Chapter Twelve

Hermione came back from the Hospital Wing, her teeth back to the normal size. Her mind was on the most recent events, her calling Sirius 'Malfoy', and Clover's cutting.

She was growing colder every minute as she walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room, her heart getting blacker and blacker.

She was like a moving, talking robot. Madame Pomfrey excused her from all lessons ("The child has suffered enough, for one day!"), though Hermione did put up a fight. But she was excused all the same, much to her displeasure.

She entered the Common Room ("Fire Sticks.") and went straight to her bed. She believed she needed some sleep.

000

Sirius was furious throughout the next lesson. Even though Lucius Malfoy graduated two years before, his memory was still engraved in Sirius' mind. Lucius was the leader of the bad Slytherins.

He was like their God; whatever he ordered them to do, they'd follow him without a word of complaint. Even if it was to prank someone, to do his homework, lie for him. They'd do anything!

Then his thoughts returned to Hart. He was angry with her; no, that was an understatement. If no one was there to control him, Sirius was sure he would curse her into oblivion.

"No one would care, either way," he voiced out. James, who sat next to him for History Of Magic, glanced at him.

"Who won't care?"

"No one," Sirius repeated. James gave him an odd look, and then Sirius started his rant on Hart.

"I hate Hart so much. Why did she have to start off that fight? She had no reason to."

James leaned over to him. "Uh, Sirius mate, it was you who started off the fight. Pertida just screamed out: 'stop'. So actually, it's all your fault."

"No it ruddy well isn't! Anyway, your girlfriend is looking at you."

James turned around and smiled at Lily, not the usual smirk. It shocked her, as James could see, for she quickly looked away.

"Prongs, where did you get that?" asked Sirius, impressed. James didn't even ruffle his hair.

James looked at him, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Read it in a book," he answered, delicately.

Tap, tap, tap. Sirius stopped what he was doing and listened to the noise. Tap, tap, tap.

"Where's that noise coming from?" he asked James, quietly. James' eyes went straight to the window, on the right.

"That window," James replied. Tap, tap, tap.

Sirius' eyes travelled to the window, and to his astonishment, there was a large, tawny owl behind the glass.

Professor Binns, who seemed to be in dead sleep, was not woken up as Sirius cleverly stole to the window and opened it.

In zoomed the tawny owl, and it sat on Sandie's desk. It held out the leg, which had the parchment tied around it.

Sandie scanned her eyes over the letter, and Sirius saw the blood draining away from her face. As quick as lightning, Sandie put her books back in the bag, her eyes watery.

"Sandie, are you all right?" asked the Evans girl, jumping up. She put her hand on Sandie's shoulder, but Sandie shrugged it off.

"If Binns wakes up, tell him I'm in the Hospital Wing."

And she ran out of the room. Sirius believed what caused her reaction was the letter.

000

Hermione was woken up by shrill screams and sobs. She left her bed, and was astounded to see Sandie on the floor, her knees touching her chest, sobbing. Sandie reminded Hermione of when she first came back to the past.

Hermione squatted down next to her. "Sandie, what's the matter? Please tell me. I could help."

Sandie looked up to Hermione with her teary eyes, and then pointed to the letter, which was in front of her.

"Read that," she said, with noisy sobs. Hermione took the flimsy letter, and read it:

Dear Sandie

I regret to inform you that Clover died this morning. If you have enough of a heart, please attend Clover's funeral this Sunday. You're only allowed to bring three people maximum.

Sincerely

Mother.

"Oh, Sandie!" Hermione hugged her. That's the position Lily found them in when it was lunchtime.

A/n: let's try to get 300 reviews before the fifteenth chapter ;)(7500+ HITS! You people make me happy) Okay peeps, for those of you who read last chappie I changed the corrections: Clover cut herself this morning, and was found in the morning. Okay: looking for pranks. Any suggestions?

Feel free to give me any: tips/ ideas/ praise.

Thanks to:

Padfoot's Sidekick: lol. Thanks ghilliekitten: yeah, I know… childoftheorient: yep, hope I portrayed him alright :) hogwartsgirl52: yeah, I was kinda hoping people would get that, so they won't get as confused in this chapter. CrystalShard: help, I will ;) enchantedlight: thanks ForgottenIceTea: thanks for the tip on about the cutting, as you see I changed it to the morning (last chapter.) Kates Master: lol, yeah, it probably was ;) Rinnya: yay! I managed to make him sound like Malfoy! (happy dance) thanks OnerousOrangutang: lol, well, it was lucky that you didn't, then. Thanks MidNite Phoenix: yay, new reviewer! (happy dances) soz bout that. Yep, as it mentions here, they do (well, Sirius) thinks she was talking bout Lucius amrawo: thanks StringBean458: thanks lttle mimi: well, he was angry :) thanks The Gryffindor Drummer: thanks Padsfootvampirehuntress: yep…I know… Serendipity-England-1992: hehe, thanks