Nothing but Stardust

Not being able to go outside (at least comfortably enough to make it worth the trip), was disappointing. Already Benjy found himself missing just the week before, at least the rain didn’t have him waking up every few hours to re-up the warming charms on his blankets. However, he and Mary would make the best of it, they were still getting high and hanging out, “Is there?” He had been about to suggest some of his go-to spots, but she seemed to have one in mind, “That sounds lovely, please, lead the way,” He smiled. 

Their usual place was unfortunately too cold for them to comfortably hide away to. Still, Mary was looking forward to being able to unwind and relax for a while. She’d taken to wearing her warmest jumper during the school day and carrying around a blanket in her bag just in case. However, she knew that she and Benjy would be find between the two of them. Mary was perfect content to share her blanket with him while they smoked and they could always cast a warming charm every so often. “There is. It’s a bit of an oddball spot, but it’s cool,” she explained. Mary had found it when she was trying to avoid Mulciber one day. “Brilliant,” she grinned, leading them up. Once they got to the spot she gave Benjy a wink and thought hard about the place they needed. As the doors appeared, Mary gestured towards it with a wide grin and exclaimed, “Ta Da”. 

Inside, there was a couch, a couple chairs, and a handful of blankets waiting for them. Mary furrowed her eyebrows together, but shrugged, “It’s different than it was last time, but it’s nicer this go around,” she mused, wondering exactly what kind of room this was. Still, she sat down on one of the couches and started opening up one of the blankets, offering the space next to her to Benjy, “Think this will work?” she asked with a grin.

Red and unruly hair pushed from it’s banded prison; a few loose curls tumbled down her back and across her face. It was a perfect example of an average day for Lily Evans. Like her own self; her hair refused to be put in any place it didn’t want to be. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were red from the cold, her skin paler than usual; but other than the fact the sun wasn’t shining upon it, she was in fine health - just a sniffle to fight. Her freckles seemed to pop more than usual. Green eyes more vibrant against the paler environment around them. Of course, it would be remiss for Lily Evans to have a bare eye, and like usual, her eyes were lined carefully with a black liner; the familiar cat-eye effect in play. Heavy feet made their way up the stairs to her dorm; having just finished the long walk across the entire castle from the Greenhouses. In her hand was a soft brown woven bag with plant ingredients in it, tied up tightly at the top. Another sat in her other hand, and one more in the pocket of her huge coat.

She stifled a yawn, instead, turning when she came to the top of the stairs and pushing the door to her dorm open with her hip. An instant, if not slightly, tired smile found her lips at the sound of Mary’s voice. She turned to see their beds combined together as one large; blankets, pillows, socks and snacks with it. Relief rolled over her. She hadn’t realised; but it was just what she needed. She carefully put the bags down on her bedside table, opening the bottom draw and putting them inside. “Bloody hell, Mac, you’ve outdone yourself this time!” she said with a chuckle. A goofy grin found her lips as she looked at the socks picked out for her. “Cold feet in this wonderland would be a crime,” she remarked. “Hold on– let me change – I have soil on my tights,” she added, quickly shrugging off her coat and then pulling her dress up and over her head. She carefully (careful as to not spill any dirt on the ground) peeled her tights off and put them in the washing basket. She rummaged for her wand in her coat and when she found it; flourished it to send her coat to hang on the back of the door. Quickly, she found a loose and overly large Led Zeppelin t-shirt, and threw it on. “Am I punk, or am I punk?” she asked with a silly twirl before pulling the fuzzy socks on and climbing into bed with Mary. She beamed. “Honestly, I really needed this,” she admitted.

Mary had spent the better part of the afternoon putting together their little cove. She’d taken it upon herself to get out their softest blankets, fluff their pillows with magic, and even light a few candles for atmosphere sake. Smiling at the other girl brightly, Mary made her hands frame her face as she replied, “Yes well, only the best for us my love.” In truth, Mary was quite glad to have an excuse to do this. Nights like these were hard to come by in the swing of the semester, but the extra time had allowed them to be on top of their classes and Mary was happy to give them a night off to relax. Being able to read material not for school was one of her favorite things in the world, and having a night that she and Lily could cuddle up and read a book together was her idea of perfect. “There is an array of snacks so we’ll never be bored from our choices and we’ll be stocked for the night and then some,” she grinned. Mary’s hair was back in plaits so that it was out of her face when she slept. She was already dressed down for the night; an old baggy uni sweatshirt that she had most definitely borrowed (stolen) from her Mama. Mary was notorious for snaking other people’s clothes when she could. 

“A crime indeed. One I know you’re not cruel enough to commit,” she responded with a teasing grin. “Of course, get changed and then we can have our snacks and cocoa. Let me tell you, this warming charm is particularly good for keeping drinks hot,” she admitted. Mary had snuck down to the kitchens with a thermos earlier that day to get them a nice stash of hot chocolate for the evening. Mary giggled vibrantly, shaking her head, “Oh please, there’s no one more punk than you Lily Evans. You rock Led Zeppelin better than Zeppelin does,” she teased, her voice fond as ever. Lifting up the covers once Lily was ready, she smiled softly and replied, “Come ‘ere then.” Once Lily was in bed she shifted around until she could wrap her arms around Lily and rest her head on top of the mop of red hair, “I’ve really needed this too. I’m glad we can make it happen,” she admitted. 

One of Mary’s favourite spells was the combining charm. With the snow falling harder and the temperatures getting colder, being able to combine hers and Lily’s beds so that they could comfortably share was brilliant. While they could both fit in a twin sized bed, it was hardly necessary when magic could combine them to be bigger. Mary pulled out all of their coziest blankets and laid them on the bed so that they would be comfortable. She had on her Mum’s old sweatshirt and her fuzziest socks, knowing that temperatures would drop even further throughout the night. While Lily was in charge of getting snacks, she was setting up their dorm to be a cozy haven. She dimmed their lights so that they were more like a glow, and set a pile of books on the night stand so that they could read to their hearts content. Once she was finished, she crawled into her side of the bed and started getting comfortable. Hearing the door open, she smiled broadly at her favourite person and greeted, “Welcome to our haven. Cold feet in bed will not be accepted, please accept your pair of complimentary fuzzy socks.”

