'Macht dem Starken'

"Sorry about the bumpy landing," Ted said as he lifted Claudia up to standing and nudged her towards the house. "Let's get you inside."

Silently, she followed him towards the front door. None of this felt real. One moment, she was on a London street. The next, she was here, on the gravel path in the middle of nowhere. And then, she was sitting down in the Tonks' dining room. Absentmindedly, she played with the starched corner of the tablecloth, while listening to the hushed voices in the hallway. She knew Ted and Andromeda were talking about her but could not bring herself to even try to listen to them. It was as if she was out of her body, unable to move, unable to think. Unable to process how she was still- Still here…

"Have some food dear," Andromeda said as she put a plate of cottage pie in front of Claudia. "You'll feel better."

Without a word, or looking at Andromeda, Claudia picked up a fork and slowly began to eat. It tasted of nothing and after a few spoons she was full.

"Ted's prepared the guest room for you," Andromeda said and brushed Claudia's arm, stopping abruptly when Claudia flinched.

Claudia stared at Andromeda's hand on her arm, and her ring. She knew Andromeda saw it too. She swallowed dry, bracing herself for the inevitable question. But it did not come-

"Why don't you go up and I prepare you some potions?" Andromeda said instead.

"That's not necessary," Claudia said with a sigh. "I don't want to be a nuisance."

"You aren't a nuisance," Andromeda whispered. "You're family, Claude."

The mention of that name brought Claudia to tears again. "I'm sorry." She wiped her eyes. She did not want to cry anymore. Crying meant feeling things, and she was sick of feeling things.

"What's wrong?"

Claudia shook her head. "Sirius used to call me that. Just him and-" she drew in a sob– "and you two."

"I'm sorry, dear." Andromeda whispered. "Let's get you to the shower and bed."

One attempt at resisting was all Claudia had in her, so she followed Andromeda's lead, as if she was under the Imperius curse. She showered, shampooed her hair three times before it felt like hair again, and put on some of Andromeda's old pyjamas. When she got back to the guest room, four vials of potions were already waiting for her on the bedside table. She did not ask what they were. She drained them and collapsed into bed. One of them must have been sleeping draught, because within minutes, Claudia was asleep.

But eventually, the potions had worn off and Claudia woke up nauseas and achy. One second, she was too hot, one second, she was too cold. She barely made it to the bathroom, before she had to throw up again. She looked around. Where even was she? This was not her bathroom…

"Claudia," she heard a soft voice from behind her. "Get back to bed, I'll make you some more potions."

"No," Claudia said with a shake of the head, recognising Andromeda's voice, and lifted herself to her feet. "I need to go back home. I need to speak to Crouch. That's where I was heading, when-"

Andromeda took her firmly by the shoulders. "You need to get stronger first, have a little more rest."

"I have to help him-" she barked. "Before it's too late."

"You will help him." Andromeda sat Claudia down on the bed and brought a vile of potions to Claudia's lips. "But first you have to drink this." Andromeda did not even wait for Claudia to open her mouth properly before she force-fed her the potion. And then another.

Before Claudia knew it, she was tucked in bed, drifting off to sleep. Andromeda's concerned face was soon replaced by another. At first it was blurry, but eventually, Claudia did recognise the blond locks and the sour expression-

"Mother!" she exclaimed and tried to get up, but it proved impossible. "What are you doing here?"

"Drink this," Cassandra said sternly.

"I don't want to!" Claudia tried to sit up again but very quickly realised she was tied to the bed. "Get away from me! Let me go!"

Cassandra laughed, in an icy, hollow way at the suggestion. "Not until I have my grandchild."

"NO!" Claudia yelled as darkness engulfed her. Her mother's laugh, however, was still ringing in her ears. She was falling, backwards. Into some kind of a void.

She opened her eyes. The cold, wet bedsheets were sticking to her. Her teeth were clattering. It was too hard to keep the eyes opened. "My mother," she whispered. "Was she here?"

Through the narrow gap between her eye lids, Claudia could just about see someone's bending over her. They had long brown hair.

