Chapter 8: Card Games and Carols.
It was a usual Sunday. Clara laid on her bed flipping through a series of old textbooks she used at Salem. Angelina was sitting on her bed muttering under her breath about her plans for the Quidditch team, occasionally writing something down in the process. Alicia was writing a letter to her parents that she was spending the holidays at Hogwarts rather than with them this year. Katie was nowhere in sight and was probably off eating breakfast while the other girls minded their own business. "ALICIA! ANGELINA! IT'S HERE!"
All three girls turned their attention to the doorway to see Katie Bell sprinting into their dorm, a wide grin across her face. "What came Katie," Alicia asked excited.
"The new issue of Playwitch," Katie exclaimed jumping onto Angelina's bed with Alicia following.
"Who's the 'Wizard of the Month'," Clara asked sitting up.
"'Jason Samuels Shows of his personal Bludgers and More'," Katie read grinning.
Clara made her way over to Angelina's bed. "Isn't he the new beater for the Falmouth Falcons?"
"Yeah, how did you know," Angelina asked.
"I enjoy Quidditch as much as the next girl," Clara stated peering at the cover where there was a blond with a six-pack grinning up at the four of them.
"Correction, you like Quidditch players," Alicia noted as Jason ran his fingers through his blond locks.
"Not all Quidditch players," Clara said innocently flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Just red headed beaters." Katie grinned.
"Named George Weasley," Angelina added.
Clara felt her cheeks warm and she grinned at the girls. "Possibly."
"'Can Pixie Dust Improve Your Bust'," Alicia read taking the magazine. "Sounds interesting."
"Like your breasts need to get any bigger," Katie shot snatching the magazine back.
"This looks like a good article for you Clara, 'Naughty Knickers: The Perfect Pair for Any Affair'," Katie said wiggling her eyebrows.
"Shouldn't you be reading that for your next romp with Fred," Angelina asked Katie as Clara turned to a deep red.
"Oh shut it," Katie snapped glaring at her friend as Clara mouthed a thank you to Angelina.
"What exactly is going on between you and Fred," Alicia inquired. "I noticed you slapped him last night."
"That's because he was being an arrogant ass," Katie stated folding her arms.
"He seemed pretty upset last night," Clara muttered innocently.
"Do you know what he did," Katie demanded.
"All he said was that he was trying to kiss you."
"What he said exactly was, 'Want to do something you'll slap me for later?'"
The girls roared with laughter and Katie turned a bright red. "What did you do," Angelina asked.
"I said, 'How about I slap you now and save all the trouble' and I did."
The girls broke into a fit of giggles and they all turned to look at Clara. "I bet you get that a lot from George 'ey Clara," Alicia asked grinning.
Clara blushed. "Actually no. He hasn't been quite as much as an asshole as Fred. Although he does have his moments."
She gave the girls a smirk and moved back to her own bed, leaving them to observe Jason's 'bludgers' without her.
--
"So where do you think they went," Lee asked Clara at dinner, her eyes on her plate filled with food.
"Who Fred and George?" Clara replied.
She looked up from her plate and to Lee. He was staring off towards the Professor's table. "Yeah. I hope Umbridge didn't find a way to expel them."
She bit her tongue to keep her from telling Lee what she overheard McGonagall telling Fred last night. "Yeah me too. McGonagall said they went to visit their family for an early holiday though."
"How did you find out."
"I asked her."
"You care about George way more than he deserves. You know that?"
Clara laughed. "I suppose you could say that."
She glanced over to her left to see Hermione motioning for her to come over. She looked back to Lee, who was now in a discussion with Angelina over Puddlemore United's chasers and if his injury will effect the team or not, and made her way over to Hermione. "I got a response from Mrs. Weasley saying it was alright for you to come."
"Really? Thank you Hermi-"
"Although," she added, holding up her finger. "She wants me to fill you in on everything."
"Everything," Clara repeated, confused.
"Yes everything." Hermione glanced over her shoulder and made room for Clara to sit next to her. "First of all, what do you know about Sirius Black," she whispered.