@xmarymacx​ sent: ‘ monsters are real. that much i know.’ - Mary

“Unfortunately, that’s true,” Marlene sighed, glancing away from the fireplace and over at her friend. A grim smile took it’s place on her lips. “They might not be the same as the ones in the stories we heard when we were little, and they might be harder to spot, but they’re definitely real.”

Mary let out a sigh, pushing her hair back as looked up from her book. Every so often she picked up a history text to read, despite not being in history of magic anymore. While she hated listening to Bins, she loved the actual information from the course. “It doesn’t matter how much we evolve as a species, there’s always going to be monstrous people. Sure, there’s always going to be people that stand up to them, that fight them, that stop them, but it’s depressing to think that there’s always going to be more. It’s exhaustive,” she admitted. Leaning back in her side of the couch, she propped her feet up and laid them across Marlene’s lap. “I know free will is important, but do we have to give it to everyone.”

“Hey,” Benjy caught up with Mary as the two of them were leaving Transfiguration, their last class of the day, “I know I said we should meet at the Greenhouses to, er,” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure McGonagall wasn’t paying attention, “Smoke. But it’s cold enough I think the Baron would freeze if he went out there. Maybe we should find somewhere else?” 

@xmarymacx​

Hearing the familiar voice, Mary’s head whipped around and a wide grin took over her place, “Hey B,” she greeted warmly. Mary nodded, recalling their earlier plans, but one look outside and she knew exactly why the Greenhouse wouldn’t be the best place to go. A mischievous smile formed as she gave a hum, “I think you’re definitely right. You know, there’s a place on the seventh floor that might work. We shouldn’t be found out there” she suggested. 

Remus couldn’t hide his relief when Mary made it clear she wasn’t offended. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, especially when she was trying to share something with him that she obviously cared very much about. He just couldn’t bring himself to agree. He always had been nervous, hesitant to toe the line when it came to situations and environments he was unsure of. He smiled warmly at the offer of learning how to swim, wishing it was the happy medium it would be for other people. If he struggled to let the Marauders see the scars on his body when they didn’t need to, he couldn’t imagine feeling any more comfortable in front of Mary, and it would only lead to questions. How could it not? “I’ll think about it?” He tried, being genuine in his offer. It was the least he could do now after such a show of kindness. Mary was an incredible friend, she had never once asked him about his visible scars and he knew she wouldn’t ask him about the ones that she didn’t usually get to see. The thought still made him nervous, but perhaps there would be ways to explain them or draw her attention away from them. 

He laughed when she agreed he had terrible luck, glad she was happy to run with the joke. “Exactly, and don’t try and spare my feelings. I don’t exactly have a great track record when it comes to luck. You were doomed the moment you met me.” He smiled when she fell silent for a moment, knowing she was thinking on his words. He wasn’t sure there was any information to reveal, but it would come with time, when she was ready to tell him. Which was why he wasn’t disappointed when she very carefully brushed him off. “And so are you… one of the best.” He assured her, his smile growing as he caught her eye. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, or pull her into a hug, but then they were talking about his mother again and he found himself withdrawing, wanting to avoid the contact if he could. He didn’t feel deserving of it. He didn’t feel deserving of much. “I’m okay… I’ll be okay, we all will.” He said quietly, despite knowing it was a promise he couldn’t make. Lily was losing her mum, and though the doctors couldn’t understand what was causing Hope’s illness, he couldn’t help but feel as though he might be losing his mum too. 

Swallowing his emotion, he ducked his head. He wanted to agree with Mary but knowing what he knew, he just… couldn’t. A lot of perfectly sane, capable, and loving parents would have turned their child over to Greyback if he attacked them. That was simply the way of their world. If you weren’t considered Human, you had no worth, and the amount of misinformation was staggering. He had met many witches and wizards convinced that Lycanthropy warped who you were, made you violent and bloodthirsty and dangerous. If your child was bitten, your child was as good as dead. As badly as he wanted to take Mary’s side, he couldn’t see the parents who abandoned their children as bad parents. They didn’t know any better. That being said, it didn’t take away from the sacrifice made by his own parents when they chose to keep him, to work with their new situation, to shoulder some of the blame and do everything they could to ensure he was safe and protected. “That isn’t always true…” He admitted. “But you’re right about Mum and Dad being incredible… everything in my life has always felt so… complicated, but they’ve always been there. Supporting me, keeping me safe. I can’t even begin to imagine everything they gave up just to raise me. Sometimes it feels so- so unfair.” 

He glanced up at James again as he continued to walk away, only looking back to Mary when his friend was no longer in his line of vision. He was grateful for the distraction, worried he may have said too much. “Very much so… I think he feeds on attention in the same way a plant feeds on sunlight.” He teased, his smile faltering at the question. He already felt too vulnerable, as though he had given away too many details of his home life. Now he was being asked about his life at school, which was equally as personal. What could he say? Why had he never considered a false answer to the question? He could lie, of course. But he never had been very good at lying. He could deny the nicknames… no, that was stupid. He could pretend he hadn’t heard her… that would only make her more curious. He wasn’t quick witted enough to think up explanations for each name, he just couldn’t do it. But he needed to think of something. He needed to say something. “Oh- I- I don’t know-” Merlin, was that really the best he could come up with? “I mean- it was a long time ago, they just kind of- of happened…” He took a shallow breath, intentionally avoiding eye contact. “Who would believe you anyway?” He tried, offering a half smile in an attempt to draw her away from his vague answer. “I’m supposed to be the one chasing after everyone and keeping them under control.”

Despite her love for sailing, she knew it wasn’t something everyone enjoyed. Water could be as unpredictable as fire could be, and sailing wasn’t exactly a safe hobby. Mary had always been one to push the boundaries, but she knew that not everyone lived like that. Even as she posed the offer, she knew it was unlikely he’d take her up on it, and that was okay. It didn’t bother her in the least bit that this wasn’t something he wanted to participate in. Mary’s offer was genuine, but she could understand some people’s aversion to the water and Mary wasn’t going to push. Nodding, she gave a hum, “You let me know” she replied, wanting him to know that she wasn’t going to push the matter. Mary knew with each of her friends were different and so they needed to be handled differently. With Remus, she knew that sometimes it was just better not to push. 