"It was just a dream," a soft female voice said, and Claudia felt a palm on her forehead. "You're burning up."

"Alice?" Claudia uttered with a sigh. "I'm so glad you're here."

"No, it's-" But the response got drowned out by the sound of Claudia's own rapid heartbeat.

"I had this nightmare," Claudia continued between heavy breaths. "That you were in St Mungos' and-"

And in a flash, she was there. In St Mungo's, walking down a corridor, looking for her best friend. But it was a maze. Just high white walls all around her, with endless corners and corridors that never seemed to end. "Sirius! James! Sirius!" she shouted, hoping that either of them would know a way out. But her voice just echoed, and echoed, and echoed.

There was no response.

Then, in a slow but persistent pace, the walls started to close in.

"Sirius!"

The walls were now crumbling. This was it. She was going to get buried here. But just then, Claudia seen a glimpse of a lime green coat and red hair. "Gideon!" she exclaimed and run after him.

But the floor opened under her again.

All of a sudden, she was sitting up in bed. It was too bright, too noisy. Her head was spinning. All she could take in were the lime green coats all the St Mungo's healers wore. She grabbed one of the lime-green-cladded arms. "Gideon," she said hoarsely, struggling to speak. That's how dry her mouth was. "What's going on? Where's Alice?"

"Drink this."

Someone supported her head and poured a potion down her throat. And then another, and another.

"Tell Fabian I'm sorry," Claudia uttered just as her head hit the pillow again.

A soothing female voice replied. "You'll get through this, I promise you. You just need to get more rest."

"I don't want to…" Claudia protested. "I need to find Sirius!"

"You will, I promise." Alice's voice was shaking now. "Just need to have a rest first."

And Alice was right. When Claudia turned around, Sirius was there. There were holding hands, walking through a field.

"Hey," Sirius whispered and pulled her close to him. "Everything is going to be alright." He buried his fingers in the back of Claudia's hair and kissed her. "I promise you."

There were laying in the grass, looking at the clouds.

There was one looking like a frog.

One bore a striking resemblance to Moody, looking not at all happy.

But then the sky darkened, Moody gave way to a dementor, and Claudia could feel the chill engulf her body. She turned to Sirius for some warmth and comfort, but his body was rigid. His eyes were vacant.

He was dead!

"NO!" Claudia yelled. Her chest felt like it was being ripped apart. "NO!"

And then, she was in bed again. Her tongue was like sandpaper. She looked to her right. The window was on the wrong side of the bed, and the curtains had flowers. She had never seen these- This was not her home.

Claudia turned to the left and saw Andromeda, sitting on the side of her bed.

"I'm so glad you're awake," Andromeda sighed with relief and put her hand on Claudia's forehead. "And your fever had broken too."

"What-" Claudia coughed. "Where-" Her throat was closing. "Water…"

"Of course." Andromeda helped Claudia sit up and drink.

After a couple of glasses, Claudia was finally able to string a sentence together. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days… Even the healers were worried about you."

"What happened to me?"

"Fever, delirium, you name it," Andromeda said with a sigh. "The healer said it was stress, and–" she trailed off.

"And what?"

"It doesn't matter now…"

"Please don't treat me like a child."

"They said this can happen if you suddenly cut out drink. You know, if you've been drinking a lot…"

Andromeda did not have to finish the sentence. Claudia knew instantly what this meant. "Right…" She laid back down and curled up in bed.

"I'll go make you some soup."

Claudia did not respond, just kept staring at the wall, counting the flowers on the wallpaper. One-two-three… But she could hardly hold her attention past ten. Reality kept sneaking into her thoughts. Alice was in St Mungo's, Gideon was dead, so was James, and Sirius was in jail. Everyone she saw in those dreams was gone. Except her fucking mother. If anyone deserved to die…

One-two-three-four… Claudia was still counting when Andromeda brought her some soup. It felt good to have something in her stomach. At least for the ten minutes before she threw it all up. But by the end of the day, she managed a shower, two slices of toast and a tea. And with the help of more sleeping draught and half dozen other potions, she fell asleep again.

