My first attempt at a quote story...and also my first attempt at a song-ficish thing. It didn't turn out the way I intended it to, but oh well, not much ever does.
"What's done cannot be undone"—William Shakespeare
"Maybe I wanted to hear it so badly that my ears betrayed my mind in order to secure my heart"—Margaret Cho
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm"—Colette
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"—Vince Lombardi
"It's always helpful to learn from your mistakes because then your mistakes seem worthwhile"—Garry Marshall
"Severus, I want to talk to you." She said it pleasantly enough, but it was more formal than how she would usually say things. She meant business.
"What, Lily?" I smiled politely at her, as I found myself doing more and more these days.
"I want to talk about your other friends."
I frowned at her. I already knew where this was going. "Sure," I said. "Talk away."
"I don't think that you should hang out with them," she said. "They dabble in the Dark Arts. They hate people like me and it seems that they're brainwashing you! Whatever they told you to get you to be their friend-"
"What's done cannot be undone," I said sharply. "And they aren't brainwashing me. They're my friends, and they don't coerce me into doing anything I don't want to do."
"But-"
"Most of them only asked if I wanted to be their friend. Oh, and don't even say that maybe I wanted to hear it so badly that my ears betrayed my mind in order to secure my heart. You don't understand. Not anymore." She looked shocked, and hurt. I knew she was beginning to wonder why she came.
"Severus, listen to me," she said evenly. "If you stick with them you're going to end up doing something unforgivable, maybe even criminal. I only want to help you, but I can't do that if you don't let me."
"You sound like a school counselor."
"Stop changing the subject!"
"I'm not!" I protested hotly. Who was she, to think she always knew what was best for me? Controlling my voice enough, I said, "You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm. Not everything has to be an argument, you know, and you don't have to try and win it all." I began to walk away quickly.
"Winning arguments has nothing to do with it!" Lily shrieked as she came after me.
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?" I retorted.
"Severus," she lowered her voice, so that I had to stop in order to hear her. "You're making a mistake by sticking with them. They won't come out prestigious members of society like you think, and they'll turn their back on you as soon as you get into a sticky spot. Why can't you make friends with someone who will stay true to the end? Why do you have to stick to the most unpleasant of students?"
I gazed at her coldly. "It's always helpful to learn from your mistakes, because then your mistakes seem worthwhile. That's something that you're having trouble with, Lily. You can't admit that I'm not a helpless little kid. You can't save me from my evils because I don't need saving. I'm perfectly fine with my friends, and while they might have a few shortcomings, they're a unique lot. And anyway, I'm a Slytherin. Hell will freeze over before the rest of the school extends hospitality to us. We're hardly tolerated by the people in this school that matter."
"And who would you be referring to?" she asked, getting angry.
"I'm sure you can figure it out. I've changed, Lily, and so have you. We can try and make this work, but if you can't stop judging me by my friends…" I let it trail off, unable to find the words to express myself. Lily looked so hurt.
I turned and strode off.
Like it? Hate it? Please tell me?
