The Stories of Pandora Lovegood
Today's the day. Charlie is supposed to be taking her exams for Hogwarts. The two she has elected as her siblings, seem quite excited for her. "So, what's it like?" She asks during breakfast. "Hogwarts, that is."
"It's a pretty fun place." Cyrus answers. "You should be fine. Watch out for Snape though, you'll know him when you see him. He's the one with the greasy hair, big nose and constantly wearing black." He describes. "Why is that?"
"He didn't like your father." Remus speaks up. "You'll be fine. No need to worry, especially with that memory of yours." He praises. "Don't look into Dumbledore's eyes either, if he's there. Don't take any of his lemon drops and be polite." Xenophilius said.
Once breakfast had finished, Charlie walked off to go and put on a nice shirt and wanting to make a positive impression on the teachers. "How's this" She asks, coming into Luna's room. Cyrus and Luna are sitting on her bed, letting her brother do her hair for the day. They look her over. A simple pair of white pants and blue long-sleeved shirt. They give a nod of approval.
Xenophilius pops his head through the door. "Ah, there you are! You ready to go Charlie?" She swallows a lump in her throat. "Yep!" She says cheerfully. "You'll be fine, I'm sure." She knows he means well, but that does not sound very encouraging when she is unable to currently believe in herself, when she's sure her breakfast might be reappearing soon.
"Good luck!" They say in unison as the two leave the front door. She gives a weak smile back.
Once they leave the house, Cyrus and Luna make their way over to the lounge. "Uncle Moony!" Cyrus calls, sitting next to him. Luna sits on the other side of Remus. "Can I help you?" He puts his book away, knowing that he won't be able to read anymore with two children talking to him. "Nothing, I just want something to do." Cyrus says. "You finished your homework?"
"You know, just because you're our teacher this year, doesn't mean you have to start acting like one so soon." He grumbles. "Yes, we've already done our homework." Luna said.
"What do you want to do then? Go for a walk?" They shake their heads. "Reading?" He suggests. "No thanks."
"Drawing?"
"No."
"How about...stories from school days."
"Yeah okay, that sounds fun." He rolls his eyes at them. "Of course, it does." He mutters. "Ah, let me see." He clicks his tongue, searching through his memories for the more child friendly ones.
"As you know, Lily and Pandora were good friends, actually the three of us were great friends. We created a book club, where we'd read books then discuss them. Really fun actually." He's messing with them, slightly, although that was true. "Uncle Moony." Cyrus whines. 'Get to the more exciting stuff."
"Alright, fine then. Not too exciting though, because I don't want to end up giving you any ideas. One of their favourite activities was the lake, always swimming in it, or sitting by a tree. Pandora had somehow befriended the giant squid, even being able to communicate with it, somehow.” Cyrus and Luna leaned into him more, and even though Luna had known her mother until the age of seven, she loved hearing stories about her.
“She had the voice of an Angel, used to put you two to sleep in minutes, could put the fussiest babies to sleep actually. And believe it or not, she like to prank.”
”Really?” Cyrus asks a little skeptically. “Oh yeah, loved prancing Pandora did. She even helped in the making of the map.”
”What map?” Luna questioned. “The marauders map, it’s a map of Hogwarts, shows you where everyone is at any minute of any day.” He explained. “That sounds awesome.” Cyrus comments. Remus hummed. “Yes, it was quite awesome, have no idea where it went though.” He pauses, trying to get his memories into order.
“Only she’d never get caught. First of all, she had been a good student and the professors liked her. Second of all, she would use her gift. She could sense someone a little too close by and run off. However, just like you Luna, people thought she was strange and weird. They tended to stay away from her, hex her, jinx her.” The siblings frowned at this and Luna knew all too well what that was like. She had only been at Hogwarts for two years, going on three, yet people didn’t seem to like her because she’s different from them.
“Even so, none of that stopped her. She stuck to her studies and insisted on becoming friends with animals she had met.”
“Can you tell me what she looked like Uncle Moony?” Cyrus spook up. “But you already know what she looks like?”
“Yes, but I like the way you describe things. You make her sound like she was once a person that once lived and loved rather then a memory.” Remus shook his head with a smile.
“She was once one of the most loving people you’ve ever met. Her smile was contagious, whenever she was in a happy mood, you couldn’t help but be in a happier mood too. Her smile was bright like the sun, her eyes always twinkled with wonder. Hair long and blonde in soft waves that went down her back. Her laughter had been sweet and pure.” Cyrus sighs contentedly next to him.
“Her and Lily were a real pair. Lily, as you know, is a half blood witch, unlike Pandora, she didn’t know much until she went to Hogwarts. She’d taught Lily many things, showed her a different perspective to it that none of us had. And on hot summer days, we’d go down to the creeks to cool off. It was a group of us, James, Lily, Marlene McKinnon, Sirius, Pandora, Peter and I. We didn’t become friends with Xenophilius until a little later on, where he and Pandora had started dating. Anyway, we’d spend whole days out there, just chilling, although it usually didn’t involve much relaxing when half of us were chaotic idiots.” He says lightheartedly.
“She loved quidditch too.” Luna nods in agreement. “She probably doesn’t seem the type, and she had never been on the team, she loved it, was real good on the broom too. She had a real keen eye, so whenever we played she had always been a seeker. Pandora had a pretty great broom too. Sometimes I’d watch her from the stands, she’d have her hair out in the wind, face relaxed as ever.”
It was a few hours before Xenophilius and Charlie came back, wearing a bright smile. “So how’d it go?” Cyrus asks eagerly. “I’ll be in third year.”
”That’s awesome! You’ll be in the same year as us!” He hugs her, squeezing tightly. “You are so right about Professor Snape.”
“What about Professor Snape now?” Remus asks. “That he’s a vampire with unwashed hair.” He laughs at the response. “Yeah that would be him.”