Another story anniversary has come and gone. After six years of writing The Laughing Slytherin I've surpassed 500,000 words and 165 chapters. The fact that I've gotten to this point while I've only just finished up the day of the Second Task is... jarring and intimidating, not gonna lie. As for posting records on FFN, I'm at 580 reviews and nearly 1,400 subscribers; which is awesome and heartening that so many people have shown interest in this story over these past three years. Some of you on both sites have even influenced me these past weeks into adding new scenes and chapters to the Summer of '94 and Year Six segments, so thanks to those people for their insight!
A somewhat fun fact, today's chapter, the final chapter of Year Five, was written about this time one year ago. Fun as that fact is, it highlights to me the lengths at which it takes me to write chapters, which brings me to an-
~IMPORTANT MESSAGE!~
I will be taking a hiatus for the next few months in order to finish up writing Year Six. I will post the "Summer of '94" chapters from September to October 31st. If I finish writing Year Six by then, I will start posting those chapters in November. If not, I will restart the hiatus until January/February 2025.
I realize that this is going to be a long wait, so I thank you all for your patience and understanding while I get this monster of a year completed.
One morning in May, an owl delivered to Melissa an envelope from Edward Tonks. She opened the letter with mild curiosity, and was only partially surprised by the decorative card that fell out from Tonks and Remus.
Remus Lupin and Dora Lupin (née Tonks) are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Hope Star Lupin born May 14th, 1994 at 3:45am at St. Mungo's Hospital. Proud Grandparents Lyall Lupin and Edward and Andromeda Tonks (née Black).
A letter from Ted accompanied it.
Teddy hasn't been born yet. Do you know when that will be? Will that name remain?
Dora and the baby are doing well. Hope isn't showing signs of her father's condition, thank Circe, but she has much of her mother's. Andromeda and I are helping them adjust to raising a metamorphmagus baby. You're welcome to visit on June 23rd. Dora will be staying the night.
Regards,
Ted
"Well, that's interesting," she murmured. Her fingers stroked over her own owl, who had stuck around to steal some of her breakfast. A baby girl. Well, Ted's questions could potentially be answered; but a quick response of the unknown will be the best course of action, she decided.
The world keeps changing. Only, in this timeline, it will hopefully end with more life than loss.
Even with the time-turner, O.W.L prep was a nightmare. Melissa's study plan was partially hindered by her friends' study schedules and group quizzes. It was well meaning, and quite helpful; but it meant often she wasn't able to sneak off and study ahead. Nevertheless, she felt decently assured of her Charms, Transfiguration, and DADA marks by the end of the first week.
"That exam was exhausting!" Sierra complained. "Who wants to translate a boring old treaty from Futhark to English?"
"History buffs?" Melissa teased.
"Ugh! It's so dumb! Why can't we just use ancient runes like Rachel's dad does?"
"Pretty sure that'll be part of our practical exam today."
"Circe, I hope so! Otherwise I'll get a D for sure!"
Melissa got several cut-eyes as she got dressed that Saturday.
"You are not going to Hogsmeade today!"
"Relax, we've already done the worst of the exams," she stressed. "We can use a break."
"We have our potions exam on Monday!" Jacqueline exclaimed. "Don't give me that look, I know Professor Snape wants you in his NEWT course!"
Rusalka looked surprised by this. "Does he actually?"
Melissa winced. "...It's complicated."
"All the more reason to not go," Jacqueline said. "You don't have any exams on Tuesday. Use that for your break."
Melissa squinted in confusion. "Are you saying I shouldn't use Tuesday to study for my last exams? Who are you and what have you done to Jacqueline Pierce?"
Jacqueline rolled her eyes with a slight huff of a laugh. "You already seem content to fail Astronomy and History, and Divination will be easy for you. All you have to worry about is Arithmancy. So I figure you won't be so concerned with last-minute cramming."
"...Damn. That is a good point." She eyed the door, ready to make a break for it.
"Melissa," Rusalka purred, "if you take one step towards that door, Jackie and I will hex your legs together and force you through flash cards without a single meal or bathroom break."
If this were an anime, she'd have a giant sweat drop right about now. "That is… a very good threat," the words came with large, slow nods. Rusalka flashed a dangerous grin, daring her to run and see how serious she was being. "...Okay. Staying at school today."
"That's better!"
