Sunday Girl

Mary was always excited for Halloween. She loved holidays, what could she say? She’d always liked dressing up when she was little, so Halloween had been the best. She always dressed up as a witch and made her sister be a cat. She thought it was funny now. She was a real witch. She wasn’t going to lie though, sometimes she liked the dress up version better.

The whole year was excited for the final Halloween party. And Mary was excited too, of course she was, but part of her was terrified to think this was the last one. She didn’t really want to leave Hogwarts, leave her childhood behind. She wanted to cling desperately to this place and stay here forever, laughing and messing and pretending to work.

Mary didn’t know what she would do when she left.

Everyone else seemed to know.

She knew she’d have to come up with something, but a horrible fear had always been inside her that once Hogwarts ended her friends would leave her behind and forget about her. Mary’s worst nightmare was being alone. She’d always thrived best when around people.

She could do healing, she guessed. In st mungos, maybe? The idea wasn’t as appealing as it ought to be.

On the morning of Halloween, the Great Hall was covered in decorations. Pumpkins adorned the halls and decorations covered the whole place.

Lily was eating porridge with raspberries and was sipping coffee. It was black, Mary knew. Lily had an addiction to coffee. During the exam weeks she would often be seen with eye bags, a flask full of coffee and several hundred books. Marlene was eating chocolate spread on toast.

Sirius looked up and grinned. “Hey MacDonald! Excited for the party tonight?” He took a bite out of his bacon and egg sandwich.

Mary sat down, slinging a leg over the bench so she could sit down. She grabbed a slice of jam toast off Lilys plate and took a bite. She instantly recoiled.

“Lily, did you not put any butter on this?” She said in disgust. She felt like the sweetness was about to turn her brain to mush.

Lily sighed grumpily. “No I did not! It tastes far better without it!”

Mary flashed a grin at her. “It’s okay to be wrong sometimes lils.”

Lily rolled her eyes but Mary saw the smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She was so terribly pretty. Mary’s heart couldn’t help but flutter.

Woah, was she getting so lonely she was thinking like that about her best friend? She really needed to snog someone at that party.

“So, anyone got any plans for tonight? Marlene’s going to kiss Dorcas, I’m guessing, but other than that we’re all lonely and single,” Peter said after a moment of quiet eating.

“I’m not lonely!” Mary announced. “Speak for yourself, Pete.”

“Is me kissing Dorcas really a given?” Marlene frowned.

James sighed. “Well, I mean aren’t you two dating? That’d make sense?”

Marlene groaned. “I’ve never snogged anyone but Sirius before and that was-“

“-embarrassing for both of us,” Sirius said, yawning sleepily. Remus was dozing on his shoulder, something no one had pointed out yet. Mary was guessing they were scared that if they mentioned it, Sirius would move or Remus would wake up.

“I don’t think I’ll do anything but watch out for people who are really drunk tonight,” Lily said with a shrug, “I have runes tomorrow and I do not intend to listen to my teacher with a splitting headache.”

“Ever the head girl, aren’t you?” Mary teased her.

Lily rolled her eyes, “Just because I’m responsible?”

“Exactly why. What sort of seventeen year old is responsible?” Mary scoffed, a grin on her face.

“I’m very responsible,” objected James.

“I’m going to pretend that’s a joke,” Lily narrowed her eyes.

Mary laughed and James furrowed his brows furiously, leaning back in his seat.

“Well, I fully intend to get fucking pissed tonight,” Peter said, taking a swig out of his goblet, “And snog some unknown Ravenclaw girl.”

“Haven’t you dated half the girls in Ravenclaw at this point?” Marlene pointed out. “Maybe it’s time to move on to another house?”

Peter frowned for a moment, as if considering this. He shrugged. “Nah.”

“Go to Ravenclaw guys next,” Mary advised, “Take a page out of Remus’s book.”

Sirius’s expression turned stormy, like it always did when someone mentioned Remus’s ill fated two month long relationship with Benjy Fenwick. Mary did not think she’d ever seen him as angry as he was those agonising two months.

Peter snorted. “Yeah no thanks. Benjy was nice but-“

“He wasn’t nice! He was conceited!” Sirius hissed. “He was a complete swot!”

Mary and Lily exchanged an amused look.

“He’s an excellent Quidditch player too though,” Marlene pointed out. “Smart and athletic.”

Sirius shot her a glare and James roped an arm around his neck, laughing nervously.

“She’s just joking, Sirius, you’re completely better than him,” he assured him.

“I bloody know that!” Sirius grumbled.

“You coddle him too much,” Lily said. “He’ll grow even more big headed than he is already.”

“You’ll always be here to humble me Evans,” Sirius blew her a kiss.

