Chapter 4 ~ Mudblood

~ Quote ~

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination ~

Nelson Mandela

~ Mood Music ~

Any Suggestions?

The prefects started arriving in dribs and drabs from about 9 o'clock, most complaining loudly about the time; the Slytherins just complaining in general. James seemed happy to just mull around, chatting to whomever about whatever, but I was beginning to worry just a little. What if everyone thought it was boring? What if someone got hurt? There were so many things that could go so wrong.

About fifteen minutes later James found me in my tent, hyperventilating and talking to myself.

'Err, Lily?' he called in through the opening. 'You're not changing or anything, are you?' I wasn't sure, but I thought I caught a hopeful note in his voice.

'Sorry to disappoint, Potter, but no, I am fully clothed.' He coughed awkwardly and scrambled his way in. His arms were spilled out in front of him, trying to find an empty space, but strangely seemed to only find me, his glasses slipping down his sweaty nose. Finally, he was in, sitting next to me, long legs sprawled out, his feet poking out the door, and letting in a welcome breeze.

'Merlin, Lily! It's bloody boiling in here.' He complained, shaking his T-shirt out, and pushing up his glasses.

I gave no response and he gave me a sideways glance.

'You okay?' he asked, scrutinising me.

'You pick now to be observant?' I mumbled, avoiding the question.

'You can't answer a question with a question.' He laughed, poking me in the side, and rolling over onto his belly, resting his chin on his palms.

'I'm fine.' I replied stiffly, making a move to escape.

'Hang on, Lily.' He called, placing a hand on my thigh and pushing my back down onto the floor. 'Are you really alright?' The sincerity in his voice shocked me into answering truthfully.

'No.'

'What's wrong?' He asked, worry instantly springing up onto his features.

I sighed, and shrugged my shoulders. 'I dunno. It's just… it could all just go so wrong.' I admitted, shaking my head. I hated acknowledging weakness, especially to Potter.

James scrambled to sit up, his long legs flying around until he was sitting cross legged, his head bent to the awkwardly to the side to stop it from bursting through the top of the tent.

'No, it won't.' He reassured me gently.

'How can you be so calm?' I demanded, poking him in the chest, hurting my finger. 'We have all these students here, who we're supposed to look after, whose parents have trusted us to keep out of harm's way...' I trailed off; all the dire possibilities making my head swim.

'I can be calm because I won't be any use to anyone wound up.' James said softly, making me glare at him. 'All I'm saying' he added hastily 'is that it can be more productive to take a step back and look at the bigger picture; most of the time you'll find your getting anxious about nothing, or something that's easily fixed. If that isn't the case, then I panic.'

'I've never seen you panic.' I accused him.

'That's because I've never found myself in a situation where I couldn't figure out a solution.' He didn't say it arrogantly, only stating a fact, and it was this neutral tone that made me work to slow down my breathing and listen to the sense he appeared to be talking. 'And you shouldn't have either. You're bright, Lily. You can overcome anything thrown at you. You just have to have a little more belief in your capabilities.' He nodded encouragingly and gave me a small smile.

'When did this become a counselling session?' I asked uncomfortably, my eyes roaming the tent to avoid looking at him.

He shook his head, and gave me a lopsided grin. 'Look, Lily, we've planned everything perfectly. There won't be one thing happening on this campsite that we won't be aware of. Plus, do you really think Dumbledore would have let us go ahead with this if he hadn't thought it was 100% secure for his students?' he asked.

'I suppose not' I shifted uncomfortably, the heat and James's close presence making me hot and sweaty. 'But, I mean, he's made mistakes before.' James raised his eyebrows sceptically. 'He chose you as Head Boy, didn't he?' I shrugged, dashing out of the tent before Potter could retaliate.

I had already squeezed myself between two Ravenclaws when James managed to scramble his way out of the tent, and I gave him an arrogant smirk, safe in the knowledge that he couldn't get to me when I was standing between two witnesses.

Remus appeared a few minutes later in the designated apparating area Dumbledore had set up inside the wards and charms he had cast over the entire training base. The 'Safe Zone' (James, not me) included much of the forest behind our camp as well, and no one was allowed to pass beyond this barrier without mine or James's express permission for the next couple of days.

These enchantments stopped unsuspecting muggles and dark wizards alike from finding us. It was a safe haven for our time here, and the reassurance that Dumbledore had cast the spells himself only served to calm me more. James was right; nothing could happen to us here.

After a quick head count, James and I gathered all the prefects around and explained to them the aim of the trip. The idea of a muggle weekend was fascinating to most. Unsurprisingly the Slytherins sneered, their glares pointed directly at me. I couldn't hear what they were whispering to each other but I knew it wouldn't be anything complimentary.

'Oi!' James shouted, making all the prefects jump, and Remus to shoot him a warning glance, but none of the anger drained from his face. He was surging toward the Slytherins, his face screwed tight in rage.

He came to a halt just in front of them. 'When the Head Girl's talking to you, you will bloody well listen!' he shouted.

'I guess she would have to be a good head girl if she's got a pureblood like you sticking up for her.' The Slytherin drawled, eyeing Lily suggestively. 'I might give her a go.' I didn't think it was possible, but James's face turned an even deeper shade of red; he was almost puce. He took a step forward, planting himself right in front of the Slytherin, their faces so close their noses were only millimetres away from each other.

'Excuse me?' James whispered so low that everyone was leaning forward to hear.

