My Patronus on Pottermore is a Piebald Stallion, and I have to say I absolutely love the test!

So sorry this update was so long in the making! I've been busy making my Halloween costume, along with one of my friends. We're going as Hermione and Ginny and I'm so excited! She spent the weekend at my house, however, and obviously that meant I didn't have time to write. Sorry...

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January dragged into February, and my mood was stuck in a perpetual slump. Albus would never talk to me again, it seemed, and maybe part of it was my fault, but I still held onto every ounce of bitterness I had and thought that if he wanted to ruin our friendship, he could go at it. Wren was hanging out with Rose more than either of us, and I knew it was because she hated trying to stay neutral and be friendly to both of us but I started feeling bitter towards them, too, as if Wren was replacing me. Colette, of course, was the same as always, but that wasn't comforting.

Now I didn't even have Quidditch practice to help. I went out to fly anyway, because it was relaxing after a particularly morose day. Marcus came and watched sometimes, though when I offered him a go, he claimed he couldn't ride a broom to save his life and would prefer to remain on the ground.

Valentine's Day was approaching, I realized, and there was a Hogsmeade trip scheduled for the day. The perfect opportunity to get my mind off everything. Perhaps I'd be able to keep it that way, too.

On Valentine's Day, Hogsmeade was as snowy and picturesque as ever. It made even my normal gloom dissipate. It's impossible to stay down when you're outside of school, surrounded by friends. Though, of course, Marcus and I branched off from them soon enough.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked as we walked down the main road together. It was our first official date, and I felt a little jittery.

Marcus grinned. "Not entirely sure. I know a lot of girls like Madam Puddifoot's, though, if you want to go there..."

I'd never been to Madam Puddifoot's, though I'd seen countless couples coming and going. When James had taken Mackenzie there last year, and we'd waved at them through the window, I'd gotten the impression that everyone there only went to snog. I had no intentions of snogging anyone, and if you're not going to snog anyone, it's a bit uncomfortable to be around a lot of people who are snogging. I glanced uncertainly at Marcus. "Well... I mean, it's not exactly my style, but if you really want to..."

Marcus looked relieved. "No way. Honestly, I hate that place. Only would've gone for you."

"Aw, how sweet," I said, laughing.

"Three Broomsticks sound good, then?" he asked, motioning to the busy pub.

"Sounds much better." Marcus grinned as we started down the main road of Hogsmeade.

As we were walking, I noticed Albus, Wren, and Colette up ahead. Of course, they'd all go together. Why not? Rose was with Scorpius, no doubt. I still felt a little left out, and struggled to keep my spirits from plunging down. Marcus noticed, apparently, and put his arm around me.

"Hey, maybe Albus just isn't the sort of friend you need," he suggested. "I hate seeing you like this, and if it's his fault..."

"Albus is my best friend," I said emphatically. "Just cause he's being a git doesn't mean he's not the sort of friend I need."

Marcus nodded quickly. "Of course, you're right. Sorry, I didn't mean anything."

I smiled a bit. "It's all right. Let's just not talk about it."

My three friends walked into the Three Broomsticks ahead of us, but I pushed that out of my mind. I just needed to not think of Albus for a while. I smiled up at Marcus, who seemed like he was also pushing unpleasant thoughts out of his head.

As we walked up to the door, I saw Kirsten over to the side, on what looked like a cellphone.

"Of course everything is going to be fine. She vill make it. Do not vorry." Kirsten noticed me and smiled a bit as she listened to the other end of the conversation. "Mother vill be fine, Klaus. Yes. Right here." I waved a bit before walking through the door.

"I'll get us two butterbeers, if you want to grab a seat," Marcus said as we walked in. I nodded and looked around the room for an empty booth.

The only two I spotted were quite near to where my friends had sat down. On one hand, it would be nice to be able to talk to Wren and Colette if I ran out of conversation topics with Marcus. On the other hand, Albus was there, and obviously that would cause some problems. There weren't any other free seats, unfortunately, so I chose the table that was a bit further away from them and prayed Marcus would come back before they noticed.

