Noyade | Rabastan Lestrange [2] ✔︎

11 | MOVING ALONG

"You still haven't heard anything from Cleo?"

The Care of Magical Creatures class had just been dismissed and Phoenix was still putting her books away into her bag with Maureen waiting next to her and most of the other students already making their way towards the castle. The lessons among creatures, which took place at the border of the Black Forest, had always been Phoenix' favourite. Not only did she enjoy learning the different techniques for how to behave around certain beings, but she also loved how it gave her a sense of freedom to sit under the open sky instead of a ceiling and four walls. It still felt that way and she always took her time to collect her supplies before returning to the castle, because now it felt like a prison with unfriendly inmates.

Maureen shook her head. "I sent her my owl about a week ago, but it came back without an answer."

"Somehow I can't help but think that we shouldn't have reminded her about her late friend. McGonagall hinted that Lyria was murdered and I wouldn't want to be reminded of that, would you?", Phoenix voiced her concern, realising a little too late what she had just said.

Maureen's smile turned into a frown at the mention of how Lyria had died and Phoenix knew all too well what memories she had just brought back up. Will. In spite of Maureen's usual reckless and loud behaviour she couldn't fool Phoenix into thinking that she was over her boyfriend's death. It had hit her heard although they had only been together for a few months. Maureen seemed to deal with her pain by denying it, but more than once Phoenix had felt her pain or heard her sobs at night.

She quickly grabbed her best friend's hand and softly squeezed. "I'm sorry, but you know better than anyone else it doesn't do any good."

Maureen offered her a sad smile and squeezed back. "It's fine. However, I don't think that's the case with Auntie Cleo. Lyria passed away more than three years ago and Cleo actually talks about her quite a lot. She often says that you and I are a lot like the two of them were, but I never realised that she meant it so literally."

"So, why else do you think she doesn't answer?" Phoenix asked, as the two of them slowly started to make their way through the snow towards the castle.

The pink-haired girl shrugged before answering, "Honestly, I think there's something fishy about the whole thing. You said Dumbledore refused to tell you about the extent of your abilities after you attacked that Gryffindor girl by accident. I know he's said to be weird like that, but with Jack and Auntie Cleo doing the same thing something doesn't feel right."

"I guess you're right."

"I always am," Maureen joked. "But if Cleo doesn't answer until Christmas break I'll ask her at our family's annual Christmas dinner. There's still the small chance that she's simply too busy to answer with her new job at the Ministry."

"Thank you, Maureen." Phoenix slowed down.

"For what?"

"For helping me and for being the friend you are. I know you've been going through a rough time since... since Will passed away and I wish I could take that pain away from you, but since I can't I really want you to know that I appreciate everything you do. I think you are truly the strongest person I know," Phoenix explained.

"That's what friends are for." To her surprise Maureen drew her into a hug. "And besides you are the person that helped me most after what happened. I couldn't hope for a better best friend. I just wish we could help Dawn like we help each other."

"It's really not the same without her around, is it?"

"No, I even miss her attitude towards arriving in class on time," Maureen chuckled and Phoenix couldn't help but join in.

The pink-haired girl motioned towards the castle. "I think we should get going. I know you like to be outside, but I'm about to become a snowman if I stay outside a little longer."

"Actually there's some place I have to be," Phoenix answered vaguely.

Maureen seemed to follow her gaze to the training pit, where younger students were hovering little ways above the ground on their brooms. A smile formed on her lips. "You're spending quite a lot of time with him lately."

"Well, he is my mentor after all," Phoenix pointed out.

Her best friend shook her head. "You know there's no shame in getting closer to him. You will have to marry him after all – even if he's a teacher."

"Still it feels wrong to even think about marrying a teacher. I was never one to enjoy reading about young girls falling in love with older men."

Maureen nudged her shoulder. "Come on, he's not that old. He's actually quite handsome if you ask me and from what I hear he's a gentleman too."

"It still doesn't feel right," Phoenix admitted. "And I hate the gossip about the whole thing since people from school found out in October."

"They simply talk about your love life because theirs is too boring to even mention." Maureen giggled. "And now get going."

"There's no love live to talk about. We're friends, that's all," the youngest Black argued.

"That's what they always say at first."

Phoenix gave her a weird look and casually made her way towards the pit. She seated herself on a nearby bench and watched as Jack walked from student to student, giving them advice on how to improve their flying technique. A smile pulled the corners of her mouth upwards when he caused a group of pupils to laugh at a gesture he made. The eleven-year-old kids seemed to admire him and obviously he enjoyed teaching them. It felt wrong to think about voicing her doubts to him about how their engagement while he was still a teacher might look to other students, when he seemed to flourish in his job. She was currently unsure of many things, but of that she was certain.

When the lesson ended, he helped the students put their brooms away in a closet and walked over to her with a smile on his face. "You could've waited inside instead of freezing to death out here."

Phoenix returned his smile as she looked up to him. "I actually like to be outside and watching you teach was so adorable. Your students love you."

"You think so?" Jack laughed and helped her to her feet.

"Even a blind man could see that. You should keep doing this job after I graduate," Phoenix suggested, but he instantly shook his head.

"I'll leave that to Louis. I'm only here to fulfil my duty as yourmentor."

Phoenix buried her head in her hands with a laugh. "Louis turns into the devil as soon as he enters a classroom. I swear he enjoys torturing his students."

Jack chuckled. "Is it that boring?"

"No, not at all actually," Phoenix countered with a grimace. "But he scolds us for even sneezing at the wrong time and thinks his jokes are the funniest thing on earth."

"Yeah, that's my big brother." He kicked some snow towards the side. "Anyhow, have you heard the news about the annual pureblood Christmas party?"

"Not yet, but you don't seem to be that excited about it," Phoenix answered with a grin.

"I hate those Christmas parties, but," he suddenly grabbed her hand and spun her like a part of a dance, "at least I'll have an interesting partner to dance with and make the evening a little less boring. It's a ball at your place."

Phoenix was about to thank him with a giggle when his knees seemed to give in and his face all of a sudden was white as a ghost.