Claire looked at the man he resembled some one she knew and then it hit her, "Oh my god you are James Potter…" Claire said to him. The man's gaze moved back to her.
"At least now I know who you are, Claire what are you and your father doing here?" James asked.
"Visiting my mother…you knew her too, she died in June." Claire said.
She stood up and held out her hand to him, James accepted it and she helped him up.
"Helga is dead…Sirius I am sorry my old friend." James said. His gaze turned from them to the grave he looked at Lily's grave than continued to look around… "Harry?" he said turning to her father.
"Harry is alive sir…he's living with the Dursley's." Claire told him.
"He's living with them?" James said sounding out raged.
"Yes…my grand father took him there when you and Lily were attacked by Voldemort." Claire said to him "Speaking of Voldemort I thought he killed you?"
"He didn't kill me as you can see Claire, rather he sent me to this cold dark place where I could do nothing, see nothing, and say nothing to any one for fourteen years…" James said.
"That must have been terrible; I'm so sorry Mr. Potter." Claire said
"Now I just want to find my son and bring him home… wait I don't even have that for him." James said.
"Mr. Potter…" Claire started
"Please call me James." He said
"James, there is more than enough room at our home for you, please Harry would have come lived with us any way if my mother was alive and my father was not on the run from the ministry." Claire said.
Sirius let out a bark and James looked down at him, "You agree huh, well if your father here is hiding from the ministry and your mother passed away, who is taking care of you?" James said in a father-like tone.
"Remus of course my grandfather figured that he would be a suitable care taker for my brother and me." Claire said.
"You have a brother now? Sirius I always knew nothing could keep you and Helga apart." He said humorously to him as he bent own and pat Sirius on the head.
"Claire show me where Harry is I want to see him." James said.
"Well have to apparate do you have a wand?" Claire asked.
"It's what I used to get here, I managed to bark Voldemort's spell after so many years trying, and finally today I could lift my wand arm and that was that I apparated here." James said.
Sirius barked madly Claire knew what he wanted and she wasn't so sure he should come. "Dad go back home and tell Remus what happened okay, tell him I'll be back as soon as we get Harry." Claire said to him, he gave her the same look as last time when they all went to Diagon Ally.
"Sirius we'll see you later when we get Harry," James started "us old marauders have a lot to catch up on old friend."
Claire felt James' arm come around her shoulders and then CRACK! There was an odd sensation going through her and then smack she hit the pavement and James was still up right. A young boy was watering his lawn near by but had not seen them because he was wearing head phones.
"Suppose I have to be more careful muggles are out and about." James said helping Claire up.
She brushed the rocks off her knee and looked around at the identical houses. "We need to find number four Private Drive." Claire said looking around.
She saw the familiar street name of Magnolia Drive, "We're close hang on I'll ask this old lady." Claire said as she saw a woman hobble across the street.
"Mam excuse me can you tell us where Private Drive is?" Claire asked her.
The lady looked at her then looked at James who was wearing robes, Claire wished the woman would stop giving them that look. "Just the next street over…" She said walking away.
Claire and James walked in the rank heat it was blistering and Claire felt ad for James, but when she looked at him he didn't look hot at all he seemed fine.
When at last they reached Private Drive, Claire felt like she was on fire her top was almost soaked through and her sandals were causing her feet to get blistery and sore.
"Ah ha number four Private Drive here we are…James?" she looked back at him he lingered at the top of the street.
"He's there isn't he, my boy I haven't seen him in fourteen years Claire, what if he doesn't want to see me, tells me to go away." James said.
"You obviously don't know Harry do you, James he wishes every day that you and Lily had not died, the Dursley's are terrible to him." Claire said she went over and took James hand and he suddenly felt a familiarity to her hand that brought him back to a time like this…
Helga sat beside James on the dry summer grass sipping pumpkin juice with him, his mother had given them work to do and now they were relaxing after the de-nomeing of the garden.
"I got a letter from Lily yesterday," he said to her suddenly. "She wanted to know how I am."
"What did you tell her?" Helga asked her blue eyes twinkling at him.
"I said that I was fine…" James said.
"James you do like Lily don't you?" Helga asked shocked by his response.
"Yeah but there is some one else I like more…" He said looking at her.
Helga bit her lip, "James you know where things stand between you and me, I love Sirius and you know it, you are just my best friend…James before you say any thing…" Helga said taking his hand. "You have to understand that were things different I may have feelings for you in that way but I don't, I know who my mind, my soul, and my hear love, and I am sorry but nothing can change that."
