Chapter 17

As Margaret had predicted, hardly a day went by that they didn't have quidditch practice. Between practice and school, Camellia sometimes felt like she had hardly a moment to breathe.

It seemed even worse for Margaret, whose teachers were already piling on massive amounts of homework in preparation for the OWLs. She had increasingly prominent bags under her eyes, and could more often than not be found at the Ravenclaw table during meals, debating rune translations with Mark.

At one point, Camellia tried approaching the younger girl about how she didn't need to put so much energy into researching the possibilities of time travel, but Margaret had shot down that idea right away.

"You clearly don't know my uncle," Margaret had said. "Besides, I'm not giving up." So Camellia could only watch as Margaret steadily drove herself into the ground.

The only time that Margaret seemed to take a moment to relax was when she was laughing at Camellia's dancing lessons. Rose had recruited Mark for his help in teaching Camellia a few basic steps before her family's party, and the four would gather in a deserted classroom whenever they could find the time.

"You're too tense, Cam." Margaret yawned, grinning slightly over her runes homework. "Trust Mark to not run you into the wall." Rose nodded in agreement, watching the pair appraisingly.

Camellia stumbled, tightly gripping Mark's arm. "I don't really do this sort of thing, if you haven't noticed."

"Eyes up, it's throwing off your balance." Mark said, continuing to lead Camellia around the room. Camellia glanced up at him questioningly. "Think about it like quidditch—you don't stare at the ground the entire game."

"No, but I'm not going backwards in quidditch. Or trying not to get stepped on."

"But you're working as a team here," Rose interjected. "You're watching behind, so there are no collisions there, and he makes sure not to steer you into anyone else on the floor. Besides, if you take big enough steps, he shouldn't step on you." She stepped closer and raised Camellia's chin. "Keep your head level."

Camellia grimaced, but did her best to not look at the floor. As they slowly completed a full circle around the room, her eyes caught a glimpse of the clock in the corner of the room, and she hastily let go of Mark.

"I've got to go, I'm late. Potions tutoring." She hurried to her bookbag, throwing it over her shoulder.

Margaret glanced at the clock. "Oh yeah," she turned back to her homework. "Sorry I didn't keep an eye on it…"

"It's fine." Camellia patted her bag absentmindedly, scanning the room for anything else that she needed, walking backwards out of the room. "I'll see you guys later—"

"Say hi to Riddle." Rose called teasingly as Camellia darted from the room.

"Sorry I'm late," Camellia gasped.

Tom, unlike Margaret preparing for her OWLs, was going through his NEWT preparation without seeming to break a sweat. He spent more time studying, to be sure, but hardly seemed affected. He continued tutoring Camellia in potions when they could find time, but after the quidditch party they often found themselves researching the schools that Tom was applying to more often than focusing solely on potions.

He looked up from a letter he was reading, a wavy strand of hair nearly falling into his eyes. "Where were you?"

Camellia threw herself into the chair opposite Tom. "Rose is determined that I need to be able to dance by her family's Yule party. Mark Greyson's been helping." She started pulling out her potions homework.

"Do I need to tutor you in that, too?"

Camellia's mind sputtered to a halt for a moment. "I think—" She dug through her bag for a quill. "I think that I embarrass myself enough in front of you." She glanced up at Tom, who looked at her curiously, a letter held loosely in his hand.

"What have you done that's so embarrassing?" He tilted his head to the side.

"Remember my first potions attempts?" Camellia joked, trying to organize her things on the table.

"And look how you've improved since." Tom pulled her almost-finished essay towards him to review, and held out the letter he'd been reading. "This school in South America is suggesting that I visit for more information."

Glad of the subject change, Camellia hummed slightly as she carefully read through the official-looking document. "There really isn't much extra information, is there?" She muttered after a few minutes. Tom nodded in agreement, crossing out a line of Camellia's essay.

Camellia reached over to Tom's books, knowing where he kept his notebook detailing the schools he was researching. As Tom continued marking her essay, Camellia found the entry Tom had made for the school in question and began reading his notes. "This is the one near Castelobruxo?" Tom looked up.

"Yes. Founded by former students…" He flipped open Camellia's potions textbook, quickly scratching down a page number on her essay. Camellia watched him for a moment.

"What do you think of it?"