"Nothing really. Wasn't he the man who murdered all those innocent mug-"
"Forget about whatever you knew before. It isn't true what so ever. The person who murdered all those muggles was a man named Peter Pettigrew; he is still alive and is on You-Know-Who's side. Now it is very important that you do not mention the place where we are going to anyone at all. Do you understand?"
Clara nodded and waited for Hermione to continue. "It is the headquarters for a society Dumbledore formed back during the first war. It's called the Order of the Phoenix. Now their mission is to take down You-Know-Who and his followers. The have their meetings in the location where we will go and if you overhear anything at all, do not repeat it alright."
"All right, but what did the part about Sirius Black have to do with anything," Clara whispered.
"That's because the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix is his house."
"Oh, well that's nice of him to let them use it."
Hermione laughed. "He feels that it's the only useful thing he can do since he can't leave the house without being discovered by someone."
Clara nodded and laughed. "So when do we leave," she asked.
Hermione shook her head at the redhead and laughed. "Tuesday morning. We will probably get there at noon."
Clara beamed at Hermione and through her arms around Hermione's neck. "Thanks I can't wait," she told the girl before walking off to the Gryffindor Tower.
--
The chilly December air blew through Clara's hair as she stood next to Hermione. They were standing before a large triple deck purple bus that had the words The Knight Bus written on the side.
"The Knight Bus? Why can't we just take a cab," Clara asked, walking onto the large purple bus after Hermione told the man with rather bad skin where they were going.
"If we take this we'll get there faster. Cabs take longer and cost more," Hermione explained sitting down in the chairs that were arranged.
Clara nodded and stood by the window next to Hermione. BANG! Clara was knocked onto her back on the floor of the bus. "Holy shit," she exclaimed, attempting to sit up.
Hermione was also on the floor; her chair was now halfway across the bus. "Way to pick out our transportation Hermione," Clara said glaring at her.
"Oh shut it," Hermione snapped as she attempted to stay in one place.
After roughly ten minutes of Clara and Hermione attempting to not move across the bus with every sharp turn, the bus pulled to a sharp stop. Clara quickly grabbed her things and hurried off the bus as Hermione went to pay the man. There were numerous grimy buildings looking very unfriendly at them. "Where are we," Clara asked staring around at the homes.
Hermione began to dig through her bag and pulled out a small slip of paper. "Here," she said handing Clara the slip. "Read it, memorize it, and know it."
Clara looked down at the slip of paper at the narrow handwriting: The headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.
Hermione snatched the slip from Clara's hand and set fire to it. "Think of what you just memorized," she instructed her.
Clara thought, and no sooner as she had reached the part about number twelve, Grimmauld Place, than a battered door emerged out of nowhere between numbers eleven and thirteen, followed swiftly by dirty walls and grimy windows. Clara gapped at it in surprise. "Yes, yes it is quite amazing magic," Hermione said in a hurry. "Now quickly and be quiet."
They both quickly approached the door. Clara reached out towards the doorbell and pressed it. She heard Hermione let out a groan behind her. "You really shouldn't have done that."
As soon as Hermione had said that a high-pitched scream could be heard from behind the door. The doorknob began to turn and a small, plump red haired woman was standing in the doorway. "Quickly, quickly get in," she told the two of them and ushered them in.
"Hermione I would have thought that you wouldn't ring the doorbell after this summer," the woman said over the screaming before it finally hushed.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley. It was Clara who did it. I forgot to mention to her not to ring the doorbell."
Mrs. Weasley turned to look at Clara's blushing face. "I'm sorry. I'm just used to doing that," Clara said sheepishly.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at her. "It's alright dear. Hopefully Sirius's mother wasn't the only person you woke up though."
"So the others are asleep," Hermione asked picking up her trunk.
"Only the boys. Ginny's awake though. She's in her room, or your room really. Hermione could you show Clara where she will be sleeping."
"Sure thing," Hermione said. "Please be quiet though. You won't want to wake anyone up."
Clara nodded and gathered her bags. She followed Hermione up the aged cricking stairs. "Oh the mudblood is back. This will not please my mistress. But who is this? Kreacher has not seen this girl before. Is she the mudblood one of those wretched twins keeps on talking about?"