By the time she woke up from her mercifully dream-less sleep, it was not Andromeda who was sitting on the edge of her bed, but her daughter.

"Mummy sent me to check on you," the girl said. "She looked worried."

"You can tell your mummy I'm ok." Claudia replied and shuffled up the bed to sit against the headboard. "What day is it?"

"Friday." Nymphadora mumbled but played with the bottom of her jumper. Something else was clearly on her mind. "Where is cousin Sirius?" she whispered.

It was a simple question of a child. But it was as if someone kicked Claudia in her stomach. "I –" Claudia stuttered and sunk her finger nails into her palms, "he is –"

"He's dead, isn't he?" Nymphadora interrupted. "Mummy won't say either."

"He's just away," Claudia tried to reassure the girl through gritted teeth. She did not want to explain, did not want to speculate. If she could help it, she never wanted to speak of it again.

"Right," the girl said with an expression that made it clear she was having none of it. "That's what they both say." She jumped from the bed and took a few steps out of the bedroom, but then froze and stared at the bedside table. "Is that your ring?" She picked it up. "It's pretty."

"Yes," Claudia said hastily. It belonged on her finger. Not in the grubby hands of a nosey child. "Don't touch it," she snapped and snatched it out of Nymphadora's hand.

For a moment, Nymphadora stared at Claudia with her eyes wide open. For a moment, Claudia thought she had made her cry. But Nymphadora blinked a couple times and left the bedroom, stomping rather loudly.

Claudia dropped back into the bed. How the hell was she supposed to get on with her life if she could not get through a two-minute conversation with an eight-year-old without losing her temper? Her stomach grumbled.

She stared at the ceiling until she heard the front door shut and the noise levels downstairs recede. Only then, she finally found courage to go find some food.

Once downstairs, wrapped in a warm dressing gown, she bumped into Andromeda. "Sorry," Claudia mumbled and sat down at the kitchen table. "I thought you were all gone."

"No need to apologise," Andromeda said with a smile. "They went to Ted's parents, but I rather stay here." She turned towards the stove and mixed something in a pot. "They treat me like an idiot. They're muggle scientists, you know, and apparently my knowledge of the real world is appalling." Once Andromeda turned back, she dropped a bowl of porridge in front of Claudia.

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry about Nymphadora. I heard what she was asking you."

Claudia sighed. "I don't know what to tell her."

"I don't know either…" Andromeda sat down opposite Claudia and took a few sips from a mug. "You don't think he did it, do you?"

The whole of Claudia's body clenched. She dreaded thinking about it again, but for the first time in weeks, her brain was not foggy, so she took a deep breath… Maybe she could finally make sense of it. "I know he isn't a Death Eater. But-" she paused for some time. Going back and forth, wondering if verbalising her greatest fear was a good idea. "But some people suggested there may be one reason why he would betray James and Lily to Voldemort," she finally mumbled, staring into her porridge.

"What possible-"

"That he made a deal with my father," Claudia interrupted and then slowly raised her eyes. "A deal to save my life, in exchange for theirs."

"Who told you such rubbish?" Andromeda exclaimed. "You have to stop thinking that right now, Claudia. Sirius was the smartest, most resourceful person I know. He would not do something this desperate."

The strength of Andromeda's rejection of Remus' theory took Claudia by surprise. "He wasn't in a good place…"

"Why not go to hiding?"

"I said I didn't want to-"

"And you really think he would take that for an answer?" Andromeda jumped in again. "If the only alternative was betraying his best friend to Voldemort?"

"No." Claudia shook her head. It was rather obvious now. He would've kidnapped her, or put her under Imperio, before going down that route.

"He and James would come up with some crazy scheme," Andromeda continued, her voice shaking. "He would never betray him. They were like brothers."

Feeling a little encouraged, Claudia ate few spoons of the porridge. "What do you think happened?"

Andromeda's shoulders slumped. "I don't know, dear. I can't think about it too much. Ted thinks there is something fishy going on, because of the lack of trial. And I just can't see him as a Death Eater, or as someone who could kill all those muggles."

