry but I think I have a clear idea on what kind of a person Claire is." Seamus said.
Harry shook his head and rested back into his pillows was he jealous that Claire was moving on he'll have to watch her and see how she really was coping.
The next day was Saturday and Claire was ready to tell Patrick about Cedric, she knew they were best friends and really did not feel he should be kept in the dark by her silence.
She saw Patrick alone at the Hufflepuff table he looked nothing Seamus he was more slender and had the most gorgeous long shoulder length black hair and very deep green eyes he had muscle but he wasn't too buff. He was the head boy that year which gave reason for him not being out of school yet.
Claire walked up to him and sat next to Patrick on the bench. Patrick looked at her briefly then turned his head back to his work.
"What can I do for you Claire?" He asked in his deep Irish accent.
"I have to tell you something it's about Cedric." Claire said.
Patrick looked up and right at Claire her soft blue eyes were full of sorrow and what he also saw… shame.
"What about Cedric?" Patrick said though he did not know why he asked.
"He is dead…by the hand of Voldemort, but it was a month ago and I did not have the strength to come to you." Claire said.
"Who told you this?" Patrick said, "I ask you this because it disgusts me to think that you would accept his death so readily."
"Please don't draw me back into that darkness Patrick I need to accept that he is gone." Claire said her eyes burning.
"He isn't dead, Claire you of all people should be the one to not believe it." Patrick said.
Claire clasped her hands on the table before her and looked away from him, warm tears started to fall on them and Claire had fallen backward into her misery.
"Patrick please he has been gone from me for two years I cannot hold onto him like a child." Claire said.
"You say this because you are used to losing people Claire." Patrick said.
"There you see it my mother, my father, and now him what else to I have but to accept it…Patrick the last time I saw him he was beaten and almost dead on the floor of a wine cellar." Claire said
"Then who is to say that he is dead Claire?" Patrick said.
"Professor Snape." Claire told him.
"Snape how would he know?" Patrick said.
Claire moved closer to him, "Snape is a Deatheater."
"I see so he should know." Patrick said.
"Yes and my grandfather has the nerve to trust him…he was even making some request to Snape when I went to talk to him." Claire said.
Patrick lifted his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, "Take care Claire if you ask me I'll be here for you?"
Claire looked up into his gaze and smiled slightly, "I shouldn't be seen with you like this I just told your younger brother I'd go to the dance with him." Claire said.
"I see…my brother isn't quipped for healing girls, Claire you and I have something in common." Patrick said removing his arm.
"What is that?" Claire said.
"We both care a lot about him enough that we care for one another in turn." Patrick told her.
"Do you mean that Patrick…do you care about me?" Claire asked.
Patrick wiped her tears away with his thumbs than tapped the tip of her nose with his index finger.
"I do you are a nice girl, I liked you when he was dating you that is why it seemed to you I did not like you Claire." Patrick told her.
"You should have said something." Claire said.
"When he's my best friend no way." Patrick said.
Claire looked down at her hands, "I like you Patrick but can you give me time I just have to know how I really feel and if I can really move on from Cedric."
"Take as long as you want Claire…I think we'll know when it is the right time for us." Patrick said.
Claire smiled at him then stood up; she bent over and kissed his cheek then left the hall.
She was out side and leaned back into the wall she smiled and put her hand over her heart and it felt fine it didn't hurt, was Cedric really becoming a memory like her mother and father. She couldn't help but smile as she bit her lip thinking about Patrick and how sweet he was she could do it she could move on at last.
Voldemort stepped beside Cedric Diggory's body he placed a broken piece of mirror at his nose.
"The boy is still alive Wormtail give him more of the elixir I want him alive but not strong." Voldemort said.
Cedric's eyes opened he gazed up at the man and opened his mouth to say something but Wormtail forced something down his throat.
He swallowed it with difficulty and looked at Voldemort, "Let me see her please."
"You precious Claire is going to die along side Harry Potter, Diggory and in the end you'll join me and if she is smart so will she." Voldemort said.
Cedric felt the effect of the elixir that he had been fed for the longest time…it was the drink that barely kept him alive and made him suffer. But he had one hope and one thought that really made him numb to any pain and that was Claire.
The dance came too quickly Claire was ready in her dress at the top of the stairs to the dungeons Seamus showed up moments later looking proud that Claire was going with him. But her mind was on Patrick whom she saw with a seventh year blond named Fanny Hamilton. Claire danced a while with Seamus and then with Ron and Harry. Seamus complained that he didn't see why she had to dance with them.
"They are my friends I am sorry you don't like that Seamus." Claire said becoming irritated with him.
"Look you're my date and I really think that you should just stick with…oh Patrick what is it?" Seamus said.
"Hello Claire." Patrick said
Claire smiled up at him and lifted her mask off, "Hello Patrick wow I hardly recognized you ha."
"Well I've never been to a masquerade this is much fun." Patrick said, Claire laughed in agreement.
"Patrick he where is your date?" Seamus asked.
"Oh she's gone to bed early with headache." Patrick told them.
Claire was having a hard time concealing her pleasure that Patrick was there and Dean was eyeing her suspiciously, Ginny just looked delighted that Claire seemed to be moving on.
"Why don't you join us Patrick?" Ginny said waving to the chair next to Claire.
He was quick to accept and he was busy talking with every one at the table.
It was just after midnight when Seamus, Dean, Ginny, and the others at the table left. Claire found herself alone with Patrick she smiled at him her mask laying forgotten beside his on the table as the two sat close talking.
