Madam Whitbrook- I'm sorry that you don't like it.

0.o – It's not actually meant to be a ffx crossover I just used those names because my friend likes it. I wish you'd read on because the best bit is near the end!

LilMissPurrfection- I am very aware that Claire is a MarySue. I have actually written the story for my friend Claire and I have put it on the internet so that she can read it because she isn't allowed in my house any more. She wanted me to write a Harry Potter story with her in it, so I have tried to make it seem as much like the book as I can, but obviously, I have not succeeded. The thing is, I really want to be a writer, and Claire likes my stories because she is in them, but I was hoping that maybe other people would appreciate my work too, not just because it is about them, but because it is good. As for the mistakes, well I did try to make it as much like the book as possible, but I have a very bad memory and forget the details like the grading system etc. Thank you for reviewing, it's criticism that helps me improve my work.

Coventina- Aw thank you!!! Your praise makes me feel soo much better. I knew that Claire was going to be a Mary Sue but I didn't want her to be a conventional one, I wanted to give the story some depth. Sorry you don't like the FF names. Thanks a lot! You've made my day!

When they got back to Hogwarts, they were all taken straight up to Dumbledore's office.

'Well,' he said, looking at each of them in turn. 'Naturally, when we reached the castle, it was deserted. In would like to speak to each of you individually in turn, try to determine exactly what happened. But first I'd like to remind you that all of you may have done stupid things, but we cannot change the past, and the main thing to remember is that we are all still here and that is the most important thing. Claire, I think I should speak to you first...'

Harry sat in the common room, waiting for Claire. It was so strange to be back, he had been gone so little time, and yet it felt so long and like so much had happened. He felt so relieved that Claire was safe. And yet there was this horrible, sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that if one of them had done one little thing differently, she could be dead.

Harry had no idea how long he had been sitting there, staring into space, when Claire walked in.

'Harry, he wants to see you,' Claire said.

Dumbledore was very patient with Harry. He let him explain it all in his own time. When Harry had finished, he expected Dumbledore to explain to him what was going on or what was going to happen, but instead Dumbledore said,

'thank you Mr. Potter, that will be all.'

'But I...'

'I need to gather all the facts before I do anything else Mr. Potter. I will speak to you in due time,' Dumbledore told him. Harry got to his feet realizing this was his queue to leave. He slowly walked back down to the common room. Having explained it made it all seem real. Now he wanted to go and forget about it all. But he couldn't.

Lying in his bed that night, Harry could not sleep. He had so many thoughts whirling in his head. What if Professor Weasley hadn't shown up? He could be within Voldemort's clutches right at that moment. He also couldn't stop thinking about what Claire had been through. It was haunting him. She had been through so much, and it was all his fault. If only he had stopped her from going, if only he had told Dumbledore. He had a million what if's flying around like his head. But more than that, he felt that if he hadn't been him that Claire was going out with, that none of this would have happened anyway. Their involvement put Claire at a much higher risk, as if she wasn't as risk enough being Snape's niece. He couldn't help but think that now was such a dangerous time, that perhaps that they should put aside their feelings for each other, at least until Voldemort was gone for good, even though Harry didn't have any idea when that would be, or if it would ever happen. But he couldn't stand the thought that she was at risk because of him, that he was putting her in danger. She had been through all of that, because of him. And he couldn't forget it.

The next morning, Harry had decided he would have to talk to Claire, and however hard it was, for her own good he was going to tell her they should cool things off. He knew now that he loved her, more than anything, and that was why he had to put aside his feelings, and for her sake let her go. Harry felt numb and empty as he grimly got dressed, preparing himself for what he was going to say. Then, he went downstairs into the common room. Claire was there, up already, and didn't look like she had slept much at all.

'Morning Harry,' she said, forcing a weary smile.

Harry couldn't bring himself to smile back. He was soon going to shatter that beautiful smile. He didn't know when he would be able to kiss those tender lips again. It broke his heart.

