shoutout to:

MissesE: Poor Lucius and Darco! They definitely are in need of some father-son bonding. and thank you! I'm happy to hear you like Claire and that you thought of her that way :D and no, I don't think you're crazy at all for thinking like that. Lucius was under an influence of Amortentia after all. can't blame the man. :) Anyhow, this chapter is for you! enjoy and hope you will like it! ;D

CHAPTER 11: A Confession

TWO months had ended peacefully since Claire had been staying at Severus Snape's childhood home, the Spinner's End, located in a town called Cokeworth, since the incident with Lucius happened.

Claire's first impression of Severus' home had been that it lacked of any home feelings that she was so used to back at her own home town or at her apartment in the Muggle World. Nevertheless, she had put those thoughts at the back of her head and had tried her might to get adjusted to the environment.

Upon her arrival, Severus had several things readily set up for her stay. He had the guest chamber－his old room, cleaned and lighten up for her, while he'd taken his parents' chamber.

The two closed friends were already used of living with each other back at the apartment, so the sudden move into Severus' childhood home hadn't been a shock for Claire at all.

The only thing that she hadn't been too happy about was the tight spaces in the house. Claire had lose counts of how many times they'd bumped into each other on the way to the kitchen or to the sitting room.

While Claire had stayed with Severus, news about Lucius Malfoy on the Daily Prophets shoot the rooftop. At first it had been about his recovery at St. Mungo, with the excuse that the Elder Malfoy had over-exhausted himself with works.

Then, news and rumours of the Malfoy Patriarch had reverted back to his old bachelor self slowly began to resurface:

'LUCIUS MALFOY BACK IN THE MARKET?'

'LUCIUS MALFOY, SEEN IN THE ARMS OF A BLONDE WITCH?'

'LUCIUS MALFOY, CAUGHT SNOGGING WITH A BRUNETTE WAITRESS!'

Severus Snape had been angry when he read about the news. At first,he'd refused to read all of it. He'd stated those journalists had nothing else to do than ruined other people's lives - especially the obnoxious cow Rita Skeeter!

When Severus had come back home late one night, with a bleeding knuckle, Claire had never seen him looked so angry at Lucius. He'd even cursed the man, and warned her to never speak to him ever again!

When Claire had asked him why, Severus only replied was that Lucius had lied to him about everything. When she'd asked him again, this time more persistently him what did he meant by that, Severus refused to answer her.

"It'll do you good to stay as far away from Lucius. I'd never thought he would reverted back to his old wild self. Unfortunately, those rumours about him turned out to be true after all. I'd confronted him about it and he'd admitted. I strongly advise you to stay away from him for now on, Miss Rollins. You'll be the one who ended up getting hurt in the end."

Claire hadn't say anything back. She looked down at the newspaper, at the front page with a big photo of Lucius in the arms of his date, a tall elegant young woman who was the daughter of a CEO.

Somehow, Claire felt disappointed with Lucius. She'd thought with all that had happened between them, he could at least find another way to get by and not just simply threw himself in the arms of women.

Claire shook her head. Why should she care what Lucius was doing with his personal life anyway? He could throw himself in the jaw of sharks for all she cared. Taking Severus' advise, Claire Rollins had decided from that moment, whatever Lucius doing from now on was none of her business whatsoever.

Finally, the two long period of months ended as November and Autumn arrived.

Claire had been more than glad when Severus had told her one cool night while they had their dinner that by Minister Shacklebolt's permission, she was allowed to return to the Muggle World very soon.

Claire had been rejoiced by the news. As much as she was enjoying her stay at the Wizarding World and her interest about everything magical had grown greatly each day, Claire had been homesick for months. She'd longed to be back at her apartment, lay on her own comfortable bed, meeting up with her friends, Bosses and colleagues－her World.

When Claire had mentioned how happy she had been when he delivered the news, she had been afraid that he took an offence of her not liking his world. Instead, Severus had simply given a small smirk as he reached out for his cup of tea.

Two days later, Claire stood in front of her apartment door with the black haired man as she unlocked the door. Turning the knob and opening the door, she had been greatly shocked when something attacked her －silly strings－ the moment she opened the door, followed by a loud "Surprise!"

Claire stood there and was literally gawked at the sight she was seeing.

There were big 'Welcome Home and Home Sweet Home' banners hanging everywhere on the walls, with magical bubbles came out from nowhere. A long rectangle table filled with various food were served at the corner of the living room with a big bowl of fruity punch and some firewhiskey and chocolates.

