Chapter seventy-three; After Hogwarts
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Jasmine closed the door to the twins' room as quietly as she could once she was sure that both of them were soundly asleep. Bedtime came for all three of Robyn's younger siblings and the group collectively tried to convince them to go to bed. Jasmine offered a bedtime story to bribe the twins. Of course, she wouldn't read it but she made it up which only made it more exciting to the twins as they could put their own versions of things in it. After a few minutes they were getting tired and they included less and less things in the story before their light snores filled the room.
Jasmine glanced at the nursery and saw the door slightly ajar but no one was inside, meaning Robyn successfully put Cece down as well. She then tiptoed down the stairs and walked to the kitchen. James, Lily and Sirius were all sitting on one side of the table, Sirius with his head on the tabletop quite obviously tired from having to deal with the twins' never-ending question the entire day. The rest of the group didn't look any more lively as they were glad the kids went to bed and they could relax. Jasmine plopped down on the opposite side of the table between Remus and an empty seat where Robyn would be sitting.
''Did you fix Viv's hair?'' Robyn asked, sitting down next to Jasmine after giving everyone something to drink.
Jasmine nodded and Robyn almost let out a breath of relief. She explained earlier that her parents are coming back the next day and that even though Viv was at fault for her own hair, the blame would land on Robyn since she was in charge.
''Thank you everyone for helping out today.'' Robyn addressed everyone with a grateful smile. Everyone offered her a tired smile back.
''Your siblings are adorable and we were happy to help.'' Lily reached across the table and put one of her hands over Robyn's in gratitude.
''You only got to deal with Cece and only because she fell in love with your hair. If anybody else tried to pick her up she would scream with no end,'' said James. Jasmine and Robyn chuckled softly, both of them being accustomed to Cece's behaviour but all of the boys just looked at them with flat looks.
Jasmine reached across the table and softly nudged Sirius' arm to check if he was actually sleeping. ''Sirius, you okay?'' she asked with a tinge of worry.
He murmured something before picking up his head and leaning as far back in his chair as he could. He didn't answer, just nodded, his eyes distant as if his mind wasn't present but his body was. Jasmine turned to Robyn briefly to start a conversation because if the room would be quiet even for a few more seconds it would become eerie.
''Did you get your marks?''
Robyn nodded with a smile. ''I did and they're good. At least good enough for my future after Hogwarts.''
''What do you want to do after school?'' asked Lily.
''I'm not a very decisive person and if I tell you what I want now I may change my mind in a couple of months.'' Robyn chuckled almost nervously. ''But I don't know, I guess editor wouldn't be that bad at least what I hear from Jasmine's mum.''
Jasmine nodded along to that to confirm what Robyn was saying is true. But her eyes were fixated on Sirius, whose eyes were actually on Robyn. His face didn't show any clue that he was listening, he was merely watching her and for Sirius to be quiet this much time it was almost worrisome. Jasmine realised that it wasn't the most comfortable situation for him since he was in his ex-girlfriend's house and presence.
Even though both Robyn and Sirius stated that they were fine and they were friends Jasmine has yet to see the two of them actually interact. They don't smile at one another, they don't exchange words, they purposely stand on other ends of the rooms just so there was no absolute chance for them to bump into each other. In conclusion, they were far from fine but clearly, they were quiet about it for the sake of the group. It surely wasn't good for their mental states.
''I want to be an Auror, like my dad.'' Stated James continuing the same topic of conversation.
''I'm with you on that one.'' Sirius leaned over the table to look at James past Lily. ''Aurors have cool jobs and we're the best at DADA.''
''Lily?'' Jasmine prompted, noticing her faraway look.
The redhead seemed to think for a few moments longer. ''Something at the Ministry, maybe in the Department for Control of Magical Creatures, or Departments of Mysteries.''
Jasmine felt Remus twitch slightly beside her and he raised his eyes at Lily across from him. Lily didn't see his glance as she already turned towards Peter to ask him the same question of what he wanted to do after Hogwarts and he answered first with 'I don't know' and then 'maybe Auror as well' but he phrased it as a question. That boy really was unsure of himself. Or he merely followed the other three marauders everywhere they went without building his own personality up.
Jasmine tilted her head and laid her eyes on Remus in a curious matter as she waited. It was as if he sensed her looking at him and he shook himself out of his trance and stopped staring at the tabletop. He looked back into her eyes intently and only after a few long moments realised she was waiting for him to put his own future dreams. When he turned his head forward again he saw that all of the others were waiting as well and suddenly he didn't like to be in the centre of attention.
''I don't even know if I'll get a job anywhere.'' He spoke before he could think it through.
''Why would you think that?'' Robyn immediately asked.
Jasmine tried to hide her surprise when she remembered that Robyn doesn't know that Remus is a werewolf. And by the look on Remus' face, he didn't want her to know either.
''Nonsense, Remus.'' Lily quickly butted in, filling the awkward silence.
