Broken Wings (Marlene McKinnon girlxgirl, Marauder's Era)

Chapter 7 - February '78

TW: eating disorder (not too intense or graphic here, but stay safe and stop reading if you don't feel comfortable)

"Miss Selwyn, a word," Professor Flitwick called out just as Lee was about to leave the Charms classroom a few weeks into her life as an official member of The Order of the Phoenix. Marlene McKinnon shot Lee a questioning look, arching an eyebrow.
"What did you do, Selwyn? Get yourself into trouble, huh? Perhaps only 98% on that last essay?"
"Who knows? Maybe he wants to congratulate me for surviving another lesson next to you, McKinnon."
"Ouch."
Lee shot Marlene a friendly grin as she made her way to Flitwick's desk. The two girls got along quite well, but neither missed an opportunity for a sarcastic joke.

Flitwick waited until the last student had left the classroom before addressing Lee again. "Miss Selwyn, I don't mean to be impolite, but I must express some concerns. You have been looking a bit under the weather lately. Is there anything bothering you? The position you're in right now can't be easy, and Albus, as much as we all appreciate him, can be quite demanding, don't you think?"

Juliette mentally cursed herself. She needed to be more careful. Flitwick was a perceptive and kind Head of House, and she definitely didn't want him to think she wasn't strong enough for her task.
It was true, Dumbledore and Moody had been wearing her down. She was practicing with either of them almost every day, sometimes early before her lessons started, sometimes late into the night. The spell-work was challenging, and both wizards seemed to enjoy not only testing her limits but also pushing them time after time. Combine that with Quidditch practice and NEWT studies, and you get massively exhausted. However, that was none of Flitwick's business; Lee could handle herself.

"Thank you for your concern, Professor. I did come down with a cold in the past few days, but Madame Pomfrey promised to have some Pepper-Up Potion ready today. I'll be full of energy again in no time."
Juliette smiled at her professor, hoping her voice sounded cheerful enough to be convincing.

"Ah, Poppy, the good soul," Flitwick smiled back. "Well then, I won't keep you any longer. Enjoy the rest of your day. And, Lee - remember, I always have an open ear if you need one."
This time, Juliette smiled in earnest. She appreciated her professor using her nickname and not her parents' name. "Thank you, Sir! Have a nice day!"
Lee grabbed her bag and walked out of the classroom, looking for her friends. As she made her way through the corridor, she concentrated on making her face look a little more lively and hiding the shadows under her eyes using her Metamorphmagic abilities.

"I didn't expect you to actually spend time in the library."
Lee was quick to hide her surprise after a voice broke her concentration on her essay for Transfiguration class. Marlene McKinnon stood in front of her table. Lee always chose this corner of the library, hidden away but right next to a window - and far away from the entrance amd therefore usually empty.
"Right back at you, McKinnon. No party to hang around at tonight?"
"Unlike you, I did not let myself be seen parading around at Slughorn's party. So I'm really not sure if that's a question you should be asking."
"I wasn't aware I needed your permission to ask questions."
"Well, if you're willing to take orders.," Marlene smirked and paused for a second - or was that Lee's imagination? "Tell me what you're doing here."

Marlene arched an eyebrow. She was intrigued by the Ravenclaw girl. The had been sharing classes since first year and Marlene still felt like she didn't know much about Juliette Selwyn. The Gryffindor girl took a seat across from Lee.
"Some of us do our homework, McKinnon. I'm writing an essay about moral aspects to consider when transforming animals into objects."
"What a good and hardworking student you are. Which courses are you taking for N.E.W.T.s?"
"Charms, Transfig, DADA, Astronomy, Runes, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies and Potions. You're in Care of Magical Creatures, right?"
"Yep, that and Herbology. Don't think I could survive Arithmancy to be honest."
"Too many bludgers hit your head?"
"Very funny. Are you coming to the game on Saturday?"
"Ravenclaw's not playing, so why would I?" Lee let her face show confusion and earnest interest - as if she wouldn't attend every Quidditch game.
"To cheer me on, obviously."
"I offer to console you when Ravenclaw wins the cup instead, how about that?"
Marlene laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Deal, Selwyn. Just because that won't happen anyway."