C`hapter 4
"Did you hear what happened in the Slytherin common room yesterday…"
"I heard she tried to kill Snape…"
"No, no, no, she picked him up with her bare hands and threw him into a mirror. The glass almost cut his head off…"
"Rumor has it, she refuses to show her face because she knows Dumbledore will expel her…"
The Marauders have been hearing things like this all week. Sirius didn't believe a word of it, however. He's spent the last three days trying to find Clara to get her to explain, but the girl was nowhere to be found. How hard was it to locate one girl in one measly castle?
"Damn it!" Sirius yelled as he opened a door to yet another empty class rom.
"Pads calm yourself. It's not like she's not in the castle." James said patting his friend on the back.
Sirius turned to his best mate. "James I have to tell you something."
"Oh?" James raised his eyebrow, "Has Sirius Black finally fallen in love?"
Sirius snorted. "No, you tosser, what I needed to tell you is that if we don't make a map of this damn castle I might loose my head!"
"Off with your head!" James yelled throwing a fist in the air. "This man had been painting my roses red! Off with his head! Off with his head I say!"
"Prongs I'm serious."
"Of course you are," James winked, "Who else would you be?"
"Those jokes got old after the first week of our first year, Potter." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"But they still annoy you which is why I make them, Black."
"You're a prat you know that Pron- Oi! Ryals!" Sirius ran past James to catch up with Jenny who had just rounded the corner.
As soon as she saw them, Jenny turned the other way. She was in no mood to talk to those damn Gryffindors. Jenny increased her speed as she heard the two boys' footsteps behind her.
"Sod off, Black," Jenny hissed over he shoulder.
"Oh come on Ryals. Could you just hold on for a second?" James huffed.
"Nope, not for the two of you."
"We just want to know if the rumors about Clara are true," Sirius said grabbing her shoulder and turning her to face them.
The boys never really noticed Jenny's looks. She had a very cute face with deep black eyes and short black hair, that Sirius keeping picturing pink. She had a nice body as well. It's a wonder why this girl doesn't have a boyfriend yet.
"Rumors?" Jenny said dully raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah," James said, "The ones about her trying to kill Snivellus."
Jenny's upper lip twitched at the nickname for Snape. She had never really liked Snape; he was nothing but a slimy hypercritical git.
"It's totally fine if she did, mind you," Sirius said, "Just wish I was there to see it. Anyway do you know where she is?"
"Maybe I do and maybe I don't, either way I'm not telling the likes of you."
James sighed. "We're her friends too you know. You can't just have her all to yourself for the rest of her life."
Jenny's face hardened. "What would you know about anything, Potter? You say you're her friend but do you really know anything about her?"
"Sure we do," Sirius said.
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"She likes stuffed animals, her favorite color is red, her favorite weather is stormy, Gryffindor is her favorite house, favorite word is 'running' because it means so many things. She hates tea and loves pumpkin juice; she loves all things muggle. She plays a ton of instruments and sings, she paints and her favorite kind of snack is chocolate. And she smiles all the time, even when she's upset because she thinks it makes you happy."
Jenny and James were stunned.
"There are probably some other things…" Sirius said awkwardly glancing between the two dumfounded looks he was getting.
"Wow mate," James said smirking, "I don't think you've ever known that much about any girl."
"Piss off," Sirius snapped at him and then turned back to Jenny, "Can you just tells us where she is, please?"
"I don't know where she is," Jenny said still staring curiously at Sirius.
" Look Ryals, I kno-"
"No, really." Jenny said putting her hands up, "I really don't know where she is. Last time I talked to her was yesterday before she went to Dumbledore's office. If she's in trouble, though, it's all your fault."
"How is it our fault?" James asked.
"Well she never would have gone to that damn duel if not for the fact that Black's girlfriend-"
"Ex-girlfriend." Sirius hissed.
"-slapping her because she was in his bed. And why pray tell was she in his bed?"
"Because the freaks that are in your house tried to rape her the night before and said something about some guy named 'The Dark Lord'-"
"WHAT?!" Jenny screeched.
"Clara didn't tell you?" Sirius asked.
"No, no, no, no, no, no." Jenny said mostly to herself.
Clara should have two more years before this started happening! Their plan was fucked now. Jenny was going to help Clara run away the day before her birthday and Clara was going to hide out until the war was over. Now what were they to do? How was Clara going to get out of this now? And why the hell did she not tell Jenny before now?!
"Oh God…" Jenny whispered.
"Yeah it's kind of fucked up," James said.