Rolling her eyes, Mary gave a laugh, “Oh please, you’ve hardly doomed me.” Mary didn’t put much stock in luck if she was being honest. Fate had never interested her, and she didn’t believe that someone high in the sky had some grand plan set for everyone. For Mary, actions were what drove outcomes and that luck had nothing to do with it. Grinning, she replied, “Aw, well I’m certainly glad you think so. I plan to keep you around for a very long time Remus Lupin,” she answered. Mary was certain that she and Remus would be friends for years to come, and if she had her way, she would still be by his side after Hogwarts. Her eyebrows knitted together in concern, an unconscious reaction, as she gave a soft hum, “You will be, of course, but it’s okay if you have to break down now and again. If you ever need to talk about it, or just have a good cry, I’m always here. I know you and Lily will both be okay, but that certainly doesn’t mean it will be easy” she reminded. 

Mary could see that he was battling his emotions, but she didn’t push him. It was clearly a painful topic and she didn’t want to make it any worse for him. Mary knew that there were cases in which giving up a child was necessary and even the merciful thing to do, but that didn’t necessarily make them good parents. The idea of abandoning a sick child was on the list that made a person unforgivable in her eyes. A parent’s job was to take care of their child and abandoning them because they became ill was essentially the exact opposite of what a parent ought to do. Mary found parents that couldn’t be assed to take care of their kids to be the worst kind of people. Shaking her head, Mary disagreed, “It is. A parent’s job is take care of their child no matter what. Abandoning them because they’re sick or become more difficult to take care of makes them bad parents,” she replied. Her eyebrows knitted together in thought as she tried to work out where Remus was coming from. She couldn’t imagine Remus believing that abandoning a sick child was acceptable, but that begged question, what ailment did? Her mind circled back to her theory, and as he continued to explain she wondered if maybe she was right. What illness would cause him to be in danger and need to be kept safe. Mary pushed her suspicions away and replied, “Well, it’s good they’ve been willing to do all of that for you. You deserve to be loved and cared for Remus.” 

Laughing, Mary nodded, “Of course he does. Somehow though, we all still put up with him.” She could see the smile falter and wondered what about the question had him pulling back. Was it the reason for the name or the name itself. Either way, Mary carefully gaged his reactions before she finally got her answer. Remus had always been a shit liar, but this was impressively bad even for him. Mary had to wonder what made him feel the need to lie to her, but she shrugged her shoulders and nodded none the less, not wanting to call him out on it. “Oh, that’s understandable. I mean, I know some nicknames come from the smallest moments and just stick” she shrugged. Mary gave him a smile in return, showing that she wasn’t upset or offended by the obvious lie. “No one, but that’s okay. I wouldn’t tell even if they did,” she teased. Shaking her head, she laughed, “You are, but we all know who is the real mother over you boys”. 

“Sorry,” Marlene laughed, expression apologetic. “Yeah, just… Quidditch stuff.” As much as she was excited to have been given the position of Quidditch Captain, it felt like a lot of responsibility. Sure, she could play the game well, but could she really plan out everything and lead her team to a few victories? There was training to sort out, plays and strategies to come up with… it was a lot, and that was on top of her NEWT classes and papers. 

“The courtyard sounds like a good idea, though.” Even if she would probably just be doing what she was already doing, moving to the courtyard would mean she was at least getting some fresh air while she worked. “Do you think we could maybe stop by the kitchens on the way? See if we can grab a snack or something?” 

Waving her off, Mary smiled warmly, “Ah yes, as the new Captain I’m sure you’re nothing but busy. Congratulations, by the way, you deserved it”. Mary knew how hard the other girl worked on the field, and she was glad that she was being rewarded for it. She was always happy to see her friends succeed, and knowing what it meant to Marlene made her all the more happy for her. While Mary wasn’t involved with any extracurriculars she was incredibly social and focused heavily on her academics. While Mary came off as not caring much for her studies, she took them quite seriously, and knew her Mum’s would be upset if she didn’t. 

“Brilliant,” she beamed. It wasn’t often that they got nice weather, and Mary wanted to take advantage of every sunny, relatively warm day they had available to them. Tucking her hands into her pale yellow sweatshirt, she shifted her bag higher up on her shoulder. Mary had her wand tucked into the front pocket of her overalls as she waited for Marlene to get her stuff packed up. A bright grin formed as she nodded, “Marls, you read my mind. A snack is absolutely what we need before we try to get work done”. 

“Well, that must be why we get along.” Remus teased, making sure to keep at least a hint of sarcasm in his tone. “I have no reason to protect myself when I’m with you.” He added, meaning his words this time. Of course, that wasn’t strictly true. He did often use sarcasm to deflect, to draw attention away from anything about him that may seem suspicious or ingenuine. With Mary though, he saw it as affectionate. It was a way for them to bond, to insult each other without actually insulting each other. It was something they had in common. 

He let out a nervous huff of breath when she held her hand up to stop him from rambling, his relief obvious even as he struggled to hide it. “Thank you…” He said quietly. “I’m sorry, I know you love it but- I can’t actually swim and I know my luck, I know I would get out there and the boat would overturn or a storm would appear from nowhere and all of the life jackets would suddenly fall overboard. You don’t want me jinxing one of your trips.” 

He smiled gratefully, as always overwhelmed by the level of understanding his friends offered him. Even those who didn’t know his secret. “Oh…” He said, trailing off. Unsure of how best to respond. “I’m happy you have a supportive family. It doesn’t matter to me what form that family takes… you know that, right?” He prompted. He didn’t want to push her into saying anything that could potentially get her mums into trouble, but he wanted her to know that he would never have an issue with the relationship he thought they might have. 

