The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

54. Party Planning

"Sleep well?" I almost die of fright at the sound of Lily's voice as I sneak back into the dormitory.

"Jesus Lily it's six thirty, go back to bed."

"Which is somewhere you should have been," she smirks, "or were you... in a certain Mr Lupin's?"

"Oh my God Lily, no!" I hiss as she wiggles her eyebrows.

Lily cackles loud enough to make Marlene stir, "Alright, alright. But seriously, for you two-"

"I will hex your mouth shut I swear."

*

"Settle down class," Slughorn hobbles over to his desk at the front, "settle down."

"Is it me or has he had a bit too many crystallized pineapples?" James whispers behind our desk, causing me to bury my face in my hands in an attempt to stay quiet.

"Now," the Professor doesn't seem to have noticed that a few of his students are wearing grins that they can't seem to mask, "I've marked your coursework drafts, and I must say that I'm impressed. However, I have noted some improvements in each of your works, so by the time June comes around, we'll all be able to hand them in with confidence!"

"Oh wonderful." Remus remarks, imitating Slughorn's tone as the papers float back to their owners.

"You'll be fine."

"Says potions extraordinaire Aylin Novak."

I roll my eyes, "Oh come on, that's only because I spend most of my time studying."

"That's actually quite sad." Sirius leans over to us, eavesdropping.

"Shut up." Failing to hide my feelings of slight upset on the matter, I let Sirius bask in the glory of making me pout. My coursework lands in front of me with a heavy thud, and my attention is immediately drawn to the excess of red ink between almost every line of writing, "Where's the grade?"

"Back." Remus is already flipping through his pages quickly, stopping at the penultimate page, "Nice, he gave me an E... and apparently I would get a higher mark without the coffee stain on page four."

"Don't worry," I grin, seeing my mark of an E, "Slughorn says that my handwriting is- and I quote- atrocious."

"Well, that isn't surprising," Remus shrugs, "I often find it difficult to copy your answers in class."

"Yeah I- WAIT WHAT?"

*

Transfiguration crawls by with such an inconceivably slow pace that by halfway through, I'm contemplating jumping out of the window. I lost track about ten minutes ago, resorting to reading the textbook rather than listening to McGonagall.

"Ow!" I curse under my breath as something hits me on the side of the neck, falling on to my desk.

Lottie perks up next to me, "What is it?"

"Beats me." Shrugging, I pick up the scrunched up ball of paper and flatten it out. The piece is no bigger than my palm, and inside it is Black's squiggly writing in sparkly ink:
Oi Novak,
we've organised a Valentine's day party in the common room on the fourteenth, tell your cousin to invite the Hufflepuffs, lots of love and hugs, your favourite boys at the back of the class xxx

"Well, write back." Lottie prods my arm, then hastily returns to her book as McGonagall walks past. Turning to the back of the note, I write my response: Message forwarded, though really you could've told us after class. I'll kill you two if Minnie gives me a detention and it's  your fault.
Lots of love, your Novak.