Just a note Hufflepuffs are great.
@weasley-adoptee You suggested a fic so tada!
Claire liked breakfast at Hogwarts. It was much better then breakfast at home, sure, Merula would always loudly proclaim how and why she thought Claire should of been sorted into Hufflepuff, the worse house in Merula's opinion, but it was overwhelming pleasant otherwise. Rowan would go on about their latest transfiguration lesson or more often, Bill Weasley her crush. Claire on the otherhand would talk about her favorite subject, charms. She liked to try to invent her own charms with the help of her friend Ben. However, lately making new charms was becoming harder as she was being distracted by the way Ben snorted when he laughed or the way his eyes sparkled when he figured something out. However, she liked breakfast at Hogwarts most because her father wasn't involved. Breakfast at home was the same every day.
"Claire," her father would start, "we were robbed! Our blood is more pure than those blood traitors! Yet-we are not on the sacred 28!" He would pause here for Claire to agree that they had been wronged then continue, "When the dark lord was in power we were respected! I do hope he returns! Once he is back we will return to our proper place! I hope you, will be old enough to join us when we wipe those filthy mudbloods off the planet." On and on he went. Claire wasn't afraid of Voldemort, no she was afraid of what he ment. If things went according to her father's plan she would be blasting Ben and his cute snort to smithereens. She didn't like that idea. She asked her mother once if she would half to join the death eaters once. Her mother had sighed and said, "we do what is expected of us." And refused to say anything more on the subject. Claire figured once she moved out she could avoid becoming a death eater by asking the Weasleys for help. Mrs Weasley seemed to have a soft spot for her. As always her thoughts drifted back to Ben. She was busy imagining their life away from her parents, a daydream that seemed to becoming more constant since their date, when Bagshot arrived.
The screech owl looked at Claire worriedly. "It's okay Bagshot," Claire said while taking the howler from her. Bagshot looked at her suspiciously gave a hoot then flew away.
With trembling fingers she opened the howler. "HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE OUR GOOD FAMILY NAME," her father's voice boomed. The other tables started to turn around this wasnt the normal "Claire how dare you almost kill yourself howler" from her mother.
"A MUGGLE BORN NO MAGICAL PARENTS AT ALL! I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU BETTER!" Her father continued it seemed he was trying to keep up some appearances, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! IF YOU EVER BRING THAT BOY HOME I WON'T HESITATE TO KICK YOU AND YOUR OWL OUT! I AM SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU! YOU'VE JEOPARDIZED YOUR FUTURE! AND HOW DO YOU THINK THIS MAKES ME AND YOUR MOTHER LOOK!? WE CAN'T EVEN CONTROL OUR OWN DAUGHTER! IF YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT CONTINUING WITH THIS YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT WILL HAPPEN! IF IT WASN'T FOR MISS SNYDE WE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW. " Her father's voice faded as the letter set itself on fire. Unbidded tears started falling from her eyes. She kept seeing her father using the cruciatus curse on the muggle boy who had wandered on to their manor grounds when she was ten. She kept seeing that image, only now he looked remarkably like Ben and the spell instead of causing massive pain sent Ben screaming till he died. What was worse Ben was calling out for her to save him, like the muggle boy, but she was to afraid to move. Suddenly she saw both the muggle boy and Ben screaming on the ground crying for help, her father laughing as he said, "I did warn you."
She didn't realize how loudly she was sobbing until, tiny Professor Flitwick had started to calm her down.
"Miss Reyes," he said, "tell me about that new charm you are inventing. What is it ment to do?"
"Its," she said between breaths "ment to-to counteract the permanent sicky charm."
She could just see her head of house Professor Snape handing Flitwick a bottle, "Miss Reyes, here drink this calming draft, theres a good girl. Now tell me how is this new charm going?"
"It's not stong enough yet. It only peels the sides," she said tears still flowing.
"Is that so?" Professor Flitwick asked.
""Y-yes," she breathed out.
Faintly she heard professor Mcgonagall and Snape yelling at Merula, for not minding her business.
Flitwick must of noticed because he said, "Focus on me Miss Reyes. Tell me more about your charm."
"The wand movement, we haven't figured it out yet. Ben-" she started crying again what would her father do to Ben?
"Miss Reyes what about the wand movement?"
"Ben said he thought we should reverse the way you move for the permanent sticky charm."
"Very clever," he continued, "Now Miss Reyes, I'm going to take you to the hospital wing."
"But class-"
"Nevermind class you're a good student one day away won't hurt you."
"Okay," she followed Flitwick out of the hall, the doors shutting loudly behind them.
"Professor Mcgonagall," Ben said breathlessly, "will Claire be alright? Do you think I can go see her later?"
Mcgonagall looked at the cowardly griffendoor boy his face full of concern, "Mr. Copper, I think she would be quite pleased to see you, after classes. Go to the kitchens first and ask the house elves to make her something first. She will need it."
Ben nodded then tore off in the direction of the door. "Severus, what do you think would of cause such a reaction?" She asked worriedly.
Snape sighed, "Minerva, I have no idea. I've heard rumors that her father was particularly unpleasant but to cause a panic attack over a howler. I can't say."
