maple syrup | remus lupin [1]

19. try to ignore

"MS. MAPLE!" McGonagall called after Claudia as she walked down the stairs of Hogwarts alongside Inez to breakfast the next morning.

"Yes, Professor?" She said politely as she nodded to Inez, a way of saying that it was alright for her to leave.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright after last night?"

"Uh... yeah, I'm fine!" She smiled.

"Good! You can always come to me if you need something, though I'm sure there is the possibility of you preferring to talk to Professor Flitwick since he is your Head of House!" Not true.

"Thank you, Professor."

"I also wanted to let you know that Mr. Clarke has received detention and I have owled his - well your - parents."

"Thank you, Professor", she said with a faint smile as she tried not to scoff aloud.

Like they would care that he slapped her, she thought.

"Well, you best be off and eat. Have a nice day Ms. Maple", McGonagall said finally as she walked away with a faint smile on her normally stern face.

Claudia then walked into the Great Hall and sat down next to Inez at the Ravenclaw table, Inez frowning when she realised something.

"Hey! Neither Betty nor Pandora came back last night!" She whisper-shouted with a big smile on her face as Claudia giggled and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Mmm... wonder why", she said, wondering if Pandora was ever going to tell them about Xenophilius.

"Yeah", Inez chuckled as a grape found it's way onto Claudia's back.

"What the fuck", she sighed as she turned around to find four boys and a girl; one of them grinning widely with a big bowl of grapes in his hands.

"Hey, Claudia, Inez! Come here!" James said happily as he threw a grape in his mouth.

Claudia's heart broke right there and then. She wasn't supposed to be seen with them, so she couldn't. It was extra difficult that morning since they all looked so happy, Betty especially since she was thrilled about the fact that Claudia had befriended them, meaning that Inez had too.

Claudia and Inez shared a subtle look as Inez slowly shook her head and grabbed her hand in an attempt of bringing Claudia comfort, squeezing her hand tightly as they turned back around without a single word.

The group at the Gryffindor table frowned at the sight. Claudia and Inez had clearly seen them; so why didn't they even acknowledge them?

Betty's excitement was killed.

But James wouldn't give up yet. He threw another grape. And then another one. And another one. He threw fifteen grapes at the two girls without receiving a single reaction from either of them.