Everyone who looking at her with goofy smiles on their faces.

Ginny and George Weasley had been the ones who'd attacked with cans of silly strings. Behind her, the Golden Trio was clapping their hands gleefully.

Claire couldn't smile even widened when everything became clear to her.

They'd come to welcome her home.

LIFE went on for Claire like the usual. She hadn't heard anything about Lucius since she'd returned to the Muggle World and back to her normal routines.

Her colleagues had been worried sick about her when Severus had told them a couple of months ago that she'd been having a hard time dealing with everything that had been going on since her parents' death.

They all had told her should she need anything at all, they would be more than willing to help her.

Claire had been touched by their kindness and thanked them for it.

On the twelve night of November, on Friday night exactly at one o'clock in the morning, something unexpected happened.

Heavy footsteps reluctantly walked toward the front door. Claire pulled her robe closer to her body as she opened the front door slightly, ready to give whoever to tell whoever kept banging on her front door to sod off when she stopped.

It was a face she hadn't seen for months.

"Lucius."

Lucius Malfoy was well dressed in his perfectly tailored robe. He looked healthier than the last time she'd seen him back at the hospital. However, he looked greatly in distressed.

"Is Severus in?"

"Severus went for am urgent meeting with Minister Shacklebolt and the Golden Trio..."

Lucius cursed. He turned his back at her and took a deep breath.

"I see. Very well then, thank you for all your help and sorry for all the trouble. Good night, Miss Rollins." He was about to leave when Claire stopped him.

"Wait! What happened?"

Lucius inhaled deeply before he exhaled. "I assure you it is none of your concern. It's a small matter anyway."

"Bullshit! You didn't even show your face, not even once since I've moved out of the Manor, and yet here you, are seeking for Severus' help when you don't even knowing where he is! Something serious has happened, isn't it, Malfoy?"

Ah. So we're back to last name basics, aren't we?

Lucius still didn't turn to look at her. He let out a long sigh before he spoke in the usual Malfoy manner, "Darco has gone missing."

"What?"

"I believe, no, I know he's been kidnapped. He and Miss Greengrass, his female friend. However I do not know who. It could be a possible link to whoever the person we all have been searching for months."

"Do you have any evidences?"

Lucius nodded. "I do. But I can't show it here. The proof requires me to use of magic."

"Understood. Wait for me, I'll go with you."

Shock was obviously evidently on Lucius' face.

"I beg your pardon?"

Claire closed the door and unlocked the lock before she ushered for Lucius to come inside.

"Wait at the living room for a moment while I get dress. Then we can apparate to the Minister's office."

"Miss Rollins, surely you did not wish to come along with me? After all that I'd done to you..."

Lucius had a lot of expectation when he arrived here. He'd expected her to react airy about the situation, especially when Draco had done nothing but insulted her. He'd expected her to shut the door on him without even listening to his request.

Claire rolled her eyes at his words, grabbing her jacket.

"Will you quit being so self-pity about it? I got over it months ago! Besides, this is not about you or me. It's about your son. Now, we can stay here and argue all night long or we can head to the Minister's office now. I'm ready when you are."

Lucius stared at her for a moment before he cleared his throat and nodded.

She was right. This is about finding Draco. They could sort their own problems later. One thing Lucius knew for sure, once this was over and done with, they both need to talk about it soon.

Severus Snape together with the Golden Trio and Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt had just finished with their meeting and were about to call it a night when there were soft knocks on the door.

"Come in." Shacklebolt ordered.

The door opened and instantly the trio raised their wands at one of the two newcomers.

"What are you doing with him?" Severus asked, sharply.

"He's with me! I was the one who'd wanted to come along, Severus."

"I sure hope you have a very good explanation, Miss Rollins. Lucius." His nostrils flared with anger as he stared at Lucius.

"Severus." Lucius held on to his dignity. He could still remember how stung his right cheek from being hit by him.

Never did he expected the black haired man could threw a powerful punch when he'd confronted him about the rumours spreading around on him. Severus had questioned Lucius about his feelings for Miss Claire again and the confessions he'd made the other day, whether they were sincere or not.

When Lucius couldn't answered him and simply admitted that the rumours were true and that he'd missed and had been able to enjoy doing all those wild and crazy things that none of which he was sure someone as good as Miss Claire wouldn't never able to do it, like he'd done so in the past with willing women who had literally threw themselves at his feet, Severus had punched him then and called him pathetic. He had also warned him to not talked to Claire ever again.

