James Potter was having quite a bad day indeed. He had nearly failed his potions exam, gotten a week's worth of detention for jinxing a boy who'd been making fun of him, and ripped his favorite robes. The last thing he wanted was someone pestering him about their own success. But that was exactly what little sisters were for.

"Hi, James!" Lily Potter ran up to her brother, a wide smile plastered across her face.

"Guess what?" she asked enthusiastically. Lily barely got a chance to talk to her brother during school, what with him being a fourth year while she herself was only a first year.

"I'm not in the mood, Lils," James grumbled, not slowing his pace even the tiniest bit.

"But I have to tell you something," Lily pressed on eagerly, trying to keep up with her brother.

"I got a perfect score on my herbology test, and Professor Longbottom told me—"

"I said, not now, Lily!" James snapped, cutting her short. "I had a hell of a crappy day, and I just want to be alone right now. So why don't you just bugger off, you little pest!" James regretted the words the moment they tumbled out. Lily stepped back as though he'd just slapped her, the hurt evident in her brown eyes.

"Lily, I'm sorry. I didn't—"

But Lily had already turned and ran off.

"Lily!" Oh, Merlin, what did I just do? James thought.

"That was low, Potter, even for you," said a cold voice from behind James. He turned around to find its source, and blinked in surprise when he saw who it was. The Bloody Baron floated next to him, hovering a few inches off the ground. He stared down at James, his expression as hard as his tone.

"I didn't mean to. It just…slipped out," James said in defensive embarrassment. Great, now he had something else to add to the list of "Worst Day Ever." He'd hurt Lily's feelings and made himself look like a complete jerk. He felt like a toad.

"That's no excuse. That was a horrible thing to say to your own sister, boy. You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" responded the Baron, arms crossed. James hung his head. He did feel ashamed. How could he have said something so mean to Lily? She hadn't done anything wrong. She was just being her happy, pleasant self, and look how he had responded.

"I know," James said. He didn't even try to defend himself this time. He knew he had to go apologize to Lily, but how could he face her after what he had done? Apologizing had never come easily for James.

"Ironic, isn't it?" asked the Baron. His tone changed, becoming sadder, more thoughtful. James looked up in confusion.

"What is?"

"That the ones we love the most are also the ones we do the most harm to," replied the Baron, a little wistfully. He stared into space, as though reliving a memory.

"Yeah, I guess that's true," James said, looking down the corridor where Lily had gone.

"Do you know why I wear these chains, Potter?" asked the Baron.

"Why?"

"Many centuries ago, I flew into a rage and killed the woman I loved. When I saw what I had done, I was stricken with remorse, and used the same blade I had ended her life with to take my own," the Baron said gravely. "But death had not purged me of the guilt. To this day, I wear these chains as penance."

James's eyes were wide with shock. Never had he assumed in a million years that this was the reason the Baron was always fettered in chains and his robes stained with blood.

"Oh, Merlin," was the only thing James could muster.

"Learn from this, my boy. Don't hurt the ones you love. Treasure them, for they won't always be around. One mistake can forever haunt your conscious."

James nodded. He felt better now, and more prepared for the task ahead.

"Thank you, "he told the Baron. "I have to go find Lily and tell her that I'm sorry." The ghost gave him a small smile, which James returned. Then he hurried back down the corridor, determined to find Lily and make things right.