A very stressful weekend passed, followed by a further stressing Monday. Melissa honestly wasn't sure how she'd done. She'll get an EE, at least. But an O? That was uncertain. Still, her dorm-mates were no longer hexing her into submission, so she was finally free to relax for a day. Sadly, the only one of her friends that didn't have exams today are Eloise and Rachel; but trying to convince Ravenclaws to not study during O.W.L week is straight-up impossible. As such, she was walking by herself among the children that had finished their exams last week.
Technically it was against the "rules" for her to be out alone. Though, honestly, with the showing her group put in the Defence Contest (plus some interesting rumours since Christmas Break), most of the bigots have learned to school their animosity towards her. Hell, the Slytherins have been practically respectful towards her! That's been a nice change. That, and this is the final week of MacNair and Rowle's yearmates being at Hogwarts. One week left before they can escape the eyes of the angel-blessed devil-girl. So, no, she had no fear of walking the school grounds.
But enough of that serious stuff!
"Morning, Dean! Weasley, Finnegan." She nodded to the three boys in passing. Dean gave a nice hello back, yet the other two muttered their answers. Melissa gave Ron a tilted look as she noticed his sullen face and the way he had a stick digging in the dirt. "Rough exams, eh?"
Ron's expression didn't change. "I guess," he muttered.
She felt an odd curiosity about the boy. "Did you see something disturbing in your divination exam?"
He hummed a negative. "It was all just fog. I'm rubbish at crystal balls. Rubbish at everything, 'parently."
Well this is getting depressing. She looked at Dean for clues. Knowingly, he put his hands together in the shape of a heart, then broke it in half. Her lips parted in a closed-teeth cringe. Ye-ouch! "You and Lavender had a fight?"
Ron gave a single, down-trodden nod.
"Those are painful. But, you know, with a bit of soul-searching I'm sure you two can find a middle ground for whatever you're fighting about. Love isn't easy, kid. It takes a lot of communication and compromise to make them work; but- I bet you two can do it."
His expression got darker. "She left me for Zabini."
"Oh." She blinked, pausing awkwardly over her faux-pas. She again looked to Dean for help. He shook his head in warning. 'Don't try, it'll only make it worse.' "I'm sorry to hear that. I- uh- hope your summer is better."
She retreated moments later, relieved to escape the awkward exchange. Poor kid. Still, he probably will have a good summer. At least with the World Cup being around the corner.
Huh. Oh right.
With everything that's gone on, she hasn't had much time to think about the events of The Goblet of Fire, has she? At least, not beyond what's already been done. Still, ideas for the summer and upcoming school year percolated in her mind. Half-thought, swaying to tangents, and ultimately fading from focus to the sound of song.
"I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way"
Melissa turned to the sound.
"Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's gonna be a bright (bright),
Bright (bright) sunshiny day!"
Her feet moved towards the singer, who was sitting among friends and sunbathing by the lake.
"It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day!"
The singer was a pre-teen. He was wearing muggle clothes, so she couldn't identify his house. The same could be said for his friends. Though, realistically, her guesses were pretty narrow when she spotted Annabel Entwhistle sitting beside him. He caught her gaze, and she gave him a warm smile. The boy grinned in return, keeping eye contact as he shouted the next verse.
"Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone.
All of the bad feelings have disappeared."
She got the hint, and walked fully over to them.
"Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright-"
"Bright!" She sang.
"Bright-" "Bright-" "-sunshiny day!" They sang.
At that, the others in the group noticed her approach. A pair of them flinched, so she opted to circle around them and stand beside Annabel. "And what a bright day it is!" She said in lieu of a greeting. Then with a wink, she added, "Makes for a perfect song choice."
"Definitely!" The boy cheered. He gave an appreciative, albeit quizzical look up and down. "Gotta say, I'm surprised you know it. You don't look the type to have seen Cool Runnings."
Cool Runnings? Is that movie out now? "I haven't, but that song's a classic."
"No it isn't," the boy scrunched his face. "Jimmy Cliff made that album only a little while ago."
A thought of, 'I am too white to be the one correcting him', passed quickly before she retorted, "And Johnny Nash made that a hit in the 70s."
His expression was mixed between doubt and embarrassment. "You sure about that?"
