With a day separating Harry and the third task, he found himself thinking more about where Claire could be. Mid you he did practice many spells and mastered them, but with Claire missing he really wondered if they would continue the competition.
The whole Quidditch pitch had been changed over to accommodate the third task; he stared in awe as he ventured down to see what they had done to it.
What's more in the common room George seemed less focused on Fred and his plans, Harry wondered if he was worried about Claire too.
"Harry Claire would not have wanted you to quit now, you have to do the final task." Hermione told him.
"Yeah she would probably beat you up if you quit now, and looking at Malfoy last year it looks like it hurts." Ron said.
Harry looked out the window, "Where are you Claire?" Harry thought to himself…
Claire opened her eyes she wasn't in the mansion anymore she could tell by the cold breeze that blew about her. She looked around and realized she was in the graveyard and she was chained to an aging angel statue that over looked the area. Claire panicked and tried to move her arms the chains just clanked as she moved she was on there good. Looking around there was not a soul in sight; she hardly noticed the change in her outfit.
No longer dressed in her Hogwarts robes she was sporting a long white empire waist dress, the very same dress she had in her dream, panic now fell over she yelled for some one, she struggled with the chains, by the time she gave up her wrists were bleeding where the chains had cut in and she had sweat running down her face.
The time continued on there was no one not until she hears a loud thud nearby. Claire forced her eyes open and saw them Harry and Cedric.
"Help!" She called out in a raspy strained voice, they weren't far away.
Then Harry's head turned to look at Claire his eyes widened and he ran toward her.
"Claire oh my god are you okay look at you, Reducto!" Harry said pointing at the chains they disappeared and he caught Claire as she fell. "Cedric come help me…"
Harry looked back at Cedric who stood his wand pointing to his right fore arm on the dark mark tattoo.
"Cedric… you're a Deatheater!" Harry and Claire said simultaneously.
"I figured you would be smarter than you both proved not to be, I have been a Deatheater since before Christmas is really an amazing thing to be working for the Dark Lord." He said his eyes were dark and he looked evil.
Claire stood up and slowly made her way over to him, "How could you betray me like this, how could you!"
"Easy…I never loved you; you were just so close to Potter I knew it would be all the more easy to get Potter here where the Dark Lord wanted him." Cedric said pointing his want to her.
Harry came up quickly in front of Claire he held his wand out be fore him blocking her.
"Harry please don't …" Claire started.
"Relax Black I won't need to do any thing; the Dark Lord will be finishing off Potter soon enough." Cedric said looking over their shoulders.
Claire and Harry saw Wormtail carrying something wrapped in black, "Oh my god Harry that's him…" Claire whispered holding onto his sleeve.
"It's who…" but Harry was sent flying away from her.
"Harry!" Claire screamed as a stone gargoyle pinned him down.
"Get over here…" Cedric said grabbing on to her.
"No…let me go, don't touch me!" Claire yelled struggling with him.
Wormtail paid no attention to them he started the spell that would no doubt bring Voldemort back.
Claire couldn't hear what Wormtail was saying she whipped around and looked at Cedric he had a vacant expression Claire had not noticed before. Could it be that they have been putting him under the Imperius Curse.
"Cedric they have you under that spell don't they?" She said she looked back Wormtail had just cut off his hand.
He did not respond he just held steadfast and strong, "Okay Claire self-defense mom didn't send you there to fool around…"
Claire looked up at Cedric and muttered an apology and grabbed his wand arm flipping him over on his back forcing him to release the wand, she grabbed it up and moved away from him. Only to see Voldemort rising from the cauldron that melted away; Claire dove behind a tombstone and watched.
She saw Harry bleeding and wanted to help him but she remembered that Voldemort wanted to relive her of his bit of soul he had polluted her. She peeked over the top there were now Deatheaters in a circle around him. She thought now was her chance to get Harry and get the cup.
"Pick up your wand Potter; I trust you know how to duel!" Voldemort said
He forced Harry into a bow, and then shot jets of green light at him. He dove right behind the tombstone she was hiding behind.
"Harry I'll help you…" Claire said panicked "I stole Cedric's wand."
"Okay…Come on we'll do this together three, two, one…"
"EXPALLIARMUS!" They shouted in unison and a strange thin occurred as their two beams united and Voldemort used Avada Kadavra.
"Harry my wand it's vibrating what do I do?" Claire shouted.
"Keep with it Claire!" Harry said.
"Leave them both to me! The girl has to stay alive!" Voldemort screamed at them.
It happened so quickly figures were coming out of no where surrounding the two of them.
Two women and a man were surrounding them creating a barrier.
"Harry…" came a voice from one of the figures.
"Mum!"
"Harry we can block you for a brief moment you and Claire get to the cup and leave this place." Lily said. "Be quick…and Harry give my love to your father and tell him I am happy for him, he'll understand."
"But mom…" Harry started.
"Just go you two need to get out of here!" Lily said.
Harry nodded.
"NOW HARRY!" She shouted.