Claudia did not say anything. On the second front, the accusation he killed the muggles, she was less sure of his innocence. If the Fidelius Charm was to fail, Sirius would blame Peter – he always did. And who was to say what he would do to him, or how much collateral damage he would cause. He would not care about anything. Not in that moment, anyway.

"Ted is doing some more digging," Andromeda continued. "Leave it to him."

"Sure," Claudia mumbled. She very much doubted Ted was going to get anywhere… But what else she was supposed to say? Tell him to stop looking?

"Do you want to do anything?" Andromeda changed the subject. "See anyone?"

Claudia shook her head and ate few more spoons of porridge.

"Oh, and you got a letter," Andromeda added and took an envelope out of the pocket of her dress. "From someone called Ewan Dankworth."

With a sigh, Claudia reached for the envelope. "Maybe I'll go read it in bed." She slowly got up. Mostly, to get out of talking to Andromeda before the conversation made her cry. But, also to have some more rest. Even eating a small bowl of porridge took it out of her.

"Do you want to borrow some books? Ted has so many about history and legal stuff. More than you could read in a lifetime."

Claudia shrugged and opened her mouth to respond. But Andromeda was clearly not interested in getting any answers from Claudia, as she kept replying to her own questions.

"I'll pick up a few-" she said and then, raised her finger. "Almost forgot. Your boss was briefly here. He wanted to come and see you when you got better."

"Moody?"

"Yes, strange fellow. All you need to do is to write to him with a time."

"Alright." With that, Claudia was able to escape and crawled into bed again. She had no intention of writing to Moody, or even opening that letter from Ewan. But no matter how hard she tried to ignore that envelope on the bedside table, she could not. After five minutes or so, she gave up the fight and ripped it open.

Dear Claudia,

Again, I'm sorry I have to go. It was made abundantly clear to me that it was either that, or getting the sack. But I hope you managed to eat some of that food I left in your fridge, and that you still have some left. You need to eat!

Please don't get mad, but you did not look too good when I came to say good-bye. I know you said you'll be fine, but you've been through a lot. More than any of us could handle. Please try look after yourself.

The boss promised to pop in and check on you. Whatever you do, don't push him away. There is no shame in letting others help you. We're a team, and we've got your back.

Ewan

Claudia stared at the letter, even re-read it a few times. How did she not remember this? Ewan came to see her, cooked for her? Was it really possible she forgot all that, and James' and Lily's funeral too? She dropped into her pillow and remembered all the drinking. Bottle after bottle after bottle. How could she ever let it get that far?

At the mere thought of firewhiskey, her breakfast ended up in the toilet bowl again. "Great," she mumbled when she tried to clean everything up. "Now I got my period too." With a curse word or two, she raided Andromeda's cupboard for the necessary supplies. It felt like an age since she had one. At least the excessive drinking was good for something, stopping this nuisance in her life for a few months.

Once back in bed, and full of potions again, Claudia picked up Ewan's letter to re-read it. To see if it sparked her memory. She sighed. Fundamentally, he was right. She reached to the bedside table's drawer for some parchment and quill.

"Boss,

Thanks for checking in on me. Come any time it suits. I'm still at the Tonkses.

Claudia"

Between the period that came back with a vengeance and her continuing nausea and aches, Claudia struggled to get out of bed for the next few days. But lying there, even sleep, got boring. So boring in fact, she began to look forward to, rather than dread Moody's visit (or the inevitable telling off). And finally, he came.

"I brought you some minced pies," he said as he sat down on the edge of her bed. "Should be a crime selling these now; it's not even December yet!"

Claudia picked up the tin and ate one. It melted in her mouth, and for a second, made her forget some of the pain she was in. "How's everyone?" she mumbled, with her mouth full.

Moody shrugged. "Ewan's gone. I'm being micro-managed. Oscar-" Moody stopped abruptly. "Don't worry about Oscar."

