Upon entering the common room, Celeste found that most of the students had either left for a late lunch, gone to the library, or thrown their ink bottles against the wall and disappeared to their dormitories to rest their weary minds. Celeste stepped carefully over the broken glass and paused a moment to give advice to a frustrated second year who was playing wizard chess against his older brother. The younger brother won, thanks to Celeste, who was too busy staring at a pair of socks lying under an armchair to hear his appreciation.

Spotting the socks had just reminded Celeste that her feet were cold, she had been so caught up in the chess game she had forgotten. Crossing the common room, Celeste reached under the chair and pulled out the socks. The smell that emanated from them was so bad; she stuffed the back under the chair and went up to her dormitory to find clean ones. It wasn't until she was rummaging through her trunk that she realized the smelly socks were hers and had probably been under the chair for weeks.

No wonder they stank, she thought as she slipped on a pair of Lily's socks she had borrowed at Christmas and had not bothered to return.

Down in the common room again, Celeste stretched out on a couch and propped a textbook against her knees. She dug in her bag a moment and came out with a quill and a fresh piece of parchment. For about half a minute she considered starting on her Potions essay, but when her quill had finished scratching a few moments later, she had written this:

Dear Dad,

Only a few weeks left until I see you again and we head off to France!

I know you said we could visit Paris again, but I was hoping we could visit Luxembourg one day also, just for the day, you know how much I love it there.

Anyway, here at Hogwarts the O.W.L. exams will start soon. I feel certain I will do well, although I'm not looking forward to my Potions exam. At least next year I won't have to take that miserable subject.

Send Odette back with a letter full of news, I miss you and will have lots to tell you when I see you.

Love from your daughter, Celestina

Celeste set the letter aside, she would send it on her way to dinner. Looking at the book she had used as a desk, she saw it was her Arithmancy book. Ignoring the fact that she was an excellent Arithmancy student and would do better to study her Potions book instead, Celeste cracked open the book and began to read, occasionally taking notes or working difficult problems out on a scrap of parchment.

After about two hours of Arithmancy and an occasional doze, Celeste put her things back in her dormitory and left for the Owlry. Once inside Celeste looked up in the rafters for the owl her father had bought her for her thirteenth birthday.

"Odette," she called softly. "Odette"

The large tawny owl soared down to the window ledge, clipping her wing on Celeste's shoulder in greeting. Celeste tied her letter to the owl's leg and wished her a pleasant journey. She watched Odette's progress a few moments, and then made her way to the Great Hall. Still in her socks, Celeste walked over to the Gryffindor table. Her friends had already returned and, much to her dismay, the only seat close to them was beside James and across from Sirius. Celeste sat down with a sudden foreboding that the evening would not be nearly as enjoyable as the morning.

-

During the meal, Celeste's friends talked happily about their trip to Hogsmeade, most of them did anyway. Lupin gazed thoughtfully at Celeste from his seat beside Sirius, and Sirius kept his eyes on his plate. Celeste glanced over at him occasionally and, knowing that she had caused his distress, did not enjoy her meal in the least. It was a relief when desert was eaten and she could leave the Great Hall with everyone else.

As Celeste joined the throng of students climbing the marble staircase to the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw common rooms, she was surprised to find James by her side.

"Celeste," he said, looking behind them to where Sirius was walking with Remus and Lily, "Listen, I don't blame you for breaking up with Sirius, we all know he'll get over it eventually, but right now its still hard. So I think it would be best if you didn't try to console him or anything, just let him work things out on his own, all right?"

Celeste knew that James understood Sirius better than anyone and she agreed to take his advice. James turned back to walk with Lily and Celeste was left to walk alone. Not for long, however.

"Miss Potak, a moment please."

Celeste turned to face her mother. "Yes, Professor?"

"Miss Potak, you will be serving detention with me this evening in my office at nine o'clock," Minerva McGonagall informed her.

Celeste was shocked and bewildered. As far as she knew she had done absolutely nothing to earn a detention, and said so, noticing Sirius glance at her briefly as he passed.

"Exactly," said her mother in an undertone. "You've done absolutely nothing on your Potions essay, and if it takes a detention to get you to study for your Potions exam, so be it!"

Minerva turned on her heel and marched away, leaving her daughter, among other things, embarrassed. A Gryffindor prefect serving two detentions in one week? Passing students were shocked. Celeste was furious, but had to admit it was her fault. She hated Potions with a passion, but ignoring the work obviously wasn't an option, especially if your mother was one of your teachers.