Take a Breather

[MOLLY PREWETT]

There was one every year for as long as Molly could remember…perhaps not just one, but ever since she’d come to Hogwarts she always seemed to nearly trip over a first year bawling their eyes out. As other students hurried on, a few Ravenclaws giving withering glances while a Hufflepuff paused for a moment to give a more pitying glance, the seventh year was left sitting on the window ledge, arm around the little Gryffindor first year. Every now and then as the sobs grew quieter she'd feed her another one of the biscuits she’d intended to be her snack in Advanced Potions later that afternoon.

“It’s not so bad, your Aunt will pick you up at the station when the winter holidays roll around…and if you cheer up and start to find the nice things around Hogwarts you’ll be in tears because you don’t want to leave.” She smiled a little wider, muscles twinging in her cheeks as if the effort would will the tears to stop. She was in luck this year, unlike others where she ended up leading around a child like a little gosling, the girl devoured her third
shortbread biscuit and took a deep shuddering breath as she nodded.

“O-okay…I just with Aunt Tilda could come with me.” Molly eased back her smile a little, opting instead to pet the top of the child’s head before the girl slid off of the window seat, fidgeting in the robes a size too big for her.

“No you don’t because then she’d tell you that biscuits would ruin your appetite and make you eat all the vegetables they serve at dinner with no ice cream later. Trust me, enjoy the fun…I bet you’ll make plenty of friends before the day ends. Just watch out for some of the older Slytherines. I hear they bite.” With a giggle from the first-year and a quick wave goodbye Molly was left by the windows with just her stack of books and two of the six treats wrapped up in her handkerchief. “Well that was bloody tedious. Should get a Prefect badge for all the sweets I give up.” She muttered to herself, giving a bit of a chuckle as she moved to stretch out now that the seat beside her was no longer occupied, picking up her history book as she flipped through the animated pictures of fierce wizard battles. Giving a small sigh she got through two paragraphs before she shut the book, fingers coming up into her messy bangs as she brushed them back, frizzing them up more.

“Oh enough of that drivel…homework for free period is ridiculous.” Getting up she looked around the quiet hall, a few students still lingering and chatting as she shoved her scrolls and books into her bag. A little fresh air would do a bit of good.

[REMUS JOHN LUPIN]

"You think Slytherins are the only ones who bite?" Remus grinned at the Prewett girl as he approached her. Really, James and Sirius up until the previous year had their times where first years fell victims to plainly obvious (and stupid) pranks. Luckily the really serious stuff was saved for the ones who deserved it, but his friends always said they were doing their civic duty by showing the students that Hogwarts could be great... and terrible. Of course, most of the kids would laugh it off, and others would start trying to imitate the Marauders, but some, Remus was sure, were scarred for life in the castle.

Being the type of student he was, Remus already had his homework done. He enjoyed getting a majority of it done in class while the teacher was talking. Of course he took lecture notes, too, but it wasn't that difficult to start the bullet points of a paper or start defining terms and multitask. It was much easier than putting up with his friends trying to pull him into another wild and crazy adventure. Not that he minded those at all, of course. In fact, they provided a great deal of entertainment and Remus was just as much the prankster as his friends, he was just more level-headed about it, usually.

Usually, that was. Until you got a few drinks in him, then he was certainly not the Moony everyone adored and loved, save for his friends. "You're looking less than impressed, not a good day today?" Remus extended to her a part chocolate bar he'd picked up during their first Hogsmeade trip of the year. He had it out and broke off a piece for himself, popping it in his mouth. The full moon would be coming up soon, and when it did, he started to consume more of his favorite treat.

One day, maybe, he'd be a fat, pudgy werewolf that wouldn't be a threat because it couldn't get off the couch, but he doubted it, considering he ate like a bird and got plenty of exercise at least. "Mind if I join you? I have free period now, too," there weren't many career options for his kind, yet he was taking the course work required to be an auror. That would be his desired profession if he wasn't barred from it for his "dark leanings". Utter rubbish.

