selenophile || remus lupin

chapter seventy eight

17 May 1977

9:23 am

Ophelia and Remus had been working together, as they agreed, on the former's eating habits. They had made some good progress. Of course, it wasn't going to be completely fixed after a month, but they were definitely making their way there.

Ophelia could tell the difference, she was now able to eat half portions at meals. At breakfast that day, she ate a piece of toast and a bit of fruit, which she wouldn't have been able to eat without throwing up just a few weeks prior.

It was just an average school day for the marauders and maraudettes, and the first class of the day was charms with the Hufflepuffs.

As usual, James and Sirius were not paying attention in the slightest bit. James was levitating students' books into the air while Sirius had his arms flung out across the table as he tried not to fall asleep. Ophelia sat next to Remus while they were both paying attention to Professor Flitwick who was explaining patronus charms.

"It's a very difficult spell, but I have hope that all of you will get it! The most difficult part about this charm is that to make it work, you have to think of a happy memory powerful enough to warrant the patronus. So take some time to think of your happiest memory and then say the incantation that we've already practiced, which I'm sure Mr. Potter would be happy to do for us since he clearly already knows how to do it because he's not paying attention."

"Right away professor," James said, ending his levitation charm in midair and making two large textbooks fall on top of each other on a Hufflepuff girl's desk, making her jump slightly. "Expecto Patronum!" A silver stag leaped out of his wand and started prancing around the room. Professor Flitwick looked slightly awestruck as he watched the deer.

"And I'm sure that Mr. Black would be able to do that as well since he is also not paying attention," said the professor.

"You think so lowly of us, professor. Expecto Patronum!" A large dog appeared from the tip of Sirius' wand, quickly running to the stag and playing with it as all of the students watched above them.

"Alright, you two, ten points to Gryffindor. Now split up into pairs of someone with the other house and practice what I told you to."

Remus gave Ophelia a look that he was upset they wouldn't be together to which she laughed and walked over to Maisie.

"Hey Phee! Want to be partners?" she asked.

"That's exactly why I walked over here," Ophelia said. "I've already got the patronus charm down, me and Sirius used to practice back in fourth year, but I can help you!"

"Wow, that's really impressive! Fourth years doing the patronus charm! What animal is yours?"

"Check it out, Expecto Patronum!" A crow flew out from the tip of her wand and started soaring across the room.

"Woah. I love patronuses, they're all so pretty!"

"Now your turn," Ophelia said.

"Expecto Patronum!" Maisie said. A small streak of light appeared from her wand, but nothing more. "Expecto Patronum!" she said again, with the same result. "What am I doing wrong?"

"If you don't mind telling me, and I completely understand if it's too personal, what was the memory that you used?"

"Oh, I don't mind. It was my first night at the castle. Mulciber had been making fun of me for being put in Hufflepuff house. That was the night I learned about the house's stereotypes. Anyway, I went down to our common room crying and a bunch of older Hufflepuffs all comforted me and told me that they were just stereotypes. They made me feel wanted and like I was a part of something."