Mary Muffin,

Ugh. Just... no. Yeuch. I feel we should get her her own bucket for her birthday. With her name engraved on it or something. "Marly's Sick Bucket". Has a nice ring to it, I think.

You encourage James Potter's unhealthy obsession with me. He's a teacher, Mary. Ew. Double ew actually - we really shouldn't let Marly get drunk; she's a bloody nightmare. Or, at the very least, we should make her carry around her own bucket.

Sunlight was streaming through the small window as Alice brushed her short blond hair back. She had been outside completing her homework before she was supposed to meet Lily. But that warm sunlight was deceiving, the wind was icy cold and caused her hair to look like it hadn’t seen a brush in months. Unlike some of the boys in her year, she couldn’t pull off the ‘bedhead’ look and had quickly ran up to the dorm to do some first aid on her hair.

Satisfied that her hair was in a suitable condition, Alice grabbed her bag, swung it over her shoulder and began to head down stairs to meet Lily. She was excited to see Lily, one of her closest friends since first year, especially in light of recent events. Lily had promised that she would go ‘adventuring’ with her if she completed her transfiguration homework and while she had been confined to the library swearing at spells that wouldn’t work Lily and two of the Black sisters had an altercation. Although Alice was hoping to stay far away from that topic, as it had gotten completely out of hand. She had already worried enough over it and had useless words with Narcissa. But she and Lily still had plenty to catch up on and a whole castle at their fingertips. Even though she was 16 she still enjoying exploring the castle just as a child would.

Marly McMuffin,

'Alliteration' is not a big word - it only has five syllables! 'Antidisestablishmentarianism' is a big word, there you go. You do know that it's supposed to be confidential, right? Black, once. More than I ever wanted to see of him. Noses? Er... I suppose?

Marly-Mee who has no appreciation for alliteration,

Good. Now have a brownie, before Mary eats all of them. Euch - bit too much information there, Marly-Pie!! Do you know how awkward prefects' patrols are? Every second broom closet some nights, I swear to Godric. Are we witches or rabbits? Hush, hush, she's not all bad... Anyway, out of sight, out of mind. 

Lily smiled as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, turning to give her parents one last wave. She grabbed the handle, hoisting herself up and boarding the train, biting her lip in excitement. She was officially a Sixth Year at Hogwarts. It sounded so... old. She wrinkled her nose at herself, but it was true. Sixth Years were senior students, they carried responsibilities. The younger students looked up to them... It was a lot of pressure, but she was a little excited at the prospect. 

She glanced around for a glimpse of Mary or the girls, quickly continuing down the corridor and peering into the compartments as she went. A few of the students waved at her and she smiled, quickly dropping a 'how was your summer?' here and there to be polite. Mary-Mooo, where are you? She thought with a frown, closing the door to the second last compartment with a sigh.