I have returned. Also we have a final chapter count. Two more chapters to go!

September 17, 1974

"Good practice you two," said Cassie. "Slytherin won't know what hit them." She grabbed her Quidditch bag and left the changing rooms.

"Well she's not wrong that it was a good practice," said Mia. "No one got hurt while we were in the air."

"Oh, shut up," said Janet. She pressed a wet cloth to her eye gingerly. A welt had formed from where the broom had smacked her. Cassie hadn't noticed. Mia found it hilarious.

"Technically speaking, Cassie can't be held responsible. It's your own clumsiness that got you injured."

Janet glared at Mia. "I'm not injured, and I'm not clumsy. It was a one off accident."

Mia rolled her eyes. She threw her robes over her practice clothes and rested her broom over her shoulders.

"C'mon, let's go," she said. "Pandora says there's going to be pudding for dinner tonight."

Janet grabbed her bag and broom with one hand and followed Mia out into the rain. The girls picked their way to the castle as quickly as they could. The dirt patch was slick with mud and wet grass. By the time they were safely inside the Entrance Hall, they were soaked to the bone.

"C'mon," said Mia. "I know a shortcut to get us up to the tower."

Janet shrugged and followed her. Mia led them through a series of hidden staircases and corridors. When they finally reached the portrait hole, she was ready to be out of her rain soaked clothes.

October 12, 1974

"Come on, Reg," said Lily. "You have to see Honeydukes. The older students weren't exaggerating when they said the shelves are floor to ceiling. And sometimes they have free samples. Oh, and we have to make a stop at Fire Books. They have some of the coolest books. Oh! And -"

Regulus laughed. Mia couldn't remember the last time she had heard his laugh. Severus gave a small smile while Lily huffed and crossed her arms.

They were taking Regulus to Hogsmeade for his first time. Mia knew he was a little concerned about his mother finding out he went with them, but Lily had won him over. They did make a site. Two Slytherins and two Gryffindors.

"How about we just start with Honeydukes," said Regulus. "Then Mia can choose a store, then you, then Severus. Okay, Lils?"

Lily agreed, and they set off towards the pink and green storefront. Once inside, Mia watched as Regulus' eyes widened with surprise. Even Lily telling him exactly what to expect didn't prepare him.

They left almost an hour later. Each of them were carrying a small bag filled with candies. Mia had gone for her beloved Chocolate Frogs along with some Ice Mice. Lily had purchased Bertie Botts, how she could eat those Mia never knew, and two Sugar Quills. Severus was carrying a tin of Ice Mice and Cauldron Cakes. Regulus, whose sweet tooth changed from day to day, had gotten a little of everything.

"Where to next, Mia?" asked Severus. Mia grinned and took hold of Lily's arm, preventing her from going anywhere.

"Zonko's," she said and ignored Lily's groan.

"The joke shop?" Regulus asked.

"Yes," said Lily. She let herself be dragged behind Mia as they entered the red and yellow store. Once they were through the door, Mia released her best friend and instead seized Regulus. Lily and Severus, who didn't care for the shop, waited by the front window.

"Hello, Mr. Bilmes," Mia said. "Has my brother been in here today yet?"

Mr. Bilmes, a jovial old man who always had a twinkle in his eye, smiled at her. "As a matter of fact, he has," he said. "Him, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew were here this morning. Purchased some Nose-Biting Teacups and a carton of Dungbombs."

"Really?" said Mia. She turned to Regulus. "What should we buy to counter that?"

"Counter? I was thinking of a preemptive strike," he said.

"Hmm, no. Lily."

"Oh, true."

"Revenge though."

"Something where if a Dungbomb goes off, it's automatically triggered?"

Mia nodded. "Got anything with glitter in it?" she asked Mr. Bilmes.

"I'd check over there," said Mr. Bilmes. He pointed to a shelf on the right. Mia and Regulus walked over to the shelf and began to debate products. After what seemed like forever, they decided on Jogan's Fruity Glitter Fog. They didn't show Lily and Severus what they had bought.

Severus brought them to the Apothecary. Neither Regulus or Mia needed anything more than to just touch up on their potion ingredients, but both Lily and Severus spent minutes deciding on a particular ingredient. Mia endured it though. Lily and Severus didn't want to go to Zonko's, but they didn't complain, so neither would she.

Their final stop was the small bookshop Lily loved, Fire Books. All four of them were entranced by the shop. The owners, Mx. and Mrs. Gondra, collected books from all around the world. They had both magical and non-magical options which had turned into a game for Mia and Lily.

"The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien," said Lily.

"Muggle?" said Mia. "I think Dad has that book. I've never read it though."

"Yeah," said Lily. "I wonder if Tolkien had any magical sources though. It's a very fantastical book."

Mia shrugged and picked up a book that looked like it was falling apart. "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll," she read.

