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CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT - 🍂୧ practice. . .
makes perfect ও🦌

BY THE END OF APRIL, the weather was still as gloomy as ever. Many students had hoped that the following month would be less grey, especially for the 5th and 7th years, as it was the month dedicated to intense studying for upcoming exams.

With the exam season looming ahead, the castle had an air of quiet determination and tension. Students were found studying in every available corner, pouring over textbooks and parchment, and whispering facts and spells to each other.

The Professor's had been increasing the workload, giving assignments and quizzing the students more frequently. The corridors, which were usually filled with chatter and laughter, were now filled with the sound of turning pages and quills scratching against parchment.

James wasn't immune to the stress of exams either. While he may have been the laidback type most of the time, he still took his studies seriously. He could be found at the library, pouring over his notes and practising spells, his usual carefree demeanour replaced by a more focused and intense expression.

The pressure to perform well and maintain his excellent academic record weighed on him, but he didn't want to show it and seemed vulnerable in front of his peers. He had a reputation for always handling whatever was thrown at him, after all.

He often found himself studying a wide range of offensive and defensive spells, many of which he needed to perfect to be more effective when fighting alongside the Order after graduating.

While his friends focused on their exams and studies, James had different priorities in mind. He tried to keep it a secret, but the others soon found out and the group ended up preparing together.

They practised Disarming Charms, Stunning Spells, and even going as far as sharpening the notoriously difficult Patronus Charm, all in preparation for the future battles they knew were inevitable. The knowledge that they would need these spells in real-life scenarios made them even more determined to master them.

The group often met in secluded, abandoned classrooms or the Forbidden Forest late at night, hidden from the prying eyes of any teachers or students who might disapprove of their activities.

They pushed themselves past their limits, casting spells repeatedly until they were exhausted, but still determined to perfect each one.

James was the most intense of them all, not stopping until he got each spell right. He knew that being unprepared could lead to dangerous consequences in real life, and he wasn't willing to take that risk.

Sometimes, their training sessions resulted in minor accidents or injuries. Sirius once accidentally hit Remus instead of the target, causing him to stumble into a wall. Peter accidentally stunned himself for several hours while practising the Stunning Spell. There were many more close calls and incidents during the months they spent preparing.

However, they were relentless, unwilling to let anything stop them from learning and perfecting what they needed to defend not only themselves but also those they loved.

Autumn continued focusing on her drawing but occasionally joined the group for spell practice.

Lily and Peter took care of their friends whenever they were injured.

Raven struggled with offensive and defensive spells but excelled at breaking curses. She had the potential to create new spells, but kept it to herself, not wanting to test them on her friends.

Raven's talent for creating spells wasn't lost on Sirius. As he watched her break curse after curse, a flicker of excitement danced in his eyes. He couldn't help but feel impressed and a little envious of her gift.

One evening, as the group was taking a break from their training, Sirius approached Raven, a curious glint in his eye.

"Hey, Raven," he said, "You know, I've been watching you break those curses. You're pretty damn good at it."

Raven shrugged modestly, downplaying her talent. "I just have a knack for it, I guess."

Sirius chuckled, leaning against the wall. "Ah, come on, don't be so humble. You're like a curse-breaking machine. I've never seen anyone break them as quickly as you do."

He looked at her with a sly smile. "You've got a gift, and you know it."

Raven smiled at Sirius's words, but her expression turned into one of doubt. "Thanks, but I'm just hoping my skills will actually be helpful in the war."

"Oh Rave," Lily chimed in as she came over to sit with them, having finished healing James and Remus after their mock duel. "There are plenty of things you can do. Knowing how dark wizards operate, they'll curse the most unexpected things."

Sirius nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We know You-Know-Who's tactics. He'll use any means necessary to get what he wants. Your ability to break curses will be invaluable."

He took a bite out of a chocolate frog and chewed thoughtfully. "Besides, imagine the looks on their faces when they throw their darkest curses at us, and you just wave your wand and break those curses like it's no big deal. Epic."

"I can only take curses off objects and places," Raven explained. "I can't stop a curse sent our way. It doesn't work like that. If the curse resides in something, it's easier to deal with."

Autumn, looking up from her sketchpad, chimed in, "That's why you've been practising dealing with curses in your own time."

Raven looked at her in surprise. "How did you know that?"

Autumn smirked, 'We have been friends for ages, Rave. I know you well enough to understand that you won't sit back without a fight, especially when it comes to defending your friends. While you may not be the strongest in terms of physical strength, you showed cleverness and determination in finding an alternative solution by learning how to deal with a curse in a different form.'

