Flower Crowns For The Broken

ma chérie

October 19th, 1976

-Celia-

The Hufflepuff never did get a chance to check on Remus as the boy had raced out of the room the second class ended. She had kept an eye out for him, even asking the boys if they knew of their friend's whereabouts but it did not seem the lengthy Gryffindor wanted to be found.

Celia had fallen asleep that night, staring out at the full moon, thoughts of the sick boy swarming her mind.

She woke up Saturday morning still feeling a bit worried about the brown-eyed boy. Her nerves certainly were not settled upon realizing the said boy was not in attendance at the breakfast table.

"Jamie?"

James looked over at the girl before grabbing the bowl of mixed berries that sat in front of Peter, taking a scoop and placing it on her plate, assuming that was what she was asking for as she had not yet put them on her waffles, as she does every morning.

Celia gave the boy next to her a soft smile, appreciating the reminder that the people in her life care to know things about her, "Thank you Jamie but that wasn't what I was going to say."

The messy-haired boy turned, giving the girl to his left his full attention, "Oh, I'm sorry Vee. What were you going to ask me?"

"It is okay, I just wanted to ask you where Remus is?" Celia said gently, feeling a bit bad that James felt like he had to apologize to her.

James let his eyes dart to his mates that had heard the girl's question, not sure if he should say their comrade was currently laying in a hospital bed. Madam Pomfrey hadn't let the three marauders stay with him, insisting that if they would leave and let her work their sometimes furry friend would be able to rest in the comfort of their dorm instead of the sterile scented hospital wing before lunchtime.

"Moony is catching up on sleep back in our dorm, been a bit tired lately. Why? Are you worried about him Puffball?" Sirius replied smoothly, a teasing grin playing at his lips.

The girl blushed slightly, "Of course, he was sick yesterday and I didn't see him after charms, I've been quite worried that he is still feeling under the weather."

Her answer gained her a collection of soft smiles from the seven Gryffindors that sat around her.

"He's alright Vee, just sleeping. He might not be up by lunchtime but he'll definitely be here for dinner if you want to check up on him before you sit with the snakes," James said gently.

"I'm sure he'd appreciate it," Lily added in causing Sirius to glance at the girl curiously before shaking it off.

Celia smiled, "You think so? Well, I'll stop by at the beginning of dinner if I do not see him before then."

The rest of breakfast was spent aimlessly chatting about nothing of importance, though that didn't stop the feeling of pure bliss Celia felt as she ate her waffles. She was always happy around her friends.

In her eyes, they could do no wrong. They were perfect to her. Sure, she wasn't blind to their faults but to her, that just made each of them all the more amazing.

She glanced over the faces of the people she held close to her heart and couldn't help but feel a wave of admiration flow through her. She then looked over to the three Slytherins that sat across the hall, arguing about something she was certain they'd forget about in two minutes.

These were her people and what wonderful people they are.

Celia let her eyes fall to the empty seat beside Peter.