“It’s… okay.” He admitted, shrugging lightly at the mention of how difficult he must be finding his mother’s illness. It was the guilt, more than anything. Of having used her health as a lie, a cover story for so many years, only for it to manifest and become a reality. It had to be his fault though he would never be able to explain that. “We’re getting by, we always do…” He hummed quietly in agreement. Some illnesses were the same but St Mungo’s very rarely made exceptions for Muggles, even those related to witches and wizards. And he was on every registry in England, listed as a Werewolf, as less than Muggle… less than Human. His father was confident that if they tried they would only be turned away. The name Lupin was tainted by his very existence.

“I know… we’ll- we’re thinking about it.” He said, figuring it was the easiest way to avoid raising his his family’s hesitance. “They’re incredible parents. Not many parents in our world would think I was worth the trouble…” He swallowed, trying to maintain his composure. When he thought about everything his parents had taken on, how most Wizards would have cast him to the side, handed him over to Greyback rather than raise a Werewolf, he often found himself overwhelmed. Before he could lose full control and embarrass himself, he heard somebody across the room call out for his attention. Cringing inwardly at the use of the nickname Moony, he rolled his eyes, pointedly waving James off. The boy pulled a face but continued in his journey without much protest and he laughed quietly, watching him walk away. “I’m sorry,” he apologised for the interruption. “Thank you… for saying that. It means a lot to me.” Despite knowing she may be saying something very different if she knew what he was, he loved Mary and any kind words from her were enough to lift the weight from his shoulders, even if the relief was only temporary. “Shhh,” he hushed her dramatically, happy to move on to a lighter topic of conversation. “Nobody can know.” 

Shaking her head, Mary couldn’t help but grin widely in return as she teased, “It’s definitely one of the reasons”. Nudging him Mary’s smile softened as she mused, “Course you don’t, bee. I’ll always have your back” she promised. Mary’s love for her friends was overwhelming and abundant. She was good at being there when people needed her, either for emotional support or to distract them with a good time. Sarcasm was sometimes a defense mechanism for Mary, but more often than not it was a form of affection. She had always been a playful and lighthearted person and her sarcasm was on the softer side as opposed to the jaded one. 

Mary waved him off with a sincere smile, “Don’t worry about it. Sailing really isn’t for everyone,” she replied, honestly. “Well hey, if you ever want to learn how to swim, you just let me know. Knowing your luck though, and the lack of ability to swim, it’s definitely best to keep you off the boat” she agreed with a teasing smile. Shaking her head, Mary couldn’t help but laugh, “The idea of a storm rolling out just for you sounds oddly plausible,” she teased, before continuing, “Oh please, you’re the further thing from a jinx”. 

Knowing that she had two Mums that would always be there for her was enough to keep Mary happy. She was curious about her father at times, but never enough that she would consider looking for him. Mary knew she could ask her Mum’s about him if she really wanted answers, but she hadn’t cared enough to actually broach the subject yet. Smiling, Mary nodded, “I know. You’re a good friend Re” she responded. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Remus, but Mary had been keeping her family’s dynamic vague for as long as she could remember, and old habits died hard. 

A concern look took over her features as she squeezed his hand gently, “Hey, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here. I’m the last person you have to stay strong for” she promised. Mary couldn’t imagine what it was like to watch a parent battle sickness, and she hated that two of her closest friends were going through it. There wasn’t much she could do for either of them, other than listen when they wanted to talk and give them all the optimism she possessed, especially when they ran out of it. Nodding, she gave a hum of agreement but dropped the subject she could see was making him uncomfortable. 

Her eyebrows knitted together, and for a moment she wondered if it was more than just sickness that Remus dealt with. A child being ill wasn’t usually something that sent parents running, at least not most. Mary shook her head and softly responded, “Any parent worth a damn thinks their kid is worth it, no matter how sick they are. Your parents are incredible because of how they show their love, not just because they love you.” Maybe it was because one of her parents wasn’t in the picture, but she didn’t think parents got a pat on the back just for loving their children; that was something that should be expected. Hearing James’ voice filter through the halls, Mary waved while giving him a smile. 

“Don’t be sorry, we both know James is your attention seeking child,” she teased, a fond grin on her lips. Her eyebrows knitted together in thought for a moment before she asked curiously, “Why do they call you that? I mean, you guys all have weird nicknames for each other, but where did they come from?” she asked. It was a bit strange, and Mary was nothing if not a conspiracy theorist. This wasn’t the first time the idea of Remus being a werewolf had crossed her mind, but she always chased it away by reminding herself that she was likely being absurd. Grinning, Mary shook her head, “Nobody will ever hear it from me,” she teased. 

Remus smiled sadly at Mary’s observation, wishing he could tell her why she was right. From his parents teaching him if he wasn’t calm and polite at all times people would only see the worst in him, the pain and trauma he had been forced to endure from a very young age, and receiving his Hogwarts letter knowing he needed to earn his place, to prove he was worthy… when he first arrived at Hogwarts he didn’t know not being serious was an option. He was already tired, already resigned to staying away from anything that might cause him to let down his guard. He longed to travel backwards in time, to tell eleven year old Remus that in five years he would be sitting on a ledge in the Gryffindor Common Room, drunk out of his mind, with a friend, somebody he loved more than anything. Somebody who loved him too. He laughed, pulled out of his own thoughts by the mention of his new title. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me that- or will ever call me that again.” He admitted, scrambling to join her. “As long as we don’t look like we’re about to fall, I’m sure James will- he’ll let this one slide.” He assured her, taking a moment to get comfortable before leaning into her touch. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, looking out at the party. “Anyway- aren’t you a Prefect now? Can’t you just threaten to take away his house points if he tries to make us get down?” He hummed quietly, smiling even though she couldn’t see his face. She was right, it wasn’t just him. Everyone was smiling. Everyone seemed to be having fun. It was its own kind of magic, he thought. Creating a safe space in a world that seemed to be growing darker by the day. “It’s perfect…” He murmured. “Thank you. I think- I think we all needed this.” 

