The Order of the Phoenix
After five busy days in the Auror Office, Claudia finally got to appreciate what it meant to have a weekend. Sure, some Aurors still worked at the weekends, and her turn would come too, but for now, she was free. On a warm Sunday afternoon, she found herself lounging on a picnic blanket at a packed muggle lido with Sirius, Remus and Peter. They were waiting for James and Lily, who were unusually late, to get there too.
"How's work?" Remus asked. He, just like Peter and Claudia, was sitting with a t-shirt over his bathing suits and pressing his knees tightly against his chest. Being half-naked in front of hundreds of strangers was not exactly any of their idea of fun. Sirius, on the other hand, was in his element. He was in tight swim trunks and sunglasses, lounging on the ground, his hair in a fashionably high bun. Not a single person could walk by without staring at him.
"Work's been interesting," she replied. "There was this case I've been working on. The guy who owns Borgin-" Claudia stopped abruptly when a random girl walked up to their group.
"Do you have a lighter?" she asked in Sirius' direction, twirling her hair a little around her index finger.
Sirius shook his head. "Sorry. That guy over there does though," he said, pointing towards a group of young muggle men sitting under a large tree.
The girl hesitated for a moment. "Thanks," she whispered, and walked away.
Claudia took off the t-shirt she was wearing, which was Sirius' anyway, and threw it at his head. "Enough, this was the third one," she laughed. "It's impossible to have a conversation here."
Sirius pulled the t-shirt from his face to reveal a cheeky grin. "Prude," he said, chuckling, and sat up. "Besides, we could talk about something other than the war for a change," he whispered, and shuffled to sit behind his girlfriend.
As Sirius brushed her shoulder and planted a kiss on the side of her head, Claudia saw Peter nod in agreement. He did not, however, say anything to contradict her directly. Ever since their altercation in the spring, he barely spoke in her presence. She could not work out whether he despised her or feared her. Probably both.
"Want to talk about the motorbike again?" she rolled her eyes at Sirius, not quite able to suppress a chuckle. Before Sirius came up with a comeback, Claudia noticed Remus was staring at her back. Her back that was covered in scars from the attack in sixth year.
"Snape really crossed a line," Remus mumbled. "These scars look worse than mine."
Claudia and Sirius looked at each other, the grins wiped off both their faces. It was time to tell the truth.
"About that," Claudia sighed. "We've been meaning to tell you-"
But before either of them had a chance to explain, they were interrupted.
"Hi, guys!" Claudia could hear James' voice from behind her.
"We have some news," Lily squealed in an unusually high-pitched voice and outstretched her left arm. On her ring finger was a gleaming diamond ring. "We're getting married!"
Remus and Peter jumped up to congratulate them, but the other two took a second too long to recover from the memory that haunted them both.
"What's up with you two?" James frowned when he realised his best friend was not the first one to celebrate.
"Nothing." Sirius jumped to his feet, clearly not wanting to ruin the announcement. "So happy for you, mate," he added, and gave James a big hug.
"When is the big day?" Remus asked as they all said down.
"We haven't had time to talk about it," Lily looked dreamily at James, reached for his hand and squeezed it. "But probably next summer. So that we have time to plan everything properly."
"Is there a lot to plan?" James asked somewhat tentatively.
"Well, we need to set a date, find a venue, get invitations." Lily began. "Then, there is the food, flowers, band, photographer..."
"Do we need all of that?" James winced. "I was kind of thinking we buy some good booze and have a party."
Lily did not have to answer that, as her face was very clear. They did need all of that. "My mum suggested this hotel in Birmingham where she and dad got married. It's close to where we live," Lily said. "It looks quite nice, but I always thought I would want something more rural. Maybe a little manor in the country." She paused and sighed. "I guess we could have the engagement party in Birmingham to see what it would be like."
Claudia could see James' eyes widen. He clearly was not aware that there was to be an engagement party, but did not dare to say another word.
