Mon Cher (Severus Snape Daughter FF)

Ch. 5 // POA

Tom woke Clara the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea.
Clara got dressed and made her way to Harry's room when Ron banged his way in, pulling a sweatshirt over his head and looking irritable.

"The sooner we get on the train, the better," he said. "At least I can get away from Percy at Hogwarts. Now he's accusing me of dripping tea on his photo of Penelope Clearwater. You know," Ron grimaced, "his girlfriend. She's hidden her face under the frame because her nose has gone all blotchy..."

"Clara and I've got something to tell you," Harry began, but they were interrupted by Fred and George, who had looked in to congratulate Ron on infuriating Percy again.

They headed down to breakfast, where Mr. Weasley was reading the front page of the Daily Prophet with a furrowed brow and Mrs. Weasley was telling Hermione, Ginny, and now Clara, about a love potion she'd made as a young girl. All four of them were rather giggly.

"What were you saying?" Ron asked Harry as they sat down.

"Later," Harry muttered as Percy stormed in.

"Hey, Hermione," Clara began, "can I tell you something?"

Hermione turned to Clara. "What is it? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just-"

"Right now, everyone gather your things!" said Mr. Weasley amongst the rest of them.

Hermione gripped Clara's arm as she stood up. "What did you want to tell me?"

Clara gulped. "I'll tell you later."

Clara nor Harry had a chance to speak to Ron or Hermione in the chaos of leaving; they were too busy heaving all their trunks down the Leaky Cauldron's narrow staircase and piling them up near the door, with Odile, Hedwig, and Hermes (Percy's screech owl), perched on top in their cages. A small wickerwork basket stood beside the heap of trunks, spitting loudly.

"It's all right, Crookshanks," Hermione cooed through the wickerwork. "I'll let you out on the train."

"You won't," snapped Ron. "What about poor Scabbers, eh?"
He pointed at his chest, where a large lump indicated that Scabbers was curled up in his pocket.

Mr. Weasley, who had been outside waiting for the Ministry cars, stuck his head inside.

"They're here," he said. "Harry, come on."

Mr. Weasley marched Clara and Harry across the short stretch of pavement toward the first of two old- fashioned dark green cars, each of which was driven by a furtive-looking wizard wearing a suit of emerald velvet.

"In you get, you two," said Mr. Weasley, glancing up and down the crowded street.

Clara and Harry got into the back of the car and were shortly joined by Hermione, Ron, and, to Ron's disgust, Percy.

The journey to King's Cross was very uneventful compared with Clara and Harry's trip on the Knight Bus.
They reached King's Cross with twenty minutes to spare; the Ministry drivers found them trolleys, unloaded their trunks, touched their hats in salute to Mr. Weasley, and drove away, somehow managing to jump to the head of an unmoving line at the traffic lights.

Mr. Weasley kept close to Clara and Harry's elbow all the way into the station.

"Right then," he said, glancing around them. "Let's do this in pairs, as there are so many of us. Clara, you go through first with Harry."

Clara strolled toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pushing her trolley and apparently very interested in the InterCity 125 that had just arrived at platform nine. She knew this would look rather strange if they were to run into the wall and disappear, so she used a trick Severus had shown her. With a meaningful look at Harry, she leaned casually against the barrier.
Harry imitated her.