A/N:
I'm sorry I didn't post in 2 weeks. I've had 2 very busy, very crazy weeks. My cousin moved her wedding forward by 5 weeks and she told us 3 weeks before the actual date, so I was going crazy looking for a dress and stuff for my cosplays. And last week, my grandma had a mini stroke and fell going up the stairs, so she needed stitches and she's still staying at the hospital, we don't know when she's leaving so we've all been taking turns to spend the night with her. And to be honest, I've been struggling with this story a bit. But I'm doing my best to be back because I really love you all and I'm very grateful for all your support. I hope I can get back on schedule later on, when everything goes back to normal.
If you want to see what Mariana's outfit looks like, google "China Poblana". What Mariana shouts during class is known as "Grito de Dolores". It's what Miguel Hidalgo, the man who started the independence movement, shouted before starting it. The president shouts it from the Palacio de Gobierno every September 15th. I did a very short version of it, but those three names are the most important ones from the people who fought for our freedom.
There's no actual translation for "MARÍA PURÍSIMA", it literally means "PURE MARY" but it doesn't make sense lol
Carlos V is my favorite chocolate and it's 100% Mexican. It is now owned and produced by Nestlé, but it used to be produced by a Mexican company, but it got bought by Nestlé in 1995. So, technically speaking, it's still Mexican in this story's setting lol.
Walking around the castle with Cihuacoatl was really helpful for the ghost. She was nervous to be outside Mariana's room, but she struck a friendship with Helena Ravenclaw and, weirdly enough, Moaning Myrtle. How did Cihuacoatl could stand the annoying teenaged ghost, Mariana would never know. Nor ask. Maybe they bonded over moaning and lamenting. This made Cihuacoatl slowly start learning the language - because she now had friends to talk to besides Mariana.
This, therefore, gave Mariana more time to herself in her own room. Cihuacoatl still spent time with Mariana, but it was a bit less now. And, if Mariana was honest, she actually missed the crying lady.
September came and went, and before they all could notice it, it was the middle of October. On the 15th of September, Mariana wore her best Mexican typical dress. It consisted of a white top with a squared neckline and puffed short sleeves, and colorful embroidered flowers just below the neckline. This was combined with a green skirt that reached just above her knees, and it was accompanied by a red shawl around her shoulders (She said she wore it because it went with the outfit, but it really was because it was starting to get colder). She greeted her students that day by popping sombreros on their heads as they walked inside, making the Gryffindors smile and laugh, while the Slytherins grunted and took them off.
She told them the history of Mexico's independence day, about how and why it started and how it ended. She even showed them her favorite part of the celebration.
"Okay, everyone ready?" She smiled as she held onto the bell she had just transfigured. The Gryffindors and some Slytherins were standing at their desks, smiles and giggles all around. With a wave of her wand, she set a silencing charm around the classroom just in case. She didn't want to disrupt the other classes that were in the rooms next to hers.
"Viva Hidalgo!" She said, ringing the bell.
"Viva!" The students shouted, laughing.
"Viva Morelos!"
"Viva!"
"Viva Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez!"
"Viva!"
"Viva México!"
"Viva México!" They all said with a very heavy accent and smiled and applauded, some of them throwing their sombreros to the air. Laughter could be heard all around the room from the Gryffindors, while the Slytherins were groaning and muttering to themselves.
Overall, she was liking her first month as a teacher. The ghosts seemed to have accepted the pair of Mexican women, the staff members received Mariana with open arms and helped her whenever she needed help or they just sat down to chat over a cup of tea. And the students loved her class. Mariana was the happiest she's been in a very long time. She loved her other job, it was her passion, but she never thought that she would love teaching as much as she did.
While she had an amicable relationship with her fellow teachers, there were two that didn't talk to her. She wasn't worried about Severus, if she had to be honest. He seemed to be closed off and not the talking type. He wasn't impolite, though. He just didn't talk to her, and that was fine.