Claudia took another minced pie to avoid talking about just how much she messed up there. "And how's my father's case?" she asked, more to change the subject rather than out of genuine interest. But Moody's reaction surprised her.

"I wouldn't worry about that now," he mumbled, his eyes darting from his feet to the window and back. She had ever hardly seen him acting this awkward.

Claudia's eyes narrowed. "What are you not telling me?"

"Claudia-"

"I'm going to find out anyway," she hissed. "Would you rather tell me, or should I get the latest Prophet?"

Moody rubbed his palms. "I wouldn't read the Prophet, if I were you…"

"Then, tell me."

"The case collapsed." Moody was finally able to look at her. "He came out with all this stuff how you could not be trusted, how you set him up, and how you interfered with the search. And fucking Crouch jumped on it and let him go. It's a great way to cover his own arse – blame a rogue auror, rather than the fact that the Head of DMLE was blind to what was going on at the Ministry."

Not even a minced pie could restore Claudia's mood. Months, even years, of work! Gone! "How am I not in Azkaban, then?"

Moody threw his arms in the air. "Because he knows it's garbage. If he puts you on trial, he knows it would emerge it was all his fault, not yours."

"So, he's keen on trials again?" Claudia snapped, unable to control her feelings towards Crouch or the Ministry any longer-

"I've tried everything. But it really does look like – at least to me - that Pettigrew and those muggles-"

"Don't say it," Claudia jumped in and grabbed her head in her hands. "I know. But please don't say it…" She felt a hand on her shoulder, then an arm. Before she could even appreciate how awkward this all was, Moody held her tight in an embrace.

"If there is anyone who can get through this, it's you," he said. "You're the bravest, most resilient person I know."

Claudia gripped onto Moody's shoulder. She did not feel brave or resilient. But he was here. And she no longer felt completely alone. Wiping her eyes, she let go off him and sat up straight again. There was one more question left on her mind. "They'll never let me come back, will they? To the Auror Office?"

"You don't have to think about that now."

"Just tell me…"

Moody took a deep breath. "No, they won't. It's out of the questions."

For a moment, Claudia stayed silent, wondering how the loss of the only job she ever wanted made her feel. "In a way, it's a relief… The whole thing is fucked up."

"I spoke to Agrippa and any job in the Mind Room is yours. It's a good job. Something to do while things calm down."

Claudia paused to think for a moment, but then shook her head. "I can't walk through that atrium again. Everyone would just stare at me. I know what they all think. Either I'm a Death Eater to them, or a dumb bitch who did not see her boyfriend for who he was."

"But the Mind Room is perfect. No one would even know your name or that you work there."

"It doesn't matter. I can't see myself holding down a job right now anyway," Claudia said with a sigh, suddenly feeling a hundred times worse. Her head was hurting, and her stomach felt like it was being pierced by several daggers at once.

But Moody was oblivious and kept going. "What are you going to do with yourself? I know you; you need to do something…"

Claudia shrugged and winced in pain from yet another cramp. "What's the point?"

"I'm not taking that for an answer. Not yet anyway. You need time." Moody reached out for Claudia's hand. "When Aidan died, I also felt like it was all over. It took me a long time to see the purpose in life again. And I'm not letting you give up. Come to the office in a few weeks, tell me for certain."

"I really don't feel too well," Claudia mumbled and collapsed back into bed, hugging her stomach.

"I'll let you rest."

"Could you ask Andromeda to bring me some more potions?" she said meekly. "And a hot water bottle?"

She spent the next few days in bed, drinking so many potions she lost count. But eventually, these seemed to have done wonders for Claudia's physical health. She no longer got out of breath climbing a flight of stairs, and most of her pains and aches have gone.

And her mental strength was improving too. She even managed to get stuck into some of Ted's legal books, which have also done wonders for her. Or rather her rage. How did she not see before how corrupt the wizarding justice system was? Crouch could have gotten away with murder! There was no accountability, no checks and balances! There was no legal recourse to get Sirius a trial! Nothing!