'I mean, it's understandable that you get so worked up when you're reminded that I could actually have her if I wanted to; it's not like she's yours. As far as I can tell, she's willing to do you, but not actually go out with you? I wouldn't let the little bitch get away with humiliating me day after day, but then, your family always were a little odd when it came to muggles and their… spawn.' He said eyeing me with disgust.

James's fist twitched, and for one horrifying moment I thought he was going to snap and hit this guy. But what he did surprised me even more; he burst out laughing.

'I'm sorry? It's just that it sounded like you were criticizing me for being interested in 'muggles and their spawn'? But it's funny. I heard through the grapevine that your marrying Rowan; your cousin. That's messed up dude. You're going to have to increase your gene pool someday because 'as far as I can tell' you've just doubled the chance of your unfortunate child inheriting that awful nose you both have.' He said, indicating the Slytherins extremely large schnoz. The rest of the prefects were trying to hold in their giggles, all waiting to see what the response to this blatant attack on pureblood inbreeding would be.

The Slytherin just sniffed delicately and took a step back, accepting defeat.

'Apologise.' James ordered, side stepping and sweeping his arm back to indicate me. I froze, unable to move. The Slytherin appeared to have had the same reaction, his eyes held wide in horror.

'You're joking right?' He asked. 'You want me to apologise to her?'

'That's what I said' James bit out, the vein reappearing on his forehead. The Slytherin flicked his eyes from James to me, indecision clear in his eyes. 'You disrespected her, and I won't tolerate that. Not here, and not when we're back at Hogwarts. So either you apologise, and mean it, or you can pick up your bag up and go home, leaving your prefect badge behind you.' James gave a 2 second smirk to show his seriousness before raising his eyebrows in wait for the Slytherins next move.

He swore and grabbed his bag up from the floor. 'Fuck this. I'm not sticking around to be ordered around by that mudblood.' A simultaneous intake of breath was taken by all the other prefects, but I wasn't surprised by this; he'd been humiliated, and now wished to do the humiliating and I was the easiest target.

James leapt forward with a guttural growl that made him sound more animal than man, and pushed the Slytherin into the apparating zone. Grabbing him by the elbow James spun and they disapparated together.

They left behind a shocked silence before ripples of hushed conversation surged through the crowd toward me.

Remus stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on my elbow. 'Are you okay?' I nodded mutely. What surprised me the most about this whole debacle had been my lack of action; I had felt more than happy to have Potter of all people, sticking up for and protecting me. In some ways I had felt glad that he cared enough to get so worked up about one stupid Slytherin.

James reapparated about five minutes later and the loud buzz of conversation dropped away instantly, all eyes swivelling toward him. He spared none of them a glance and came striding straight toward me. I hadn't moved since he had left, and taking hold of my wrist he pulled me off toward the back of the camp, out of earshot of everyone else.

'How are you feeling?' He asked.

'Fine.' I brushed off his concern; it wasn't like the first time I'd ever been called that before. 'What did you do with him?' I asked, cutting through all the bullcrap.

'I took him into Epping Forest and brutally murdered him, before calling Sirius and Peter to help me bury the body.'

'You really should have burnt it, much less likely to be found my hungry dogs then. But apart from that minor hiccup in the execution of your plan, I'm glad.'

'I took him to Dumbledore. He's dealing with it.' James sighed, rubbing his eyes as if he were suddenly tired.

'And you didn't panic once.' I grinned.

'Not that you would have noticed if it had been present underneath all of that anger.' He teased.

'Oh, so that's your secret. Don't panic, just get angry?'

'It's worked for me so far hasn't it?' I narrowed my eyes at him and gave him a light hip bump.

'We better get back. Them lot are getting restless.' He spun around toward the prefects, and his eyes widened as if he had only just remember that they were there.

'Oh, yeah.' He strode forward, indicating that everyone huddle around. 'I have a quick announcement to make; from Dumbledore. Firstly, he wants you all to know that the same rules that apply at Hogwarts apply here; no bullying of any kind will be accepted, and appropriate punishments will be given if you are found to be doing so.' James's eyes flickered to me and away so fast I couldn't work out whether I had imagined it or not. 'And secondly, that your attendance on the trip is not compulsory. It was organised by Lily and I as a fun way to prepare you guys for the start of the year, but it isn't necessary for you to be here; if you decide to leave now it won't have an impact on your roles as prefects in September. So if you wish to leave, please do so now, before I close the apparating spot.' James finished, and waited casually for everyone's reactions.

The group of prefects dressed in green were the first to start muttering among themselves. The other houses joined in eventually, but more to discuss what the Slytherins could possibly be discussing.

After a couple of awkward minutes I was desperate for everyone to just make up their minds about whether they wanted to stay or leave, but when I looked up at James he was looking straight ahead, no sign of impatience in him at all. I narrowed my eyes, and not for the first time wondered if Dumbledore had actually made a good choice in making James head boy; it's not like he didn't have experience in controlling hormone pumpe teenagers, he was captain of the quidditch team for Merlins sake.

I was abruptly pulled from my thoughts when the Slytherins all bent down simultaneously and picked up their bags. Turning away without a word they all marched off toward the apparition area. In ones and twos, the older prefects taking the younger ones in side-along, they all disapparated.

All but one. Left standing alone in the clearing where the rest of her house had stood was a Slytherin girl who spoke up timidly when everyone turned to stare at her.

'I want to stay.' She squeaked, her voice trembling.' I think it sounds like fun.'