Tuesday, 14 December 1976
"Please pass your papers in before going," Binns droned.
A rustling of papers was heard as Hufflepuff and Gryffindor students passed in the essays. Lena started to panic slightly as she passed her classmates papers up. Did I write too little? Did I write too much? What if everyone wrote about the same thing and mine's the worst? What if Binns hates my essay?
"I will see you all on Friday and you'll get your papers back then," Binns called as the students flooded out the door.
Maggie linked her arm with Lena's. "Stop panicking. Your essay is at least A-worthy, if not more."
"I can't help it, though."
"Just think about something else."
"Like what?"
"I don't know…like what you're getting Remus for Christmas?"
"I don't know," Lena said as she threw her hands in the air. "Free coupons to kiss me whenever he wants."
"That's rather bold of you. And out of character."
"Yeah, I'm still workshopping ideas."
"What about a book?"
"No, I want to be original and make it special…But without making it obvious that I'm in love with him."
"I see the dilemma."
Lena sat on her bed sketching as Ava started packing the gifts and clothes she wanted to take back over break.
"You should really start packing Lena. You're always in a panic before the train leaves because you packed all your shit at three in the morning after the common room party."
Lena sighed, not taking her eyes off the portrait of Regulus and Layla that she was sketching and planned to give Regulus as a present on Thursday. "But I hate packing."
"I know, but it's something you have to do."
"Eh, whatever. So what did you get Marlene for Christmas?" Lena asked.
"I got her her favorite sweets, a few records she's been dying for, and I framed a poster from the Cauldron Coven that we went to because that's the first time we hung out," Ava said sheepishly.
"Aww, that's so cute! She'll love it!" Lena smiled, happy for her friend.
"I hope so."
"She will!" Lena insisted.
Lena had finished her drawing of Regulus and Layla and carefully placed it in her Potions textbook. Lena pulled out her trunk and frowned. She really did not want to pack. It was just a reminder that Lena was going to have to talk to her parents, specifically her mother, about her dismal History of Magic grades. Lena sighed. Time to distract herself, Lena thought.
"Aves, do you know where Maggie is?"
"I don't know. I'm not her keeper."
"You're right," Lena said, holding back a smile. "Alex is her Keeper."
Ava blankly looked at Lena, who was trying not to laugh.
"Ya get it? Because Alex plays Keeper."
"Yeah, no, I got it. How are you simultaneously both a fifteen year old girl and a fifty year old man at the same time?"
Lena wiggled her fingers. "Magic."
"Oh my God," Ava said, throwing her pillow at Lena.
"Hey," Lena happily said to Maggie as she walked in the room.
"Hey," Maggie replied, sounding rather dejected as she laid down on her bed.
Lena and Ava looked at each other and went over to Maggie. They barely fit on Maggie's bed as they sandwiched Maggie, laying on either side of her.
"You sound so sad, Maggie. What's wrong?" Ava asked.
"Umm… so Alex and I broke up," Maggie said quietly.
Ava and Lena each threw an arm around Maggie as she kept speaking.
"He was feeling the same way as I was… that we weren't happy dating each other anymore. We both decided that we shouldn't stay together," Maggie paused. "I'm not even that sad that it's over, to be honest. I'm more angry that it failed, not that I lost him. And I want to blame someone…but it's no one's fault."
"Oh, Maggie," Ava said softly, unsure of what to say or do other than stroke Maggie's hair.
"Maggie, just because things ended doesn't mean you failed," Lena said. "You still have all the great moments to look back on. And the relationship ended because you wanted to be happy. That's not failing. That's knowing yourself and looking out for yourself."
Friday, 17 December 1976
Maggie, much to Lena and Ava's delight, was much better than she was on Tuesday. She was getting used to being single again but she felt a lot happier. She had told them it felt like a weight had been lifted from her because she didn't have to pretend to be happy with Alex constantly and didn't feel guilty for leading him on in the relationship. Alex and her agreed to remain on friendly terms because they still enjoyed spending time together, just not as a couple.
The only thing Maggie was not pleased with was History of Magic and neither was Lena for that matter.
The Ravenclaws and Slytherins had History of Magic earlier in the day and most of them were moaning about how hard Binns had graded their papers.
"I'm so nervous I think I'm gonna shit my pants," Maggie said, looking at Lena with wild eyes as they walked to Binns' classroom.
"Look at my hands! They won't stop shaking!" Lena cried.
"Well, at least you two wrote your papers in advance," Raj moaned. "I didn't finish writing mine until the morning it was due. I'm definitely getting a T."
"No, you won't, Raj," Ava disagreed as they walked into the classroom. "You're a great bullshiter. We are all gonna do fine. And if we don't, it doesn't matter. No one is gonna ask when we're older how many goblin rebellions took place in the eighteenth century."
Lena sighed as she looked at her desk. Binns had already put their papers on their desks. Lena and Maggie sat down in their respective chairs. Lena slid her paper into rucksack as Maggie flipped her own over and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.
Maggie turned to Lena. "Aren't you gonna look at your grade?"
"I don't really feel like crying in public so I'm gonna look at it later."
"So you guys are coming over on Monday?" Remus asked.
"Definitely. I'm not missing out on your mum's bakestones for anything," Sirius said with his mouthful of potatoes.
"Hope's cooking is superior to all," James declared.
"Agreed. My mum can't even make scrambled eggs without burning them," Peter said.
"It's better than Walburga, at least. She's never attempted cooking a day in her life. She always makes Kreacher cook," Sirius stated.
"Did you guys hear about— Oh. Hey, Lee," Sirius said as he saw Lena Pettigrew walk behind Peter and James.
"Hey, Sirius," she said smiling.
"What brings you to the Gryffindor table? You wanted to hang out with the cool people?" Sirius asked.
Lena scoffed. "Please, if I wanted to hang out with cool people, I'd be sitting with McGonagall."
"Fair enough," Remus said. "I have no doubt that Minnie leads a secret, wild life."
Lena grinned at Remus.
"So what does bring you to our lovely table?" James repeated Sirius' question.
"Thank you's and bragging," Lena said.
"Oh?" Peter said before taking a sip of his pumpkin juice.
"I got and O on my History of Magic paper all thanks to Remus!" Lena said happily, revealing her O-marked essay.
She was offered a slew of congratulations from the Marauders.
"Lena, that's amazing, but you did all the work yourself. I just proofread it," Remus said.
"Only because you're such a great teacher," Lena insisted. "I may have to start calling you Professor Lupin."
Remus blushed. "Please don't."
"We'll see."
"I like it," Peter commented.
"Professor Remus J. Lupin does have a ring to it," James smiled.
"I kinda like Professor R. J. Lupin, though," Sirius countered.
"See what you've done," Remus said, looking at Lena.
She shot him that teasing smile that he loved so much. "Sorry, Professor Lupin."