Dec. 17: I'm Losing It: Mick

[Lily Potter]

Lily liked to think she was a better friend than she had been exhibiting in the past few weeks. She liked to think she hadn’t missed something again with Mick. Wishful thinking was getting her nowhere however and she was stuck with the knowledge that all she could do was shrug at James’ questioning. She had no clue where Dorcas or Marlene were, and she really should have known. Having seen it so many times before -when couples got together, everything else just seemed to not exist- she thought she would be immune to the relationship blinders but it appeared she wasn’t. So much of her free time and thoughts were taken up with James and she felt she had let other things fall to the wayside, like her roommates. Sure, they had been sticklers for meals and Hogsmead trips being group events, it was their last year together and they wanted to spend as much time together as possible, but that was lacking the one on one she should have been having with her best friends.

In the past couple of days she had been almost unreachable, there was so much to do as Head Girl before leaving the castle, and packing, and then there were all the things she had to make sure were in order for James to stay with her. Mostly that was just sending out letters to her family ahead of her arrival but it also consisted of drawing up a rough itinerary for their time together over the Holidays. Both at her place and his. With all that going on she had obviously missed something.

From the exchange between her boyfriend and her best friend, Remus knew, something at least. He hadn’t missed something, he knew and she could only guess, but…she thought she had a good guess. She locked eyes with Mary for a long moment, their shared years together giving them that unique way of silent communication. She raised a brow, becoming more confident with their stare down that she was right in her assumption. Breaking contact, she smirked at James, still clearly suspicious of Remus and what he knew. Charlotte beside him, serene as ever, could have known the whereabouts of Mick and Doe as well but James would never crack her so he was trying to wear down his best mate.

James didn’t have much longer to grill him because no sooner had they started their journey home for the Holidays did the pair in question appear. Lily immediately smiled a brilliant smile at the sight of them, sitting up straighter under the comfortable weight of James’ arm. “Hey back you two.” she greeted before her boyfriend jumped in, telling them exactly what they had been discussing, and demanding sweets. Lily discreetly gave him a sharp punch to his thigh where it met hers, jabbing her chin in the direction of Dorcas and Marlene’s linked hands. She rolled her eyes at him, tsking. "James, all you ever think about is food."

[Remus Lupin]

Keeping the smirk off of his face was difficult, but Remus was trying to maintain his composure. Did he know something? Yes, of course he did. Dorcas had confided in him near the start of the term, and he had been keeping her feelings about Mick a secret since then. But that wasn’t the reason for the twitch on his lips as James questioned him. That was because he had seen Dorcas approached Mick outside of the train, and the two of them had gotten on the train together - and yet they were not present in their crowded compartment. Remus hoped it would be good news when they did arrive, as he had been trying to nudge Mick into realizing Dorcas’ feelings these past few months. Arm draped over Charlotte’s shoulders, he shook his head at James continued inquiry. “Mate, I don’t know anything. Maybe they went in search of the sweets trolley,” he said, looking past James to Lily.

While he didn’t know for sure that Lily and Mary knew of their roommates feelings towards each other, Remus watched as the two of them communicated via a glance at each other. It was clear they knew something, but he couldn’t ask them right now. While he hoped Dorcas was admitting her feelings to Marlene, he also knew that Mick probably had no idea, and he was hoping she felt the same about Dorcas. The term had started rough for her, but being around Dorcas had gotten her back in high spirits these past few months. Which meant, in his mind, that whatever conversation was happening between the two would have a good outcome. But only time would tell, and given how well they had been getting on, he did feel that he should have made a bet with his friends on the two of them getting together. The only reason he hadn’t was because he had promised Dorcas that he wouldn’t say a word.

The train had started moving, and they didn’t have to wait too long for Mick and Dorcas to show up. He looked to Dorcas, then down to their intertwined hands, and met Dorcas’ eye with a grin on his face. This had to be good news, judging by the grin on Mick’s face. “Well we all know James is prone to miss the obvious,” he chimed in with a laugh. “So you two, what exactly have you been up to?”

[Charlotte Fudge]

While Charlotte would be the first to admit that she was still finding her footing with the group she was sharing a compartment with for today's train ride, the sixth year was also proud of herself for the progress she'd recently made. After their adventure at the lake at the start of the month, she and Remus had spent time with some of his friends; they'd been caught in a broom closet by James, and spent the rest of the evening with the others, even if she'd feared that was an embarrassment they'd never live down; the others weren't as intimidating as she'd expected, even if they were a rather rowdier group than those she usually gravitated towards. They weren't even strangers to her, not really. Daisy and Peter had been together as long as any of them remembered - although Charlotte still kept those first few years at school, when they were both untethered, close to her heart, no matter how dear as her best friend's boyfriend was to her now - and it wasn't uncommon for her to be around. And Rufus, of course, knew the lot far better than she did, although was still unaware of her closeness with Remus. They'd never been anything but kind and even a bit keen to get to know her, and she was realizing that the intimidation really was in her head, for the most part. Their exuberance and ribbing were well-intended and well-received, and while it felt like everyone's place was well established, that didn't mean there wasn't still room.