Sirius chuckled, impressed. "She's got a point, Raven. And you're not the type to sit back and not help. That's what makes you so awesome."

Remus hummed in agreement, his eyes filled with respect. "You know your limits, which is a valuable skill in itself. And being able to break curses on objects and places is still an incredible skill to have in the wizarding world."

Peter, who had been quietly listening in on the conversation, spoke up timidly. "Exactly. Even if you can't directly stop a curse from coming our way, breaking the curses on objects and places will make our missions a whole lot easier."

Lily nodded, her expression thoughtful. "And who knows what the other side will try to throw at us. Raven, your skills could really save our skins one day."

Raven smiled at their words of encouragement, feeling a small flicker of pride and reassurance. She knew her ability might not be flashy or directly combat-oriented, but it was important in its own right.

James, who had been nursing a bloody nose due to an accidental curse from Remus, chimed in with a grin. "Plus, it's bloody amazing to know you can just wave your wand and make those dark curses go poof!"

Sirius chuckled, slapping James on the back. "See, even James 'I'm-too-cocky-to-take-things-seriously' Potter thinks you're awesome."

James rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "I'm just saying, it's impressive. Especially how you've been practising on your own, Rave. That takes dedication."

"It is also true that the same can be said for you, Potter," Raven retorted, turning to face him. "If Autumn didn't find upon you practising alone, none of us would have found ourselves here with you today."

James blushed slightly, his usual cocky demeanour faltering for a moment. He rubbed the back of his neck, knowing she was right.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," he admitted grudgingly. "But I got pretty good, didn't I?"

Lily chuckled, amused by his reaction. "You and your ego, Potter."

"Ah, come on, Evans," James protested, a cheeky smirk on his face. "Can you blame me for wanting to show off my skills?"

Sirius snorted. "Your ego rivals that of a Hippogriff."

Remus chuckled. "Not to mention your stubbornness."

James feigned mock indignation. "Hey, I'm just being honest. I know I'm good."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Humble, as always."

Peter snickered, feeling brave enough to chime in. "And modest."

James flashed a cheeky grin. "Hey, someone's gotta keep things interesting around here."

Autumn chuckled, setting aside her sketchpad and joining in on the banter. "You do realize that it's that ego that's going to get you into trouble someday, right James?"

Lily was about to speak when she suddenly stood up, attentive. Sitting slightly farther from the others, she had a sharper hearing and was keenly aware of any disturbances in the forest.

Raven twitched, sensing someone near the protective barrier she had placed. "Guys, we've got company," she announced urgently.

Everyone gripped their wands tightly, instantly on high alert.

The group immediately went silent, all jokes and banter forgotten. They all moved into defensive positions, ready to fight if necessary.

James, his usual carefree demeanour forgotten, looked at Raven, "How close are they?" he asked quietly.

Raven closed her eyes and concentrated, trying to get a sense of the approaching presence. "They're about 200 feet away," she whispered, her grip on her wand tightening.

"Any idea who they are?" asked Remus, his eyes narrowed in concern.

Raven shook her head. "No, but they're moving closer," she responded, her voice tense with worry.

James and Sirius, even the reckless ones, shared a look and moved closer to the edge of the protective barrier, peering out into the darkness of the forest.

The others exchanged worried glances, knowing that James and Sirius were probably seconds away from doing something potentially stupid.

Autumn sighed quietly. "Please, don't do anything foolish."

James glanced back at her, a hint of a smirk on his face. "Where would the fun be in that?"

Autumn, who had been standing in the back, suddenly flinched as if sensing someone directly behind her. She swiftly raised her wand, her heart pounding in her chest.

Elliot's voice echoed through the air as he stood with his arms raised in a mock surrender. "You should have listened to your girlfriend, Potter," he taunted.

As everyone else appeared somewhat unfazed by Elliot's arrival, Raven was puzzled by their restrained reactions. Her gaze shifted to Autumn, who had lowered her wand, and back to Remus and the others, who seemed less alarmed. This divergence from her own heightened state of alert sent a puzzled frown to her brow.

James rolled his eyes but lowered his wand slowly. "Elliot, always such a joy to see you. Did you follow us all the way out here just to give us grief?"

Elliot shrugged, a smug grin on his face. "Actually, yes. I was in the mood for a little fun."

Remus scoffed his expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Fun? Is that what you call annoying us every chance you get?"

Sirius chuckled, unable to resist a sarcastic remark. "Just when we thought our little practice session couldn't get more exciting."

Peter, feeling bolder than usual, snickered. "More like a disturbance, if you ask me."

