black coffee | remus lupin [2]

74. therapy with jo

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CLAUDIA HAD NOT LEFT Grimmauld Place once during the first week of may, which meant that Regulus could finally get some peace and quiet the moment the girl finally stepped out in order to meet with Jo at her place.

It may have been stupid to do things like that by now, since every little area of all of England was dangerous to be in by know. But Claudia knew that if Jo had to come break into her house and drag her to her library herself, she would. So, naturally, Claudia caved and made her way to Jo in the safest way possible - apparating into a nearby alleyway, of course.

Jo practically shoved her inside her home as soon as she knocked on the door, and soon Claudia was sitting on the sofa in her home library, a hot cup of tea in front of her and a pair of curious eyes on her.

"What?" Claudia asked after a few moments filled with a lot of silence and a lot staring coming from Jo's side.

"Nothing," Jo said. "I was curious..."

"Um...about what?" 

"How is life treating you?"

"Well, life is kind of a bitch," Claudia said with an amused little laugh. "How is life treating you, Jo?"

"Good," the old woman said, taking a sip from her tea. "Although I would love to hear more about your life."

"Is this your way of bringing up Remus?" Claudia asked with a sigh. "Because, with all due respect, I'm kind of sick of talking about everything that has happened between us over and over and over again-"

"Actually," Jo said with a gentle smile. "I sure am worried about him too, and about the two of you as a pair...but right now I want to focus on just you."

"Just me?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Just you."

"Well then...what about me?"

"I'm just a little concerned about you," Jo said. "Which I do think is understandable."

"Merlin, you sound like a mother," Claudia chuckled, very uncomfortable with the idea of talking about herself.

"Well, you do need one of those, so," Jo said, and it didn't take long for her to slam her hand over her mouth as her eyes widened. "Oh, great heaven's! I am so so sorry!"

Claudia laughed, "It's quite alright, Jo. I do need a mum sometimes, so you're not wrong about that. Although I don't think you fit the part. Mum's the only one who does."

"Of course," Jo smiled. "So...let's have that little chat."

"I don't understand why you're so obsessed with giving me free therapy of some kind," Claudia said confusedly.

"Ah, well, I wanted to work with something similar to a therapist, or a psychologist, but discussing mental health was very frowned upon back in the days."