Shoutouts to:

MissesE: Thanks again for your review! I Like the name Caleb too! And you're welcome :) this Chapter is for you!

notwritten: Thanks again for your review! Smile always, my dear :D

Exactly that moment, Lucius Malfoy II decided that he would be the pillar to her scattered world.

Chapter 7:Confrontation

"CALEB Roberts Johnson."

"You've always been ignored of the 'James', Claire." Caleb stated as he sat down on his chair behind the desk in his office. "It's Caleb-JAMES Robert Johnson."

Claire snorted loudly. "Whatever. It's just a part of your long name."

Caleb took off his glasses and put if on the table. Hands reach over and scratched the back of his head. He looked up to his three unexpected guests consist of an uncomfortable wealthy wizard, a puzzled ex-Potion Master, and one bloody pissed off Muggle ex-girlfriend.

Caleb sighed. "I can explain everything."

"You'd better explain everything. I'd watched you died in the hospital. I'd watched the doctors pulled the wires and tubes out of your body," Claire's voice increased. "I'd went to your funeral for God's sake and watched them buried you!"

"Okay-" Caleb raised his hand for her to stop but Claire won't listen.

"And you want to know something else? I'd mourned for your bloody death for a year!" Claire screamed at his face. Her voice was shaken.

"Okay! I get it! It's my fucking fault! I'm a son of a bitch for making you suffered this badly, all right?" Caleb rose from his seat quickly than the eyes could blink. He groaned loudly and paced restlessly around the office.

Meanwhile, Claire had a difficult time to control her emotions. She was thankful that both her house-mates were sitting on each of her sides. Lucius was holding her left hand in tight grip while Severus had one hand placed on her right shoulder when she'd threatened to throw a punch at the heartless son of the bitch.

Caleb stopped pacing. Slowly, he turned to look at them and asked, "How did you get into the Wizarding World? Muggles aren't supposed to be here. They couldn't able to see this place!"

"What do you care even about how I got here, Caleb?" In truth, Severus had put a charm on her so that she may able to use magical items such as the floo and portkeys.

"Of course." Caleb muttered. He walked over his seat and sat down again. This time his facial more calm and he was about to think of few things.

"I'm not even a half-blood wizard; that's just a persona I'd created in order to start a new life in the Wizarding World. I'm actually a squib."

"What's a squib?" Claire turned to both men sitting beside her.

"A squib, is a non-magical person who is born to at least one magical parent. In other words, Squibs are, 'wizard-born Muggles' who are rarely exist and often looked upon with a degree of disdain by some witches and wizards, most particularly by the pure-bloods." Severus explained.

Unknown to them, Lucius shifted uncomfortably on his seat. He had been one of the pure-bloods who had disdained the Squibs more so than the Muggles.

Caleb nodded. He glared at Lucius before he reverted his attention back to Claire.

"As per said by Mr. Snape, Squibs are often disdained and looked down on. However, that wasn't my real reason of why I'd faked my death, or lied to you, Claire." He leant forward, with his fingers crossed and looked straight into her eyes.

"I've loved you. I really do cared about you, Claire. But I couldn't forget about my best friend who'd died at Hogwarts unexpectedly without any reasons whatsoever at all! I just couldn't. You wouldn't believe me anyway if I'd told you the truth without a solid proof..."

"I may not be able to understand about the magic and all, Caleb James Robert Thompson, but you could have talked it to me about your best friend's death! How affected you were by it and how you wanted to break up with me, for the greater cause instead having to lie to me and made up stories like you had a bloody Brain Cancer! I would have at the very least, tried to understand you! We could have worked something out if you had just TOLD ME!" Claire argued.

"Whom do you speak of?" Severus quickly interrupted. He was upset of the way this latter had thought about his dear friend that way. But Weverus was even more curious to know who the deceased student was.

"Cedric Diggory."

Two words that made Severus Snape gasped lowly. Claire could hear he sucked in the air when the foreign name left Caleb's mouth. Even Lucius was slightly gawked.

"He was merciless killed in a cold-blood by a Death-Eater named Peter Pettigrew on 24 June in 1995, during the Triwizard Tournament." Caleb clenched his fists.

The day when his parents had delivered the tragic news and informed him that his childhood friend passed, replayed in his mind. His parents had lied to him, saying that Cedric had suffered from a surprised heart attack, in order to spare him the pain that the latter had been merciless killed by one of the Death Eaters.

Caleb had been highly suspicious of what had really caused Cedric to die and had been sceptical about his parent's words. He loved his parents greatly, of course. But they had been trying so darn hard trying to shield him from the the Wizarding World, because he was a Squib, to the point that it made him felt suffocating.

"In 1997 was when I'd found out the truth in Cedric's death. I'd been enraged with my parents for hiding it from me, despite their good intentions. It had taken me months forgive them. Three months were exactly that I needed in order to form a perfect plan－the plan to figure out who had been the bastard who'd killed Cedric." He looked up and met with Claire's disbelief gaze. Tears were in her eyes.