Elliot smirked at their responses, seemingly unperturbed by their attitude. He took a few steps closer, his gaze roaming over the gathered group.

"I'd say I've improved the night considerably," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

James rolled his eyes again, crossing his arms over his chest. "I seriously doubt that."

Raven's baffled expression betrayed her confusion as she glanced around at everyone. Lily, standing nearby, wore a dark frown on her face, her wand remaining lowered and silent.

"Lils?" Raven whispered to her.

Lily gave her a brief glance before stepping forward and fixing Elliot with a glare. "What do you want, Winters?" she asked icily.

Elliot chuckled, his smirk widening in response. "Just here to ask something important," he replied casually.

James raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and annoyance on his face. "And what's so important that you had to interrupt us this late at night?"

Remus crossed his arms, a sceptical expression on his face. "It better be a damn good reason, Elliot."

Elliot shrugged nonchalantly, his carefree demeanour not betraying the gravity of his words. "I was sent here to see if you all would be interested in joining me," he stated pointedly.

Sirius, never one to miss an opportunity to challenge Elliot, stepped forward with an incredulous expression. "Join you? For what, a tea party?"

Elliot's smirk remained. "I think you'll find this a bit more interesting than a tea party."

Raven bristled, her jaw tightening with anger. "Don't tell me you're seriously asking us to join that side. You're out of your mind if you think we would," she retorted, her voice filled with firm defiance.

Elliot chuckled, enjoying the way he was getting under their skin. "Oh, Raven, always so quick to judge."

He took a step closer, his gaze fixated on the group. "You haven't even heard me out yet."

Remus interjected, his voice dripping with cynicism. "And what's your brilliant argument going to be? That we should all join You-Know-Who's merry band of lunatics?"

Elliot held up a hand, feigning innocence. "Ah, so you've already made up your minds, have you?"

James, growing more and more exasperated by the minute, interrupted. "Bloody right we have."

"Ah, James," Elliot chuckled, his smugness never wavering. "Ever the stubborn one."

He turned his attention to Autumn, a sly smirk playing on his face. "How about you, Autumn? Care to weigh in on this little discussion?"

Autumn, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the exchange, met Elliot's gaze steadily.

"I stand beside them," she responded with conviction, her arm briefly brushing against Raven's in solidarity.

Elliot's smirk faded for a brief moment, but not surprised by Autumn's unexpected show of loyalty. But he quickly recovered, his smirk returning. "Ah, solidarity, how admirable."

He raised an eyebrow in challenge. "And you, Lily? Care to share your thoughts?"

Lily squared her shoulders, her eyes narrowing as they fixated on Elliot. "You know that I am not inclined to even consider joining You-Know-Who. So if that's all you have to ask, then you've wasted your time coming here."

Elliot feigned disappointment. "Shame. I had high hopes for you, Lily."

He directed his gaze to Peter, the only one who hadn't spoken yet. "And what about you, Peter? Any thoughts?"

Peter shifted uncomfortably, not used to the attention being solely on him. He swallowed nervously, his voice barely above a whisper. "I-I agree with them."

Elliot cocked his head to the side, a curious glint in his eyes. "Ah, speaking up for the first time. How surprising."

Remus shot Elliot a look of irritation. "Don't tease him, Winters. You know damn well he's not as outspoken as us."

Elliot chuckled, seemingly enjoying the banter. "I'm just having a bit of fun, Remus. Lighten up a bit."

He turned his attention to Raven. "And what about our resident curse-breaker? Any words of wisdom from you?"

Raven bristled further, her eyes narrowing as she clutched her wand tighter. "I don't have any words 'of wisdom' for you," she retorted, her voice laced with anger. "I have no interest in listening to your manipulative words."

Elliot smirked, unfazed by her anger. "Ah, ever the defiant one, aren't you, Rave?"

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering to a whisper. "But I must admit, I've developed a soft spot for that fire in you."

Raven flinched, her eyes widening in surprise at his confession. The others exchanged looks, equally taken aback by his words.

Remus, his expression sceptical, shot Elliot a distrustful glare. "Soft spot? I highly doubt that."

Elliot chuckled, his smirk still ever-present. "Ah, Remus, always the sceptic. But I assure you, it's true."

He turned his gaze back to Raven, his eyes holding a strange mixture of intensity and amusement. "It's hard not to admire someone with such courage and resourcefulness. Not to mention your skills."

Raven, consumed by anger, unleashed a spell she had been perfecting—an explosion of smoke and following that spawned a swarm of bugs. To her chagrin, Elliot had vanished via Apparition, leaving behind only the dissolving creatures.

