Portrait of a girl (editing)

Memories and Confessions.

November 24th, 1993,

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"Make sure you read the chapter on unforgivable curses; I'll expect your essays by end of lessons next Wednesday." They'd held class in the staff room again, Lupin had insisted because the space was bigger and there was more room to spread out for groups. Now as everyone packed up their books a loud chatter filled the space.

"Miss Price, if you could stay back a moment? I have something I'd like to speak to you about." The formality in his voice was something she would never get used to and a few sets of eyes looked at her curiously.

"Oh, yeah...but I can't stay too long, I have Charms next."

"Not to worry, I'll be quick. I can write you a note if you need." As the last of the students filed out of the room Seren came to stand in front of Lupin, "How familiar are you with Harry?" she looked at him curiously, "Can't say we've really spoken since the train, why?" he motioned towards the door as they began walking.

"Harry approached me about learning the Patronus Charm and I wondered if I might enlist your help." Rounding the corner and heading back into the main corridor Seren offered a friendly hello to the Grey lady who smiled as she passed.

"I'd be more than happy to help, if that's what you really want, but what made you think of me?"

"Not many young witches and wizards pick up on the Patronus charm so quickly, the fact that you did and you cast the charm with silent magic is exactly why you're the best fit to assist. Though I never asked, how did you cast silent magic? We haven't covered it in class yet."

"I've been practicing silent magic since what should have been my fifth year...mainly healing charms and spells. Helped keep the sanity for a bit."

The two parted ways as he continued on towards his classroom and she wandered down the stairs towards Charms.

"I'll see you later, Professor Lupin!" she called up as the staircase began to move.

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December 6th, 1993.

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Two weeks before the end of the term the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. The castle was abuzz with talks of Christmas and how everyone was going to spend their holidays. Professor Flitwick had already decorated the charms classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real fluttering fairies.

A second Hogsmeade trip would take place on the last week of term, meaning Seren could finally attend this one without fear of having to rush back to the castle and her mind began to wander on what she might buy for Christmas presents, not that she had a ton of people to shop for and then she began to wonder if she might ask Dumbledore to borrow the fireplace in his office to make a withdrawal from Gringotts. Figuring it couldn't hurt to ask she excused herself from the lunch table and made her way to the front of the room, Passing by the three familiar Gryffindor's.

"Seren!" she stopped, turning to face Hermione, "Afternoon, Hermione." Harry and Ron looked up at her, "How's your term been so far? We were just talking about the Hogsmeade trip next week. Are you going?"

"My terms been a bit chaotic, I have double everything this year, potions with Snape right away in the mornings every other day, but I think I'm finally wearing him down." She joked, "I'm also in Advanced transfigurations, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, which reminds me—" she turned and looked at Harry,

"Professor Lupin has asked that I help with teaching you the Patronus charm over next term, so we'll be seeing quite a bit more of each other."

"That's brilliant!." Seren couldn't help but giggle at his enthusiasm, "That's the spirit, Harry." The shaggy haired boy seemed to be beaming now despite previous chatter of Hogsmeade, "How difficult are N.E.W.T's level courses?" she was full on laughing now at Hermione's question, "Well, if you like writing essays WHILE doing copious amounts of hair pulling research, then they're great." Hermione smiled, "In all actuality, they aren't too terribly difficult, it's a lot of recap from previous years on top of the new curriculum."