Claire Glared at the older woman, she hated every thing about Rita Skeeter who reported untruths about her mother, and even Claire had to feel the burn form Rita Skeeter. Claire had the burning urge right now to rip out every one of her fake blond curls or her ugly head. Claire glared at the woman and her photographer snapped a photo of Harry and Hermione near by which drew her attention away.
"Good riddance that woman is insufferable." Claire said turning back to Cedric.
"Well at least she is more concerned about Harry, you should have seen her at the weighing of the wands, barely looked at any of us." Cedric said.
"Poor Harry like he needs more publicity, that woman is trying to exploit him." Claire said looking at Cedric now. "More importantly be careful out there, dragons are not merciful."
"Don't you worry your pretty head off; I will be fine I'll beat this one down." Cedric said.
Mr. Crouch came into the tent and beckoned all the champions around him. Claire got up and walked over to Hermione, the two left the tent and found Ron saving them some seats.
"Excellent I got the prime seats for you ladies." Ron said proudly.
"Thank you kindly Ron, I hope once Harry beats this you two will kiss and make up." Claire joked.
"That's not funny…" Ron stared but his words were drowned out by the sound of a cannon blast.
The Bauxbatons champion Fleur stepped out and to Claire's surprise she couldn't see the dragon any where. As soon as she thought it though a large green dragon came out of the mist that encircled a large golden egg. Claire gasped and Ron took her hand patting her on the back.
"Oh Ron I don't like this one bit and it isn't even Harry or Cedric out there." Claire said turning her head away, only to find Patrick Finnigan glaring down at her then she noticed hers and Ron's joined hands.
She turned back in time to see Fleur get the egg and the dragon barely singed her. Krum had just come out and he set to work getting his egg, he did a good job hitting the dragon between the eyes. He succeeded but the dragon squashed several eggs. Then Cedric came out she saw him scanning the crowd and his eyes fell on her she was standing up now.
"COME ON CEDRIC!!" Claire hollered and he nodded and set to work retrieving his egg.
Claire looked down at Ron's arm that had slightly changed colour releasing her death grip on him; Ron nodded in thanks but cried out in pain as she dug her nails into his leg, while Cedric was singed by the dragon. Yet none the less he came out victorious and cop dived out of the way of the raging dragon.
Seeing that Cedric was safe she was relieved, but the unsettling rumble in the pit of her stomach came back as a rather white very small looking Harry poked his head out of the tent. Claire watched as Harry stepped out of the tent wand in hand and shaking.
An unusually warm wind was rising and Harry looked around as the crowd was cheering but his ears could not hear them, he slowly made his way to the egg, as soon as he got close enough the Hungarian Horn Tail landed before Harry trying to rip his head off. Claire buried her face in Ron's shoulder she was not wanting to watch what happened next, and then she heard him….
"ACCIO FIREBOLT!" Harry Shouted.
Claire looked up and saw him looking hopeless wand in the air, she heard Draco somewhere nearby shout "POTTER YOU STINK!" Claire wanted to find him and throttle the bastard. At last she saw it the Firebolt flew into the arena and Harry jumped on. He teased and sent the dragon in all directions, he was going so fast Claire could barely see him and she thought he was amazing.
"GO HARRY GO!" Hermione shouted. The arena was intense the mood was crazy, Slytherin's and Hufflepuff's were booing, while Gryffindor's drowned them out with the noise they made, Claire just thought it was pure insanity but cheered any way knowing now that Harry would get through this one.
Finally after a short time of cat and mouse Harry dove down and caught the egg up in his arms as if it were a simple snitch, the arena was louder than ever as every one was out of their seats screaming and cheering, Fred and George came down and told Ron and Hermione there would be a party, "Claire we're sneaking you in, you have to come!" Fred said.
"I'd love to can I congratulate my boyfriend first, meet me in the great hall and you can take me up!" Claire shouted over the noise.
Seamus had now come down and grabbed onto Claire, spinning her around then dipped her and kidded her on the cheek then did the same to Hermione.
"I'll meet you there in 15 min got to get sustenance form the kitchens." Fred said George wasn't paying much attention to them.
Claire went to the champion's tent they were having a meeting and she waited and the n went in. Cedric was being bandaged up and hissed in pain, as the burn was being treated. "Congratulations Cedric!" Claire said kissing him.
"Miss. Black careful, Mr. Diggory's arm needs to heal." Madame Pomfrey said as she bustled away.
"I'm going for a hot bath right now, I'll see you later Claire okay." He said looking weary.
"It's okay you go and relax, Fred and George invited me to the Gryffindor common room for a party…" Claire wished she hadn't told him he gaze darkened a bit.
"Harry I see got his egg, you two are friends I can't stop you from celebrating with him too." Cedric said a little envious.
Claire looked at him then moved closer, "You're my boyfriend Cedric; I know who I am with…you just need to trust the fact that Harry and I are just friends and that is that.
Harry had not gone back to the common room yet, he was looking at Claire and Cedric together, and the feeling of jealousy was not fighting with him as he watched the two. He felt his once affections for Claire gone but replaced with a friendship he would cherish forever, his father and Claire's aunt Greta ran into the tent followed by Charlie and Claudia.
"Son that was brilliant!" James shouted as he bear hugged Harry.
Harry went red with embarrassment, "Thanks dad I really didn't think I would get this one, but I did it!" Harry said feeling prouder.
"Ah…young Harry wit conquers all; it was good old grandpa Albus taught me." Greta said.
"I thought you called him father?" Claire asked moving beside her aunt as Cedric left.
"Helga did I called him gramps or gampy." Greta said.
"Why did my mother call him father?" Claire asked.