But what bothered her the most was that Remus wasn't talking to her, not since the second day of class. He didn't sit with her during meals anymore, and when they went on patrol together, he didn't talk, and the air seemed awkward and tense. She tried to diffuse the tension, but he only replied with small smiles and short answers. She didn't know what she did to make him angry at her, but she just couldn't think of anything. So she let him be.
And just like that, it was October. The weather got more chilly as the days went by, making Mariana beg her mom to owl her some of her warmer tights, jumpers and jacket. She also asked Dumbledore for permission to apparate in muggle London to buy a scarf, gloves and hats. It hadn't started snowing yet, but she knew it wouldn't be long.
On the morning of the first of October, as she sat down at the Great Hall drinking her coffee, she noticed Remus hadn't come down for breakfast. It wasn't the first time the man skipped a meal, but he hadn't had dinner the night before either, and he didn't patrol with her either.
"Good morning, Mariana."
Mariana startled, her coffee spilling a bit on the table, she turned to see Minerva standing next to her.
"Minerva, hi." She breathed out.
"Would you be able to cover for professor Lupin today? He's not feeling too well and won't make it to class today. Would you mind?"
"Oh, not at all! I'd love to help. I just need the material and I'll be set." She smiled as she cleaned the table. "I have class at 10 am, though. I won't be able to cover that one."
"Don't worry about that period, someone else will cover it." Minerva smiled. "Do you know where the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom is?" Mariana nodded. "Professor Lupin left notes on every class he has today on his desk, so you won't have any trouble. Thank you, Mariana."
So, breakfast passed quietly and at 9:00 Mariana could be found at Remus's desk, reading with a quite a dumbfounded look on her face. ¿Qué chingados?... (What the fuck?…)
To Ms. Mondragon,
Thanks for covering my class. I am feeling quite indisposed today and your help is greatly appreciated. These are my notes for class. Hope you enjoy teaching the Fifth years.
Notes for Mr. Remus's class.
Be careful with the red-headed twins and enjoy class.
Sincerely,
Remus Lupin
"Que chingados…" (What the fuck…) She mumbled. What kind of notes were this? Surely Remus was jesting. But, that was the only piece of paper she could find. She looked through drawers, shelves, below the chair, but nothing. "Que chistoso Remus." (Very funny, Remus.)
"Hello there Professor!"
"MARÍA PURÍSIMA!"(SWEET MOTHER OF GOD) Mariana turned around with a jump. Her eyes landed on a pair of redheaded boys with smirks on their lips and eyes that twinkled with mischief.
Be careful with the red headed twins. Así que estos dos son los cabronazos de los que me tengo que cuidar. (So these are the two I have to be careful with.)
"Geez, professor!" One said with a light chuckle.
"You almost flew!" The other continued with a loud booming laugh.
"Shh! Quiet you two! Professor Lupin is resting and wouldn't appreciate being woken up." Mariana chastised the laughing duo.
"So terribly sorry, professor."
"We regret it deeply." They both bowed but she somehow knew they were acting it up. She decided to play along. Better to act nonchalant than make a scene. She had lowered herself enough with the pinche Malfoy.
"Good then. Go sit down, class will start in a few minutes." Saying so she turned back to the desk and pretended to take some notes. Both boys turned to sit down until she spoke up. "Ten points if you can answer this question. What topic are you covering?"
One of the redheaded smiled mischievously "Why professor? Aren't you supposed to be teaching it?"
"Minus ten points. You, the other one, answer it if you don't wish to be losing points."
"Feisty, Freddy likey."
"What was that?"
"We are studying about proper ways to defend yourself from banshees, professor"
"Good, go back to your seats."
"The points, professor?"
"Thank your brother for that. Negative and positive cancel out, don't they?" Mariana said, smirking.
"Why Fred, I think a challenger approaches."
"Sit down before I deduct more for your impertinence."
