Moonlight

Chapter Eight

January 12th 1976

It's been almost two weeks into the new year and Lilith was behind schedule. Mid-term was ahead of her and she hadn't finished all her assignments yet. She wanted them done by now to have time to prepare for the winter term. But spending time with her friends prevented her from efficient work. They would joke around and talk too much.

She didn't want to complain about quality time with her friends but being the best in her year didn't come from chatting. This week, she blended everything out. She only talked to her friends when she had finished her ToDo-list for the day. Her friends knew her well enough not to intercept.

The girl spent more time in the library that week than the whole of December. By the end of the week, she handed in all her papers. She was satisfied with the writing and the contents. But the work had cost her hours of sleep. She slept the whole weekend.

January 18th 1976

When she woke up on Sunday, she noted the absence of Pandora. She'd read on her bed when Lilith lay down after lunch.

Lilith put on her pullover and some jeans Dorcas lent her. She brushed her teeth and went downstairs. Her housemates were playing board games and reading in the common room. It was surprisingly silent.

"Hey, Lilith," a sixth-year came over to her. She couldn't remember his name and she wasn't quick enough to mask her irritation.

"Augustus Clockwork," he introduced himself. He had dark curls and freckles covering his face. "Hey. Sorry."

"It's fine. I haven't introduced myself properly before. I just wanted to ask if you come to the party next Saturday?" His eyes were sparkling with curiosity.

"To the mid-term party? Um, sure, I guess."

"Cool, see you there then!" He flashed her a smile.

"Yeah, see you." Lilith was still irritated. Pandora wasn't there, so she left the common room and went to the Great Hall. All her friends were assembled on the table by the windows.

"Hey."

"Hey. You finally woke up!" They were playing together and judging by the newspaper on the table, they were discussing the recent Quidditch announcements.

"I did. Why are you here?"

"They kicked us out again." Lilith groaned. Sometimes, she really hated being in different houses.

She sat down next to Regulus. A look passed between them. Since New Year's, they haven't talked about marriage plans. But he wanted to, she could see that in his eyes. Lilith knew she could no longer avoid his questions. Regulus must have sensed the shift in her demeanor.

"Lil, do you have a minute?"  She nodded and they both got up for more privacy. They left the Great Hall.

"Since when?" Straight to the point.

"They told me last summer. Said I was to marry a pure-blood wizard who met their requirements."

"And what are their requirements?"

"I don't know. I guess, a rich, and proud guy. Loyal to his family and later on to them. I'm sure he has to value the same things they do." Lilith thought about her parents making a list in her father's office while she was reading upstairs.

"Your parents and mine are very similar," Regulus muttered.

"They always were. But what do you mean?" Lilith's eyes left the ground and looked up at her friend's grey ones.

"Remember when they engaged my brother?" A year prior, the Blacks had planned an engagement between Sirius Black and Narcissa Black. In the end, she married Lucius Malfoy.

"Yes, I do."

"He was fourteen back then, just like you were when they told you."

"And like you are now," Lilith realized. "They do the same to you, aren't they." That's why he only said sorry. His eyes were absent, Lilith remembered.

"There is no Black for me to marry. Not yet." Lilith was horrified. "They can't do this to you!"

"This isn't an acute problem, Lil. Yours is!"

"I won't marry someone I don't know. It's one thing not to love somebody, but it could be my 30-year-old cousin!"

"Never."

January 19th 1976

After yesterday's talk with Reggie, Lilith felt somehow better. She felt bad for Regulus but it was comforting to know she was not alone in this.

On her way to class, she passed multiple students who seemed to be very engaged in some letters. They giggled and later in class, Lilith saw some of the girls pass notes to each other. Was she missing something?

Professor Flitwick didn't notice anything and resumed his lesson. While Lilith was answering as many questions as he let her, Pandora drew in her book. First, Lilith thought it was only mindless doodles but she learned that Pandora actually gave a lot of thought to her art. It helped her memorize things.

When the lesson ended, and Lilith packed her stuff, she dropped her quill. The girl bent down and picked it up when she spotted a note on the floor. It was under one of the girls' desks. She leaned over to pick it up.

Meet me at the Great Hall on Valentine's Day.

That was all. That must have been what the girls were giggling and talking about. Lilith rolled her eyes and crumpled the paper.