Chapter Text
Clarke tensed as she woke-up on the Sunday and her mind reverted back to her previous dream she had been having, if you could call it that, more like a nightmare.
She lifted a hand to wipe at the sweat on her brow and let out a low growl. She hadn't woken up naturally and the slamming of the dormitory door had her sitting up instantly in her bed.
Clarke blinked her eyes into focus to find Octavia, half dressed, watching her curiously.
"Who left?" She grumbled as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.
Octavia sighed and stood from the bed as she pulled on a jumped, "Raven."
Clarke rolled her eyes. The two friends hadn't made up at dinner after their argument and it had forced the others to sit there in awkward silence as they pointedly avoided one another. Clearly they were still arguing.
"Are you going to tell me why you're mad at her or why she's mad at you?"
Clarke shook her head. The fight from the previous night was still clear in her mind and she understood Raven's fear but after spending the day with Ontari her fears only created a burn of anger in Clarke.
Octavia gave her a pointed look and Clarke sighed as she stood from the bed, "Look we said some things okay… we got into an argument about Ontari."
The younger Blake sighed in exasperation and dropped onto Clarke's bed as the blonde moved around to dress, "You guys can't let this affect us… It's Lexa's decision."
"Then maybe Raven should stop suggesting that we turn Ontari over because she's too dangerous," Clarke growled and pulled a clean shirt off from the heater, "Lexa is doing what she thinks is best."
Octavia bit her lip, "I'm sure she is but maybe Raven has a point…"
"You're agreeing with her?!"
Octavia raised her hands up in defence, "Hey I'm sorry but I didn't witness this argument okay? Don't have a go at me. I agree that nobody can know about Ontari but Raven is right. Whether she killed anyone or not in the past is irrelevant if her head is messed up."
Clarke glared at her as she pulled on her shoes furiously, "So you have been talking about her?"
"We discussed it," She admitted.
The blonde scoffed as she grabbed the nearest jacket she could find and moved to the door. Octavia followed closely behind, "Anything else you want to tell me?"
"Besides the fact that you're clearly in a foul mood today?" She flinched at the look Clarke gave her, "I agree with you Clarke, I do, and I promised Lexa I wouldn't say anything but you can't expect us to just ignore this. Lexa can't guarantee that Ontari won't do something serious if she feels threatened."
Clarke came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs with a sigh and ran a hand through her hair, "No you're right but separating them won't do any good either. Ontari really loves Lexa… Being around her makes her better. What I saw yesterday was so different than what we all saw. She was… sweet."
"Sweet?" Octavia raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"Okay more childish… innocent. She just wants to be with Lexa, her English isn't great but she's clearly still very smart. Beat me at chess," She shrugged.
Octavia whistled, "Impressive… Think she'll play me?"
"Maybe."
They shared a smile and Octavia let out a sigh, "Look I just want you and raven to talk again, I hate it when friend's fight, and I don't want to be forced to choose between you two. Raven's stressed, so are you and that's not good on anyone. You both have a point in what you're trying to say. At the end of the day raven may have said it wrong but it came from a good place."
Clarke nodded slowly. She didn't like arguing with Raven and could count one hand the times they'd been this angry with each other, "I'm sorry O. I promise that I'll talk to her."
"That's all I ask," Octavia grinned.
The two of them pushed open their door and made their way down to the common room. To their surprise they were met with a busy room full of people that were usually still in bed or down at breakfast by now.
Clarke spotted Bellamy and Raven huddled together. She elbowed octavia and they approached the two by the window. Raven looked up at their approach and offered Clarke a cautious smile. The blonde happily returned it and a look of relief washed over the girl's face.
"What's going on?" Octavia asked before either of them could talk about their fight.
Bellamy let out a frustrated sigh, "Not sure. All the prefect's are offering is that they've been told to keep us here until further notice." He said something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like 'fucking prefects'.
Raven snorted in amusement as Clarke grinned and Octavia rolled her eyes, "Remind me again why you weren't made one?"
Bellamy scoffed and flipped her off, "I could be one if I wanted to be one… Like you'll get picked anyway O. You break the rules more than anyone."
"I wouldn't want to be one anyway," The younger Blake laughed, "Too much responsibility."
"Maybe McGonogall will make you one in an attempt to straighten you out," Raven laughed.
"She can try," Clarke grinned at her friend and was about to add more when the sound of the portrait opening drew everyone's attention. McGonogall made her way to the steps leading up to the rooms and stood looking over the large throng of students in front of her.
Silence fell over the room and Clarke shared a confused look with the others.
"I appreciate that it as been an inconvenience for some of you to be kept in here on your Sunday when you would rather be off doing… Other things," She eyed the crowd and lingered on Octavia, "However in the early hours of this morning there was an attack that took place in Hosmeade village," sounds of shock flickered through the crowd.
"Nobody was seriously injured," She reassured, "And the creature that did it has yet to be confirmed but for your own protection, until they are found, we recommend you stay within the grounds and only leave for classes taking place outside from this point on."
