Chapter Four
During the next two days, Hogwarts was still talking about Lily and that quiet Snape boy's intimate encounter over the summer. Lily was enduring it the best as she could and kept thinking about what Remus had told her: it will die out in a few days, or weeks. But she didn't want to wait weeks. Lily hated the fact that her arrival at Hogwarts had started with a silly rumour. She wanted to enjoy her return fully, not with everyone looking her way when she walks by. Severus had returned to his classes, but was being teased immensely by the Slytherins. Lily could hear them, "There goes Snape! The Mudblood lover!" and various other sayings that all insulted Snape for being associated with a Muggle-born. Lily had tried to catch him alone and talk to him, but he always disappeared when class was over. By now, the teachers had also heard of the rumour and were warmer than usual towards Lily and colder towards Severus. Even McGonagall gave Lily a small smile when she asked Lily politely to hand out the hamsters they were transfiguring that day. But all in all, Lily felt down; it was her worst week back ever.
James was also wondering when the week will be over. He was tired of listening to gossipers talk about Lily whenever he was in the corridors. It enraged him to hear them talk about Lily in such a disrespectful way. It was all they ever talked about. James also felt really down by this. He never did well with rumours about Lily, and there have been many as she used to be really close with Snape in their earlier years at Hogwarts. It also made everyone, including himself, question what type of person Lily actually was, she was a Gryffindor friends with a dark arts loving fool from Slytherin. It also didn't help that she was one of the most attractive girls in their year. Noticing that James is not his usual self, Sirius went out of his usual ways to insult Snape, hoping that James would join in, like he would usually. Sirius would trip Snape or hex him whenever they met in the corridor, which was usually James's job, but with James not bothering, Sirius took his place. To be honest, the only time James felt better was when his mind was busy; during his detentions and when doing homework. He just wished that Snape would disappear from his life. Remus suggest, for James to cheer up, to hold the Quidditch trails.
James decided to do exactly this and posted up the trail date on the Gryffindor notice board for the 13th. He got up early on that Saturday morning and shook Sirius up too. Sirius needed to get up early with him because he was going to tryout for his old spot on the team, Beater. The two boys dressed in their Quidditch things, Sirius rather grumpily, and went down to the pitch. It was a foggy fall day, but James hoped the fog will disappear as the day would go on. They mounted their brooms and lifted off into the cloudy air. James felt free of his worries already, it was like flying away from all feelings he had kept in him. His hair being ruffled in the air, his face being stretched by the pressure of the air, James was finally back to loving life. Sirius and James flew around the pitch for a while, until people who were trying out appeared slowly and soon the pitch was noisy of chatter and excitement. The sun had appeared now and the fog had gone.
"Okay!" James addressed the crowd; there were his Quidditch team from last year trying out again, a few new people, many girls and first years. "I want you all to spilt into your year and pass around the Quaffle. So everyone, in the air!" There was a scramble as people started to gather into their groups. Many fought over broomsticks, yelling and swearing at each other. James sighed, it was going to be one of those tryouts again. James went into the crowd and settled arguments, told people off that accused the others of stealing the better broom, etc. Finally, everyone was in their group with a broom and a Quaffle. They mounted into the air, well, almost everyone.
The first years looked at their brooms in their hands, confused. James laughed to himself and walked over to them as they were all huddled together. "First time flying?" he asked, smiling. The group nodded, looking scared and yet excited that James Potter was talking to them. James sighed and taught them how to get up on a broom, but only one or two in the end were able to stay on theirs, and only for a few seconds. "Come back next year, you midgets." James said. They ran off to the stands, amazed that James Potter had talked to them.
James mounted his own broom and flew around the groups in the air. There was a group of third year students as he flew by slowly, a small girl with long blond wavy hair was catching the Quaffle noticed him and dropped it. She looked red in the face as she flew down to catch it before it fell. The Quaffle was almost on the ground as she expertly flew her broom to that low level and caught the Quaffle easily. James was impressed. He waited for the girl to come back up.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The girl was amazed to find James still there. She looked down and answered, "Diana Diggory."
