"James, no." Claire pleaded with her brother, her eyes stinging, the want of tears making them prickle but they'd long since ran dry. "Please. We just buried our father a week ago. I know you have to make me go through with this marriage, but an engagement party Saturday is too much." She swallowed. "I mean look at me. You lot have insisted Sirius and I try to look in love- I look about like a hag's arse." She covered her face with her hands and sighed.
"Walburga insists. She wants you two married in June." James said, he was obviously drained himself. I can't do anything about it, Claire. I cannot. And I didn't just promise dad, okay?" He quickly unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt and rolled it up, revealing the faint swirls barely visible on his skin. "I vowed him your protection."
"Why the fuck would you do something that stupid, James!" Claire screeched.
Lily, who had been listening on the other side of the doorway with Sirius, sighed. "I was hoping he'd tell her. It isn't right to keep anything from her. She's got to know the whole story."
"Mhph" Sirius replied. Lily pulled his head down on her shoulder and patted his head, in a fashion that was usually a joke about his animagus form, but today was sincere comfort. "I don't want to marry Moony's girl, Lily."
"She doesn't want to marry you either." Lily replied, and the two burst into a fit of laughter at the thought. Their chortling was short lived, and faded quickly. Lily gave him a gentle smile, and opened her mouth try and provide some sort of comfort for him, but as she did the door they stood beside opened suddenly and Claire darted out and down the hallway. James started to follow his sister but stopped and turned around.
"After her, then." He said, nodding for Sirius to pick up the chase. Sirius however, looked bewildered by this request, but followed the command. He tramped down the hall, his boots loud on the marble.
"Claire!" He called. "Claire?" But he came to the top of the long, twirling staircase and saw she was already stepping off the bottom, so to catch up he decided to morph into his canine form, as stairs could be taken much faster on four paws. He caught up with her about halfway out in the side garden, catching her wrist gently to get her to stop.
"I understand being mad at James." He panted. "I really do. And Mother. And even your father, if you want. But-" He stopped and puffed again. "Gods you are a fast one." He clutched at his chest in a mock heart-pain, "I do think you should talk to me." He finally finished.
"Why?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "You'll do whatever they ask you to. It doesn't matter." She replied bitterly.
"Sure, that's fair." He nodded. "I loved your father. And I'd like to think, both by how I was welcomed into his home and what he ask of me as he passed on that he loved me some to. I plan to honor him in anyway I can." He snorted at her, standing there in defense as if he were some sort of threat. "And by the way, you're being a brat."
"Excuse me?" She said, stepping toward him, eyes narrowed. The frigid wind whipped her dark hair around her face, and she truly looked almost dangerous. "A brat?" She spat, "My mother died less than a year ago. My father less than a month. I nobody even knows if my boyfriend is alive. But I need to suck it up and smile pretty in my new dress for your mummy to save face. I'm not being a brat, you shit. I'm just over this whole thing!" She waved her arms all around her.
"Cla-" Sirius tried to stop her rants, seeing his mother coming through the gate behind her.
"No! Why even wait? Why finish school? You want to get married? Let's get married!" She shouted.
"Now, now." Walburga said from behind her, causing Claire to jump. "I will not have you two eloping. Not with all the work I've put into planning your party." She patted her long, bony hand against Claire's back. Claire stiffened herself, obviously using much of her energy to not pull away from the older witch.
"Mother." Sirius greeted with a small, formal nod. The older witch shivered.
"I need to speak with young Master Potter, so you two carry on." She smiled in a devilish, knowing sort of way. It was very apparent to the young couple that not only did she know they were miserable, she loved it.
"Claire." Sirius said, coming back to her. "Please." She started to walk off again, but Sirius squinted his eyes tight and took a deep breath. "Remus is going to come." He called, and just as he hoped, she stopped and turned back.
"What?" She said, but it was not a question, more a shorter form of 'Are you an idiot?'. "Why?"