People began to murmur amongst themselves as the noise picked up and McGonogall attempted to gain everyone's attention again, "That does mean a curfew will be placed upon you and severe punishment will be dealt to anyone caught breaking that. Including leaving the grounds without express permission."
"What about Quidditch?" Bellamy piped up followed by noises of agreement.
The head of house rolled her eyes, "Of course that would be your priority Mr. Blake. I am afraid that until further notice Quidditch has been put on hold."
Ignoring the cries of protest she raised her chin and swept from the room. Instantly people began to file out for a much needed breakfast and the few that stayed talked in hushed whispers about the news of the attack.
"Well," Bellamy grumbled as he stood up and stretched, "I hope they catch what did it soon. We can't afford to miss a match this season."
With that he said his goodbyes and made his way over to his friends waiting for him by the portrait hole. Clarke bit her lip nervously and shared a look with Raven as Octavia continued to splutter her protest, "They can't cancel Quidditch?!"
"Not really a priority O," Raven rolled her eyes but then met Clarke's eye, "I don't want to fight again Clarke but-"
"No," Clarke shook her head, "We're thinking the same thing."
Octavia seemed to have finally caught up with their trial of thought and er eyes widened, "You don't think-?" She looked around and dropped her voice to a hushed whsiper, "Ontari?"
Raven shrugged, "You know any other creature likely of attacking people in Hogsmeade?"
Clarke didn't want to start doubting the girl now but it seemed only too convenient and she had done it before after all. Not waiting to respond Clarke stood from the chair and followed the crowd making their way down to the great hall. She ignored the sounds of annoyance as she pushed past people and hurried down to the table where she knew Lincoln and Lexa would be waiting. Only Lexa wasn't there.
Lincoln looked up at her approach and his eyes widened, "Clarke…" He began but she cut him off as Clarke dropped down to his level and narrowed her eyes.
"Lexa's gone to see her hasn't she?"
"Clarke," Lincoln eyed the two behind her, "yes but it might not be Ontari."
Clarke ran a hand through her hand in disbelief, "You let her go alone?" She hissed.
Lincoln sighed, "Clarke she didn't give me much choice. The moment we left the common room she made me promise to stay…"
Clarke didn't wait to hear anymore as she pushed up from the table and turned back the way she came. Ignoring her friend's calls behind her she ran through the still growing huddle of students and made her way to the main doors.
She is surprised to find them open and doesn't think twice before ducking outside into the crisp morning air. Ignoring the calls from her friends to come back Clarke sped down towards the whomping willow.
Clarke didn't know whether she was running to stop Lexa or to help but there was a simmering anger just below the surface spurring her on. Her building doubts over Ontari brought on by fear were suddenly crashing down on her. She wouldn't knowingly hurt Lexa but Clarke had seen first hand in that memory that Ontari wasn't completely in control. There was no telling what she would do if she had lost it.
She didn't necessarily know what she expected to find upon arriving at the shrieking shack but slamming the door open only to find Lexa pining down a bloody and thrashing Ontari was not it.
Lexa looked up briefly at her arrival and gasped out, "Help me hold her down!"
Clarke stood panicked for a moment. Ontari was covered in blood… Had she attacked again?
"Clarke!"
She was jolted out of her thoughts by Lexa's cry followed by a scream from the girl beneath her. Ignoring her questions she jumped beside her girlfriend and grasped Ontari's flailing limbs that Lexa was struggling to hold down.
The door burst open again and Clarke looked up to see Raven and Octavia gaping in disbelief.
"Is that blood?"
"Not now," Lexa growled, "Help us and I'll explain."
Clarke didn't know how Lexa was planning on explaining this but was grateful when Octavia and Raven moved forward to help hold down a leg each. It gave Lexa the room to grasp her sister's face between her hands and force the girl to look at her.
She started mumbling words of comfort and Clarke realised they were speaking Trigedasleng to each other. Ontario nodded shakily and immediately stopped resisting. Instead her body started shaking as tears streamed down her face and Lexa pulled away. She shot Clarke and the others a look forcing them to let go of Ontari. The moment she was free the older girl darted forward into Lexa's open arms.
The room was quiet aside from Ontari's sobs and the sounds of everyone catching their breath. Lexa was rubbing the girl's back soothingly and occasionally kissed her hair.
It was Raven that spoke first with a shaky voice, "That's her blood…"
Clarke registered her friend's shocked look and narrowed her eyes to scan Ontari's bloody body. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, she realised the blood was in fact coming from several deep gashes spread out across Ontari's back. One or two twisted out of sight and Clarke could only assume they carried on round the front of her torso.
"Lexa?" She asked quietly.
Her girlfriend met her panicked gaze and Clarke noted the fear staring back at her. Lexa pulled away slightly and gently laid Ontari down on the bed so they could see her front. That too was covered in blood.
"I've seen wounds like these before…" Lexa said as she wiped her own eyes and took a shaky breath, "In the muggle village near my home."
Clarke's mind went back to Lexa retelling of the horrific attack, "Werewolf."
Lexa nodded and stood up from the bed. She walked over to the sink and collected some water in an empty cup. Clarke looked around and tore a rag from the abandoned sheet from the ground. She handed it to Lexa when the brunette returned to the bed and watched as she gently began dabbing at the wounds littering Ontari.
