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

Chapter 7

Re-Written!

-Chapter 7-

The halls were crowded with people, and the chaos was so perfect, like a movie. There was the couple that was always making out on the left side of the hall, and about ten feet farther down, the cliquey girls. Opposite them, the cliquey quidditch players, and between them, the parade of stereotypical Ravenclaw geeks with their huge handfuls of books. There were the Hufflepuff kids who never did anything but make paper airplanes and the Pureblood Snotty Slytherin kids that sauntered down the halls with their heads held high above those they deemed not fit to be at Hogwarts. And then there was Claire, not that she actually fit into any of those groups. "Look here guys." The notorious player beckoned from the opposite side of the corridor, his large frame slumped against the wall, a cigarette between his pouty lips. The dark haired boy beside him sauntered towards Claire with a strange glint in his eye, "It's the little Whore." A chuckle resounded off of the walls as hundreds of pairs of judgemental eyes turned towards the scene. Of course some people wanted to help Claire but they did not wish to be on the wrong side of the Marauders. No one wanted to be on the wrong side of them. No one.

"I see that bruise on your pretty little face has disappeared." James observed as he walked Circles around her tiny build. Without warning his large fist dashed straight towards her right eye. Small gasps left peoples mouths. Why were they surprised? This was a daily occurrence yet it was so surprising that they would do this. "You can't get better. Stupid bitch." Peter spat a twisted smirk on his face as he trotted away with the rest of the Marauders. Claire rolled her eyes and winced in pain as she touched her face. People moved out of the way and made a path towards the stairs, each feeling mildly guilty for the evil act they had witnessed. It was a shame that Lily was already at lessons. Claire awkwardly looked towards her feet as she zoomed through the corridor and up the stairs, towards Dumbledore's office.

Claire winced as a sharp pain shot through her face, as she trudged towards the short and stout gargoyle. "Password?" It grumbled as it sensed her presence. Claire cringed inwardly as she recalled earlier in the day, Lily didn't mention a password. "She needs to know about her Parents Albus." A sweet voice  called as the stairs began to twist downwards. "Fare the well, Euphemia." Came the recognisable voice of the Head teacher himself. Claire awkwardly shifted on her feet as she saw a beautiful woman descend from above, almost as if she was an angel. The woman's eyes fell upon the girl and widened. Next to her stood her Husband who also seemed shocked by the girl. "Oh no! My dear child what happened to you?" His gruff voice made her flinch involuntarily. "It was just some boys, sir." She spoke politely, sadly thinking back to the previous moment with her tormentors.

"Our son attends Hogwarts, perhaps you should make friends with him. He will protect you." Euphemina, as Dumbledore referred to her, spoke politely as her eyes rolled around Claires small body, inspecting each bruise. Each cut. Each scar. Claire felt awkward and uncomfortable. "Who is your son?" Claire asked, clearing her throat awkwardly. Everything seemed to be awkward at the moment. "James. James Potter." The man spoke and watched, surprised, as the girls eyes widen in terror. "He- he's the one who did this." She spoke timidly as she raised her frail hand and let it rest on her bruised eye. The couple could hardly believe the girl, well they could believe her they just didn't want too. How could he do this? He didn't hurt people. He was sweet, innocent and completely incapable of harming a fly. Or was he? They knew Claire wasn't lying, they could tell that she wasn't. "Ah Claire, just the girl I wanted to see." Came a wistful voice from the adjacent staircase. Claire jumped and a rosy colour glossed her cheeks "P-professor Dumbledore Sir, you said you wanted to see me?"