in the cards | marlene mckinnon

04. in sickness and in health

Lily and Marlene kept their promise, returning the next day to the Ravenclaw's dorm. And the day after that, and the next week, and so on. 

Nora slowly got better, not back to full health, but well enough to be able to attend classes; which she had fallen gravely behind in. McGonagall suggested having Lily tutor her, since the redhead was an exemplary and reliable student, and with their amicability, she immediately agreed.

The two had been meeting in the library a few days a week, whenever they had time. And with the early March sun, soon they could sit outside and study, as well.

Mary, Dorcas and Marlene sometimes tagged along to their study sessions, Remus and Peter even making a few appearances. Though, they just happened to be in the library at the same time as them and thus ended up studying together.

Had James known, he might have lifted his promise of never entering the library; with the intent to study. Sirius, on the other hand, would have to be sedated and dragged to pass the threshold of the place he had proclaimed to be "the bane of all that is evil". And yes, that included Madam Pince.

"Alright, what do you have left?" Lily asked as they sat down, trying to plan what they should study today, in the effort of having equal progress in terms of schoolwork.

"Nothing, actually," Nora smiled proudly. "I finished my last undone History of Magic essay last night, which means I'm officially caught up."

Lily grinned, congratulating the brunette on her achievement.

"I guess you don't need tutoring anymore, then?" Lily asked, the smile on her face fading. 

Nora's face dropped for a moment before lightly breathing out a laugh. "I would call us friends now, Lily. We can still hang out, and study. That is, if you want to?"

"Yes! Of course! I wasn't sure you would want to and I didn't want to assume, that's all," Lily sounded relieved yet undeniably excited as she spoke, a smile growing with every word.

Nora smiled, before yawning and looking at the time. It was nowhere near bedtime yet, especially not for sixth- years, yet all she wanted to do was curl up under the covers; or more sufficiently, anywhere. 

Lily furrowed her eyebrows, a small smile playing on her rosy lips. "Are you tired already? It's barely eight o'clock."

"Sorry, yes. I mean, am I not always tired?" Nora laughed, trying to keep her eyes from closing.

"Yes, you are. Do you not sleep at night, or what?" the redhead asked, half jokingly. She wouldn't have been surprised yet somehow, with how much the girl loved sleeping, it seemed like an impossibility.

"No, I stay awake to perform my nightly satanic ritual. Five more nights and I'll be eligible to enter hell."

The snort that left Lily was hardly ladylike, though neither of the girls cared, only breaking into fits of laughter. 

"What if we hang out in Gryffindor common room? I'm sure we won't get a single productive thing done today, anyway," the redhead suggested, already putting her books back into her bag. 

"Sure, as long as no one will mind?" 

"Eh, no one will bother you; everyone loves me, remember," Lily joked, though there was definite truth behind her words, no matter how satirical they were meant to be perceived.

"Oh, of course. No soul would dare cross the word of Queen Lillian of Gryffindor House, the travesty!" Nora played along, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she and Lily walked out of the library.