Early December
Dear Cerisa,
I hope you're doing well and I sincerely hope you aren't doing anything wrong.
I write now to ask you to write to Julien. I'm sure you've heard of the attack just yesterday on that muggleborn. Well, Jules was there at the time and is quick shook. Please write to him.
Also, Grandmere is coming for Christmas and since you are a disgrace in her eyes, you'll be staying at Hogwarts.
Loving you always,
Your mother
I folded the letter and sighed, throwing it into the fireplace of the Gryffindor common room. I was all alone, as nearly everyone went to Hogsmeade. All except for Remus, who sat on the floor, reading the new edition of the Dail Prophet.
Aside from the one mentioned in the letter, there had been another attack, making that one more of many people think are going to come. People are dying because of You-Know-Who and I felt as though I was helpless in doing anything.
Except, of course, I wouldn't be if I became an Auror. Ever since the career meeting, I have been thinking and the more I thought, I more I decided becoming an Auror was surely the best way I could help defend people and defeat You-Know-Who's followers: the Death Eaters.
Making a decision, I said a quick goodbye to Remus before rushing off to the library, where Tobias 'Tobster' Knowl would be. To be an auror, you needed to be good at DADA and the last time I excelled, Tobster was helping me. I knew that if he helped me again, then I might have a chance to become an auror and finally help to end the violence.
When I arrived, Tobster sat where he usually sat, scribbling something in his notebook. I slipped into the chair across from him and rested my elbows on the table and my chin in my hands.
"What?" Tobster asked tersely.
"I want to be an Auror," I said.
"Great," he replied flatly, not even looking at me. "Find a teacher."
"I need to get better at DADA and I need your help in doing so," I explained.
"I tutored you for free before," Tobster told me."I won't do so again."
I pressed my lips together. "Fine. What do you want?"
"I'm a half-blood and so I wasn't taught muggle culture or history," he told me. "I want four books on muggle cluture for me to teach you and tutor you. I want them by tomorrow and we'll start the day after."
I nodded eagerly, knowing Remus and Lily would have some books. "You got it, Tobster. Thanks!"
000000000000
February, 1976
Once I got the books and once I told McGonnagal my desire, I began my tutoring sessions with Tobster and when I wasn't with him, Remus would help me by telling me about different books. Also, to distract Lydia from her misery, she would help me study and she would ask me random questions about DADA at random times to see if I knew them.
But then Christmas break rolled by and everyone left. Marlene almost stayed behind with me but I insisted she went. But even though I was alone, that doesn't mean I wasn't busy. When the new year rolled by, I studied harder and I even got Molly Prewett—and sometimes her boyfriend, Arthur Weasley— to help out when she came back from Christmas break early.
So when Christmas break ended and my friends returned, I impressed them all by knowing the answers to all Lydia's random questions. It was a fantastic feeling but not everything was fantastic.
For one, I got more letters from Mother. She told me that Jules was becoming more distant and she was practically begging me to write to him—apparently she thought he and I were especially close. But I wrote to him anyway and my letter just came back.
Another thing that sucked, which I hated that it bothered me, was Sirius and his different girlfriend every other week. I ignored him, obviously, because it wasn't my business. But it was harder than I care to admit to anyone. Marlene obviously teased me and even Remus sometimes looked at me funny. I hated it.
But worst of all was Lydia and Peter and their broken relationship. It had gotten so bad that Lydia wouldn't even get out of bed. Marlene got so annoyed she screamed at her and Lydia cried and cried until Lily calmed her down. But I agreed with Marlene to a point. It was getting out of hand and I wasn't the only one who thought so.
Therefore, I met up with Remus and then all of us—except Lydia and Peter—got together.
"What should we do?" James asked, playing with his wand as he lay on the couch.
"Anything to make them happy," Marlene said from the floor where she sat in front of the couch. "I want my head ache to go away."
"Be nice," Lily said. "You would be the same way."
Marlene chuckled. "No, I wouldn't."
"Yeah 'cause you're missing a soul," Sirius replied with a grin.
Marlene stuck her tongue out at him and that's when Remus spoke up. "It's getting out of hand, so if anyone has any ideas..."
"Shouldn't you boys have ideas?" Lily asked, "I mean, you do all those pranks."
Remus sighed. "Peter came up with the ideas."
"Not all of them," James protested.
"Fine, all the good ones," Remus corrected, causing me to smile.
We were all silent for a moment, all trying to rack our brain for ideas. That's when Sirius lifted up a finger, a grin springing on his face. I got excited and when he wouldn't say anything, I stomped my foot in frustration.
"What is it, Black?"
Sirius's smile widened even more, which I didn't think was possible. "I've got an idea..."