A gigantic cloud covered the sun, and the wind had picked up a little. Claudia could feel little goose bumps forming on her skin. It might have been nearly August, but it was still England.
"You seem to have a pretty good idea what you want," Claudia smirked. "For someone who hadn't had time to plan it…"
"My sister and I have been planning our weddings since we were little," Lily replied. "That's what girls do," she added when she saw Claudia had her mouth open to speak again.
"Be nice," Sirius whispered in her ear and hung his arms over Claudia's shoulders, so they were now sitting in an embrace.
"Shut up," she scoffed so quietly that only he could hear her and leaned against his chest. She was warm again.
Claudia tried tuning out the next half an hour as the boys continued to ask all sorts of questions about wedding planning. It reminded her too much of those torturous hours her mother tried to make her spend party planning.
Besides, even if she wanted to concentrate, Sirius was making it impossible. He kept playing with the fastening of her swimsuit, running his fingers up and down her arm, caressing her leg. There were sitting in an embrace, half-naked, their bodies sticky with the thinnest layer of sweat (the sun came out again). There was only one place her mind was ever going to go…
"I'm going for a swim," she said once she could take neither the wedding planning nor Sirius' teasing.
"Please don't go," her boyfriend uttered with a hint of desperation in his voice, and pressed himself even tighter against Claudia's back.
Claudia had to chuckle a little once she felt the fabric of his bathing suit against her skin. She understood instantly why she was not allowed to leave. "You're impossible," she smirked, and turned to kiss him.
"Not helping," he uttered.
"What are you two whispering about?" Remus asked, interrupting their moment.
"Nothing." They replied in unison, which must have made them look rather guilty.
"I was just asking if he knew," Claudia lied. "About the engagement."
"Of course, he did," James scoffed. "He was the one who picked out the ring!"
"It's beautiful, Sirius," Lily gushed and examined her finger.
"Blacks have an eye for expensive jewellery," Sirius shrugged.
"And you didn't tell me?" Claudia shook her head, faking disapproval.
"I was sworn to secrecy."
"I wasn't all that sure Lils was going to say yes." James jumped in. "Didn't want anyone's pity."
"I wouldn't have pitied you," Claudia said.
"But you would have mocked him." Remus laughed. "I can hear you already."
"Are you going to let him talk to me like that?" she turned to Sirius and asked in jest, barely able to keep a straight face.
"Yes. Because it's true," Sirius said laughing. Slowly, his laugh dissolved into a smile and then his lips parted slightly as he looked deep into Claudia's eyes. That look told her everything she needed to know.
"We should go home," she said and turned back to the group. "I've got work tomorrow. Early start…"
Claudia and Sirius did another round of congratulations and said a brief goodbye, before using the cover of the changing rooms to apparate to the doorstep of their flat. She stuck the magical key, courtesy of the previous owners, one of which was a muggle, into the lock. It was sticking, and always needed a bit of jiggling before it opened. Sirius was standing behind her, stroking her shoulders with his palms.
"I've been wanting to do this all day," he uttered, and pulled the string that was holding Claudia's bikini top in place.
"Patience," Claudia chuckled as she was jamming the key left and right. Sirius was now sliding his hand down her waist and over her hips.
"You know I don't have any of that," he whispered in her ear. It looked like he was working his way towards the button on her shorts.
"Stop distracting me, then." The lock finally clicked, and they fell over the threshold. "I need to take a shower," Claudia uttered as she managed to find a second between the kisses.
He groaned and in one fell swoop took off both her t-shirt and swimsuit. "No, you don't," he whispered between heavy breaths.
"Come with me." She dragged him to the bathroom, run the water and helped him out of his clothes. Sirius gladly returned the favour.
What followed was more foreplay than an actual shower. Every touch was deliberate and sensual. They knew exactly when and how to trace their partner's body to drive each other out of their minds. Every time one of them submerged into the water to rinse off, the other pulled them out for another kiss.
Neither of them could take it any longer. They were kissing deeply when Sirius reached behind Claudia and turned off the water. He grabbed a towel and rubbed it in his hair. Then, he gently dried her off before stepping out of the shower and sweeping Claudia off her feet.
