black coffee | remus lupin [2]

19. maple manor

a/n: it's claudia's birthday today <3 (and lily's as well!) best girls!!!

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

A WHILE LATER, Claudia and Regulus were pained to realise that the end of August had arrived and that they were forced to go to Maple manor to attend the end-of-summer ball that Claudia's father was holding.

And so, it didn't take long until Claudia was dressed in an uncomfortably tight navy dress and Regulus in an annoying suit. Together they said goodbye to her relatives and apparated away to return to what Claudia would forever believe to be the coldest place on earth.

She immediately felt herself shiver at the sight of the gigantic and lifeless manor as they neared the entrance, met by all sorts of pureblooded people her father approved of.

They walked inside without greeting anyone, both of them very much aware of the constant looks they were getting.

Why? Well, they didn't know.

Maybe it was Claudia's blood-status or her reputation for not being just your average daughter of someone like Charles, or maybe it was that they were simply just the talk of the wizarding world sometimes due to them being who they were.

But, unlike years before, Claudia and Regulus didn't mind all the looks. In fact, it made them feel like they had some sort of power over all of those people who were so easily intimidated by them, their marriage, their families and their appearances.

Claudia was, after all, someone who had grown to look far more bold as of recently, and no one would deny that Regulus Black was one of the most handsome people around with his mysterious eyes and hair that always fell into place no matter its length.

In fact, some people had the strange interests of discussing the fact that their children would be gorgeous. Lucky for them that they didn't know that!

The pair walked inside with their arms linked, only to immediately be met by the sight of Claudia's father and his wife, Louisa, who both looked awfully disappointed to see them, only to hide those expressions with smiles.

"Ah, how lovely," said Charles. "Hello, you two."

"Hi," Claudia responded flatly.

"How're you doing, honey?"

"I would rather be home," she mumbled, her grip on Regulus' arm tightening. "But I'm fine."

Charles nodded with a smile, turning to Regulus, "And how are we tonight fine young man?"

"I'm splendid, thank you sir," Regulus said politely, turning to look at Louisa. "I must say you look beautiful tonight, Mrs. Maple."

"Thank you," Louisa replied with a warm smile, that quickly faltered as she looked at Claudia, only to scrunch her nose up. "Wouldn't say the same for you, dear."