Claire didn't wait for a second warning the two of them dove out of the way, "Accio Cup!" Harry shouted Claire grabbed him but not before there was a ripping feeling like her body was torn in pieces. They fell to the ground at the entrance of the maze; Harry went over Claire who screamed in pain as her body writhed with the feeling of separation. Voldemort must have removed the spell over her.
"Claire! Claire it's okay oh my god." Every one was watching.
Dumbledore ran onto the pitch and waved his wand silently and Claire stopped moving.
She lay there limp and unresponsive Harry wondered if she was dead.
"Keep every one up in there seats we have an injured student down here." Dumbledore said.
"Harry where is Cedric?" Dumbledore asked.
"He was a Deatheater sir…he was helping bring Voldemort back, Claire and I fought him…he's alive sir!" Harry yelled.
Everyone was in a state of panic, James ran past McGonagall with Greta in tow. Remus followed holding Regulus and Sirius in his dog form followed behind.
"Oh my god!" Greta exclaimed.
"Sir are they both okay?" James asked as he pulled Harry up into a hug.
"Father I saw her I saw mum she spoke to me, she told me she loves you and she is happy for you." Harry said his eyes flashing to Greta behind him.
"Harry are you alright." She said coming closer to him.
Harry went over to her and hugged her; surprised Greta hugged him back and comforted him.
Remus and Sirius were near Claire who Madame Pomfrey was tending to. "We'll have to take her to the Hospital Wing…"
Claire moaned as she opened her eyes and tried to speak, "Moody…he's Barty Crouch." She managed to say before she passed out again.
"Minerva get Snape and you two deal with Barty Crouch Jr., I suspect the real Alastor Moody may be locked in that trunk." Dumbledore said.
In the Hospital Wing almost every one Claire knew was there, Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fred and George, Ron, Hermione, James, Greta, Sirius, Remus, and Regulus who crawled happily on the floor.
Sirius transformed into his human form and Mrs. Weasley let out a yell. "You were that mangy mutt all this time!"
"Molly please he needs some time with his daughter, she's hurt just don't worry about him." Remus said he picked up Regulus and put him on the end of Claire's bed, closing the curtains to give them.
"Lets hope she'll get better huh son?" Sirius said picking up the now one-year old Regulus.
The little boy pointed to Claire who lay motionless on the bed, "Care?" he said.
"Yes Regulus that's Claire…" Sirius said choking on threatening tears, "She'll be better soon."
"Da-da." Regulus said.
"Yes son that's right," He said.
"mmm- Daddy is that you?" Claire said weakly.
"Your brother and I sweet-heart, I'm so glad your okay." Sirius said. "I couldn't bare it if I lost you too, how do you feel?"
"Very sore can I see Regulus…?" Claire asked holding her arms out to him.
"Sure kiddo here you go." Sirius said handing him over to Claire who hugged him.
"Care…" Regulus said again.
"Yes baby-brother it's me how are you?" She asked.
Regulus just curled up next to her and snuggled into the blankets.
"Well we know who missed you…so I heard about Cedric…" Sirius subtly mentioned.
"Look I don't want to talk about him…he may be under the Imperius Curse, but I don't know all I do know is that he's a Deatheater now and I don't want to ever think about it…" Claire trailed off.
"I understand dear, look we'll be moving to a new home it's too dangerous to stay in Godric's Hollow…" Sirius said.
"But it's our home Daddy where are we going to go?" Claire asked him.
"Dumbledore wishes us to not speak about it; Harry will be going back to his aunt and uncles so we don't draw too much attention to ourselves." Sirius said.
"But Harry's father he's alive…" Claire said.
"He has much work to do for the Auror's." Sirius said. "The Weasley's and us will go to our new home…Claire all will be explained in due time."
Remus poked his head in, "Sirius the minister is coming to talk to Harry, better change back quick."
"Thank you…" Sirius transformed back.
Claire heard the Minister talking with Harry; he was telling him how ridiculous he was being claiming Voldemort was alive. Hearing this Claire got out of bed and moved too the curtain. "Sir Voldemort is alive…" Claire said moving to sit by Harry.
"Oh not you…do you two four-teen year olds expect me to believe you? For all I know you killed Diggory and left to take the cup for Harry." Fudge said.
"How dare you, I loved Cedric he's not dead he joined Voldemort as a Deatheater!" Claire yelled at him.
"Killed in the heat of passion, what were you tailing both Potter and Diggory on a leash and they found out about it, your mother was the same way…OUCH!" He yelped as he was bit in the leg.
"Snuffles no bad dog…" Claire said winking at her father.
"How dare you say that my mother is dead, she can't defend herself." Claire said forgetting the pain in her body.
"Your right Miss. Black it does no justice to speak ill of some one who brought a half were-wolf into the world." He said turning away.
Claire screamed in outrage and attacked Fudge from behind pushing him so he tripped over a bed.
He got up off the floor, "You're insane you know that, no one will ever believe you, the two of you are a pair of liars!" Fudge said he pulled out a bag of gold, "Your winnings Mr. Potter." He threw them to the floor and spat out blood from his mouth by it.
Claire sank to the floor her body screaming in protest at her standing.
Remus stood up and went over to her, "Claire you should lie back down."
