Breathe Me ( A Bullied By The Marauders Era Fanfiction / Remus Lupin Love Story)

Chapter 3

Re-Written!

-Chapter 3-

After leaving the hospital with not one scratch upon her  small body, she knew she needed to thank Severus and Lily. Which she did. The essential lesson's drawled out, each a long painful blur. Fortunately, Claire's multiple expressions of gratitude sent towards a beautiful red-head, known by the name Lily Evans, were shook off  as she told her not to worry about thanking her. She would do it for anyone. Lily was an exceptionally nice girl, one who saw the kindness in people that nobody else would. A girl who took into consideration people's thoughts and opinions, yet she was not afraid to speak her mind when needed. Lily had took the time to listen to Claire, she was the first person to do this in all of the years that Claire had attended Hogwarts. This was the start of a magnificent friendship. Severus was slightly wary around Claire, worried that she may take Lily away from him. However, Claire was not like this. Claire was more then happy that someone finally took an interest in her, rather then bullying her. She finally felt as though she belonged.  The next few weeks went past like a hurricane of madness for Claire, every day dragged on painfully.

Saturday's, for Claire, were spent in bed with a  book crammed in her hands and bars of chocolate pilled beside her. Reading was her passion, she would read to escape reality. Which is understandable considering each and every day was torture for the poor girl. Small rays of moonlight beamed through the partially open silken curtains onto her milky flesh as she began to awake for her midday nap.  A soft yawn slipped through her pouty lips while she slowly arose from her bed and brushed out the minimal amount of sleepy dust in the corner of her eyes. Her hazel pools flickered around the room, checking that each and every girl was asleep, she then proceeded to make her way out of the cramped room.  Her stomach twisted as though it knew something was going to go wrong. Shaking it off as nerves, Claire trudged down the cold steps and into the warmth of the Gryffindor common room. Though the walls were littered with literature and the warm fire blazed effortlessly, Claire couldn't feel more out of place. Claire was glad that no one was there to tease her. She really wasn't in the mood to be harassed today.

The sound of her soft footsteps could be heard as she made her way out of the common room and found herself in surrounded by multiple moving staircases. She felt as though was a mouse, trapped by endless paths of possible exits, yet she did not know which way to go. Her heart hammered in her chest as she caught sigh of a swishing tail above her. Mrs Norris. She had to remember and quickly. Think. Think. Think. Her body moving before she could even recollect her thoughts; she began to rush up an adjacent set of stairs to familiar surroundings. Delighted to realise she was in fact walking the correct route to the Owlery. Like every Saturday she came to read Moon a story, her mind wandered back to last week as the corners of her lips pulled into a small smile. She reminisced the soft luminescence covered her skin as she read aloud to the intelligent bird while it perched on the marble windowsill beside her. Moon absorbed each term, name and expression that escaped the vulnerable girls lips.

Suddenly, she collided with another figure, causing her to fall onto the floor. She prayed that it was someone who would spare her, rather then beat her. Unfortunately, the person of which she collided was not only a promiscuous arrogant boy, her was also one of her Bullies. Sirius Black. Tall, dark and evil - yet it seemed that he was only ever evil to her and Severus. Her lips parted and doe eyes widened as she scurried backwards away from the looming giant. He made her feel small and insignificant, he loved it. "Will you watch where you are going?! You stupid cow." He spat viciously towards her terrified frame. Terrified of being left alone with him, she rose to her feet and mumbled an apology, before whisking herself towards the large door of the Owlery. The weathered and beaten door, splintered on the edges and scuffed on the bottom from years of use creaked slowly open as she pushed it.'What was he doing here?' She thought, endless scenarios flying through her head. Her mind conjuring up situations, what if her hurt her owl? "Moon?" Her voice called out as a quick whistle left her lips.  

Words could not describe how ecstatic to see that her bird was still alive. Which in itself was horrible, her worrying about her Owl's safety. Moon was the only thing she cared about, the only set of evidence that her parents even existed. Though it seemed the bird was more worried about her safety as when it landed on the windowsill,  its eyes glanced over some of her previous purple bruises and a lot of emotions flashed through her eyes. She knew. Moon knew that something was wrong, all she cared about was her owner. Claire made her way towards Moon and smiled when the soft bird nuzzled its head in her chest. "I'm sorry, I forgot the book today Moon." She huffed, annoyed with herself, before inhaling and exhaling a deep breath. "Perhaps a song will suffice." She pet Moon's head and placed herself onto the windowsill beside her companion. Her heart fluttered as the Owl watched her every move, she loved the bird more than anything in the world. Moons ears pricked up slightly as a distinguishable tune bounced off of the walls. Claire's voice serenaded the Owl to sleep and although she was happy with Moon, she couldn't help the tears that rolled down her face, blurring her eyesight.  She gazed out to the night sky, her eyes glistening like a star billions of light-years away. The fact that a dark figure loomed around the doorway was completely unbeknownst to her. Then, she whispered the lyrics to herself, ending with a heart wrenching sob :

"Cos all of the stars

Are fading away

Just try not to worry

You'll see them some day

Take what you need

And be on your way

And stop crying your heart out"