Tom sighed, crossing out a few sentences on the parchment. "They don't offer much in the way of incentive. They're only offering a bit more information, which they could have given in a letter. Getting there would also be a hassle." He glanced up at her. "I don't think that—" Tom's eyes caught on something behind Camellia.

Turning in her chair, Camellia noticed Malfoy entering the library, flanked by Avery and Lestrange, two other friends of Tom. She heard Tom sigh again, much quieter. Turning back around, she looked questioningly at him.

He reached over, taking back the notebook and letter. "I'm afraid that I have to cut this short today," Tom said, his face easily becoming an emotionless mask. He quietly cast a charm to dry the fresh ink on Camellia's essay before passing it back to her. "There are a few things you can fix in your essay that I've marked so far, but as a whole you seem to have a decent grasp of the subject material."

"Thanks," Camellia said quietly, watching Tom quickly pack up his things. He nodded to her, and walked away to his friends.

She frowned slightly, looking down at her mess of papers on the table. Not for the first time, Camellia found herself wondering if those boys were truly Tom's friends. He certainly didn't look happy to go with them.

Admittedly, it could be hard—nearly impossible sometimes—to read Tom, but she had seen how he became more closed off once they had arrived. And while she was on fairly friendly terms with Malfoy due to quidditch, something about Avery and Lestrange set her on edge. Similar to how her instincts had told her to be wary around Tom, but there was nothing about Lestrange or Avery to convince her that her instincts were wrong. They were civil enough, but there was an air of both superiority and disdain that lingered around everything that they did, and something about them set Camellia on edge.

Camellia slowly began placing her items back in her bag. Maybe it wasn't any of her business. She shook her head. Tom was her friend, and even if he wasn't she could be concerned about him. She left the library and started walking towards the Astronomy tower. She'd be able to clear her head there, nearer to the sky.

As she traveled through the hallways, Camellia took a detour near the defense and transfiguration classrooms, trying not to run into any other students.

"Miss Wheatley?" Professor Merrythought was looking at her expectantly, having just closed her door and left her office for the day. "Did you need something?"

"Uh, no, sorry." Camellia said. "I'm just walking by, so…" She trailed off. "I'll see you in class tomorrow." Camellia started walking past Professor Merrythought.

"I have a question for you if you aren't too busy, Miss Wheatley." Camellia stopped and turned.

"Sure?"

Merrythought opened her classroom door again, heading towards her office. Camellia followed.

"Have a seat, dear."

Camellia sat down, taking in the powder blue wallpaper and iron accents throughout the room. She looked at Merrythought inquisitively, waiting for the older woman to sit across the desk.

"Now, I know you likely don't want me to bring it up, but I'd like to discuss your patronus a few weeks ago." Merrythought looked intently at Camellia. "Do you have any idea how long you've been able to cast that charm?"

Camellia shifted slightly, trying to think back… "I—a while, I suppose. I don't know how old I was when I learned."

Merrythought nodded slowly. "Would you mind helping me with a demonstration of it? I've been meaning to lecture on it for fifth, sixth, and seventh years, but hearing about a spell won't help them much in actually casting or truly understanding it. The patronus is something that you can feel and see…and it's a spell that I admittedly struggle with. More than you did facing that boggart."

Camellia was silent for a moment, thinking.

"You can say no, Miss Wheatley. And you can have time to think on it if you need." Merrythought rose from behind her desk. "I just need an answer by the end of next week so that I can plan properly."

"Sure." Camellia blurted out. She screwed her eyes shut. "…I can try."

Merrythought beamed at her, pure joy radiating from her face. "Excellent! I'd hoped you would agree." She guided Camellia out of her office. "Now, I'd suggest practicing, naturally, and if you wouldn't mind thinking of what helps you to cast the spell, what sort of things work and don't, a schedule for the demonstration—" She continued chattering through the classroom and into the hallway, finally saying her goodbyes to Camellia for the day, promising to keep her updated.

Slightly bewildered by the whirlwind that was Professor Merrythought, Camellia finally made her way to the Astronomy Tower. Staring at the evening sky, her thoughts drifted. The upcoming party, Tom, Professor Merrythought…

The idea of demonstrating her patronus to a crowd…somehow the idea of it wasn't as nerve-wracking as it should be, almost like she'd done it before. Blurry images swirled around her mind of students and friends that she couldn't see the faces of, practicing in a sea of spells. And maybe, just maybe, this would help her remember.