"And I've already completed my work," he hoped he wouldn't come off as bragging. Sometimes it didn't occur to him that most other students didn't keep up with their schoolwork like he and some others did. Perhaps he should be in Ravenclaw- but even then, he knew quite a few lazy Ravenclaws. Even Hufflepuffs, hardworkers that they were, were more likely to be overachieving students than the other houses. Intellect had to be matched by application, he supposed.

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TAG - Molly
WORDS - IDK.
SONG - None
MUSE - Good!
NOTES - Hope Remus replying is okay!
CREDIT made by flyy~

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[MOLLY PREWETT]

Molly tensed a moment as she realized someone had caught what she was saying. It was much like the moments when Gideon would catch Fabian teaching her bad words and any moment she expected her mother to be behind her to box her ears…

However her mother did not sound like a boy, and was quite a safe distance away to keep from doing anything....

“Well they are represented by a serpent, most of those, big or small; carry a pretty hard and nasty bite.” She replied, turning to look at the Prefect, giving him a polite smile. She knew him fairly well, anyone part of James Potter’s little group, though she bit her tongue from jokingly asking were Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, and Peter were if not with him. After all…the man was offering chocolate, who was she to refuse the kind gesture as she reached out to break off a square. “Thanks.” She gave a small sigh and a shrug, “Not so much a bad day, just unexpected happenings here and there. I keep forgetting that the first year here can be so big and scary to some.”

In trying to think back so far to her own first year she never had felt afraid. Molly had her brothers always watching her back, keeping her out of trouble and even going so far as to keep her from the more extended members of the family. Not everyone had that she guessed, some with muggle siblings or no siblings at all were left to fend for themselves if they didn’t know anyone on the train over. A strange new place could be enough of a shock to bring up unwanted emotions between the excitement and adventure, though she was one to talk in her final year.

It took her a moment to realize the other had been talking to her, looking up she blushed a little and chuckled, “What n—oh! Go right ahead Lupin, I was going to get some fresh air anyways. We only get the nice weather for so much longer before the cold and clouds set in for the season right?” Picking up her bag she dragged fingers through her hair again, giving a little tug on a tangle, “Beginning of the year and staying up to standard with your title, eh? Well I would get mine done now, but I’m fairly sure I’ll get most of it done before the weekend. Not a lot of work this year it seems. Everyone is getting busy I guess, looking for what is next.” Shouldering her bag she started walking towards the doors that lead out to the small courtyard.

“So what about you? What brings you out here all on your own? Wouldn’t you be off spending time with Potter, Black, and Pettigrew instead of wandering during free time?”

[REMUS JOHN LUPIN]

Remus was grinning at Molly as she accepted his request to join her during their free period. "Would you know it? James and Sirius have detention, and Wormtail got held back in Potions to help clean up. He knocked a whole row of ingredients off today." His friends caused him to shake his head at some of their antics. Really, he did join them sometimes, but he also knew when pranks were too obvious that they would be caught. "Tried to sneak up to the forbidden corridor. Lily caught them, of course, and gave them detention," Remus could never give his friends detention, and they took advantage of him for that.

"Ah... first year. I was too happy to be away from home to be too scared. Besides, I got stolen away fairly quickly into the Marauders," they called themselves that, even in public. It was just a tad ridiculous, but at the same time there was a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself and having a sense of belonging was more important to Remus than.... well... anything. "I didn't have many friends until Hogwarts, and I'm an only child, so everything was too new and too exciting for me. I suppose I did get intimidated sometimes, but if I did, I don't remember it these days."

He stretched his arms over his head. "Right now I'm excited about going to Honeydukes again. Hogsmeade trips don't come often enough," even if they were once per month after third year. He looked forward to them and going to the famed sweets shop and then spending the rest of the evening with his friends at the Three Broomsticks sneaking alcohol into their butterbeers. There wasn't really a comparison to the feeling... perhaps sneaking into the kitchen and terrorizing the house-elves with their drunken ramblings almost sufficed, but time with friends- that was the most important thing.

