Unseen University for extra magic

Strengthening solution on our friendship

I spent all of Sunday doing homework and hanging with only Katie. She talked about what had happened only if I brought it up first; however, she didn't seem to understand why I was making a big deal about saying 'mudblood'. "After all," she said, "you don't mean anything bad by it. You're one yourself." I thought it was a big deal though I couldn't exactly say why, but I stopped trying to explain myself to Katie. If it wasn't a big deal to her, then I wouldn't try to make it one.

The librarian had to kick us out of the library so she could close up for the night, and we slowly trudged back back up to the common room. I briefly wondered if I could send an owl to Demi and Jackson to see if I could crash in their room that night. But before I could make my mind up about fleeing, I reached the Common room, and went inside.

The first person I saw was Morgana. She was the only one in our usual spot at the back of the common room. I scanned the common room but didn't spot Ashe or Evie anywhere. That was probably for the best. I wanted to deal with my friends one person at a time.

Morgana sat in one of the leather chairs, reading her Transfiguration textbook. Whatever feelings of anger I'd had at her earlier, they were gone. I was still a little annoyed at her for arguing with Evie. So I bounded across the room and took a seat on the armrest of the chair. She only glanced up at me, made sure I was all right, before she went back to her homework. Evie came to join us soon after, sitting on the couch and finishing off her History of Magic essay.

I had finished all my homework in the library, and now that I'd gotten over my initial anger, I wanted to talk. But I knew Morgana wouldn't understand if I tried to explain why her words had hurt so much, why I agreed that I was a hypocrite. Morgana wouldn't get what was so bad about me saying, "mudblood", any more than Katie had. "It's just a word," she'd tell me. But it was more than just a word. It was proof that I wasn't much better than anyone else saying it.

I was relieved of my thoughts, surprisingly, by Morgana. She wouldn't let this awkwardness stand between us.

"You want to talk?" Morgan said' I slid off the armrest to follow her. Morgana led the way out of the central area of the common room to the entranceway. She waited until we were out of sight before leaning against the stone wall and looking at me.

"I'm sorry, Jessi."

"I know," I said. "I'm not mad."

"You're not?" She seemed genuinely surprised, and for the first time that night, she met my eyes.

Wearing my warmest smile, I said, "You were just trying to help. I'd rather someone point out my flaws than let me go on ignorant."

"I just had awful timing," said Morgana.

I snorted. "The worst."

"Sorry."

I rolled my eyes. "You apologized once, and I'm not mad. Besides, you were right. It was being hypocritical I was contributing as well."

We stopped talking as the door open to admit two boys into the common room. We waited until they'd walked past before continuing our conversation.

"I do too," said Morgana. "Call them 'mudbloods', that is." She was shifting from side to side, his gazed fixed on my feet. "I feel bad since your one yourself"

"I forgive you," I said. "We're such prats."

A wry smile crossed Morgana's face and she turned to look at me. "We are, aren't we." This statement was followed by a heavy sigh. "What are we going to do about it?"

"We're going to change," I said. "You, me, Ashe and Evie, It's our resolution for the New Year. No more saying 'mudblood' or joking about my conspiracy theories—"

"Only you do that," said Morgan.

I winced as it occurred to me that what might have been a joke to me was a dreaded reality for Morgana. However, I continued with my resolution, "But we're better than this."

"Are we?" asked Morgana. She seemed genuinely uncertain, her eyes slightly wide and questioning.

"Of course we are," I said. "Or we will be."

Morgana hesitated and then asked, "You aren't dragging me into another one of your quests to be a 'main character' are you?"

With the fiercest scowl I could summon, I said, "You brought it up, so this doesn't count as me owing you a sickle."

"Of course not."

"This has nothing to do with Harry Potter this is me reclaiming my school years for myself. For years, everything has evolved around Harry Potter and what Harry Potter is doing. I don't want to be that person waiting on the fringe to see what Harry Potter's story will be this year. No, I want my school years to be about me and my friends. Harry Potter is going to be a side character in my life, not the other way around." I paused for breath.

Morgana smiled. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. For once, I wasn't making resolutions on my own while my friends rolled their eyes. For once, someone was trying to change with me. "We'll be the new and improved Morgana Black and Jessikah Noire."

"Please don't say it like that," said Morgana, rolling her eyes.

"Why not?" I asked. "It sounds cool!"

"Only you would think that," said Morgana.

I stuck my tongue out at her, and she laughed.

" We're the Marauders " Evie added as she and Ashe joined us

" Ride or die " Ashe said.