WC: 960
The next two months went by rather slowly. The fifth years had career advice about a week after the Quidditch final. After that they began studying for O. . Marnie couldn't wait for school to be over.
It was finally the end of the school year, the group was boarding the train to go home. Marnie and Atticus did their rounds.
"Jacobs, can I talk to you?"
She turned to see Cedric. "Sure."
"I know who spread the rumour about you."
"Who was it?"
"Ward."
Marnie said. "I shouldn't be so surprised. I saw her snogging Lee after the Quidditch final in April."
"They were snogging? I don't think anyone would willingly snog her."
"It looked like Lee was enjoying it."
Cedric shrugged. "I'm sure it work out the way you want it to, Jacobs."
"I suppose you can call me Marnie, but I won't hesitate to take away that privilege if you betray me."
"Most of us Hufflepuffs are loyal."
Marnie nodded. She walked back to her compartment.
"What did Diggory want?"
Marnie said. "He told me that Ward spread the rumour about me."
"It makes sense, I mean she knew if you were mad at Lee she could weasel her way into his life."
"She's never liked me but the fact that we fancy the same guy, doesn't help matters." Marnie said.
Before anyone could respond the sweet trolley pulled up to their compartment. They bought their respective favourite sweets. Marnie was rather fond of chocolate cauldrons, Jaq liked Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Atticus liked licorice wands and Clara liked Droobles Best Chewing Gum.
Around 6pm, they reached King's Cross. Marnie met up with her sisters and searched for their parents.
"Daddy!" Marley yelled running to greet their dad.
Martin hugged his youngest daughter. Then moved on to his oldest. Marnie from a distance could see Dana hanging all over Lee. Her heart broke.
"So, how was the rest of your term?" Martin asked his oldest.
Marnie turned towards her dad. "It was good, I think I did well on my O. . I need at least an 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions."
Martin nodded but glanced at his wife sensing there was something wrong with their daughter. They apparated back to their house.
"Marnie, why don't you help me set the table for dinner?" Martin asked his daughter.
"Sure dad."
"Just put your stuff in your room." he instructed.
Marnie nodded. She rolled her trunk up to her room, rested it on her bed and walked back downstairs.
"So, is there something wrong?"
Martin was definitely a Hufflepuff but sometimes he had the bluntness of a Gryffindor.
Marnie sighed. "I told Lee about the fact the I'm related to Lockhart."
"How did it go?"
"He said he would keep the secret but by the beginning of the next week it was already spread throughout the school. I basically accused him of spreading the rumour and slapped him."
Martin nodded.
"I was convinced to talk to him by his housemate Angelina Johnson. I was going to talk to him after Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup but I saw him snogging a red haired girl."
"Is it the same redhaired girl that hanging all over at him and sitting on his lap during the Gryffindor victory party?" Madison asked walking in.
"Yes, her name is Dana Ward. She's a fifth year Hufflepuff, she's usually my partner in Potions since we're two of the top students."
Madison nodded. "It was rather gross, she was hanging over him not letting him do anything. I finally had to leave since it made me sick."
"Would you have felt the same if you knew I fancied Lee?"
"Probably but if I knew. I probably would've hexed her."
"Trust me I've wanted to do the same, especially because she's the one who spread the 'rumor' that I'm unfortunately related to Gilderoy Lockhart." Marnie laughed.
"Who gave you that news?"
"Cedric Diggory."
Martin chuckled. "Funny you should mention him, I dated his mother for about six months in our fifth year."
"You did?"
"Yes."
It was time for dinner now. The family ate and chatted. After dinner, Marnie went up to her room and began unpacking. She was halfway through unpacking she was getting tired. She grabbed her pajamas and changed and crawled into bed. Nixie curled up on her bed and fell asleep. Marnie did the same.
It was now a few weeks later, Marnie was sitting at the table waiting for breakfast. Suddenly, an owl flew in. She knew it was her O.W.L results. She nervously took the envelope from the owl.
"Let's open them together."
She turned to see Atticus who was holding an identical envelope.
"1"
"2"
"3"
They opened their results.
"An 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions, Charms and Muggle Studies, Astronomy and Defense. An 'Acceptable' in Herbology, Transfiguration and History of Magic." Marnie read off her results.
"I got an 'Outstanding' in Runes and Charms. An 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions, Herbology and Defense. An 'Acceptable' in Astronomy, Transfiguration and History of Magic."
"So, we did okay."
"Yeah, I was worried that I wouldn't pass Potions."
"You inherited my penchant for potions, it's not surprising." Martin smiled proudly.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to deal with the greasy git that is Snape as your Professor." Madison said.
"He doesn't like you either?" Marnie asked.
Madison shook her head. "He's biased against Gryffindor. So, we tend to lose at least 100 points each lesson. Though, the trio have it worse and so does Neville."
"Okay."
"You want to stay for breakfast?" Martin asked his oldest daughter's best friend.
"Don't mind if I do, Martin," Atticus said taking a seat next to Marnie.
She looked suspiciously at her best friend. "I think you planned this, didn't you?"
Atticus smirked.
