Chapter 13: The Werewolf's Advice

Ever since Claire yelled at Hermione, Harry, and Ron, she hadn't spoken to any of them. She was upset with all three of them and was now spending time with Jason. Which is something she thought would've never happened.

"Are you sure you want to hang out with me?" Jason asked yet again. "I didn't mean for you to stop talking to your friends because of me."

"It's fine, Jason," Claire told him yet again. "You stood up for me with Malfoy and now I'm returning the favor. I just wish Hermione hadn't of gone behind my back and told Harry about our kiss. Ron was extremely angry when he found out."

"Does Ron like you?" Jason asked.

Claire burst out laughing. "No, no, no. It's just that we grew up together and he considers me as his sister. He doesn't want me to get hurt. I'm not blood related to him but I can't imagine how he's going to be when Ginny starts dating—I mean seeing boys."

"So now we're dating, huh?" Jason teased.

Claire rolled her eyes. "No, we're just friends for right now."

"That might change after our date at Hogsmeade," Jason said.

"Don't get your hopes up," Claire said.

The bell rang.

"Shit," Claire muttered. "We're late to Potions."

"Don't worry it'll be alright," Jason said.

"Maybe for you but I'm a Gryffindor and Snape will more than likely enjoy taking points away from me because of it," Claire said.

They soon entered the Potions classroom.

"Mr. Saxton, Miss Smith, you're late," Professor Snape said in his monotone voice. "Sit down and fifty points from Gryffindor."

Jason went to sit down at his usually table and Claire realized she'd have to sit with Hermione. Claire walked over to her seat and took out her Potions textbook as Snape droned on about a Sleeping Draught. Claire and Hermione ignored each other throughout the lesson. Towards the end of the lesson Hermione looked as though she wanted to talk to Claire. However, the bell rang before Hermione could do so.

It was lunch time and Claire wasn't very hungry. She decided to go to the common room and work on some of her homework. However, as she entered the common room, she saw one of the people who she was mad at.

Harry had just come down from the boys dormitory and caught sight of Claire coming into the common room. Claire glared at him and made her way up to the girls' dormitory.

"Claire, wait!" Harry said.

Claire turned around glaring at him. "What?"

"I just— I wanted to say I was sorry. You know, for telling Ron and everything," Harry said. "But I still think this Saxton guy isn't good for you."

"Well, I appreciate your apology and concern, Harry, but as I told Ron I can take care of myself," Claire disappeared up into the girls' dormitory.

Harry watched as she left and then headed to his anti-dementor lesson with Lupin. He was frustrated and angry at the moment. Frustated because Claire wouldn't talk to him and angry because of Saxton. What made Claire interested in Saxton? Harry thought to himself. Claire wasn't the only thing on his mind. Wood had been calling for extra Quidditch practices because the match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw was coming up. To make matters worse Harry still hadn't ordered a new broom and Professor McGonagall had yet to give him his Firebolt back. His anti-dementor lessons weren't going nearly as well as he had hoped. He had been able to produce an indistinct, silvery shadow every time the boggart-dementor approached him, but his Patronus was too feeble to drive the dementor away.

"You're expecting too much of yourself," Professor Lupin said sternly as Harry had tried his Patronus again. "For a thirteen-year-old wizard, even an indistinct Patronus is a huge achievement. You aren't passing out anymore, are you?"

"I thought a Patronus would—charge the dementors down or something," Harry said dispiritedly. "Make them disappear—"

"The true Patronus does do that," Lupin said. "But you've achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. If the dementors put in an appearance at your next Quidditch match, you will be able to keep them at bay long enough to get back to the ground."

"You said it's harder if there are loads of them," Harry said.

"I have complete confidence in you," Lupin said, smiling. "Here—you've earned a drink—something from the Three Broomsticks. You won't have tried it before—"

He pulled two bottles out of his briefcase.

"Butterbeer!" Harry said, without thinking. "Yeah, I like that stuff!"

Lupin raised an eyebrow.

"Oh—Ron and Hermione brought me and Claire some back from Hogsmeade," Harry lied quickly.

"I see," Lupin said, though he still looked slightly suspicious. "Well— let's drink to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw! Not that I'm supposed to take sides, as a teacher…." he added hastily.

They drank the butterbeer in silence, until Harry voiced something he'd been wondering for a while.

"What's under a dementor's hood?"

Professor Lupin lowered his bottle thoughtfully.

"Hmmmm…well, the only people who really know are in no condition to tell us. You see, the dementor lowers its hood only to use its last and worst weapon."

"What's that?"

"They call it the Dementor's Kiss," Lupin said, with a slightly twisted smile. "It's what dementors do to those they wish to destroy utterly. I suppose there must be some kind of mouth under there, because they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victim and— and suck out his soul."

Harry accidentally spat out a bit of butterbeer.

"What—they kill—?"

"Oh no," Lupin said. "Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no…anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. You'll just— exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever…lost."