James gave her his winning smile. "Stay around for the Seeker try outs. Nice catch, by the way." He saw Diana blush as he flew away to the group of fourth years.
The fourth years were not that good. They had a hard time keeping the Quaffle up, not to mention they were all girls and only there to see James. James smiled at them as he flew by, making them laugh. He was used to this happening at try outs since he had joined the team. His old captain, who had left Hogwarts a year ago (making James captain) had told James that tryouts have never been as popular as now since James had joined the team. But James didn't mind this at all, the more girls, the merrier he felt.
He flew over to the fifth years and saw that, again, most of them were girls, with only one boy who looked like he was enjoying the company of so many girls. That is, until James came up to them and the girls' attention diverted. The boy gave James a dirty look filled with jealousy and passes the Quaffle to a girl who had been staring shamelessly at James and got hit in the head. She lost her balance and fell. James flew down and caught her in his arms. The girls above all gasped; the girl in James's arm looked as if she was in heaven.
"I think you should go now." James said in a deep voice, huskly. The girl nodded, but she didn't let go of James when they reached the ground. James repeated, a little amused, "Um, you should go now."
Above people were all laughing as the girl finally realized what James had said. She let go of him and ran out of the pitch, her face tomato red. James laughed as he went back in the air and looked over at his fellow sixth years.
He was happy to see Felicity back and not surprised to see Alice trying out (she has been trying out since James joined the team), but slightly startled to see Frank Longbottom trying out. He was looking scared and timid and very out of place. Frank caught the Quaffle at his finger tips and passed very timidly. He looked over at Alice again and again and James understood why he was here, and slightly amused at his new discovery. They were also with the only seventh year student trying out, Alex Weasley, who was one of the Beaters from last year. He flew over to them and nodded as he passed.
James flew by each group a few more times and when he had seen enough, he decided to blow his whistle and call the position tryouts. He took out his pen and looked at the list McGonagall had given him.
"Okay," James said, looking over the list. "Lets have the Chasers out first. Felicity Jones! Calvin McDuff! Frank Longbottom! Alice Prewett! Let's go." James flew up and decided to play keeper for them. As he had hoped, Felicity got all five shots in. He gave her a wink as she scored her last shot.
"Frank Longbottom!" James called down below. Frank flew his broom timidly, loosing balance. He was on the verge of falling when he came up to shoot at James, and did fall as he threw the Quaffle.
"It's alright, Frank. You want to try again?" James asked, hoping he will say no.
Frank shook his head. "No, man. I am not a Quidditch player." He laughed. James gave him a pat on the back. Frank was a shy guy, but a good person. James didn't want to hurt his feelings when he would cut him and was glad that Frank had realized he was no good.
James gave a small chuckle and called in the fourth year boy who looked extremely nervous. But to James's surprise he was really good and only missed one shot. Next, it was Alice's turn, but James decided that he wanted the trails done today and didn't bother to see Alice, knowing that she couldn't be a Chaser to save her life. He gave her his sexiest looked and ruffled his hair as he approached her. "How about I see you tryout tonight? We can be alone..."
Alice batted her eye lashes as James heard Felicity give a vomiting sound. Alice left and James walked to where he had placed his list of names.
"You are so disgusting, James" Felicity said as he walked by.
James smirked and didn't say anything as he looked at the list of names. "Let's have the Seekers now."
As James had expected, Diana caught the small golf ball faster and more expertly then the others. He called the Keepers next and saw the fifth year boy who had given him a dirty look performed spectacularly. He saved every goal; all except Felicity's who was an exception as no one could stop Felicity's shots. Next, were the Beaters and James chose the same as last year, Sirius and Alex.
