The notes come within a month. Childish things like "Roses are red, mud is brown. Why don't you go to the lake and drown?
Lucy crumples the parchment into a ball, hiding it in her pocket. James sees and grins. "Got an admirer, Luce?'
The girl almost tells him the truth, but she thinks better of it. "Yeah. An admirer," she mumbles quietly, all too aware that Sebastian is glaring at her from the Slytherin table.
OoOoO
She doesn't understand why it's happening to her. As far as she knows, Lucy has never even spoken to Sebastian. She certainly doesn't deserve this. But she endures the abuse in silence, destroying vulgar notes and hiding bruises when the attacks are physical.
She's so good and pretending. And no one ever sees a difference because Lucy is already so reserved and quiet. No one sees except James.
"Is something bothering you?"
Lucy shakes her head, biting her lip. "No," she lies. "Why do you ask?"
"You're not my Lucy anymore."
"I'm fine, James."
He frowns, clearly not convinced. "Yeah, well... You know you can tell me if something's wrong, right?"
"I know."
James nods awkwardly before walking off. Lucy watches him leave, frowning to herself. James isn't good at being serious and doing the whole emotional thing. If something can make even him grow concerned...
Lucy shrugs. Maybe she's not fine. But she can handle a bully in her own way.
OoOoO
She doesn't know how Sebastian managed to sneak cereal and milk from the Great Hall, but as she turns a corner on her way to Charms, she finds a cold bowl of the stuff dumped over her head. Lucy sputters, face growing hot and tears stinging her eyes. Around her, everyone either looks on in shocked silence or bursts into laughter. Except for James.
Her cousin strides over, eyes wild and stormy. Lucy expects him to start throwing punches right then and there. "James, don't..."
But he only stares at Sebastian, hands balling into fists. "Come near her again, and I swear it will be the last thing you ever do," he growls.
"Like you'd dare, Potter."
James draws his wand, but Sebastian doesn't back down. Lucy grabs her cousin's shoulder, tugging him back. "Come on. He's not worth it."
OoOoO
James leads her to the prefect's bath. How he got the password, Lucy doesn't know, but she's long since given up on assuming anything is impossible with James.
His silence is almost scary as he wipes the milk from Lucy's face. For one fleeting moment, she's afraid he's angry with her. Then, as he begins plucking chunks of soggy flakes from her hair, he speaks, and his voice is so helpless and broken. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was ashamed."
"Luce..."
"I'm a big girl now, James. I can't come crying to one of you every time something bad happens," she says quietly.
"Why didn't you let me hex him?"
She almost laughs. "He'd just a bully. Not worth the effort."
James drops the final flake into the bin, heaving a sigh. "Just a little hex?"
"No."
"I could-"
"You're not allowed to stoop to his level," she says firmly.
The boy considers for a moment, a grin stretching his lips. "What if I make sure you don't see me?"
Now, Lucy does laugh. The sound seems alien to her, almost as though she's forgotten what it feels like to be happy. "I think I can live with that.