"I suppose I can't help but get work done as soon as I get it. I don't like having that stress and I have more time to do some leisure studies and spend time with other people," he gave her a small smiled. "I can't believe we're already so old. Feels like just yesterday I was getting here for the first time, come to think of it. Next year will be my last year... oh, that's right, you're a seventh year now, aren't you?"

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TAG - Molly
WORDS - 516
SONG - None
MUSE - Good!
NOTES - Hope Remus replying is okay!
CREDIT made by flyy~

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[MOLLY PREWETT]

“Detention? Noo…” Molly gave a fake gasp, the sarcasm in her surprise thick as she tried not to laugh and break character as she played along with Remus’ gossiping tone that seemed to lack just as much surprise as her own. “Of course she did. Miss Potter has a good head on her shoulders; most gingers do if you ask me.” She chuckled softly, sighing as she swung her book bag a little, looking down at the marble tiles, trying to step along only certain colors for a few moments, a childish game she indulged in as a competition with herself before her attentions had to go to avoiding the students hurrying along the hall in front of them. At Hogwarts being alert often was key to navigating the halls and stairs as things occasionally enjoyed switching up on the unaware. Molly remembered her first year without her brothers and almost toppling off the steps as she was just a little too slow and a little too distracted to notice where her foot went. That was something she learned from fast.

“I guess we can pick our best friends, but we never know who we’ll really click with right? Your Marauders best be careful though, soon those kind of things won’t be taken so lightly outside of a school…Potter and Black plan on taking some years over again?” She teased softly, “Well unless you come from a place full of wizards and witches you often are limited aren’t you? At least when there are none your age. Things changed though, right? I remember when my brothers left that first year along was a bit scary. No one to run to for help. We all learn though, eh? If we didn’t I’d be sitting with crying sixth years too.” Getting to the doors she pushed them open, bracing her foot against the edge of the door to hold it open as she breathed in the crisp air. Summer was almost at an end indeed, the warmth and sun was still there, but in the early afternoon there was just the slightest chill that came through on the breeze.

Once outside Molly hurried off the path and onto the grass, walking along the expanse of green. Already one could see the groups of friends finding each other after the long summer, some couples enjoying each other’s company in the grass in ways that professors would hardly approve of. “Goodness, looks like we aren’t the only ones making the most of the freedom.” She joked lightly. It was a little annoying to see, though only as a reminder of her mother’s fretting in the letters to school that Molly would come home without a single suitor. “I know I could do with a trip to Hogsmeade. I miss being able to get away from school, even if only for a day.” She stretched her arms up above her head before tossing her bag down under a willow tree. “Leisure studies. Goodness, we’re going to be reading all about you in the future aren’t we? With as much as you work I wouldn’t be surprised if you were hired as a Professor once you graduate.” She teased lightly before he brought up her own status in school.

“Ah, yes…seventh year. Much like all the other years, only they like to stick ‘Advanced’ in front of the subjects and make sure you were paying attention the first six. Why? Curious about what your course load may look like?”

[REMUS JOHN LUPIN]

Calling Lily "Miss Potter" brought a strange look to Remus's face. It wasn't quite readable because he wasn't sure he'd ever made such an expression before- a mixture of unease, shock, and weariness had set in across his features, but it was quickly shaken off as the subject continued to change, and for that Remus was grateful. Lily was one of his dear friends, and it was true that James had been head-over-heels for her since their first year, but Sirius, Remus, and Peter weren't sure if we was serious about her or if he just enjoyed the chase. Even so, Remus didn't fancy thinking of their James- their Prongs with her. They were the Marauders.

Come to think of it, they all had to approve of a girl before any of them felt comfortable dating. He and James tended to be the most critical when it came to others' choices, though- particularly Sirius's. It wasn't a secret that Peter didn't have girls flocking over him like James and Sirius, and even Remus had attracted attention once or twice, but his own self-doubt and poor self-worth had kept him from having to bring a girl's name up in conversation to get his friends' opinion on her. He did enough good at letting girls down on his own on the rare occasions it happened.

