A Conundrum

She still could not believe so much had happened in just a day. Not a full week later, she was practically living a different life. Lisa Turpin and Gregory rotated sitting with her in classes they shared. Vincent also had a half sibling in the same year in Hufflepuff, Roger Malon and sometimes he sat with her in rotation with his friends. It made her giddy that she had made friends. It didn’t bother her in the least that none of her new friends were not in Gryffindor with her, well Neville of course was her friend but he was more close to Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott in Hufflepuff and liked sitting with them in shared classes. And since that seminar so far, he’s been doing better in potions and doesn’t need her help. She wasn’t hurt by it. She was actually proud of him.

Harry apologizes for laughing at Ron’s ‘jokes’ but hasn’t really changed anything in any way. She was worried about him. He didn’t seem to have clothes besides his uniforms and she noticed he avoided talking about his home life. He was too skinny and was shorter than everyone else. He rarely ate enough and she almost didn’t realize he was dumbing himself down for Weasley.

By mid November, she decided she wasn’t going to be quiet about it. She wrote to her mum. Her dad hasn’t responded to her letters. Her mum said give him time but it still hurt that he was pushing her away.

“If it makes you feel better, my mother was disappointed I was not a girl and rarely interacts with me anymore.” Gregory says when she brings it up.

“It doesn’t. That’s horrible,” she chuckles a bit through her tears.

“I know…it is. She was never able to have a second child. Her sister had a daughter and my mother is there often and buys her clothing all the time.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It is what it is. So, Weasley still giving you trouble?” He changes the subject.

“All of our Professors keep us on opposite sides of the room. He got a howler from his mum straight into the common room. He tried running but his twin brothers held him down. His dad also visited him in Professor McGonnagall’s office. Neville says Mr. Weasley saw his grades while he was there and if he doesn’t take them more seriously, he won’t be back to Hogwarts next year.”

“Wow. Maybe he will get passed an A. Professor Snape just looks like he has given up on him in class. And I’ve never seen Professor McGonnagall look so disappointed in hers.”

“You should see him in Herbology. He always needs healing. He does worse than Seamus and his only real problem is his fire situation.”

“And you? What is your worst class?”

“Um…I’m okay in Herbology. Not my strongest subject. Astronomy is okay, doesn’t really interest me. And flying. I do not like brooms. That is a death wish!” He burst out laughing at how serious she was on that last part.

“I don’t know, I wouldn’t mind playing Quidditch at some point.”

“Don’t get me started on Quidditch…” He laughs again at her scoff. He had seen how disinterested she was at the sport during the last game.

“Fine. Fine. No Quidditch talk. How is your self studying for DADA going?” After Professor Quirrel was taken into the DMLE, they have not seen him since.

“It’s fine. Any research I need to do is perfectly fine. The spell casting is harder. Professor Snape is a natural in teaching that class though. It’s too bad he can’t teach it more often.”

No one had any news on whether Quirrel was coming back or if they were getting a new Professor for the class. Professor Snape was the only one qualified to teach it but he had a full schedule of Potions to prioritize. He did have new books ordered in for DADA, not approving of the one from their school list. Since he couldn’t teach every available class, he gave them assignments to work on, pages to read and summarize, and tasks to complete. They then tested any new spells when he was available to teach.

THere was rumor that the 2 British Potions Apprentices from the seminar might come in to help him with the Potions class after the holidays if there was no replacement found. They would take over 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year classes. In return, he would be able to rotate the younger year DADA classes and help the OWLs and NEWTs students prepare.

“Our prefects had to prove they could do the spells perfectly before he assigned them to tutor the younger years on them. It is good extra practice.”

“Ugh, I wish our Prefects cared. Percy hasn’t changed and Francine makes sure she is just not around to be available for help. I get they have their OWLs this year but they chose to accept the positions and made a commitment that they could do the job.”

“Maybe the 6th year Prefects will be willing to help?”

“I tried that for the boys. They barely got 30 minutes before finding a way to run away.”

“Maybe ask Lisa for help? I don’t know what their Prefects are like to know if they would be useful. Huflepuffs are but they usually hold tutoring sessions in their common room.”

“Maybe…wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

It was a decent day outside though they could tell the snow would be coming in soon.

“Are you ready for Winter Break?” He turns to her.

“Are you sure that it will be okay for me to be there? Won’t your mum be upset?” She bites her lip in worry. Demarkus had sent the invitation to spend Yule with them a few days ago. It wasn’t the first time he had sent her something. The letters were minimal and gifts practical. Usually things she didn’t have as a witch. She did her best to wear the robes one day of every weekend.

“I feel like I am repeating myself when I say yes, it is perfectly alright. She may not be happy with having a son but you are giving her a chance to shop for, technically, a daughter. She even wrote me to find out what you like and has been working on the bedroom across from mine for you.”

“Really? Is that…not odd?”

“Not really no.” She gestures for him to continue when he doesn’t say more. “I don’t know. My parents were an arranged marriage. They barely knew each other when they said their vows. You were before the wedding day and the other kid we have yet to meet was after I was born so they both completed the requirements of their nuptials. Father has not been with anyone else as far as I am aware and neither has mother. They have separate rooms and separate lives for the most part. Manor is big enough to only see each other for meals if that is what they want.

They are not in love but they don’t hate each other either. They grew up expecting this and actually worked to be friends in a sense. They have an arrangement that works for them. And as his wife, she is your step mother and she is taking the title seriously. Your magical mother if you accept her. Best of both worlds.”

She didn’t necessarily hate the idea of that but…

“Are the both of us going to be expected to be placed in arranged marriages?”

“No. Father already decided this with her when they discussed children after their wedding. They might have some expectations of our chosen but that is more family expectations than anything else.”

“Oh. Well that is good.”