Chapter 29: First day of term

Rick was woken up by a soft brush of lips against his own, tender and lingering. The sensation drifted to his jaw, then to his neck and collarbone, drawing a lazy, affectionate path that tugged him gently from sleep. When he finally opened his eyes, they were met with a cascade of long, familiar dark red hair fanned across his chest. Smiling, he reached up and gently caught her before she could continue further, guiding her back up with care and kissing her deeply, slowly, pouring every ounce of love and silent joy he could muster into that one moment of quiet connection.

"Good morning." Lily whispered with a smile on her face when they ended the kiss.

"Good morning. It's a dangerous game you're playing, you know? How is our relationship supposed to be secret if you sneak into my room early in the morning?"

"It's fine. You know how Marlene is in the morning and I checked the map. Everybody is in their room. It's too early to be up."

"Everybody but you." He reached for his wand on his side table and cast a tempus which told him it was a bit before 5:30 AM.

"Everybody but me." she grinned and laid another kiss on him. "I wanted to spend the morning with my boyfriend in his bed."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"No other reason?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." she said innocently.

"HmHm. And you grinding yourself against my morning wood?"

"Just a bonus."

The smug smile Lily gave him was the final push. Rick shifted, rolling them over smoothly and pinning her gently beneath him, her arms raised above her head. She didn't resist, if anything, she welcomed it, eyes half lidded with expectation. One hand slipped under her pajama top, fingers tracing a slow, reverent path along her skin, mapping out the warmth he found there. He paused only briefly at the curve of her chest, his touch firm but tender, before trailing soft kisses up her collarbone to her neck. There, he found her pulse and pressed a kiss to it, followed by a playful bite that earned a gasp from her lips. Lily responded instinctively, her breath hitching as she wrapped a leg around his waist, grounding them together with a heat that needed no words.

"If you don't stop me, I certainly won't." he said putting more weight in his pelvic thrust prompting her to circle his waist with her leg.

"I want to but I'm still sore." The disappointment in her tone was obvious and couldn't be missed.

"Then it's better if we stop here." She whined softly when he pulled away, clearly disappointed, but understanding. Rick rolled onto his side beside her, and she instinctively turned to face him, curling into the warmth of his presence. His hand slipped around her, giving her ass a gentle squeeze as her finger idly traced circles across his chest, savoring the closeness and quiet intimacy of the moment.

"I love you." she was looking alternatively at his lips and his eyes. He got the message and kissed her.

"I love you too. Despite the morning breath." he teased.

She gasped in mock outrage and smacked his chest with an open palm, more playfully than punitively, her eyes sparkling with faux indignation that couldn't quite hide her smile.

"Yours is not better!"

"I know and I don't care." and he kissed her again.

She tried to resist, just for the principle of it, but any defiance dissolved the moment his tongue met hers, coaxing rather than conquering, drawing her into a kiss that was all warmth and slow burning passion. When they finally parted, breathless and tangled in emotion, she buried her face in his chest. Rick pulled her closer without a word, their heartbeats syncing in the quiet, and for a few long, peaceful minutes, they simply stayed like that, entwined, content, and utterly still.

"You better go. Let's not tempt fate."

"You're right."

Lily gently untangled herself from his embrace and sat up, the early morning chill kissing her skin as she reached for the buttons of her pajama top. She let out a soft, wistful sigh, the kind that lingers after a moment too good to last, then dressed with a practiced ease that spoke of habit and stolen mornings like this one. Slipping out of bed with a fluid grace, she moved quietly, like a dream retreating with the dawn.

"Lily." he called out to her and she turned around.

"Yes?"

He signaled with his head for her to look down, and she followed his gaze, only to discover a damp patch staining the middle of her pajama shorts. Her cheeks flushed pink with realization, and she shot him a sheepish smile that danced on the edge of embarrassment and mischief. With a soft chuckle, Rick waved his wand with a casual flick, drying the fabric in an instant like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"That's your fault."

"And that's yours!" he pointed out at his very painful erection.

"Good."

