Shoutout to:

MissesE: Yes, I'm sure we all feel sorry for Claire. The poor girl ;,( BUUUT! Rest assure there will be a happy ending! ;))

Chapter 19: I'll Be

"I take it Willy was the one who told you about my whereabouts?" Claire spoke up after a moment of silent, with Severus sitting in front of her.

Willy had kindly delivered their lunches earlier - a plate of lasagne and drinks, before he had to rush back to the counter to serve a couple of customers. He left not before telling her to take her time talking to a still permanently frowned Severus Snape.

"That depends: are you asking or stating the question?" He lifted his glass of iced mocha drink and sipped on it.

Claire frowned at his sharp remarks. "I'm asking."

"Then, yes." Severus nodded. "Here's an interesting fact, Miss Rollins: if it hadn't been for his stubbornness for consistency to write letters to me about you, I would had already cut all ties with you." Severus snarled, his face darkened and he bared his teeth at her.

Claire frowned uncertainly at the dark distrustful look he was giving her. It had been so long, too long since he had given her that look. The last time he had given her that look was during they first met.

They stared at each other for the longest time before Severus let out a long heavy sigh and looked away. The dark look on his face disappeared as he took a deep breath. Only the deep scowl on his forehead remained.

"Forget it. I'm already here. I might as well ask you some questions." Severus took a gulp of his drink, still refused looking at her.

"Why did you leave?" Severus asked again.

Claire focused her gaze on the ground. She expected the question to come when she had met him earlier.

She knew the reason why she left everyone behind. However, to say it out loud was choking her.

"I... I had to... No, I need to get away from everyone from the Wizarding world.. I felt like.. Like I'm losing my touch. Like I've become a weakling."

"Excuse me?" Severus raised an eyebrow.

Claire sighed. "When I protected, I become weak. When I'm treated kindly by others, I can't walk on my own two feet. I used to be so brave and bold. Like nothing could get to me. Things like breakups and heartbreaks, they usually don't get to me. They shouldn't affected me as much when I chose to leave. So much that it hurts. It hurt me enough to make me packed my bags and left everything behind without a second thought. That was when I realized, how much I had come to love Lucius. Knowing that, I needed to get away.. I needed to get away so that I may reform myself, to make me stronger again. To be unbreakable. This doesn't makes any sense to you, isn't it?"

Claire smiled wearily at him.

"Not particularly."

Severus shook his head.

"All I'm hearing are words coming from that stubborn mind of yours who clearly didn't think things through and decided to do things on your own. Honestly, you think too much for a Muggle young lady. You are constantly worrying over money and other people's happiness when you should have act more like idiots your own age and live life simply!"

Severus snapped.

"Have you ever thought of your own happiness instead of others? That maybe you deserve to be with Lucius?"

"He's a MARRIED man, Snape!" Claire snapped back. "He already has a wife and a son before he met me! A family! I will not be a home-wrecker to destroy whatever left that he and his family have! I knew about marriage in the Wizarding World, Snape. Divorce is forbidden between married couple, isn't it? Because of that, some wizard take in Mistresses or have an open relationship. I have my pride and dignity. No matter how much I loved him, I won't reduced myself to become his Mistress and share him with someone else. You should know me at least that much by now."

Snape was silence for a while after she had spoken those words.

He tapped his fingers impatiently on the glass of his drink before he broke the glass scattered it to tiny pieces.

"You stupid foolish girl!" Snape barked angrily at her.

"Do you seriously think Lucius hadn't thought about that the moment he saw Narcissa? Of course he had been more than shock upon seeing her, but Lucius' mind would always wandered back to you. Even in this circumstances, he would always thinks of you. Yes, your intention was noble and sensible, but you should have trust and have more faith in him to decide, at the very least. Or tell him straight in the face that you are done with him instead of simply walked away like what you'd done!"

"I-"

"You've broken him, Claire! He's a soulless man now. A shell, because, believe it or not, he had been madly, deeply and truly devoted and in love to you. I'd come to realise that fact when he had come rushing to save you like a desperate madman from Wonka."

Severus sighed heavily and took a deep breath.

