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"Merlin's beard. This is just useless!" Gwen exasperated as she failed once again to achieve any type of Patronus.
"You'll get there. You just have to keep trying." Professor Lupin reassured as he closed the case with the Boggart in it.
"Or I'll just keep on failing." Gwen continued as she sat on the staircase. Harry sat beside her and rubbed her back as a form of comfort.
"Don't give up Gwen," Harry stated. "You can do it, you're very intelligent and I know for a fact that you're not a quitter."
"Maybe it's because your happy memory isn't strong enough. Do you mind me asking what memory you're using?" Professor Lupin asked as he handed Gwen and Harry a bar of chocolate each.
"The day that I received my Hogwarts acceptance letter," Gwen replied, biting into her chocolate. "I don't want to interfere, but maybe you should use another memory. Since it doesn't seem to be working." Professor Lupin suggested.
Gwen sighed. "It's not that it's not strong enough. It's just these times aren't that happy for me. You know with the O.W.L.s and all the stress, and just problems in general. Everything is horrible."
"Come on, Gwen," Harry said. "You're being dramatic, it's not like you're going to die. And hey, that bruise on your forehead is fully healed now." Gwen glared at the young Gryffindor.
"Merlin's beard Harry. This is not.. a.. good.. time." Gwen stated through gritted teeth.
Harry's eyes opened wide and he moved away from her. "How about this. Count to ten, calm down, forget everything that is bothering you. Close your eyes and focus on a time when you felt true happiness." Lupin explained.
Gwen nodded. "Okay, I'll try it once again. If I don't manage, I'll just stop for tonight."
Professor Lupin smiled. "There you go. You, Harry, you stand right over here." Lupin placed Harry at a certain place in front of the Boggart filled case.
"Wand at the ready. Opening the case in three.. two... one!" Professor Lupin opened the case and Gwen finally opened her eyes which she closed to concentrate.
"Expecto Patronum... Expecto PATRONUM!!" For the first time, Gwen managed to form a silvery shadow. The grin on her face widened as she saw it working causing the shadow to shine brighter. She managed to keep the dementor away from her, though she wasn't able the fight it off completely.
Professor Lupin pulled the dementor back in its case. "FUCK YEAH!!" Gwen couldn't help but shout as her face lit up with triumph.
"Gwendolyn!"
"Sorry Professor, but that was incredible! I'm not a complete failure after all!" Gwen stated. Harry raised his hand and Gwen didn't hesitate to high five him.
"You were never a failure, to begin with, Gwendolyn." Professor Lupin reassured. "I think that's enough for today. We'll meet at the same time next week?"
Harry and Gwen looked at each other first before they nodded yes. "Great! And good luck on the match between Ravenclaw."
"Can I speak with you for a second, Professor?" Gwen hesitantly asked. Lupin smiled. "Well, of course, you can."
"I'll let you two be then," Harry stated as he waved at Gwen before he left.
Gwen waited until she was sure that Harry was left. "Is there something bothering you, Gwendolyn?"
"There actually is. I was wondering if I was doing well after all. I mean, Harry managed to create an incorporeal Patronus on his second try, and I just managed to do it. Which is a bit behind, especially since I'm two years older than him." Gwen wondered.
Professor Lupin shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with that, Gwendolyn. You're a bright witch and a very successful one also. It might be harder for you.
"Everyone knows that Harry has had a painful past, but so did you. And it's a tragedy that grew up with you. Do you mind if I asked you what memory you were thinking of now, just out of curiosity?"
Gwen sighed. "I thought about Hogwarts in general. The memories, the things I've learned, the people I've met. To tell you the truth, Hogwarts has been more of a home to me than my actual home." Gwen explained as a small smile crept on her face.
Professor Lupin smiled back. "Hogwarts does have that effect on people. Don't give up on your Patronus yet, you'll get the-"
Both the teacher and student's attention went towards the clicking sound. The Boggart in the case seemed to have escaped, and it being closer to Gwen, caused it to try and take the shape of her biggest fear.
Right in front of Gwen stood a man. He was tall, with curly black hair and had the same forest green eyes that Gwen had. She didn't bear to look at the man's face for years, and the sight of him caught her speechless.
The man who was clad in black robes raised his dark wand at Gwen and the smirk on his face grew. "CRUC-"
"Riddikulus!" Gwen stated as she raised her wand. The malicious man in front of her, turned into a baby in oversized robes as she said the incantation.
With the wave of his wand, Professor Lupin made sure that the Boggart was locked tightly in the case.