Feeling playfully vindicated, she blew him a kiss and slipped out of his bedroom with the stealth of a seasoned mischief maker, the shimmer of a disillusionment charm cloaking her form. Rick lay back against his pillow, a foolish grin tugging at his lips, a warmth blooming in his chest that not even winter could chase away. In that moment, he felt so filled with joy and purpose that conjuring a corporeal Patronus didn't seem like a distant goal anymore, it felt inevitable. One of his personal challenges for the year.

Not wanting to resort to masturbation to calm his erection down (having given up on it since he started dating Lily and refusing to go back to it), Rick went to take a very cold shower. The water had been ice cold but it did the job. Not staying there more than necessary he dried himself quickly and dressed up just as fast. He took his school bag and left his bedroom. Just when he was about to close the door, he accioed his prefect badge on his side table and caught it with his hand. He put it on then closed the door and cast a few locking and defensive charms on it, just in case.

Going down to the common room, Rick checked the time with a casual wave of his wand, 6:18 AM. As expected, he was the first one up, not counting Lily, who was likely wrestling Marlene into some semblance of consciousness. He settled onto one of the couches and smiled at the thought. For all her brilliance, Marlene had never, not once in four years, managed to become a morning person. Rain or shine, weekday or weekend, the girl needed a solid thirty minutes of groggy inertia before she resembled a functional human being. Rick often teased her that it was some kind of hereditary McKinnon curse, deep sleep magic passed down from ancestor to ancestor. And, like clockwork, he found it endearing every single time.

Finally, at precisely 6:30, Rick made his way to the girls' staircase, stepping up three steps before the ancient enchantment flared to life, the infamous anti boy defense mechanism instantly transforming the stairs into a smooth stone ramp. As expected, within moments, Lily and Marlene came sliding down. With practiced ease, Rick cast an Arresto Momentum, slowing their descent so they glided gently to a stop at the base.

It had become a well oiled tradition over the past two years. Rick would trigger the enchantment, the girls would slide down, and he'd catch them with a well timed charm. It beat waiting for Marlene to crawl down one step at a time or Lily to risk carrying her half asleep best friend. One memorable morning, Professor McGonagall had walked in on the spectacle and nearly assigned detention, until she watched the girls arrive, Rick swung Marlene onto his back like a sack of potatoes, and the three of them marched off as though this sort of mischief was perfectly ordinary. The complete nonchalance had stunned the professor into silence before it turned into reluctant amusement. In the end, she awarded them five points each for what she dryly called 'creative logistical coordination.'

Picking up Marlene who moaned something unintelligible, and putting her on his back, the trio left the common room for the Great Hall. As per usual they were the very first students to get there and greeted their Head of house who came, like she always did, from a side door near the teachers' table.

"I see that nothing changes."

"Not at all Professor." Rick replied 'Except Marlene's chest which keeps getting bigger and feels more and more awesome against my back.' "Besides, the more things change, the more they stay the same."

"That is true."

Rick stopped near the bench of the Gryffindor table and gently let Marlene down, cradling her like a precious package made of sleep and sass. She muttered what might've been a thank you, or a spell to turn the world into a pillow, before Lily conjured one for her, which Marlene gratefully claimed like it was a sacred artifact.

Rick slid into the seat beside her, while Lily circled around to sit across from him. As they asked for their usual breakfast, the couple fell into a quiet rhythm of whispering over toast and green tea, careful not to disturb the snoozing gremlin in their midst. Lily was hoping they'd start the day with Charms, unsurprising given her passionate love affair with the subject. Rick was content enough with that, though his fingers were crossed for Potions.

"I hate you guys." the sleepy head said with a yawn when she reached the last stage of her awakening. Or maybe not as she picked her pillow, put it in Rick's lap and laid her head on it.

"Miss McKinnon!"

The outrage in Minerva's voice was unmistakably genuine, undercut by a thread of wry amusement that curled at the edges of her tone like steam from a teacup, reluctant, but undeniably there.

"I'm awake! I'm awake!"

