black coffee | remus lupin [2]

48. old friends & forgiveness

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CLAUDIA HAD EXPERIENCED scares such as being dragged inside a broom closet way too many times in her life. Usually it was done by Remus, or possibly a Marauder on a mission or Betty who was anxious about something and needed guidance.

This time, however, she knew for sure that none of them would be there in the castle. So, naturally, Claudia was convinced that she was in deep, deep trouble.

However, that thought lasted only a few seconds, because soon the person who had dragged her in there lit their wand, and before Claudia stood someone she recognised very well.

Sure, she was a little older, had more pimples and more makeup, but that was Mary Johnson if anyone.

"Mary?" Claudia asked, and it came out more aggressively than she meant it to due to the lasting affects of nearly having a heart attack. "Is that you?"

"No," the girl said.

"No?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes!" Mary laughed, and then she wrapped her arms around Claudia, which caused her to nearly fall back.

"Holy shit, you scared the living hell out of me!" Claudia exclaimed, laughing through her words out of pure happiness to see the girl again.

"And you scared the living hell out of Helena," Mary said, causing Claudia to suddenly stiffen up, before breaking the hug and looking sternly at Mary.

"What did she say?"

"Uh," Mary frowned. "Well, I had to pee, so I left the feast. And I passed her here in this hallway, and she just said that she met you. She looked a bit frightened, is all. Merlin, what did you do to her?"

"Nothing," Claudia said with an innocent smile. "I was just...saying hi."

"Well, you better have just said hi," Mary said amusedly. "If you did anything else she probably won't show up in weeks. The other ghosts will have to go looking for her again."

"Again?"

"Yeah, well," Mary shrugged. "She's a bit unstable at the moment."

"Why?"

"The Bloody Baron has been acting up," she shrugged. "Anyways, what on earth are you doing here, Claudia?"

"Well...I'm here to see you, of course," Claudia smiled.

"Yeah, right," Mary snorted.

"Hey!" Claudia frowned. "Is that so unbelievable?"

"No, I just thought you were acting a bit suspicious. Did you come here alone? How did you even get here? Is Remus here?"

"Why would Remus be here?" Claudia asked quickly, causing Mary's eyes to widen.

"Right," she mumbled. "Kind of forgot about you two not being a couple anymore. Sorry."