Moonlight

Chapter Twelve

June 5th 1976

Lilith was stressed. She was out of her mind. More than usual. Her final exams were close and she had to study a lot to be the best of the year. To stay the best of her year.

The girl spent every free minute, night and day, in the library. Her friends knew she got like this at the end of the year, but still, they were worried. They too had to study but Lilith went to another level. She forgot to eat, sleep, change, and shower.

Her friends reminded her of such basic things. Pandora brought her to bed and awoke every night to get Lilith back to sleep. Dorcas dragged her into the shower and the guys forced her to eat. At night, when the girl couldn't sleep, she got up to read a new book. The book was unrelated to her classes. Something new to learn. Knowledge to consume.

All of this finally came to an end on the day of their last exam. Lilith was very happy with her performance in their other exams. She brewed a perfect potion, told Professor Minks about the future, and turned a belt into a snake. Today's exam was in History of Magic. She had studied all of it. The girl knew everything from Merlin to Grindelwald and back to Hogwart's founders. Pandora already sat in the second row, waiting for her friend.

"How do you feel?" Dora asked.

"I'm ready," Lilith answered self-confidently.

"That's great! I'm just happy you get some sleep again after this." Lilith smiled at her friend.

***

The friends were sitting outside by the Black Lake. They were finished for this year. All exams were written. And tonight would be multiple parties. Every house was celebrating and the six of them wouldn't miss it for the world.

"So, we start in Slytherin and for the after-party we go to the Ravenclaws?" Evan repeated sitting up in the sun.

"That's the plan," Dorcas confirmed. She was reading a book under the tree. The title read 'Ancient myths from the under the sea'. She often read those. Lilith loved the way her eyes twinkled when she told them about old legends and supernatural beings.

The sun was beginning to set and Lilith could feel the warmth being taken away from her face. The leaves of the tree were rustling in the warm summer breeze and she could hear the laughs of other students. Lilith closed her eyes and breathed in the smell of grass and the lake.

"Hey, did you know that there could be sirens who steal the souls of desperate men?" Dorcas threw in.

"Stealing souls?" Regulus repeated.

"I heard you can even split your soul," Evan said.

"Hmm, maybe the soul is already split in half and you have to find the other one," Pandora suggested.

"So, you have to find another person to feel whole again?" Barty asked. Pandora nodded. She was a hopeless romantic after all.

"Come on guys, we have to get ready," Dorcas reminded them. All six of them got up and went back to the castle. Pandora and Lilith split up from the rest at the stairs to get to their common room.

Their housemates were getting ready for the parties as well. Dressing, doing their make-up, running around to search for their friends, and Lilith even saw some smuggled alcoholics into the rooms. A seventh year was practicing spells for music. Another was trying to cast a spell for the lights.

Pandora and Lilith went up to their dorm, meeting Alicia. She was dressed in a short silver dress. The moment she saw them, she started talking about the evening. She was very excited. So excited it affected Lilith and Pandora in a motivating way. Pandora was dressed in a beautiful white dress with pastel-coloured flowers. Lilith wore a black top with a sunflower stitched in the middle and jeans. A few days and she had to hide them again.