Third year
“Lily,” Mary whispers across the desk but Lily’s attention doesn’t stray from the book she’s currently buried in. They’re sat in the library, attempting to study for their potions exam, but they aren’t getting very far, Lily is too absorbed in a book on charms and Marlene wandered off to pester Dorcas and her friends twenty minutes ago.
“Lily,” She tries again, a bit louder this time but still cautious of Madame Pince’s piercing glare. Lily lifts her head slightly, still reading but ready to tear her gaze away but clearly something catches her attention once more because she gasps and stares at the page with a newfound intensity.
Mary groans, slightly louder than she meant to, getting shushed loudly by one of the stressed seventh years in the corner of the library. It’s the middle of exam season, which means there is an unspoken rule that the only sound to be made in the library is that of pages turning and questions relating to their studies. There isn’t any room for emotions in this space, not with the most important exams of the seventh year's lives looming over them.
Honestly, Mary doesn’t know how Lily will survive their NEWTS, she’s this stressed over their end-of-third-year exams, and they don’t even really mean anything. Finally, fed up with being ignored and wary that one of the Ravenclaws may murder them if they stay here any longer, Mary grabs the book out of Lily's hands and presses a hand over her mouth before she can protest.
Lily glares at her and Mary smiles, trying not to laugh. She puts the book down, pressing a finger to her lips before removing her hand and gesturing for Lily to follow her. They leave the library, a sudden wave of noise washing over them as the thick wooden doors swing shut behind them.
“Give me my book back, I need it,” Lily reaches over to try and grab the book but Mary’s taller so she lifts it up out of her reach, laughing as Lily moves as if she’s going to climb up Mary to get it back.
“We’ve already done our charms paper, there’s nothing you can do now,” Mary twists out of Lily's grip, running off down the corridor leaving Lily to chase her with an exasperated sigh,
“I need that book, Mary!” Mary doesn’t respond, leading Lily as far away from the library as she can. Honestly, if she had to spend another minute in that room she might have started to throw things around the place.
“Mary,” Lily calls after her again, apologising as they weave their way through the crowd of people making their way to afternoon lessons. Luckily, they both have a free period right now, so they don’t have to stare at another endless chunk of text for at least an hour and a half.
“Come on Mary, please,” The two of them slow down on the stairs, walking side by side as they turn the last corner and reach their destination.
“Eat first,” Mary nudges their shoulders together, trying to look after her best friend. “We missed lunch because your head was practically merged with the book,”
“Shit, you should’ve just left me, I’m so sorry,”
“I know you are,” Mary reassures, smiling at the worried look on Lily's face, “ Which is why you’re going to sit down and have lunch with me now, without looking at a single word to do with school.”
Lily rolls her eyes fondly and doesn’t protest when Mary grabs her hand, leading her through the doorway. The kitchens are large, excessively large and despite the students not technically being allowed down here, there are a significant amount of tables and small spaces for them to sit. Marlenes' friends sit with her at one of the other tables, and Mary sends them a small wave before walking to another table, she feels a little bit guilty but all she wants to do right now is spend time with Lily.
“Hi Mitsy,” Mary greets as one of the over-eager house elves bounds over to them.
“Miss Macdonald,” Mitsy curtsies before turning to Lily and repeating the gesture, “This must be the Miss Lily you has been telling Mitsy about,”
Mary stumbles over her words as Mitsy giggles at her, trying desperately to avoid Lilys' gaze. Mitsy stands there, running her hands over the floral skirt she’s wearing, and sends a knowing look in Lily’s direction, causing her to blush heavily.
“What can Mitsy get for you two,”
“Um, just some lunch food, please,” Mary asks, awkwardly clearing her throat and praying that Lily is exhausted from all her studying and doesn’t read into this too much.
“Thank you!” Lily calls after Mitsy as she walks away to fix them something to eat. Mary does feel a little bad, about getting them to run around after them, but they always seem happy to help, and it’s not like the students have any other options, she's not really sure what the deal with house elves is anyway.
“Sorry, about that, I come down here sometimes, when I miss home and stuff,” Mary explains, feeling uncomfortable still in the sit, fidgeting with her hands and bouncing her leg as she talks, “So I speak to Mitsy, and I guess I talk about you more than I realised.”
Lily reaches across the table and grabs Mary’s hands, pausing her nervous, frantic movements and smiling at her like they’re sharing a secret. “You don’t need to apologise, or explain, I’m glad you’ve found something that helps,”
The moment is interrupted by Mitsy rushing over with two overflowing plates of what must be every single food they served for lunch, sliding them onto the table meaning both girls have to yank their hands away to keep them from knocking over the plates.
“Mitsy is hoping that this is okay, otherwise Mitsy can get something else,”
“No, no this is incredible Mitsy, thank you so much,” Lily smiles at the elf, slightly shocked by the sheer amount of food she brought over and the sudden end to her moment with Mary.
“Mitsy is seeing why you like this one, Miss Macdonald, she is very kind,”
“Yes, she is. Thank you Mitsy, we really appreciate it.” Mitsy curtsies once more, flouncing off to check on students on the other side of the room while Mary and Lily sit in comfortable silence.
They don’t need to say anything, for a moment at least, they can just sit there and eat their mountains of food and pretend they are the only people in the world. Everything goes quiet, and Mary tries to stop herself from staring.
“Thank you, for y’know,” Lily gestures at the table and mumbles something as she looks away, shaking her head and focusing before she looks back at Mary, something unfamiliar clouding her thoughts and making it harder for Mary to read her.
“Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself,” Lily whispers, letting it linger in the space between them like a confession, for what Mary isn’t sure, but it feels significant.
Mary takes a second, catching her breath and trying to balance not reading into Lily's words too much and missing something she shouldn’t. It’s becoming too common, Lily leaving her breathless and unsure what to say not to make her seem like an idiot, she settles for something that could be explained either way.
“Well, that’s why I’ll always be around,”