Chapter 2

Clara promised Jenny that she would stay away from the Marauders, but that seemed to be impossible. Especially since Horace Slughorn had seated her right between James Potter and Sirius Black. She tried to ignore their quiet little jokes and pranks but it seemed a bit too much by the middle of class.

"Miss Hathaway," Slughorn said, "Can you please tell me what I just said."

"No Professor I can not," Clara said trying her hardest to contain her laughter.

"And why would that be?"

"Because I wasn't listening."

"And why is that?"

"Because you're a bit boring."

The class erupted in small laughter. Well the whole class excluding Jenny and Lilly Evans, that is. They just glared at Clara.

Slughorn chuckled which surprised most people. "Would you like to come teach the class Miss Hathaway?"

Clara sat up straighter with excitement. The first day back to school and she was going to teach a class? That's another thing crossed off her to-do list before graduation. She grinned her widest and said, "Can I really?"

"By all means, come show me how to teach without being boring."

Clara jumped up and ran to the front of the class. She turned and looked at everyone that was staring at her. Clara being Clara just laughed at herself for actually doing this knowing full well that by the end of this she would probably have a detention, if not from Slughorn then from Jenny. "All right class! Are you all ready to learn?"

"Yeah!" James yelled making Clara smirk.

"Good because I don't tolerate nonsense, Potter. Four thousand points from Gryffindor!"

"WHAT?" Half the room yelled.

"And just for that little outburst I'm awarding Slytherin 5 million points. We automatically win the House Cup!"

Suddenly wads of paper started flying at her head while half the room booed her and the other half cheered. Clara held her arms in front of her face in defense. "Calm down people!" She yelled, "I was kidding. I'm not even permitted to take or give points, right Horace?"

Slughorn raised an eyebrow at Clara before nodding.

After that Clara taught the class for another half hour. Most of the students took notes while listening to her. She made people laugh and scream and even gave Snape a detention for being a know-it-all git, which the Marauders seemed to love. Even Jenny, who tried to be mad at her friend the whole time, ended up laughing at the end of class, which meant that Clara was not getting a detention. When it was over and all the students started packing their things into their satchels Clara yelled, "All right class now remember I want six inches on how amazingly awesome I am! It's due by next class or you can just give it to me in the hall if you finish early. Dismissed!"

After that rumor spread around that everyone in all of Hogwarts should write a six-inched essay on how amazing Clara is. Over the next couple of days she had people of all years, first through seventh, giving her essays. By the time the weekend rolled around, there were more than five hundred essays that she was planning on reading.

"Are you really going to read all of them?" Remus asked her while she and the Marauders sat in the Library studying together. Jenny would have come but the day before she said she was tired of random people coming up to her and asking her to give Clara essays, so she was going to stay away from Clara until everything blew over.

"Planning on it," Clara told him happily, "Wanna help?"

"Oh yeah," James said smirking, "I wouldn't miss all the blokes in this school confessing their love for you."

Clara laughed. "Neither would I, that's why I want to read all of them."

"Let's get started then." Sirius said picking one up. "Dear Clara, I'm a first year and I don't really know you all that well but I have seen you over the last couple of days and honestly I can say you are one of the coolest people here and- does this person know how to use commas or periods?"

"Doesn't matter," Clara said smiling, "Keep going."

"-and I would really like it if we could be friends or something. Do you think that would be okay? I mean I'm a Hufflepuff and all but-"

"Bleh," Clara made a face, "Next one."

"Not into Hufflepuffs?" Remus asked.

"They're too goody goody for me."

"Well here's one from a seventh year Gryffindor," James said smirking.

"Ooh! Read it!" Clara said smiling again.

"Dear Clara, you don't know me very well and I can say that I've never really liked your house, but I've seen you around and you're actually kind of hot. Don't tell my friends I said that or they'll kill me. You're always smiling and laughing and you didn't hear this from me, but I've even heard some people say that your pranks are better than the Marauders. I'm sure this certain Gryffindor has no idea what he's talking about, and definitely won't know what he's talking about when all his hair is gone tomorrow."

Clara laughed. "All right then, go to the next one."

"Ooh," Sirius said, "This one is from Snivellus."

Clara's smile vanished quickly as she snatched the parchment from Sirius' hands. Her eyes scanned over the letter and her frown slowly turned into a scowl. They never talked to each other, ever. So far this year he has not only said more than two words to her, but also written her a six-inched letter? Each time telling her that they needed to talk. What was Snape playing at? As she got nearer to the end of the letter something struck out at her.

You wouldn't want your precious little blood traitors to you know what you're really like, would you? If you're not a good girl I might just have to tell them.

