Chapter 1: Got a secret?
I walk down the halls of Hogwarts in a daze when I hear, "Lily, hey wait up!"
"Hey Scor," I greet him as he walks alongside me.
He touches my arm to stop my movement and asks, "How are you?"
I roll my eyes and smile up at him. "Sore, you know from that hell you call quidditch practice."
He sighs heavily and states, "You know what I mean."
"Why do you even want to talk about this? Did Al put you up to it?" I frustratingly ask as a scowl overcomes my face.
"C'mon, don't be like this. We're worried. It's her anniversary tomorrow and-"
He tries to soothe me, but I don't let him continue. Instead, I do what I do best, and I run away as fast as I can. I find an empty classroom and hide in it.
Anniversary? It's a funny word. It sounds like a time for celebration. It sounds like we are commemorating the day we all met. I really wish more than anything that that were true, but it's not. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of Madison Delongpre's death.
Madison was known for many things. Most people saw her as the minister's of magic daughter. Most students saw her as the most scandalous Hufflepuff in Hogwarts' history. Rose, Carson, and I saw her as our best friend.
Actually, whether I saw her as a best friend or not, is debatable. You see, James loved Maddie, and so did Al. Actually, I'm not really sure if Al loved her or loved hooking up with her. On second thought, I'm pretty sure Al only wanted her because James had her. I suppose it doesn't really matter though. It ended in disaster as most things with Maddie had a habit of doing. Of course, the huge blow up had to happen the day she went missing. I swear it almost seemed like she planned it just so all three Potters would be the prime suspects in her disappearance.
I remember that day like it was yesterday.
"You better stop playing with my brothers," I threaten in an eerily calm tone.
"Oh silly Lily," Maddie condescendingly states.
I fucking hate that nickname.
"You can't stop me," she says while beaming at me.
I glare. She couldn't possibly think I have no control. "Excuse me?" I question to give her a chance to recant.
"Oh, you're excused," she responds like she's cleansing me from sin.
I'm practically seething when I explain, "I don't think you understand quite clearly, so I'll paint it out for you. Stay the fuck away from my brothers. Tell them anything you want, but dump them. They need to move on, and they both deserve better than you."
She chuckles and incredulously responds, "Why on earth would I listen to you, silly Lily?"
"Because if you don't, I'll tell everyone about the Tessa thing," I reply deadly serious.
Her playful façade slips, and her right eye twitches slightly. "Oh please, you wouldn't do that. You want to know why? Because if you did, I'd tell everyone what you did with Tristan Davies."
"Go ahead. No one would believe you. After all, I'm innocent, little silly Lily," I bluff.
"Everyone would believe me because I have proof," she gives me a winning smile.
"You're bluffing," I say hoping to Merlin I'm right.
She scoffs, "Am I? Am I really?"
"Prove it then," I demand.
"I don't need to I'm holding all the cards," she responds sounding sure of herself.
"Bullshit," I claim.
"Listen here, Lily, you may be sly and cunning and all that other Slytherin shit, but I'm older, smarter, more experienced, and you of all people know what tends to happen to my enemies," she threatens.
"So I'll do you a favor. I'll forget this conversation ever happened. I'll pretend like you're the innocent silly Lily who never did that with Tristan Davies, and I'll do whatever the fuck I want with your brothers," she smiles at me like a lethal Cheshire cat.
"You're welcome," she says as she saunters away.
I remain silent and let her think she got the best of me, but I have a plan B. I always have a plan B. When she's out of earshot, I sprint to the library in search of Rose. The brave Rose with a moral compass that always points north would surely tell James all about Madison's affairs the second I clue her in, so I tell her everything. She relays the information to James.
James dumps her, and once James stops wanting her, Al stops too. He only ever wants what he can't have.
By the time dinner rolls around, Madison is positively fuming and in full attack mode.
"You bitch! I know you told Rose!" she screeches the second I enter the great hall.
She stomps over to me and slaps me.
"Big mistake," I seethe as I draw back my fist and punch her right in the nose.
The teachers separate us and give us detention. Madison leaves the great hall, and that's the last time we all see her alive.
Madison, Rose, Carson, and I used to be inseparable. I'm actually quite shocked we got along as well as we did. I mean we all belonged to different houses, and I think the only thing we had in common was magic. I suppose we also got ourselves entangled in quite a few messes. That's putting things extremely lightly as I'm pretty sure one of these "messes" could send us all to Azkaban.
Rose is a goody two shoes to the infinite degree; she's as innocent as they come and a Gryffindor through and through. She has the best work ethic of anyone I know, and she works way too hard. She's a good friend though, way better than Madison ever was.
Intellectual doesn't even begin to describe Carson, but I suppose that's expected in Ravenclaw. School comes easy to her, and I've never seen her study for a test all the years I've known her. I've also never seen her earn anything less than an O. This factoid annoys the shit out of Rose.
No one would ever expect us to have some crazy sisterly bond, but we did. We didn't even belong to the same year…well Rose and Madison did. They were the oldest, and if Maddie didn't go missing, her and Rose would both be in their last year at Hogwarts. Carson comes next, for she's in her sixth year. I'm the baby of the group and represent year five.
We don't talk as must as we used to though. I'm busy with quidditch. Rose has her head girl duties, and Carson has her prefect duties.
I sigh. Friends just grow apart sometimes. After all, Madison brought us together, and it's only fitting that she tore us apart.
I head to my dorm in hopes of getting peace and quiet. I look at my bed and notice a note on the pillow.
Hi Silly Lily!
Miss me? I'm sure your brothers do.
-M
Fuck.