"Because she was very small when our own father died (then again so was I), she just automatically called him father as she got older." Greta said. "Any way Harry you play Quidditch just like your old man here…"
"Please Greta really I'm not that old." James said moving closer to her.
"Come on your 35 might as well be a grandpa." Greta said trying to keep a straight face.
"Greta really be nice…" Claudia said, Charlie poked her side as she saw, James and Greta looked a little lost in each others eyes for awhile.
It was Harry who made a loud rude noise to get their attention, every one looked at him.
"Right son I expect you'll go to the Gryffindor common room for a party thrown by the Weasley twins, you run along now I have to go see Dumbledore." James said.
Claire linked arms with Harry as they walked toward the castle, "I've been invited to the party, and I hope you don't mind." Claire said subtly.
"I just got him back, and now your aunt comes along and takes him away." Harry said suddenly.
"He's still your father even if he is interested in my aunt, Harry he doesn't love you any less." Claire said stopping him and turning Harry to face her.
"Claire I barely know my father, if he gets married and had other children what will happen to me?" Harry said.
"You'll be loved more, you father will never forget you, and like me you'll have some one younger and innocent to protect." Claire said thinking about Regulus.
"I hope you're right Claire, I really, really hope…" Harry said.
"Now we have a party to get too, you just passed the first task you should be tickled pink!" Claire said dragging Harry off.
The next day was a day when all was calm; Claire looked out a window on the way to Potions and smiled as the wind ruffled the trees and large white clouds rolled along the perfect blue sky. Yet her contentment would be tested as she made her way to Potions she came face to face with Lucius Malfoy some one she had not seen since her first week at Hogwarts, he turned and looked at her then Claire saw her Narcissa Malfoy her fathers cousin and she looked at Claire with a hopeful gaze.
"Claire there you are, Professor Snape assured us you'd be I this class." Narcissa said.
Claire did not say any thing, "Mother, Father? What are you doing here?" Came Draco form behind her.
"We are having a meeting with Professor Snape and Claire you mind your own business darling." Narcissa said.
Ron made a noise which was unmistakably muffled laughter. Snape finally showed up and opened the class room door.
"Copy those notes now, Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy this way if you please, Black you too in." Snape said.
"What about the notes sir?" Claire said looking longingly at her seat beside Hermione.
"Granger will kindly give you the notes, get in the office." Snape grumbled at her. As soon as Snape turned his back the class let out a roaring laughter. Claire being in front of Snape could not see what was so funny. Once he shut the door on the laughing class she saw on his back a sign that read, "To Whom It May Concern". Claire swore she heard Lucius Malfoy stifle a laugh.
"Severus you have something on you back." Narcissa said.
Claire sniggered, Snape shot an angry look at her and put the paper on the desk.
"So Miss. Black you probably are wondering about now what this meeting is about?" Snape asked. H moved a couple chairs with the flick of his wand.
"No actually Professor I know what this about and the answer is no so may I go back to my call and learn." Claire said.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward and stood looming over her, "This meeting is of great importance my wife wishes for you to come and live with us, after this year." He said coolly.
Claire stared him down he was trying to corner her and she stood her ground. "I won't be backed in a corner by you, I have a clear sense of how you treat your son, he only listens to you through this intimidation because he's had to endure it his whole life." Claire said.
Lucius narrowed hit eyes at her, she was smart and his wife's request that they ask her first then go to the minister may not work.
"We wish to ask you Claire." Narcissa started standing from her chair, "If you would consider coming to live with us, please before you say no hear my plight."
Claire looked into the woman eyes and saw a familiar sight, why had she not thought of it before; Narcissa looked like her mother... She then realized she was crying Narcissa looked at her confused, a hidden emotion surfaced on Claire's saddened face, why did she not react this way to see in her mother's twin.
"Mother…Mother please don't go…NO! NO! Mamma don't go…" Claire was on the floor screaming and crying her mind was clouded her heart felt weak.
Out in the classroom people were looking at Snape's door. The screams were loud; Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one and other.
Meanwhile Claire was crying loudly, she didn't know why now she was so upset about her mother now, the door to Snape's office suddenly opened and Remus walked in.
"How dare any of you talk to her with out myself or Dumbledore present, Severus you had no right to do this." He said.
Claire stopped sobbing and looked up at Remus, He knelt down beside her.
"There now Claire come on," He said picking her up "I'll take you to Dumbledore."
"I don't want to see him, I want to see you." Claire said looking at him her eyes still releasing tears.
"Claire what can I do for you?" He said, "I am a were-wolf, I have no heart…"
Claire wriggled from his arms and stood before him, "That is not true…" she said touching his cheek. "You are the kindest most caring person I know, that is why I…" She stopped and looked away.
"Do you have to say something to me?" Remus asked.
"No, no I don't it's just that you are so caring you understand what I am going through." Claire said covering up.
"I see…Claire you should go rest, take care of yourself." Remus said he hugged her and walked of.
"Damn I've hurt him now." Claire said, she pushed the memory of what had happened in Snape's office out of her mind she went to her room in Slytherin and fell asleep.
She woke up hours later to the sound of Pansy talking joyfully about a Yule Ball. Claire sat up and looked at her, "What time is it Pansy?"
"Oh look who it is, we heard your hissy fit in class today, and then that were-wolf came…" Pansy said but was punched in the face by Claire who was mad now.
She walked out to the Common room to see girls going insane over a notice on the board.
A Yule Ball was to be held at Christmas and only fourth years and up would be allowed to attend Claire was nervous for a moment then remembered she would probably go with Cedric…She hoped.
There you Go now review lol! Huggs for all my reviewers so far! Thanks