Brightest ✯ Sirius Black

✯nineteen✯

"everything you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for"

Christmas break ended quickly. Students poured back into the school and classes resumed, making it feel as if no time passed at all.

Cleo wasn't as disappointed about break ending this year like she usually was, because now, she had something to look forward to. The first day back in classes was also the first day she would be meeting with Professor Dumbledore to start her new advanced training, and she could barely hold in her excitement.

She sat on her bed in the girls' dorm, finishing her potions essay. The parchment was resting on her knee and her bottle of ink was in between her legs.

"It's a wonder you don't spill that everywhere," Lily commented as she sat in her own bed next to Cleo's with a book in her hands.

"It's a wonder you don't mind your own business," she muttered, but looked up at a scowling Lily and winked with a smile to show she was kidding. Ambrosia was already in her bed, eyes closed and blankets tucked under her chin across the room, but she gave a quick, "nice one, Cleo."

Lily rolled her eyes. "You two are just like them," she mumbled, shaking her head. The clock chimed 9:30, and Cleo looked up quickly before scribbling the last few words of her essay and then fumbled to put everything away before she stood up and went to leave.

"Where in the world are you going?" Lily exclaimed. Best friends or no, Lily was a prefect and it was past the time when all students had to be in bed.

"I'm... hungry..." Cleo stammered, forgetting momentarily that she wasn't supposed to tell anyone where she was going.

"You had three helpings at dinner," Lily pointed out.

"Yeah well," Cleo sighed. "I'm hungry again. I'll bring you back something okay bye!" she yelled out quickly before all but throwing herself down the dormitory stairs and into the common room.

"Oi, Markis, where are you going?" James called out. The boys were lounging around on the couch by the fire, which was strange seeing as how they weren't particularly up to something at the moment. Cleo closed her eyes and halted in front of the portrait hole.

"I'm hungry," she told them, sticking to the story she gave Lily.

"Mate, you ate like three plates at dinner," Sirius sniggered.

"Yeah well I'm hungry again, and if anyone has anything else to say about my eating habits, you can keep it to yourself," she scolded, pointing at them.

"Bring me some chocolate," Remus called out, not looking up. Cleo gave them all a wink and left the common room, heading straight to Dumbledore's office.

"Sorry I'm late, professor," she gasped as she entered his office. "My friends wouldn't really let me leave easily," she sheepishly grinned.

"That is quite alright, Ms. Markis. I would think something was wrong if your friends weren't inquisitive about sneaking out at night," he winked, and she smiled back.

"So what are we learning today?" she asked, tucking her hands into her pale blue jeans pockets.

"Today, we will be learning some new defensive spells. Normal fifth years won't be learning these spells unless they were to take advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts in seventh year," he started. Cleo raised her eyebrows, excited.

Dumbledore flicked his wand towards a large cupboard against the wall, and only now did Cleo realize that everything that was typically in Dumbledore's office was moved to the side, creating a large empty space to work.

The cupboard opened both of its doors and a large dummy with a target painted onto its canvas chest wheeled out slowly, holding what looked to be a wand.

"You will be practicing with this dummy until you learn enough to duel both myself and professor McGonagall."

"P-professor McGonagall? You want me to duel her?" she stuttered, already fearing for her life. Dumbledore gave her a small tight-lipped grin and his eyes twinkled.

"Let's begin."

After almost 2 hours of duelling with the dummy, which was enchanted to produce spells of its own, Cleo was sweaty, panting, and tired, but she had never felt better about the things she was learning. Finally, she was beginning to put all of her schoolings to work in the real world.

"This was very good, Ms. Markis," professor Dumbledore commented as she sat catching her breath. "You are as fast of a learner as I expected. You should be doing some Auror training by the beginning of your sixth year."

"Professor," Cleo started, a thought coming to her. "I know that I'm doing this for the impending war, but when exactly am I going to be using any of this?"

"Soon, Cleophus, it will be very clear what we are training you for. For now, I hope that you continue to work hard in your classes, and I will see you on Thursday."

She smiled slightly and nodded. "Goodnight professor," she waved and walked away. 

Cleo becomin a full on warrior princess up in here

that dumbledore gif is my favorite thing on the internet to tell you the truth

Everyone go read my friend __Lafayette__'s awesome story "Ignis" about a sick dragon warrior princess and a bunch of dwarves woo

Peace out girl scout

stay inquisitive

em