"Put me down," she chuckled.
"I will," Sirius said with a wry smile, his eyes full of yearning. "Just not here."
Carrying her in his arms, he took the few steps between their bathroom and bedroom and then threw his girlfriend into their bed.
Laughing, she lazily turned over on her stomach. Sirius kneeled over her and started kissing her lower back, working his way up along her spine. His long, wet hair was leaving a trail of cold water on Claudia's back. It made her tremble with anticipation.
She tried to turn over to draw Sirius on top of her and kiss him, but he put his palm on her shoulder and pinned her to the mattress.
"Oh," she tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a moan. "You think you're in charge here?"
"Today I am," he uttered, and slid his hand between his girlfriend's leg.
They made passionate love. Twice, Sirius stopped just at the right moment to prolong the pleasure for both of them. Twice, Claudia lifted herself a little more until she was nearly on her knees with Sirius towering over her.
He began to slow down once more.
"If you stop again, I'll kill you," she uttered. The pleasure was becoming overwhelming, and she knew she could not take it much longer.
Sirius laughed and sunk his fingers into her hips. He did not stop and soon collapsed on top of her, panting. "We're so good at this," was all he managed to whisper as he squeezed her in his arms.
They lay on top of each other for some time, completely drained.
"You're squishing me," Claudia finally uttered and nudged Sirius to get off her.
He rolled away with an exhausted sigh. Claudia could not even move.
"Still can't believe those two are getting married," Sirius whispered once he recovered and gently stroked his girlfriend's side.
"Don't you think it's too soon?"
"It's way too soon," he replied. "But they love each other. I suppose that's enough."
"But they're so young, and such idiots."
"James is an idiot," Sirius smirked. "Lily's sensible enough for both of them."
Claudia scoffed at the mention of Lily's name.
"Don't tell me you still hate her?"
"I've never hated her," Claudia defended herself.
"Right…" Sirius laughed. "You used to grind your teeth every time she spoke. Called her a 'ginger nightmare'. Do you really want me to go on?"
"Fine." Claudia rolled her eyes. "I used to hate her, but I guess she's alright."
"I think you even like her," he mocked her.
"I wouldn't go that far."
"Do you like anyone?"
"I like you," she said as innocently as she could, and kissed him. They barely got out of bed for the rest of the day.
The next morning, Claudia was still pleasantly tired on her way to the office, when she bumped into Dumbledore in a Ministry corridor. She just about managed to suppress a yawn by uttering a 'Good Morning'.
"Hope you had a pleasant weekend," the Headmaster quipped.
"Yes," Claudia replied somewhat tentatively, hoping that there was nothing behind Dumbledore's remark.
"Tomorrow, seven o'clock at Aldgate East Station." Dumbledore whispered as they passed each other. "Don't be late and take the muggle train."
"Finally," Claudia exhaled as she strode down the corridor towards her office. She could not wait to tell Sirius and the others.
"There you are," Barraclough said the moment she walked through the door. "The Magical Law Enforcement Patrol are here to brief us about the murder case," he added and turned towards two men in blue uniforms. "Continue…"
"The victim was a female in her early twenties," one of the enforcement patrol officers gestured towards a picture of a young woman. "We found her last week in St James' park."
"Is there a suspect?" Claudia asked.
"Yes," the second patrol officer said. "Benjamin Colten, the Head of the Improper Use of Magic Office. We found him standing over her body."
Claudia's eyes widened. She was not naïve. A high-ranking Ministry official accused of murder? This was going to be a huge case. "What motive would he have?" she asked.
"We presume sexual," the patrol officer replied. "But the body was not in a state to tell." There was no emotion on any of their faces. Claudia could feel her skin crawl.
"How did he kill her?" Barraclough took over the questioning.
"It didn't look like the killing spell. Her skin looks damaged as if by a curse," the officer said, pointing towards more pictures on the table.