There was  more to Remus than she knew, that much Mary was sure of, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She had a theory, but there was no way to confirm if she was right, not without directly asking him, and Mary couldn’t do that. It was a bold theory, and if she was wrong, and she could be wrong, it would only sound absurd and maybe even offensive. Drunk Mary couldn’t think about that though, all she could see was the sad smile on her friend’s face. The melancholy, the tiredness, it was a look she had seen far too often on the people she loved lately. Mary was seemingly a never ending ball of light, and yet, no matter how hard she tried to shine that warm light on the people she loved, sometimes it wasn’t enough. All she could do was sit with them through it and hope that not being alone was enough, that having a friend to lean on was enough. Hearing his laughter though, Mary couldn’t help but smile in return, and she could see some of the brooding fall away from his face. “Well I’m calling you that, and you certainly deserve it tonight. Remus Lupin, the King of the Party! There’s no one better to rule by my side,” she beamed. 

Shaking her head, she gave the boy in question a wave across the room. She could see the anxiety lines on James’ face, but he merely kept a careful eye on them. “Even if he doesn’t, good luck to him trying to get us down,” she grinned, a hint of mischief in her eyes. Mary wasn’t known for being mischievous exactly, but it was certainly there. She settled with his head resting on top of hers, and couldn’t help but laugh at his reminder, “You’re absolutely right. I’m in charge, he isn’t the boss of me” she decided. Mary watched on with a sense of contentment she hadn’t quite felt since she’d been back. While Hogwarts had introduced her to magic beyond her wildest dreams, it felt nice being able to bring in a little magic that she learned from home. Giving people the space to be themselves, to let down their walls, and watching how free and happy everyone became. “It is,” she agreed. Mary blushed, and gave a mild shrug, “No thanks needed. I was happy to do it, and I’m glad it helped in it’s own little way.”

To say there was an overabundance of things pulling on Ariel’s mind these days would be an understatement. The disappearance of Addison, the research and work she was doing regarding werewolves, and on top of that her NEWT-level coursework, had her staying up more nights than she went to sleep. Her head seemed to pulse and she reached for her coffee, when she saw someone move into her peripheral vision and stop.

“What?” Ariel looked up from her Potion’s essay. Mary MacDonald. The two of them had not had a whole lot of contact before now, but the younger girl was friends with James and had thrown that party the other day, “Oh, yeah, feel free,” She said, waving to the empty space next to her pile of texbooks. She backed down at her parchment, the paper seemingly swimming in her vision. With a small sigh she took her glasses off, scrubbing her face with her hand for a moment, there was still a long way to go before she could leave this table.

Getting back into the swing of coursework was like riding a bike to some degree. Mary had cultivated her study habits over the years, but she had more classes this year. Of course, Mary didn’t regret that, not in the least bit. She was preparing for her seventh year and wanted to ensure that she took all the courses she needed to enter the job field the year after. Still, seven courses was a lot and Mary was still working out the balance between studying and socialization. Mary had her tea in one hand and her bag full of coursework in the other. She could see the tiredness on the older girl’s face, and how deep in thought she appeared to be. However, with the go ahead, Mary sat down and made herself comfortable. 

“Thanks, it’s a lot busier down here than I expected it to be,” she admitted. Mary wondered if all their professors had decided to slam their students with work at the same time; it wouldn’t wholly surprise her. Pulling out her parchment and ink, Mary took a moment to look over her notes first. She already had the outline so the essay just needed to be crafted and she’d be set. However, she could see the exhaustion on Ariel’s face and she couldn’t help but ask, “Are you alright?”

Lily licked her lips, smiling brightly. She tasted Mary’s drink on her lips; decidedly different to the spiced rum and coke she’d been drinking all night. Which reminded her; she’d need to drink at least two pinks of water before bed otherwise she’d be a shaking, nauseous mess the next day. She reached out, brushing her thumb under Mary’s eye, moving the ever so slight smudge of mascara which had transferred to below her eye. She hummed happily. Love you, she mouthed. Her relationship with Mary was a stark comparison to her relationship with Petunia; even as children when Petunia had still cared for her, their relationship had been different. As if they’d always been heading in a different direction. Always different souls in the vast world. It made having met Mary all the more important and special to Lily. It made her appreciate every moment; every late night study session, every day in the sun, every shared despairing look over a comment in class, every summer in Ireland on the water. If you looked on them on paper, without any note of their platony – you’d probably think they were something more than friends. But in truth, they just shared a soul.

The lyrics of the song grabbed her attention; spilling from her lips almost without choice. “I’m an atom bomb, about to oh-oh-oh-oh-oh explode!”. Red hair swung with her body, unruly and thick with curls. She was pretty damn happy for the charm keeping her skirt where it was and not exposing herself, because she was certainly not dancing with any care for how her clothes would fair with the movement.

She grinned, wiggling her brows. “I keep you safe,” she reminded Mary with a nod. Throwing her head back, she drank the shot quickly. Cold liquid burned it’s way down her throat, promising to warm her bones. She almost missed Mary’s bows as she steadied herself. A silly giggle left her lips. The song ended and the next began. Within the first few notes, Lily found herself squealing. “What a line up!!” she called out. Moonage Daydream, by David Bowie began to play. If there was one artist Lily loved more than anything, it was David Bowie.

Mary had stuck to vodka and sprite as her drink of choice. It was a little sweet, but the alcohol was still strong enough to taste. However, she could taste Lily’s drink on her lips and it held the same spicy quality that she associated with the other girl. Mixed with the sweetness of her own drink it was the perfect combination of them both. Mary knew that before she went to bed she needed to consume at least a few glasses of water, otherwise she was going to be more miserable than she could describe. A bright smile was plastered to her face as Lily fixed her makeup gently, and she couldn’t help but responded with a mouthed, Love you even more. Mary hadn’t grown up with any siblings of her own, but she imaged this is what having a sister was like. No one could ever compare to Lily and what she meant to her. She knew that people who didn’t know them, that weren’t privy to the platonic nature of their relationship, saw something more between them. It never bothered her though, and it never deterred her from expressing her affection. Whatever her soul was made up of, hers and Lily’s were the same.

Laughter bubbled out of her as she watched Lily twirl and she couldn’t help but grin brightly. Mary took the other girl’s hand and brought her in closely as she sang, “I wanna make a supersonic woman of you”, pressing a kiss to her cheek before shimmying her shoulder’s back. Mary could feel her star patterned sheer overdress whipping around her as she danced. Her heels had been charmed so that her ankle wouldn’t roll, no matter how fiercely she danced to the music.

