When Marigold arrived at the Gryffindor table, holding a pile of books, she saw Isabella Miller, a Ravenclaw, sitting next to James with her hands all over him.

 “Jamie, aren’t you so handsome,” Miller said, touching his face; she sounded so ditzy that it was a miracle her brains weren’t melting out of her ears.

 James did not seem to enjoy her affection at all; in fact, it was clear that he was uncomfortable.

 “Can you keep your hands to yourself?” Marigold slammed her books down as she stared right into Miller’s brown eyes. “And please, go back to the Ravenclaw table.”

 “Albus is here too, so why should I?” she asked shamelessly.

 “I told Albus that he can sit with us,” Marigold replied sternly. “And we need to discuss something important amongst ourselves, and I would prefer to do it privately without you eavesdropping on us.”

 “I won’t listen. Are you happy now?”

 “We want you to leave the table. Right now. What part of “get out” do you not understand?” Andrew chimed in, gesturing for her to leave.

 “Fine,” Miller said; she kissed James on the cheek before waving at him in a cutesy way. “See you later, Jamie!”

 James’s face contorted with a mix of shock and disgust as Miller walked away.

 “Ugh, she’s awful.” Marigold groaned.

 “That was disgusting,” Andrew added.

 “So what’s the important thing you want to discuss?” Albus asked.

 “So, Scorpius’s birthday is on the 28th, and I want to get him something,” Marigold whispered. “But I don’t know what I should get him.”

 “A ferret.” Albus and Rose said at the same time.

 “A ferret?” Andrew asked, puzzled.

 “Why?” Marigold added.

 “James, do you want to tell her?” Albus asked.

 “Sure,” he replied. “So when my dad and Uncle Ron were at Hogwarts, a professor turned Scorpius’s dad into a ferret and bounced him up and down in the air.”

 “No way!” Andrew said, amused. “That’s so funny!”

 “You should’ve been there!” James said, laughing.

 “You know what? A ferret sounds like a good idea.” Marigold added.

* * *

 “I’m not going to Hogsmeade today.” James lied. “I have a lot of homework to do.”

 “Alright, but I’ll be back soon so I can be with you!” Miller said, before kissing him, this time on the lips. “See you!”

 As he saw her walk away with her friend Simran Patil, James wiped his mouth on his sleeve, then headed to the secret passage shown on the Marauder’s Map.

 “Dissendium,” he whispered.

 The one-eyed witch’s hump opened to reveal a short slide. James went down the slide, which brought him to the Honeydukes cellar; he draped his Invisibility Cloak on, then climbed the large wooden staircase up to the ground floor.

 James first noticed the blonde girl in a Gryffindor scarf, whose back was turned; she was staring at the display of sweets. James immediately recognised her as Marigold; he felt a slight twinge of jealousy towards Andrew, who was standing next to her.

 James, who was still wearing his Invisibility Cloak over his head, made his way over and tugged one of Marigold’s plaited bunches.

 “James?” Marigold turned around. “Is that you?”

 “Maybe?” he asked mischievously.

 “Stop fooling around.” she rolled her eyes playfully.

 “Is that James?” Andrew asked.

 “Shhh!” James shushed him. “Is Isabella here?”

 “No,” Marigold whispered back.

 “Thank Merlin,” he sighed with relief as he pulled off his cloak. “I had to ditch her just to get here.”

 “Your secret is safe with us,” Marigold said, placing a finger over her mouth.

* * *

 “I have to use the lavatory,” Andrew said. “I’ll see you two at the pet shop.”

 “Alright,” Marigold said as he walked away from them.

 “You two learned Patronuses yesterday, right?” James asked Marigold as they headed to the pet shop. “What was yours?”

 “A wild rabbit,” she replied.

 “It suits you,” he smiled. “My dad already taught me the Patronus charm, actually. Mine is a lion.”

 “That’s so cool,” Marigold said, impressed.

 “But he was a little surprised since both he and my grandpa had stag Patronuses.” James chuckled.

 “The lion is cooler,” she replied. “For the proud and noble Gryffindor house.”

 “Exactly,” he said. “My dad told me that Uncle Remus taught him the Patronus charm,”

 “Yeah, Moony told me,” Marigold said. “By the way, this is random, but I’ve been meaning to ask you something for a while.”

 “What is it?”

 “Are you dating Isabella Miller?” she asked, trying to sound as non-confrontational as possible.

 “I am,” James sighed. “Honestly, I didn’t want to, and I told her that several times. But she kept on pressuring me.”

 “You should leave her,” Marigold said. “If you’re not happy being with her, you don’t have to be with her.”

 “It’s my fault,” James said, his eyes glistening with tears. “I should’ve resisted more strongly.”

 “No, it’s not your fault,” she said softly. “Miller, I mean Isabella, was wrong to pressure you like that. It’s her fault, not yours.”

 James nodded, blinking back his tears.

 “You should tell her that you want to break up with her.”

 “You’re right,” he nodded. “I will.”

 “If you need help, let me know,” Marigold said. “But let’s go to the pet shop now.”

 “Scorpius would love the ferret.” James smiled. “Wait until his father finds out.”