#cocochats

I stumbled to a halt next to Rowan, who was reading her muggle studies textbook, and shoved my things back into my bag.

It was then that Rakepick opened the door to the classroom, a bright gleam in her eye. “In.”

Without a word, we filed in, not daring to provoke whatever that gleam could mean. Only Merula seemed cheerful and unperturbed by whatever Rakepick had planned for the lesson today.

Taking my seat, I pulled my notebook and quills, trying to shake the nagging feeling in my head. I also noticed Rakepick move to the front of the room.

“A moment,” Rakepick started, standing in front of her desk and quieting the low chatter. “Before I begin today’s lesson, I want to talk about your upcoming midterm.”

That caught everyone’s attention, and murmurs sprung up. Annoyance flashed across Rakepick’s face, until everyone quieted down.

“I have gotten permission from Headmaster Dumbledore to set up a obstacle course, of a sorts.”

More murmurs, a mix between excited and nervous, before quieting again.

“This going to cover both Cursebreaking and Auror specialities, along with some of what you should’ve learned the past few years.”

The last part sent something of a chill down my spine, and I silently gulped. Aside from Professor Stantz, none of the other professors had really tried. Notes were one thing, but they didn’t necessarily reflect how well they’d taught (or not).

Me and Rowan shared a panicked look. This was not going to be fun.

It was one thing to study for a written midterm - another altogether to try and predict a practical one, especially with a teacher like Rakepick, who wasn’t likely to share anymore details until it was underway.

“For today’s lesson…” Rakepick started, barely letting us process the information before starting the lesson for today.

“I need an invisibility cloak,” I grumbled, clutching the brown bag I’d taken from the kitchen during detention earlier today, as I carefully made my way to the fifth floor. Even if I was a prefect, I didn’t really want to cross paths with Snape at midnight, especially considering I wasn’t supposed to be out.

I kept my wand light low, so as to not disturb the sleeping portraits along the now very familiar fifth floor corridor. No need for them to tattle to McGonagall yet again for any night time escapades.

Finding the right door, I pushed it open.

It was eerie, creeping into the Defence classroom after hours, the dragon skeleton not helping, but something was bugging me.

Despite the usual smirks and arrogance, Rakepick had seemed… different. Not happy. More upset about something that wasn’t teaching teenagers.

And somehow, in my brain, I decided I would share some of the shortbread cookies my mum had just sent me yesterday.

Like a madwoman. Even Rowan had (rightly) questioned my actions, despite the icy shoulder she was giving me.

Mum didn’t exactly bake them all the time, mostly this time of year, and so infrequently, getting them this early was rare.

So of course I share them with one of my least favourite professors.

Not that I was planning on directly giving them to her. More like indirectly, by way of the staircase up to her office, and leaving them in front of her office door.

I kicked off my slippers, not needed them to scuff against each step.

But, bloody hell, the stone was cold. Somehow, I kept myself from cursing out loud.

Carefully setting the package at the top of the steps, I bolted down, grabbed my slippers and hurried out.

14 December 1988

It ended up being a joint midterm, both OWL and NEWT students.

Which made sense - we weren't taking the traditional end of year exams like the rest of the school. Not that this exam was anywhere near typical.

Nothing like an obstacle course/scavenger hunt in the middle of winter.

Thankfully, we were allowed to wear muggle clothes instead of our uniforms, which I leapt at the chance. I didn’t fancy freezing my legs off (or getting frostbite, at that) in the uniform skirt and shoes.

Rakepick had also instructed us to gather at the edge of the Black Lake, near where part of the Forbidden Forest opened up before it. This had to be one of my favourite places on school grounds, especially for some star gazing outside of Astronomy.

Despite the several inches of snow, I thought I recognised the crumbling remains of the small hamlet that once sat here. An old story I’d heard about an art-loving goblin flitted through my mind.

Shivering, I pulled my cloak closer, the sound of footsteps getting closer.

Speaking of... “Miss Marcovitz, you’re early.

I looked over. Rakepick had arrived, followed closely by Merula (who smirked) and Bill (who grinned.)

I rolled my eyes. “Better than late.”

Rakepick seemed to ignore me, before she and Merula started talking and Bill joined me next to the remaining house.

The rest of the fifth and seventh years joined us over the next half hour, with my friends grouping up near me and Bill. Even Rowan, despite lingering frostiness. Charlie barely made it, much to both his and Rakepick’s annoyance.

My group joined the rest, rounding it out.

“Now that everyone is here...” she started, silently counting us. “I want the fifth years in groups of four; seventh years, groups of three.”

Murmurs picked up, as everyone started grouping up, quickly making it clear that Merula would have to be in my group, along with Charlie and Ben.

I sighed. At least it wasn’t just me and her. I could deal with Ben’s fears and Charlie was always a good person to explore the forest with together.

As she sent the various teams off, Rakepick held us, and more importantly me, back, until we were the last remaining group.

“A moment, Miss Marcovitz,” she called, beckoning me over, as Rowan’s group headed off. We shared a confused look, before she hurried on.

“Yes, professor...?” I shared a look with Charlie and Ben, before approaching. Her smile seemed to become softer, less of a smirk. At least for Rakepick.

“I wanted to thank you for the biscuits the other night. Surprisingly thoughtful of you.”

I blinked, trying to get my brain to catch up. “Oh?” How the heck did she find out?? “You’re welcome...?” My brain felt like one of those muggle vending machines I’d seen in America, failing to accept a $1 bill that had been crumpled up.

She gave a short nod. “Get going.”

I hurried back over to my group, waiting near the edge, Merula tapping her foot, clearly impatient. “Let’s go,” I said, gesturing to the forest ahead. Charlie and Ben flanked me, followed closely by Merula.

Somehow, like most of my adventures around Hogwarts, it turned into a team effort. As we moved through the forest, we kept meeting up with the various groups scattered throughout.

Slowly, we grouped back together, most of the fifth and seventh years returning to the hamlet grove, chatting amongst ourselves. We were followed by the individual groups we didn’t meet.

Rakepick was a mix of emotions. Pride and disappointment intermingled before she put on a mask and a smirk, before clapping our arrival.

“Well done, everyone,” she said, and everyone quieted. “Your scores will be posted outside the Defence classroom before break begins.”

tbc?