"I'm so sorry, Gwendolyn. I truly didn't mean to do that." Lupin apologized as he turned to look at her. Gwen was still staring at the now-closed case, tears forming in her eyes.
"It's okay Professor. I better go now. I promised my friends that I'll meet them at the library." Gwen explained as she grabbed her bag and hoisted it on her shoulder.
"Gwen-"
"I don't blame you, Professor. Have a nice evening." Gwen left the room, entirely silent except for the thoughts in her head. She didn't even flinch when she banged her arm against the door.
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"HE'S GONE AND IT'S ALL THE BLOODY CAT'S FAULT." Gwen sighed as soon as she heard Ron shout in the common room. She didn't want to deal with it.
"What's going on here?" Gwen shouted all over the other Gryffindor pupils. Ron quickly turned towards her.
"Crookshanks killed Scabbers, he ate him!" Ron stated with anger in his eyes. "Look, I have proof! LOOK!!" Ron shoved a handful of orange cat hairs in her face and a bloody bedsheet.
Gwen frowned at the cat hairs in front of her face and slapped them out of the boy's hand.
"Crookshanks didn't eat him, I know that he didn't," Hermione stated as she crossed her arms. Gwen sighed. "Look Ron, I'm sorry for the loss of your pet. But are you sure that it was even Crookshanks? I mean, I don't know if you've noticed but Crookshanks has ginger hair, and you're, well, also ginger."
"Thanks for telling me Gwen! I didn't notice!" Ron exasperated. "Please don't fight. Not with each other and not with me. Just go to your room and cry about your rat."
Ron was about to retort back but with one look from Harry, who noticed the state Gwen was in, he decided to shut up. Being a prefect is hard especially as they never told you what to do when rat murder occurs.
The crowd that stopped to look at the whole ordeal went back to her own business. Gwen couldn't help but notice the solemn look on Hermione's face as she sat on a chair and continued with her homework.
"That looks like a lot of work," Gwen stated as she sat down beside Hermione as she eyed all the books, notes and rolls of parchment.
"I'm handling it," Hermione murmured. "Of course you are, but you still need to take a break once in a while," Gwen reassured.
"How do you manage? With all the lessons, studying, Prefect duties and Quidditch practice." Hermione asked as she finally looked up from her notes.
Gwen reached out for the Ancient Runes book and started to curiously flip through it. "To be honest I don't know exactly. I just make sure that I time things right. I do sleep late because sometimes I don't have the time to study during the day. It also helps that I love Quidditch and when practice comes it feels like a break."
Gwen ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know really. I have no idea how I'm doing in all this. I'm barely managing. Everything's going wrong and I feel like I'm not doing a good job at all. And at this point, I'm going to fail Herbology.
"And there's no way on Earth that I'm going to achieve an Outstanding in Potions so that I can become an Auror. It's as if I can't do anything right."
Without knowing, through all that, Gwen started to tear up. "And all I want to do is to just make my brother and family proud."
"Oh, Gwen." Hermione sympathized as she wrapped her arms around Gwen. "That's normal Gwen. You're doing your O.W.L.s for God's sake! But I know that you can do it. If there's anyone who can do whatever they dream and more, it's you, and me of course."
Gwen laughed at that. "Of course."
"And you don't give yourself enough credit. I know that you'll do great. You managed one term, pretty well after all, and I know for a fact that you can do it." Hermione reassured.
Gwen sighed and then finally let go of Hermione. "This is just awful. I'm a Prefect. I should be the one helping you, not the other way around."
"There's nothing wrong with seeking help. You're not a terrible Prefect because you can't do something, it's called being human. And besides, everyone loves you. Especially in our year." Hermione reassured.
Gwen raised her eyebrows. "Really? Or are you just saying that because you're feeling sorry for me?"
"Of course I'm not just saying that. A lot of people love you, I thought that much was obvious to you." Hermione reassured.
Gwen wiped her eyes quickly. "Thanks a lot, Hermione, and if you need any help or advise, personally or school wise, though I hardly doubt that you do need, I'm always there for you."
Her green eyes glanced around the Common Room quickly and saw that everyone was finding ways to keep themselves busy. "Do you mind if I go and grab my stuff and come back here?" Gwen asked as her eyes trailed back over to Hermione.
"I don't mind. I would like the company." Hermione replied as her eyes quickly reverted to her Arthimancy homework.
"Great. Be back in a jiffy."
As Gwen promised, it didn't take long for her to grab her things and get back into the Common Room.
