They call me a criminal

Chapter 24

It was getting close to the end of term I tried to study, but dating Fred and studying was not an ideal combination.

It was a Saturday morning, and exams were approaching quickly. Fred was waiting for me in the common room, I smiled letting him kiss me
good morning. "Everyone's down at breakfast." I nodded leaning my head against him. "Why am I so tired?" I asked. He laughed gently rubbing my back, "maybe eating something will wake you up." I followed him to the great hall, sitting down beside Harry. "Morning." I smiled grabbing a plate. He nodded, "what are you doing today?" I shrugged, "catching up on more work, how about you?" Hermione leaned in, "Buckbeak is getting executed today." I sighed, "poor Hagrid." Ron agreed, "and Scabbers is still missing, thanks to that stupid cat." I laughed, "you'll find him Ron don't worry."

"I think we're going to see Hagrid later if you'd like to come." Harry said. I nodded, "I might, I have a lot of work to do." Hermione smiled, "I have to study still to." I scoffed, "whatever Hermione, we all know you have every textbook memorized." Ron agreed.

When I was done eating I smiled at Fred. "I'm going to go study." He nodded, gently kissing my forehead. "I'll see you later love."

I stood up going back to the common room to grab my books. "Where are you off to?" Professor Lupin asked. I shrugged, "going to grab my work, try and find a good place to study." He nodded, "come on down to my office I could use the company while I grade anyway." I smiled, "all right I'll be there in a minute."

Once I got back down to his office I walked in to see him with a stack of papers. "I made a tea for you. It helps focus." I sat down aggressively throwing all my books down, "you should make your exam easy." He laughed, "I'm sure you would appreciate that." I nodded having some tea, "Harry and them are going to see Hagrid later because of Buckbeak." He sighed, "that is an unfortunate circumstance."

I opened up my potions textbook writing out all the required definitions and potions to memorize. I stopped halfway through thinking about where I should go for summer. Thinking about staying with the Weasleys was making me extremely uncomfortable. Maybe it was because they already had the maximum number of people for that house, or maybe I didn't want to be relying on Fred, what if something happened between us. "Doesn't look like you're doing much reading." Lupin joked

I placed my pen down, "it's potions he's going to fail me anyway out of hatred." He smiled, "he won't fail you that would mean an extra year with you." I scoffed, "he would do anything to make me miserable." Lupin nodded, but then suddenly stood up. "Where did you say Harry was going tonight?" I looked up confused, "to Hagrid's." He grabbed his coat quickly leaving the room. "Is Harry okay?" I panicked chasing after Lupin.

I followed him all the way across the castle then outside right in front of the whomping willow. "Clara I need you to grab my arm, and run as quickly as you can. Don't let go." I did as he said firmly wrapping my hands around his arm, staring up at the angry looking tree. "Now Clara." He took off running and I watched as the branches started to twist. We got to a hole and he firmly grabbed my shoulder shoving me down. I slid down this entrance way landing hard on my stomach. He followed behind doing his best to avoid landing directly on top of me.

"I need you to be very very quiet." Lupin whispered. I stared at him terrified. "We're alright, nothings going to happen to anyone." I slowly nodded and he continued walking until we got to a door. "Wand up." He instructed me.

He stepped forward kicking the door open. My eyes widened when I saw Sirius with Ron Hermione and Harry pushed against the back wall. I held my wand up staring at him. "Miss me?" Sirius asked Lupin and I smiling. "What are you going to do to them?" I asked slowly making my way infront. "You can't kill anyone Sirius these are my friends."

Lupin held his hand up, "be quiet Clara." He stretched out his arms and I watched the two of them embrace each other. "Your a liar. I trusted you, he's a werewolf." Hermione explained.

I stepped back away from the two of them, slowly making my way to Harry. "Don't take another step." Sirius warned reaching his hand out for my wand. I stared at him, feeling hurt and betrayed. Slowly I pulled my wand out of my pants, but was suddenly slammed back as another person pushed through the door.