Lupin drank a little more butterbeer, then said, "It's the fate that awaits Sirius Black. It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry have given the dementors permission to perform it if they find him."

Harry sat stunned for a moment at the idea of someone having their soul sucked out through their mouth. But then he thought of Black.

"He deserves it," he said suddenly.

"You think so?" Lupin said lightly. "Do you really think anyone deserves that?"

"Yes," Harry said defiantly. "For…for some things…."

They both took a sip of their butterbeer and it was silent for a few moments until Lupin spoke.

"So, I heard that you and your friend Mr. Weasley have been fighting with Miss Granger."

"How did you—?"

"I spoke with Miss Smith and Miss Granger the other day. Miss Smith told me about your Christmas gift being turned in to Professor McGonagall." Lupin answered.

"Oh," Harry said.

"In fact, if I'm not mistaken, I haven't seen you and your friend Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger talking with Miss Smith lately," Lupin said.

"Yea," Harry said. "We all got into a fight."

Lupin nodded. "Well, whatever it is you four fought about don't let it ruin your friendship. I've learned that it's never good if you let small things affect your friendship."

"I wouldn't call it a small thing," Harry muttered.

"What is affecting your friendship with Miss Smith?" Lupin asked.

"Saxton." Harry muttered.

"Oh," Lupin said. "A boy is the problem?"

Harry noticed Lupin seemed to have a sympathetic look in his eyes. Lupin cleared his throat.

"You know, Harry," Lupin began. "I was once in your position a long time ago,"

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I once had feelings for one of my friends and she fell for someone else." Lupin said.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"She ended up marrying him." Lupin said.

Harry suddenly felt depressed. "I don't see how that was suppose to make me feel better."

Lupin chuckled. "No, but it is advice."

"Advice?" Harry questioned.

"Yes," Lupin said. "I never told her I had feelings for her and it was a mistake. There may have been a chance for us had I told her. The point is Harry you need to tell her what you feel before it's too late."

"But she won't even speak to any of us," Harry said.

"Then you need to first make amends to your friendship with her and then tell her," Lupin said. He glanced at the clock on his desk. "It's getting late and I have to prepare for the next lesson. Just think about my advice Harry."

And think Harry did. He was so distracted with his conversation with Lupin as he walked to Gryffindor Tower that he walked headlong into Professor McGonagall halfway up the stairs.

"Do watch where you're going, Potter!"

"Sorry, Professor—"

"I've just been looking for you in the Gryffindor common room. Well, here it is, we've done everything we could think of, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it at all. You've got a very good friend somewhere, Potter….."

Harry's jaw dropped. She was holding out his Firebolt, and it looked as magnificent as ever.

"I can have it back?" Harry said weakly. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Professor McGonagall said, and she was actually smiling. "I daresay you'll need to get the feel of it before Saturday's match, won't you? And Potter— do try and win, won't you? Or we'll be out of the running for the eighth year in a row, as Professor Snape was kind enough to remind me only last night…."

Speechless, Harry carried the Firebolt back upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower. As he turned a corner, he saw Ron dashing toward him, grinning from ear to ear.

"She gave it to you? Excellent! Listen, can I still have a go on it? Tomorrow?"

"Yeah…anything…" Harry said, his heart lighter than it had been in a month. "You know what—we should make up with Claire and Hermione….."

"Yeah, all right," Ron said. "Don't know if it'll be easy making up with Claire but anyway they're both in the common room right now—"

They turned into the corridor to Gryffindor Tower and saw Neville Longbottom, pleading with Sir Cadogan, who seemed to be refusing him entrance.

"I wrote them down!" Neville was saying tearfully. "But I must've dropped them somewhere!"

"A likely tale!" roared Sir Cadogan. Then, spotting Harry and Ron: "Good even, my fine young yeomen! Come clap this loon in irons. He is trying to force entry to the chambers within!"

"Oh, shut up," Ron said as he and Harry drew level with Neville.

"I've lost the passwords!" Neville told them miserably. "I made him tell me what passwords he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them, and now I don't know what I've done with them!"

"Oddsbodikins," Harry said to Sir Cadogan, who looked extremely disappointed and reluctantly swung forward to let them into the common room. There was a sudden, excited murmur as every head turned and the next moment, Harry was surrounded by people exclaiming over his Firebolt.

While Harry was bombarded by other Gryffindors asking about his broom, Claire, who had gotten her vinyl and record player back from Professor McGonagall, was trying to figure out how to work the record player. She was excited and in better spirits than she had been since she fought with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Claire was actually considering apologizing to them for the way she acted. Claire looked up from the record player as she saw people crowding around Harry, his Firebolt, and Ron. She rolled her eyes. Hermione had also seen the scene and she too rolled her eyes. Claire and Hermione caught each other's eye and laughed.

"Claire," Hermione began. "I truly am sorry about telling Harry about your kiss with Saxton— I mean Jason. It wasn't my place to tell him and I know that I should've respected that. And as far as Saxton—I mean Jason goes it's your own choice whether you want to be with him or not. I'll support whatever you choose."

