Lady Stardust

19. Cigarettes in the Morning

Hey! Before I start with this new chapter I wanted to give a small shoutout to one of my favorite readers, ElisaBC011610. It's always so much fun to read the comments you leave. Thanks!

March 11th

Ariene woke up, fully clothed, in Remus's bed. He had covered her with a red and gold knit blanket, and he was gone. Ariene got up and looked around. There were still loads of small presents and cards all over Remus's trunk and the floor surrounding it. Peter and James were asleep and Sirius's bed was untouched. Remus had probably left to look for him. She had slept surprisingly well, which was strange considering how much of a mess last night was. She picked up a pack of cigarettes and walked out of the dorm. She walked all the way out of the common room, glancing at Sirius, who was asleep on the couch with Mary sprawled on his chest. Ariene walked out of the castle and breathed in the spring air. The sun was rising, and morning dew was sprinkled all over the grass, the snow now nicely melted. Ariene put a cigarette between her lips and snapped her fingers, lighting it. She walked, her doc martens getting little droplets of water on them from the wet grass. Ariene had done a lap around the castle when McGonagall came out of the castle, fully clothed as well.

"Ariene!" She said, surprised to see Ariene kicking a chestnut across the cobblestone path leading up the castle.

"Good morning, Professor," Ariene said, hiding the new cigarette she had lit behind her back.

"What are you doing out of bed at this hour?" McGonagall looked her up and down. "And why are you dressed?"

"I don't care to walk around the castle naked, Professor," Ariene said. McGonagall pursed her lips.

"Care to join me for some tea?" McGonagall asked. Ariene frowned for a minute, before relaxing and shrugging.

"Why not,"

"Put that cigarette out, and then follow me."

***

Ariene and McGonagall walked back inside the castle, all the way back to the common room. McGonagall tutted when she saw Sirius and Mary on the couch, but turned and headed for her office, Ariene followed, hands in her pockets. McGonagall sat at her desk, and Ariene sat across from her. McGonagall waved her hand, and two cups and saucers were set down in front of them before a kettle poured Earl Gray into their cups.

"Sugar?" McGonagall asked. Ariene shook her head. "Milk?" McGonagall asked. Ariene shook her head again, and McGonagall made a small smile. "That's how I take my tea as well," She said. Ariene smiled back.

"I don't really like sweet things," She said. McGonagall frowned and pursed her lips.
"The chocolates?" She asked. Ariene reached into her pockets and pulled out five little wrapped chocolates.

"They were for Remus," Ariene said, leaving them on the table. "You can have them, if you'd like,"

"Thank you," McGonagall said. "Ariene, do you know why I called you here?" Ariene shook her head. "How are you doing in your classes?" McGonagall asked. Ariene sighed. Ah.

"I'm not doing so great right now, but I think I'll catch up on my work soon enough," She said. McGonagall raised her teacup to her lips and took a long sip.

"You are an incredibly talented student, Ariene. You are incredibly proficient at wandless magic to the point where you treat your wand like a burden, you are exceptional at transfiguration and charms, and you always get your flawless assignments in on time. At least, you used to." McGonagall said. Ariene swallowed.

"Well, thank you. And I'm just a little distracted right now, Professor, but I will try my best to get this work done soon," Ariene said.

"You have also stopped helping Remus at his study group, I've heard. The younger kids are quite fond of you, and they miss you there, as well as some older students that want to learn wandless magic,"