Marlene bolted upright with the reflexes of someone who'd just remembered they left a cauldron boiling unattended. She quickly smoothed her hair and sat properly, doing her best impression of a respectable, wide awake student. Dumbledore's grandfatherly chuckle rolled across the table, equal parts amusement and indulgence, and it only deepened the blush blooming across her cheeks.

The headmaster had joined Minerva five minutes prior, along with Professors Flitwick and Slughorn, and now all three watched with thinly veiled grins, expressions somewhere between entertained spectators and affectionate guardians, quietly enjoying the morning antics of their favorite chaos trio.

"They're just too much." commented Horace.

"That they are."

"Ah, youth. It's even more amusing to witness it than to live it. Especially when you get to my age."

"The three of you should see them in the common room in the morning. They have their well oiled routine. Adorable."

"I'm very disappointed you never shared the memory."

"You never asked before, Filius."

"How much is the pot now?" inquired Horace.

"75 Galleons." answered Albus. "You put 25 Galleons on Mister Wald and Miss Evans or Miss McKinnon ending together before their seventh year but not before their sixth year. Fillius bet 10 on Mister Wald and Miss Bones before the end of the year and 10 more on Mister Wald and Miss McKinnon before the end of their sixth year. Minerva put five then ten more on Mister Wald and Miss Evans already being together, which to be honest doesn't seem like it. And I put 15 on Miss Evans ending with Mister Potter."

"Albus! I still don't understand why you bet on Potter." Horace was quite exasperated with his long time friend and colleague's bet.

"I agree, Miss Evans can't stand the young man." added Filius.

"Ah! But I have faith! Besides, I'm quite adventurous and any other bet was boring."

"The point is to win the bet, Albus, not lose your money."

"Nothing to say, Minerva?" inquired Fillius to his friend who had been quite quiet.

"Only that I know my lions." She shrugged her shoulders and drank her tea.

As time passed, the Great Hall steadily filled with the buzz of returning students and the presence of a few more professors trickling in. Spotting the opportunity, Rick and Lily slipped away to the common room to check on the first years, just in time to intercept a handful of wide eyed kids already wandering in the wrong direction. After shepherding them back on track with patience and a few well placed reassurances, the couple returned to their seats in the Hall where Marlene, now more alert and her wit beginning to wake, handed them their timetables. Lily took one look and practically squealed with joy, her eyes lighting up like a Lumos charm on overcharge.

"Charms and Potions! Best beginning of the week ever!"

"Care of Magical Creatures in the afternoon." Rick pointed. "That's quite the day indeed. Cherry on the cake, we're with Hufflepuff."

"I have to wait until Wednesday for DADA! That's not fair!" complained Marlene with a pout.

"But we have transfiguration on Tuesday. See? Not that bad." said Lily.

That lifted Marlene's spirits, just a bit, but it was enough to put a little bounce in her step. Once they finished breakfast, Rick and Lily sprang into action, corralling the slightly dazed first years and leading them to their first ever Transfiguration class with all the seasoned efficiency of returning champions. Leaving the wide eyed newcomers safely outside the classroom, the couple nearly sprinted across the Transfiguration Courtyard and up through the Astronomy Wing to make it to Charms.

They arrived a minute late, but Professor Flitwick merely waved it off with a knowing nod, clearly aware of their prefect duties. As always, Marlene had snagged them a double seat near the front and was already paired with Pandora. With the start of fifth year, Professor Flitwick wasted no time launching into a passionate speech about the OWLs, his small stature no hindrance to the gravity of his words.

"What you must remember is that these examinations may influence your futures for many years to come! If you have not already given serious thought to your careers, now is the time to do so. And in the meantime, I'm afraid, we shall be working harder than ever to ensure that you all do yourselves and potential justice!"

Flitwick's speech was passionate enough to wake even the drowsiest Ravenclaw, and he launched straight into the lesson without so much as a breath. The session itself was mostly a review, standard charms and counter charms from the previous year, easy pickings for Rick, Lily, and Pandora, who handled every incantation with boredom. With their tasks completed in record time, the trio naturally shifted into more advanced territory, discussing magic theory and the finer nuances of spell crafting while occasionally scribbling down experimental variations in the margins of their notes.

