Remembering

Trouble

I watched in horror as McGonagall opened the door to Dumbledore's office.

Okay, I've talked to Dumbledore. Who hasn't? He regularly engages any student he comes across. I find him a very nice man.

But I was in no mood to have his x-ray gaze on me while I explained why Marlene and I were fighting.

Am I going to rat out Sirius? I wondered to myself as McGonagall pushed me into a chair in front of the headmaster's desk. I glanced at the clock on the wall: it was almost four in the morning. I'd had next to no sleep. I was going to be exhausted.

These thoughts vanished from my mind as Dumbledore emerged from a corner and took a seat at his desk. His blue eyes were still bright and cheery, even though we were being reprimanded for fighting.

"Hello, Miss Evans, Miss McKinnon," Dumbledore said happily, plucking a lemon drop from a glass bowl in front of him. "How may I help you?"

"Uh..." I said. Did he not know why we were here?

"Albus, these students have been fighting," McGonagall said promptly from her place in the shadows by the door.

Dumbledore's face fell. I immediately felt extreme remorse. I was so mean, to have made this sweet old man be so sad.

"Ah," he said gravely. "So sad to see good friends fighting over silly things such as this. It breaks my heart, knowing your friendship has been broken."

I frowned. "Professor, I don't think I said what we were fighting about --"

"Young ladies such as yourselves should value friendship much more than boyfriends," Dumbledore said sadly.

"Sorry," I muttered sullenly.

Dumbledore nodded. "Miss McKinnon, you are eager to place the blame. Would you like to speak?"

I looked at tight-lipped Marlene, then stared at Dumbledore. How did he know what she was thinking?

Marlene glared at her knees. "I just think that this is Lily's fault, because she lied to me," she said stiffly.

"I did not lie to you --" I began heatedly.

"Patience, Miss Evans," Dumbledore said softly. I bowed my head.

"Why do you think it is Lily's fault, Miss McKinnon?" Dumbledore asked Marlene kindly.

Marlene snorted. "She said that Sirius has been cheating on me with Mary MacDonald, a girl I know she hates, and --"

"Were you lying, Miss Evans?" Dumbledore interrupted, turning his piercing gaze on me.

I held eye contact with him. "No."

Dumbledore looked me over once more, then said, "Miss McKinnon, perhaps you should talk to Mr. Black, instead of fighting against Miss Evans over this matter. After all, dark times lay ahead, and we do need our friends."

Marlene nodded sullenly. "Yes, Professor."

"Miss McKinnon, you may go," Dumbledore said, waving a wrinkled hand.

Marlene stood up and walked for the door. She paused for a moment, her hand on the knob.

"Professor, will I be punished for this?" she asked, not turning around.

"I do not know what Professor McGonagall wishes for you," Dumbledore answered, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Thank you, Professor," she said quietly. Then she opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her. Professor McGonagall shifted slightly.