Now, Clara Hathaway was not one for taking threats lightly. Especially when they came from a Slytherin. The last person who threatened her ended up in the hospital wing for three weeks with wounds that Madam Pomfrey couldn't heal. And here she was again, someone else threatening her. Clara never knew why she responded so violently to these things… who cares if the Marauders know that she's the most powerful witch of her age? Who cares if they know why she's a Slytherin? She should just ignore Snape… and this time that is what she was going to try to do.

"Clara?" Remus' voice snapped her out of her very unhappy thoughts.

She looked at him, "Yeah?"

"What's wrong?" James asked concern written all over his face, "Did Snivellus say something to upset you, because if he did I swear I'm going to-"

"Don't worry about it," Clara said pulling on a fake smile as she folded up the parchment and put it in her bag. She couldn't help but think what was so damn important to Snape and the others.

"Are you sure," Peter asked.

Clara laughed. "I'm fine, boys. I'll take care of it."

"We can help you know," Sirius said kindly.

"No," Clara said. "This is Slytherin business and I will handle it. He didn't upset me much, he just shocked me is all."

"How so?"

"Snape and I have never said more than one word to each other. We both have made a point of ignoring each other so when he talked to me on the train I was surprised but didn't really think much of it… but this?" she said, "Something is going on, and I suppose I'm going to be brought right in the middle of it."

"Well if you ever need help-" James started.

"You four would be the last people I came to." Clara could see the disappointment in their eyes. "Don't get me wrong, you guys are great and everything. It's just that I can usually handle things myself so if I were to ever need help it would mean that the situation has gotten out of my hands and that could become dangerous. And the last thing I want is for you four to get hurt."

The boys were quiet after that.

Instead of reading more letters, they all decided to go back to studying. Sirius kept stealing glances at the Slytherin girl sitting in front of him. He looked over the features in her face carefully. She was very pretty. Milky brown hair that he would have thought went on forever if he had not seen it end at her waist. Light blue, almost clear, eyes that captivated him every time he looked at her. Her lips looked perfect for snogging- what was he thinking? She's a Slytherin, for Merlin sake! But she wasn't a normal Slytherin. She was kind, funny, smart, didn't really seem to mind blood status, not to mention totally shaggable… she was everything that made up a Gryffindor. So why was she in the worst house at Hogwarts?

Sirius continued to stare at her. This girl was a mystery to him, now more than every after that latter. Here she was, a girl he had never seen so much as frown, scowling at a letter from a member of her own house. Why did it say? Why would it make her upset? Even when they tried to ask, she just smiled and told them not to worry about it. But after what she said about her not coming to them if she was ever in trouble, how could he not worry?

"See something you like, hon?" Clara smirked at Sirius without looking up from her work.

"Absolutely," he smirked right back.

"This is not about to happen," James said groaning.

"What?"

"You two are not about to start flirting with the rest of us sitting right here. I will not have it. Not have it I say!"

Clara laughed causing Sirius to fill with warmth. "Don't worry your pretty little head about that, Jamesy. I would never date a Gryffindor."

"Why not?" Remus asked certain sadness in his voice. But as quickly as it came, it went.

"You lot have won the Quidditch Cup one too many times for my liking, hon," Clara said pouting.

James laughed a joyful laugh. "That's because Gryffindor has the best chaser and beater in all of Hogwarts of course. The Slytherin House should know that by now."

"Oh they do," Clara said, "That's why they've been begging me to become the new seeker, so I can put you kittens in your rightful place."

James gaped at her. "You play?'

Clara rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. "Duh. There is no possible way I could go this long in the Wizarding World without playing the best game ever made. I mean honestly."

"I think I just fell in love with you," Sirius said.

Clara snorted, but blushed all the same.

She had never really thought of herself as one to attract male attention. Sure she had a little more than a few guys stare at her while she walked past, but Clara just assumed that it was because of how she acted or the things that she says. Guys had always called her pretty, but they would follow that complement with some stupid scheme to get into her pants. But of course when dealing with these four Gryffindors, she had to keep her cool and not show them just how lame she could be.

"Ah, hon," Clara gushed taking Sirius' hands in her own, "I've fallen in love with you too! Lets go get married and have children right now. And then after that you can rub my back for the rest of our live! Doesn't that sound like so much fun?"

Sirius laughed. "Yeah, no thanks."

Clara was going to say something snarky when someone else plopped down right besides her. She looked over and met Blake Livingston's naturally emerald eyes and Ravenclaw tie. Clara and Blake had a very complicated relationship that consisted of many snogs and even a shag or two, but they were never anything more than friends. Well friends that never really liked the other dating someone else, but that was beside the point.