Claudia's stomach turned. She was staring at photos of a mangled corpse.
Barraclough did not seem phased in the slightest. "Looks like dark magic to me," he said without flinching. "Never seen a spell that would do this though."
"Us neither."
"That's not surprising," Fernsby, who was sitting nearby, smirked to visible displeasure of the two patrol officers. "Maybe you should ask Avery here to join your stellar crew", he said mockingly. "She would fit right in."
"How did he get her there? Did they know each other?" Barraclough asked, ignoring his younger colleague.
"He had an appointment in his diary, at a private members-only club on Pall Mall. The girl worked there as a hostess, and served him that night," the officer explained. "Several witnesses saw them leave together. Half an hour later, muggle police found him standing over her body?"
"Muggle police?" Claudia asked.
"Absolute pain when they get involved," Barraclough sighed.
"We had to call the obliviators," the patrol officer said, "to modify everyone's memory."
"Right, we'll take it from here." Barraclough said resolutely. "Goodbye."
"I really don't see why you're taking this case over," one of the patrol officers said, frowning. "It's a clear-cut case."
"None of your business," Barraclough snapped. "You can leave now."
Muttering under their breath, the patrol officers began walking away. "Bastards just want the glory." Claudia could hear one of them say as they walked through the door.
She turned to Barraclough. "Why are we taking over the case?" she asked. "It does seem rather easy."
"The boss thinks it's too easy," he mumbled.
"What are you saying?"
"Moody's theory is that it's staged," Barraclough whispered as he looked around. "Part of the effort to build ill will against muggleborns," he paused. "Now, Colten is in Azkaban and the trial has been set for November. We have until then to investigate. If we don't find anything, he'll stay there for life."
"Where do we start?"
"I'll start with re-interviewing his colleagues. You'll start with that stack of papers over there," he replied. "And keep your mouth shut about this."
Claudia could barely focus on the paperwork for the following two days. Much like Sirius and the others, she could not wait to find out what would happen at the first meeting of Dumbledore's secret society. They were all to gather at the Gower Mews flat at six o'clock that evening.
At five-thirty, just as Claudia got back from work, there was a meek knock on the door. She opened the door to find Remus standing there, his shoulders slumped.
"Sorry I'm early," he mumbled. "I just couldn't be at my father's anymore."
"What happened?" Sirius appeared by the door too.
"Just the usual," Remus replied. "He barely looks at me, drinks constantly. Earlier, he told me I killed my mother."
"You can't keep living there," Sirius said and dragged Remus inside the flat by his arm.
"I have no choice." Remus shrugged and slumped onto the sofa. "I refuse to live in the hovel where I transform."
Claudia sat down next to him.
"I'm no stranger to daddy issues," she said, and made Remus smirk. "Anything I can do?"
"This is different," Remus sighed. "My father isn't a bad person. He blames himself for my condition. He used to work at the Ministry and passed an anti-werewolf law. I got attacked as revenge."
For once, Claudia was speechless. She stared at Remus with her mouth slightly ajar. "I'm sorry," she finally managed to mumble.
"What's done is done," Remus said. "If only I could get a job and a place on my own, it would be easier on everyone."
Claudia glanced towards Sirius, who was returning from the kitchen with a cup of tea for their guest. "You can stay here if you want."
"Right," Remus smiled. "That would make me feel like less of a nuisance," he added sarcastically, and sipped on the tea Sirius had prepared for him.
Peter was the next to arrive.
"Are you sure we should be doing this, Sirius?" he hurled out when he finally got out of his jacket.
"Come on, you little coward," Sirius laughed while Remus shot him a disapproving look. "Don't tell me you want to be running around your dad's shop all day. I've seen that place." He paused and smirked. "It doesn't exactly scream excitement."
"I suppose not," Peter replied uncertainly. "But-" he began to say but was saved from more of Sirius' mocking by the arrival of the soon to be Mr and Mrs Potter.
"Let's go," Sirius said and grabbed his jacket. "I don't want to be late."