"It's a well known song," she said, trying to sound apologetic in the process. "Your parents probably have some of his albums if you want to double check? Most parents get excited when their kids show an interest in their music tastes. Melissa Bennett, by the way."
He shook her offered hand. "I'm Ben. Ben McEwen." His tone shifted in a way to move on from the previous embarrassment. "So- you listen to a lot of reggae, then?"
Melissa shrugged. "I listen to a bit of everything. Music's a big part of my life. Though I've missed out on a lot for the past couple of years, being in the magical world and all that."
The wizard-born kids kindly did not add any details to that statement.
"I know what you mean. Been missing out on loads of tracks this year. My mates at home say this school's making me a caveman."
"Did you tell them we don't have a computer lab?" She teased.
"Yeah, but that's not much different from their school," Ben answered. "No music and movies, on the other hand, that's a shock!"
One of the other boys retorted with, "We've got music!"
"Nothing I can talk about, though," Ben scoffed
"Actually," Melissa interrupted, "the Weird Sisters have broken into the muggle scene. So we've got that going for us."
"...Huh." Ben considered that new information. "Don't think my mates have mentioned them, but I'll bring it up, see what they say." He sat back in thought. "Would be nice to not have to catch up a lot. Bad enough having to lie about life without explaining to some bird at a dance party why I don't know any new dances."
"Too true," she nodded sagely. To be fair, she's never been to a teen dance party. Not in this life, that is. Still, she can understand the frustration. Dance parties are loads of fun, but even better when you can join in on the choreographed songs.
Huh.
Conversation moved on as a thought occurred to her. The preteens barely noticed her lack of engagement until her voice whispered, "That will be hilarious," to herself.
"Hmm?" Annabel was the only one to notice. "What will?"
"Something in the future," she answered casually. That got a few of the others' attention. Conversations broke away into inquiries in her direction. After enough build up of excitement, she spoke. "Can you all do me a favour?" At their many nods, she continued. "This summer, I'd like you, and all the muggle-raised Hogwarts kids you know, to go out to dance parties. Find out what's popular right now. The songs, the dances, everything! In September we'll meet up at the Music Club and go over what you've learned. Does that work with all of you?"
"Sure!"
"That'll be fun!" Annabel added. Then she gasped, "Are we gonna use it for VATIC?!"
"You'll see," she said with a wink. "I'll explain everything next school year."
Melissa entered the room of her divination exam with an air of solemn confidence. She greeted the exam proctor, a small and ancient-looking witch, and offered a small bow. "Good afternoon, Professor Marchbanks."
"Good afternoon," the woman spoke, her voice was croaked with age. Still, there was a sharpness to her eyes as she regarded Melissa. "You are the young seer, correct?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"May I see your wand?"
Briefly, Melissa wondered if she should feel alarmed by the request. That said, she's proficient with wandless magic, not to mention this witch is ancient, so Melissa obliged and handed over her wand.
The witch hummed with interest. "Silver lime, if I'm not mistaken." Melissa nodded in the affirmative. "Yes, good. That certainly puts credence to the rumours. This exam ought to be interesting."
A sceptic. Joy. Her expression gave away nothing as she accepted her wand back. The first task was to see into a crystal ball. For this, she knew what to 'see' as she stared into the fog.
"I see a shamrock," she began. "Um, wait, it's going away." She tilted her head in curiosity. "Now there are people running through trees."
"Trees?" Marchbanks parroted sceptically.
"They're tall and thin enough to run by. Seems like trees to me." She continued to stare into the fog, letting herself cloud-watch at a lumpy oval near the top. "Hmph. There's a big skull from above. The people are disappearing, or running from it."
"Running from death, perhaps?"
"...No." Her expression pondered over it. "It- this is going to sound weird, but the skull doesn't feel symbolic. Like, it looks like they're literally running from a giant skull in the sky."
She looked up at Marchbanks with a questioning expression. Marchbanks, in turn, had a glint of knowing disturbance in her eyes. The look gave Melissa a heap of hidden satisfaction. "Are you sure this is the future you're seeing?"
"Well, it has to be, right?" Melissa said. "It's not like crystal balls can show anything else, right?"
"...I suppose not."
"Still, what was that shamrock about?" Melissa muttered to herself. "It was definitely connected."