"You have no idea. This wasn't suppose to happen… not now at least…"
"Not now?" Sirius snapped, "You're her best friend and your saying they should have raped her later?"
"Yes…no…that's not what I meant Black," Jenny hissed.
"Then what did you mean," James narrowed his eyes at her.
"I mean... I mean… I mean I need to find Clara. Now."
~9999999~
"La, la, lala! La, la, lala!" Clara sang at the top of her lungs while skipping around the somewhat full village of Hogsmeade. There was noting like sneaking out of the school after the headmaster himself told you not to break any more rules. It amused Clara as to how she basically got off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, especially considering she has broken so many rules before.
Clara suddenly stopped. Now that she though about it, Dumbledore had always treated her a little better than most students…like he was always trying to keep her happy for some reason. Could he know? Clara shook the thought out of her head. There was no way Dumbledore could know anything, Voldemort made sure of that. The only problem now was him.
Clara decided she didn't want to think about that anymore, it was a total downer. Instead she was going to go shopping.
Clara entered a large store filled with beautiful dresses. She walked around silently taking everything in and staring at the majestic fabric. For a while she hated shopping for dresses, but after Jenny had taken her to buy a something for a ball her father was throwing during their fourth year, she adored it. It was one of the many things that calmed her when she was over thinking something or upset.
Clara walked around some more until she came to a stop in front of one of the most gorgeous dresses she's ever seen.
Clara took the dress off the rack and walked around some more before heading towards the front desk.
"Excuse me," she said to the young blonde sitting there reading the new addition of Witch Weekly and chewing gum.
The blonde looked up and stared at Clara for a moment before blowing a bubble and popping it. "Yeah?"
"Where are your dressing rooms?"
The blonde raised her eyebrow and pointed behind her to a red curtain.
"Uh," Clara said, "thanks."
Inside, Clara stripped off all her clothes and tried on the dress. She looked at her self in the mirror and smiled.
The dress was strapless and a deep shade of blue that flowed just passed her ankles. There was a slight V-neck that rimmed with sequins that were a lighter shade of blue. The dress was simple enough but beautiful nonetheless, and the fact that it hung tightly to her curves made it even better.
Clara did a little twirl for herself before deciding she would buy it. She striped off the dress and left the dressing room and handed the blonde the right amount of money for the dress.
Clara left the shop feeling happy and refreshed, but she was still not ready to return to school so she spent another three hours in Hogsmead shopping for new clothing. By the time she was done, Clara's arms were so full of shopping bags she wasn't sure how'd she'd carry everything. So she sat on the nearest bench.
She sat there observing the crowd before her. She loved the way everyone moved, like they were in their own little worlds and her problems were the least of their concerns. And they were. To the people there, Clara was nothing but a random girl with too many shopping bags sitting on a bench, nothing significant about her. Most of them didn't even know of the war heading their way, or of the loss that the world will suffer. She could try to stop it… but she wouldn't.
A jab of guilt hit Clara, even though she didn't know why. Why should she care what happens to these people? Why should she even worry about whether they live or die? It's none of her business. But Clara did care.
I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me, she thought. But what am I suppose to do? Why do I have to do anything? It's not fair!
But of course nothing in her life was fair. Not since her mother died.
Clara looked down at her hands in sadness, tears filling her eyes. She always got like this when thinking of her mother. It was her fault she died. She'd killed her mother, just by being born.
Sudden shame filled Clara and she was consumed by the grief that came with it. Her mother was dead because of her. Because of what she is. Because of who she is. She never even got to meet her, never got to say "goodbye" or even a "hello."
"There you are, Clara!" a voice called from in front of her.
Clara's head snapped up and she tried to focus on the two blurry figures coming for her instead of the thoughts she was just having.
"Do you know how long we've been looking for you?" James asked as they reached her.
Clara didn't say anything from the fear of breaking down from the thoughts at she could not stop from rolling through her mind at that moment. She didn't even wipe away the single tear that rolled down her cheek.
James and Sirius were so nice to her, and they didn't even know who she really was. If they did they would never talk to her again. How could they? The powers she had made her a monster.
"Hey," Sirius said in a concerned voice after looking at her closely. "Are you okay?"
Clara nodded and looked down at her lap, lip trembling.
Do not cry in front of them! She mentally screamed at herself.
James and Sirius shared looks of worry and sat down on each side of her.
"What's wrong, love?" Sirius asked.
Clara shook her head and unsuccessfully tried to blink away her tears.
"Did something happen?" James asked. He's never seen Clara like this… She was always smiling and laughing, so to see her cry must have meant that something horrible had happened.
