Marauders American Girl

Anniversary

I didn't see Teresa or Hannah again. We were never in the same classes. I survived against Black's jokes and the Marauders pranks. At least until June. School was going to get out soon. But this was the day that Dad had died. It's been a year already. It's so hard to believe.

"So, you love me yet, Watson?" a familiar voice asked.

"Back off, Black," I returned, wiping my tears.

"Watson?" he queried. "Are- are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I denied.

"Okay, I know that that's the go to response when girls don't want to talk," Black replied. Of course he does, the womanizer. He sat himself next to me on the grass near the Black Lake. "You don't have to say anything, Kendra. You can even cry on my shirt if you need to." I could hear him holding in a laugh.

"I said: Back off, Black!" I screamed, finally bursting. I twisted to my feet and glared down at the boy. "I'm done with you! I'm done! I refuse to deal with your shit today! Not today! Why will you not let me mourn in peace?"

"Mourn?" he asked softly, a sober tone to his voice. "For who?"

"My dad, you dimwit!" I screamed at him. "Do you think I just chose to transfer to Hogwarts? No! I would've stayed at Ilvermorny if I had the choice! But my only relatives live here! So I had to switch schools! Right after watching my father die! So get the bloody hell away from me!" I ran away from the shocked boy and past his friends, where Potter was talking to Lily.

"Kendra? Kendra!" Lily called. "Black! What did you do?" I ran up the stairs and up into the room I shared with Lily and her friends. I collapsed onto my bed, my face buried in my pillow.

Lily ran into the room just seconds later, our roommates, Marlene and Alice, right behind her. They kept asking me what was wrong, but I couldn't answer. I was crying too hard. This was the hardest I'd cried since my dad died. I hadn't shed a single tear at his funeral. Crying was weak and I wanted to be strong. For him. But I couldn't any longer. And Black just pushed me over the edge.

"A-ask Black!" I sobbed eventually, tired of them prodding me. Lily stormed out of the room, Marlene following. Alice stayed back and comforted me. That was Alice. She was always there for people to lean on.

A few hours later and the other two still hadn't returned. I was dried out now. Alice was still sitting next to me. It felt nice to get it all out.
"Thanks for sitting with me, Alice," I murmured.

"It's nothing, Kendra," she replied easily.

"No, it's not," I returned. "I've never cried like that. Not even when my dad died."

"Oh my god," she breathed.

"So, yeah," I continued. "He died one year ago today. I was there."

"Oh my god, that's even worse," she commented. "You know you don't have to be afraid to cry? It's a normal process and it's one of the best ways to grieve for someone. If you've got anything left, I'll be there for you."

"Thanks, Alice," I muttered. "If you ever need anyone, just come to me, alright?"

"Always," she agreed, a small smile on her chubby face. She still hadn't grown out of it, but I knew she was just a late bloomer. She already had caught the eye of Frank Longbottom and I knew some other boys had started getting interested in her. The baby face look would be gone in the next couple years I guessed and Frank would get some serious competition.

"Kendra?" Lily asked, poking her head inside. "You okay?"

"For now," I answered honestly.

"You missed dinner," Marlene stated. "So we grabbed some food for you." She held up two large plates filled to the brim with food.