Chapter Ten: In Which Lily Cries

"How are you, hope you had a fabulous break, etcetera, etcetera," Bree Urquhart says at high speed. She and Magnus Yaxley flank little Lily Potter on either side. "We need to talk."

"We certainly do," Magnus says grimly, and steers Lily into an empty classroom. Immediately, Bree and Magnus whirl to confront her.

Lily waits patiently, outwardly calm.

"Potter," Bree says dangerously. "It's been a month since we got back from Christmas break. And, as far as any of the rest of us can tell, you've done nothing in that time. No meetings of Slytherin's Army, no successful campaigns against the Gryffs—what's going on?"

"You suddenly turn into a good little girl?" Magnus jeers. "Or did your family brainwash you? Everyone knows they're too good to be true."

"No, of course not," Lily says. "There hasn't been much to do, you know."

"So, what? You're giving up?" Bree demands.

"What can you expect from a second-year?" Magnus says disgustedly. "And a Potter, at that."

"Be patient," Lily tells them.

"We don't need her," Magnus says, over Lily's head, to Bree. "Slytherin's Army is no place for a second-year who's lost her touch."

"We can't just—this was her idea," protests Bree. "What happened to you, Lily?"

"Nothing," Lily insists—but she can see they don't believe her. "Listen, we'll have a meeting tomorrow night. Go back to practicing."

"Practicing for what?" Bree asks sourly. "We're fighting for our lives already."

"The big showdown, no doubt," Magnus says bitterly. "Didn't they always used to happen in June, when her father was here?"

"Don't worry," Lily tells them firmly. "We can do this. And I'm not my father."

"No kidding," Bree says, and she and Magnus glare down at their diminutive leader.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I really should get to class," Lily says, and copies Scorpius Malfoy's good-humored smirk.

She's gone before Bree and Magnus can retort, or complain further. Just as well, Lily reflects.

She's lucky they don't know the real reason she's been so…out of it lately.

Lily remembers her stack of anonymous hate mail, hexed quite thoroughly to prevent well-meaning interference, and shivers.

She hurries toward her next class, grasping her robes tightly about her, and feeling very alone.

Binns drones on and on. Sally Simpkins is curling her hair around her wand, Miranda Shiplake is doodling idly on a scrap of paper, and Lily Potter is taking notes.

Actually taking notes. Lily never takes notes. She's proud of her ability to improvise. And she doesn't want to look like some pathetic four-eyed Ravenclaw, for Salazar's sake.

But today, Lily scrawls as much of Binns's lecture verbatim as she can. She can't even summon the energy to doodle all over her parchment.

Vulpecula glances her way surreptitiously. Then she nods to herself, and raises her hand.

Binns, nonplussed, pauses in mid-goblin rebellion, and frowns at her. "Miss Maffey?" he says inquiringly.

Vulpecula shrugs. "It's Miss Malfoy, sir, and I was wondering whether a Hogwarts House has ever been abolished before. Like, did there used to be a fifth one, written out of history?"

"Wicked if there was," drawls Jonathon Goldstein, Anissa's twin brother. "The Fourth Tower," he announces melodramatically. Hogwarts has three main towers, those of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Astronomy.

Lily suspects, however, that a fourth tower would hardly go unnoticed. Another secret chamber, like the one where her father fought the basilisk, on the other hand…

"Certainly not!" Binns says indignantly. "The four Hogwarts Houses have been thus from the beginning! The noble founders of this school never buried a colleague's legacy, nor would they, no matter the provocation!"

"No matter the provocation?" Vulpecula repeats slowly. "Even if, say, Godric Gryffindor's daughter got Sorted into Slytherin, post that whole Newblood admission policy issue?"

"The Hogwarts Founders had a great respect for one another, and for all each could teach their students!" Binns sounds furious—or as furious as someone that dull will ever get.

"And he should know," Luther leans over to whisper in Lily's ear, from the Ravenclaw side of the room.

She tries to giggle, but all she can manage is a wan smile.

"And now, we will return to history," Binns says. "To clear, certain facts, about which there can be no unprofitable speculation." And he glares around at them all, and prepares to resume his lecture.

Promptly, Jonathon Goldstein goes back to doodling on a spare bit of parchment, Anissa and Colleen to whispering the latest gossip, Luther, with a long-suffering sigh, to note-taking…

And Lily Potter puts her head on her desk, and weeps.

"I think she's lost her touch…"

"Did you see Potter break down in History today? What a baby!"

"She's not looking well, do you reckon she's ill?"

"Looks like that little Slytherin bitch is finally cracking up…"

"Think that changeling story's true?"

"Whatever her deal is, I'm glad I don't have another class with her today…"

"Hey, SNAKE! Go back where you came from, and stay there!"

"Yeah, go drown in the lake!"

Lily doesn't say anything. Keeps her head down, and just walks faster.

Dear Harry,

I'm really worried about Lily. She didn't come to our extracurricular meeting the other night.

And I've heard from my colleagues that she's been breaking down and crying in class.

If you have any idea what's going on with her, please write back quickly.

It's probably nothing—but this just isn't like her.

Yours,

Neville

"Is she okay? She's not okay, is she?" Luther paces the Room of Requirement, long after the others have left.

Vulpecula just shrugs helplessly. "I've asked, but she won't tell me anything."

"I don't understand her!" Luther says angrily, punching the air with a fist. "She's never—not like this—!"

"I think something's wrong," Vulpecula says solemnly.

Luther stares in disbelief. "Think? I know something's wrong. And I'm not just going to sit here while she mopes herself to death!"

"Me neither," says Vulpecula firmly, and races Luther to the door.

They won't let Lily give up: what are friends for?