The twins looked at her with identical smirks on their faces as she smirked back at them, when they sat down on their table and the room filled with other students.
Mariana received the rest of the Fifth years and confirmed that they indeed were learning about banshees. Without actual notes or a lot of prior knowledge about the subject; because banshees are mainly in Europe and she never learned about them at school; she did the best she could when she finally found Remus' copy of the book.
After her own class - which was a couple of rooms away - and some of Remus' classes, Mariana was exhausted. She spent all day in Remus' classroom, just leaving for lunch and dinner, then going back to her own office. She was very tempted to check on him or prepare some tea for him, but she didn't think she should. Not when he wasn't talking to her.
Before going to bed, Mariana sat on her bed brushing her hair after a shower, looking up at the moon. She has always been fascinated by the moon growing up, especially the legends about it. Like, how a rabbit fell in love with it and, in his need to be with her, jumped off a cliff and got to her. To this day, you can see his silhouette in it. That myth always made her smile, especially on nights like this when the moon was full and you could see the little loving rabbit.
That next morning Mariana slept in a bit longer. She was so happy that the elves served breakfast for a couple more hours on Saturdays, so she didn't have to wake up before 9 am. As she went down the hall on her way to the Great Hall, she passed Remus' closed door. She stood in front of it for a couple of minutes, debating herself if she should check on him or not, but decided against it.
Not a lot of people were in the Great Hall, just a couple of teachers and some students. And no Remus. She walked towards the staff table at the front of the room and was about to sit on her regular seat, when she noticed Minerva was there as well.
"Good morning, Minerva."
The older woman turned away from her tea and smiled at the younger one. "Good morning, Mariana. How is morning going?"
"It's been good, thank you." Mariana smiled.
"Um, do you happen to know how Remus is feeling today? I didn't get a chance to see him yesterday." Mariana asked.
Minerva's normally serious face glowed up for a second, a smile and a mischievous gleam appearing in her eyes.
"Professor Lupin is still under the weather, sadly. He will take the weekend to rest and get better."
Mariana's face fell at that. "Oh. I hope he feels better, then. Thank you, Minerva." She smiled a small, sad smile, and went back to her seat.
"He loves chocolate." Minerva mentioned. "He always carries some with him in case he or someone else is not feeling so good." She said with a smirk.
"Oh, he does? Good to know." Mariana smiled and turned to her plate.
Remus's eyes opened and he groaned as he sat up on his bed. He turned to the clock on the wall in front of his bed, groaning again the moment he noticed the time. 5:45 pm. He slept through the day. Even with the wolfbane, his transformation still was painful. Not as much as it was before, but his body still had to get used to the effects of the potion. He groaned once more when he remembered he had so many papers to grade. And a witch to thank for covering for him, even if he didn't want to see her. He knew she didn't know about his lycanthropy, but that comment she made at the beginning of the school year really bothered him. He really liked the petite Mexican woman, but he was afraid of what her reaction would be if she found out. So he would rather not befriend her only to then lose her friendship.
He stood up and stretched his arms, walking towards the door of his room to go to his office. As he entered it and walked to his desk, he noticed a Honeydukes bag on top of all the papers on his desk.
Grabbing the bag, he took the piece of parchment out of it and there, written in beautiful cursive, was a note that made him smile.
Remus,
Heard you like chocolate, so I hope this helps. Feel better.
- Mariana.
Remus' smile became wider as he took out the contents of the bag. 5 chocolate frogs. He chuckled as he took the last product out of it.
"What is this?" He said as he turned the chocolate bar around in his hand.
On the back of it, was taped another piece of parchment.
This is my favorite chocolate from back home. Feel special, I never share this with anyone.
That touched his heart. He'd have to try this Carlos V chocolate first then, if it was from her own special stash.
"I think I have a witch to see tomorrow, then." He said to himself as he opened the wrapper and took a bite. "Oh, this is good!"