When he was finally done with his decisions, James called everyone to stop talking. "Don't be discouraged if you don't make the team. I had a fun time watching you guys." He looked over at the fifth year girls who giggled. "And I saw that you had fun too, which is all that matters." Felicity snorted sarcastically. "When I call your name, come and stand beside me, for the keeper position, I have chosen Derek Loomstone." The boy looked proud as he walked up and stood beside James as people applauded. "Chaser, Felicity Jones, Calvin McDuff, and of course, me." People laughed at James's joke. Felicity walked up not surprised, while Calvin looked confused. He looked at James and tilted his head. James looked at him expectantly and he walked and stood beside Felicity, not believing his luck. "Beaters, Sirius Black and Alex Weasley, and finally the Seeker, Diana Diggory." Diana looked shocked just like Calvin had. She walked up, blushing.
James dismissed the others and flirted with the girls until Felicity dragged him away. James was slightly annoyed that Felicity did this, he was finally feeling like his usual self and his usual self loved flirting with girls.
"Okay," James said, turning to his team. "You guys are the best team I have ever seen for Gryffindor. I know if we work together, we will kick ass!" the team cheered. "So, first practice will be on Tuesday, after dinner, okay? I have to tell you how important it is for you to come to all practices. If you don't –"
"He'll hunt you down with his broom." Sirius put in. The team laughed as they departed. James, Sirius and Felicity made their way to the Great Hall together, discussing the positive outlooks for the team this year.
"- the Diana girl is really good-"
"- that McDuff will need some help getting over his nervousness, he nearly missed that last shot –"
" – we need to teach McDuff the new move –"
They arrived at the Great Hall and Felicity left to go sit beside Lily. James looked at Lily and was reminded of why he had hated the first week back so much. His excitement in Quidditch had made him forget about his horrible week, which was coming down on him now, as if he was reliving it. But, on the other hand, Lily was looking really good today. Her red hair was in a loose pony tail and she was wearing really baggy clothes. Something about her not looking perfect made James desire her even more. It caused something inside James to get excited.
Lily, on the other hand, thought she was looking dreadful today and looked really down and tired. Felicity, though, was looking radiant as she sat down beside Lily.
"Hello!" Felicity said happily.
Lily grunted as her greeting. Felicity looked at her. "You seem happy today." She said, sarcastically.
Lily shrugged. "I am so tired. I stayed up until like four in the morning finishing that Herbology essay." Her head fell on the table and into her food. Felicity patted her back, showing support.
"Where's Riana?" Felicity asked. She got no response from Lily and could hear her deep breaths. Lily had fallen asleep.
It had been a really hard week; it was just the first week back and the teachers were giving the sixth years homework as if it was just before exam time, not to mention the prefect duties Lily has to do every evening at eight. It also didn't help that the whole school was still talking about the stupid rumour, which resulted in Lily being more stressed than usual. Throughout the whole week, Lily has been trying to get Severus alone and talk to him, but it hasn't been possible. Lily did get him alone in a corridor once, but a few Slytherins had appeared and teased the two, Severus rather harshly. All Lily wanted to do was to talk to Severus, find out if they were still friends. It was funny because last year, Severus had found himself in the same situation which had led him outside the Gryffindor common room. Lily knew if she tried to enter the dungeon common room that housed Slytherins, she would get beaten up by them and didn't bother with it. Plus, she knew that her talk with Severus will not lead anywhere good, it can wait.
Lily pulled her head out of her food. Her red hair was now sticky with food. Felicity, looking hopelessly at Lily took her wand out and made the stickiness evaporate. "Thanks," Lily mumbled.
Felicity grunted as her answer. She was looking over at James and Sirius who weren't sitting far from them. Just then, Riana arrived, looking very happy.
"Hey guys!" she said cheerfully as she sat down on the other side of Lily. She took one look at Lily and raised her eyebrows. "Everything okay?"
Lily shrugged. "Where have you been?"
"I slept in." Riana answered. "Did you come back to the dorm, Lily?"
Lily shrugged again. "I think I slept on the table where I was working." She gave a yawn and suddenly felt a bit more alert.
"So," Riana said as she helped herself to some toast. "How were the tryouts, Fel?"
