A/n: An early chapter bcuz i love you all :)

Marlene decided it wasn't worth moping over. She got up, dressed quickly, and combed her hair for what seemed like the first time in her life.

She walked up to Lily's mirror. She still had a slightly tear-stained face from reading the memorable scrapbook. Grabbing a handkerchief, Marlene quickly wiped her face from the wet tears.

Marlene walked to class in silence, clutching her bag like her life force depended on it. She stood outside of the Transfiguration room, rethinking her choices. 

Without another thought, she opened the door and walked inside, her stomach feeling weird when she saw Sirius chatting with James, seemingly not having a problem with anything.

Calm, thought Marlene quickly. Just go to your desk and stay calm.

"Miss McKinnon," said McGonagall suddenly. "Why are you so late?"

"Er-" said Marlene, thinking quickly. She walked up to McGonagall. "Some Slytherin boy hexed me this morning- just needed some time to get better."

"Oh," said McGonagall swiftly. "That makes sense. Please take your seat."

Sirius looked up at the sound of her name. He saw Marlene walking to her desk quickly and quietly with her dirty blond hair drooped around her face in a sort of morose way.

"Like I was saying," continued McGonagall, adressing the whole class. "Does anyone know what Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration is?"

Marlene raised her hand tentavily, along with a couple others.

"Yes, Miss McKinnon?"

"Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration consists of 5 things that you can't make with Transfiguration- Life, Beauty, Food, a Mind, and a Soul." Marlene stated all of this in a bland and slightly emotionless tone.

"Very good," said McGonagall, impressed. "And for an extra point- who created these laws?"

"It's unknown, but some theories suggest it might have been Ulick Gamp, one of the earliest Ministers of Magic."

"10 points to Gryffindor," said McGongall, still sounding very impressed. "Good job, Miss McKinnon."

Marlene nodded politely and went back to scratching some notes down onto her slightly torn parchment.

Sirius looked at her, slightly concerned for how she felt. 

James saw this and put a hand on Sirius' arm, mouthing the words, 'Just leave her be for now'.

Sirius nodded silently and turned back to McGonagall.

As soon as class ended, Lily and Alice walked up to Marlene.

"Feeling better?" asked Lily.

"A little," shrugged Marlene.

Alice checked Marlene's, Lily's, and her own timetables. "We have half an hour till our next class. Let's go sit down for a while."

Marlene nodded gratefully. 

The three girls walked to the edge of the Great Lake and sat down beneath a shady palm tree that lie there.

Alice hummed under her breath and she picked out a begonia and sat behind Marlene. She began to braid Marlene's soft hair.

When she was finished, Alice tucked the begonia into the end of the braid. 

"It looks very pretty," said Alice kindly to Marlene. 

"Thanks Al," smiled Marlene.

Lily curled up next to Alice and Marlene, pulling out a small box with a three tiny cupcakes inside. She handed one to each of the girls.

"Thanks, Lils," Marlene said with another warm smile.

They didn't discuss Sirius or anything. The three best friends just sat near the lake, silent.

"I say," piped up Lily suddenly. "That we are going to make a promise to come back here- this very spot- and eat three more cupcakes."

Marlene and Alice exchanged a nervous look.

"What?" asked Lily absentmindedly.

"It's just-" said Alice. "Do you really think we will be able to come back- with this whole war going on?"

Marlene looked down at her empty cupcake wrapper.

"We'll get through this war," said Lily firmly. "None of us will die. I'm sure of it."

And Lily sounded so confident that Marlene and Alice believed her.

None of them knew that that wasn't true.

A/n: STOP THE PAIN I'M CRYING AGAIN NOOOOOOO

Thx for all these reads! :)

Love, Jui W.