Though they offered Marlene a helping hand now and then, it was more out of habit than necessity. Rick and Lily had drilled her thoroughly over the past two years, coaching her from an EE to a consistent Outstanding. That upward climb had nudged her higher in the academic rankings too, ninth place in second year, then seventh in third and fourth, much to her father's proud delight. To her immense relief, he hadn't demanded more than continued consistency. Just maintain, he'd said, and that had been music to Marlene's ears.

Upon arriving in Potions class, the trio were greeted by a now familiar refrain, Professor Slughorn launching into his own speech about the importance of the OWLs, much to the collective groan of the fifth years. It was becoming painfully clear that every professor had prepared a version of the same ominous preamble, and they'd all be enduring it at least six more times.

The lesson itself focused on reviewing the previous year's material, specifically the Wiggenweld Potion, a classic and crucial healing brew that every aspiring healer or competent wizard ought to master. Rick and Lily, already more than comfortable with the process, deliberately chose to work together so Marlene could brew the potion on her own without help. It wasn't out of neglect, it was a show of trust. She needed to prove, mostly to herself, that she could do it solo.

Instead of fussing over their own cauldron, Rick and Lily took turns quietly observing Marlene's progress, offering silent nods of encouragement while resisting the urge to intervene. It was her moment, and they were content to be the safety net rather than the lifeline.

When the bell rang signaling the end of the class, Marlene straightened with a quiet pride and carefully walked with a vial toward Professor Slughorn. The potion inside shimmered the exact shade of periwinkle blue that the textbook described, smooth and consistent in texture. She presented it with a flourish, earning a delighted gleam in Slughorn's eye.

"Ah, Miss McKinnon! Splendid work! Truly textbook perfect, just look at that clarity!" he beamed, his voice thick with approval and more than a little impressed.

Marlene's smile widened, tinged with a mix of satisfaction and disbelief that she'd actually nailed it. "Well, with those two coaching me I could only succeed." she pointed at her best friends behind her back.

"Very true." he chuckled. "Can I expect such fine work regularly from now on?"

"No promises about that, sir. I do promise to keep doing my best however."

"That's good enough for me. Now go on to lunch Miss Mckinnon. Miss Evans, Mister Wald a moment, please."

The trio exchanged a brief, knowing look. Marlene, ever the observant one, caught on immediately to the tone of the moment and silently mouthed, 'I'll wait for you outside,' before slipping out with a graceful nod and a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Do you need anything, Professor?" inquired Lily.

"Not quite. I was just wondering how far you have progressed during the summer on your personnel projects."

Lily had taken on the ambitious challenge of developing a potion to assist werewolves during their transformation. While she was well aware that a full cure for lycanthropy was far beyond her current knowledge, she hoped to create an elixir that might either neutralize the infectious bite or soothe the violent urges that plagued those afflicted, perhaps even 'taming' the beast within to some extent. Her research was meticulous, filled with complex Arithmancy calculations and careful ingredient testing, driven by equal parts compassion and scientific curiosity.

Rick, meanwhile, was diving deeper into his exploration of spray drying magical concoctions, a process that had captivated Professor Slughorn. The success of his first prototype, a sleeping draught condensed into pill form, had opened a new frontier in magical pharmaceutical delivery. The pill retained its potency and reduced storage needs, a potential breakthrough in potion accessibility and transport. Encouraged by those results, Rick had begun experimenting with applying the method to more complex potions, using controlled magical airflow and fine tuned catalysts to preserve efficacy in powdered form.

"A cure for lycanthropy is still out of reach, however I did succeed in the arithmancy calculation regarding the mixing of an Occamy egg and Murtlap Tentacles. The effects were promising."

"Good, Good. Mister Wald?"

"I've perfected the sleeping draught pill to an average of twenty seconds to have an effect. Satisfied with those results, I switched to the wiggenweld potion with some help."

