She appeared on the snow covered street, a family was climbing out of a car the one of the children was having a fit. Claire opened her eyes and saw the familiar neighborhood of identical houses. Hanning Street still looked the same as it did three years ago when she use to live there with her mother. Claire looked down at Regulus who was nestled in her arms and admiring the snow falling. Claire dug for the key to her mother's house in her bag that she had as she made her way down the perfect street. After only a few minutes of walking she came to Number 7 and opened the tiny metal gate. She walked up to the door and noticed a few people peeking out their windows at her. She was still in shock that she managed to successfully disapparate and wondered if the ministry was already sending her expulsion letter.

The house was just as she remembered it all of their muggle things still sat in every place it was put years ago. Still pictures of her at school sat on tables and pictures of her and her mother lined the shelves and mantle.

Claire sat Regulus down on the couch and threw some logs on in the fireplace and lit a match. The kindling had caught fire first then the whole hearth hosted a warm inviting fire.

She went the closet she new her mother kept blankets and pillow and made a small bed for Regulus and sat in front of the couch, Claire was surprised no owls had come yet she wondered if her little apparition trick went unnoticed.

Meanwhile lucky for Claire the witch that had been monitoring the under aged magic was a member of the Order saw who apparated and from where, she contacted Mr. Weasley in his office and in hushed tones told him what had happened, "Arthur it was Claire Black and Regulus was with her she found him."

"Oh thank goodness for that I'm going to see my wife and tell her and the others right away." Arthur said.

"And I'll over look the usage of under aged magic, by the way Arthur they apparated to a street in Little Winging called Hanning Street okay?" she said.

"Of course good bye." Arthur said.

The witch tapped her wand on the warning paper "Excused: code 45, Emergency"

Claire sat a wake all night she looked out the window and saw the pink glow of the sun rise and looked at Regulus who was fast asleep his little thumb hanging from his mouth. "I wish I could be there for you all the time…" She whispered pulling the blankets up higher she walked over to the window and peered out, a neighbor was out on his lawn shivering as he was letting his dog out who was taking and extra long time to find a spot to do his business.

She watched as lights were going on in houses…was it Christmas already she looked around the room and saw a drawer slightly open she went over it was her mothers drawer she kept locked all the time Claire pulled it open and found a thick leather album in it, along with stacks and stacks of letters. They were organized into neat little piles with a tag saying who sent them, Claire read the names: Grandfather, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Claudia, Cillia, and Greta. Each individual package contained a fair amount of letters. Then a small leather diary that was pocket size said "Diary of Helga Lavina Dumbledore, Ravenclaw Chaser and Captain"

She smiled as she sat down and opened the photo album, there were dozens of photos of friends and family and one that Claire loved to pieces was a goofy picture of her mother, Lily, James, and her father. The memories her mother held dear were within those pages she found a candies looking photo of her father reading a book and then talking to the rest of his friends and laughing, there was a bug red heart around him and Claire was happy to see it go right over Peter's face who waved his hands franticly trying to get the red line off his face. She flipped it over and saw a pretty scrawl of writing, "My hunk of Burning Love!" There were tiny little hearts surrounding it. Another picture was covered with a note, "Hey Helga you totally owe me for this one, and it has to be a good one I know your room faces his window…anyhoo enjoy the cheeks Lils!" Claire raised an eyebrow and removed the paper clip, behind was a very candid photo of her fathers back side, grossed out Claire put it aside.

After a long while dodging and photos covered by a note she got the impression from her mother was that she stalked her father. The last photo was of Remus he look about twenty three or so and very handsome. Claire smiled at it and pulled it out there was writing on the back of this one she flipped it over "The other love of my life, I'll never forget you or how you kissed me."

"No way mum and Remus oh gees I better keep that form dad seeing." Claire said.

She set aside the album and stood up again she drew back the curtains and saw him Remus was staring directly at the house but it seemed like he could not see it. Claire ran to the front and up to the gate he still didn't see her she looked around then opened the gate just before he disaparated.

"Remus…" Claire said.

He stopped and looked at her, "The Fidelius Charm is still working I see."

"Come in please…" Claire said taking his hand.

Remus walked behind the barrier of the Fidelius Charm and followed Claire into the house.