"I think you look very beautiful really Claire." He looked around the room there were very few people a good thirty and some music was still playing.
"We should get our dance it's the end of the evening?" Claire suggested.
"I'd like that and then we say good night as friends and wake as a new lovers Claire." Patrick said as he pulled her close to him.
"Do you mean that?" Claire asked.
"Must you doubt every word I say you silly girl?" Patrick asked back turning her chin up and he gently kissed her jaw line.
"Alright I see so today you mean it is after midnight and the first of November." Claire told him.
"Of course if you wish to get technical yes today Claire." Patrick said, "I honestly never thought I'd be saying this to the girl who beat up Cho Chang in the Three Broomsticks two years ago."
"Hey don't bring that up she deserved it." Claire said playfully smacking his arm.
"True she did…but you look hot when you're mad you know." Patrick joked.
"Well I shall try to be angrier for you Patrick." Claire told him laughing.
"Kiss me Claire." Patrick said.
Claire stood still she looked around they were almost the only ones left except for Neville and a girl from the third year.
She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him, her mind was sent flying into the memory of kissing Cedric but she fought her mind and shut out the ghost of Cedric and felt the flesh and blood of Patrick beneath her hands.
A single tear fell down her cheek she knew then that she had moved on it was with him now that she felt her heart was happy again.
"Black? No way Patrick, if Cedric found out he might rise from the dead just to kill you." Patrick's friend told him the next day.
Patrick toned out his friend who rambled on aimlessly about how hot he thought Claire was, he was watching the door for her it was a Sunday that day and he was looking forward to seeing her, he then saw her arm in arm with Ron Weasley and his heart sank she was laughing with him and Harry Potter. They met up with the muggle Hermione Granger and it seemed like she did not notice him at all.
Then she looked and a huge smile played across her face, she made her way over but stopped as his younger brother obstructed his vision of her.
"Seamus what do you want?" Patrick asked him trying to look as Claire left the hall chatting animatedly with Granger.
"She's suicidal you know Patrick, I stopped her first attempt in the Astronomy tower a month ago." Seamus told him.
"Seamus why would you say that about her?" Patrick asked him.
"Because you are just a replacement…I don't want you hurt by her she's fickle." Seamus said his fists clenched at his side.
"Look let me make my own mistakes if this is one." Patrick said.
"It is she's not for you can't you see it every one sees her crying or hiding out, she'll hurt you and I've told mum about it." Seamus said.
"Well thank you very much Seamus great now mum is going to write back with some lecture about me dating when I should focus on school." Patrick said.
"Just face it Patrick she'll break your heart, she isn't exactly from a very clean family…full of purebloods and you know Hera Lestrange the one who humiliated you by pretending to like you then there was that very rude public break up." Seamus started, "Yeah you remember…well Claire is her second cousin and is close fiends with Kara."
"Okay so what Seamus she is a part of Hera's family, I don't pick her family." Patrick said.
"So I'm sure she is just like that…proud to be a pureblooded Black and Dumbledore's heir." Seamus said his plan was working Patrick was having doubts, "Besides she is apparently gone on Ron Weasley he talks about her all the time and how along they get."
Patrick thought about her linking arms with Ron himself when she entered the room. Maybe she didn't know what she was saying last night as they danced he wanted to talk to her but felt that maybe her should stay away till he found the words to say to her.
Claire had been eager all day to see Patrick but her practices for Quidditch were keeping her away, and Adrian was cornering her every second he got. So far her new budding relationship was not really working out.
"Claire come on lets go to Hogsmeade together…if they ever announce a trip." Adrian said leaning casually on his broom stick as Claire wrote out the plays for the rest of the team.
"One I have a boy friend now, two with Voldemort out there they wont schedule a trip to Hogsmeade, and Three I told you I don't date people from my own house any more after Draco I've had enough." Claire said tapping her pencil on his nose.
"Aww Claire c'mon I know you like me anyway." Adrian said.
Claire laughed she was almost in tears and she looked at Adrian who also laughed.
"Okay, okay look I'm sorry I keep asking but I can't help it Claire I just really like you…a lot more than Millicent Bulstrode, you're a babe Claire lets face it." Adrian said.
Claire rolled her eyes and looked at him again, "Adrian were we in a different situation I would gladly give myself over to being your girlfriend but when I just told someone namely Patrick Finnigan that I would be his girlfriend it would be foolish of me to throw that away so quickly."
"Alright I conclude I still think you and I should be together." Adrian said with a wink and left the pitch.
Shortly after he left Asteria came over to her, "Wow Claire he really likes you."
"I've noticed." Claire said rather bluntly.
"But you are dating that head boy Patrick Finnigan, but he's not a pureblood like Adrian is." Asteria said
Claire looked at Asteria she was a thirteen year old girl who was very beautiful. Her blond hair was very long and Claire for a moment felt a pang at her heart this girl looked like her mother did in all those pictures she had found. But in Asteria's eyes there was a certain boldness and need to be on top; Claire had heard that she was like a Slytherin Hermione having answers for every thing.
"Claire you are Draco's cousin aren't you?" Asteria asked.
"Yes I am why?" Claire asked.
The bold thirteen year old girl lifted her head high as I sign of her arrogance.
"Because I'm going to marry him someday, and I need your help…I'll talk to you later about this." Asteria said and she walked off haughtily.
"Indeed." Claire replied as she watched the girl disappear into the changing rooms.
Thank you!