"Some help?" even Lily wondered what Rick was talking about.

"During a visit to Diagon Alley's Apothecary I literally bumped into Potion Mistress Potter."

"Dorea Potter?!" exclaimed Horace in shock while Lily began to understand what her boyfriend was doing.

"Yes."

"Merlin, how lucky you were! She's a very esteemed healer and potion mistress. She rarely appears publicly anymore."

"Does she?"

"Yes. Ever since the disappearance of her son. Quite a tragic affair." the professor said in a sad tone before perking up. "She's one of the best in Britain. Many wizards and witches owed their life to her during the war against Grindelwald. Many more have tried to apprentice under her but in vain. How did you get her help?"

"Well, when I bumped into her, I dropped my note book and she picked it up. It was open, you see and she found my theories and research interesting. We've been exchanging letters here and there ever since."

"Excellent! What a stroke of luck! You'll do well to not miss this opportunity, Mister Wald. It's one in a lifetime."

"Rest assured that I will not, professor."

"Good. Now, the last bit of what I wanted to talk to you about. Friday night at dinner time, I'm doing a small get together with some bright students to do a bit of networking. Some Hogwarts alumni would be present such as Ludo Bagman and Damocles Belby among others. You are, of course, invited to this gathering and can bring a date with you if you wish."

"That's wonderful, Professor! We would not miss it for anything in the world! To think I can meet THE Damocles Belby! Thank you so much for the opportunity!"

"You give me too much credit, Miss Evans. You both earned those invitations." Horace answered with a jovial chuckle.

"Maybe I can ask Mrs Potter to attend?"

"You would?!" At this point, the head of Slytherin house was almost salivating at the prospect.

"Of course. Although I can't promise she would answer positively."

"It's alright, young man. It's the gesture that counts! Now hurry up! I'm sure Miss McKinnon is tired of waiting for you outside the door."

"Thanks, again professor." Rick said as parting words.

Exiting the Potions classroom, Rick and Lily each looped an arm through Marlene's, guiding her between them like two proud escorts presenting a queen in uniform. Marlene, still riding the high of Slughorn's praise, let herself be led with a spring in her step and a smirk threatening to spread. Together, they strolled out of the Library Annex, the sun warming their faces as they crossed the viaduct bridge, their laughter echoing lightly over the stone and through the crisp September air.

"He's so easy to deal with when you have some worth in his eyes, it's almost sad."

"Slughorn? Why do you say that?"

"Because Rick got us invited to the Slug club this Friday by saying he was acquainted with his mom, exchanging letters and everything. Professor Slughorn couldn't resist the appeal of having her attend nor the connection."

"To be fair, I'm pretty sure he was going to invite us anyway. I just made sure of it."

"Is that so? I think you just wanted to see your mom." Lily teased.

"That too. I mean I just got to know her. And I wouldn't see her again until Christmas otherwise."

"I would have done the same in your place." confessed Marlene.

"That left us with one problem. Who do we go with?" Lily wondered aloud.

She and Rick exchanged a subtle glance, a flicker of silent understanding passing between them like a shared spell. As much as they wanted to, attending the party together was off the table, at least publicly. Too many eyes, too many questions, and too much at stake. For now, secrecy was still their strongest shield.

"We can't really go to a party with one member of our trio missing, so who's asking her?"

"You can ask Amelia, I'm asking our blonde bimbo." Switching her focus from her boyfriend to Marlene, Lily asked her out. "Miss Marlene Selene McKinnon, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Slug Club this Friday evening?"

Marlene McKinnon rolled her eyes with theatrical flair, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. She clasped Lily's offered hand with mock solemnity, lifting it with an exaggerated curtsy that earned a snort from Rick and a dramatic bow from Lily in return.

"Gladly."

Chuckling, the trio reached the Great Hall. Rick had a bold plan for the afternoon, he was determined to ask out a striking redhead from Hufflepuff, known not just for her pornstar body but for her razor sharp wit. He couldn't wait to see if charm and brains could win her over.