Chapter 1 - Enchantment's class
"Deprimo", the end of Lily's wand shot off a powerful wind pointing at the wooden wall. It blasted apart, its debris flying off on all sides. Professor Flitwick wore a smile on his face though not so surprise, his best student had again (without a doubt originally) mastered a spell on her third try alone. He asked himself: "What sorcery was this?"
It was first period, and the lesson was coming to an end.
"Excellent as usual Evans, twenty points for Gryffindor."
Emma whispered to her, poking her side:
"Excellent as usual Evans, you can-"
"Zip it Emma" Lily gushed, punching her arm
Lily tried to avoid the glances and blushing at the applause. Remaining modest, while her friend (Who felt like was Lily's mother: Emma was trying. The polished wall standing teasingly in front of her, a few dents emerging every time she cast the spell but no more.
"Sir..." Shasha began (the girl who was like Lily's younger sister) her voice was full of curiosity but held innocence and was a girl whom the teacher adored and boys combed their hair for.
"Yes my dear"
"Wouldn't it be as effective as "Bombarda Maxima"?
The wooden wall exploded however with much more noise and way more pieces were tore apart.
"Indeed, however the spell is mainly used for hard surfaces such as Rock. Deprimo is more widely used for surfaces which are lighter. Such as wood… or bricks!"
The students nodded, some trying the incantation again, and a few writing the professor's words down.
Lily scribbled notes on her scroll in the following period, these were not things to forget now. Having potions next period relaxed her. Professor Slughorn was bound to invite her to another ones of his little 'parties' of the slug club by the end of September. Oddly enough, she didn't mind. Something to get her mind off the upcoming N.E.W.T's sounded great.
Especially because she felt… this presence near her, like she had this radar after six years at Hogwarts and could just sense when "who-must-not-be-named's reincarnation slowly approached. Yes she compared James to him, an inside joke the ladies have made back in their first year during History.
"Potter" she ventured, hoping the odds of all the teachers and students to be the individual walking towards her wasn't James.
He however never liked the way she pronounced her name. It felt as if she spat it, the same way Snape knew it all to well, and the habit of pronouncing his name this way was inherited from the other boy.
"Lily" He answered, a grin apparating despite himself
"What do you want now?" She groaned. A lioness balancing on its back paws. Ready to pounce forward at any second
"Would you be so kind; as to help me figure this out?" He slightly bowed, voice calm
"What is it?" She cautiously wondered, inertly praying her doubts were wrong for once.
Lily eyed him as he pulled a piece of parchments from the depths of his robes. Laying it flat with his palms. She gave him a chance. Doing her best at hiding her curiosity and delicately pulled the parchment towards her. Her eyes reflected two animated letters; Initials. She admitted they were drawn quite well yet without a second's hesitation snatched the paper, crushing it in her hand, the barriers of her palm crumbling it and tossed it aside.
"But why? It took me so much time to make that!" exclaimed James with a laugh. He even faked dropping down to his knees and a dramatic scene of being impaled in the heart. Lily wondered whether his brain was eaten by wasps when he was in the womb.
"Will you please go James?" asked Lily, gazing right into his eyes. Too exhausted to say anything else, or more
He was about to reply, a smart comeback was on the verge of leaving his tongue but the bell had rang. Deciding just this once to remain silent. Taking a majestic step back as Lily placed her books in her bag; clutching the following period's class textbook on her chest then was off without a word… Gone in the crowd, her red hair falling down her shoulders to the small of her back. Gracefully slipping into the crowd. Little did she know; a path formed for her everywhere she walked.
She stood by the door. Neither Shasha nor Emma had taken Potions since the O.W.L's, Shasha had received an "Acceptable" didn't qualify her enough to belong in Professor Slughorn's class. Emma however had passed with "Exceed Expectations" but wasn't interested in Potions overall so left the class. Just like that. Emma's parents a name in the wizarding world had influences everywhere and therefore, she need not worry.
On the other hand Lily was left alone now to face Slughorn and her pair: Severus.
The thought of the devil summoned him; Further down the Potion's classroom hallway was a beaming Slughorn. Waving his hand as a salute towards her. Right behind was Sev, she noticed how tired he seemed. One hand under his cloak and the other one visible, clutching what she guessed was his Potion's textbook. Their capes were floating inches from the ground and then Lily noticed the Slytherins who followed a bit behind. Not many of them carried a bag alone but they were a mess. Pushing aside any students who were foolish enough to walk into them. Worse of all was Bellatrix. Her constant grin on her face, for a split second Lily wondered what went on in that Snake's mind. Cackling and strutting about.
Suddenly she was noticed.
"Why isn't it Lily! Oh my dear girl!" She exaggeratedly marched forward, exactly the same way Petunia did last summer on a night-out.
Bellatrix was merely a feet away from her but Lily took a step back. Lucius had joined but remained to the side, not sparing her a glance. Sev-Snape, however carefully eyed from behind Professor Slughorn; the latter merely saw this as a friendly exchange.
"Bellatrix, I'm surprised you're here. Aren't there first year students for you to duel with?" She politely smiled back
Bellatrix took a step closer to Lily and she stood back along the wall. Professor Slughorn would notice sooner or later.
"If you're challenging me to a duel Evans then I suggest you whip out your wand now aye?" Her eyes glaring inside hers.
"Not now Bellatrix." It wasn't Professor Slughorn, but Severus. Barging in here again.
Before another exchange was made Lily slipped to the side and walked in to the sound of Bellatrix cackling.