Theodore
Word of advice: When your girlfriend and best friend tell you to drink your worries away, just say no.
I don’t remember much from that night, but James kept refilling the bottle. And I’m pretty sure I saw Vicky have a couple drinks herself.
I woke up the next morning on a sofa in the common room with Vicky asleep next to me. My head was hurting so badly that I couldn’t even admire how cute she looked right then. Vicky soon awoke, and we stumbled down to the Great Hall for breakfast, nauseous and in dire need of some Aspirin.
I spotted Cynthia, James, and Alice at the Gryffindor table. Cynthia was engrossed in a copy of Yes, Glitter! and James had a large box in front of him. When I sat down next to him, he shoved a piece of paper in my face and asked, “Did you know about this?”
I took the paper and looked at it for a minute. It was a poster for a band in the late 1980’s. There were four women on the poster. There was Hermione Granger on the cello, Luna Lovegood on the electric guitar, Ginny Weasley on drums, and…Nymphadora Tonks on bass and lead vocals.
“Where did you get this?” I asked James, bewildered.
“My dad sent me a box of random shit.” he explained.
“But…why were our mums in a band?” I asked, still trying to make sense of the whole thing.
“I don’t know, but that’s not all. Look at this stuff.” He pulled out two swords and unsheathed one halfway.
“Woah, do that again.” Alice told him.
“Why?” James asked, but still complied.
“The sound is just so satisfying. I feel like unsheathing those just finishes any sentence perfectly. Like, I hate mushrooms, shing shing.” Alice feigned unsheathing swords, accidentally elbowing Vincent Goyle in the eye, “Sorry, mate.” she said. He stormed away
“That’s actually so true.” I agreed, “But you’ve gotta do a voice.” He put on a deep and mysterious voice, “I want a cat, shing shing.”
“You guys are so weird.” James laughed. He put the swords back and pulled out a sealed envelope. Written on the back were things like Do not open! and Cursed! James and I glanced at each other and smirked. He put the envelope back and pulled out a coupon for Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.
“I’m not giving this to either of you, so don’t even ask.” James told us.
“Damnit.” I muttered.
James stuffed the coupon in his pocket and pulled out the final items; a cloak and a map.
“Are those…?” I started.
“His fucking invisibility cloak and the Marauders’ map.” James said in disbelief and excitement.
His joy was short-lived, however, for Professor McGonagall stood up and said, “I suppose I owe you all an explanation for the Winter ball’s abrupt end last night. It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you that one of our students tragically passed away during the event. Charles Zabini was a bright presence among us, and his passing leaves a gaping hole in the lives of everyone who knew him. I know that this news will be shocking and deeply upsetting for many of you, and it’s important that we come together to support each other during this incredibly difficult time. And please be patient with others, especially his sister. For those of you who wish to spend the holidays with your families, the Hogwarts Express will be departing today at noon as usual.” She sat back down and conversation started up again. James turned to me, “Is that why you were stressed last night?” he asked.
I nodded. I scanned the Slytherin table for Annalise Zabini, but I couldn’t find her. I glanced over at Cynthia. She stood up and started for the door.
“Shit. Cynthia, wait.” Vicky called after her before following.
Alice picked at her roasted carrots, “If you were eating a carrot at a normal carrot-eating speed, how long would the carrot have to be for it to take an hour to eat it?” she asked suddenly.
James and I looked at her, “That…that’s a good question…” I said, inspecting the carrots on her plate.
James laughed again, “Why does this conversation even exist?”
“Because we exist.” Alice answered.
“Deal with it.” I added.