"Oh, that's Muggle," said Lily. "I read that when I was in grade school."

"No, it's magical," said Mia. "Lewis Carroll was a wizard in the late eighteen hundreds. He went to Hogwarts."

"Really? What house was he?"

"Ravenclaw, I think."

Lily thought for a moment, then nodded in acquiescence. "That makes sense."

December 21, 1974

Mum handed Mia a wrapped gift. Mia took it in her hands and gave it a little squeeze. The wrapping paper crinkled as her fingers sunk into the present. So it was made of fabric. A royal blue lump fell onto her lap when she opened it.

When Mia held it up to see, she saw it was a knit sweater. The bulk of it was royal blue like she first saw, but it had golden accents at the cuffs and neckline. When she put it on over her pajamas, she noticed that she was a lot warmer.

"There's a permanent warming charm on it," Dad explained. "We thought you might like something for when it gets cold up at the castle."

Mia smiled and gave both her parents a hug. "Love you," she whispered. They murmured their love back.

Mia sat down and picked up a green wrapped parcel. She handed it to her brother. She knew that if she didn't give him a present, her parents would notice. So Mia decided to give him something that could be useful, but he probably wouldn't use it. A Quidditch book.

He mumbled a thanks and handed her a similarly wrapped package. She wondered if he had the same thought process as her.

Apparently, he had the same exact thought process as her. The Quidditch book she had given him, The Seven Hundred Fouls in Quidditch and How to Avoid Them, was staring up at her.

Dad laughed. Mia gave a little chuckle. It was a little funny.

February 5, 1975

Mia let her head drop onto the book.

"I don't get it," she groaned.

"Get what?" asked Lily. She turned another page in her book.

"Why do we have to do this stupid assignment? It doesn't have any correlation to what we've been doing in Arithmancy. Wouldn't it make more sense to write an essay on the vector system?"

Lily tugged at the book Mia was using as a pillow. Mia lifted her head just enough for Lily to take the tome, before letting it thunk onto the table. She turned her head on the side so that she could stare at her best friend, without giving up her resting place.

"Lily, make it make sense," she whined.

"To be honest," said Lily, staring at the page, "I don't know how."

"Then why'd they assign it?"

"Good research practice?"

"That's shit and you know it."

"Then why do you think they assigned it?"

"Because they're daft and boring?"

"Mia!"

"What?"

Lily closed the book and glared at Mia.

"You can't just say things like that."

"I just did."

"They're a professor."

"They're also not here. So I can say what I'd like about them."

Lily sighed in exasperation. "You're going to get yourself in serious trouble one day. And it's going to be because you decided to open your mouth."

Mia sat up straight at that and shot Lily a grin. "I can open my mouth for a lot of other things."

Lily flushed a little. "Not in the library."

"So if we were somewhere else I could say that?"

"So long as there were no teachers or young children around, why not."

"I'd do it around the teachers."

"You'd get detention!"

"No, I can't. Nothing in the school rules about saying innuendos."

"You think that would stop Professor McGonagall?"

"Fair point."

Lily sighed. "Do your homework and then we can go meet up with Marlene."

"Fine," Mia groaned.

March 24, 1975

"We're going to get caught," said Regulus.

"Relax. We're not doing anything wrong," said Mia. She climbed on top of a pile of rocks and looked across the water.

"The forest border is right there," said Regulus. He pointed to an invisible line two meters from where he, Mia, and Pandora stood.

"But we haven't crossed the border," said Mia. "And since we're not going to, we can't technically get in trouble."

Regulus muttered something under his breath. Mia ignored him in favor of looking at the view her vantage point presented.

They were almost directly across from the beech tree they studied under last week. The sun was bright and shining. Mia spread her arms and let the sun shine on her face.

"Hey Mia," Regulus called a few minutes later. Mia over her shoulder at him. He and Pandora were standing at the base of the rocks. Pandora was looking at something in her hands while Regulus had his arms crossed in frustration.

"Yeah?" said Mia.

"Pandora has something she wants to show you," he said.

"They," said Pandora unexpectedly.

"What?"

"It's 'they' pronouns right now," said Pandora.

Mia blinked, then shrugged her shoulders. "Okay then."

"Pandora has something they want to show you," Regulus corrected himself. He gestured towards Pandora who held out their hands.

Inside was nestled a mini mushroom. It was an acid green color, speckled with white flecks. It almost looked like a bird's egg, kind of. Pandora had scooped up the dirt surrounding the mushroom so as not to kill the fungi.

"It's a garfola mushroom," they explained. "They're really rare, so I was excited when I saw one. I should ask Professor Sprout about them. She might know more about how to care for them."

With those words, Pandora started off towards the castle. Mia and Regulus watched them go with a confused expression on their faces.

"Are they aware that they left their school bag?" asked Mia.