Felicity gave them a whole long story of each and every person that had tried out for the team. Lily smiled and nodded at the right parts and laughed as she described Frank Longbottom's performance. She also agreed that Alice was a slut for just being there because of James. When Felicity had finished, huge laughter had erupted from James and Sirius. Lily, Felicity and Riana looked over at them. Lily glared while Felicity looked at Sirius, longingly. Lily looked away and had started talking about talking a walk around the lake, when she realized that Riana and Felicity were still looking in Sirius's direction.
Lily knew why Felicity was looking at Sirius, but looked confusedly at Riana. Her eyes were glazed off in the distance, thinking about something different as she looked at Sirius laughing. Why was Riana looking at Sirius like this? Riana hated Sirius like Lily did and both had frequently ganged up on Felicity for expressing an interest in him. So why was Riana... But suddenly, Lily had a though struck her. Could Riana possibly...
Lily shrugged off the thought as she shook Riana out of her trance. Riana was surprised to find herself back in the Great Hall. Lily gave her a knowing look. Riana had been clearly caught. Not meeting Lily's eyes, Riana looked away.
Felicity, on the other hand, had gone in to one of her 'I love Sirius' moods, which Lily detested.
"Sirius was really good at the tryouts today." She said in a daze, looking in Sirius's direction. "Best Beater I have ever seen."
Lily snorted. "Oh, come off it! Alex is the best Beater out there easily!"
Felicity shrugged. "I think Sirius is the best. Do you think I should ask him out now?"
Lily looked at her friend, not believing that Felicity was even her friend. "No!" she said loudly, loud enough for James and Sirius to stop talking and look her way. Lily saw this and caught James's eye, who looked away.
Lily thought this was strange behaviour for James. Usually he would wink or smirk or something when he notice Lily looking at him. But now that Lily thought about it, James has not been his usually annoying self, but rather quiet and not even talking to Lily. Something spurted inside Lily, it was not the feeling she got when she saw James's body, but this type of feeling was annoying her, filling her up with curiosity. Why was James being so quiet around her all of a sudden? Was James still into her? What if he wasn't? What if he has moved on now, finally after five years? These questions ran through Lily's head, without even Lily stopping them.
James had noticed Lily looking at him, and was now quiet. He was listening to Sirius talk on about the upcoming Quidditch matches and sizing up every team. Usually, James would pay extra attention to this because Sirius knew a lot of the other Quidditch teams and the information came in very useful. But today, he face was tingling and his insides were on fire. Lily Evans had just looked at him! He could feel her glancing his way. But James looked back at his breakfast. He hadn't felt like teasing or talking to Lily since the rumour started. It has been weird for James, all he could think about that slimy git's hands on Lily bodies. He even had a dream about the two of them! James has never been jealous this way, or at all, for that matter. But it was killing him inside to hear about Snape and Lily. He had gained some confidence around Lily due to Sirius's lessons over the summer, but now all was lost. All the techniques he had learned didn't matter if the girl he liked was already with someone else.
"Prongs?" Sirius's voice said into James's head. "Where are you? Thinking about Lily again?"
James looked at Sirius and sighed. "I was listening, Padfoot. Yes, the Hufflepuffs are better than last year, we need to watch out for them."
Sirius put he fork down on the table hard. "James! It's enough!" he exclaimed suddenly. James looked at Sirius confused. "I am tired of you and your – your – your idiotic and obsessive crush!"
"Sirius –"
"No!" Sirius barked. "Listen to me! I have had enough of you and Evans! Just get over it! You aren't meant to be together! Accept it!" he snapped.
James wanted to badly yell back at Sirius. He knew his crush on Lily was too slow for him, Sirius being the fastest guy to get a girl at Hogwarts, but it was his crush, his love. But James didn't have the energy.
When James didn't answer, Sirius gave a grunt then stood up and walked out of the Great Hall. James finished his breakfast, glancing and catching Lily's eyes on him while he did. When he was done, he walked out of the Great Hall all by himself, not acknowledging Lily at all.