Yet here he was, with her, while she briefly explained to them about the situation they were in, including the missing Draco.

Draco.

That brought him back his focus. Lucius clenched his fists. He needed to solve this first.

Stay focus.

"May we see the evidences,Lucius?" Shacklebolt's voice echoed the empty room. "Of course." Lucius pulled out a sheet of paper from his chest pocket. He tapped his wand on it and one by one alphabetic letters began to appear.

Harry Potter took the sheet for a closer inspection.

"'Dualimous Kitious'. Does that sounds familiar to any of you?"

"It's an declaration of duel, Potter." Severus answered. "The sender is challenging Lucius for a duel. Judging for the look of it, I take this as a personal grudge against you, Lucius?"

"Probably. But why kidnapped Draco and Miss Greengrass? If it's a rival business thing, they have nothing to do with it nor do they could provide any useful informations. Draco is still learning how to cope with the company. It will takes him at least four more years until he could finally managed everything on his own. And Miss Greengrass certainly has nothing to do with this!"

"True. But then, don't rival companies usually play dirty tricks? What if this is a set up for them to demand anything from you in exchange for their lives, Lucius?" Claire suggested. "What would you do then?"

"I'll give into their requests as long as Draco's safety is under compromise." Lucius rubbed his aching forehead. "I need to tell Mr. Greengrass that his daughter has been kidnapped. Astoria Greengrass was supposed to be Draco's date to the ball tonight. They were supposed to arrive at the manor by seven o'clock sharp, but they were nowhere to be seen until this letter arrived at half past eight sharp."

Lucius excused himself to write and owl the oldest Greengrass. He was followed by both Hermione and Ron to the other room.

Meanwhile, tension arose in the air between Severus and Claire. Even Harry noticed the tension but chose not to address it at the moment.

Shacklebolt broke the silence. "Well, what do you think about the situation that'd been said by Lucius just now?"

"It sounds highly suspicious to me." Harry answered.

"Explain, Harry."

"Well, for one thing, what does the kidnapper has in common with this case and the previous one?"

"Lucius." Claire answered after a moment. "They were both targeting Lucius."

"Exactly, Miss Rollins. Like you'd mentioned earlier, rivals, especially big business companies like Lucius love to play dirty tricks, right? But surely, they'd know that kidnapping the Malfoy's Patriarch won't gained them anything beneficial?"

"What are you getting at, Potter?" Severus questioned.

"What I mean is that, unless kidnapping Draco has a deep meaning, then they won't do it, right? And don't go telling me off they do it for the sake of money either. This must be something bigger than that. Something that they know would threatened the Malfoy's fortune."

The door once again opened, and came a very pissed off Lucius with Hermione and Ron tailed behind them. Both were holding out to their wands and pointed them at him.

Lucius looked as if he was ready to start another Wizarding War right here and there. Claire realised he was holding on a piece of parchment in his left hand in a tight grip.

"What do you have there in your hand, Lucius?" Claire bravely spoke, pointed at the parchment.

"His attorney sent him an owl just awhile ago." Hermione stated uncomfortably. "Apparently, Draco Malfoy has decided by himself upon himself to appoint himself as the new-"

"The new Patriarch!" Lucius bellowed. "He had selfishly appointed himself as the Malfoy's Patriarch without informing me! That foolish boy didn't know just what troubles he's gotten himself into the moment he changed his name to become the Malfoy's Patriarch!"

Heads began to stretch at Darco's recklessness.

Claire had taken a seat on one of the chairs. She had her forehead against the table. She was getting very sleepy.

Stupid Draco. What had he been thinking? Doing such things... Did he had another fight with Lucius? What could they be fighting abo...

Claire's eyes suddenly widened.

Don't tell me...

Turning to look at Lucius, she said, "Did you and Draco had a fight because of me?"

All eyes were on her when she addressed to him.

Lucius blinked his eyes couple of times. He looked away and refused to meet with any of their gazes.

"Tell me the truth, Lucius. Did you or did you not have an argument with Draco because of me?" She looked at him straight in the eyes.

Taking a long deep sighed, Lucius admitted. "Yes. We had an argument because of you, Miss Rollins. But that's another story-"

"No. That is the root of the problem. Can't you see? Draco did this as a payback to provoke you for whatever it is that you'd done or said to him. Obviously it has gone wrong. What exactly did you two argued about?"