"Or their shoes?" Regulus countered.

"Come on then." Mia picked up her and Pandora's school bags while Regulus grabbed his own bag and Pandora's shoes. Laughing, the two made their way after their friend up to the castle.

May 2, 1975

Lily snapped her fingers in front of Mia's face. Mia blinked and focused on the redhead.

"Sorry did you say something?" she asked.

Lily looked at her in concern. Mia realized belatedly that Lily probably would be worried by her lack of attention today. She was always distracted on May second, but this year seemed especially bad.

"I was only mentioning that you blew off Bowes earlier," Lily said. "Even though I remember you mentioning you had plans with him. What gives?"

"Just not up to it right now." Mia started to search for her place in her book, but it was torn from her hands. "Hey!"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "You've been staring off into space all day, you haven't been missing for an extended period of time, and you volunteered to help me compile a study list for exams this year. Spill."

"I don't know why I've been distant. This day is just bad every year. I don't think it's ever been this bad, but you'd have to check with my parents."

"Every year?"

"Near as I can tell." Mia moved out of the way as two first years ran past them. "Do you remember being that small?"

"Yes," said Lily. "And don't change the subject. Have you ever thought about going to therapy?"

"What's therapy?" asked Mia.

Lily gave her a horrified look. Mia was confused. Was she supposed to know what therapy was? She'd never heard of the term before.

"Therapy is where you talk to a licensed professional about your problems," said Lily. "Does the wizarding world not have that?"

"No."

"No, I don't know, mind healers?"

"Lily," said Mia, "don't be ridiculous. That's not a thing."

Lily made a strangled noise in the back of her throat, but their conversation was cut short by class starting.

June 13, 1975

Janet passed Mia a granola bar. It was sticky due to the raisins and dried raspberries in it. Mia took a bite and kept reading her paragraph. They were cramming for finals and avoiding Lily. Janet took a bite of her own bar and laid back on the stadium bleachers.

Not wanting to study by the lake where the books could get wet, the two Gryffindors had relocated themselves to a box in the Quidditch stadium. The only downside was the high altitude made Mia extra cold. Thankfully, the sweater her parents had gifted her worked like a charm.

"After we finish studying, want to go flying?" Janet asked.

"Why not," said Mia. "It'll be a good incentive for us to actually finish."

Janet pulled herself up. Pulling a piece of parchment towards herself, she began to go over their notes. Mia continued to read the textbook, jotting down things as she went along.

They continued in amiable silence for another hour. At one point, Mia and Janet traded roles. Janet read through the book while making notes. Mia combed through the previous pages of parchment, cleaning up half formed thoughts and sentences. When Janet closed the book with finality, they cleaned up the parchment and stowed everything into their school bags.

They raced each other to the broom shed. Janet touched the yellow grass a moment before Mia, but Mia was the first to open the old wooden door. They deposited their bags onto the floor and each grabbed a school broom. Not the best quality, but they didn't want to go back up to the castle to get their own.

Mia pushed off into the evening sky. As every time before, she seemed to soar away from her problems when she mounted her broom. She looped around Janet and they began to chase each other.

Only when the sun dipped below the horizon and lights in the castle windows started to appear did the girls come down. They locked up the shed, grabbed their bags, and walked up to the castle.

While curfew wasn't technically for another sixteen minutes, Mia and Janet still tried to make their way to the common room as quickly and quietly as possible. Filch and Mrs. Norris didn't care much for technicalities.

When they reached the portrait hole Mia said, "Minnie." Potter and Black had managed to change the password two days ago. Professor McGonagall hadn't found out yet.

There were still a couple of students littered around the common room. They were mostly OWL and NEWT students. Mia didn't envy their exam workload. However, that was a problem for next year.

She and Janet walked up the stairs to the fourth year dorms. There were so many students that the school had to make two dorms just for the fourth year girls. Unfortunately, she and Janet weren't in the same dorm.

"Night," said Janet. "I had fun studying."

"Me too," said Mia.

They locked eyes. Mia slowly moved closer to Janet until they were almost nose to nose.

"Can I kiss you?" Mia asked quietly. Janet gave a little nod and Mia closed the gap between them.

Her lips were slightly rough, but warm. Mia placed a hand on Janet's waist and deepened the kiss. Janet tangled her hands in Mia's hair, bringing them even closer. After a few more seconds, they broke apart and rested their foreheads together.

They were quiet for a moment before Mia remembered the time. She pulled away and smiled. "We should go to bed," she said.

"Yeah," said Janet. With one last look, the two girls entered their separate dormitories.

I totally pulled the Lewis Carroll thing from Of a Linear Circle by flamethrower over on AO3.

Also, after this is finished, I'll be going on hiatus for this story. If you want to see more of my work, go check me out on AO3!

~ Phoenix Writer ~