"Deciding everything on your own without consulting us.. Me. You didn't even stopped to think how hurt I was going to be before you left, didn't you? Moreover, doesn't it make me and Lucius a couple of fools for saying we were going to protect you from whatever threats we're currently facing?" He looked at her gloomily.

Claire bit her trembled lips as his words sunk in.

Oh no. Not this again.. I'd thought I'm done crying.

Don't cry. Don't cry... You mustn't cry.

"I'm sorry Severus..." A tear finally flew out of her eyes. "I'm truly sorry..."

Followed by another and another.

Until finally, Claire couldn't stopping everything that was trying to flow out.

Rita Skeeter slammed a generous amount of thick papers on her desk. Her eyes were guarded with dark circles under her eyes, when she looked up at the hooded cloak person sitting near her desk. Her skin was paler than before.

She looked a total wretch.

"Here are all of the informations you asked for."

Her guest took the papers and carefully looked at them.

"Impressive. I suppose you are done with the other task I'd given you?"

"Yes." Rita answered lowly. "I had the elf to send the letter over to Narcissa Malfoy prior to your instruction."

"Excellent." Rita's guest stood up, taking the thick papers with her.

"I shall be expecting more results from you some time in the future."

"Yes..." Rita barely nodded her head.

Her guest left the same way she had appeared in her office.

It had been months since Rita had been blackmailed to work under her guest's order, whom she referred to as 'Madam R'.

Rita slammed her fists on the table in frustration.

"Darn her! Who does she thinks she is, making a fool of Rita Skeeter like this?!" Rita growled.

She had been trying her best not to strangle the life of her guest earlier but decided against it when she remembered how dangerous the young woman was.

No matter how many times she wanted to seek for help, each time she made up her mind, she got the feeling a pair of unwanted was watching her every moves.

That had been the only reason that stopped her from telling anyone.

Rita sighed and slumped her head against the desk.

For a moment, she didn't move at all. To an outsider, it may have seemed that she might just be dead.

However, a minute later, Rita abruptly lifted her head.

Of course. There IS a way to tell someone about what she had been up to for the past couple months. Granted she might lose her job, but it was a risk Rita was willing to take.

Grabbing her crocodile bag, she left her office.

CLAIRE blew her nose using a hand-tissue before tossing it into the dustbin. She was taking Snape for a little walk around the carnival after she had been given a permission by the highly suspicious Willy to do so.

When Claire had loudly protest, saying her lunch time was long overdue and that it wasn't fair him to handle the customers alone and that he himself hadn't stopped working, Willy had threatened to cut her salary for today.

That made her shut up before Claire reluctantly obeyed his order to take Severus around to see the carnival.

Walking behind the tall dark greased hair man felt awkward for Claire now.

It almost felt like they were strangers instead of best friends.

Everything was all her fault. She was the one who created the distance between them.

Claire was so focused on her thoughts she didn't realised Severus had already stopped in front of her, and was now facing her.

She crashed into him.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" Claire apologised and took a few steps back.

Severus coughed lightly and brushed his now crumpled shirt. He then cleared his throat and said,

"There is another reason why I'm willingly to come here, Miss Rollins, beside to see you."

"Oh? And that is?"

Severus looked uncomfortable. "You see, Miss Rollins... Teaching isn't my only job in the Muggle World. I have made a side incomes by using my knowledges in Potions. Though in here, your people would prefer to call it as Chemistry."

"So you're a Chemist then. In what field?"

"You'll be surprise. Fragrance."

"Excuse me?"

Severus rolled his eyes. "Women's fragrance, Miss Rollins. Also known as perfume."

This time, Claire didn't bother to hide her shocking face. She was gawking at him like he had grew another head.

"Congratulations!" Was all she managed to say. Which made Severus rolled his eyes again.

"In honour for the new fragrance release, I was invited to the event - a ball to be exact that is being held at one of the 4 stars hotel nearby."

Claire raised an eyebrow at him. "And?"

Grunted, Severus shoved an invitation card into her hands.

It was a pink and black invitation card to a formal social gathering.

"Severus... Are you asking me to-"

"Consider it as your bloody punishment for leaving me behind."