Holding onto the red head tightly, Mary nodded, “I’m always safest when I’m with you” she agreed. Lily had always made her feel safe and brave, even when it was hard. Mary matched her best friend’s movements and took her own shot back with ease. The warmth spread throughout her instantly and she couldn’t help but enjoy that feeling. Hearing a new song, Mary grinned and looked to Lily excitedly. Knowing that the red head had a deep rooted love for Bowie, she was prepared to continue dancing like her life depended on it. Laughing, she nodded, “It’s not a party without, Bowie” she grinned, before singling loudly, “I’m a space invader, I’ll be a rock n’ rollin’ bitch for you” right to Lily.

“Oh, it does?” Remus raised his eyebrows, finding a degree of satisfaction in being seen as more than a boring prefect, somebody who followed the rules and worked to keep his closest friends in check. “Hey! I’m not that serious!” He insisted, despite knowing Mary was probably right. He had a tendency to get lost in his problems, to let his issues seep into his day to day life and consume him. Not tonight, he refused to let that happen tonight. Whatever was happening outside of the castle could wait. The next full moon could wait. Being honest with Dee about his body confidence issues could wait. All that mattered right now was joining Mary on the ledge. “King of the party?” He grinned. “I guess that would make you queen rather than the host and the leader.” He pointed out, laughing at her mention of Bellatrix. “It’s your funeral.” He muttered, deciding not to fight her on the subject. He watched as she called out to the party, the students nearest turning to listen to her declaration. “You’re already on the ledge, Mary. You’re already tall!” He grinned, waiting for her to finish demanding more drinks before handing her the bottle he had fetched from the table. When she had taken it, along with her own cup, he pulled himself up onto the piece of furniture. “James would definitely kill you.” He agreed, eying the chair and trying to decide the easiest way to climb onto it. He took her hand when she offered it to him, scrambling to stand on the chair and twist awkwardly so that he could boost himself up onto the stone ledge. It took longer than he thought it would, and he knew he must have looked incredibly ungraceful. But miraculously he didn’t fall and found himself sitting comfortably next to his friend. He lazily lifted his arm and draped it over her shoulder, looking out at the party she had planned for them all. “Yeah…” He agreed, unable to hide his strange feeling of sudden contentment. “Yeah, it kind of is.” 

Nodding her head in a matter of fact way she replied, “Of course it does”. Squeezing his hand, Mary smiled and reassured, “No, you’re not that serious all the time, but you always have to be more serious than the other boys, so it’s nice to see you getting to let go” she clarified. Mary knew that there was a lot weighing on Remus most the time, and she knew that held a lot more responsibility than most people did. Still, it was nice to see him relax and have fun. Mary was good at walking the line between fun and responsibilities. She didn’t slack off in school, but she had a healthy social life and made the best out of her years at Hogwarts. Nodding, she affirmed with a grin, “King of the Party.” Laughing, Mary considered it for a moment before she inclined, “Yes, I suppose that’s right. Okay, I’m officially the Queen of the party” she decided with a grin. Shrugging her shoulders, Mary gave a biting grin as she remarked, “It won’t be my funeral at all. I’m not scared of any of them”. Looking at him in confusion for a moment, she gave him a broad smile, “Yes I’m tall, but I am excited for us to be tall. It’ll be much more fun when you’re sitting up here with me” she explained. 

Mary was perfectly content sitting up on her ledge. With drinks in her hand and her best friend on his way up, Mary couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to be. Laughing, she nodded, “I know he would. As it is, I’m waiting for him to notice what we’re up to and start shouting. Merlin knows, he can be such a Mum,” she teased, though it was said with fondness. Mary waited patiently for him to figure out his strategy, and she happily helped hoist him up to the spot next to her once he was close enough. Leaning her head onto his shoulder once they were situated she hummed contently, “I love it. Look how happy everyone is?”

“You detect a little sarcasm.” Remus confirmed, offering his friend a guilty smile. “It’s a reflex at this point, I can’t help it.” His smile faltered slightly at the mention of sailing. He didn’t necessarily enjoy trying new things and the ocean felt like something incredibly dangerous. Something somebody with his terrible luck should actively work on avoiding. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? You know my health isn’t…” He trailed off,  immediately feeling bad for attempting to brush off something that could mean so much to Mary and the rest of the Macdonalds. “I would love to meet your parents.” He said finally. “Are they witches too?” He only now realised he didn’t know anything about her heritage. At the mention of his mum, a frown creased his brow as he thought about how different she could be when her health fluctuated. It was scary seeing somebody you loved more than anything become an entirely new person. It was even more terrifying not being able to understand why. “I- I really hope so.” He bit down on his bottom lip, taking a few seconds to collect himself before continuing. “No… she’s a Muggle, I’m not sure it would do her any good even if they did admit her. Muggles… they don’t get sick in the same way.” He nodded quietly when Mary moved onto his new home, thinking of the little back garden he knew his parents had fallen in love with. “Oh, I- I hope so. It has a garden and Mum loves gardening. She’s very good at it for someone who can’t use magic. The only gardening I know how to do usually requires a wand.” He looked up suddenly at her next question, feeling his throat constrict as he realised he had said something that could potentially get him into trouble. But as quickly as Mary had asked, she was taking the question back, telling him she knew it wasn’t her place to ask. He felt his shoulders drop as relief washed over him, and he smiled weakly at her. “It’s okay… I think they do it to keep me happy.” He said, figuring happy and safe were similar enough for the statement to not be considered an outright lie. “They only want what’s best for me but when you’re only child is constantly unwell- I guess they figure there is only so much they can do to help. They’re always looking for new ways to- to improve things for me.” He ducked his head when she nudged his shoulder, feeling the conversation return to normal. He smiled again, this time it came easy. “If I was, it would be counterproductive to tell you.” He teased. “Plausible deniability is important.”