Lily rolled her eyes, a grin tugging at her lips. “Piss off.”

“Who’s flirting with who now?” Mary said, raising her eyebrows.

Lily turned to her quickly. “We weren’t flirting!”

Mary opened her mouth to reply but Lilys eyes suddenly widened and she stood up abruptly, grabbing Mary’s arm and tugging her upwards. Marlene and the rest looked confused.

Mary turned and stumbled back. Mulciber was walking towards their table, looking furious. She turned and ran, Lily by her side.

*
Mary fixed her favorite cherry earrings on, before tilting her head side to side to check out her look. Her coiled, springy hair was loose and free, for maximum head bobbing and she’d spent ages doing her makeup. Marlene was crouched below her, looking in the same mirror. She had just finished the last of her party eyeliner and was admiring it.

Lily was sitting on her bed, makeup done, and was brushing out her hair to her best ability.

Mary turned around, skipping over to Lily. She stopped and posed, tilting her head to the side, hands on her hips. She put her lips out in a pouty face.
“What do you think? Model worthy, am I right?”

Lily didn’t say anything and Mary turned to face her, a little confused. Lily was staring up at her, eyes as wide as plates. Her mouth hung slightly open and then she suddenly snapped her head back. She nodded for a second, closing her eyes.
“Uh- yeah, you- you look great Mary.”

Mary beamed. “You do too.”

“And what about me?” Marlene insisted crossly. “I look gorgeous!”

“As ever,” Lily said, standing up with a smile.

“You think Dorcas will like all the eyeliner?” Marlene said, fiddling with her hair.

“She’ll love it, of course she will,” Lily insisted.

“You look great Marlene,” Mary nodded. “Go snog her!”

Marlene shoved her. “You, be quiet!”

Mary mimed zipping her lips shut.

“That won’t last for long,” Lily laughed.

Mary scowled and threw her hairbrush at her. Lily ducked and laughed even harder.

“Your aim is terrible,” said Marlene, giggling.

“Who were you aiming for, Mary?” Lily said. “The ABBA poster on the wall?”

Mary gave them both the middle finger.

*
Mary sighed as she poured her first drink into a cup. The sound of Fleetwood Mack was playing and already a couple of people were up dancing. Lily was dancing around with Remus, cup in her hand. Mary wondered if it was alcohol or water.

Marlene was standing next to Mary anxiously, tapping her fingers in the plastic cup. Mary thought it was cute how flustered she was. Marlene never got flustered, she was always so confident and bold. Only Dorcas could make her this stupidly flushed.

Speaking of Dorcas, she hadn’t arrived yet. None of the Slytherins had. Amelia Bones stepped past them to grab an entire bottle of whiskey before turning back and enthusiastically waving it at her friend Anita Beaney. Mary raised her eyebrows and Marlene and her shared a look.

“Are we allowed to just let her take that?” Mary snorted.

Marlene shook her head. “I’m not going to stop her.”

“Hey Marls, look who's here!” James suddenly yelled over the music as he walked side by side with Dorcas, Regulus, Pandora, Evan and Barty. He waved at her and Marlene stumbled forward, hurrying over to greet her. She was already red, and Mary didn’t blame her. Dorcas did look stunning.

Suddenly the music changed and they were plunged into the first notes of Dancing Queen. Remus groaned, shaking his head. Sirius grabbed his hand and pulled him into a reluctant dance.

Marlene pulled Dorcas on to the dance floor and James was talking to Regulus. Checking up on him, she guessed. He’d been staying at James’s for a bit this summer. Mary leapt on to the dance floor and she and Lily danced along to the notes, singing at the top of their lungs.

Mary laughed and held on to her and as more songs started playing they got closer and closer. Mary spun Lily around and pulled her in. They jumped and sang and yelled. The night came in and threw everything into shadow but none of them cared because time didn’t exist and they were all drunk as fucking skunks.

“MONEY MONEY MONEY!” Mary laughed, jumping up and down, screaming the lyrics at the top of her lungs.

Lily laughed, springing up and down, roaring the lyrics right back.

She heard Remus groan behind her, red cup in hand. “If they play anymore ABBA I swear to fucking god I’ll leave.”

Sirius laughed, grabbing his wrist as he tried to walk away. “No you won’t,” Sirius stared up at him like he was the best thing to ever walk this earth.

Remus’s mouth twitched into a smile. “No I won’t,” he said, softly.

Suddenly Sirius grinned and pointed. Mary turned her head and screamed happily, grabbing Lilys arm. She turned too and let out a screech.

Marlene McKinnon sat on the window sill snogging Dorcas Meadowes.

Mary laughed and Lily laughed. “We did that!” Mary smiled, spinning Lily around and then pulling her in close. “Me and you!”