"There's a werewolf loose in Hogsmeade?" Raven breathed, her eyes wide as she watched Lexa work.
Octavia shook her head, "N-No. No way… There's got to be another explanation."
"There isn't." Lexa frowned as Ontari whimpered when she brushed over one of the deeper gashes on her stomach.
Clarke's eyes scanned her. The blood was clearing and she couldn't help but look for bite marks, "She wasn't bitten?"
"She got lucky," Lexa whispered bitterly. Clarke placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and ran her thumb soothingly trying to help calm her. The brunette sent her a thankful look and Clarke leant forward to help her clean the remainder of the blood away.
Octavia scoffed, "We're calling this lucky? We have to tell someone!"
"No!"
Surprisingly it was Raven who was the first to cry her outrage. Her eyes widened as if she couldn't quite believe she'd said it then met their looks of disbelief, "What? It's not going to change anything now. They already know there's been an attack… Telling them would just let them know where Ontari is and… Well, I thought we were avoiding that?"
Clarke's eyes were still fixed on Raven and she nodded her thanks. Raven merely shrugged but Octavia let out a long sigh, "Okay so what are we going to do? With Fudge in control nobody is going to admit it's a werewolf are they?"
Lexa picked up the bloodied rag and water. She let out a noise of disgust and took it over to the sink. Clarke looked back to Ontari and noticed Lexa had covered the two gashes that were still bleeding sluggishly… They would stop eventually but Ontari would be in discomfort for a while.
Ontari had stopped panicking now and was instead watching Clarke with watery grey eyes. The blonde smiled softly and stretched out a hand slowly unsure as to how the other girl would react. Instead of flinching Ontari reached out and grasped Clarke's hand in her own. She met Clarke's smile with one of her own then closed her eyes.
Clarke looked up to see Lexa watching her softly.
Octavia coughed awkwardly, "Okay momentary panic over? No I don't think so because here's still a werewolf out there!"
"O there's nothing we can do," Raven shook her head, "Fudge may be denying it but the other teachers and Dumbledore aren't that stupid… Dumbledore's in charge of the order. He'll be the first one clearing this whole mess up whilst being completely aware of what's going on."
"So we do nothing?"
"I hate to break it to you but that's all we can do," Clarke furrowed her brow.
Lexa nodded and climbed back on the bed where she shifted a hand gently through Ontari's tangled hair, "We have to trust they know what's going on."
"We have other priorities."
Everyone looked at Raven as though she had grown two heads. She stared at them all and raised an eyebrow in amusement, "The exams? Next week? Start Monday?… As in tomorrow? Anyone?"
Octavia gasped and covered her mouth with her hand as she groaned, "Oh crap…"
"You forgot?"
"Define forget."
Lexa and Clarke laughed as Raven shot her a reproachful look. Octavia ducked the pillow she threw at her head then pointed at her dramatically, "You said Echo would be back in time for the exams!"
"Yes and she will," She shot Lexa and Clarke apologetic looks, "With the argument I forgot to tell you but I received a letter yesterday… She's due back today."
"Today?" Lexa's eyes widened comically as she stood from the bed, "We should probably head back before we get caught for leaving the grounds… and I'd hate to see you two separated for a moment longer."
That earn her a pillow to the face.
After a sleepy goodbye from Ontari Lexa followed them back to the castle. Clarke pulled her girlfriend in for a hug and kissed the top of her head.
"I don't want to sound like I don't trust Ontari but-"
"You cam because you thought it was her," Lexa shrugged off Clarke's guilty look, "Honestly I thought so too… It sounded so familiar that I panicked but when I arrived I could see instantly that she'd been attacked… It must have been in her animagus form because when I found her she was struggling to return to her human form… I thought for a moment she wouldn't be able to."
"Still I'm sorry," Clarke clutched her hands tightly in her own as they climbed up from the tunnel and made their way across the lawn towards the castle, "She'll be okay right? I don't know much about werewolf attacks but she wasn't bitten so there won't be any lasting effects?"
Lexa shrugged, "I honestly don't know… I'm just glad she wasn't bitten. I don't think she could have handled that as well."
"Do me a favour?" Clarke whispered into her girlfriend's ear.
Lexa blushed and glanced up at her sheepishly, "Please don't scare me like that again… I know she's your sister but for all I knew you were running directly into a werewolf attack."
The brunette nodded and kissed her gently in an attempt to soothe her, "How did you know where I'd gone?"
"Lincoln confirmed it but I had a hunch where you were going anyway…"
"How?"
Clarke smiled softly and pulled her in for a gentle hug, "Because you're you and you care and love more than you'd like to admit." She kissed her neck gently and smiled into the soft skin when Lexa pulled her closer, "I love you Lex."
"I love you too," Lexa mumbled into her hair as she took reassurance from Clarke's embrace.
Their moment was cut short by the sound of an excited squeal. The two broke away and grinned as Raven embraced a figure in the archway of the open door to the castle.
"Echo!"