***
Two days later, Lily was alone, walking in the Transfiguration corridor on her prefect duty. It felt nice to see the castle a lot emptier now that the lessons were over for the day and only teachers and ghosts (and dreaded Peeves) were the only ones around. Lily felt calm and took out her Transfiguration book to read for class tomorrow. She sat down under a portrait, reading her book. Everything felt calm and quiet, when she heard hurried footsteps coming in her direction. Lily didn't look up, assuming that it was a teacher, but felt the footsteps come in her direction. Lily stopped reading and looked up to see Severus. He looked shaken and showed that he clearly didn't want to be here. Lily looked at her watch and saw that it was –
"Your prefect duty is over." Severus said, really quietly. "W-Would you join me in a walk around the lake?"
Lily looked up at Severus and nodded. She got up and closed her book and followed Severus down the Grand Staircase and out of the castle. Severus walked in front of her and Lily kept the distance between them. She didn't know what to expect from Severus. All her expectations from him had been lowered tremendously since the train ride to Hogwarts. She did want to talk to him, one last time. It was a cool windy night. The breeze rippled Lily's hair upon immediate contact. She felt chilled in her robes right away. She was about to suggest that they go inside instead, but they had arrived by the Black lake and the trees were hiding the two from any view.
Severus stopped once they were hidden in the trees. Lily approached him and faced him. Severus took his wand out and conjured Bluebell flames from his wand, not even saying the spell. Lily was impressed by his skill of the non-verbal spells. She looked expectantly at Severus over the flames. He was looking down at the flames, anywhere but Lily's eyes. Lily decided that she will start talking.
"Severus," Lily said, in a whisper. "I can't believe you." Her voice was filled with the anger that had been bottled up inside for the past two weeks. She was looking directly at Severus, but he was still not looking at Lily.
"I-I know." Severus said, looking past Lily's shoulder. "I think, we – we – we shouldn't be involved anymore."
Lily gave a humourless laugh. "You think?" she said, disgusted. "You ignore me, you don't even look at me! It's as if I am not there!"
Severus looked in to Lily's eye for the first time. Lily saw the cowardice through them, yet there was also something there, something that Lily recognized as love. "You know that's not how I feel –"
"Well, whatever you feel doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Lily snapped. Now she was the one looking away from his eyes.
"That's – That's not true, Lily –"
"Snape!" Lily yelled, her eyes were filling up with tears, tears that she has kept hidden. "I give up! I have tried so hard to keep us together! But you –"
"I tried to, Lily! I tried! But things come in the way –" Snape started.
"Things don't come in the way, Snape." Lily said in a dangerous voice She brought her eyes to look into Snape's dark ones. Upon the immediate eye contact Lily saw his eyes give a little twitch. "You made them come in your way. You made them matter to you."
There was silence in which Lily cried a bit more, not holding back now. Severus didn't try to console her; he just stood opposite her, staring at her.
"It's over, isn't it?" Lily said, looking through her teary eyes. "It's all over. What we had. We can't even be friends anymore." She added, realizing herself.
Snape took a moment to answer. He finally said, "Yes, it's over."
"You are a coward, Snape. A coward. That is how I am going to remember you until the day I die!" Lily said in disgust. She gave him a teary look, and then ran away, away from Severus forever.
***
"Why don't you go to Slughorn's dinner?" Riana suggested. "With me."
"No" came Lily's muffled, but sharp answer from her bed.
"Okay," Felicity said slowly. "Why don't you come watch our Quidditch practice?"
"It's raining." Lily mumbled.
Lily, Felicity and Riana were in their dormitory. It was Friday evening after that fateful meeting Lily had with Snape. Lily was lying in her bed with her two friends trying to convince her to get up. Lily had taken this day off, excusing that she was sick. But Felicity and Riana both knew Lily was tired of people looking at her. Though Lily wasn't there, Felicity and Riana had been telling people off for talking about Lily and Severus. The talking had died down a bit now, but Lily was still upset. She had confused her two friends when she had appeared after talking to Snape, crying. She hadn't said a word (or much since then) to her friends or anyone. Even Slughorn had asked her to stay after class and talk to him, asking her if she was alright.