Claudia sighed and threw the book away. In a way, that was probably for the better… They would only find him guilty blowing up twelve muggles because his rage got the better of him. And she did not need that confirmed.

By the end of the week, she was sick and tired of reading. She was sick and tired of lounging around, of wearing Andromeda's pyjamas, and of using some old junk wand Ted had laying around.

So, Claudia got dressed in the clothes she came in (and Andromeda had cleaned for her) and went downstairs. But before she managed to get out of the house, she bumped into Ted.

"Glad I caught you," he said. "I was going to ask you some questions. Some things just don't make sense to me about Sirius' case."

Claudia took a deep breath. "I can't, I'm sorry. I need to head out." She turned away from Ted and scuttered towards the fireplace. Claudia had been planning to take the Floo network back to London. She did not dare apparate all the way from Andromeda's with a borrowed wand.

"It will just take a minute!"

She froze and took a deep breath. She wanted to be left alone, how hard was it to understand? She bit on her finger, then turned. "I'm sorry," she said slowly, trying to control her temper. "I really am. Maybe next time."

Before Ted could react, she threw some Floo Powder into the fireplace and stepped in. "The Leaky Cauldron."

The distance between the pub and the flat was, however, significantly shorter, so she took a risk and apparated. And it worked!

Right in front of the door, Claudia found a stack of letters and by a quick look, most of them were addressed in Remus' hand. She picked up her wand that was laying in front of the fireplace and pointed it at the pile. "Incendio!" She was not going to give Remus the satisfaction of reading his pleas. They were done.

Then, she opened the door and could not help but let out a gasp. The flat was a much bigger disaster than Claudia remembered. It was as if something rather pungent exploded in the middle of it, leaving an unpleasant smell and chaos behind.

Without thinking, she moved rapidly through the flat, vanishing all the old food and booze. Nausea overcame her every time she came near a bottle. Every time she even thought of alcohol. And the whole flat still reeked of it. So, Claudia opened the windows, and found some cigarettes to mask it…

Rummaging through her wardrobe for some fresh clothes, she realised there were none and a round of laundry was due. Carefully, Claudia picked up a few things from the floor, taking extra care to leave everything that was Sirius' in its place. Well, almost in its place. She could not resist the occasional touch or a sniff of his cologne.

With the flat aired out and laundry done, Claudia went back to Andromeda's and straight to bed. That night, she fell asleep without a sleeping draught and slept deeper and longer than for a long time.

From then on, she kept coming back to the flat every day, always doing a little bit more to make it habitable. She tidied all the mess the aurors made, cleaned all the stains, changed the bed, and gave the kitchen and a bathroom a proper scrub. Where she did not know the right household spell, she used her hands. Somehow, it felt more satisfying that way.

Finally, she even summoned enough courage to box up most of Sirius' things and put them at the bottom of the wardrobe. And then, she was done. Well, nearly done-

The picture of her and Sirius was still lying on the floor by the fireplace, with the glass smashed. Claudia repaired it and placed it carefully onto the bookshelf. She brushed Sirius' face with her finger and whispered, "I love you." She sighed and played with her ring for a few seconds. "Whatever happened, I will always love you."

The next evening, when Claudia sat down to dinner with Andromeda, she knew it was time to say her good-byes. "Thank you so much for everything," she began. "But I don't want to overstay my welcome. I think it's time for me to go home."

"Are you sure?" Andromeda whispered, her face all contorted. "You can stay as long as you want."

"I'm sure," Claudia replied resolutely but noticed that the worry had not left Andromeda's face. "Don't worry about me. I'll survive this."

Andromeda shifted uncomfortably. "When Ted found you-" she began and Claudia looked away. "I know it can feel like everything is over."

In some ways Claudia would have preferred if Nymphadora and Ted were there. Andromeda was too perceptive for Claudia's liking and, with her daughter and husband gone, had no reason to hold her tongue

"Well, it kind of is over," Claudia said with a dismissive shrug. "I used to have a job, friends. I found the love of my life… And now. What do I have now?"