"Well, he's my best mate, isn't he?" Sirius said. "Plus we thought maybe if he came and you two had a bit of closure." Claire furrowed her brow, and opened her mouth to argue, but turned away quickly again and continued on her way, more hurt than before. At least back at school she'd have a small break before their damned party.
Lily had at least twelve hair pins in her mouth, and was moving from side to side of the chair Claire was sitting in. "Hold still! You have so much hair, stop wiggling!" She scolded, smacking Clair lightly in the top of the head.
"I won't have any if you pull it all out." She replied back, wincing as Lily pinned another few strands up.
"Well, the dress James picked out defiantly calls for an up-do sort of number. It's very classic, I'm quite proud, actually."
"He has okay taste now and then." She replied with a smile toward her sister-in-law. "Thank you, by the way. For coming to do this for me. I know the morning sickness is not so fun and..."
"Anything for you, my dear." Lily replied sweetly. "I always wanted a sister- A real one, you know. What about Sirius?" She said, glancing once again at the new, very large diamond-accented sapphire engagement ring on Claire's left hand. "Not half shabby either, hmm?"
"It's heavy, but I bet it'd be great in a fight." She replied with a snort, and she and Lily both laughed at the thought. "No, really though. It's beautiful. And Sirius is sweet- in a text book sort of way." She sighed. "I really have to do this, don't I?"
"Hmm. But you know," Lily said, settling down on the foot of the bed near the chair Claire was in, "I think that you stand a good chance of being happy someday."
"Gee, thanks." she snorted, standing up and shrugging off her dressing gown, then stepping over to the hook on the wall where the gown for her engagement party hung.
"I know, I sound like I'm just making it up. But really. Sirius is a good guy, and he already cares a lot about you. And I know you, while angry, are at least sort of fond of him."
"I can't talk to you about this right now. Zip me?" She said, sliding the long, royal blue dress over her head, careful not to mess with all the work Lily had done on her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror as Lily zipped the back. She was right- her brother had done an excellent job with the dress, it matched her ring- which in turn she was sure had been chose to suit her house, as well as her complexion and dark hair.
"You look like a princess." Lily said sweetly, sliding a diamond hair comb into place on one side to finish the look.
"I feel like a spoiled shit." She said with a sigh.
"You're very bad at being a little rich girl, you know." Lily said, mockingly, grinning. Claire smiled back at her.
"Good!" She cheered. "I'd hate to be one of those 'daddy buy me that' sort."
"I think I'd have a hard time not doing that." Lily said, standing beside Claire's jewelry box, which itself was fairly large as far as jewelry boxes were concerned. She ran her hand across several hanging necklaces.
"You would not. It's something I believe the Potter's have that makes us special- and you fit in. I mean you're rich now, too." She pointed out, then turned back to the mirror. "Have whatever you like out of there. Except the pearls. Those were mum's."
"James has started me a fair collection of my own, actually." She smiled. "I'm having to learn to wear jewelry now." She walked over to the younger witch and held a pair of earrings with teardrop diamonds dangling from clustered pearls up on either side of Claire's head.
"Those?" Claire ask.
"These." She nodded. "And I believe that your mother's pearls would really make the whole ensemble pop." She glanced back up and then looked herself over in the mirror, making sure that her own outfit and hair had not suffered any damage as she readied Claire. Lily, like Claire, had on an absolutely ridiculous party down, in an almost pink-purple. Her hair was all swept to one side and she had it pinned with a similar shimmering comb like the one in Claire's hair. She had to admit, they did look a bit like the fairybook princesses.
"It's time to go." Lily said, holding Claire back at arm's length before pulling her close for a hug. When she pulled away, she took out her wand and charmed all of Claire's make up to stay put.
"Deep breaths. Deep breaths." Claire kept repeating as she and Lily exited her bedroom and walked down the corridor toward the stairs which lead to the party. A staircase which she knew many, many people were waiting for her to come down. Lily hurried ahead, and Claire waited back a few moments for Sirius to come and meet her to take her in. She heard footsteps coming from behind in a hurried fashion.