"Slughorn is expecting you, Lils. " Riana said. "He told me to bring you."
But Felicity put in, looking at Riana. "She said she doesn't want to go to that old frog's dinner."
Riana gave Felicity a look. "You're just jealous because Sirius also goes to those dinners and you still haven't been invited to any of them!"
Felicity stood up. "Yes, I am not happy that Sirius goes to those dinners, but I don't care if I haven't been invited! I wouldn't want to spend any of my valuable free time with that –"
Lily sat up in her bed. "Shut up, you two." She said weakly, but clearly annoyed. "Look, I'll go to the dinner. Fel, you have your Quidditch practice –"
"Actually, it's just going to be the Chasers," Felicity said, going towards her bed and looking for her Quidditch robes.
"Whatever. Ree and I will go to Slughorn's." Lily said as she got out of bed and grabbed a hair brush. Felicity and Riana looked at each other in surprise.
"Lils, are you okay?" Riana asked, carefully. "I mean, that night –"
Lily sighed. She knew that she owed her friends and explanation. But it has taken her a few days to get over the shock (or more, the change) herself. It was truly over between her and Snape. Though she knew it was going to happen, but she didn't expect it to be so blunt and painful. This news had broken Lily, unexpectedly. She thought she had it in control, but she clearly didn't. This had resulted Lily to withdraw from everyone. She only spoke when spoken to and didn't smile at all. But now, she knew it was over. The thought had sunk in. There was nothing Lily could do about it but move on. She knew Snape had.
"I was talking to Snape." Lily said, not looking at her friends. "We – We had gotten together over the summer –"
"The rumour was true?" Felicity asked, astonished as she sat down beside Lily.
"Partially." Lily said in a monotone voice. "We did start going out –"
"So you did have feelings for him!" Felicity exclaimed, interrupting Lily again. Riana gave her a look and Felicity became quiet. "Sorry," she mumbled.
"Yeah, I did. We had talked and for some reason," Lily's voice cracked. "I thought he had changed. But he didn't. On the Hogwarts Express, his friend Avery was making fun of me, Severus did nothing. He was still a coward. Then the stupid rumour started."
Lily sighed. "He came up to me that night and we broke it off."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Riana asked, concerned.
Lily looked at Riana. "I didn't want to hear what I already knew, I guess. You guys always saw through Snape, I didn't. Not until last year. And I fell for it again."
Felicity placed her arms around Lily. "It's okay." She said as Lily placed her head on to her shoulder.
Just then, Alice appeared and smirked at what she saw. "So, who died?"
Riana got up, looking mad. She took her wand out and said, "Eat slugs!"
Alice's face turned pale, her smirk whipped off. She looked as if she was about to vomit and spitted out a slug. Lily and Felicity laughed loudly. Alice looked at Riana then Lily and Felicity.
"I'll get you for –" she started to say but another slug came out of her mouth. She looked disgustedly at the slug. Lily, Felicity and Riana laughed even harder. Alice gave them a glare and walked out of the dorm, fast. Lily was laughing harder then she had since she came back to Hogwarts.
Getting up cheerfully, the three girls got ready, Felicity for her practice and Lily and Riana for Slughorn's dinner. Lily felt much better and happier as the three girls made fun of Alice's facial expressions.
Lily decided that she will wear something comfortable, rather than fashionable to the dinner, knowing that Professor Slughorn's dinner were quiet an affair. Lily remembered last year when she went and had bumped into Sirius who had spilled his drink on Lily's favourite dress. Her hatred for Sirius had increased tremendously since then.
After getting ready, Lily waited for Riana to hurry up. Riana wasn't sure which pair of earrings to wear; the white pearls or the long dangling ones. Lily rolled her eyes as Riana debated, torn between the two. Finally, Lily said, "Just pick the white pearl ones! They are much better than the dangling pair!" Lily usually never got annoyed at Riana, who herself was a quiet and calm person and very patient with Lily. But Riana was taking a longer time than usual to get ready for simple dinner.