Clara turned to see a rather old house elf glaring at her. "This is Clara Grant Kreacher," Hermione said kindly. "She'll be staying here over the holiday."
Kreacher looked highly offended in the way Hermione spoke to him. His eyes darted from her to Clara, glaring at them both before sulking away. "Kreacher," Clara asked confused.
"The house elf here. He should really be treated better than how Sirius has been treating him. At least given better clothes."
"I though house elves do not like clothes."
"That's because they've been brainwashed into believing and doing whatever their masters wish for them too! Do you really think they enjoy cooking and cleaning for no pay what so ever?"
"Yes I do. It's their job and they are happy-"
"You should really stop there before Hermione goes into her Spew lecture," said another voice.
Both girls turned to see Ginny standing behind them grinning. "You must be Clara. Nice to meet you I'm Ginny."
Clara smiled. "Hey Ginny. What is Spew?"
"It is not Spew! It is the Society for the Prevention of Elfish-"
"She'll tell you later," Ginny whispered rolling her brown eyes. "Come on I'll show you our room."
Clara followed Ginny into a small room containing two beds crammed against the opposite ends of the walls, a wardrobe was on the far wall with a mirror above it, and a tattered and dusty rug sat in the middle of the room. "Well this is… cozy."
Ginny and a male voice laughed. "I suppose you could say that. Not exactly the word I'd describe this place," he said.
"Hello Sirius," Ginny said hoping onto one of the beds.
"Hello Ginny. And hello, Clara is it?"
Clara turned to see a rather attractive man with shaggy black hair grinning at her. She could feel her cheeks warm and she nodded. "Yes nice to meet you-"
"Sirius Black." He gave her a wolfish grin. "No need to be so formal. George knows that you're here yet?"
"Obviously not. If he knew Clara was here, he would have apparated down here by now." Ginny laughed. "Do you know where Hermione went?"
"She went to go look for Harry and Ron." Sirius leaned against a wall.
"Well where is George," Clara asked looking from Ginny to Sirius.
"His room, probably sleeping," Ginny told her.
"Go figure," Clara laughed.
Just then, there was a loud crack and a muscular redhead was standing in front of them. "You know it's rude to talk about people when they aren't around Ginny," he said pretending to scold her.
"George!" Clara exclaimed throwing her arms around his neck.
He laughed and kissed her cheek. "It's good to see you," he whispered in her ear.
"Ginny, maybe we should leave this little love fest," Sirius said in mock disgust.
"Yeah really, but George please don't use my bed in your little reunion."
"I'm not making any promises," he said before Ginny closed the door.
Clara laughed and kissed George. "I've missed you so much. How are you? How's your father?"
"He's fine and I'm perfectly fine. What about you though? You've been out of my sight for over a week. Did Umbridge get a hold of you," he asked in a serious tone that was not usual for him.
He took her right hand in his and examined it, but only to find a light pink trace of 'I must hold my tongue'. Clara laughed and kissed him again. "I'm wonderful and no I have not landed and detentions with Umbridge in the week since I've last seen you."
"Good. I don't want her to harm you anymore," he said fiercely and pulled her into a deeper kiss.
--
"I really do not get the point of this game," Fred said as he picked up a pile of cards.
"That's because it's a muggle card game. Let Clara explain the rules," Ginny snapped.
Clara beamed at Ginny. She was much like herself in a way. A little more reserved maybe, but she had the same temper as Clara. "Alright the name of the game is Bullshit. You lay a number of cards down and say what you placed. For example I could place down two Aces and one King and just say three Aces. Whoever calls out Bullshit first makes me pick up all the cards."
"Do we really have to use such fowl language," Hermione asked scowling.
Clara shrugged. "You can leave if you'd like Hermione."
"Maybe that is best," she agreed as she stood and left the room.
"Alright so that leaves the four of us," Clara said to Fred, George, and Ginny.
"Alright I'll go first," Ginny announced as she placed down two cards. "Two threes."
"Three fours. So how often did you used to play this game," Fred asked.
"During History of Magic back at Salem. It was always fun to watch the professor's reaction when someone yelled out bullshit." She laughed. "Four fives."
"Bullshit," Fred stated.