"Your hands are like ice Remus how long have you been out?" Claire said.

"All night…" he told her as Claire sat him down she threw another log on the fire and went to the kitchen to boil water she pulled out a mug and a tea bag.

"I am so sorry I didn't want to contact any one just yet." Claire said coming back into the living room.

Remus stood up and walked over to her, "You are so brave you know that, and you apparated that is amazing."

"I had to… I just had to what with Voldemort there and Regulus was so scared." Claire said.

Remus reached out and took her hand pulling her to him he held onto her, "I was mostly scared for you the ministry found out but the witch on duty was an Order member and marked the apparation as an emergency." He was still holding her and Claire put her arms around him too she rested her head on his chest then stood there almost in a trance then the distant sound of the kettle boiling pulled them back to reality.

Claire pulled away and turned to go to the kitchen Remus turned to check on Regulus.

She came back carrying a steaming mug of tea and sat on the floor next to the stuff she was rummaging through.

"Spring cleaning?" Remus stated as he sat back on the couch.

"These are old things from my mother; I never knew by the way…that you kissed my mother?" Claire said.

"Now Claire that was three years after your father was put into prison." Remus said.

"I know I just never knew you too were so close." Claire said.

Remus could detect what sounded like jealousy in Claire's voice, "You sound like you don't like that fact?"

"Well no if you must know I…" Claire stopped and looked down at the photo album.

"You what Claire?" Remus asked

"I don't like that you kissed her…" Claire said blushing.

Remus got off the couch and sat next to her, she looked down into her lap as he picked up a photo that had fallen to the floor of Claire and her mother. "You look so much like her Claire, despite the hair colour everything about you is a reflection of her."

"I don't want to be like her though; she kept secrets all the time." Claire said, "I don't think my mother ever once told me the truth and it hurts to know that is the last memory I'll have of her a liar."

She looked at Remus now, he looked at her; eyes were full of tears yet she smiled. "But you know what they say we always end up like our mothers…" Claire moved closer to him and cupped his face kissing him she held on to him kissing him slowly as if to make the moment last. He wanted to pull away this was wrong but another voice in the back of his head told him to not even think of pulling away.

Finally Claire released him and looked into his eyes, "I'm sorry I should not have done that…" Claire said.

"I don't suppose it was appropriate Claire…please don't ever do that again." Remus said wishing he had not said it to her but he had too, what kind of person would he be to lead on a five-teen year old girl, when he was well into his thirties.

"Fine I won't…I never do it again then." Claire said turning away from him.

"Claire listen to me there is someone for you someone your own age." Remus said.

"No there isn't first off that someone I did find turned out to be a Deatheater than hello the other is kissing the girl I hate under the mistletoe, and now here I am kissing a thirty-five year old man…oh my god your may fathers age his best friend at that what am I going to do?" Claire said getting up and pacing.

"What we can do is forget it ever happened Claire…" Remus said.

"Do you think I could ever forget that kiss, Remus it felt…it felt real." Claire said staring up at him.

"Like I said lets not ever talk about it again and leave your father is worried." Remus said.

He put out the fire with his wand, picked up Regulus who was still asleep, and walked out side.

Claire gathered all the things she had strewn across the floor and threw every thing into her bag and shut and locked the door behind her. They appeared at the front gate of Grimmauld place and walked into a noisy house. Claire ran up to her room and Regulus woke up and looked at Remus.

"Remmi!" He said excitedly and hugged him.

"Long time no see tike…" Remus said and he turned to look at Claire's feet disappearing up the stairs.

"Molly look whose back!" Remus said walking into the kitchen.

Mrs. Weasley let out a scream of joy and took Regulus form him, "Oh I am so sorry hun here sit down next to Harry.

"Professor Lupin is Claire here?" Harry asked.

"She is she went up to her room I believe." Remus said.

Harry nodded he pat Regulus on the head who was eating cut up bits of sausage and had many people cooing over him, he stood up and walked to his room getting a package for Claire and went to her room. "Claire?" He said knocking.

"Yes…" She said faintly.

Harry opened the door and saw her lying on her bed crying. "Are you alright Claire?"

"Look Harry I don't want to talk about it." Claire said sitting up and wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"I'm sorry Claire…I didn't know what I was thinking when I let Cho kiss me." Harry said.

