Wands and Wishes

Magic and You

It was a bright Saturday afternoon, most of the students were out on the grounds enjoying the nice weather though few of them were fifth years. It also happened to be Valentine's Day, a day of love to be shared with a special someone. But Iris was currently shut away in the library desperately trying to complete a Transfiguration essay. The only thing she was sharing with Sirius was a glance spared here and there or a rare conversation when the weight of her half complete work load was beginning to weigh her down.

She had been here since six in the morning, her hope was that she would have her work done by lunch so that she could spend time with Sirius but her Charms and A History of Magic essays had proven to be more difficult than she had expected. Even as she worked on her Transfiguration essay the fact that she still had a Defense Against the Dark Arts essay to write and runes to translate played on her mind. All she wanted was to go walk in the sun and forget about O.W.Ls for even a moment. But it simply wasn't in her nature.

"Is there a reason you look like you're about to cry?"

Iris looked up at Sirius and she was sure there was an expression similar to desperation on her face if his sympathetic smile was any indication. She put her quill down, comparing conjuring and vanishing spells could wait, and let her head fall onto the table.

"This is hell." Iris grumbled. "I don't think I've been to a single class this year and not been given homework."

"The professors are just trying to prepare you." Sirius explained, "But honestly the O.W.Ls aren't that bad and if both James and I could pass everything you're bound to as well."

"Can if just be June already so this can be over and done with?"

"It-"

"Iris!" Ronan exclaimed, panting heavily as he ran up to the table she and Sirius were sitting at, "P-Professor Hornsby said that if didn't turn in my essay on Jupiter's moons by dinner then-"

"Calm down." Iris sighed in exasperation, "I'll help you."

"Thank you so much Iris! Eri said that you helped her and-"

"Ronan dear, please just sit down so we can get this done and over with." Iris said firmly, "I do have my essays to get done you know."

"Right." Ronan said with a sheepish smile then sat down beside Iris.

Sirius felt a twinge of annoyance, Iris had been working all morning so that they could be together and even when she was on the verge of a break down she still stopped to help her friend. But after a moment he rather admired his girlfriend for that very same reason. He listened to Iris as she explained the four largest moons of Jupiter – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto – then explain their environments as well. It was nearly three when Ronan's essay was complete and he left Iris to finish her own work.

"What's this one about." Sirius asked curiously as Iris completed her Transfiguration essay and immediately moved on to her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay.

"Petrificus Totalus and other defensive spells." Iris answered.

"But Petrificus Totalus can also be used offensively." Sirius stated.

"A point I fully intend to make."

It was nearly dinner and Iris was just about finished with her rune translations, something that was completely lost on him. Sirius stood up and stretched before walking around to where Iris sat and kissed the top of her head as she worked.

"I have to go take care of something." He said, "But I'll see you at dinner."

"Alright, tell James I said hello." She replied with a small laugh, most likely assuming the two were planning a prank in honor of the day.