Disclaimer: I am not JKR

Chapter 10

The atmosphere was tense the next morning at breakfast. Bea and Haily undoubtedly would have written Lucy's parents, and their answer was sure to come.

„It'll be okay. Don't worry."

Lucy looked nervous. She was even paler than usual and kept playing with her food.

„You can't show them that they got to you. Act normal."

We were Slytherins, and we wouldn't be defeated easily. She nodded, and took a deep breath. But before she could say anything, a majestic owl dropped off a letter. To our relief, it wasn't a scarlet Howler.

Lucy picked it up, and ran out of the Great Hall. I turned to Al and Scorp.

„I am going to follow her. You come as well, but bring some food, okay?"

They barely nodded before I went racing after my friend. While I ran, I hoped fervently that Mr and Mrs Zabini wouldn't be too harsh on Lucy. I found her in our dormitory, holding the unopened letter in her hands. I went up to her and hugged her.

„It'll. Be. Fine." I panted, „let's open. It."

She looked at me, her gaze full of fear. I decided she needed that she wouldn't be able to do it. So I picked the letter out her hands and read it out loud.

„Dear Lucy,

We have heard from Bea and Haily that you have befriended the Muggle-born girl from Slytherin, and the Potter boy. Your mother and I do not condone that decision, but we are not fully opposed to it. You must understand that we have a reputation to uphold, so publicly, we shall be opposed to your decision. As long as your friendship will not affect our social connections, you may continue your friendship. You are a clever girl, and if you really want them to be your friends, then so be it.

That is of course, our private opinion. Do not be surprised if we voice our dissaproval to our friends, and you shall help us by acting accordingly. We are sure you understand the reasons behind our decision.

With best regards,

Father"

I looked at her face. She looked at me in disbelief.

„Wow. That was much better than I expected."

„They're not going to disown you!" I exclaimed brightly.

A faint smile was playing on her lips.

„No, they are not."

I grabbed something her hand and pulled her off the bed.

„Hey, what are doing?"

„You need to eat something, you didn't eat this morning!"

She laughed. „Ah, look at you, always looking out for my stomach."

„Well, that's what friends are for!"

Al and Scorp were waiting in the Common Room, dutifully carrying some sandwiches.

„So Su ordered you two to do the dirty work?" Lucy asked the boys.

Scorp shrugged. „Its Su. She is always ordering us guys around."

„You love it!"

Al looked at me. „It does wonders for our self esteem, you know."

I had a full-blown Slytherin smirk on my face."Oh I know."

Lucy shook her head at us while munching on her sandwiches.

„Wait, what was in the letter?" Scorp asked.

„In a nutshell, they are fine with privately, but will publicly condemn this friendship. She is supposed to act sad around others."

Al frowned. „That's okay, but I don't want Bea and Haily to feel victorious."

I clapped my hands together. „I have the perfect idea. Lucy has to act as if she is acting happy."

They just stared at me.

I sighed. „She can be happy and fine, but it has to seem fake to them. So they think that she is actually sad, but Slytherins don't show emotions!"

Lucy nodded slowly. „That makes sense. You are genius!"

„You know, I was almost put in Ravenclaw." I grinned at them.

„Figures. Seems you were too cunning for that."

„I am not sure whether to take that as a compliment or insult."

„That's up to you." Al laughed at me.

We spent the morning in the Common Room, celebrating the 'not-outright-disapproval' reaction from Lucy's parents. Then we broke up to attend our respective classes.

Al came up to me that afternoon while I was in the library. „Su, I want to hang out with Rose, but I don't want to go alone. Come with me?"

I felt bad for him. Rose had been his best friend for a long time.

„I don't want to leave Lucy and Scorpius alone."

„They can up with! I'll introduce them to Rose, and you can introduce Lucy to Dev!"

He looked up at me hopefully, and I knew I couldn't say no.

„Alright, let's get them."

We returned to our table, where we had gathered to do homework.

„Hey guys, would you mind spending time with us in the Gryffindor Common Room tonight?"

It wasn't Scorpius's first time, so he looked alright with it, but Lucy looked hesitant.

„I don't know, Su. The Weasleys are quite a family."

I laughed.

„Oh they are. But don't worry," I smirked, „I'll protect you from the big bad Gryffindors. I am equipped to handle them. The only thing you need it a whip and a ring of fire, and the lions will be tamed."

They stared at me.

„What? Didn't you get the circus reference?"

No reaction.

I sighed, „Has no-one chosen Muggle Studies?"

„You did?" Scorp asked.

„Ofcourse, I wanted to choose a subject I would ace anyway!"

Lucy grinned appreciatively. „Sneaky."

I grinned back, „Slytherinish."

„Moving on..." Al interjected.

„Right. So an evening with the lions?"

„Okay, we'll do it." Lucy replied, looking nervous again.

„Great! Let's go slither into the fiery pits of hell!"

„You don't have to be so dramatic." said Al.

„What's life without a bit of drama?" I said, throwing my arms into the air.

„It would be a lot simpler." I barely heard Lucy mutter it.

A/N: I won't write much about the body language of the other characters, because Sunita is perceptive of other people that much. She is usually lost in her own world. Anyway, next chapter, some Snake-Lion bonding!