"Kiss me," Blake said to Clara.

Clara just stared at him. He usually had a reason for out of the blue demands like this, but it had been a while since they had done anything so there was a little bit of shock.

"Blakey!" a very high-pitched voice came from the entrance door of the library.

"Clara, I need you to kiss me now." Blake's voice was somewhat urgent.

Clara did as she was told. She reached up and grabbed the back of Blake's neck slamming her lips to his. He responded with a groan almost immediately placing his hands on her hips pulling her closer. With one hand still on her hip and the other moving to tangle itself in her hair, Blake deepened the kiss with Clara causing her to moan quietly in his mouth. Now, Clara liked to think of herself as a good kisser but she was nowhere as good as Blake. His tongue roamed the inside of her mouth all the while trying to wrestle hers for dominance.

The Marauders sat back and watched the scene before them each with a little jealousy. Clara looked like the world's best kisser in the eyes of the four Gryffindors which made her that much more desirable.

"Blakey poo! Where'd you- oh." Clara snuck a peak over Blake's shoulder at the Hufflepuff girl with tears in her eyes. The girl covered her face and ran out of the library as fast as her short legs would go.

As soon as she was gone, Clara pulled back. "Another Hufflepuff, Livingston?"

Blake smirked at her. "What can I say, Hathaway? I got tired of waiting for you."

"It's been all of a summer," Clara snorted.

"But alas, my love, a summer is much too long for me. I need a good snog about once a day."

"You're a pig."

"Yet you still crawl into my bed when you're lonely," Blake wiggled his eyebrows at her making Clara giggle.

"So," Clara turned back to her work still smiling, "Who was it this time?"

"Nancy Grace," Blake said scrunching up his nose.

Clara gagged. "Isn't she a third year?"

"What's your point?" Blake raised his eyebrow.

"You're a sixth year. Seems like you're going a bit younger than you usually do." Clara tried to play it off like she didn't really care much, but Blake saw through her.

"Jealous?"

"No."

"Good, because she is never happening again."

"Bad kisser?"

"Not everyone can be you, my love."

Clara rolled her eyes. "Whatever. But just know, I'm never kissing you again now that your lips have been on those of a Hufflepuff."

Blake laughed. He grabbed Clara's chin and pulled her face towards his. As he softly ran his lips over hers teasingly, Clara melted a little. Blake knew exactly what he was doing, and even though she would never admit it to him, she loved when he teased her like this.

When he pulled back, Blake looked at her with a smug smile. "Now what were you saying, my love?"

Clara took a second to really look at him. Blake had gotten hotter over the summer. She didn't even know that was possible. He sat there with his beautiful green eyes, blonde hair, perfect square jawline, visible abs (even though he was wearing a shirt), and the slight bulge in his pants even though he wasn't the slightest bit hard… All of these things never really mattered to Clara; she liked other things about him. Whenever he wanted to, Blake could be the most romantic guy she's had ever met. He would protect her if she'd asked him to, even though she never had, and he has always been there for her.

"I hate you," Clara said a little breathlessly.

Blake chuckled. "Whatever you say, Hathaway. You'll be in the Ravenclaw tower by this time tomorrow. See you around." He leaned forward and planted his lips on hers one last time before getting up and leaving the Library.

Clara stared after him, watching as his buttocks moved with every step. Merlin, she thought, does he have a nice bum or what?

"So," James' voice, filled with humor, snapped her out of her thoughts, "You fancy Livingston then?"

Clara burst out laughing. "Me fancying Blake? Merlin no! I just use his body from time to time and he uses mine to get way from other girls." Then she paused. "That Hufflepuff is probably going to send a hex my way tonight at dinner."

"You seem like you fancy him," Peter said.

"Nah. He's a good friend is all."

"A really good friend by the looks of it," Sirius smirked.

"What can I say boys?" Clara sighed flipping her hair with a fake superior look on her face. "I can't help it if the all the men in this school are in love with me. I'm just so incredibly lovable that it's a wonder why Dumbledore himself hasn't made a move. Minnie would flip her shit if he did, now that I think about it. That's her man."

"No way," Peter snorted, "Dumbledore's a poof."

The other four stared at him.

"He is so not," Clara said.

"Yes he is," Peter said, "I heard from my Gran, who had a sister, who had a friend who dated Dumbledore's brother that he's gay."

Clara rolled her eyes. "Ten gallons says that your Gran's sister's friend is wrong."

Peter flashed her a grin. "You're on."

Clara and the boys parted ways around curfew that night, but not before making plans to sneak out to the kitchens that night. The Marauders made sure that Clara knew where the kitchens were, even though she'd been going there for years.