"When is-"

"It's tonight."

"Tonight?! Severus, where on Earth do you expect me to find a bloody dress at this hour?!"

"You don't have to. It's already been delivered to your home." Severus replied cooly.

Before Claire could ask what did he mean by that, Severus had cut in and said, "Well, since you need time to get ready, may I suggest we leave early today?"

"Wait a moment, please. I need to tell Willy about this-"

"You don't need to. He already knows."

Now Claire began to feel annoyed. Crossing her arms, she looked at the older man with a raised eyebrow.

"You two had this whole thing planned ahead, don't you? You won't let me say a word."

Severus grew a smirk at her comment but didn't say anything.

"Be sure to be on time, Miss Rollins. Now off you go then."

When Claire returned to the carnival, she went straight to meet with Willy who was done packing up and closing the booth. He was waiting for her.

"Oh, hello there, love. I take it you had a nice day with ?"

"Save your breath for sweet-talks me later, Willy." She showed her the invitation card. "You will be coming too, right?"

"Oh, yes. I received one as well." He summoned his own invitation card out of the thin air.

"Good. At least I have you around. I hope it's not too formal."

"Oh no worries, deary. I'm sure it's just a simple thing. After all, we are talking about here." Willy smiled. "Now, hurry along! We have so much to do with your appearance!"

"So much for informality!" Claire muttered lowly the moment she arrived at the hotel. There were news reporters, famous celebrities and paparazzi all over and surrounded the whole place for the event.

Claire gulped without her escort. Severus had called her at the very last minute stating he would not be able to escort her as he had a last minute preparations to make before the opening ceremony. Thus, he would be leaving early.

As for Willy, the man had reluctantly forced by Severus to help him with the security measurements for the event because as it turned out, it was not only meant for Muggles, but also for the Wizarding Society as well.

Meaning there would be wizards and witches attending the ball.

He would be there as well.

All the sudden, Claire fel a little sick in her stomach.

She had mentally and emotionally prepared herself right before she left the small flat she shared with Willy, knowing who would be waiting for her at the ball.

Of course, that had been before Severus contacted her and told her about the news.

Severus' words earlier kept on playing in her mind:

"You've broken him, Claire! He is now a man without a soul. A shell!"

Shaking her head, Claire tried to remain positive thinking- what she had done was the best for both of them.

He'll get over her eventually, just as she would get over him and be with someone else. Perhaps someone who would be close to her own age this time.

Sighed, Claire decided to put those thoughts away and focused on what's important now: the event.

Entering the hotel's lobby alone, dressed in a dark green off-the-shoulder Floor Length evening dress, for tonight, she made an effort to put on some very light make-ups and semi-bright red lipsticks.

Claire took a long deep breath at her new surrounding.

There were posters of Severus' fragrance all over the hallway and the sweet scent of lilies filled in the air.

Lily.

Claire smiled sadly. Severus must have carefully made the fragrance based on her in mind.

In a way, it was to show his undying love for her.

Claire's eyes grew widened. Her mind went to last Christmas' night when Lucius had declared his undying love to her by giving her a meaningful locket which she had unintentionally lose it when Willy had apparated them both back to her old Flat.

Claire had begged her Godfather to go back and looked for it with tear stained face.

When Willy returned a moment and delivered the bad news: he couldn't find it no matter how high or low he searched for it.

Claire's heart never been so broken since the death of her parents. She had wanted to at least keep a momento of their love.

Unfortunately, even that was a bit too much to ask and was not allowed.

Since that night, Claire resolved that her decision to end the relationship was a right and sensible one. Even if it means hurting herself and Lucius in the process.

Shaking her head again and shove all those gloomy thoughts to the back of her head, Claire took another deep breath.

She could do this. She rock the event with her dress without the two men standing by her side.

Off she went, to the main ball where the event was in cofidence and with her head held high.

The interior design for the ball was incredible. White and pale green were the theme of the night.

Claire was passing through the crowd when a soft hand tapped her on the shoulder.

Turning around, she immediately met with a beautiful pale skinned young lady with straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look.