"What are you excited about anyways?" Lily asked as the two girls made their way towards the dungeons. "It's just the usual idiots sucking up to Slughorn."
Riana shrugged indifferently. "I don't know..." her voice trailed.
Lily gave her friend a look.
"It's not because of Black, is it?" Lily asked, with slight annoyance in her voice.
"No!" Riana exclaimed, too eagerly.
Lily gave her a glare. "I saw you the other day, looking at him."
Riana looked away, her face clear with admittance. "S-So what?"
"You like Black!" Lily exclaimed. "I can't believe it! What do you see in him?!?"
Riana looked dangerously at Lily and stopped walking down the staircase. "First of all," she said, threateningly. "You will not under any circumstances tell Felicity! Or anyone, for that matter."
Lily looked taken a back. "Okay, I won't. But if you promise not to be like Felicity and talk about him all the time." she added, trying to lighten the mood. She saw Riana gave a small smile and started walking.
"So? What gives? Why all of a sudden?" Lily asked. She couldn't understadn why any girl would like that pig.
Riana shrugged dreamily. "I don't know, it just happened. I guess I never noticed him the way I do now because of your hatred for him."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Trust me, its not hard to hate a jackass like Sirius Black. I find it harder to like him, actually."
They reached the door that led to Slughorn's office. Riana made Lily pause outside while Riana rearranged her hair and then they entered. Professor Slughorn's office was looking neater than usual and his desk was set aside to make place for the large round table, surrounded by chairs. Slughorn's eyes light up when he saw Lily enter behind Riana.
"Ah! Miss Prewett #1! And my dear Lily!" he added, softly. He had stood up from his chair to welcome the girls. Lily gave him a warm smile. Even though Lily knew Slughorn was a type of teacher who had favourites in his class, she still felt for him and liked him slightly above the other teachers.
"Please, sit beside me." Slughorn insisted as he drew up a chair beside him, pushing Regulus Black out of the way. Lily nodded and sat down in the chair, between Slughorn and Regulus Black.
"Alright everyone, continue eating!" Slughorn said smiling, and then he looked down at Lily. "How are you, my dear?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"Fine," said Lily. "I wasn't feeling too well –"
Slughorn nodded understandingly. "I was a young pupil, too. I was not quiet likeable as you, I must say," he gave a laugh. "But I remember what it was like. I am glad to see you are faring well, and keep it up!" he added, encouragingly.
Lily nodded, smiling. "Of course, Professor. I shall." She took a sip of the pumpkin juice and helped herself to some pie. She looked around to see where Riana was sitting, and was not happy to see she was sitting right beside Sirius across the table. Riana and Sirius were talking and laughing.
"So," a deep voice suddenly said. Lily realized it was Regulus Black, Sirius's brother, who was a year younger than him. Lily has never spoken to him before and was surprised to hear the deep richness of his voice. "You and Snape, huh?
Lily shifted in her seat uncomfortable. She wanted to leave now. Slughorn was now talking to Frank Longbottom who was sitting on his other side and didn't hear what Regulus had said. Lily didn't answer Regulus and looked across the table towards Riana, to tell her through eye contact that she wanted to go back to her safe bed, where no one questioned her about stupid rumours...But Riana was too busy looking at Sirius talk.
Regulus smirked. Lily looked at him straight in the face and saw he looked a lot like Sirius, but there was less amusement there are more seriousness. His dark eyes were really dark and looking at Lily in a way that made her very uncomfortable.
"So it is true, then?" Regulus said, sneering. Lily wanted to say something to retort him, but she didn't feel brave enough to open her mouth. "Hmph. Thought you could do better than that." He added with his voice in thought. But then the sneer came back on his face. "But then again, you are a filthy mudblood."
"Shut up, Regulus." A dangerous voice said from across the table. "Don't use that word in front of me."