"Miss Rollins, I don't think discussing about the problem right here and now is quite appropriate." Lucius tried to argue.

"I think it is quite the opposite. Minister?"

Shacklebolt nodded. "Everything that is being said here will be kept as a secret." Lucius sighed and cursed lowly.

"Draco has threatened to disown my every rights as the Malfoy's Patriarch should I refuse to... Get rid of the disgusting and inappropriate feelings that I have for Miss Rollins. I didn't think he would actually does it, though."

The tension in the air slowly became awkward. None of them knew what to say. Severus Snape kept staring at his good friend who refused to look at anyone except the ground.

Shame and guilt of having deep feelings for the younger girl was killing him. Lucius felt like he wanted to die. Die because of the shame and guilt he'd brought to to the Malfoy's family. But for the love of Merlin, he couldn't help it.

He was in love with her.

Two and half months of not seeing her had made him realised this fact. Lucius had tried, oh God, he had tried to get rid of his feelings for her. The sole reason why he'd went out with those women in the first place. He'd thought if he could act like his old bachelor self again.

Oh how wrong he had been.

The more Lucius pleasured himself in the arms of the women, the harder it was for him to forget about Claire.

She consumed in his mind each and every seconds.

She was the one thing Lucius couldn't have but wanted more than anything elsw－ the forbidden fruit.

For the first time in his life, Lucius Malfoy found himself falling deeply in love.

Slowly, Lucius lifted his head and looked at the Muggle woman who looked back at him with wide eyes and crimson coloured face.

Lucius managed a small smile at her.

BY the time Claire was on her way back to her apartment, dawn was just about to arrive. Claire yawned loudly and stretched her arms. She need to call in for work today. There was no way she could go to work in this condition. Besides, they all had agreed to start search for Draco once they found a lead where Draco and Astoria were.

Severus had been assigned to scoop around to find their whereabouts, along with Harry and Ron.

Yawning again, she covered one hand on her mouth when her eyes landed at the tall blonde man walking in front of her.

Lucius hadn't said a word to her since they both left the Minister's office. He had offered to send her back home, much to Hermione's disagreement. Hermione had offered Claire to stay at the 12 Grammauld Place with her, but Claire had declined, stated she'd be fine.

In truth, she had been meaning to ask him, but had been too much of a coward. Did he really has feelings for her? If so, how deep was his feelings? Thinking about that caused her face to burn once again.

Claire stared at his back.

It's not to say that she'd never felt anything toward him. What women couldn't resist being with such powerful man and Wizard like Lucius? He had everything, money, power and endless fortunes.

None of that really matters to Claire. Initially, she couldn't accept his over-confident self and his self-righteous ways. As they spent more time getting to know each other, Claire slowly found herself enjoyed his company.

That was until...

"We've arrived." Claire was snapped from her thoughts by Lucius' smooth voice. She nearly crushed into his back when he suddenly stopped moving.

"Ah, you're right." Taking a few steps forward, Claire began to unlock the door.

Once the door was unlocked, she turned to face with him.

"Thank you.." She avoided looking at him. "For sending me back safely."

"Claire." Lucius called her gently. He didn't move from his spot a few steps away from her. "We need to talk."

"Can't it wait?" Claire said reluctantly. "I'm exhausted..."

Lucius shook his head. "It can't. I'd thought of waiting, believe me. But it can't wait." he took a small step forward. "I just need you to listen to what I have to say. I don't need your answer. Only your ears, Claire."

Lucius took a long deep breath. "I'm attracted to you. Far more than that actually, I am in love with you. I know you feel disguised by the idea of an older man such myself to have feelings for someone so young and with so much in life to look up to, but this is the fact; I am in love with you. I do not expect you to return my feelings or answer to it at all. But I would like you to know how I feel, Miss Claire. The rumours that you've heard and read, they were all true. I did that so that I could forget about you. But even so, I could not simply forget about you. There's something about you that allured me so much..."

"Lucius-"

"No, Claire. I merely wanted you to know how I felt about you. You are free to love any man that your heart desired, but do know that you've captured my heart first. I will not stand in your way. And know that I will never hurt you." He reached a hand and lightly stroke her hair.

With another sad smile, Lucius turned away and began to walk back.

Leaving a very confused Claire still standing at the front door.