I swear, I never want to see your face again:

May 1976

-

Mudblood. Mudblood, Mudblood, Mudblood. No good, filthyrottenstupid Mudblood. The insult pounds through Lily's head as she storms away from the lake, blinking away tears furiously.

"Wait!" Severus stumbles up the hill after her, robes still in disarray as he pleads with her. "I didn't mean it, honest, Lily, I'm your best friend!"

"Were my best friend," Lily corrects icily, shoving past him towards the castle. He yanks the hem of his robe out of the waistband of his underwear, flushing red, and plants himself in front of her.

"Please, don't just leave! You know I think you're as good as any Mulciber or Carrow or Lestrange."

"Don't ever compare me to the likes of them. They think I'm a Mudblood too!"

He grimaces. "Lily . . . you are one."

Sev looks as aghast as Lily is, and starts spitting nonsense about Muggle-born and synonyms.

"I swear," Lily shouts, "I never want to see your face again!—Severus."

His full name stings as much as the words, and Lily runs back to the castle, ignoring the stares of other students.

Why do they bother staring anyway? she thinks bitterly. After all, I'm only a Mudblood.