Chapter 7: Near Death
A few nights later, Harry had figured out what the second Challenge was going to be. The same night, Dumbledore summoned Claire to his office. When she arrived, Dumbledore had also summoned Moody. When all party's had arrived, Dumbledore asked Claire to be the "victim" for the second challenge. "I… I don't know. Me and the mermaids don't really get along well." Claire said.
"You mean a lot to Harry my dear." Dumbledore said, trying to sway her mind.
"I know…" Claire said, beginning to pace in the office. "I know…"
"Take your time Claire." Dumbledore said, allowing the girl to pace.
Moody, however, would not give her rest. "I'll not have my daughter be some sort of thing for this Tournament." He said.
"Like you actually care." Claire said, turning to her father.
"I do care. You are my daughter and I AM your father!" Moody said, rising up.
"Oh, if really did care, where were you all those years ago? Where were you when Mom died? Where were you when I buried her? You don't have an answer? Fine, I'll tell you: you weren't there because you DID NOT care so don't start now!" Claire erupted, a threatening growl deep in her throat.
Moody was about to say something when Claire turned to Dumbledore and said, "I'm sorry Sir, but I won't be able to do what you have asked me to do… I have to go now." She turned, glared at her father and bolted out of Dumbledore's office.
Tears blinded Claire as she ran down the halls. As she ran, she ran right into someone. "Watch where you're going!" she heard a voice say.
Wiping her tears away, Claire saw Draco Malfoy. "I'm sorry… I couldn't see…" Claire said standing up again to go past him.
"Aren't you Moody's kid?" Draco asked, blocking her path.
"I guess." Claire said, sensing where the conversation might lead.
"Say, I'm failing that class… would you, maybe up my grade?" Draco asked.
"Shag off." Clare said, trying to push past him, a small crowd gathering.
"Only if you help me." Draco said, laughing at his own crude joke.
Claire let out a throaty growl that turned into a roar when she jumped onto Draco in full wolf form. He squealed as she landed on top of him, jaws on his throat, her growl deadly. "Claire! Get off him!" Moody said, grabbing her by the scruff of her neck.
Acting on impulse, she whirled around and sank her sharp teeth into his arm, earning a cry of pain from the man who then released her. She landed on all fours and dropped to the ground, teeth bared and her stance menacing. She snapped at Moody, lunging at him to pin him against the wall, the crowd stepping back in terror. Claire looked around for an escape and saw Harry with Hermione and Ron staring with fear at her. Her lips dropped from the snarl and the humanity returned to her eyes. She looked back at Moody and slowly pushed off him, creeping to the ground with a whimper. Her tail drooped and tucked itself under her haunches. Harry stepped back, clearing a hole for her escape. Claire bolted out of the crowd, sprinting for the forest. Harry waited a moment before going after her, Hermione and Ron on his heels. "Harry, what is going on?" Hermione asked as they hurried to find Claire.
"I don't know. She has never changed in front of people before." Harry said practically running.
"Who?" Ron asked, catching up to Harry's retreating form.
"Claire." Harry said, plunging into the forest.
"Wait, Claire is that thing?" Ron asked, grabbing Harry's arm, spinning him around.
"She isn't a thing. She is a human being!" Harry said, angry at them.
"Harry, she isn't a human. She just turned into a wolf and attacked both a teacher and Draco." Hermione said.
"That's not normal for her." Harry said, continuing into the forest.
"Harry!" Hermione tried but was cut off by a loud and painful sounding howl of pain nearby.
Harry followed the sound and say Claire, curled in a ball, shifting between her two forms in rapid succession, her howls and screams of pain interchanging as well. "Claire!" Harry said, rushing to her.
"Harry…" She managed through her agony and shifting.
"Harry, it's wolfsbane! Somehow, she has it in her system. She is dying!" Hermione said, going to his side.
"What can I do?" Harry asked Claire, froth leaking from her lips.
She sputtered out two words, "Kill me."
"No! I won't let you die!" Harry said, scooping Claire up and running to the castle.
Harry ran, carrying the shifting Claire in his arms all the way to the Hospital Wing. Draco was up there to patch up the teeth pricks on his neck as well as Moody for his bite wound. Before Harry could say anything, Claire let out an ear piercing howl, her pain growing. Madam Pomfrey turned from Moody just as the white froth on Claire's lips turned red as she sputtered out blood, her pain increasing. "Oh Godric. Put her here." Pomfrey said, ushering Harry to an open bed. "What is this?" she asked as Claire continued to shift violently and scream in agony.
"Somehow she got wolfsbane in her system." Harry said.
"Wolfsbane? That shouldn't affect her." Pomfrey said as Claire's shifting slowed down and her screaming seemed to settle.
"She's a wolkin. Please help, she's dying." Harry said.
Moody shoved his way through the crowd and grabbed the back of Claire's head. He rocked her head back and pulled out a vial of some sort of red liquid. He ripped the cork off the vial and dumped the liquid down Claire's throat. Immediately, Claire bolted up and gagged violently, throwing up her lunch and the wolfsbane. She was shaking violently and curled into Harry's arms, continuing to cough. The crowd let out a sigh of relief and Claire dared to glance at Moody. He took a step back and said, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you then, but I do care for you."
Claire nodded her head against Harry's chest. Moody snorted a bit. Claire seemed to cling to Harry tighter as people began to disperse away from her. "Don't leave." She whispered into Harry's chest.
"I'm not going anywhere." Harry said, wrapping his arms around her thin frame.
Some time later, Claire had drifted asleep and Madam Pomfrey said that Harry could go, "She'll be fine dear. I'll tell her that I sent you away." She reassured Harry.
He nodded and slipped from Claire's grasp. He took the thin Hospital blanket and tucked her under it. Brushing her hair with his finger, Harry let a small smile play at his lips before leaving.
