Chapter Eighteen - Claire's Memory.  

November 10th, 1974.

Two years ago.

I watch the group of first years disperse, having finished placing their notes into the little box next to which I cannily placed a bowl of sweets, eager to see what they've given me to deal with this time. They're little messages asking the 'Agony Aunt' for help are often very sweet (well, mostly because the Hufflepuffs are my main clients) and it's a pleasure to help them.

I slip out from behind the pillar where I've been watching from and walk carefully towards the box, gently lifting up the lid and peering in to see there are even more notes than last time. And I've only ran the service three times before this.

I pull out a handful of notes and begin sorting them at once. I've got a huge amount of other people's problems to deal with this time around, but I love it. I suppose dealing with the worries of others help me distract myself from my own problems, which I don't often address.

Halfway through flicking through the batch of recently delivered requests for help, my sharp ears pick up something - the sound of a soft tread on the floor behind me. Turning round, I find myself facing a girl who's much closer than I estimated the approaching figure behind me to be, probably down to her light breathing and the way she's creeping towards the bowl of sweets on tiptoe.

''Can I help you?'' I ask politely, looking her up and down. I realise I know her - Kate Fields, her name is - she's a year above me and also in Slytherin. I think she helped me with my homework once. Long, dark hair that hangs loosely around her face, tanned skin, dark, mischievously flashing eyes and an expression which distinctly gives off the 'I'm insane' vibe, she's not someone you forget easily, though I rarely speak with her.

''I - er - well, I suppose so.'' She answers, pausing over her words slightly before taking a step towards me. She has a slight accent; Scouse, by the sound of it. She holds a piece of parchment out to me. ''I meant to put that in your box.''

I don't bother with denying I am 'The Agony Aunt', and smile, taking the note. I notice her eyes drift to look at the bowl of sweets and laugh. ''Go on, take some.'' I say, gesturing to the bowl. She grins at me and goes for it whilst I look at the parchment, upon which is written.

My friend's birthday is coming up and I have no clue of what to get her as a present - but at the same time I want to get her something really special because she's an awesome person. Any help?
The.... Am I supposed to give a false name? Ok, well, yours sincerely,
-The Empress of Aliens.

I look at the girl, who's digging into the sweets quite happily, picking out the Sherbert Lemons, which seem to be her favourite.

''Hey - you're Kate, aren't you? Kate Fields?''

She looks up and smiles quickly. ''Well, I prefer to go by 'Empress of Aliens' but yeah.'' She creases her brow, cocking her head to look at me. ''And you're Claire Dashwood, right?''

I can't hide my surprise - from what I know of Fields, she seems to continuously forget people's names or give them bizarre ones of her own. My answer, however, does not express my surprise.  ''Yup, that's me.''I tilt my head to survey the note again. ''I take it the friend in question is Elena Fairweather?'' The girl I mention is a Ravenclaw I've seen with Fields a lot - they seem to be best friends.

''Yeah. Why?'' Asks Fields suspiciously.

''Well, do you want my advice now?'' I ask, already having compiled a sensible solution in my head.

Fields grins, standing up and moving away from the bowl of sweets, though both of her hands each clutch several sherbert lemons. ''Go for it.''

I smile quickly, then take a step forward and begin my statement. ''Well, I think your problem is not as big as it seems. You know your friend,  and you know what she likes - you just have to check how much money you've got and then eye up a present in Hogsmeade. There's no way you have no ideas.''

''I do have ideas.'' Fields protests. ''Thing is, I'm just awful at present-choosing in general and I don't think they're any good.''

''That's when you need a second opinion.'' I say, grinning. ''Take along one of your other friends and get their thoughts on what you're eyeing up.''

Fields looks at me and scratches the back of her neck awkwardly. ''Er - right - how can I put this....I don't have any other friends.''

I think she's under the impression that I'm judging her for this statement, but actually I'm doing far from that. I'm appreciating her honesty and actually admiring the way she can actually say it. Because, well - I don't have any friends either. I get along with my classmates well enough, but none of them you could call 'Friends' - and I'm embarrassed about my situation - I'll never admit to it.

''Well, does Elena have any friends that'd be happy to help?'' I ask, smiling at her. I can't pour my thoughts out to this girl because I'm supposed to be helping her at the moment, but somehow I'm urged to - because she actually listens to what I have to say.

Fields creased her brow. ''The only one I can think of is Idiot Claw.'' I look at her blankly and she explains. ''You know, that Alex Matton kid from Ravenclaw.'' I nod, then Fields is quick to say; ''But I'm not going to take him with me - absolutely not. He'll want to debate a dozen things and just keep talking and talking whilst I try to actually do something. Plus he hasn't known Eel for long and has really poor judgement.''

I accept Eel to be Elena and get what she's saying - I've been cornered by Alex Matton a few times, and though he seems an ok guy, he certainly isn't the kind of person you'd go present shopping with. There's a pause as I chew my lip for solutions and Fields pops a Sherbert lemon in her mouth. Then, on a whim, I put an instinctual question to her:

''Hey, look - why don't I just come with you? I know I don't know Elena, but I happen to have remarkably good judgement and you just tell me what she's like and I'll rate your present ideas. I am also very good at gift shopping, I might add.'' I say, the words tumbling from my mouth at the start but growing more rational. You see, I actually quite like this girl, and I want to help her. She's quirky, honest and seems like she needs a hand, so it's only natural that I like her.

There's a slight pause as she looks at me after I'm finished my statement as I add on quickly: ''I know we're not friends, but-''

''Oh don't be silly.'' Fields cuts across, swallowing her sherbert lemon whole before speaking and taking a step towards me. ''Of course we're friends. I've had a conversation with you, and for me that's a binding contract. I never speak to anyone pleasantly unless they're my friend.''

Now this does surprise me, but I find myself grinning. ''I'm honoured, Empress.'' I bow down to her humorously and she waves regally for me to stand up once more, speaking in a mock-noble fashion.

''Please, call me Em.'' She says, humour in her voice but face perfectly straight.

I laugh. ''I hope you don't mind, but I'll be calling you Kate.'

She snaps out of her act and grins. ''That's fine - better than 'raving lunatic' and 'psychotic maniac' - though that first one wasn't actually that bad.''

I raise my eyebrow. ''Who gave you those names?''

Kate shrugs, not bothered. ''Everyone.'' She looks at me and grins. ''Not that I mind.''

I laugh - her confidence is admirable and already I'm warming to her. Her quirkiness is great and the fact that she's actually accepted me as a friend after only one conversation is not weird but touching.

She jumps up. ''Right then, Friend - time to go present shopping.''

I grin. ''Righto.''

And, leaving the agony aunt letters that were my therapy to lie unanswered, I walk away with my new friend.