Claire looked up at him and smiled, "I am fine I just feel faint it took a lot of energy to drive that man away."
Remus nodded, "Come on I'll help you."
"There is some thing I want to ask." Claire said.
"What is it?" He asked.
"What is a Horcrux?" Claire asked him.
Remus looked as if he would never be happy again he shook his head, "You don't need to know, Claire such things should not be talked about."
"I only ask because Voldemort…" She watched as a few people winced hearing his name, "He told me that I was one, and that he would be taking back the part of his soul that was in me…"
Remus looked at James a Sirius who were nearby them now.
"Claire I would assume you felt a ripping feeling before you and Harry got to the port key." James asked.
Claire nodded, James continued.
"Then he has taken that bit of soul from you and you no longer carry a connection to him." James said.
"Mate you are way too good at this dark wizard stuff." Sirius said to James.
"Hey it's my job Sirius…" James said
"What's that suppose to mean?" Sirius said sardonically.
"Sirius cut that out your acting like a child in font of you r own children." James said fighting a smirk.
"You two honestly chill out." Remus said.
"Yeah, yeah…" Sirius said.
"Daddy!" Claire said.
"What, what did I do?" He said perking up.
"Never mind…" Claire muttered.
The whole company left to make preparations to move to the new home the following day, Sirius told Mr. and Mrs. Weasley the location of his family home, so they could start the major cleaning the place would need.
Number Twelve Grimmauld Place would become the new headquarters of an old organization called the Order of the Phoenix it had not been occupied for thirteen years.
Claire said her good byes to Harry who was rather annoyed that he had to go to the Dursley's for protection.
They were back at the home in Godric's Hollow; Harry sat with Claire in the garden. She sad resting her head on the ropes of the swing while Harry stood with his back against the tree.
"I don't want to go back to the Dursley's, not when I have my father back." Harry said.
"I don't want you to go either, but grandfather says it's the safer way to get you to Grimmauld Place." Claire told him slightly pushing her self side to side on the swing.
"I'm thankful you were there to help me…Claire do you think there is some bond between us now?" Harry asked her.
Claire nodded, "We saved each others lives Harry, a bond always develops between two people who save one and other, for example you and Ginny."
"Right in the Chamber of Secrets." Harry said.
"Yes… I always want to keep you as my dearest friend Harry, no matter what happens." Claire told him.
"I feel the same way; I always thought that meant you had to be my girlfriend you know." Harry said blushing.
Claire arched an eyebrow at him.
"Yes I know okay don't look at me like that…but after seeing how impossible that would be any ways it was still nice to think about it." Harry said.
"There is one way of telling Harry." Claire said.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"Well a kiss…when I kissed Cedric I felt all warm like a cup of hot coco when I kissed him." Claire started, "Harry if I kissed you we could find out if we feel any thing?"
"Erm…" Harry blushed a bright red. "Well Claire I've never…you see I had not…oh gees I've never kissed a girl before." Harry blurted out.
Claire giggled at him, "Well than Mr. Potter shall I be the first?"
Harry gulped and bit his lip, then nodded. "Sure then we can find out if we have that feeling…" Harry said.
Claire got off the swing and moved closer to him. Harry closed the rest of the distance kissing her as he might have watched in one of Aunt Petunia's soppy love films. It was his first kiss, it felt good, he didn't want it to end, but like Claire said it has to be a feeling of complete bliss and Harry pulled away.
"Well that was nice for the first time, but I didn't feel that warm hot chocolate feeling, it was nice mind you but not the way you described a kiss." Harry said.
"You're right…" Claire said.
"I should do that more often…" Harry said.
"Well don't go snogging every thing that moves this summer Harry." Claire said jokingly.
"Hey well thank you Claire…" Harry said.
"For what?" Claire asked.
"My first kiss." Harry said.
Claire smiled and sat back down on her swing, "You are a good kisser Harry you know."
"Thanks!" Harry said.
Claire looked at the blue sky through the cracks in the trees, she would come back her some day, she thought to her self. Claire smiled to herself and went along side Harry as they walked to the house.
She knew from the start her family was weird, but that's just it they were her family: Sirius, James, Remus, Greta, Harry, and Regulus…in some way or another.
Harry took her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly; she side glanced at him and smiled.
So Dear diary I kissed him under the big oak tree, forgetting that I was hurt over Cedric. Harry's kiss was a reminder that there was some one for me that I could fall in love again even if it wasn't with Harry… I still have that aching feeling for Remus that I really cannot identify, but he is a good friend and some one I will always hold dear. My father spends more and more time with me and Regulus, and James will marry my aunt Greta at the end of the summer, I already know why there being hasty…Voldemort of course.
I said good bye to my mother till I could come home to Godric's Hollow again, and bid farewell to Harry, knowing I would see him again soon. So this was my fourth year at Hogwarts, father tells me to wait for the O.W.L's I'll have fun with those. Well diary I have to go help with the move. Good Bye till next time.
All the love,
CCB
Thankyou soo much for the readers of this story...the next one is called "My Love" so watch out for it and take care all of you and Merry Christmas!