Shrugging her shoulder’s she gave him a smile, “Lucky for you I quite like sarcasm” she replied with a smile. Softening, she responded, “I get it. Honestly, it’s a solid defense mechanism, and I would certainly never begrudge you for using it. That would make me a hypocrite and Merlin knows that’s the last thing I’d ever want to be” she admitted. Watching his smile wobble, Mary listened carefully as he spoke. His nervousness wasn’t missed, and neither was the way he immediately backtracked his hesitations. Mary’s eyebrows came together at the mention of his health, and she put up a hand gently to stop him, “Remus, hey, it’s not a big deal. I just thought I’d offer, but I certainly won’t be upset if you’d rather not go out on the water. It’s a lot. Besides, there’s plenty of other things we can do if you come visit” she easily reassured. Mary didn’t often talk about her parents freely, not because she wasn’t proud of them or because she didn’t love them, but to protect them. Shaking her head, Mary smiled, “No, they’re both muggles actually. I don’t actually know about my Da, but at this point I don’t feel the need to” she admitted. Her dad had left and that was all she needed to know about him. Mary had too Mum’s that loved her and that was more than enough for her. 

“I know they’re making strides. I can’t imagine how difficult this has been for you,” she admitted. Nodding her head, she gave a hum, “That’s true, but sometimes we just have different names for the same things.” Smiling as he talked about gardening, she replied, “That doesn’t surprise me at all. Some people are just natural green thumbs, and the more you learn about plants, the easier they are to tend to. It’s good your Mum has something she enjoys at the house too.” Mary hadn’t meant to pry so much, and she could see him visibly tense by her question and she could kick herself for asking it at all. She had immediately taken it back, knowing that despite their friendship, she never wanted him to feel obligated to tell her anything. Mary would always listen, always be there, but she never wanted him to feel pressured. Nodding, she smiled, “They’re good parents. It’s easy to see that they love you a lot.” While it confused her how moving would keep him happy, she wasn’t going to ask anything further. Instead she continued and said, “It doesn’t surprise me that they’d do anything to make things better for you. If anyone deserves that, it’s you, Rem”. The lightness returned and Mary was grateful for it. Grinning, she shook her head, “You can try to deny it all you want, but I know the truth. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me,” she teased. 

Though she wasn’t the type to dwell on things, preferring instead to focus on living, Addison’s disappearance had been troubling Marlene. She hadn’t exactly been close to the girl, but she had known her well enough to be confident that it wasn’t in the other girl’s nature to just run away. Whatever had happened, there was someone else involved, and the fact that they had been so bold as to go after the Minister’s daughter… Well, that was just further proof of how much their world was changing, and how quickly. Right now though, it seemed there was nothing that they could do except wait for news, and so Marlene was focusing her energy on her classes and her new role as Quidditch Captain. 

She had just been going over some new ideas for some plays when she became aware of someone talking to her and looked up. “Sorry, I was trying to figure something out. What were you saying?”

As usual, Mary was attempting to finish all the homework she had managed to accumulate. Seven classes was truly at the edge of her limit, but she couldn’t regret picking up any of them and couldn’t bring herself to let one go. She enjoyed the lessons, and didn’t mind the work as a general rule. It just felt like she was constantly playing catch up. Knowing that she would probably have to go to the library at some point, Mary was hoping to take advantage of the nice day and go down to the courtyard instead for a little while. Eventually winter would come and they would be stuck inside a lot more, and Mary wanted to be outside as much as she could before that point. Spotting Marlene on her way down, she approached her and asked, “Hey, I’m going down to the courtyard to get some work done, do you want to come? I promise we’ll actually study and get stuff accomplished and not just goof off the whole time,” she grinned. 

However, her smile fell slightly as Marlene ignored her and she gave an amused sigh as she mused, “Hello? Earth to Marley.” When the other girl finally looked up at her, Mary grinned, “Lost in your own head again? I was asking if you wanted to come down to the courtyard and get some work done with me” she asked warmly.

Coming back from the library, Mary wanted nothing more than to go curl up in her bed. It was still rather early though, and she had an essay to finish before she could call it a night. Alchemy was easily one of her favourite subjects, so the essay itself wasn’t going to be hard. The trick would be getting herself to actually write the damn thing. Still, it was past the point of her wanting to be in the library, and she found herself heading into the Gryffindor common room to get herself comfortable. Stopping up into her dorm quick to change into her sweatpants and one of her Mum’s sweatshirts, she made her way down to the common room. Having exchanged her socks for slippers, she decided to make herself as comfy as she could be while she finished the last of her homework. 

Most of the tables were filled, but there was an open spot next to Ariel by the window. In truth, that was one of her favourite spots, as it had a good view of the stars, but it helped that it was the only place with an open spot. While she didn’t know Ariel terribly well, she knew that the older girl was head strong. If there was something she believed in she wasn’t afraid to say so, and Mary could admire that about her. She had heard James talk about her of course, and knew they’d grown up together. It was clear he was fond of her, so she had no doubt she likely would be too. Heading that way, Mary pushed her hair back with one hand as she adjusted her homework in the other as she spoke, “Hey Ariel, is anyone sitting here?” she asked. 

Lily shrugged with a small smile on her lips. “You know I’d do anything for you, Mac,” she said simply. “Even look at Binn’s face on a Monday morning for an entire year,” she added, shooting Mary a look that said - now that’s dedication -. A grin found her lips. “Damn straight,” she echoed fondly.

Mary had a sweet tooth to match her own, and for that Lily was unbelievably grateful. Incredibly grateful. Because who else would she want to share a midnight snack with?  Lily wasn’t one to share her chocolate usually; only with Mary and Remus. “Thank God you have the right priorities,” she jested. Lily listened as Mary listed her subjects, it was warming to see the similarities they shared in their selections, but also the differences. They were such individuals, even when it felt like their hearts beat to the same unique rhythm. She smiled, nodding her head. “I suspect I will,” she said. “I’ll never hear the end of it otherwise!” she added with a chuckle.