"Do you still remember that Spring, we went out for an outing. It had been a wonderful day, some would said, it had been a perfect day for a picnic even. I'd bought you to the Vicky Park, your favourite place in the whole of London the whole day. We took a stroll, ate lunch and then, I'd told you about my illness..."

"I remember," Her voice was strained and nearly broke in the middle.

Lucius rubbed Claire's back in comfort manner. His hand was still holding her left hand tightly, despite her hand no longer held on to him like she used to. Meanwhile, Severus had both arms crossed on his chest. He kept his gaze on the young lad in intimidating glare.

"I-I never meant to intentionally hurt you, Claire, I swear! I'd just wanted so much to find whoever it was who had killed Cedric. I just HAD to know! He was my childhood friend! I'd thought after I'd told you about my illness and asked for a break up, you would be very upset with me. I'd been surprised and honoured when you'd decided that you wanted to stay with me－till my last breath. You don't know how much it hurt me to see you cried like that back at the Vicky Park.. Begging me to let you stay. It'd almost made me forget about my plan to go to the Wizarding World." Caleb gazed at her softly.

"I'd stayed for a year because of you, faking my illness while you'd taken such a good care of me when I was at the Hospital. That same year, last year, when all hell broke down and the news about the most powerful wizard, Albus Dumbledore, was killed by him," Caleb glared at Snape who glared daringly back at him. "I knew I could no longer wait not only because of Cedric's death, but also to help out the others to fight off against the Dark Lord. I may be a squib, but I still have magical blood running through my veins. I knew I may not be able to help the Order of the Phoenix or even the Dumbledore's Army much, but I would like to assist as much I could. So I went there after faking my death, and escaped to the Wizarding World, just in time to help out some fellow wizards and witches with everything that I could. I'd also met Agnes, a half-blood, while we were helping out the Order. We got married after the War." He showed her the golden ring on his right ring finger.

"Listen Claire, I felt such a bastard to have to lie to you and to make you suffer like that. In my defence, I'd done so knowing that if I were to die for real during the war, you won't be suffering as much as you did if you knew that I went away were still waiting for my return. And I don't regret marrying Agnes either. Even as Squibs, we carry the responsibilities to preserve our bloodlines and produce heirs so that we don't extinct. Especially now when there were so many casualties during the war."

It happened so fast. One moment, Caleb was standing, looking so guilty for what he'd done and said, and the next, he was on the floor with a broken bleeding nose, and Lucius stood in front of him, panting and staring hard at the younger lad.

Lucius' knuckles smeared with his blood when he had punched the latter in the face. He growled lowly and snarled at the shocked and terrified looking lad, and then he turned.

"He's all yours, Severus." Words that came out of his mouth were filled with venom.

"My pleasure." Snape rose from his seat and walked toward the young lad, while Lucius walked toward a very broken-hearted Muggle and guided her to the door, before shutting it tight.

WHEN the two of them arrived at the Malfoy Manor, Lucius was caught by Mimi who had opened the door and greeted them, carrying the Missus in his arms.

"Prepare a quick meal for Miss Rollins, and take it to her room." He ordered the House-Elf. He proceeded to the stairs that led to the private chambers and her bedroom.

"Right away, Master Malfoy." Mimi apparated quicker than he could blink.

It took him not more than five minutes to arrive at her chamber. Opening the door using wordless magic, Lucius stepped in and carefully put the still crying young Muggle in his arms with one hand covered her face, down on the bed in the sitting position.

Lucius sat on the bed beside her. Carefully as not to startle her with his next action, he brought her closed to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. She struggled at first, but eventually gave into his embrace, clutched at his broad shoulders, and cried harder into his tailored made robe. As if she'd saved up years of tear to finally broke down like this.

Lucius continued to hold her, all the while, he whispered comforting words and softly patted her hair until her sobs finally subsided. The last and only time he remembered holding someone like this was when Draco had fell from his broom for the first time, when the latter was five years old. He'd cried so hard on that day.

Lucius smiled briefly at the fond memories.

A 'pop' sound awoke him from his reminiscence. Mimi appeared before him carrying a large tray filled with today's lunch and brought them to empty coffee table before excusing herself and made another 'pop'.

"Miss Claire, lunch is served. Perhaps you would feel little bit better after you have something in your stomach?" He asked gently.

Having crying her eyes out and tired herself in the process, Claire mutely nodded and slowly pulled her away from the comfort of his strong arms. Rubbing her puffy red eyes, Claire looked away in embarrassment.

"I want to eat on the bed." Lucius nodded. Using his wand, he elevate the tray and the coffee table brought it closer to them.

Lucius was about to excuse himself and left the Muggle alone for some privacy while she eat, when a warm small hand stopped him from leaving.

"Eat with me. Please."

