Jinxes and curses

Chapter 15; The third end of summer

Lily's POV

Dear Remus,

How has your holiday been? I hope you've hadn't had such a bad time last night. If I can do anything at all, let me know, okay?

Attached is some chocolate. It's the best. Try it, I think you'll like it. Perhaps it could make you feel a little better?

I have asked my parents, and if you'd like, you'd be welcome to stay for a bit here. Only if you are okay with that, of course.

Speaking of school, have you done the charm's homework yet?

Love,
Lily.

•••

Sweet Remus,

I hope you're doing okay. We're in Norway, and it's not so bad. A little, cold, yes, but I've been enjoying it. Petunia is getting on my nerves though.

She calls me a freak all the time. Not really now. At home she's worse, because she's not alone.

I would love to read about your holiday. Where have you been? What have you done?

Please respond,

Love,
Lily.

•••

Hello Remus,

Please let me hear from you. I miss you.

Love,
Lily

•••

He hasn't responded yet. First of September is approaching. As much as I love my home and family; I'm also longing for my friends back at Hogwarts. Especially since Remus still hasn't responded. I've checked the mail everyday, and no owls have come either.

•••

Hey, Lils,

I know this may be a tad late, but, um, I need some help regarding the Potion's essay.

Oh, and how've you been?

Kisses,
Marlene

•••

I had packed everything for the car ride to the train station. I had put the necessary stuff on the top of all my clothing and books, so I could reach it easily whenever I needed to. My wand was packed away safely in my pocket. I tapped it to make sure I hadn't lost it.

In the train I found Marlene. She pulled me into a carriage and helped me get my truck on top of the racks. I said bye to my parents and Marlene hastily got out her homework.

I smiled and we went to work. After not too long, we found Remus and Mary join us. Severus had walked in and hesitated, but left after a short greeting.

"You guys, I'll be right back, hm?" I found my way out the carriage and bumped into Regulus.

"Hi! Where've you been?" I hit a sore spot. He grumbled and mumbled something along the lines of "Sirius" and "mother".

"Well, you have no choice anyway. Come 'n join us!" I took his hand and dragged him. Mary and Marlene looked rather surprised and went all quiet. Which I thought was weird, and rude, because they hadn't acted like that to me nor Remus.

The cabin was getting a teensy bit overcrowded, so a little after the lady with the candies came around, I went out to take a bit of "fresh" air. Over summer, I had started to write a journal, so I took it with me and write in it whilst leaning against the outside of another compartment somewhere halfway the train.

Out of the blue, a boy stood next to me and I dropped my pencil as well as my journal. And I swore. He let out a grin and I wanted to smack it off his face. Yeah, it was James again.

"Fun fact," he started, "did you know that when you're writing—"

I didn't wanna hear the end of it: "How long have you been standing here, somewhere in this hallway kinda thingy?" I picked up my pen from the floor and James snatched it from me.

"What even is this?" I took it back and clicked it. "It's a ballpoint pen. You write with it. Kind of a muggle thing."

He stared at it in awe for a bit before saying, "No, that's not muggle. That's like- I don't know, magic or something. How does it work?"

I unscrew the pen, like when you're refilling it, and showed him the ink storage. "So the ink will touch that little metal ball in here -can you see it?- and that brings the ink onto the piece of paper when it touches it."

James lifted his glasses further up his nose and raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Nice." I couldn't help but laugh. It was such an easy concept, but the idea of a muggleborn teaching something to a pureblood, I thought it was funny. I had always thought I didn't know much.

I also noticed James had grown some over the summer. Of course, all boys had. Especially Remus, but he didn't like when I brought it up. James hadn't grown as much, but definitely a visible amount. He was about an inch taller than me now.

I slipped away from him and joined my friend in our compartment again. Remus had fallen asleep with his breath fogging the glass and Mary and Regulus had started to trade chocolate frog carts.

When we had reached Hogsmeade, I woke Remus up and dragged him along. I'd lost the others somewhere, and we ended up in a compartment with some older Hufflepuffs. The ride was short, but also very, very awkward.

During the feast, I could barely get myself to eat something. Remus devoured plate after plate. I was not surprised. I had done some math and the full moon would be in about three days.

Tired, we followed the headgirl to our dorms and the moment my body hit the bed, I blacked out.