"I see…look Helga I understand, I just don't know about Lily…do you really think I could be happy with her?" he asked.
"James I know you can be happy with her, as I'll be happy with Sirius, who knows maybe in another life we can be together, but now we know this life is not it." Helga told him.
"Maybe your right, I'll have to go write to Lily now, properly…" James said standing up.
"Take care James, I'll be challenging you to Quidditch tomorrow…" Helga said taking his hand shaking it. "Beat you tomorrow!"
"Hey Helga, you're a Chaser I'm a Seeker remember!" James called after.
"Yeah but I won Ravenclaw the very last match against you Gryffindor's on the very last match remember those 16 points I scored on the hoops, any way James see ya!"
Helga yelled as she went in side…
"James are you listening to me you have to go see him… NOW!" Claire shouted at him.
"Alright, alright I'm going okay, gees Claire so pushy just like your father." James mumbled as they walked to the door.
Claire reached up and knocked on the door, she only hoped Harry was home.
Harry sat up stairs he heard the door and figured that uncle Vernon was on his way there, because no one had yelled for him to get it. He stared around the empty room aside from Hedwig who was sleeping in her cage. Harry's Firebolt rested on a wall and his room reflected the people and place he missed most; Hogwarts.
At that moment Uncle Vernon came in purple faced and pointed him to the door. "For 14 years, he owes us a ton of money that good for nothing…"
Harry side glanced at uncle Vernon and wondered what he was getting mad about. He then saw the back of Claire's head in the sitting room and Aunt Petunia was clutching Dudley's fat arm.
"Claire?" Harry said then he looked to the other person he had not seen at first then stopped abruptly at the entrance to the living room staring into the eyes of the man before him.
"Harry I hope you don't mind I insisted that we come to see you an well take you back to Godric's Hollow with us, that is your father and I." Claire said she saw the shocked look on Harry's face and then wondered if he thought she was playing a cruel joke on him.
"It can't be can it…father is that really you?" Harry asked.
"I've been under a spell cast by Voldemort I was only just recently able to break it." James told him "But I assure you Harry this time no dreams, it reality and if you wish to come with us…"
"It's not his choice…you Mr. Potter are alive and you can take your crazy son with you!" Vernon roared.
"Well there you have it, I'll get my things." Harry said.
"I'll come with you Harry…" Claire said as she followed him up the stairs.
Once Claire was up there she looked around and loved how his room was it reminded her of Hogwarts, at that moment Vulcan flew through the window her looked at Claire and ruffled his feathers.
"Oh Vulcan I'm sorry, this was an unexpected visit…" Claire said but she turned to se Harry kneeling at his bed he must be crying she went down next to him "Harry?"
"Claire I don't even know if it's really him…he is my father right?" Harry asked her.
"My father trusts that it's him, and I believe him…" Claire said.
"You know you are right, I just can't wait to get to know him, and hey can you help me with some stuff here?" Harry asked as they started to pack his room.
When they came down all of his things packed James wasn't in the house and the Dursley's all sat in front of the T.V.
"That man went outside to wait…" grunted Uncle Vernon.
"Thank you Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, for allowing me to stay with you." Harry said trying to be polite.
Uncle Vernon just grunted and Aunt Petunia pursed her lips.
"err…Good bye I guess." Again Harry received no response.
Claire just pulled him along, "Harry lets just go c'mon."
Once out side they were greeted by James and Remus was there too.
"Remus? When did you get here?" Claire asked him.
"Just now I saw my old friend, and Sirius told me that James and Harry were coming to live with us." Remus said.
"Oh well I know I should have asked you…" Claire started
"Nonsense James and Harry are welcome to stay as long as they want, your Grandfather doesn't mind either." Remus said.
Claire turned to Harry, "Now you can really know what its like to be apart of a family Harry." She hugged him, James and Remus exchanged looks of humor.
When they got home Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen… "Oh Harry dear have you eaten?" She asked Harry and James.
"I could use some food; thanks Molly…say how's the old Order doing?" James asked looking at Remus.
"Disbanded for now James…" Remus said.
"Hey Mrs. Weasley where is the dog?" Claire asked.
"I put that smelly dog out in the yard where he belongs…" Mrs. Weasley said.
Suddenly the fire lit up green Ron, Fred, and George came tumbling out. Claire went out to the back door it was getting just too hectic what with herself and Mrs. Weasley the only women in the house.