The more Clara thought about the Kitchens, the more she thought about the Marauders. How long had they been going there? How many times did they walk out just to have her walk in seconds later? How many times did they just walk past each other with out so much as a second thought? Now they were all friends. Now Clara could call them by their first names, and joke and laugh with them and not feel weird about it. Not that she felt weird about it in the beginning. The only thing she couldn't wrap her head around is the fact that they're Gryffindors.

She's a Slytherin. She's suppose to hate all the other houses… so why did she feel like she'd rather be in one of them instead of her own?

"Deep in thought, Hathaway?" a deep voice came from behind her.

Clara's head snapped around and she stopped walking. Standing before her was Rabastan Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy, Amycus Carrow, Evan Rosier, and Antonin Dolohov. Five of the worst Slytherin boys… all looking for her… this could not be good.

"Traded Snape for Dolohov and Lestrange did you?" Clara said trying her hardest to keep her voice leveled. She could take them easy, with the type of power that she had, but she didn't want to. She didn't want to have to use a power that could easily kill one of them if gotten out of hand.

Dolohov smiled at her. "Snape was never as good as us, love."

"Don't call me love."

"Why shouldn't he?" Rosier sneered. "You let Black and Potter call you that. Members of fucking Gryffindor, why shouldn't you allow the same curtsey to your own house?"

Clara chuckled. "Jealous are we, Rosier?"

"Enough," Malfoy said, silencing any retort that Clara had in her mouth. "We didn't come here to argue."

"Then why are you here," Clara raised her eyebrow.

"We must speak with you," Carrow said.

"Not in the mood to speak boys," Clara said turning her back on them, "Try again tomorrow."

She was just about to walk away when two large hands grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. Lestrange slammed her into the wall of the corridor holding her there. Clara tried to push the urge to rip his head off down while she smiled sweetly at him.

"Can I help you, Lestrange?"

"The Dark Lord wants to see you," he said as his hands started to roam her body.

Clara's blood turned to ice as fear filled her body. Voldemort wanted to talk to her? For what reason? No. Clara knew the reason. How could she not know; it was what she was born for after all. But so soon? Her real powers don't come until she turns seventeen. She couldn't really do anything for Voldemort that another powerful witch or wizard could. But yet he still sent his goons to collect her.

"Didn't I tell you to tell him to get lost? Why is it that he wants to talk to me so badly?" Clara whispered, not trusting her voice to be any louder.

"He will explain everything when you see him," Malfoy said.

"But first," Lestrange said quietly burying his head in her shoulder while his hands continued to roam all over her body, "The Dark Lord did want us to help… loosen you up a bit for him."

"Get off of me," Clara said in a firm voice but Lestrange wasn't listening.

His hands moved from her waist to the small of her back, to the back of her arse. All while the rest of his body towered over her. Lestrange moved his right hand to cup her left breast while placing small kisses all over her neck. Clara was frozen. She couldn't move, couldn't speak… she couldn't even breath. And this wasn't like her. Usually when someone unwanted touched her, she'd hex him or her into the next centaury, but something about the reason they were doing this to her was… terrifying.

Kill him, a voice inside her head hissed at her. Kill this filth you are allowing to touch your body.

"Please…" Clara whispered tears blurring her vision. She didn't want to kill Lestrange… no matter how much he deserved it. "Please… stop."

"Lestrange, I'm giving you two seconds to get off of her before I murder you," a viciously calm voice came from the left of them.

Clara was much to petrified to even look at her savior. She was too busy thinking about Voldemort and why he wanted her.

Lestrange, however, stopped kissing her neck and turned to look. "Why would I do that? Besides, I'm not really sure this has anything to do with the four of you."

"Your two seconds are up," The voice said before a bright red light blew Lestrange off of Clara. She slid down the wall still in shock and fear as she listened to the curses and hexes flying back and forth from each group. Everything sounded like if was under water, lights flying back and forth, yelling, screaming… Finally Clara snapped out of it and looked up to see Malfoy laying on his back holding his bloody nose, Lestrange with puss filled boils all over his face and hands, Carrow frozen in mid-step towards the Marauders, and Rosier floating ten-feet in the air above her. Dolohov had run off somewhere between the fighting.

"You'll regret this, Black," Lestange yelled as he and Malfoy ran towards the Hospital Wing.

Sirius threw a few more hexes their way as they ran. When they were gone he helped James and Peter tie Rosier and Carrow up and through them a broom closet while Remus was making sure that Clara was okay.

"Clara," Remus's voice filled her ears. She turned her face from the other three boys to look at the one right next to her, who's face was full of worry and fear, like she'd never seen him before.