Even if she did find it tricky to add to conversation when they were all together, and even if they were past the point of available room in the compartment, while still expecting more to join.

She chuckled as Remus continued to assert that he knew nothing of Marlene and Dorcas's whereabouts, or why they were absent so far, and threaded their fingers together as the train started to move. There was an undercurrent of something in his voice - a hidden laugh that made her smile - to cue that he wasn't as in the dark as he claimed, but she trusted that he had to have good reason for keeping mum. "Endless possibilities - they'll turn up before long, surely." They weren't left wondering for much longer; the missing pair of roommates found them, entering the compartment with joined hands and twin smiles. Char scooted to the side until her shoulder pressed against the window, shifting with the lot as they made room, and grinned at Remus's altogether too innocent inquiry. He seemed very pleased and not much surprised, and while her curiosity was certainly piqued, she held off on assumption as she waited for the girls to explain.

[Mary Macdonald]

"Such a busybody these days, James, my goodness," Mary chided lightly, wondering if it was worth trying to redirect their excitable Head Boy or if that would make him more suspicious - not that there was (much) to be suspicious about! - or to simply wait it out. Because there wasn't...anything explicitly odd about Mick and Dorcas still finding their way to them. They could be up to any matter of things, and maybe one of them would show up, and maybe they both would, and even if they didn't, certainly they were fine. The air still smelled of Honeydukes, they hadn't even left the station yet! But as she met eyes with her roommate, Mary couldn't keep a secret little smile from lighting up her face as she sent an eyebrow right back to Lily.

If their theory was correct...the holiday would be the start to another new couple, and Mary couldn't bear to decide who she was most thrilled for.

It did sting, slightly, to sense that Remus knew more than either she or Lily did. But she had to hope that all would become clear soon. And if it didn't, maybe she could steal a moment with Mick and Lily could do the same with Dorcas and together they could figure out what exactly was going on in their dorm. Because things felt...good, overall, better than they'd been all term. The dust from Mick's breakup seemed to have settled, and their friend was holding her head higher these days. Lily and James were off being Lily and James, about time. Remus and Charlotte just needed to get over the bump that was Rufus Fudge, and things could be smooth sailing for the lovebirds. (She was waiting in the wings to help with that one, and get Ruff through whatever little outburst he had to have to get over the shock of his sister starting to date.) Dorcas was still antsy about something-or-other sometimes, but with any luck, that specific stress would soon be alleviated. Peter and Daisy were solid as far as she could see, and while she knew it was silly, she could hear wedding bells already and was dying to talk dresses with her fellow redhead. And she and Sirius were absolutely content, and jokes about them being the last to "inevitably" pair up were most assuredly jokes between them, thank you very much.

The compartment door opened and she turned with the rest to see Mick and Dorcas. Beaming. Holding hands. Entering with confidence and without a care in the world.

The girl beamed right back, eyes taking the happy pair in, and quickly moved to squeeze herself in beside Lily to make room for two on the opposite bench. "If there's anything to tell us, of course," Mary added on, trying to not be too eager but utterly failing as her excitement got the better of her, "we're all here. Your dearest friends. And now you two, positively radiant."

[Dorcas Meadowes]

"Merlin, don't get me started," Dorcas returned with an exasperated laugh of her own. Remus was ready to be in a relationship, for them to be known, and she wanted to believe that the younger Gryffindor really was holding back because of fearing her brother's reaction. That was solvable. If it was something else - if she was stringing him along, if she made Remus doubt himself or what he deserved, if she was worried about what the high-and-mighty members of her family would say - they had best get it out of her before much longer. But if it was just Rufus, surely they could work together on a solution. Mick knew Rufus better than most of them, having fought side-by-side on the pitch. Their trust had been established over these years as they watched each other's back, kept each other safe with their bats, and maybe she was the best bet they had at getting their housemate to see reason. It wouldn't be the end of the world for Charlotte to start dating. And it was a grand thing that Remus was the one she liked. "Honestly, it makes me grateful it's just me at home, the way Rufus has gotten into her head - it's done my head in. Remus is much more patient than me, waiting it out, but we should see what we can do to help hasten things along. They can't keep sneaking around forever, it's not fair to anybody."

They left their compartment with fingers intertwined, and Dorcas couldn't keep from smiling - while not much time had passed since they had entered the train hand-in-hand, so much had happened between them to make this feel different, an amazing kind of different - and they were shortly to the compartment that really was "theirs." She grinned to Mick's welcome, found Remus's eye and gave him a beaming nod. Settling in on the bench with Peter, Daisy, and Sirius as Mary made room for them there, and feeling the collective attention on them - while full of knowing, excited, supportive, expectant smiles - was a lot. Dorcas wasn't one to shy away from the spotlight, but typically found herself in it for reasons not having to do with her personal life, which was much preferred to this. At least she wasn't alone in it, Mick was right there beside her, as their friends inquired after their delay with the combined subtlety and patience of a herd of agitated hippogriffs.