''Remus is just a natural doubter and he's not sure. But surely you have to wish something you would want to do?'' James continued.
Remus chuckled nervously, thankful that his friends had his back when he wasn't thinking clearly. But speaking white lies instead of him wasn't the best thing. He went along with it anyway and answered James' question. ''I would want to be a professor.''
Jasmine smiled at him, imagining in her head Remus as a professor. Since she learned a lot from his tutoring she knew he would be an amazing professor, at Hogwarts or not.
''You could try to apply this year for the professor position of Dada. I heard the last one was let go,'' said Sirius.
''Dumbledore fired the old Mr ...?'' Lily let the sentence hang as she seemed to forget his last name.
''About time!'' James exclaimed. ''All you got from him was a few grunts and you're going to die if you don't do this speech over and over again.''
The group chuckled lightly. This information meant that there will be a new professor arriving at Hogwarts in September changing yet another course in the subject.
''What about you Jasmine? What do you want to do after school?'' Sirius asked turning the conversation on her.
Jasmine silently hoped that they would forget about her or that she didn't answer at all, but with this group rarely something went missing over their heads. She looked at Sirius without any particular emotion when she felt all eyes on her as they anticipated her answer. She let out a sigh through her nose and started to fiddle with her hands that were placed on top of the table.
''I haven't thought about it. It's scary to think that I have to decide what to do for my whole life throughout the next year.'' She answered honestly. The group gave no response, they merely watched her with saddened looks.
''Is there nothing that excites you or that you have a feeling you could do?'' asked James.
Jasmine only shrugged as she looked at him. Wisely, Lily and Robyn stayed quiet. The two of them were still the people in that room that knew Jasmine the best and they knew when something wasn't a good conversation topic and when Jasmine wanted to stop discussing it. Remus was a close second to them, having to get to know her a lot better over the last six months, but he also knew how to push limits a little bit.
''I have an idea if you want to hear it.'' He looked at Jasmine with a small smile. He could see that she hesitated and she really did want to say no but at the end, she only smiled. She couldn't say no to him and she didn't know why. ''You could be a Healer.''
''A Healer?'' Jasmine echoed to make sure she heard him right. Remus nodded.
Lily could see the questions behind Jasmine's eyes as she parted her lips trying to comprehend the said idea. ''Remus' is right. You're amazing at helping people and you know a lot about healing others,'' said Lily.
''You helped me countless of times and always knew what was wrong and how to fix it,'' Remus added.
''You saved me, when your cousin attacked me. And don't forget how you patched us up after that fight at the party,'' said Sirius, giving Jasmine a pointed look.
Jasmine saw Robyn tried to say her bit in as well, most probably complimenting her skills even more but Jasmine was done with all of it. ''Okay, okay. I get your point. I like to help people and I hate seeing all of you being hurt.'' She emphasised by looking everyone in their eyes.
''Then what's stopping you from choosing that career?'' asked Lily.
''Realistically, my grades. I could never meet the qualifications to enter the Healer training. I would have to have Outstanding NEWTs in Potions, Defence, Herbology, Transfiguration and Charms. Not only that I barely pass my exams but I dropped Defence in the fifth year. It's not for me.'' All of it was like a jumble of words Jasmine waited long ago to let out.
She felt a nudge on her right and Robyn smiled at her knowingly. ''And you said you haven't thought about it.'' It sounded like Jasmine thought about being a Healer since she knew all the requirements.
''NEWT's shouldn't be a problem, even Defence. You can pick it up again and switch it to another subject but you would probably have to take more exams this year to catch up on the missed year. The only question is if you really want to pursue this, or are you making excuses with the requirements?'' Remus didn't want to be all that psychological but at least he was speaking the truth.
Jasmine didn't know whether to be thankful for his intake or glare at him for putting her mind to reality. She thought about it more than she would like to admit. She tried to make the problem of grades and exams the reason why she wouldn't pursue a career in helping people. Even if she dreamed about that since she was a little girl.
''My mum always wanted to be a Healer,'' Jasmine looked at her hands atop the table. ''She even went through the training, that's why I know all of the complex Healing spells, she taught me those. I never knew why she switched then but it consequently made me think I wanted to be a Healer too. And I really wish to be.'' Jasmine looked up with a new sparkle in her eyes.
Remus smiled at her and brought his arm around her and pulled her closer. A sense of pride was radiating off of him. ''If you'll ever need help with studying, I'll be happy to help you.''
''Me too.'' Lily offered and smiled at Jasmine. Jasmine nodded at both, thankful that she has such supportive friends.
''And if it fails, not saying that it will,'' Sirius quickly took a defensive approach when he felt Lily and Robyn's glares on him, ''you can always bake for a living. Your desserts would sell for gold.''
Jasmine chuckled at the idea, which wasn't as bad as she thought at first. The whole group made sounds of agreement and she knew that in a way she always had a backup plan. But this year, seventh year and last year of Hogwarts, she really will try and be better at her studies that now determined her future.
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