Different

dungbombs

The Slytherins always hated when Gryffindor won a quidditch match, and this win was no different. They were even more upset at Harry for embarrassing Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Claire decided to stay out of everything, avoiding all the Slytherins as she sat in the corner of the common room. The general displeasure against the Gryffindors faded out and everyone was asleep by midnight, Claire sneaking to her room when she knew Pansy would be asleep.

Her dreams were strange, filled with images of Sirius Black and a rat. Claire shot awake when her dream showed Black cutting open a curtain, showing Ron Weasley. Claire couldn't help but feel like her dream was real, her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to calm her beating heart. Claire decided to go back to sleep, whispering to herself that it was just a dream.

"Did you hear about Weasley?" Pansy asked Millicent as they got ready the next morning. Claire yawned a little, turning over to better hear the conversation.

"I haven't left the room yet. What about him?" Millicent replied.

"I heard from Flint who heard from Diggory or someone that Weasley claimed to have woken up to see Sirius Black standing over him with a knife," Pansy said excitedly. Claire froze, glad that the curtains around her bed were pulled shut.

"Looks like the Gryffindors gave him a little too much Firewhiskey," Millicent said with a snort.

"They should've given him more," Pansy said with a cackle. "Maybe then he wouldn't have yelled and Black could've done the job. Merlin knows Hogwarts needs less blood traitors and Potter could do without his best friend."

Claire was completely disgusted by Pansy and the way her and Millicent laughed. Claire was terrified now, both of her dram and the fact that Black had broken into the castle. Only one thought was on her mind: what if she was next?

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The boost of confidence Claire got to go to the quidditch match disappeared as quickly as it came. Without Draco to help her, Claire was forced to deal with Pansy's taunts and those of other students. It was to the point where Claire didn't even sleep in her dorm, curling up into a chair in the common room instead. Despite rarely going to sleep with a blanket, she always woke up with one and she had a hypothesis as to why.

Draco was the only person who would do something like that for her. Despite his outburst, Claire would catch him watching her sometimes, although he quickly looked away. And once after a seventh year boy tripped her in front of him, she later saw the boy with a black eye. Claire didn't know what to think, but she was barely talking so she had plenty of time to think.

After a particularly bad taunt from Pansy, Claire found herself unable to talk. It wasn't like a curse because she could answer a question, but it was more like a choice. She didn't see the need to talk if it would just cause her to be bullied, so she instead just didn't talk. Not even Remus or Hermione could force a sentence out of her, leaving them both worried. Harry had even tried, asking her if she wanted to ride their Firebolts together. Claire just shook her head no, shoving her face back into her book. Even Ron seemed concerned as he barely said anything to her and stopped glaring all the time. This could've been because everyone was viewing him as a celebrity after his supposed encounter with Black, but Claire couldn't ask to be sure.

"Hello, little Lupin," Fred said, interrupting Claire from her thoughts. George and Fred sat next to her, one on each side. Lee Jordan sat next to Fred, his pet tarantula crawling on his finger.

"What's been happening this week?" George asked. Just like the week before, they simply got a shrug for an answer.

"That's the same thing Patty said!" Lee said excitedly, referring to his tarantula. Claire smiled a little, bringing the three boys to smile widely.