Things settled down after the observation of Day of the Dead. Students and staff were looking forward to Thanksgiving break to where they could go home to their families. Emily, Renee, Julia, Lily, Henry and Irene were being picked up at the train station in Boston by Henry's mother, Heather and taken to her home in California as Mr. Murphy decided to have Thanksgiving there this year with Heather and Michael's permission. Victor thought it would be beneficial to the children to have Thanksgiving at different homes every now and then.
However, in the meantime before it was time to leave for Thanksgiving break, they had classes. Lily even though she was enjoying all her classes, thought maybe that she was taking too many. She was started to feel the strain of keeping up with her homework and Quidditch practice. Thankfully, practice was just down to one a week, rather than the two.
About a week before Thanksgiving break, Lily went to Mrs. Cutters office to talk to her about her choices. Lily knocked on the door and was bid to enter by Mrs. Cutter.
Mrs. Cutter looked up from her paperwork that and saw that Lily entered. She knew that it was something serious if Lily was coming to talk to her. Lily usually didn't need to talk to her unlike some other girls in the dorm. Mrs. Cutter said, "What can I do for you, Ms. Potter?"
Lily closed the office door and said, "I think I may have taken on too many classes."
Mrs. Cutter leaned back in her chair, and said, "Have a seat and we will talk to about why you think you feel this way."
While Lily was sitting down and arranging herself in the chair, Mrs. Cutter pulled out Lily's file from her filing cabinet. Each student file was updated each month with notes from their teachers. Each filing cabinet was linked magically. Each teacher was able to pull open their filing cabinet and pull out the students file that were in their classes and add notes.
Lily waited until Mrs. Cutter looked through the most recent notes. Mrs. Cutter said, "Your grades are still above average, and your still turning in homework on time. However, your alchemy and ancient runes teachers have noted that the homework has seemed rushed in the last month. They have also noted that you don't seem into the classes liked you used to be. I can understand the reason why the homework might have been rushed this last month. You had a lot going on. Now walk me through your thoughts on what you feel."
Lily proceeded to talk with Mrs. Cutter on how she was feeling. Mrs. Cutter listened to what Lily was saying. Mrs. Cutter asked some clarification questions and offered pointers on how Lily could not feel overwhelmed without it affecting her schedule.
Thirty minutes later, Mrs. Cutter said, "Here's what I think we need to do. Thanksgiving break is next week. Use that time to think over what we have discussed today. When you return, we will sit down and talk again. You won't be able to drop any classes until after the end of the semester. I would like to continue meeting with you throughout the weeks leading up to Christmas. At our last meeting before Christmas break, you still feel overwhelmed, we will discuss what your options are then."
Lily said, "Thank you for listening, Mrs. Cutter."
Back in her room, Lily looked at her schedule, and the study schedule she made for herself. As she was thinking about how she might tweak the schedule, Lily's thoughts wondered to the weekend after the Day of the Dead when Yolanda's ghost came to their room to talk to Audrey.
Lily and Audrey were sitting in the commons area of their room when Yolanda floated into the room. They had been discussing the year so far and what their plans were for Thanksgiving. Audrey had told Lily that her family didn't really celebrate Thanksgiving. They were more into the shopping afterwards for the deals they could get.
Lily said, "I'll be in my room. You two enjoy your chat."
Yolanda said, "Lily, please stay. Audrey will probably need you."
Lily looked to Audrey, who nodded her head. Lily moved to be seated close to Audrey. Lily herself had questions for Yolanda, but didn't want to impose on her time with her sister.
Yolanda said, "I have been watching you, Audrey. I am pleased that you are doing so well in your classes and have so many friends."
Audrey blushed. As they sat and chatted, Audrey asking pertinent questions every now and then. Yolanda smiled at her sister. Yolanda knew she was avoiding a certain question that she knew her parents were dying to know. Why did she take her own life?
Yolanda said, "I must be going. I can't be away from the castle too long."
Audrey frowned.
Yolanda said, "Just remember the good times, Audrey that we have had together."
Audrey nodded, but ran to her room and shut the door. Yolanda turned to Lily and said, "Thanks for being here for her and being such a good mentor."
Lily said, "She's a wonderful person. But I must know something. Why?"
Yolanda sighed. It had to be Lily to ask that question. At least she asked after Audrey went into her room. Yolanda said, "I couldn't face him. I was ashamed that I didn't get help for how he was abusing me. I knew his defense attorney was going to lay into me about it. I just wanted it to be over. Seeing the mind healer wasn't really helping, and I didn't want to fess up that I was having nightmares about the trial. I do regret it now. Its one of the reasons why I am a ghost. To watch my relatives suffer at my choices, and that I will not get to see what is beyond."
Lily wished she could hug Yolanda.
The next week, saw the students back in Boston and being picked up for Thanksgiving break. Lily waved by to her friends. Julia, Renee, Irene, and Lily walked over to where Henry was standing with Heather. They were about to leave when Lily was approached by Deidra.
Deidra said, "Lily, could you come over to our house and visit this break?"
Lily looked to Heather.
Heather said, "We shall see what Allen says. He is your guardian while you are here, but I do not see a problem."
Deidra smiled. Lily knew she hadn't really been to either Deidra or Brandy's house yet and it was something to wanted to rectify.