"You can tell us, you know," Sirius threw an arm around her and pulled her closer to his chest. "You can tell us anything if you need to."
Clara sniffed back a sob sending waves of sadness through James and Sirius.
James was just about to ask her what happened again, when Clara suddenly jumped up with her back towards the two boys. She whipped away her tears and looked up at the sky for a moment while James and Sirius stared at her. She took a few deep breathes, pushing all the thought she had just had out of her mind, before turning to face her two friends and smiling.
"Hi boys!" she said cheerfully as if nothing was wrong. "Help me carry my bags, would you? I think I bought too many shoes."
Clara picked up two bags and left the others for James and Sirius to carry.
At first they didn't move and just shared a few concerned looks with each other. But then the both stood and reached down to pick up the rest of her bags.
Sirius eyed her for a moment before asking, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"
Clara smiled sweetly at him. "That sounds nice, but no. I'm okay boys, really. Let's go home."
They started walking back in silence. But one the way Sirius stopped in front of the Three Broom Sticks.
He turned to James and Clara and smiled. "Lets get a butterbeer."
~9999999~
"What is this?" a screech came from the front entrance of Hogwarts.
Clara, James, and Sirius all turned and faced a certain auburn haired prefect glaring at them. "Do you know what time it is? It's past curfew! And why in Merlin's name do you have so many shopping bags?"
James snorted. "Blame this one," he said pointing to Clara.
Clara gasped in mock hurt. "I resent that! A girl can never have too many clothes or shoes. I needed all of these things."
Sirius snorted. "You needed twelve pairs of the same shoe in different colors?"
Clara stared at him. "They are not the same shoe."
"You said they were all, what was it, plate forms."
It was Clara's turn to snort and even Lilly's lip twitched a bit.
"Platforms," Lilly snickered.
"What?" James said.
"I got platforms." Clara laughed. "Not plate forms. And I didn't get the same kind. I got Prada, D&G, Jimmy Choo, and Valentino."
"Are we supposed to know what that means?" Sirius asked dumfounded.
Clara laughed and shook her head. "No, I was just explaining how they aren't all the same shoe. They all have different styles and they all go with all the different outfits I also bought."
James and Sirius stared.
"Boys are so stupid," Lilly said to Clara before holding her hand out. "I'm Lilly Evens by the way."
"Clara Hathaway," Clara said putting down one of the bags se was holding and shaking Lilly's hand. "And you're right, boys are very stupid."
"Especially Potter."
"Oy!" James said. "I'm still here you know."
Clara barked out a laugh. "That's not true actually."
James beamed and Lilly raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"That's right. It takes at least a little brainpower to think of the pranks that he does. He's not stupid, just incredibly immature and childish."
Lilly smiled. "I guess you're right. Well I have to go make my rounds now. Nice meeting you, Clara."
"Same to you, Lilly."
Lilly turned and walked away and James hit Clara on the arm.
"What was that?" he demanded. "I'm trying to get her to fall in love with me! Not hate me forever."
Clara smirked and rubbed her arm a little. "Calm down, James. I know all that."
"Then why would you say that I'm immature and childish to her?"
"It's all apart of my plan."
"What plan?" Sirius asked intrigued.
Clara rolled her eyes. "It's going to take a while to explain it to the two of you."
James folded his arms and glared. "We've got the time."
Clara sighed. "Alright fine. There are certain types of girls in the world. There is the emotional type, they like to have a deeper meaning to every relationship and love to talk about how they feel and want guys to love them instead of like them. Their turn-on's consist of: long walks on the beach, long talks in front of the fire place, waiting until marriage, and boys who aren't afraid to cry. Sirius's groupies mostly consist of this type of girls. They follow him in hopes that he will love them as much as they love him, even though everyone else knows that the only thing he loves is sex."
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Then there are the crazy girls. These girls are always paranoid and think that the boy they're dating is cheating on them and thus they have to follow them to make sure that what they suspect is false. This is the type of girl that watches from the shadows and waits for the right moment to catch you in an act that you aren't supposed to be in. Stay away from these girls, because they are more likely to become stalkers than any other type of girl. They like guys they can easily control. Their turn-on's consist of: power, submission, idiocy, and control."
The boys shared a look.
"Then there is the fun loving type of girl. They like to party and sleep around and don't give two shits what anyone else thinks about them. Sirius, these are the types of girls you like. The ones with no strings attached. They like guys they can have fun with and just hang around and do nothing sometimes. Their turn-on's consist of: hot guys, muscles, alcohol, drugs, music, sex, and humor."
Clara took a breath and continued.