"Fucking hell, Claire. I'm sorry I'm late I didn-" But Sirius stopped talking mid-sentence when she turned to face him.
"What?" She looked down at her dress concerned.
"I- Nothing. Just- Nice dress, and you in it. I mean-" She shook his head. "You look very lovely, Claire." He sputtered. Claire felt a little taken back by his reaction. He's seen her as much as her brother had for several years- which was quite often. He'd never really seemed to react to anything she'd worn before.
"You look very handsome yourself, Sirius." Claire replied politely, with a small curtsy. She looked over his outfit, and though he'd just gone and bought a more formal pair of boots his dress robes were very nice, almost tuxedo like with blue silk interior on the jacket and lapels that matched her dress. He had his hair pulled back and secured tightly at the base of his neck, obviously his mother's request.
"I know." He replied, regaining his old, casual self, tugging at the lapels of the jacket. "There is a huge party down stairs with booze and shrimp toast. Want to check it out with me?" He ask, holding a hand out for her to take.
"Down the rabbit hole?" She ask.
"Let's do it." He replied, guiding her to the top of the stairs.
The party was more crowded with more people than Claire was sure she knew- so many in fact, it was hard to pick anyone out of the mass of people. She and Sirius had been introduced, and then a waiter greeted them with a glass of elvish wine, to which James gave a very, very polished speech and toast, before they were surrounded for a proper waltz- which, Claire had to admit, Sirius was quite the graceful dancer. It was some comfort to her, being in heels with at least four more inches than she was used to.
"How long do these parties usually last?" Sirius ask, leaning closer to whisper in her ear. The question was meant to be a secret, but Claire knew that him whispering to her made them look more the part.
"Tired of me already?" She ask with a laugh.
"We've been dancing like ten minutes already. Shouldn't the song end? I know it seems like I want to be the center of attention-"
"You do." Claire reminded him.
"Not this much. And this is a room full of stuffy, old, racist people. Not my cuppa." He reminded her. "What do we have to do next?"
"Separate and mingle- divide and conquer. See anyone we know? I don't even see James." She ask, glancing over Sirius' shoulder.
"I see-" Sirius said, peaking over Claire's shoulder then over her head as they twirled, the crowd still watching them dance. "Several death eaters, a few dozen sympathizers, some general shithats- and a couple friends from school who have the right blood degree. James and Pete and in the corner, both sort of blocking Lily from everyone. I do not see who you're looking for." He added sadly.
"I wasn't looking for anyone, Sirius." She replied in a short tone. The song ended and Sirius guided her to the edge of the crowd where several ladies descended upon her to examine her ring and compliment her on her ring, her dress, and even how handsome her fiance` was. Claire smiled and faded into the crowd as if she was born for these parties.
"Alright, mate?" James ask, as Sirius turned to see he and Peter both there, Peter holding up a plate for Sirius to take full of small, fancy treats.
"Hmm?" Sirius ask, raising an eyebrow to his friends. "What? Yeah. Spectacular. Look at my party!" He said, nodding around.
"The food is awesome." Peter said, finishing his own plate, licking his lips.
"Oh here, Wormy. Have mine." Sirius said, looking over the head of the much shorter wizard out the glass of a balcony door. "I'll be back. Need to just-" He slipped past the other two and through the crowd, having to pause here and there to accept handshakes and pats from the older witches and wizards as he went, before coming out onto the back balcony overlooking Mrs. Potter's beloved flower garden. Sirius was fond of it himself, as there were many places to sit and think alone, including a maze made of rose bushes. But on the far side of the balcony, on a small stone bench against the left most railing, sat Remus. Sirius slid the door shut behind him, looking over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't been followed before coming over to join his friend.
"Evening, Master Lupin." He said, giving an over the top bow before flopping gracelessly onto the open seat next to the werewolf. Remus snorted at Sirius' mockery of the fanfare around them.