Lucius stared at her for a moment. His eyes searched for her brown eyes, looking for a doubt. When he found there was none, he sat back down.

Claire stabbed the freshly cut watermelons with her dessert fork before putting it in her mouth.

The lamb casserole they both had shared earlier was very delicious. Had Claire been in any other mood, she would have asked Mimi for another round of that casserole and a recipe.

They both stayed in silence. It was a comfortable silence.

The silence was broken however, when Claire suddenly spoke out. "I'd almost gave myself to him."

"Pardon?"

Claire looked straight at him. "I'd almost done it with him."

"It? What-Oh." It. Trust the younger generations to refer to something special such as the act of love-making to be reduce to something like 'it.' Lucius internally sighed.

He cleared his throat. "But you did not do it, did you?"

Claire firmly shook her head. "He'd wanted to do it, knowing he wouldn't have me forever. But I'd refused. I told him, I'm sorry for what's happening to him, but I won't give myself to him no matter what. When he died, I'd regretted so much for not doing it with him while I had the chance. Come to think of it, I'm glad I didn't."

Lucius nodded. Internally, he was happy to know at least she was a smart young Muggle who wouldn't be easily to give in when pressured, especially when it comes to intimacy.

"If I may be so bold, Miss Claire, I think he doesn't deserved any of the tears you've shed for him. See, the only tears that you should ever shed are tears of joy and," Lucius looked at her straight in the eyes, "Tears during the passionate of love-making. Those are the only tears you should ever shed for a man."

Claire's face flushed when he mentioned the word 'love-making' but she shook her head and put that thought at the back of her head. Right now, she was downright disappointed with an ex-boyfriend whom she'd thought have died a year ago.

Rubbing her full stomach in satisfaction, she let out a small smile to the older Malfoy.

"Thank you. For being here with me." Lucius took her hand and kissed at the back of her palm.

"You're most welcome. Thank you for not kicking me. I'd been half-expecting it when I dragged you from Diagon Alley and apparated us to the Manor."

Claire sighed softly. She then using her available hand, tapped on the empty space beside her.

"You look worn out. Lay down for a bit."

Lucius was baffled by her bold invitation. Surely she's not that naive to invite a man to her bed when she's on an emotion wreck like this?

"Miss Rollins. You do realise it is inappropriate for a young maiden like yourself to invite a gentleman without knowing the consequences that followed afterwards?" He warned her. From here, two things would happen; one, she would invite him anyway to her bed again and his carnal needs about her would finally be fulfilled, or two, she would realized what she'd gotten herself into and asked him to leave, which he would do so, no doubt about that.

Instead of having to chose between those two opinions; Claire however, looked at him strangely with one raised eyebrow and crossed her arms on her chest.

"You know Lucius, at the time like this, what a young woman such as myself want, is a friend to talk to, really."

"But you're the one who'd boldly invited me to lay down on the bed beside you!" Lucius argued.

"Laying down doesn't mean you have to attack me! God." She rolled her eyes. "I invited you to lay down beside me, Lucius, because you looked older than you really are right now. You look exhausted! Here," she threw a pillow at him. "If you don't want to lay down on the bed that's fine too. Feel free to lay down anywhere you see fit. Though I'd doubt you find any space left other than the floor."

Lucius took the pillow and observed her room. Mimi the House-Elf had moved most of her stuff from her Muggle Apartment to this room under his request. The young Muggle had argued that she wouldn't be staying here for a long time, thus, no need to move her stuff in the room. But Severus had argued stating clearly his refusal to apparate back and forth just to get her stuff for her.

In the end, Claire had to obligate the two men's wishes and have her stuff moved into the room.

Claire rested on her bed comfortably after throwing the pillow at the Eldest Malfoy. It didn't take her long to feel another body weight sitting on her left side on the Queen sized bed.

She grew a smirk.

Lucius kept his cool and tried to think of other things to distract him so that he wouldn't frightened the naive young woman beside him.

He decided to talk about his late wife.

As Lucius opened up about his beloved wife; stating that their marriage had been arranged, but gradually they'd grown to accept and loved each other. He told her about Draco, about his days as a snob and proud bigot and racially superior to the people below him, of his days as Death-Eaters and how he'd gradually changed over these past few months.

The two of them continuously to talk and didn't even realised when had sleep came uninvited to them.

By the time Lucius stirred and woke up from a peaceful long dream he hadn't had for years, he realised two things had happened. the first thing he realised was that it was already night time. The darkness of the chamber indicated it. The second thing was that he had the young Muggle, sleeping soundly in his arms, protectively. The third was that, in the midst of the darkness, he saw a little beam of light was pointing at him, followed by a low baritone voice that didn't sound too pleasant.

"Get out from the bed. Now."

Lucius slowly untangled his arms from the young woman and got up from the bed. He tried to straighten the wrinkles on his expensive robe, but before he could do so, he was being forcefully dragged by one angry Severus Snape, heading toward the door.