'Claire, I er...need to talk to you,' Harry said emotionlessly, his eyelids flickering. 'Do you think we could go for a walk in the grounds?'

'Sure,' she nodded. Something was wrong with Harry and she wanted to know what it was. She went back up to her dormitory to get dressed, and Harry waited. It gave him more time to figure out what he was going to say. He knew it wasn't going to hurt her half as much as it was hurting him, but he still wanted to do this as gently as possible.

It wasn't long before they were walking over the frosty grass. Claire was wearing a fluffy knitted jumper which looked very much like the work of Mrs Weasley over a skirt and long boots.

'What is it that you wanted to talk about Harry?' Claire asked.

Harry looked down at the ground. When he looked back up at Claire, it must have started to snow because there were white flakes lightly dusted over her shiny dark hair.

'I think it might be a good idea if we cool things off for a while,' Harry finally said.

'Cool things off?' Claire queried. 'But...but...Dumbledore said that won't make a difference, remember? That the bond between us can't be broken and so we might as well carry on as we are.'

Harry struggled to find the words to express himself. 'It's not because of that. Do you remember what happened in that dream that we both had? Where I was in the common room and Voldemort spoke through me? He said you are the key to our undoing. That's why he kidnapped you, because you are close to me and you are close to Snape and you are close to me. He can sense the strong feelings I have for you, just like I can sense his strongest feelings. And the thought that he wants to use you to get to me...the thought that he's already tried...I can't stand it.'

'Right, so what are you suggesting?' Claire asked. 'That we avoid each other completely? We're in all the same classes Harry, we have all the same friends. And you can't stop yourself getting close to people forever, just because of Voldemort.'

'Yeah but it's because I've got particularly strong feelings for you,' Harry ducked his head so he didn't have to meet Claire's eye as he said this. 'That's not what I mean anyway all. I just think we should spend a bit less time together. I think it'd be for the best, I mean if there's a chance it'll give Voldemort one less strength then we should try.'

'You're right,' Claire said slowly. 'It'll just be hard, after everything we've been through. But I'm sure it won't even be for long, they're probably going to catch Voldemort any day now...'

They carried on in silence. They both felt suddenly a little awkward. The ground began to crunch beneath their footsteps, and Hagrid's hut came into view.

'I might go and talk to Hagrid,' Harry said. 'Do you want to come?'

'No, I think I'll go and find out what I've missed from Hermione,' Claire said quickly. 'See you later Harry.'

'See you,' Harry said, as Claire walked away.

Harry knocked on Hagrid's door, and the large man answered.

'Harry!' he exclaimed. He enveloped Harry in a bear hug. 'Come in!' He pulled Harry into his home. 'I heard what happened to you. Scared the living daylights out of me!'

Harry sat and talked to Hagrid, hoping to take his mind off Claire, but she was all they ended up talking about.

Harry and Claire found it surprising easy to "cool things off". Claire started spending a lot more time with Hermione, and Harry with Ron. They spoke, but civilly and rarely. However, mentally, for Harry it was not easy at all. It scared him how easily they could cut each other out. The only thing that kept him carrying it on was the feeling that he was somehow keeping Claire safe.

Around school Claire and Harry became the soul topic of conversation for a number of days.

'Tell us again what happened on Voldemort's castle?' Seamus asked Claire over dinner one day.

'Not much actually,' Claire told him. 'I was kept locked up in a room for most of the time.'

Harry looked over at Claire and risked giving her a reassuring smile. He knew she didn't want everyone knowing what she'd been through.

'Oh,' Seamus said, looking almost disappointed. 'I heard you were kept tied up on the highest tower and were guarded by dragon.'

'No,' Claire laughed. 'Harry and Uncle Severus came to rescue me before they let the dragon on me.'

One good thing that came out of the whole things was that Snape was much softer on Harry. Now that Harry knew why Snape had taken with him when he'd gone to find Claire. Snape of course was not going to apologize to Harry or admit that he was wrong, but by being a bit nicer to Harry it was his way of making it up to him. Harry also suspected Snape had noticed that Harry and Claire were spending less time together, and he knew Snape would be happy about that.