"What a pity, you've chosen your side. Until we meet again," Elliot's voice echoed, a haunting reminder of his farewell.

The clearing was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the sound of the dissolving bugs. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the spot where Elliot had stood moments ago.

James, his hands clenched into fists, was the first to speak. "Bloody hell, Raven. What was that?"

Raven chuckled innocently, "Just a spell in the works," she said, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, a slight shiver running down his spine. "And care to share what it actually does?" he inquired, both intrigued and apprehensive.

Lily approached the spot where the spell had been cast, observing the aftermath. She turned to Raven, her curiosity piqued.

"The spell sends an explosion with paralyzing agents, and the bugs are drawn to the agent, attaching themselves to whoever is hit, causing an unbearable itch that can lead to unconsciousness," Raven explained.

Lily recoiled from the spot, her body involuntarily shuddering. "Merlin, that's a pretty potent spell," she mused, a mix of admiration and concern in her gaze.

James let out a low whistle. "Damn, Rave. I knew you had it in you, but that's impressive."

Remus raised an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and mild fear in his eyes. "Remind me never to be on the receiving end of that spell."

Peter, still standing in the background, looked a bit green around the edges, "I don't even want to imagine being hit by it."

Autumn, her eyes fixed on Raven with a mixture of awe and concern, spoke up for the first time since Elliot's departure, "That was quite a display, Rave."

Raven shrugged, a slightly sheepish smile on her face. "Yeah, I may have been working on that one for a while. I didn't think I'd get to test it out tonight, though."

James laughed, a mix of disbelief and admiration in his voice. "Looks like Elliot unwittingly volunteered to be the test subject for your spell."

Autumn concealed her concern, knowing that Raven was oblivious to the true nature of Elliot's predicament. Despite her confusion over his earlier overture for membership, his nonchalant demeanour led Autumn to believe that he was already aware of their decision.

She struggled with the notion of withholding information from Raven, her thoughts conflicted. But at this juncture, she wasn't certain if sharing the truth was necessary.

As the initial shock and tension started to ease, the group began to settle back into a state of relative relaxation. James, ever the instigator, turned his attention to Raven with a smirk.

"So, Rave," he chuckled. "Are you secretly a master of dark curses or something?"

Raven rolled her eyes, an amused smile on her face. "No, James. I'm just a girl with an interest in unconventional spells."

Sirius chimed in a wide grin on his face. "Unconventional spells that cause paralysation and itching? Remind me to steer clear of your experiments from now on."

James chuckled, enjoying the banter. "Oh, come on. Where's the fun in that?"

Lily, ever the voice of reason, spoke up, "As fascinating as this spell is, we should probably start focusing on our practice again. It's getting late, and we've already wasted enough time."

Sirius extended his limbs, his voice nonchalant as he spoke. "Just a couple more hours left on the clock, and we head back for dinner," he stated, glancing up at the sky as if estimating the remaining time of the evening.

James groaned loudly. "Ugh, can't we just call it a night and go to for dinner now? I doubt we'll have more excitement tonight."

Remus shrugged, a slight smirk on his face. "Well, after Raven's little surprise, I wouldn't be too sure about that."

Peter let out a nervous chuckle, still clearly rattled by the events. "I mean, I could go for some food right about now."

Autumn, feeling slightly conflicted, took a moment to process her thoughts before joining the conversation. "I wouldn't mind a break, either. It has been a rather eventful evening."

James, seeing an opportunity to escape further practice, latched onto Autumn's words. "Right, Autumn agrees. We should take a break."

Sirius chuckled, raising his eyebrows at James. "Trying to use Autumn to weasel your way out of more practice, Prongs?"

James shot Sirius a cheeky grin. "Hey, I'm just taking advantage of every opportunity I get. Plus, Autumn does tend to have more sensible ideas, unlike the rest of you miscreants."

Lily rolled her eyes, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Oh, please, you just don't want to listen to someone who'll call you out on your nonsense."

James feigned offence, placing a hand over his heart. "Nonsense? Me? I'm wounded, Evans."

Lily couldn't help but smirk at his exaggerated display. "Oh, I'm sure your ego will recover soon enough, Potter."

James chuckled, unable to resist a playful retort. "My ego always does, Evans. It's tough as dragonhide."

Sirius, ever the instigator, interjected with a smirk. "More like as dense as dragonhide, Prongs."

James shot him a mock glare. "And here I thought we were talking about my ego, not yours, dog-boy."

Remus snickered, enjoying the banter. "Careful, James. You shouldn't insult the mutt. He might start to take offence."