Marcus came over soon enough, two butterbeers in hand. He sat down next to me and handed me one of them. "Nice to take a break, isn't it?" he said, leaning back.

"Yeah, I suppose." I glanced over at Albus out of the corner of my eye. It didn't feel like I was taking a break from much of anything, except perhaps agonizing over the clue.

When I looked back at Marcus, he looked a little worried, but quickly smiled. "Right. Well, I feel like I've been studying for ages, honestly."

"OWLs sound so very fun," I joked, rolling my eyes and pushing Albus out of my mind.

"Oh, of course," Marcus said, grinning. "I just love having so many assignments that I don't even have time to write my mum. It's great." He smiled. "I haven't ever told you much about my family, have I?"

I shook my head, and let Marcus talk for a while about his mum, who worked in a shop in Diagon Alley, and his dad, who was an editor of the Daily Prophet. He was an only child, and had always been a little spoiled, though I didn't think it had ever gone to his head. They were a very close family, and I found myself listening almost a little jealously. I loved my family, but I hadn't grown up with them. I'd had one summer with them, and even then, there was so much I still didn't know. And then there were the Potters, who had felt like my family for the longest time. I couldn't say how Mrs. Potter would think of me now; surely Albus had written home and told her all about what a prat I was...

And there I was, thinking about Albus again. I pushed that thought away and tried to focus on Marcus.

"I wrote Mum about you, you know," he was saying. "She says you sound very nice. Wishes she could meet you."

"Maybe over the summer?" I suggested. "And you could meet Teddy and Victoire and Aunt Andromeda."

Marcus smiled. "That'd be nice. Teddy and Victoire always seemed pretty cool when I saw them at Hogwarts."

"When they weren't making out, they were," I said. "Toire also liked to yell at us when we lost House points."

"Pretty good Headgirl," he said, nodding. "Speaking of that, think you'll make prefect next year?"

I almost started laughing, assuming he was joking. Luckily, I caught a look at his perfectly serious face and managed to hold myself back. "Um... No... I don't think so..."

"Oh, why not?"

"Well, Rose will probably get it. Or maybe Wren or Colette. Honestly, I'm the least qualified person in my year."

"That's not true!" Marcus exclaimed. "It can't possibly be!"

"I'm not exactly the most responsible person, if you haven't noticed," I pointed out.

"I suppose that's true... It would just be pretty cool to be prefects together. We might end up on patrol together."

I didn't really know how to respond to that (there was no way in hades that I would ever make prefect), so we lapsed into silence for a minute. I stared out into the pub. Haverna was glaring at all the close couples surrounding us, and just to spite her I scooted a bit closer to Marcus. Faith and Étienne were snuggled up next to each other in a corner booth and somehow managing to also have a very animated conversation. I heard Albus and Wren laughing, and tried to assure myself I wasn't being left out.

When I glanced back at Marcus, I realized he'd been watching me. I felt his hand on mine as he leaned in.

I scooted back in the seat, startled, suddenly realizing what was going on. Marcus frowned at me, confusion on his face as he awkwardly pulled back as well.

"Sorry, I just... It's not even two months, you know? I just want to go slower..."

Marcus nodded quickly, his face going red. "Right. Sorry. I should've asked. Sorry..."

There was a very awkward silence. I didn't feel that bad, though I probably should have; I didn't want to kiss anyone, and Marcus knew that now. I stared out the window, not sure what to do now.

Marcus sighed. "Well... I suppose I'll go now. I didn't mean... I'm really sorry. See you tonight."

He got up and started off. Before I could say anything to stop him (not that I was entirely sure I should; I'd never been in a more awkward situation), I was interrupted by a blast of music and Luke and River jumping onto one of the longer tables and starting a tango. Luckily, most people sitting there seemed to have known it would happen, and had pulled the butterbeers off the table.