"I don't know, Molly, I think that the adult world is filled with more ridiculousness than this school. After all, you're not bound by underage magic restrictions at that point." Many wizards were well known for that sort of thing. "However... I think that by next year, things will start changing. There's something nice about being in school and feeling as if you don't hold as many responsibilities. But when posed with the fact you have to grow up... most people usually do," and he thought his friends would. "Besides, with their chosen career paths, they'll need to do so.... and if rumors are you..." Remus paused.

He stretched his arms over his head and gasped softly as his back popped. It was too close to the full moon and his bones were aching something fierce. "What do you want to do after graduating? I plan to take the auror exams," he lied. But he had to lie. That was what he wanted to do, but McGonagal had already informed him that it would be impossible given his nature. The ministry wouldn't trust fighting dark wizards to werewolves. Sirius and James didn't know yet. He'd lied to them, too, he had to... he couldn't take anyone's pity.

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TAG - Molly
WORDS - 553
SONG - Super Junior - Sexy, Free, & Single
MUSE - Good!
NOTES - Nothing important to note this time!
CREDIT made by flyy~

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[MOLLY PREWETT]

Molly glanced at Remus, he seemed a bit quiet at her tease at Lily Evans. Some girls teased about her being Mrs. Potter when it was funny to, but she’d slipped up and said it in front of one of Potter’s group. That couldn’t be good if it got back around, but he didn’t seem too shocked or pleased so Molly just let it roll off and hope it was something that the Gryffindor boy would soon forget. With luck, even if it did get out Evans wouldn’t know to come looking for her. She didn’t mind Lily, actually she rather liked the other ginger. Kept her nose out of trouble and had kept Molly from making too much of her own trouble, so upsetting her wasn’t a pleasant idea to Molly. Even in her final year Molly was still making new friends, meeting new people. She didn’t want to just leave all this now, or ruin it…but of course the “adult world” had other things to say.

“Yes, but by that time you have to hope that those given magic are smarter than when they got in. I mean call me snooty, but it’s the ones that abuse their power that end up on the wrong side of magic in the end. History is proof that.” And then there was this moment now, her own brothers had been whispering it over and over at every visit home. There was a darkness that permeated every wizarding household in the form of whispers and rumors, somewhere in the pit of her stomach the muscles knotted in on themselves, but outwardly she smiled and shrugged.

“Pranking and goofing about are not professional professions if you ask me. Heaven forbid they be let near any position of power and standing.” She kidded, making light of the two clowns to fight the darkness creeping into the conversation. Don’t think about fighting, or dark magic…don’t think about losing two brothers and anyone else precious. The dark was just a rumor now…leave it at that, she thought to herself. Though in her own change of the subject, as obvious as it was, she reminded herself then of a task her Aunt Luci had set her to do before she’d left on the train to Hogwarts. She’d have to see Sirius at some point, though the idea of asking Remus to pass on the message wasn’t very pleasing. Molly would send an owl if she couldn’t get him alone later.

The pop of bones was clearly heard, even with the breeze blowing and the trees rustling as if they too were enjoying the last of summer. “Goodness Lupin…are you okay? Not letting anyone rough you up are you?” Turning to face him, worry wrinkled her brow as she touched his shoulder gently, “I hope you’re being careful with Potter and Black, okay? Don’t go letting our Prefect get hurt.” She smiled softly before pulling away. The smile was quick to fade though at his next question.

“Oh, after graduating…gosh such a big batch of options isn’t it?” She joked before shrugging, “I’m weighing my options. Mother wants me married…Fabian wants me to come run his shop with Gideon…and of course there is always travel and other places out there.” The knot that had started in her stomach grew and knotted in on itself again, a slight sliver of panic setting in as she chuckled, “Why settle just now?” Another smile graced her lips before she sat down on the grass, fingers smoothing down her skirt.

“Remus, what makes you so sure about the auror exams? How do you know that is what you want to do?”