"Fancy party, mate." Remus commented. Sirius looked him over- he was down at least ten pounds he didn't have to spare, and was in an enchanted-to-fit set of borrowed dress robes that he recognized to be James'.
"Why don't you come inside. Eat, drink, be merry?" He ask, nudging his friend's shoulder with his own. Remus simply sat staring up at the night sky for a moment.
"I was. I was back here by the door when you two came in. And for a little while for the dance. But its crowded and you know- all the scents and the noise..." Remus faded off with a sigh.
"She was looking for you, and I'd say is probably still." Sirius said quietly. "You two should really talk. Don't let it end like this."
"I think it's probably best if i don't, Pads. Sorry." He said. "Really. I don't know if I-" He stopped, looked at his friend, and smiled in such a way Sirius could nearly hear his heart shattering.
"Make her happy for me. Give her everything I never could." He said, and he stood up, holding a hand out to Sirius. "Please?"
Sirius sat with his mouth open for a moment. He watched through the large glass doors as the young werewolf slid through the crowd, head down, against the wall toward the exit. It took him a moment to regain his focus, but he soon hurried in and through the crowd to find his fiancee, surrounded still by adoring people, still giving her congratulations and advice. "My I borrow this beautiful creature?" He ask with a wink and grin into her captors, as he guided her away and toward the entryway. "If you hurry, Cinderella, you can maybe get that closure everyone keeps talking about." He said quietly. "I'll cover for you."
"Sirius-" She started to say something in thanks, but Sirius gently nudged her on.
"Hurry." He said. "Just go." Claire nodded as she turned, gown gathered in hand to run down the front steps and out of the house toward the gates. She could see a familiar figure in the distance, almost to the apperation point.
"Remus?" She called, hurrying fasted, ignoring the cold on her bare arms and chest. "Please! Wait!" She called. Remus stopped just beside the gates to the estate, but did not turn to face her until she physically caught up to him and gently grabbed his arm to spin him to her.
"Evening, Claire." He said gently.
"Why are you leaving?" She ask sadly. Remus chuckled into the cold February wind, the breaths visible.
"I didn't really fit in, Claire. I have no place here." He reminded her.
"You do." She argued, her voice breaking. "You always do."
"No, sweetheart. You do." He shoved his hands in his pockets, looking her over. "You look absolutely radiant by the way. And you play your part well." He said,and Claire felt as if she was cut by his words.
"You think I'm happy with him?" She demanded, accusingly. "You think I'd ever want this?"
"I think you're too young to know what you need, and that wanting has clouded your judgement. You have an eternal spring of optimism in you, and I am confident it will ever change. But you need to grow up now, Claire. You need to understand this is how things were always going to be. I have to go. You need to get back to your party." He said turning around.
"But, I love you!" She cried after him, tears running down her face, yet thanks to Lily not effecting her makeup. Remus couldn't help but think it made her look like a perfect porcelain doll.
"I know, Claire." He sighed. "I never should've given that an opportunity to happen. I was selfish, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you."
"We could run away!" She begged. "France? America?" She looked as if she may shatter at any moment. Remus took another step away.
"I wish with my last breath, Claire Potter, that you have everything you could ever dream. Understand? Go back now, please. If not for your own self, for me." He turned and walked away, ignoring the sobbing witch he left standing behind him. She sank to the cold stone path when she heard the 'pop' of his disapperation. Alone, she cried until she could no longer feel anything at all, except the wind stinging her wet cheeks. As she started to walk back up the path, she was met about halfway by her brother, who said nothing but draped a cloak around her shoulders, guiding her to the door.
"Chin up, buttercup." He reminded her, kissing her forehead. "And smile pretty." Claire simply nodded, blinking rapidly to regain composure as he opened the door, and she plastered a big, fake grin on her face as she dove back into the party.
I made myself a little bit depressed toward the end there, but it was necessary. I hope everyone is enjoying the story- There's a wedding soon!
Thanks for reading! Be sure to review! I love this story a lot, and I hope you all enjoy reading as much as I do writing.