What caught Claire's eyes the most was how the lady dressed herself; in a white robe in Ancient- Greek style, with various type of flowers around her head and colourful rainbows at the end of the said white robe, and a pair of sandals as well.

She looked like one of the Greek's Mythology Goddess. Claire had even expected a bird to come out of nowhere and landed on the young lady's shoulder.

"Good evening. Is your name Claire Rollins?"

Claire looked at the lady strangely. She looked at her, then to the empty air beside her, and back to the young lady again, who was waiting patiently for Claire to answer her.

"And who might you be?"

The lady stretched out her hand for a handshake.

"Luna Lovegood. Hogwart's student, Seventh Year, and future Magical Naturalist. It's nice to be your acquitances, Miss Rollins."

Claire returned the favour and reluctantly shook her hands.

"Nice to meet you too, Miss Lovegood. How did you know it was me or where to find me?"

"Oh, because you're the only one who does not carries a wand bag." She showed her wand bag, that looked a lot like a hand purse.

Claire raised an eyebrow.

"Well.. I don't have a 'wand bag' but I do have a handbag. See?" She showed her simple, light green handbag with a few ruby gems on.

Luna nodded. "That's a lovely design."

"Thank you." Claire cleared her throat.

"So, now that you've found me Miss Lovegood, what do you suppose to do with me?"

Luna clapped her hands together. "I'm suppose to be your escort for tonight. Professor Snape has ordered me to."

"Professor Snape? So you're one of his students?"

"Was, before the war ended. Personally, I quite like him as the Professor. He was quite intriguing. I missed him. I wished he come back and teaches us again."

"Well.. Perhaps you should tell him that when you meet with him? By the way, since Snape had asked you to keep an eye on me, do you mind if we get ourselves something to drink? I'm quite thirsty, actually."

Luna smiled. Without another word, she grabbed Claire's hand and pulled her to where the bar was.

Exactly five minutes later, Claire found herself sitting at the bar with Luna beside her.

"Evening ladies," Blake, the handsome bartender greeted them. "What can I get for you lovely lasses?"

"Lemon Drop for me, please." Luna ordered.

"Good. And you, love?"

"Aren't you too young to be drinking?" Clare looked at Luna.

"It's alright, love. We have the non-alcoholic Lemon Drop as well."

"Oh."

"What about you?" Blake asked again.

Claire bit her lips. "I don't suppose you have any Roselle drinks non-alcoholic ones?"

"Usually we don't, love. However, we received a special request earlier today from one of the sponsor to prepare Roselle drinks - non-alcoholic ones." Blake winked at her and prepared making their drinks.

Claire couldn't get rid the smirk on her face. Who would have thought one of the Sponsor shared the same love for Roselle drinks as much as her? She could kiss that person!

As soon as her drink arrived, the opening ceremony began.

About twenty minutes into the opening ceremony, and a half of beer glass empty, Claire was ready for some food.

She had seen Severus when he was being called upon to the stage to give a short speech on the fragrance, 'Mémoire'.

In addition to that, Claire had also spotted Willy, walking around the perimeter with a couple of security guards behind him. She had managed to wave her hand at him to let him know she was there.

After the opening speech ended, everything from there happened all too quickly when the ball and the heart of the night finally began.

The crowd were chattering, spaces were opened up for those who wishes to dance, music was playing, and Claire?

Well she got stuck in the middle of all that while making her way to where the buffet table were!

Desperate to get away from the spotlight where she may or may not make a fool out of herself in front of some many famous and highly influence people, when all the sudden, she felt a cool, hard touch on her bare shoulder that nearly made her scream out loud.

"In Severus Snape's absent, may I have the next song's dance?"

"I'm truly sorry! I can't really..." Claire whirled around to find Lucius Malfoy bowing his head at her,and heard many people around them whispered.

"...Dance."

There was something different about Lucius Malfoy. Was it his hollowed stoic eyes? Or his cold handsomely face when he looked at her? Or was it the way he stood, as if he was a sixty year old man instead of fourty?

Claire couldn't decide which one. In fact, she couldn't even think at all.

Maybe it was the drink.

