Inglorious Bastards [Theodore Nott]

Chapter Fifty-Four

The day of Harry's hearing came and everyone was on the edge. When he left with Mr. Weasley, Hermione couldn't help but mutter about the possible excuse to not get Harry expelled. Cedric kept himself busy with summer homework just to stop himself from leaving with Harry and Mr. Weasley to give a statement – as his little Dementor attack did not break any Wizarding laws – Carina, Roman, and Morgan on the other hand found Hermione as a distraction enough, as they were amazed that she has memorized so many Wizarding laws while they only knew two most important laws – underaged witches and wizards are not allowed to use magic outside the school, and the exposure of the magical world to Muggles. But when Harry came back with a bright smile, all their worries were put at ease.

"Cleared all of charges," Harry said.

Everyone cheered for Harry, Cedric patted Harry at the back as congratulations, Ginny, the twins, Morgan, and Roman even shouted at the halls, 'HE GOT OFF! HE GOT OFF!' but Harry wasn't cheering. When he saw Sirius was cheering with the rest, and when he shook his hand, when Sirius talked less with everyone, and when Sirius would shut himself in his mother's room with Buckbeak, he knew that his godfather was not too enthusiastic in the idea.

Sirius' actions did not go unnoticed by the others as well, Vivian reassured Harry that Sirius was just "so relieved that he needed to tell Buckbeak" and then went to see Sirius (which Harry and Carina were sure was to scold him). Tom too noticed Sirius's actions and sighed in disappointment, just as he hoped Sirius would act as an adult for once.

Carina noticed as well but knew that her father's being selfish, and she too felt a bit jealous for Harry when she saw how much it affected her father that Harry was returning to Hogwarts, but who was she to blame him for acting like that. He would be all alone again in this place with just Buckbeak as company.

When Hermione started to tell Harry that Sirius was being selfish and that part of the man wanted Harry to be expelled so they could be 'outcasts' together, Carina got up and glared down at Hermione.

"You're not going to talk about my father like that," Carina growled, she was sure that her teeth turned sharp, like her Animagus form. Roman had to hold her back when he saw a possible fight brewing.

"It's the truth!" Hermione said. "I think Mrs. Weasley's right, he sometimes gets confused whether Harry's Harry or Harry's his father!"

"So, you think he's touched in the head?" Harry said heatedly.

"He's alone Hermione!" Carina pointed out, "He'll be alone here with that devil-house-elf and his bloody mother! I know that my father's being selfish, but he's going to be alone!"

When their booklists arrived, Carina noticed her father going even more alone. She didn't want to leave him, but she had to go to Hogwarts. But their concerns were more on the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as they have assigned a children's book as their new reading material.

"Slinkhard?" Carina read the list. "Who does this new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher thinks their teaching? Teething children?"

But while Carina and the twins were wondering about the books, Cedric, Ron, and Hermione had something else that went with their letters.

"Prefect?!" Fred, George, and Carina exclaimed as they read Ron's letter. "This has to be a mistake – Dumbledore must be messing with you!"

"Ced, you're Head Boy! Merlin, Dad would be parading this in the Ministry when he finds out," Morgan congratulated his brother.

When the Weasleys were celebrating for Ron becoming a Prefect, Carina went to her and her father's room, there she saw him staring at something in his hand. Carina crept towards him and sat down beside him. Sirius noticed Carina's presence and smiled.