Claire smiled. "Thank you for the apology, Hermione. I think I overreacted just a bit. And I'm glad that you're giving Jason a chance."

"Friends again?" Hermione asked.

Claire nodded. "Definitely."

Claire then saw all of the textbooks in front of Hermione. One of the parchments was titled "Explain Why Muggles Need Electricity".

"I see you've been busy," Claire pointed to the work in front of Hermione.

"Yes, I have," Hermione said.

"Arithmancy looks terrible," Claire said looking at the Arithmancy chart.

They then noticed Harry and Ron coming over to them. Harry's eyes looked over to Claire's record player.

"I guess we both got back our Christmas gifts," Harry said.

"Yep," Claire replied.

"See, Hermione?" Ron said. "There wasn't anything wrong with it!"

"Well— there might have been!" Hermione said. "I mean, at least you know now that it's safe!"

"Yeah," Harry said. "I'd better put it upstairs—"

"I'll take it!" Ron said eagerly. "I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic."

He took the Firebolt and, holding it as if it were made of glass, carried it away up the boys' staircase.

"Can I sit down, then?" Harry asked Claire and Hermione.

"I guess so," Claire said.

Harry sat down.

"Claire, about earlier, my apology, I really am sorry and—" Harry was cut off.

"It's fine, Harry." Claire replied. "I realized I might have taken things a bit too far. I accept your apology."

Harry smiled and then looked around at the cluttered table in front of Hermione.

"How are you getting through all this stuff?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, well—you know—working hard," Hermione said.

Close-up, Harry saw that she looked almost as tired as Lupin.

"Why don't you just drop a couple of subjects?" Harry asked, watching her lift books as she searched for her rune dictionary.

Claire saw the rune dictionary underneath the Divination book and handed it to Hermione who thanked her.

"I couldn't do that!" Hermione said to Harry, looking scandalized.

"Arithmancy looks terrible," Harry said, picking up a very complicated-looking number chart.

"I told Hermione the same thing," Claire said.

"Oh no, it's wonderful!" Hermione said earnestly. "It's my favorite subject! It's—"

Suddenly, a strange yell echoed down the boys' staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. Then came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder—and then Ron came leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet.

"LOOK!" he bellowed, striding over to Hermione's table.

"LOOK!" he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face.

"Ron, what's your problem?" Claire questioned.

"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!" Ron bellowed to Claire.

"I think you need to check your eyes Ron," Claire said. "That's a bedsheet not a rat."

Hermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Harry looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like—

"BLOOD!" Ron yelled into the stunned silence. "HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?"

"N—no," Hermione said in a trembling voice.

Ron threw something down onto Hermione's rune translation. Claire, Hermione, and Harry leaned forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs.

Claire made up with two out of three friends so far. She also got her record player/vinyl back. And what about Lupin's and Harry's conversation? Who do you think Lupin had feelings for? Do you think he gave Harry good advice and do you think Harry will follow through with it? Thanks to the new follower: katiecookie431.

I also wanted to say that updating will be a bit slower until the end of the school year. I have SAT's to study for and now I'm taking extra classes online so I can have all my credits done for graduation for 2016 because I want to have a stress-free Senior Year. I'll try my best updating once a week but if not that it'll be every two weeks or monthly depending on how much free time I have to write. I'm sorry but I really need to focus on my education.

Reply to Reviews:

The marauders21: You'll have to wait for a while before Claire sees her parents. I know when they're going to show up but I'm not going to tell you when because it will be a surprise.

TENZA: Yea, the last chapter was very soap opera-y. I don't really like writing dramatic sequences and it was different when I began writing that fight between the four friends. I mean they were going to fight sooner or later and I think even the best of friendships have fights so I think it was good for the characters.

Natekleh: Yea, I know. I didn't want to do it but I had to write what Claire would do.

Teckie De Cool: Thank you for clearing up the OTP. I'm happy to hear you liked the last chapter. And I'm sorry that you're sorry that Claire and Jason won't end up together in the end. However, trust me when I say he really isn't good for her. You'll see in the next book why. I haven't written Claire's and Jason's first date at Hogsmeade yet but it will definitely be interesting.

Rainpelt the Doctor: I know the title did give it away.

NicoleR85: I agree with you. Claire told Hermione and the whole best friend code goes by trusting and keeping each others secrets and Hermione broke that code.

A-Fighterlady: Thank you!

katiecookie431: Thank you!

Rukia-chappy: I know right! Hermione broke the best friend code!

Ghostwriter71: They really are. As far as Claire overreacting and everything I was trying to figure out how to justify why she was so upset and then I realized that she has trust issues. It all goes back to her parent's abandoning her and then of course in the last book she was possessed by Tom Riddle and she thought of him as a friend but he abused her trust as well. So, yea basically that's why she reacted the way she did because it felt like she was going through those two things again.