Her eyes widened with excitement. “Oh yes, do that! Herbology is going to be so good this year!” she said. “We get to work with venomous tentacula, and the professor doesn’t get shirty if we swear if it grabs us…” she told her friend with a little excitement. “Not that it will grab us…” she added. With a nod of agreement she stood up, moving to her bed to slip some shoes on. She’d long laced up her boots but managed to find the right way to slip into them without needing to re-lace them. “Seven’s the limit, without a doubt,” she said. “You ready?” she asked as she straightened up, looking back to her friend with a bright smile on her face.

There was a warmth that spread through her chest as she squeezed her best friend’s hand, “I know. I hope you know that sentiment is entirely mutual,” she answered softly. A small laugh escaped her as she nodded, “That’s real love, Lily Evans.” Mary often thought the level of dedication in their friendship was unparalleled, but this absolutely proved that sentiment to be true. Shaking her head fondly, she gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

The hoard of sweets piled in their shared nightstand drawer was a testament to their combined love of sweets. It was entirely too easy for them to convince one another to sneak down to the kitchens at night and grab a midnight snack. The only other person allowed to share their chocolate was Remus. “Of course I do. Food first, studies later” she teased, though she wasn’t entirely kidding. There was a lot of comfort in knowing that she and Lily already shared so many classes, but that they also took some separate subjects that solely interested them. It was important to explore their respective talents, and Mary loved that despite how incredibly in sync they tended to be, they carried their own rhythms from time to time. Nodding, she grimaced, “I can hear Slughorn’s whining now. Honestly, it’s going to be a bloody interesting class I think,” she added. 

At Lily’s excitement, her smile couldn’t help but form into a grin, “Yeah? Alright, I’m sold. I’ll switch into Herbology and make both our lives a bit more fun” she laughed, before her eyes widened with excitement, “Oh that is exciting. I for one am looking forward to that lesson,” she admitted. Herbology was a class she thoroughly enjoyed, but hadn’t thought she had room for it in her schedule. Mary slipped her boots on and laughed, “Oh absolutely. We’ll go barkin’ if we try to take on anymore” she agreed. Looping her arm with Lily’s she nodded, “Always”. 

“I take that as a compliment, you know. Most people consider me boring.” Remus pointed out. “And the drink has made my judgement less than perfect. I was still able to come up with a semi-coherent plan.” He raised his eyebrows, a smirk playing at his lips. “You’ll make it up to me?” He asked, curious as to what she had in mind. With Mary it could never be anything good, but right now he wasn’t worried about breaking rules or double standards. Right now he wanted to enjoy himself in the way any regular sixteen year old would. “Parties don’t have leaders, Macdonald, they have hosts.” He corrected his friend with a grin. “But by all means, take my title from me. Merlin, if it means I never have to deal with Bellatrix Black again then you can have it- I’ll give it to you.” He pulled his prefect badge from his pocket, raising it in a mock toast alongside Mary before reaching out and clumsily pinning it to her shirt. He wasn’t entirely sure where his wand was which meant a summoning spell would be out of the question if it managed to disappear during the night, but that detail couldn’t feel less important to him. In fact, nothing really felt important. “I will-” He agreed, turning his attention back to the chair. “I’ll be tall with you- if only to see how long it takes for James to get scared and shout at us.” He grinned, moving to help her with the furniture. He watched as she balanced the chair without the use of a sticking charm, debating whether he wanted to enforce it. Then again, he reminded himself, you’ve broken pretty much every bone in your body. You can survive a six foot drop. He was pulled from his thoughts by Mary’s shout of obvious joy and he laughed, eyes shining. This was easy. This was how it was supposed to feel. “I don’t have a drink.” He realised, glancing down at his empty hands. “Give me a second-” He turned to find the drinks table, ducking through the crowd until he was able to successfully swipe a bottle of Firewhiskey. Upon returning to where Mary was perched, legs swinging innocently, he set it down on the table and scrambled to climb on top of it. When his feet felt steady, he picked up the bottle and her cup, holding them out so that she could take them from him. “You’ll help me up, right?” He asked. “I mean- or you can seriously underestimate my upper- upper body strength and watch me fall to my death.” 

Grinning from ear to ear, Mary laughed, “Good, you should take it as a compliment. You’re absolutely a menace which makes you that much more interesting” she teased. Shrugging, she gave a hum of agreement, “Sure it has, but isn’t that half the fun? You deserve to take a break from mister serious prefect now and again. It was still a halfway decent plan” she conceded, a brightness to her smile. Mary nodded as she laughed, “Certainly. I’m going to name you King of the party for all your efforts”. Waving him off, she stuck out her tongue, “I can be the host and the leader if I want to be, it’s my party” she reasoned, a childish insolence to her tone. However, a wide, excited grin took over her features at his offer and she laughed warmly, “Oh I will happily deal with Ms. Black. Two can play at her game” she challenged, thinking back to their game of niceness down by the lake. Once the badge was pinned to her shirt, Mary called out, “Oi, I’m in charge now, and as the party leader I degree more drinks for everyone. Mary had never considered herself to be prefect material, but for one night, she would wear the badge with honor and authority. 

“Godric, you’re the best. We’re going to be so tall,” she mused happily. From up on her perk, Mary had an eye on everything and everyone. At his words she cupped her hands to her face as she gasped, “Oh no. I just degreed more drinks for everyone. You have to get a drink then”. It was a mixture of concern and an order but she saw that he was already headed towards the drink table and she grinned. Looking over the party, a happy glaze came over her face as she took in all the people that were having fun. Things weren’t perfect by any means, it didn’t actually solve any of their issues, and they would still be there waiting for them all tomorrow morning, she knew, but for the time being, people were happy and Mary was content with her handiwork. Her legs swung mindlessly, but her lackadaisical smile turned into a sharp and vibrant grin as her friend returned. Mary took the bottle and cup and set them on the side closest to the wall and slightly behind her, taking a swig out of the bottle on her way to set it down. Her head nodded as she very seriously told him, “Of course I’ll help you up, Rem. No way would I let you ever fall to your death; you’re much too important. Besides, James would bloody kill me” she teased, though the previous sentiment rang true. As he got towards the top, Mary helped pull him up into the spot next to her, “See, bloody brilliant up here isn’t it?”