"Then there is the serious type of girls. They're the girls that hate joking around and want a guy to be serious and responsible. Most of them are in Ravenclaw and Slytherin though so… but they like guys who they can have an intelligent conversation with and guys who are on great curare paths. Their turn-ons consist of: smarts, money, humorless conversations, and perfect grades. These girls are quite boring and snobbish actually."
"So Lilly is one of those girls?" James asked.
Clara shook her head. "Lilly is none of the types of girls I've listed just now.
Sirius threw up his hands. "Then why would you list them in the first place?"
James shushed Sirius and motioned for Clara to continue, and she did.
"Lilly Evens is all of the types I've just told you." Clara held up a hand at a confused James who was about to ask something. "Let me explain. Being every type of girl is not rare but it is also not common. They are the truly normal girls. Most girls think they are this type but they actually aren't. These girls want an emotional connection with a guy, but they also want to know that they are the only one you would even dare to look at, and they want to be able to joke around and have fun in the relationship, and they sometimes want to have a conversation the doesn't have any jokes or sarcastic comments in it."
"What are their turn-ons?" Sirius asked and James nodded eagerly.
Clara sighed. "They don't have any specific turn-ons. They like what they like and you'd have to get to know them to find that out."
James groaned in frustration. "So how do I get her to like me?"
"Believe it or not I just helped you a lot." Clara said.
"How?"
"Just from talking to her for five seconds I could already tell what Lilly wants in a guy. First of all she wants him to be smart, and when she called you stupid I made sure that she knew that she was wrong. Because you're not stupid, you're just oblivious."
James' eyebrows knitted together. "So…what's your plan?"
Clara smiled. "I'm going to take it one step at a time. First step: make you look smart. And as long as you don't do anything stupid enough to ruin everything, I'll have her eating out of your hands by the first week of school next year."
James thought for a while and then smiled at Clara before dropping all the shopping bags he was carrying and pulled her into a giant bear hug.
"Thanks!" he beamed and Clara laughed.
"Can we go inside now?" Sirius asked, "It's getting a little cold."
The other two nodded.
The boys walked Clara to the entrance to her common room where she intimidated a few first year girls into carrying her bags up to her dormitory. She said good night to the boys and then walked inside with a smile on her face. She walked up the stairs and opened the door to her dormitory where she saw Jenny was waiting on her bed. Clara paused at the look on her friends face before walking all the way inside.
"Good night?" Jenny asked dully.
"It was okay." Clara shrugged. "You?"
"My night was fine… My afternoon however was very interesting."
"Oh?" Clara said turning her back to her friend and taking out all her clothes to put in her trunk.
"Yes. Two of your Gryffindor friends told me something I would have thought you would have told me."
Clara hesitated before turn back to face her friend again. "And what was that?"
Jenny looked bored when she replied. "Oh just that a few want-to-be Death Eaters attacked and tried to rape you because the Dark Lord told them to."
Clara froze. Fuck.
Jenny laughed humorlessly. "But of course tat couldn't be true because you would have told me. And I know you would have told me because we had a plan in case something exactly like this happened. So pray tell, Clarissa, what happened?"
Ice filled Clara's veins. Jenny only called her by her whole first name when she was beyond angry and ready to throw down. She knew it was a button she shouldn't push with Clara, mostly because her father always called her by her whole first name, but at this moment Jenny didn't really care.
Clara narrowed her eyes at her friend. Two can play that game.
"I haven't really had the chance of telling you, Jennifer." Clara could see her friend physically tense up. "As for our plan? If you decide that you still want to be apart of it, then nothing has changed. We just might have to use it earlier than expected."
"Earlier than…" Jenny said quietly to herself as if she couldn't believe what her best friend had just told her. "You know what? I don't care anymore. I've waited here for you for hours and it's gotten late. I'm going to bed."
"Jen-" Clara tried to say as her friend stood but Jenny cut her off with a glare.
"You didn't tell me." Jenny whispered pain filling her voice. "You told them before you told me."
Clara opened her mouth to explain but Jenny cut her off again.
"Goodnight, Clarissa."
She strolled her bed and threw back the blankets before closing her curtains and lying down on her side with her back to Clara.
Clara stared at the dark green curtains in surprise, unsure of what to do next. Finally she sighed and turned off all the lamps before heading to her own bed.
"Goodnight, Jenny." Clara whispered before closing her eyes and drifting off to a dreamless sleep.
Hey! Sorry I haven't updated in a while but here's the next chapter! So tell me what you liked, what you didn't like, and what you thought of the chapter all together! Thank you ever so much for reading!
~Aggie~