Andromeda tried to reach across the table to touch Claudia's arm, but Claudia pulled away. She could not stand the thought of someone, anyone, touching her anywhere near her tattoo, which, at the same moment, sent another chill down her spine. She barely noticed these anymore. They became part of her life. A constant presence.

"You said you don't think he's guilty," Andromeda uttered. "If that's true, can you even imagine what it would do it him? If you've killed yourself?" Claudia said nothing, so Andromeda continued. "If you ever feel down or need something, you will come here, promise me. You aren't alone – you have us, you have Moody, you have Neville. And who knows what might happen with Sirius. All of this is still so raw. Give it time, wait for Crouch to move on. You must not lose hope. Ever!"

"I'll be fine," Claudia muttered, somewhat annoyed Andromeda was patronising her in this way. "I'm just going to pack up and go."

"You should wait till the morning."

Claudia shook her head. She had every intention staying till the morning, until this lecture. She would do anything to avoid a repeat of the same at breakfast. "I just want to sleep in my own bed. Thank you for everything though."

While Claudia collected the few possessions she had at the Tonkses' house, Andromeda packed her so much food, Claudia struggled to apparate with it. But she managed it, and by ten o'clock, she was tucked into her own bed, staring at the pillow where Sirius' head used to rest.

Claudia pinched the bridge of her nose. No, she was not going to cry. Not anymore.

She jumped out of bed, threw on one of Sirius' old jumpers and climbed through the window to sit on the roof that they spent so much time on. And had so many talks… She opened a new pack of cigarettes and blew some smoke against the dark sky, still determined not to shed any more tears. Some people managed to survive with a lot less to live for, she thought. She was not really sure how, but it was worth a try. She had to try.

Few days later, Claudia finally summoned the courage to go see Moody at the Ministry to tell him that she was not coming back. She had no idea what she would do with herself. Maybe she could get a job as a potioneer or sell antique quills. Anything to get her away from the Ministry.

Just as she was about to leave, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was too long, and her skin was nearly grey. And dressed in all black, her engagement ring was the only thing that carried any sort of colour.

"Or maybe, I could get a job in a funeral home," she mumbled to herself. "Already look the part."

With that though, she walked down the stairs and apparated to the Ministry. It took all of Claudia's resolve to ignore all the stares and whispers as she walked through the Ministry's corridors. But it felt different than last time. These people did not make her feel small anymore, they made her feel angry. They knew nothing about Sirius. Nothing about her. What right did they have to judge? To have opinions?

Finally, she made it to Moody's office. The old auror smiled when he saw her. "So, have you changed your mind? Want to go work for Agrippa?"

Claudia shook her head. "No. I can't."

Moody's shoulders visibly slumped. "Are you sure? Want to talk it over?"

"I better get back," Claudia sighed. "Before Crouch realises that I'm here." With that, she turned on her heel. She had no intention of spending one more second than she needed to in this building. She proved to Moody that this was a rational decision, and now it was time to leave this part of her life behind before she murdered someone who looked at her funny.

"I'll speak to you later!" Moody shouted after her.

"Sure, boss!" she replied and picked up the pace.

But just as she turned the corner, she came face to face with someone much worse than Crouch. Someone who really ought not to have been walking around the Ministry.

Claudia froze completely, as her father took a few more steps towards her and grinned.

"So, you thought you could get the better of me?" he began, still baring his teeth. "As naïve as ever… The lot of you. Setting up that stupid boyfriend of yours was the easiest thing I ever had to do. He played his part beautifully. Killing those muggles!" He laughed in a cold, hollow way. "And it was all worth it. Just to finally see you suffer for everything you did to me."

"One day, I will get you," Claudia finally managed to whisper. But her voice shook and there was not an ounce of authority in it. She hated herself for that.

Frederick did not even dignify her threat with a response. He laughed one more time, swished his cloak around and began to walk away.

Claudia blinked. It finally clicked. Did he just say he set Sirius up? That he did it to see her suffer?

"Stupefy!"

