"Hey Lil," Keslie said, sliding next to her at the Slytherin table. "How was vacation? You look terrible."
"I can't remember half of it," she said, her voice hoarse. She lost it a scant two days before the return to Hogwarts; Al got her sick again with something he picked up from Diagon Alley.
"You sound almost as bad as you look."
"Thanks."
Lily picked up her cup of tea and started sipping it, wincing as the hot liquid swept past her aching throat. She hated being sick. Especially at Hogwarts, where half of Slytherin would soon come down with the illness.
"Hello," Alexander said, sitting across the table. "I see you're ill."
"Mmm."
"I heard you had quite an adventure," he continued, slathering marmalade on his toast. "And a wet one, at that."
"Who told you that?"
"I overheard some of the Gryffindors talking about how Slytherins tend to be more thick-headed than they are. You were brought up as an example."
"Great, that's just what I need."
"Don't worry about it," Kelsie said. "They'll forget it soon enough. We ought to start thinking about O.W.L.s, though."
"Don't remind me," Alex groaned. "I don't even want to think about them right now. Can't you just let us become used to Hogwarts again before dumping all that stuff on us?"
"Absolutely not. You should have been studying all vacation."
"You don't even need to study," Lily said, trying to push Kelsie from her mind.
She did not, at all, want to think about tests. Particularly tests that would determine your future. Her stomach churned just thinking about it. Her mind wandered to her wand, sitting in the box Scorpius had given her. She hadn't touched it since she got to Hogwarts, giving it some room. At least, that was the excuse she used.
Scorpius entered the great hall. He looked at Lily; everyone saw him look at Lily. He was visibly claiming his territory. Without a word, he walked over to her and sat down next to her. Just his presence sent a shiver up Lily's spine. The eyes of other Slytherins bored into them, their jealousy and awe evident in their gaping mouths and set jaw. The curious glances of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, trying to be furtive but being undeniably awkward followed them. The uninterested but indescribably enamored demeanor of the Gryffindors puzzled even the headmistress. And the Potter brothers, both of them furious, stood up, their faces red, and appeared to want to throttle the secretive Malfoy.
"Are you feeling any better?" Scorpius asked gently, picking up a roll.
"A bit," she said, feeling her heart pound against her ribs.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
She shook her head and gave him a sheepish grin.
"Just let me know if there is, alright? I've got to go settle a dispute between some third and fourth years – something about the Chamber of Secrets." He put his hand lightly on her back and stood up, withdrawing his hand.
"Have fun with that," she said, her voice disappearing in something smaller than a whisper.
"I sure will. You might want to go to the infirmary and get something to help you with that." He rubbed his throat in emphasis before walking away.
Lily couldn't help but grin. Every time she was near Scorpius, every time he touched her, every time they talked, she felt like she was on top of the world. Nothing could bring her down.
"You've really fallen hard for him, haven't you?" Alex asked, casually stirring his tea.
"Shut up," Lily said sharply, his tones snapping her out of her reverie.
"Yes, I believe she has," Kelsie said.
3
Professor Ryder stood at the front of the classroom, her brown hair tightly pulled off her face. She looked serious, as if she was going to kill them.
"The time has come," she said, "when you must begin to prepare for a life in the wizarding world. And this life of your wizarding world is going to be determined by a single thing. A sole factor will determine your career, your life, your success, or your failure. And that factor is the O.W.L.s – Ordinary Wizarding Levels. From now until the end of the year, I will be preparing you for them, giving you last minute instruction and advice. I will stretch you, challenge you, and potentially make you cry. But remember it's for your own good. Now, begin on the assignment I have detailed for you on the board."
Lily glanced at the assignment, briefly rubbed her eyes, and still couldn't make out what it said. The little first years kept her up last night, squealing in delight over their Christmas presents. All she wanted to do was fall asleep.
"What're we supposed to be doing?" she asked Alex in a whisper, taking her wand out of her bag.
"Turning a frog into a cat."
"What?"
Ryder couldn't demand that of them. That was N.E.W.T. level stuff. How could they be expected to do such a thing?
"Relax, take your time, and do what you can. She won't fail you because you're incapable."
"No, she'll fail me because I don't have any magic."
"You have a wand, just suck it up and do it."
"You don't understand."
"Evidently not."
Lily picked up her wand, the narrow shaft sending warmth down her fingers and stared at the frog. Her wand could do this. Her wand could do this. Her wand could do this. She flicked, twirled, twisted, said the incantation, and tapped the little critter on the head.
"Ribbit."
She couldn't do this. How could they expect her to do this?
"Will you stop wallowing in self pity?" Alex snapped. "I can't focus with you over there all depressed."
"Oh, excuse me for only knowing my limitations."
"You haven't even tried your limitations!"
"Just shove it!"
"Zabini! Potter! Do I need to give you two a detention?" Ryder called over the class.
"No, professor," the pair of them recited, quickly bowing their heads to their frog.
How was she supposed to do this? Lily looked at her wand, ignoring Alex adjusting his seat next to her. The core was hippogriff. Hippogriff. Weren't they supposed to be strong or something? She breathed deeply, focusing on the wand. A hippogriff was a rather imposing creature. They'd be able to turn a frog into a cat, right? Sure, why not? There was no reason for her to doubt her…her wand…
She said the incantation.
"Ribbit."
She did it again.
"Ribbit."
She closed her eyes, focused on a cat, and waved her wand.
"Ribbit."
"What the bloody hell happened to your frog?" Alex asked, blatantly staring at Lily's frog.
Lily glanced down. The once smooth, green frog had begun to sprout fluffy grey fur.
"Ribbit."
"I have no idea," Lily said, gently poking it with her finger. The grey fur was soft, like Aspen's, like a cat's. "It's…getting fur! It's getting fur!" She jumped up from her chair and bounced up and down, unable to control her excitement. The Gryffindors and Slytherins looked at her, wondering why she was happy when she had a dilapidated frog in front of her, but no one bothered to quell her enthusiasm.
"Lily!" Alex said, pulling back into her chair. "Control yourself! You're a Slytherin, have some composure."
She sat back in her seat, her heart still throbbing against her ribcage.
"Now finish the job," Alex muttered.
For the rest of the period, she flicked her wand this way and that, focused, reiterated the incantation, but was unable to push the frog beyond being covered in fur. This quelled her enthusiasm. Both Kelsie and Alex were left with a cat, and only she and two Gryffindors had failed to fully transfigure their frog. Alex wouldn't let her live it down.