Harry now knew how Snape had felt when he allowed for Claire to be taken away to live a whole new life as a muggle. He hadn't wanted for her to go, but the desire to do what was best to Claire had overcome his own feelings. He couldn't let her get hurt because of him he just couldn't.

As the days went by Harry kept and eye on the Daily Profit but there was no signs of Voldemort. His scar on the other hand reminded him painfully about Voldemort's growing strength. It was making it hard for Harry to concentrate on his school work, and he was finding it hard to sleep at night.

One evening his scar was really playing him up, and he decided to stay down in the common room and think as he knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep.

'You coming up Harry?' Ron asked as he got up to go to the dormitory.

'No, I'm actually really engrossed in this,' Harry said, holding up The Ben Holmes Guide to Quidditch. He was actually finding Ben's tips rather obvious but he needed an excuse to stay up.

When the common room had emptied, Harry put down his book and walked over to the window. He looked out into the dark night and sighed. Something moved across the grass and caught his eye, but it was just Crookshanks hunting. Harry watched the cat creep across the grounds into shadows, and then lifted his gaze up to look at the sky. Stars dotted across the velvety blackness and the moon was full. It made him think of Professor Lupin, the last of the Mauderers who was alive and loyal. Harry wondered where he was, and if the full moon had brought out the creature that lived inside of him.

Inevitably his thoughts returned to Claire as they always seemed to do. It wasn't helping, him thinking about her. If Voldemort really could sense Harry's feelings then not being friends with Claire wasn't going to make the slightest bit of difference if his feelings were still as strong as ever. But how could he stop himself from thinking about her or caring about her. Well not being so close to her was a start. Apart from wiping out all memories of her and going away somewhere where he'd never see her again, it was the only thing Harry could think to do.

He sat down on a chair and let his mind wander. His scar had calmed down now, and he felt tiredness washing over him. He allowed it to take over his body, and then his mind, and pull him into sleep. Harry's sleep was troubled though. He drifted in and out of hazy nightmares. But one dream suddenly came to him, and it was strong and vivid. It felt almost real, but Harry instinctively knew it was a dream. He was in a torture chamber, standing before Wormtail who was chained to the wall, his feet dangling a few inches from the floor. He was wriggling about, and pleading pitifully.

'I'm sorry master, I have failed you I know, but please forgive me...'

'Silence,' a familiar voice came from Harry's lips which wasn't his own. 'This is not the first time you have failed me but it will be the last! Do you know how frustrating it is that that curse backfired on me? I was practically back to my full strength but I was set back yet again. And on top if that, Potter escaped, and where were you? I was on the floor, I could do nothing, and Belatrix had been decapitated. It was up to you to keep him here, and you failed.'

'I'm so sorry,' Wormtail wept. He cried out as Voldemort, whose eye's Harry was watching through, pulled out his wand and uttered a curse. The end of his wand glowed green, and a long glowing whip seemed to grow out of it. Voldemort lifted his hand and snapped the whip down onto Wormtail. There must have been magic in it to increase the pain for though Voldemort put little or no effort into the strike, Wormtail screamed out in agony. And as Voldemort began to laugh, Harry began to feel a similar agony on his forehead. Voldemort began to shake with laughter. Shaking...shaking...something was pulling Harry back into the real world.

'Harry! Harry!'

Harry opened his eyes to see Claire shaking him awake.

'What's going on?' She asked, looking down at him with concern and confusion. 'I couldn't sleep and I heard noises down here. I came down...and you were laughing. It was so weird though because you were asleep...you were laughing in your sleep...'

'It was Voldemort,' Harry told her. 'I had a dream about him...he was punishing Wormtail for letting us get away. I'll tell Dumbledore about it in the morning, from the sounds of it, the Avada Krevada curse which he tried to put on me but backfired onto him has weakened him again.'