"Hey dad so I see Mrs. Weasley kicked you out huh? Come on I'll sneak you up stairs." Claire said "Maybe you want to talk to James?"
Sirius let out a loud bark that rattled the windows of the house. Claire led him in side where he bounded James, and Harry and avoiding Mrs. Weasley.
Claire smiled as every one talked and welcomed Harry and James into the home. Claire went up and sat on the stairs and watched everyone she heard Regulus upstairs and decided to go see him.
"Hey there little guy…" Claire said picking him up. "I bet you wish mum was here huh?"
"I bet you wish she was here too Claire." Sirius said coming up to the crib where she was holding Regulus who looked at Sirius wide eyed.
"Look dad he knows who you are!" Claire laughed.
"I suppose he dose, do you little man." Sirius said as Regulus wriggled in Claire's arms.
"Dad I do miss her…for the longest time it was just me and her, I never even knew you." Claire started, "To me you were just like a memory…but I knew mum missed you every day, but I know she tried to stop me from being magical."
"I respect your mother for trying to protect you, Voldemort was a dangerous man." Sirius said, "My cousin Bella is the prime example of what a Death Eater is, Claire you are at that age and in the right house where certain people may be tempted by the power of Voldemort, watch out for them all you are in a good and bad position."
"What is your cousin Andromeda like you know, Bellatrix's twin sister?" Claire asked.
"She's the only one in that family you can trust; Narcissa and Bella never trust them, although I wonder if Narcissa is all that bad…" Sirius said.
"Why is she not so bad?" Claire asked him.
"She never became a Death Eater." Sirius said "So I suppose she's not that bad."
Malfoy Manor…
"Lucius she should be here with us, we have to get her back…" Narcissa said.
"Look I'll not talk about it any more." Lucius said sipping brandy.
"Oh come on you can't look at Claire and see it she should be here, with us after all her father can't take care of her…and I want a daughter I always have!" She yelled at him.
"I told you there is just no way, Dumbledore is her guardian…" He started looking at his wife. "Why here any way what is so great about your cousin's child?"
"Because she needs a mother, look at how she is living now, I could care les about the boy, its Claire I want here…I want to adopt her." Narcissa said.
"Black will never agree to it he may just come out of hiding and kill us so we can't take her." Lucius said "But since you wish it I'll go to Fudge, but no more than Claire, the last thing I need is another baby." He scoffed to the upstairs where Draco was.
Draco sat alone in his room he looked down at a Photo Pansy had taken of him Claire was in the back round reading a letter and smiling, he loved it when she smiled. Draco shook his head what the hell was he thinking he's related to the broad. She's your third cousin mate I would call that distant, come on look how much more beautiful she is that that pug faced Pansy. He fought with his mind and tried to put Claire out of it. Quidditch would be happening in a few days and there he could for get all about Claire and her beautiful face and heart melting smile. "Goddamn…" Draco sighed as he set the photo down Pansy's face was miffed her picture obviously knew that he wasn't looking at her.
Godric's Hollow…
Claire sat out on the back porch the Celebrations roared on as Fred and George were showing of their latest tricks. The back door suddenly opened and Harry had come out. "Hi Harry…" Claire said as he sat down next to her.
"Claire how do you do it, you're just like your grandfather, able to make people happy and trust people." Harry said.
"Harry I am nothing like my grandfather, there is so much about me that dose not reflect him." Claire said.
"Well you don't seem like you want to fight people as much." Harry said humorously.
"Well I'm not around people who I want to beat the crap out of." Claire said.
Harry looked at her for a moment they both fell silent and Harry moved closer to her, Claire stood up and fell back into the bush behind her.
"Claire are you okay?" Harry asked as he held out his hand to her.
"Yeah, Harry I have a boyfriend why did you move closer to me." Claire asked him.
"I'm sorry…I just lost myself there for a moment." Harry said.
Claire looked at him then hugged him, "Harry you're my friend…
James listened to them at the door; it was just like when Helga told him they were nothing more than friends. "Harry don't let her tell you that, if you care about her tell her, don't let her be with any one else." James said quietly through his teeth.
Sirius was in his dog form looking up at James he then looked out at Claire hugging Harry. He knew right away James was thinking about the day Helga told him that she would not be with him. He knew that Lily was the only thing that stopped James from lashing out at Sirius for having Helga.
Claire let go of Harry and walked passed him to the house, Harry looked at her going in side and wished there was a way her could tell her how he felt…or did he really feel that way?
Thank you and Chapter three should be up this week some time when I get the chance to post it!