A large crowd quickly gathered around them as Marcus slipped out the door, and I glanced around for Madam Rosmerta. She probably wouldn't be happy. I spotted her behind the counter and found I was right. She looked a little annoyed as she rounded the counter and started towards the table. However, Luke noticed her as well, and jumped down to tango with her, while River pulled another boy up to take Luke's place. Very soon, the whole place was filled with dancing and laughing.

I was not in the mood for dancing and laughing, and hurried to finish my butterbeer and leave. I didn't really know where to go, because my closest friends were all back in the pub, having a pretty good day, it seemed like. Albus was there, though. Such a loneliness was falling on me that I almost marched back in and apologized, but I was stopped before I could.

"Oh, Astra, hello!" I turned to see Kirsten walking up, smiling. "How are you?"

"Good," I said automatically. "And you?" I remembered the phone call I'd overheard. "Is you mother all right?"

Kirsten blinked at me, then gasped. "Oh! Yes, I had almost forgotten! Vell, she seemply has a... A chill, I think you say?"

"A cold?"

"Oh, yes. My brother, he vos vorried, but she vill be fine."

"That's good. I didn't know you had a brother," I said.

"Vell, he is much younger. Only ten." She smiled. "I must be going. Goodbye, Astra!"

I waved as she hurried off, then glanced around me. I still didn't know what to do with myself, but at least I didn't feel quite so bad anymore. Even if my best friends weren't an option to hang out, I had other friends. I decided to simply walk around and look into the different shops.

After a while, I paused in front of the display window of Pedolian's Pets, where about half a dozen black kittens were playing. I watched the tiny creatures as they batted at each other with their little paws. I didn't say anything as Wren walked up behind me, stopping just next to me.

"Hello," she said quietly. I didn't look at her, so I wasn't sure if she was watching me or the kittens.

"Hi. Here to tell me I need to go make up?"

"No. You looked lonely," Wren said. "Everything all right?"

I glanced at her. She was staring right back at me. "Yeah. Fine."

"Don't lie." It was a bit unnerving, I have to admit. Wren frowned at me in a more disapproving way than I'd seen in a very long time. Before I knew it, the whole story with Marcus attempting to kiss me spilled out.

Wren listened sympathetically. "I'm sorry..."

"It's really fine. Just awkward." I sighed. "You don't think it'll stay awkward, do you?"

"He's probably thinking the same thing," Wren said. "You should just talk to him about it."

"That's your advice for everything, isn't it?" I asked, smiling a bit. "First Albus, now this?"

"Perhaps it's just good advice," Wren said, a small smile playing across her face. "And you should take it concerning both of them, if you ask me. Please..."

"Not Albus. Don't even talk about him." Wren sighed, but I shook my head. No way was I going to be the first to apologize. He started it. He could fix it, too.

Wren seemed to know what I was thinking. "That attitude isn't the best for keeping friends, Astra."

"Maybe it's not. Or maybe Albus just isn't the sort of friend I need," I suggested, repeating what Marcus had said earlier. I didn't know if I believed it, but I wanted to, if it would just stop making me feel sick with guilt and bitterness and a whole mixture of other things every time I thought about him.

Wren blinked, then frowned. "I think he's probably the sort of friend you need most, actually. Anyone who's seen you two together could tell you that."

I shook my head. "You just don't understand."

"Maybe I don't. I don't think I want to." Before I could say anything, Wren turned and left. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Colette and Albus across the street, pretending to be engrossed in a newspaper. I met Albus's eye for a brief second, and quickly looked away. Before Wren had even made it across the street, I hurried away, telling myself that Albus wasn't the sort of friend I needed, knowing deep down that that was the biggest lie I'd ever tried to sell myself.

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Question of the Day: What's your Ilvermorny House, and how does it relate with your Hogwarts House?

Vote and comment!

~Ellie