S E P T E M B E R 1 9 7 6
.・。.・゜✭・.・✧・゜・。.
THINGS HAD SEEMED TO GO BACK TO NORMAL by the next morning. Marlene and Sirius seemed to part ways as if their friendship had only ever existed on the Hogwarts Express. Everything was back in order and life seemed to make sense again, as if the train ride had only been an unpleasant dream. The only minor difference in her routine was that Fabian wished Clara a good morning as the twins made their way into the Great Hall for breakfast.
After sharing several classes with Prewett boys over the years, she'd never really made any effort to befriend either of them. She only knew about Fabian's crush because he had shamelessly asked James to put in a good word for him after a game four years prior. After that, she decided she definitely wanted to keep both twins at arm's length, never speaking to either of them more than she absolutely had to during classes – which admittedly more than Clara deemed necessary.
It's not that she found them unattractive necessarily. They were both really quite good looking boys; tall and muscular, thanks to years of playing as Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. With full heads of thick auburn hair and dimples adorning their cheeks, it was no shock that several girls had crushes on them throughout the years. But Clara felt as though she and Fabian simply had nothing in common. The train ride the day prior was proof of that as he had focused solely on discussing Quidditch strategies and techniques with his teammates while she struggled to stay awake.
Quickly deciding to put those thoughts out of her mind for now, Clara poured all of her attention into the latest edition of The Daily Prophet. The newspaper was splayed out on the table before her during breakfast, as it usually was. After forming somewhat of a terrible habit, she found herself reading the paper every single morning without fail. Morbid as it was, she scoured the pages in search of news about more muggle murders the seemed to be occurring with more frequency. And as anxious as the news always made her, being uninformed made her feel even worse.
Completely focused on reading the article in front of her, she mindlessly poked a fork onto her plate, blindly stabbing at a strawberry before placing it into her mouth. Consumed by the words on the page, she hadn't noticed the roar of laughter coming from her brother and his friends just a little ways down the table. Unbeknownst to her, a diabolical plan had been hatched on the train the day prior. Masterminded of course by none other than Sirius Black.
Suddenly, a shiny pair of black shoes found themselves in front of Clara's plate. Quite a curious site indeed to see the strawberry stained porcelain flanked by the freshly polished footwear. But when she looked up, horror set in as she locked eyes with Sirius Black.
In front of the entire school, the boy stood atop the Gryffindor table with his hands casually placed in his pockets and his grey eyes shining like silver stars. Possibly the most mischievous grin she'd ever seen in her life was planted on his face which only served as a warning, letting her know that she was in for something that would truly make her want to sink through the floor and disappear forever.
"What are you-?"
But before Clara could finish her question, the boy broke his eye contact with her. She watched, mouth agape, as he pulled his hands away from his pockets and loudly cleared his throat. Looking out into the large crowd of Hogwarts students in the Great Hall, the audience he had clearly been seeking finally gave him their undivided attention.
A pink blush was growing on Clara's cheeks, she had no idea what he was about to do, but she knew it couldn't be good. Maybe he'd pour a bowl of scrambled eggs over her head. Maybe he'd tell everyone about that time he caught her writing love notes to that one Ravenclaw boy in her third year. Maybe she should have formed an escape plan, like sliding beneath the table make a break for it when he wasn't looking. But she sat frozen, petrified by her impending embarrassment.
With a devilish grin, he held his arms open wide in a grandiose gesture towards his captive audience who had all paused eating their bacon and eggs to watch the scene play out.
"Attention everyone! I am here to declare my love in front of all of Hogwarts! I am not ashamed to say that I am completely head over heels for Clara Anne Potter!"
Clara felt her heart sink to her feet as the words left his lips. The absolute last thing she wanted was for the entire school to think she had anything going on with Sirius Black. She could hear the rumours now...
'Clara and Sirius?'
'Isn't he her brother's best friend?'
'Talk about crossing a line.'
'Doesn't Sirius get around? I didn't think Clara was that kind of girl.'
'It's always the quiet girls.'
'I'll bet you seven Sickles he dumps her before next week. She's such a bore.'
"Get down." Clara seethed at him through gritted teeth.
"I'm not getting down until you tell me you love me too!" Sirius looked down at the girl with a wink, keeping his voice loud enough for the onlookers to hear him.
"I thought I wasn't your type, Sirius." she said in a challenging tone.
"What, brunette?" he chuckled.
She scoffed at the boy, "No, pure-blood."
"I'm always willing to make an exception for you, my love. Who cares that we're probably third cousins twice removed?" he said with a wink, clearly not backing down any time soon.
Her cheeks were burning red and her heart was racing as she quickly realised the entire school was staring at them. The tight feeling in her chest made her want to die on the spot. Maybe she would if she was lucky. At least it would end her suffering. But her anxiety was second only to her fury at the boy. How dare he put her in such an embarrassing situation?
"I will never love you, Sirius Black." she replied in a raised voice, making sure everyone could hear her rejection.
If he was going to embarrass her, she was going to serve it right back. Clara was not one to back down from a fight. Even if the burning shade of crimson on her cheeks somewhat weakened her tough demeanour.
"You don't love me, you say? Is it because you're in love with one Fabian Prewett?" Sirius shouted, gesturing one hand out towards where the twins were seated at the other end of the Gryffindor table while the other clutched dramatically to his chest, "If ginger is your type I'll dye my hair. I'll do anything for you, my sweet little dove."
Clara heard a few snickers from nearby students, but she was too afraid to look at anyone but the boy standing over her plate. She especially didn't want to make eye contact with Fabian. It was all too much, she couldn't take the embarrassment any longer. Hiding her face in her hands to hide the blush on her face that was burning her cheeks, she contemplated for a split second the idea of sweeping an arm against Sirius's feet to make him fall on his arse right into the bowl of porridge.
But instead, she just gathered the newspaper under her arm and stormed out of the Great Hall, quickly moving past all the curious eyes of the other students and the sounds of her brother and the remaining Marauders laughing boisterously as she left. Professor McGonagall however, wasted no time in coming up to Sirius mere moments after Clara's abrupt departure.
Sternly, but with a hint of amusement in her voice that only Sirius could detect, she scolded the eldest Marauder.
"Get down from there, Mr. Black."
Without objection the boy leapt from the table landing right in front of the Deputy Headmistress herself, the wide mischievous grin still prominent on his face. Sirius had been through it all before. He knew a detention or loss of house points was imminent, but boy was it worth it to see the look on Clara's face.
"If you would like to stand on tables, Mr. Black, perhaps you would be interested in helping Mr. Filch polish them after dinner this evening in detention? And I believe 5 points from Gryffindor will suffice." she peered over her glasses at the boy before a smirk threatened to form on her thin lips, "Perhaps I would have taken more away, but Ms. Potter's reaction may be punishment enough for your outburst."
"She'll come around, Minnie. I'll be sure to invite you to the wedding."
This comment earned even more laughter from his friends, but Professor McGonagall merely straightened her stature to return to her usual authoritative state, "Yes well, I'm positive it will be quite the bash. You will have plenty of time to plan the ceremony in detention this evening."