Within a fraction of a second, Frederick was sprawled on the floor, unconscious. Claudia looked around. No one saw her. Maybe there was a cupboard somewhere, to hide him. And she got lucky. There was a cupboard. She waved her wand again, and her fathers floppy body began to move across the corridor and out of sight.

Once inside the cupboard, she stood above him, rage pulsating through her every vein. Her wand was shaking with excitement. She knew the spell, and there was no doubt whatsoever that she had enough anger, enough intent to make it work.

With the hard part of her boot, she kicked him over so she could see his face. There was one thing she needed to do before she killed him. Find out the truth! After she found her Legilimency wand in her robes, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and focused her mind on a picture of Sirius.

"Legilimens!"

A series of images began to flash before her eyes.

First, there was Peter, clearly drunk and distressed, telling Frederick that Harry and Neville were the babies in the prophecy. When was this? Were they in a pub?

The scene changed. But the memory was still focused on Peter, this time in a dark alley. Frederick was threatening him. "Unless you keep bringing me information, I will tell them all it was you who told me about the Potters!"

"I didn't know who you were!" Peter said in between sobs.

But he clearly complied, because the next few scenes were all about him, bringing Frederick more and more information about Order missions, and what was happening at the Ministry. All revealed in strict confidence during Order meetings.

Claudia interrupted the connection. Her heart was racing. So, it was Peter all along! He was the spy! He must have messed up the Fidelius Charm on purpose! And Sirius had figured it out and… That was the only explanation!

She focused her mind again and tried to find out more. She saw herself in a Ministry corridor. That was the day they failed to get their marriage licence. When- But Claudia was pulled back into the memory. Frederick had his hand on Sirius' neck, just like she remembered. "I can save her life, but I want something in return. You know where to find me."

The Ministry corridor had dissolved but Sirius remained, standing in a dark street. "Name your price," he hissed. "Whatever it takes to save Claude."

Claudia could feel herself panicking. Maybe it was not Peter's mistake after all. Maybe Remus was right all along. But to her great relief-

"All I want is for you to break it off with her," Frederick said.

"You're kidding?" Sirius smirked. "Isn't that a bit medieval?"

"These are might terms… Don't talk to her. Just pack up your bags and leave. And she'll live." Frederick hissed and the connection broke.

Claudia dropped to the floor, staring at her father's unconscious body in complete disbelief. He did set Sirius up. He tried to make him look guilty of the betrayal that Peter in fact committed. She was sure that was her father's motivation for all this.

She switched her wands again and dragged herself up to standing, aiming her walnut wand at her father's head.

But she found herself hesitate. Not because she felt mercy. She had no doubt he deserved to die. But none of his victims got a clean, merciful death. Why should she cut his suffering short? Death was too good for him. He deserved Azkaban for life at the very least. And if the Ministry was not going to put him there-

She paused to think, then lowered her wand. Legilimency. She was sure she could find a way to inflict just as much suffering on him as a dementor could. But she needed to get stronger, stop playing by the Ministry's rules. She needed access, connections, skills. Claudia smiled to herself. There was only one place she was going to get all of these.

Taking one last look at her father's unconscious body, she noticed his signet ring.

"Macht dem Starken," she mumbled. Power, after all, did belong to the strong. And she could be the strongest Avery there ever was. The Avery who would get the last laugh.

Claudia turned on her heel and run back towards Moody's office. "Sirius was set up!" she barked the moment she skidded to halt on Moody's threshold.

"How do you know?"

Claudia froze momentarily. But what the hell, she thought. "I know. I saw it in my father's fucking head."

Moody jumped to his feet and shushed her. "Do you want to get yourself locked up too? You know that's illegal!"

Claudia was breathing heavily. Her brain was running through all the things she could do to make her father's life hell. And she should get Crouch too, he deserved it more than anyone…

"Are you listening to me?" Moody barked.

Absentmindedly, Claudia nodded. "I've changed my mind. Tell Agrippa I'll start on Monday."

- THE END -

A/N - This is it. Thank you for reading! There will be a third part to this story, starting roughly at the beginning of CoS and then taking Claudia's story right through to 1998 (and beyond).