Clara grinned. "Nope, pick up the cards Freddie."
"Damn it," Fred muttered as he took the pile into his hand.
George snorted. "Freddie?"
"Sod off Georgie," Fred snapped.
George grinned and laughed. "Two kings."
The game went on for a while. So far Ginny, Clara, and Fred had to pick up the pile, while George never was called out once. Ginny was quite convinced he was cheated, even though Fred claimed that if George were cheating, he would know. It was Christmas Eve by the time they finished their first game. While Clara began shuffling and dealing cards for the second game, she hummed a few Christmas Carols. "What is that your humming," Ginny asked curiously.
"A few muggle Christmas Carols," she told her.
"Could you be more specific," Ginny asked tossing her pillow at Clara.
"Santa Baby," Clara said in a breathy sexy voice that could give Marilyn Monroe a run for her money. "Doesn't really apply now because it is just now Christmas Eve, but still." She shrugged.
"How does the song go," George asked grinning.
"I am not singing at all," she told him point blank.
"Why not," he perused the grin growing wider.
"I can't hold a tune at all. I was in the choir at Salem for two years, but that was it."
"Please," Ginny asked hopping from her bed to Clara's grinning widely.
Clara groaned in defeat. "One verse," she said holding up a finger. "Wizard version or muggle version?"
"Both," Ginny tried slowly, the grin growing.
Clara groaned again and looked over towards Fred and George. They were grinning from ear to ear. "Go on," George urged.
"Muggle version only," she told Ginny and began to sing. "Think of all the fun I've missed, think of all the fellows that I haven't kissed. Next year I could be just as good, if you check off my Christmas list. Ba doo be doo. Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot. Been an angel all year. Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight."
"That was two verses," Ginny noted grinning.
"Oh shut it. I sang, are you happy," Clara spat blushing furiously.
"I am in fact," Ginny said.
Clara groaned and threw her pillow towards Ginny's head. "Oh come on you weren't bad," George told her laughing.
"You're her boyfriend Georgie you have to tell her that. Besides Clara, shouldn't you be singing about George instead of good old Saint Nick," Fred teased.
Clara and George made a rather dirty hand gesture towards him and laughed.
"We'd better get to bed. You know mum will be furious if we don't wake up before noon this time," Ginny said with a yawn.
"Ah alright. Night Ginny Clara," Fred said and with a nod before he apparated into his room.
George jumped onto Clara's bed and pinned her down. "Good night," he said kissing her on her cheek, her jaw line, and than her lips.
"I'm going to be sick," Ginny muttered covering her head with the bed cover.
"Than go room with Hermione and Tonks than," George told her as he climbed into the bed.
"Fine," Ginny muttered as she gathered her things and walked into the other room.
George glanced over his shoulder and grinned. "So she did leave," a tone of mischief was laced in his voice.
Clara laughed and kissed him softly. "I'm tired and your mum is notorious for waking people up early," she reminded him.
George returned the kiss with such passion. "I'm well aware of that," he whispered.
Clara pulled away from him and stood up. "You want to stay up alright. Let's have some fun. You know what's fun?"
George smirked. "I can think of several things."
"Abstinence. We're not having sex right now and we're having fun," she told him, her tone slightly serious.
George laughed and hugged her around her waist. "If that's what you wished." He kissed her on her neck.
"Let's make an attempt to change the subject shall we?"
"Alright, what did you get me for Christmas," he asked her with a slight chuckle.
"What do you think I got you," she asked turning around to face him.
George raised one eyebrow and grinned. "Other than that," Clara said laughing.
"A pony," George tried with the giddiness of a three-year-old girl.
Clara giggled and kissed his cheek. "You'll find out tomorrow morning. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," George said to her before he apparated into his room.
A/N: I got the Playwitch idea and article titles from cupid12203 on deviantart. They are worth checking out, trust me on that ;D Anyways, I figured it's pretty pointless to promise when the next chapter will be out so just expect Chapter 9 to be out sometime in November though. I've already started it and it's going to be nice and long. Trust me. And I chose November because I've been getting a lot of homework in school, not counting the projects my teachers keep throwing at us, and I haven't really found time to write.