She let the thought drift off. Then, in an attempt to hide her disturbance, Marchbanks moved on with the exam. First to tea leaves, then to palmistry. For these, Melissa didn't have to bother with falsely (accurate) predictions. Instead, all that was required was to read the signs as learned from the textbook. It's funny, if she hadn't been forced to cram three years worth of divination in a year, she might have gotten a simple pass from lack of effort. Instead, Melissa looked at the tea leaves, at the many lines of the witch's hand, and genuinely understood the symbols laid out before her! Professor Marchbanks was even nodding along as Melissa read her palm! It was wild to imagine it, but Melissa knew without a doubt that this exam will be an undisputed O.
Her birthday was the next day, the day of their final exams. As such, she kindly declined a birthday celebration in lieu of celebrating the end of the O.W.L.s. The fifth year students congregated at a Weasley-hosted party room for the night. The attendees were a mix of energetic partiers and relieved loungers. Melissa was of the latter group, creating an approximation of a bean-bag chair and happily collapsing onto it.
"Finally! I can relax and-OOF!"
A body had collapsed onto hers! "BEAN-BAG PARTY!"
"Corin," she groaned, "you're killing me, here!"
"I want a bean-bag chair!" He whined. "Trade you for a butterbeer?"
"Butterbeer's free, my dude," she said with pained annoyance. "I'll make you a chair, but you gotta get off of me!"
"I will!" The proclamation was acted on by Corin- tiredly- rolling off of her and onto the floor.
With a snicker, she pulled out her wand again and made another bean-bag chair. "There you go. Free chair for free butterbeer."
A pause answered her. Followed by a moan. "I'm too tired to get up!"
She laughed again, more so as Juliet McCormack shouted, "IT'S MINE THEN," as she launched past him and landed on the puffy chair.
"NOOOOO!" Corin moaned pitifully. "I need it!"
"Too late," Juliet laid back with a sigh, "this feels amazing!"
"That's not fair! Mel, tell her to leave."
"I can just make another one," she pointed out. "It'll cost you, though."
A loud groan answered her.
At that moment, Cedric walked up behind them. "I can help with that." He reached down, scooping Juliet up by her armpits, causing the girl to kick in the air and squeal Cedric's name in protest as he lifted her clean off the ground. Cedric laughed as he spun her around, stopping only to sit in a regular chair, keeping Juliet in his lap. "Here we are! Is this comfortable for you?"
"I-" Juliet blushed scarlet as Cedric wrapped his arms around her. She swallowed hard and squeaked, "This is fine!"
Cedric pulled her in closer, grinning as she squirmed to get comfortable and nestle under his chin. Meanwhile, Corin found the energy to get up off the floor, shouting, "THANK YOU," as he seal-flopped onto the bean-bag chair.
Happy sighs filled their corner of the party. They watched as others danced around or played games. Then, after enough silence, Cedric spoke, "Are any of you going to the World Cup?"
"Yeah, got my seats a while back," Corin answered.
"I'm seeing a few of the games," Juliet added. "So I'll be in and out for the full two weeks."
"Nice!" Melissa nodded. She twisted up to look at the pair. "Hey, McCormack, if I figure out who the finalists are, you wanna make some bets and split the profits?"
The Hufflepuffs looked at her like she'd just thrown a pie at orphans. Corin, at least, had a voice to respond. "You want to run a divination scam at the games?"
"It's not a scam," she said haughtily. "It's making a wise investment based on likely outcomes."
"It's cheating," Cedric accused.
"We're witches. We use magic. Hell, I used it for the Defence Contest and you never called that cheating! Besides, if our powers were such a problem, there'd be laws against it."
"...There probably are laws against seers getting involved in gambling."
"...All the more reason why it's better for McCormack to make bets on my behalf."
Juliet, herself, looked incredulous. "Wouldn't I get in trouble, too?"
"Only if we get caught," she smirked. "But you can always throw me under the bus and say that I made you, or just say that the money is a gift from Kirley. You know, since I helped make him famous and all that. I'm sure a gift of thanks would be understandable, don't you think?"
They stared at her in judgement. Then Corin spoke in a deadpan, "Sometimes I forget that you're a Slytherin."
"Trust me," Cedric added, "it happens more often than you'd think."
So much more, Melissa thought with a mischievous smile.
A cunning witch and so much more, I'm a Slytherin to the core!
Note: Well, that's a wrap for Year Five! Hope to see you all in September when I post the Summer of '94!