That darn Bartender must have put something in her drink. She should get him sued, because when Lucius stepped closer to her; again, offered her his hand for the dance, Claire mutely nodded.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, due to a special song request made by one of our finest sponsor, we would like to dedicate this song to all of you loverbirds out there!" The MC spoke over the microphone.

Soon, the music began.

The strands in your eyes

that color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath.

And emeralds from mountains

thrust towards the sky

Never revealing their depth.

It was a song thay had instantly caught Claire's attention.

Her favourite song.

Tell me that we belong together,

Dress it up with the trappings of love.

I'll be captivated,

I'll hang from your lips,

Instead of the gallows

of heartache that hang from above.

Slowly they started to move in circle, with Lucius's right hand on her hip and his other hand held her in firm yet gentle manner.

They looked at each other's eyes, lost in their own world.

I'll be your crying shoulder,

I'll be love's suicide

I'll be better when I'm older,

I'll be the greatest fan of your life.

DRACO Malfoy had just managed to escape the claws of his many business company's rivals who had thought they were smart enough to step all over him, now that he was officially in training to inherit the Malfoy's Business Company.

Draco made his way toward the opened space in search of finding his father who had, to his dismay, disappeared when he was talking to those foolish old gits.

He had come to accompany his father to this ball instead of his mother.

Speaking of her...

Draco sighed heavily.

After Narcissa had returned, they'd tried to start fresh and rebuild their relationships together as a family.

It had started out well at first, even his father, despite his own broken heart, tried his best to be there for the family.

To an outsider's eyes, it looked as if everything was okay again with the family. However, days passed by followed by weeks then eventually, a month had passed and things got back to where they started.

That was when Draco finally accepted things could no longer be the same for all of them ever again after the War.

For Narcissa, after years of having to obey to her family's wishes, she had finally tasted freedom for the very first time after the war ended and during supposedly 'death'.

Staying with her estranged older sister during her recovery period had made her realised that there was no black or white in life.

Only grey lines.

Everyone, no matter what their status in life, were all humans. The only thing that differences between them was money.

Take that away and you became amongst the ordinarily folks like everyone else.

Coming back to the Malfoy manor, had made Narcissa realised and longed for missed the freedon she had months ago.

For Lucius, having his heart broken had left him a bitter man. He had been enraged at first, shouting snapping at everyone but gradually, he began to feel numb and felt empty.

Draco knew his parents were no longer shared the same bed let alone slept in the same room. He knew late at night when his parents had thought he already went to bed, his father would sneaked out of his chamber and headed to the library. Sometimes he did work there; other times he slept in there.

Draco also knew the reason why his parents hadn't say a word about it was all because of him. They wanted him to be happy that his family was finally reunited.

What none of his parents knew, was that Draco had seen and heard enough to know their marriage was suffering and their family was falling apart.

So, he did what he thought he knew best - inviting Miss Rollins to the ball.

Thought Draco did not know where the young woman had gone off to when she'd left his father before Severus had told him, he could only prayed and put faith in Severus to persuade her enough to come to the ball.

When she shown up, Draco had then arranged for the rest of the night for just the two of them. First, he had arranged for Luna Lovegood to accompany her and to keep her away from seeing his father and vice versa.

Till this very seconds, Draco wondered how easily the young girl had agreed on helping him with his plans without asking why.

Then,he'd made sure Rollins had her favourite drink. He insisted the bar was filled with all kind of Roselle drinks.

Afterwards, after the opening ceremony, he had arranged for the space to be cleared out for the dance, and only then did he subtly pointed out that he thought he saw someone with a familiar face like Miss Rollins sitting at the bar.

His father had merely glared at him but chose to ignore his words.

For a moment, Draco had thought his plans had failed. It wasn't until he was left alone with those noisy geezers when he'd realised his father had walked toward the 'Miss Rollins look alike' and had offered her to dance to the next song.

Which Draco had also knew, happened to be her favourite song as well - all thanks to Severus.

And so as Draco watched Lucius danced with Miss Rollins, even if he still reluctant to accept the fact that this young girl who was young enough to be his own sister, Draco could clearly see now that they both were in love.

I do not owned the song. Song used in this chapter is "I'll be" by Edwin McCain.