They call me a criminal

Chapter 21

"Is she going back? Is that why your screaming Clara?" She asked. I stared at her, "what are you talking about?" She flung a letter up in the air, "dad wrote to me, told me the truth about EVERYTHING. You deserve to be locked up for life, you deserve to die."

I couldn't process what she was saying, but she continued to scream, "YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULD FIGURE OUT THE TRUTH. BUT YOU WERE JUST GOING TO LIE TO ME ANYWAY. Mum is dead, and dad's in Azkaban. All because of you. I want you dead, I want you to suffer. My life is ruined because of you."

"Ms. Parkinson I don't think you mean any of that," Lupin whispered. She glared at me, "you may still be alive, but you're dead to me. You're not my family, you're not my sister, you're nothing. How can you live with yourself?"

I sighed, "pansy you can't trust him, none of what he said is true."

"It should've been you, now I have no one, no family, absolutely nothing." I watched as she turned around slamming the door. I threw my arms down to my side, biting my lip. "Merry Christmas."

I left the classroom going outside to lean against castle wall. "Hey," Cedric smiled coming to stand beside me. "Hi," I answered. "Merry Christmas. Get anything good?" I nodded, "yes how about you?" He laughed, "too much, but it was a good Christmas if I say so." I looked down at my feet not feeling so great about my Christmas. "Is everything alright?" Cedric asked. I shook my head, "it's just hard, first Christmas and all." He sighed, "I totally forgot Clara I'm so sorry." I smiled, "it's not your job to remember Cedric."

I looked up when I heard more footsteps, Harry was walking towards us. "I've been looking for you." I nodded, "just wanted to come outside."

"This is Cedric." Harry shook his hand. "I just wanted to make sure you're alright." I laughed, "of course not Harry, but I'm going to stand here and pretend it is because what the hell else am I supposed to do?"

Harry nodded, "you can talk to us, or Ron and Hermione, professor Lupin." I smiled, "Harry I've talked it doesn't change anything." He shook his head, "who have you talked to?" I sighed, "professor Lupin." Cedric smiled, "it probably seems like your world is completely crashing around you. But I know things will get better for you because you deserve it Clara,"

I thanked him looking up at Harry. "Why don't we both go back to the common room, play some wizards chess and pretend we didn't hear anything we did this morning." He sighed, "is that what you really want?" I nodded, "I think so."

Cedric said goodbye to us, but then ran up to me. "Here I want you to have this," he handed me a silver pin of a flame. "Cedric this is beautiful I can't take it, it's yours," he shook his head, "it's my good luck pin and right now I can't think of anyone else who needs more luck than you."

I nodded pinning it into my jacket. "Thank you." He smiled, "Merry Christmas guys."

I sighed, "Harry I think we should go see Lupin first. I need to ask him something." He followed me to his office holding the door for me. "Clara, how are you doing?" He welcomed me offering me a seat. "I'm alright I came to ask you a question." He handed Harry and I a piece of chocolate telling me to continue. "I need to get a gift for someone but I'm not aloud to go to Hogsmeade." He smiled, "what kind of gift are you thinking?" I shrugged, "a signed quidditch jersey, maybe some candy." Professor Lupin nodded, "I'll help you out." I smiled, "Is it okay if you get a few other gifts as well?" He stood up, handing me a quill and ink. "Of course."

I wrote down my list folding it and handing it back. "I'm sorry about your sister." I sighed, "didn't you hear shes not my family anymore. I'm dead to her." Harry nudged me, "you've got all of us." I bit my lip, "I do, thank you."

Lupin looked over the list, "why don't you come by later tonight, I'll have it all here." I handed him my vault key. "Thank you I really appreciate it."