"R-Remus?" she whispered.

"Are you alright?"

She just stared at him. When the others were done they walked over to her and Remus. Everything seemed to sound like it was underwater again as Clara's mind filled with dark thoughts.

He wants me, she thought to herself, he wants me now. This is not good. I know what he wants... he wants me to bare him a child. But I can't! That child would be the destruction of everything good in this world. Voldemort wants me… This wasn't suppose to happen until my seventeenth birthday… What am I going to do?

Two hands grabbed her face and turned it straight. Clara's eyes were met with two of the most beautiful grey orbs that she's had ever seen. Grey orbs that told her to trust them, that told her she would be safe… but she wouldn't be safe. She would never be safe again.

"Clara, baby, look at me." Sirius's voice was filled with concern, "I need you to talk to me, okay?"

Clara stared at him for a while, as if just noticing he was there, before nodding.

Sirius sighed relieved and let go of her face. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Obviously something happened." James said, "What was Lestrage doing to you?"

"James," came Remus's warning voice. "Maybe now isn't the time."

"He was just going to… loosen me up a bit," Clara said quietly.

"WHAT?!" They all yelled making Clara jump.

Clara sighed and stood up. "Don't worry about it boys. Thanks for your help, but-"

"Don't you dare tell us you can handle it yourself." Sirius growled. "Lestrange was about to rape you and you're sitting here telling us that it's okay? That we shouldn't worry? No. It's not okay and we are going to worry. You're sleeping in our room tonight. I'm not letting you go back to the Slytherin common room with those freaks there. And from now on, you're not allowed to go anywhere by yourself; are we clear?"

Too tired and lost in her thoughts to argue, Clara allowed Sirius and James to drag her back to the Gryffindor common room. When they got the Fat Lady painting James growled the password so viciously that the Fat Lady jumped and sung open as fast as she could. Sirius and James ignored all the strange looks that Clara noticed and continued to drag her up to the boy's dormitory.

In there, there were Quidditch posters every where, six giant beds all covered in red and gold sheets, clothes all over the floor, brooms at every corner, books all piled up at the end of the bed farthest to the left, and a smell of Old Spice and chocolate. This was completely different form the dungeons the Slytherins lived in. The Gryffindors rooms were bright and happy, whereas the Slytherin's were dark and mysterious.

Clara sighed and took off all her clothes until she was in nothing but a bar and knickers (ignoring Peter's gasp and stuttering), and climbed into the nearest bed (which happened to be Sirius's). She threw the covers over her head and closed her eyes.

"Clara?" James' voice came from outside the blanket.

She threw them off and looked at the four boys standing above her. "Yes?"

"Are you okay?" Peter asked.

"Fine."

"We know you're not." Remus said kindly taking a seat at the foot of the bed.

"I'm fine, boys. Honestly it's not that big of a deal. Lestrange has done this so many times-"

"He's tried to rape you before?" Sirius snapped making Clara flinch.

"Well…" she said carefully trying not to make the others anymore mad, "Not me exactly, but other girls. Look it won't happen again, okay?"

"You're damn right it won't," James said, "Because if it does I'm going to kill him! No one touches my little sister without her permission."

Clara laughed. "I'm not your sister, James."

"No but you're the closest thing I've got, aren't you? I've known you for all of a week and I already feel like we've grown up together."

Clara didn't know what to say. She'd never had a big brother before… in fact she'd never had a brother before. It was nice to think that some one was looking out for her.

"Whatever you say, James." Clara said throwing the blanket back over her head.

"I think we should tell Dumbledore," Peter said.

"NO!" Clara sat up so fast that it shocked all four of the boys. "No, telling Dumbledore would be a very bad idea."

"Why?" Sirius asked.

Clara snapped her mouth shut. She couldn't say. Voldemort had found out from her father about her, and now he wanted to rape and impregnate her. If Clara were to have that monster's child then the war would be over. Voldemort would win in a matter of minuets. The same thing would happen if Dumbledore found out. He would force Clara to have a child and use it to fight a pointless battle that she refused to be in the middle of. No. Clara would not allow that to happen. She would never become her mother.

"It just is okay?" Clara snapped. Before the boys could ask anymore questions Clara sneered, "Look, I appreciate what you guys did tonight but drop it. Lestrange won't try anything again, I can promise you that. Dumbledore will not know of tonight's events, because none of you will tell him. I allowed you to drag me up here and make me sleep in here, but I will not have you controlling my life. What happened was nothing you should concern yourselves with. It's Slytherin business and Gryffindors don't belong, so butt out!"

And with that Clara threw the blanket over her head for the last time ending the conversation.