Claudia wanted to follow him out of the door, but Remus grabbed her arm and drew her back into the flat. "Can you please tell Sirius to take it easier on Peter? I know he is like this with all of us, but Peter is actually bothered by it."
"You think he'd listen to me?" Claudia scoffed. "And besides, Peter isn't the angel you think he is. He can be pretty nasty."
"What do you mean?"
"He told me to disappear and never come back," Claudia replied. "Called me a toxic bitch."
"What did Sirius say to that?"
"I didn't tell him," she shrugged. "Don't want Peter's blood on my hands."
"Smart." Remus smiled feebly. But Claudia could see the whole thing was bothering him.
They followed the others towards Euston Square Underground Station, from which there was a direct train to Aldgate East.
As they got off the train, Claudia spotted a familiar figure standing on the platform.
"What do we do?" she whispered urgently to Sirius. "Mundungus is here!"
"Where?" Sirius barked and began manically looking around. "I've been wanting to get my hands on him ever since –" he began but did not get to finish the sentence.
"Long time no see!" Mundungus charged towards them with a grin on his face.
Claudia instinctively reached for the wand in her pocket. Her boyfriend had chosen a more direct method of confronting the problem. He grabbed Mundungus by the arm, dragged him around the corner to a more secluded tunnel and pinned him against the wall.
"You almost killed us, you bastard," he growled into Mundungus' face.
"Don't be dramatic, mate," Mundungus smirked, but Claudia could see in his eyes that he was just that little bit scared. "Besides, Dumbledore sent me to fetch you," he added in a whisper.
"Fine," Sirius sighed. "But one misstep, mate, and you're mincemeat."
"Follow me," Mundungus said as she brushed off his robes. "Inconspicuously."
"Care to explain?" James hissed at Sirius when Mundungus was out of earshot.
"Not now," Sirius replied. "We have no choice but to trust him," he added when it looked like James might protest.
Mundungus led them out of the station and down Whitechapel Road and they followed about fifteen yards behind him. Soon, the crook turned left and let them down a road packed with curry houses. Then right, then left again until he dived into a bin shed in front of one of those new, muggle high-rise building.
"Fifth floor, flat fifteen," Mundungus mumbled and, with a loud pop, apparated.
"Are you absolutely sure it's not a trap?" James asked.
"We're about to find out," Sirius shrugged, drew his wand, and set off up the stairs. Claudia followed him, and so did the others. Their eagerness to see this secret society with their own eyes was stronger than their mistrust of Mundungus.
Sirius tiptoes towards the front door of flat fifteen, where he stopped and nudged Claudia to stand behind him.
"Come on, really?" she hissed. "I'm the auror here."
"Not the time, Claude." Sirius replied.
She ignored him and moved stealthily to stand on the other side of the door. That way, if someone wanted to attack Sirius, she could stun them from the back.
He smiled.
She nodded and mouthed, "Go."
He knocked.
After a short while, the door opened and there stood Frank Longbottom, his wand also drawn. He looked at Sirius, then at Claudia, and his faced dropped. He ushered them inside.
"Fancy seeing you here," Claudia smirked, and folded her arms against her chest.
Frank did not immediately reply. Instead, he pulled her aside. "Alice doesn't know."
"I know that," Claudia said. "She's been begging me to tell her about this. I was going to do it tomorrow."
"Please don't. I will tell her, but in my own time."
"Fine." Claudia exhaled. "But the longer you wait, the more upset she's going to be."
"I know." Frank sighed. "But it's safer for her this way."
Claudia rolled her eyes. What was it with men and their stupid instinct to protect their loved ones from things they did not want protecting from?
"Anyway," Frank spoke again in a much louder voice. "Everyone is expecting you. This way…"
When the six of them entered the packed living room, everyone stopped talking and turned to look at them. Claudia surveyed the room. At the head of the table was Dumbledore. Along the side, a bunch of people she did not know. Some young, some old, mostly men.
And then she saw someone she was not expecting.
Her boss, Alastor Moody.
