maple syrup | remus lupin [1]

151. conversations & sister-in-laws

a/n: TRIPLE time

CLAUDIA WAS BACK AT THE MANOR for the Easter holidays. Unfortunately enough.

Now, how she ended up there was a bit of a boring story, but here goes:

She had spent the past few months just like one would expect. With loads of homework, N.E.W.T preparations, quidditch practises and matches, and of course just spending time with the people that she loved.

Both James' and Remus' birthday had passed - both of which had been fun and filled with surprises and celebrations.

As for how things were with Regulus, well, they were the same. Sort of. He ignored her, and she had honestly almost given up trying to talk to him by now so it didn't seem as if things would get better on that side of things.

And, as for Margaret, Claudia was the one ignoring her every time she tried to talk to her.

Yet, she still went and had tea with the old lady whom she had honestly grown to despise more for each day. Having tea with Margaret was something she simply did because she wanted to stay on her good side as much as possible so that she would stick to her promise and not rat her out, and also protect her from her father as much as possible.

And, during one of their awkward tea times, Claudia had been put in a slightly uncomfortable situation as Margaret insisted that she'd come to Easter Sunday lunch at Maple manor, for the family apparently had loads of news to announce.

What news? Well, she had no idea. That was left to find out, she supposed.

The girl, however, wasn't that put off by visiting the manor due to the fact that she were to "go to Inez's house" after, which basically meant that she was going to the Lupins.

And, both lucky and unlucky Claudia, the family had plenty of visitors for Easter lunch that consisted of the Blacks, the Rosiers, and the Notts.

So, naturally, the girl felt the normal instinct of going to Regulus, in order to make some sort of conversation.

In all honesty, Claudia knew that she maybe was being annoying. He didn't wish to talk about Nicolas, and she was okay with that. She knew that she had pushed him too far other times, so she wasn't going to bring it up again. She also knew that he didn't want to talk about really anything at all, but that she wouldn't have.

Because she missed him. She missed her friend, and she missed the one boy who truly knew what it was like to live in that world they were forced to be in since birth.

"Hi," Claudia greeted him with a small smile, offering him a glass of some drink the servants were giving out.

He cocked an eyebrow at her, and Claudia honestly smiled even more due to him actually acknowledging her.

"Don't worry, it's safe," she said as he nervously accepted the drink. "Rosier isn't here yet, so..."

Regulus stated worriedly at her, but she only snorted.