They call me a criminal

Chapter 65

Sirius woke me up the next morning handing me a small plate of food. "How are you feeling?" I shook my head, "the same." He sat down beside me, "I know we're always telling you this, but you have to stay strong. Now more than ever." I set my head against his arm, "I know."

As we were about to leave for the train station, I followed Sirius and Remus to a different room. "Write as much as you need, alright?" Remus whispered. I wrapped my arms around him, "is everyday alright?" Sirius smiled, "every hour would be better." I nodded, "I'll see what I can do." They both laughed, "I love you more than words can say Clara." I bit my lip, "see you soon."

The first dinner we had back at Hogwarts was when I first discovered Bellatrix had escaped from Azkaban. I had a hard time keeping any food down after that.

Every night after dinner I'd wander around the corridors rather than sit inside the common room having to hear the sounds of Fred's voice and laughter. "You've been out here lots." I recognized Draco's voice immediately. "I've heard about Fred." I turned away from him hoping he'd walk away. "I'm sorry." I nodded, "everyones sorry these days." He agreed, "are you alright?" I shook my head, "no, not at all." He smiled, sitting down on the ground. I sat down beside him, "do you believe he's back? Voldemort." Draco nodded, "yes." I tipped my head back, "I hate this. Not knowing what's going to happen." Draco sighed, "I get it." I turned to him, "do you really?" He nudged me, "maybe not entirely, but feeling alone, that's something I get." I smiled, "well we can be lonely, miserable, and angry together."

I was trying to catch up on some work in the library when Snape marched in behind me. "Follow me Clara." I looked up at him confused, "what why?" He didn't say another word, instead just silently waited for me to pack up. "What's going on?" I asked as we began walking. He looked down at me, "Dumbledore's army. Are you familiar with this?" I slowly nodded, "I wasn't a part of it." He narrowed his eyes, "your name was at the top of the list. You were named as one of the instructors." I shook my head, "Harry wanted me to help. But I didn't." He opened up Dumbridge's door for me, "she isn't going to listen to anything you have to say."

Slowly I walked up the stairs stopping when I saw Dumbledore being questioned by the minister himself. "Where have you been?" Fudge hissed at me. "Studying." I whispered looking around the room at Harry, Kingsley and Umbridge. Snape came and stood beside me and the minister continued to glare at me. "What have you been telling these kids?" I shook my head, "I haven't told them anything." He nodded, "you're the last person who should be teaching anyone anything. You're a murderer. I'm going to do everything in my power to send you back to Azkaban, where you belong." I stepped back, "you don't know what you're talking about." He let out a cold laugh, "I know Cedric and your father both wound up dead that night. And you came back with slit wrists, you couldn't live with what you did to them." I scoffed, "you're so wrong it's actually painful." He nodded, "am I wrong about the death curse coming from your wand?" Dumbledore stood up, "that's enough." Fudge spun around to him, "no I've had enough of you. Take him to Azkaban, to await a trial."

Dumbledore smiled, "I have no intentions of going to Azkaban Minister." I watched as he clapped his hands and a large flame erupted causing me to turn away. When we looked again, he was gone. Fudge was taking angry breaths and I was scared to make a sound. "If I were you Clara, I wouldn't get too comfortable here." I stepped aside as he pushed past me, and kept my eyes glued to the floor even as Kingsley placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Clara," Harry whispered getting my attention. I shook my head, "why the hell was my name on that list?" He sighed, "Hermione wrote it down when we thought you were going to help us." Snape sighed, "you've just put Miss Parkinson in more danger than she is already in. He's not going to stop until you are back in Azkaban." I pushed my hands through my hair, "locked up with crazy death eaters who are escaping more and more frequently. That's basically a death sentence." Harry bit his lip, "Sirius and Remus won't let that happen." Snape turned away leaving the office and Harry stepped forward wrapping his arms around me. "I'm so sorry Clara."