"You know what Harry it's my fault if anything, I was putting on my charade with Draco and for three months I became so used to the fact that Draco was my boyfriend." Claire started, "I think I actually forgot you and now I realize that and it hurts Harry."

Harry was sitting beside her now and he reached out and took her hand, "I'm sorry Claire I really am, but I can't see you with Draco any more not now or ever."

Claire looked at him he was sincere she could tell from his eyes, the kiss she shred with Remus faded a way and she slid closer to Harry.

"I don't want to see my self with Draco anymore Harry I…I love you." Claire felt a as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders and he looked at her as if she fulfilled one of his dreams.

"Are you serious Claire?" Harry asked.

Claire laughed trough her tears and nodded, "I've never been more serious in my life about something."

Harry looked at her adoringly then pulled her closer to him kissing her, Claire kissed him back.

"I love you…that is something I should have said to you last year before I took on that dragon." Harry said pulling away slightly.

"What that long?" Claire asked running her fingers through his hair.

Harry smiled at her then hissed in pain falling to the floor, "Harry?" Claire screamed and went down beside him. "Harry are you okay answer me!"

Downstairs Sirius was just coming into the kitchen, "Well where is my dau…" The scream was heard through out the house.

"What the hell was that?!" Ron shouted as they got up and ran up stairs.

Sirius ran into his daughter's room Harry was on the floor writhing in pain.

"Oh my god daddy I don't know what's wrong with him one minute we were talking now he's…" Claire said crying.

Greta and James knelt beside him, "Harry its okay…" Greta said soothingly.

James put a hand on his shoulder to steady him; Harry was finally still staring up at the ceiling panting.

"Harry have you not been practicing Occlumency like your suppose to?" James asked.

"I've been trying but it's hard dad…I'm okay just please leave me alone now.

The adults left the room except Ron and Claire. "Harry mate do you want some water or something?" Ron asked.

"No…Claire are you okay?" Harry said propping himself on one elbow.

"I'm fine just a little shaken, Harry what happened?" she asked helping him sit up.

"Voldemort he's angry…" Harry said "About us."

Claire looked into his eyes and smoothed back his hair reviling the scar. Claire pressed her lips to it and kissed it then looked into his eyes again, "Let him be mad…"

"Right I'm just going to excuse myself…" Ron said. He backed out of the room.

After a short while Claire helped Harry to his feet he stood about a head taller than her and she held on to him feeling safe, Harry let her go and walked over to picked up the package on the floor he handed it to her.

"I feel bad now I didn't give you a gift…" Claire said.

"Well this really is just a little something I picked up in Hogsmeade actually Draco was buying you that emerald necklace at the same time remember." Harry said.

"I'm giving that back to him…" Claire said.

Harry smiled, "Open it!"

"I want to guess…." Claire said teasingly.

"Just open it before I make you open it…" Harry said.

Claire ripped back he paper and a large locket fell into her lap it fit in the center of her palm and she it was not like the one she got when she was thirteen it was warm as if a real heart was with in it. The locket was brass and shaped like a heart, she opened it and in side were gears and a row of pins facing a small spindle with tiny knobs on it, Claire looked up at Harry he held out a tiny key on a chain. Placing the key in the slot she wound it up and a soft melody began to play from the locket.

It was playing one of Claire's favorite songs called "Winter Light".

"Harry how did you know I love this song?" Claire said smiling at him.

"You listen to it all the time Claire, I thought you would like it…read the back." Harry said going red.

Claire flipped the locket over "Harry Potter loves Claire Black" She looked up at him and threw her arms around his neck. "Harry it's perfect I love you so much."

She had never been so happy she reached over and pulled up her bag that had the photo album in it. She pulled out the picture of Lily and her mother and handed it to him, "I know it's not much but it's your mother and I know how you've never really seen a picture of her except in that mirror."

"Thank you Claire…" Harry said he kissed her again.

Claire finally came out of her room and spent the day with the rest of the families that were there, only Ron knew about Harry and Claire's budding New Year romance and he kept grinning at them he suddenly wish a certain bushy haired friend of his was there and he began to envy Harry. For the hundredth time in his life.