Being a passerby in HP female protagonist fanfiction

Claire is a very strange child.

Barty Jr. came to this conclusion after observing for a long time.

Strange independence, strange words, strange thoughts.

Why would that mysterious person have Little Barty spy on her?

"Goodbye, Gavin." Claire smiled carefree, wearing a robe, pulling a suitcase with one hand, and waving goodbye to the young man with the other. People came and went around her, but no matter what, Claire stood out the most; she could be seen at a glance if you just turned your head.

Or perhaps, it can't be said that he was carefree, Little Barty thought.

After returning to Hogwarts this time, I guess I'll have to prepare for final exams.

He recalled what Claire had said when he had tutored her before.

"I really don't want to study anymore," Claire said seriously and indignantly as she read.

"Then rest, Claire has already worked very hard."

“Sigh…” Claire sighed. She rarely showed any concern for anything except for her studies and grades. Only when it was related to those things would she have obvious anxiety. But this anxiety did not just stem from poor grades; it was for some more intrinsic reason.

She carefully flipped through the book, occasionally running her fingers through her hair out of boredom, a strange yet helpless expression on her face.

"How boring." Occasionally, she would suddenly blurt out this, but most of the time she would remain silent, staring blankly at a certain line of text on the page for a long time without turning the page, her dark eyes devoid of light.

Although she was bored, Claire was unwilling to put down her book. Sometimes she would agree when Little Barty advised her to take a break, but more often than not she would start reading again after a short rest.

“Because there’s nothing to do,” Claire said, feeling tired. She rubbed her eyes. “It’s so boring, and I don’t want to move.”

Claire's boredom was only temporary; most of the time she would pick up her wand to practice spells or pick up her cauldron to brew potions, seemingly unable to put down her efforts to improve herself.

Barty had never interacted with such young children before, but everyone has been a child, and he tried to use his own experience to guess Claire's possible thoughts.

Similarly... children who desperately want to win their parents' approval.

What exactly is Claire thinking?

He often got along well with Claire, but he always had this feeling that this friendship was established through Claire's initiative.

Although on the surface it was definitely him, the adult, who was taking care of Claire, he could often sense that it was Claire who was deferring to him.

"The cookies are burnt... What should I do, Gavin?" Claire looked at the cookies on the plate with a distressed expression. These were cookies she had prepared to take to school, incorporating her own creative touches, but she hadn't quite gotten the hang of it.

"Make one again," Little Barty suggested.

“Okay, thank you very much, Gavin,” Claire said, still unable to shake her habit of using honorifics, even though Barty had only said one sentence, she still expressed her gratitude.

"Do you need my help?"

"No, no need. This is a return gift for my birthday present. I'd rather make it myself." Claire rolled up her sleeves and tidied up the table that she had just smudged.

Then she made them again, carefully dividing the fragrant cookies into many small portions and preserving them with a magic spell to keep them fresh. The burnt cookies were packed away separately, and she would eat them herself when she had nothing to do.

“We can’t waste anything,” Claire said. She has a unique set of habits, such as collecting intact cardboard boxes, drinking hot or cooled water, and occasionally throwing in a Chinese phrase. She also tends to add a trailing syllable when speaking English, which stems from her nationality and her parents.

Barty wasn't needed during this rework process; he simply stood by and watched.

"Claire is amazing."

"Thank you, Gavin, you too." She smiled slightly, her eyes crinkling at the compliment.

"..."

Claire's request for help was merely out of politeness, not because she genuinely didn't know how. In this house where there were only two people, she sought Barty's opinion to make him feel needed as much as possible.

“Gavin is a very important member of the family,” Claire said.

Family members need each other.

But—does Claire really need him?

Little Barty remembered to ask Claire how she lived alone.

“Please don’t worry, Gavin.” Claire’s gentle smile carried a reassuring quality that easily put people at ease. “I can take care of myself.”

"I'm used to it."

……Habit.

What are you used to?

Claire is not a clueless child; her intelligence and keenness are sometimes startling. Under what circumstances did she develop this instinct?

Little Barty thought.

—I don't want to disappoint my parents.

Claire said this when she asked Barty Jr. to tutor her.

She was only eleven years old, a time when she was very attached to her parents, but she hid it well. Most of the time she was reserved and demure. Although she would take the initiative to joke, it did not mean that she would reveal her inner world to others.

Little Barty could only infer her thoughts from her casual remarks.

“I wish my mom and dad were here too,” Claire said after Christmas, her face expressionless, as if it were just a light, weightless remark.

Every time Claire was asked about her parents, she looked very embarrassed. It wasn't until they got to know each other a little better that she began to talk about her parents in fits and starts.

Her tone was always quite calm, as if she didn't care, but after all, she was still a child, and there was a hidden sense of loss in her voice.

Perhaps Claire herself didn't realize that she actually longed to be with her parents.

— Gavin is just as good as my mom and dad.

She unconsciously brought up her parents.

Claire is currently in first grade. Barty is taking her to the station. There are many people around, but she walks towards the train alone. There are no friends she had arranged to meet, and no real relatives to see her off.

At such an age, Claire had lived alone for so long and unexpectedly entered the adult world. Although Barty later took care of all the chores in the house, it did not mean that Claire could not live without him. Her independence seemed to have become ingrained in her habits—she had accepted the idea of ​​taking care of herself.

What is Claire thinking as she watches the adults around her change?

Little Barty pondered.

Family members need each other.

Claire definitely needs Barty Jr.

Outside the station, a petite Asian girl, surprisingly independent and composed, told the young man to take care of himself and promised to study hard at Hogwarts.

The little black-haired witch looked serious, worried about the young man, and didn't hold back in expressing her concern.

The young man smiled, as he had done countless times before, with a hint of melancholy at parting.

He gave Claire careful and gentle advice, telling her not to overwork herself, preparing everything she needed, and promising her that he would be alright.

Goodbye, Claire.

"Remember to write to me, Gavin." Claire waved her hand, her black hair blowing into her eyes in the wind, which she then brushed aside with her hand.

"Don't worry," the young man said, his face filled with barely suppressed tenderness.

With the Easter holidays over, Little Barty has to continue what he didn't finish before: go to Knockturn Alley to find enough supplies and search for clues about his owner and the mysterious man.

There's still a lot to do.

However... it's best not to affect Claire.

Little Barty thought about it, and the smile on his face widened.

As a qualified guardian, he has a responsibility to ensure the child's normal development.

Family members need each other, don't they?