Chapter Twenty one: "Touch her and die."

I entered the dorm in a daze. My friendship with James Harold Potter had just been terminated. I felt strangely hollow, as if I would never smile again.

"Lil? Earth to Lily, come in Lily!" Bella wiggled her hand in front of my eyes.

"It's over. It's all over." I gasped, then everything went black.

~~** Later **~~

I woke up in the Hospital Wing later that day. Cass and Belle were sitting next to my bed, on either side. Bella was flicking through a Daily Prophet and Cass was filing her nails absentmindedly.

Madame Pomfrey bustled over and handed me a goblet of smoking liquid.

Cassie smiled in a serene way and squeezed my hand. Bella, however, hugged me hard and began to burble at me.

"You just fell, all floppy and you said that it was all over or something and…"

"Belle?" I said quietly.

"Yeah?" She answered, taking a breath.

"Please be quiet. I feel like someone is dropping Bludgers on my head repeatedly." I replied, swallowing the bitter-tasting potion and wrinkling my nose in disgust. My head cleared instantly and I surveyed my surroundings. Remus was in the bed on my far left, a nameless Ravenclaw was… wait a second, Remus! What the hell was he doing in the Hospital Wing?

"YOU GIRLS! GET OUT THIS INSTANT! MY PATIENTS NEED REST!" Madame Pomfrey shrieked at my friends.

"Okay, okay! We're going! Old hag." Bella muttered under her breath.

I smiled faintly and lay back on the crisp white sheets. My eyelids were becoming increasingly heavy and finally, sleep overcame me.

~~ Cassie's POV ~~

We left the Infirmary after Bella had succeeded in insulting Madame Pomfrey. My eyes had wandered over to Remus' bed whilst I was there, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.

"She is so infuriating!" Belle spluttered.

"I'm assuming you mean the nurse?" I asked mildly.

"Who else? I can't believe she turned us out! When our friend needed us! It's just irresponsible!" Bella continued ranting till she walked into someone.

"Get lost Malfoy." I snarled, whilst dragging Belle away.

"Is your little Mudblood friend alright? I heard she fainted because Potter rejected her. Are the rumours true? Is she that desperate? She must be, as he's the only one who'd have her! Though it seems even he has standards." He jeered.

The tight reign I always kept my temper under suddenly snapped. I lunged at Malfoy, knocking him to the floor. I punched, kicked, scratched and pulled.

"DON'T *punch* YOU EVER *smack* TALK ABOUT MY FRIENDS *wham* LIKE THAT *slap* AGAIN!" I screeched. Strong arms encircled my waist and hauled me up. I turned and looked into grey eyes, full of passionate fire. "Remus?!"

"Leave it." He whispered urgently.

Sirius and James materialised at my side.

"If you ever say anything like that bullshit again, I'll nail your ass to the nearest wall and beat the living fuck out of you!" Snarling seemed to be the only way to communicate with Malfoy. I turned on my heel and stalked off down the corridor, Bella at my side.

~~ Remus' POV ~~

I could hear the commotion from down the corridor. We rounded the corner and I gasped. Cassie, my gentle little Cassie, was beating the living snot out of Malfoy.

I ran forward and dragged her away. She seemed surprised that I was there. Regaining her senses, she snapped at Malfoy, then she and Bella flounced off in the opposite direction.

Sirius darted forward and hauled Malfoy up by the collar. He slammed him against a wall and sneered at him.

I pulled him away and Malfoy slumped, sliding down the wall to lie in a pitiful heap. "What did you say about Lily?" My voice was cold and hard.

"The little Mudblood will wish she'd never been born." He laughed shrilly.

"What do mean?" I narrowed my eyes accusingly at him.

"Many of my friends have some scores to settle with that little whore. Matthew McHonahan for example." His sneer was back on his pinched pale face.

"Touch her and die." James growled before turning away and walking down the corridor, to the Hospital Wing.

~~~***~~~

Sorry about the cussing, but I felt it would emphasise the fact that Cassie was really angry at Malfoy, as she never normally even shouts, let alone rants!

To ElizabethMM: I know I use the last words, but I like doing that, as it adds a certain air of mystery to the chapters, because you don't know what it'll be about. Don't like it, don't r+r. Simple.

As for the rest of you wonderful readers: I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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