It was Sirius. He had his wand out and was pointing it at his brother. Regulus made movements to take his wand out, but Sirius cried, "Expelliarmus!" Regulus's wand flew out of his pocket and Sirius caught it.
"Now, now boys!" Slughorn said helplessly. "Stop all this. There is no reason to get all -"
"Black, put your wand down!" Lily said, demandingly. Her anger at Sirius had flared yet again. Who gave him the right to point his wand at every other person?
Sirius's eyes turned onto her, looking very mad. "Why are you defending him?"
There was a moment of silence in which Lily wanted to say her reasoning, but couldn't think of anything. When she was about to speak, Regulus suddenly flew across the table at Sirius. Riana jumped away from Sirius with a yell. Sirius was pushed back on the floor with Regulus on top of him, clearly punching and hitting every part of Sirius he could.
Professor Slughorn looked away, helplessly. Riana got her wand out, pointed it at the two boys and cried, "Impedimenta!"
Regulus's hand stopped just as it was about to make contact with Sirius's nose, while Sirius's hand stopped as they had been trying to blind Regulus.
"Horrible behavoir, boys, horrible!" Slughorn said as he appeared beside them. "Twenty points for Gryffindor for Miss Prewett. But thirty points away from Slytherin and Gryffindor! I would have never expected this!"
The jinx lifted and Regulus got off of Sirius, Sirius got up with a bloody nose. He was glaring at his brother intensely. Regulus gave him a dirty look and turned his back to him. Lily had never seen Sirius this mad, it kind of scared her. His dark eyes were raging with hatred and he was trembling all over. Sirius glared at the back of his brother's head and made a move to punch it but Lily took her wand out and cried, "Creso Tongue!"
Something was trying to come out of Sirius's mouth as he stopped, looking at Lily when she had said the incarnation. His mouth opened suddenly and his tongue fell out his knees, longer than any normal tongue should be.
Slughorn looked at Lily, horrified. "Miss Evans!"
Sirius looked at her, too, but his face was filled with anger and humiliation and looked less madder than he had just been with his brother.
Slughorn shook his head vigorously. "A Tongue Enlargement curse! Lily!" he gave a heavy sigh. " Miss Prewett, please take Mr Black to the hospital wing. The curse hit him too strongly."
Sirius followed Riana out the room, glaring at Lily. Slughorn dismissed everyone dejectedly as his dinner had turned to be so wild. But he asked Lily to stay behind. Before leaving, Regulus looked at Lily as if he was looking at her for the first time. Suddenly Lily saw something in his face that he had surely kept hidden; forgiveness and innocence. But he turned and left before Lily could say another word. She felt confused at the way Regulus had looked at her. She turned to Slughorn.
Professor Slughorn looked very disturbed. He glanced at Lily. "I am sure you had your reasons to hurt Mr Black like that –"
"Professor, you know that Black is a wild person." Lily interrupted politely. "I was just saving his madness from affecting the others."
Slughorn looked at Lily thoughtfully. "You stopped him from hurting his brother, whom, if I am not mistaken, he hates to death."
Lily was surprised to hear Slughorn's voice in a genuine tone, compared to the excitement he always has. She looked at him, as if she was seeing him for the first time.
"You, being Gryffindor and Regulus, being Slytherin are enemies right from there." He leaned over and looked intently at Lily. "Why did you just defend him?"
Lily looked stunned at being asked this question. True, she had wondered herself, since Regulus Black was obviously not friendly with Lily, but she hated Sirius's guts. Then she thought about the look on Regulus's face before he had left. There was a moment of silence which Lily broke, after thinking about her answer.
"I don't think Regulus Black is all bad, Professor." She answered in a careful voice.
Slughorn smiled. "You really have a talent for looking inside one and finding their best traits, Miss Evans. You take those traits and weight them more than the bad of that person."
Lily didn't know what to say. Slughorn's face twisted into his usual smile as the excitement came back on his face. "You really are one of a kind, Miss Evans."
A/N: Please let me know if you like it! Review! :D