Sirius mock-growled, baring his teeth. "Yeah, I might just bite you, Prongs. Watch yourself."

James shuddered dramatically, playing along. "Oh, scary."He feigned a whimper, clutching his arm dramatically. "Please don't bite me, Sirius. I'm far too pretty to be mauled."

Sirius snorted with laughter. "Pretty? Don't flatter yourself, mate. I've seen trolls with better looks than you."

James placed a hand over his heart, feigning hurt feelings. "You wound me, Sirius. Here I thought our friendship was built on mutual admiration for my stunning good looks."

Autumn exchanged glances with the others, silently acknowledging the cue to withdraw from Sirius and James's endless banter.

As the duo's conversation continued, Autumn stealthily signalled towards the school, and they all began to discreetly withdraw. With shared sighs and knowing looks, they quietly made their exit, leaving Sirius and James engaged in their relentless exchange.

As the group quietly slipped away, the sounds of Sirius and James' banter faded into the background, swallowed up by the night. They walked away, a sense of relief washing over them at the chance to escape the ceaseless banter.

Autumn, at the helm of the group, glanced behind, ensuring they had successfully detached themselves from the two troublemakers. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Remus, walking beside her, let out a soft chuckle. "I don't think they'll even notice we're gone. They were too busy exchanging insults to notice a herd of Hippogriffs stampeding by."

Lily chuckled, her voice barely above a whisper. "Those two will bicker for hours without realizing we've left. They're like an eternal comedy show."

Peter, his voice shaky but slightly less nervous now, chuckled softly. "I wouldn't be surprised if they're still at it when we wake up tomorrow."

Raven chimed in, her tone nonchalant. "They have the attention span of a Flobberworm, I swear. They'll probably forget what they were even arguing about in five minutes."

The group chuckled in agreement, a sense of ease settling over them. Despite the drama with Elliot, the respite from Sirius and James' relentless banter brought a moment of levity.

Their journey back to the castle was filled with subdued chatter and amused smiles, the stress of the evening slowly dissipating. The castle loomed ahead, a haven promising food and rest.

After Elliot's appearance, the group rarely practised outside in the forest, as they were unwilling to risk another incident. They had become cautious about testing the limits, as Elliot had already bypassed Raven's barrier.

Unfortunately, they were unable to practice as often as they would have liked due to the upcoming N.E.W.T.S exams, as the month of May drew to an end.

With the end of the month drawing near, the group's focus shifted towards their N.E.W.T examinations, scheduled to begin in the first week of June.

As a result, they found themselves practising less frequently, as their studies took priority. However, the knowledge that they still had to deal with Elliot and his potential next moves lingered in the back of their minds, casting a shadow over their preparations.

James, who typically preferred to study at the last minute, found himself more preoccupied than usual. The thought of another encounter with Elliot weighed on him, and he struggled to maintain his usual carefree attitude. He begrudgingly found himself buckling down and studying alongside the rest of his friends.

Meanwhile, the others tried their best to keep their worries at bay and concentrate on their studies, but the lingering presence of Elliot's threat made it challenging to entirely clear their minds.

Lily, being the most studious of the lot, took charge of organizing study sessions for the group. She meticulously planned out their schedule, allocating time for each subject and making sure everyone stayed on track.

Remus, ever the realist, took Elliot's threat seriously but didn't let it consume him. He focused on his studies, determined to do well in the exams, but he also kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, just in case.

Peter, as usual, was the most anxious of the group. He found it nearly impossible to focus on his studies without constantly looking over his shoulder, fearing another surprise visit from Elliot.

Autumn did her best to remain calm and collected, although her concern for the group and their impending encounters with Elliot was ever-present.

Raven, being the most skilled and confident in her abilities, found it easiest to balance her studies and her concerns. She was determined to do well in the exams and was willing to put in the extra effort to ensure she was prepared. Despite her determination, she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration, as the fear of another Elliot interruption limited their practice sessions.

Throughout May, the group found themselves navigating a delicate balance between studying and being vigilant. They dedicated themselves to their exams, pouring their efforts into their studies, while simultaneously remaining on edge, always keeping an eye out for any sign of Elliot.

Days passed in a blur of textbooks, scrolls, and late-night study sessions. The castle, usually buzzing with the energy of students, seemed eerily quiet as the month drew to a close, the weight of the impending N.E.W.T.S exams hanging over everyone's heads.

During those hours of intense studying, the group found solace in each other, providing a necessary respite from their academic pursuits. They often took breaks, engaging in lighthearted banter and teasing one another to ease the mounting pressure.