Lily threw her head back and laughed. She looked at Mary and she really looked at her and Mary shivered. She looked right through her, like she was made of glass. Like she knew everything about her. And Mary kept holding her close and she knew she should be dancing, that already they’d been too close for too long but she didn’t care.

Mary looked at her, right into her eyes. It was dark but the green of her eyes sparkled even here. Mary couldn’t stop looking at her. Lilys head tilted and for a second she thought-

Then Lily stumbled back and turned away, grabbing on to Peter and pulling him in to a dance. Mary blinked in confusion. Her stomach churned and she walked over to the drinks table. She poured herself a drink and drained it. And she drank another. And another. The bitter taste of the alcohol seemed to wear off and she drank everything, whiskey and vodka alike. She couldn’t taste the burn. She didn’t want to think. She wanted to be as happy and messy as the people around her. She wanted to be numb and the warmth of the liquor was comforting.

Suddenly, Pandora was beside her. She was talking to her but there was something slightly off about her. Mary’s view was a little hazy and she wondered vaguely if she’d drank too much.

“Let’s take shots!” Pandora said, grinning.

Mary nodded. That seemed like a good idea. Pandora handed her these tiny glasses and the world got hazier and hazier and this Lily thing wasn’t such a big deal was it? Mary laughed and Pandora laughed. Pandora was pretty, very pretty. Not as pretty as Lily but Lily was mean. She liked James. That wasn’t good at all. Why did she like him? Mary could be a dumb Quidditch boy too!

Pandora grinned, pulling her in slightly. Her eyes flicked over to someone else but Mary didn’t bother to notice who. Her head was spinning, but in a nice way.

“You know what would be funny?” Pandora yelled, slurring her words. “If we kissed!”

Mary grinned, bobbing her head up and down quickly. What a great idea! Pandora was soooo pretty and she would be lucky to kiss her and she had no one else. It was a great idea! Great, great.

Mary pulled her in and kissed her. Pandora pulled her closer and they snogged. She tasted of alcohol and Turkish delight and then.. Mary’s eyes caught sight of a distorted figure. Who was standing there like she was frozen. Lily.

Mary’s stomach churned and she pushed Pandora away, suddenly stumbling backwards. Everything was so blurry and strange and she lurched through the corridor, mumbling the password to the Fat Lady. She staggered through the halls searching for the bathroom.. the bathroom. She felt something rising in her throat. She lumbered past a small cubby where she vaguely registered Peter comforting a sobbing girl. She didn’t bother thinking of who it was because she had to find the bathroom.

Lily. Pandora. James.

Lily.

She lurched forward and keeled over, vomiting all over the floor. The contents of her lunch spilled on to the ground and she gagged, falling backwards and landing on her arse. She giggled, because she suddenly found this whole situation very funny.

Then her vision turned dark and she fell to her side as the work went black.

*
“Mary! Wake up, Mary!”
Someone was shaking her. Mary looked up, disoriented. She grinned when she saw her and then changed it to a frown. It was Lily! But Lily was being mean. And she didn’t look very happy and she’d woken up Mary from her nap. Mary pulled a frowny face.

“Why can I?” She giggled slightly, crossing her arms.

Lily rolled her eyes. Oh she was soooo grumpy. “Because once filch finds you here, you’ll have detention for months.”

Mary dropped her arms and rolled her head back. “Fineee.”

Lily was so cross with her. Why? She was just having fun! Lily pulled her up by her arm gently and Mary found she had to lean on her to walk because she was walking funny. The world was tilting, it wasn’t her fault!

Mary looked at her, suddenly feeling upset. “Are you mad at me?”

Lily paused for a second and then shook her head as they walked through empty corridors. “No I’m not.”

“What about when I kissed Pandora?” Mary complained. She couldn’t be mad for no reason! Mary wanted her to be mad at her for kissing Pandora. She wanted her to be so angry.

“You can kiss whoever you like, Mary,” Lily said stiffly. She stopped at the Fat Lady and told her the password calmly. The portrait swung open and Mary stumbled through. She giggled. She loved magic.

The common room was deserted now, and very dirty and messed up. Everyone else had long since gone. Mary wondered vaguely what time it was, then found she didn’t care.

“But I want to kiss youuuu,” Mary said with a wail.

Lilys eyes widened and she said nothing. She pulled Mary up the stairs gently, and opened the door to their dorm carefully. She practically dropped her on her bed. Still mad, Mary thought woefully.

“Lily, don’t you want to kiss me?” She protested.

Lily swallowed and let out a sigh. “Goodnight, Mary.”

As Mary drifted off she was almost sure she heard Lily murmur,

“Of course I do.”