She spread out all of the items that she needed for her to study Charms and she fell into silence.
Gwen kept chewing at the top of her Quill. Oh, how she wished she brought a sugar one with her. Gwen couldn't find her textbook and panicked for a second until she saw the book on the other end of the table.
"Accio Year five Charms book." The book flew straight into her hand but it wasn't the only one. Gwen barely dodged the other book who flew right at her.
"What did you do that for?" Fred yelled as he looked at his empty hands. Gwen stood up and grabbed his book for him. "Sorry, about that. Accio spell went wrong, here you go." Gwen said with a smile.
Fred snatched the book out of her hands which caused Gwen's smile to disappear. "I'm sorry about the whole fight. It went too far. Do you think that you can forgive me?" Gwen asked as she fiddled with her book in her hands.
Fred gave Lee and George a quick glance and both urged him to go on. "I forgive you."
Gwen smiled but then a few moments of silence followed. "Don't you have anything to say to me?" Gwen asked as her eyebrows furrowed.
Fred looked at her in confusion. "Ummm... No?" "Really? Nothing at all?" Gwen kept on insisting as she felt her blood boil.
"I love you?" Fred guessed. Gwen crossed her arms. "How about 'I'm sorry'?"
"Sorry? I have nothing to be sorry for!" Fred insisted. "You dumb wanker," Lee muttered underneath his breath as he buried his head in his hands.
"You have everything to be sorry for! You're the one who started everything!" Gwen shouted. "Oh, please! It's all because of the pretty boyfriend of yours! Always going around and mentioning him, we can't even have a normal conversation without bringing him up!" Fred defended.
"You're the one who just brought him up. What did he ever do to you that made you hate him so much?" Gwen stated, her right eye twitching madly.
Fred closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "More than you can begin to imagine. Goodnight Gwen. I'll see you in Potions tomorrow." And just like that Fred left, leaving Gwen confused at how he changed tones so quick.
"Don't feel bad Gwen," George said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that Fred can be a numpty sometimes."
"Don't I know it," Gwen murmured as she sat on the chair again. Lee and George glanced at the saddened girl who sat there with her hands knotted in her hair before they left to try and console their other friend.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione. My problems and I just keep bothering you." Gwen stated as she opened her book again. Taking the quill in her hand and dipping it in ink, Gwen started to write on the parchment.
"I get it. I'm having some problems with Harry and Ron myself. Long before the cat situation." Hermione continued.
"Sorry about that. I heard about it. I think you did the right thing. Giving the Firebolt for McGonagall to check." Gwen stated.
Hermione looked at her with shock in her features. "Even if it almost lost you the Firebolt during tomorrow's game?"
Gwen nodded. "Even if. Better if you lose a game of Quidditch than having Harry in danger. And everything turned up well in the end anyway. Broom wise at least. I'm sorry to hear that you're fighting."
"Well, I'm sorry about your fight with Fred."
"I just don't know what he has against Cedric. The guy's nice and he never did anything to piss him off. Well, apparently he did do something, but nothing that I am aware of."
"You really don't see it, Gwen, do you?" Hermione mused. Gwen narrowed her eyes at her. "What do you know that I don't?"
Hermione scoffed. "Actually, everyone knows except for you."
"Know what exactly?"
"That Fred has a crush on you," Hermione stated. The sudden confession caused Gwen to knock the inkpot all over, causing her trousers to become black.
"Wait, what?" Gwen started feeling very exasperated. Hermione laughed. "It's clear to see, Gwen. What do you like him too?"
Gwen spattered, not entirely sure how to respond. "Of course I like him if I didn't I wouldn't be friends with him! And besides, I can't like him like that, I have a boyfriend. Are you sure that you didn't jump into conclusions?"
"It's so obvious Gwen. I wasn't exaggerating when I said that everyone but you can see it." Gwen groaned into her hands. "It does make sense now that I think about it. I mean, why else would he be so... jealous of Cedric."
A few moments of silence passed. "So. What are you going to do about it?" Hermione said, breaking the ice.
Gwen shrugged. "Nothing I guess. I mean, what am I supposed to do. I can't go up to Fred and apologise for not returning his feelings. And I definitely won't break up with Cedric because... well. I like him.
"Maybe it's for the best if I just ignore it. If I don't say anything then no extra words could be said and things won't turn for the worse. That should work, right?" Gwen turned to Hermione to get her opinion.
"Right." Though the way Hermione looked at her with pity, she knew deep down that it would only make things worse. She felt bad, feeling as if selfish for pushing the problem aside.
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