He was sitting at the opposite side of the table from Dumbledore, scowling at her. This can't be good, she thought to herself.
"Welcome, welcome!" Dumbledore beamed. "This is the Order of the Phoenix," he added, and gestured around the room. "Young Fabian here has just been telling us about the goings in the Daily Prophet."
Claudia and the others walked over to a row of free chairs lined up against the back wall and sat down as quietly as they could.
"As I was saying," a young man with longish ginger hair said, "there are a couple of journalists that just keep submitting article after article accusing muggleborns of all sorts. It can't be a coincidence…"
"Who do you think is behind it?" someone asked.
"No idea," Fabian shrugged.
"I have a potential source on this," Frank piped up. "I've been trying to organise a meet-up but so far, without luck."
"Keep at it, Frank," Dumbledore said. "And Fabian, see what you can do to get through to the editor. I think these articles are starting to change the public mood."
"Sure thing." Fabian said. Frank merely nodded.
"Any other business?" Dumbledore asked. "If not, the next meeting will be at six as usual on 1 September. I will pass on the location as normal," he added, and everyone began to get up from the table. "And let's all stay behind and meet our new recruits!" Dumbledore's voice carried over their heads.
He did not have to encourage Moody to do that. "Avery!" he growled and strode towards Claudia. "I don't like this. I don't let my team moonlight for the Order."
"Alastor," Dumbledore, who followed him, said in a soft voice. "I'm sure you can make an exception."
Moody scoffed. "The job always takes priority, understand? You get caught doing Order things and you're on your own."
"I understand," Claudia whispered, but Moody barely paid attention. He moved over to Sirius.
"And who are you?"
"Sirius Black," Sirius mumbled. If Claudia did not know better, she would have thought he was scared. It was rather funny.
"Dumbledore told me about you," Moody hissed. "The black sheep of the Black family. Why are you here? To have a bit of fun? Kill time?"
Sirius frowned. He no longer looked scared, he looked annoyed. "I just want to make sure that at least one Black is fighting on the right side," he snapped.
Moody stared into Sirius's face for a good half a minute, examining his every feature. "Very well," he uttered and then walked over towards where James, Lily, Remus, and Peter were standing.
"What the fuck is he playing at?" Sirius whispered.
"Let's go and rescue them," Claudia chuckled and gestured towards their friends. "He's going to make Peter cry."
"You two are engaged? Are you mad?" Moody's voice rang around the room before Claudia and Sirius joined the group. "There is a war on!"
"All the more reason to celebrate love," Dumbledore, who had appeared out of nowhere, said and began dragging Moody away. Claudia's eyes followed them.
"Crazy kids." She heard Moody complain. "They're too young for this. Will get us all killed."
Dumbledore replied something inaudible.
"You better know what you're doing, Albus." Moody growled and disappeared out of the flat.
"Who the hell was that?" Lily scowled.
"That charming man was my boss," Claudia smirked. "You'll get used to it."
She looked around the group. Sirius was still clearly annoyed. Peter knew that and looked like he was trying to make himself disappear to avoid being the target of Sirius' foul mood. Remus and Lily were watching everyone else leave the room, with their mouth slightly ajar. And James looked like he had seen a ghost. And not one of the friendly Hogwarts ones.
"Grab a curry while we're in the neighbourhood?" Remus asked as they were descending down the stairs.
"Sure," the rest of them mumbled in unison.
"Exactly the level of enthusiasm I was looking for…" Remus smirked.
Once they were seated at a corner table in one of the curry houses they passed earlier, they finally had a chance to talk.
"That was a bit…" Lily began.
"Underwhelming?" Remus finished her sentence.
"Boring," Sirius corrected him. "The most excruciatingly boring half an hour of my life. And that includes the detention I got with Binns."
"That's because the meeting was over before we got there." Claudia shrugged. "Dumbledore said the usual time was six. But only told us to be there for seven."
Everyone looked up from the table, smiling a little. Maybe this was going to be exciting after all.