"Really, there was nothing better to do than take bets on us? Hand over the winnings, then - they're ours, serves you all right." With the exchange of a smirk with the girl at her side, and a kiss to her hand, Dorcas continued, "I asked Mick for a chat, we had - we had some things to clear up between us. And we did, and I think I can safely say for us both that we're very happy with how things ended up." 

[Marlene McKinnon]

Mick listened intently as Dorcas gave her the details on Remus and his relationship with Charlotte. She knew that the budding relationship between the two of them was a secret, that Rufus was unaware of his roommate and sister’s time spent together. Marlene was going to have to have a talk with Rufus, if anyone had ground to stand on with him it was her. They’d been friends for so long, and while Mick understood his hesitation in his younger sister dating, it was Remus. There wasn’t anyone who would look at Remus and think that he was out to hurt Charlotte in any capacity. “Leave Rufus to me, I’ll get him in a good headspace before he goes after Remus. Which, one do you think would win that fight? My money would be on Remus. He’s got to have a secret tough side.” Given the crowd Remus was normally with, Mick wouldn’t be at all surprised if he had enough strength to overpower James or Sirius if he wanted to.

The compartments on the train were small, but that had never stopped them from cramming themselves all into one. So it was no surprise that the compartment was packed when they arrived. Mick was glad to see that Charlotte was with Remus, and Mick made a mental note to grill Remus later for details. Everyone seemed pleased to see them, which had to mean that there had been talk about her and Dorcas in the compartment. Remus knew - but he had the inside scoop - and it was clear that Lily and Mary had been having discussions of their own based on how they smiled at them. Mick sunk down next to Dorcas, laughing as Dorcas' brought up the bets. Because of course their friends were betting on them, and Mick had to agree, they deserved the winnings. “Very happy indeed, we’re so happy it’s going to make you all get sick with how happy we are,” Mick teased, giving Dorcas’ hand a squeeze. “Really though, hand over the money. You are all ridiculous you know. I mean that with love.” Grinning at Dorcas, she leaned over to kiss her. “Very happy indeed,” she said, looking over to Remus. “You are way too good at keeping secrets Lupin.”

[Sirius Black]

Sirius was normally pretty chuffed about going home for the holidays, as home was with the Potters now and he’d been running off to spend the shorter holidays with them for years even before making their place his official residence. This being their last year at Hogwarts, the winter holiday should have been an even more exciting ‘last’ together, but plans had been made without his input that seemed to throw all tradition into the wind. And for what? A girl? So Sirius would be spending the first days of their holiday with the Potters, without James. Fine, whatever.

He had had another growth spurt since their last journey on the train, and the now 6’3” Gryffindor flanked even his tallest dormmates by a fair 5 inches, his knees extended well beyond the middle of the floorspace in their already full compartment. This, of course, did nothing to soothe his irritation at being crowded in like a can of sardines and made to sit directly opposite the happy couple that had single-handedly ruined his plans for Christmas. Thankfully, he had a copy of Rolling Stone to bury his head in as the rest of their party discussed the apparent mystery that was their missing companions. It’s not like you’ve left any room for them, Sirius thought bitterly as his eyes briefly flitted from the article on the Sex Pistols that he hadn’t been reading to glance quickly at Evans and then Charlotte before looking back at the print. The train compartments sat eight comfortably and after having claimed this compartment as theirs several years ago – a brilliant sweating jinx of his own application placed onto anyone trying to claim it before the Marauders could board – they had perfectly filled it out with his mates and a small selection of the girls from their same year. Now he sat shoulder to shoulder with Peter and Mary, practically playing footsies with Evans through no fault of his own, with two newcomers taking up the only remaining seats, and the rest of them had the nerve to wonder where Dorcas and Marlene were.

The compartment door opened, as if on cue, and the last of their party stepped inside. Sirius was too focused on the logistics of their ride to initially notice the girls were holding hands. Mary shifted to the other side of the compartment and squeezed in next to Evans, and as Dorcas and Mick took Mary’s now empty seat beside him, Sirius stood up to give them more room. It was like playing musical chairs to get everyone in, and for the time being Sirius actually preferred standing in front of the closed compartment door, leaning on the luggage rack above Mick’s head. At least here he could look straight ahead and not be smacked in the face with the I Dream of Jily show.

“S’bout time,” Sirius remarked, as the interrogation led to a cryptic confession between the two Sirius now realized were canoodling and giggling like…well, like James and Evans. “So now that we’ve established they’re shagging, can we get on to more pressing matters?” he asked. Folding back the cover of the magazine he still held so that he could hold it up with one hand, Sirius presented the group with a photo from the article. “How long d’you think I’d last at the Christmas party in this shirt before Dorea notices?”