'Well that's good I guess,' Claire said. 'Oh Harry, it must be so horrible to have dreams about him. You're so brave.'

Claire looked down at Harry with empathy and admiration, and Harry was suddenly filled with such gratitude that it had been her that had woken him, and it had been her face he had opened his eyes to. He was suddenly filled with the strong desire just to put his arms around her and hold her, but he refrained.

'We should both probably get to bed,' he said, getting up and breaking the moment. 'Normality as usual tomorrow and all that.'

'Alright,' Claire said, but Harry knew that it wasn't. 'Goodnight.'

'Night,' Harry said in return, and turned to make his way up to his dormitory.

The next day Harry was sitting in Dumbledores office explaining to his headmaster about the dream.

'...but Voldemort didn't seem as weak as the last time a curse backfired on him. I mean like, he was still in his body, and he still had some strength to hurt Wormtail.'

'Well that's understandable,' Dumbledore nodded. 'I'm sure Voldemort didn't make the curse as strong as the first time he tried it, just in case it did backfire again. In fact, I'm surprised he used that particular curse on you again, after what happened the first time. He obviously had a lot of confidence in himself. Well thank you for reporting this to me Harry. You are actually our best and only source of information about Voldemort at the moment. Tell me one last thing. Was there anything distinctive about the place he was in, anything at all.

Harry shook his head. 'Just looked like a dungeon to me.'

'Alright,' Dumbledore nodded. 'Thank you Harry.'

Walking away from Dumbledore's office, Harry felt slightly uneasy. It was good to know that Voldemort had been weakened again, but although Wormtail had been the one to betray Harry's parents and Harry despised him, he still didn't feel happy having witnessed him being whipped like that. He'd also started thinking about what had happened that night when he and Snape had gone to find Claire. Yet again Voldemort's curse hadn't worked on Harry. Harry knew that the first time it had been because his mothers love had been protecting him, but hadn't Voldemort taken away that shield the night that Cedric had died? So why hadn't it killed Harry when Voldemort had used Avada Krevada on him?

Harry decided to go for a walk around the grounds before Transfiguration. He wanted to be alone for a while, and it was a warm spring day.

Just as Harry was walking out of the castle, he ran into Claire walking back towards it.

'Harry!' she exclaimed. She had a very happy and excited look on her face. 'You won't believe what Uncle Severus has got me! I was just about to go and thank him but I'll show you first.'

Claire dragged Harry over the grounds in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. Claire knocked on his door.

'Hagrid is looking after her while I'm here,' Claire said while they waited for Hagrid.

Harry was about to ask who "she" was when Hagrid pulled open his door.

'Oh hello Claire,' Hagrid said pleasantly. 'Back again?'

'Yeah, is alright if I show her to Harry?'

''Course! Come on you two,' Hagrid said. He led them round to the back of his cabin. There stood a magnificent looking Hippogriff.

'Wow,' Harry gasped.

'I'm calling her Moondancer,' Claire said happily. 'Uncle Severus says she's to make up for everything...Oh isn't she wonderful Harry?'

Claire walked tentatively over to the Hippogriff, but she obvious liked Claire a lot, for she walked over to Claire and lowered her graceful head so Claire could stroke her.

'That's one tame Hippogriff,' Hagrid said. 'Mind you, she ain't like that with me.'

'You're so lucky Claire,' Harry said.

'I know,' Claire sighed.

Harry looked at his watch. 'I hate to say it Claire, but we've got to get to Transfiguration.'

'Alright,' Claire said. 'Goodbye Moondancer,' she said to her Hippogriff, stroking it on the head. The Hippogriff nipped Claire affectionately.

Claire and Harry walked back up to the castle together. They both felt comfortable and Claire talked happily about her Hippogriff, and for that short while as they walked, they both forgot everything that had happened, and just enjoyed each others company. But when they reached the lesson, Claire went over to sit with Hermione instead of beside Harry as she had used to.