September and October somehow fly by in a whirl of NEWT homework, hilarious Potions lessons with Sirius and the continuing cold shoulder from Marlene. Every attempt at entering a room that Marlene McKinnon occupies usually ends with a silent glare or her exit. Despite my many futile attempts, Mary's concerned questions and Dorcas' one disastrous line of questioning, Marlene has kept her distance from me. Everyday, as I pull myself up for breakfast I think fondly back to our first morning, as Marlene and I danced, getting ready for breakfast.

You look so pretty today. She'd told me on our way down. Then, somehow it had spiralled out of control. Was it Embry? Was it McGonagall? Something or someone had turned her against me and no matter how many times I thought and retraced my every action, rehearsed my every word, I couldn't connect the dots.

Today, I sit beside Remus as we eat breakfast and it's only when the pumpkins jump at our fingers as we eat the food that I realise what day it is.

"Halloween," I say, not personally to Remus but more to myself.

"Not a fan?"

"Usually, yes." I tell him. "Guess I've got a lot on my mind these past few weeks."

"Marlene?" Remus asks.

This is why Remus and I's friendship is so easy. Despite never mentioning our issues, he had already come to his own conclusion. Remus is a specific boy, who can easily realise what is going on around him.

"Yeah."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not today, but maybe soon?" I look at him, and Remus nods whilst smiling at me. Gently, I rest my head on his shoulder, feeling as though the world is a little bit better when I'm by the side of my friend.

"I'm feeling very torn at the moment, Lily." Remus tells me, suddenly serious. "I feel like I should warn you that P-"

Whatever Remus had been about to warn me about has died on his lips. For, at that exact moment, above us in the air, orange and black confetti explode in a multitude of patterns and sounds. Many scream in shock as the great hall looks above their heads, looking in wonder. Immediately, I know that Remus had been about to warn me about a prank. And since he'd been about to say 'p', I know exactly who is responsible: Potter.

What I don't expect is my own face to suddenly be created, in a swirl of orange confetti as black confetti dances around my own face, suddenly spelling out words that make me feel sick.

MUGGLE BORNS FOR THE CROWN.

Then, fearing the worst, the words jumple together, as if huddled in their own mischief, ready to cast another stinging blow.

THE SUPERIOR RACE? WE THINK SO.

As this is painted across the ceiling of the Hall, many begin to find my face, and Remus places an arm around my back as I shrink further into him. What is happening? Why would Potter do this?

The Slytherins crane their necks across the room to look at me, as Avery and Mulciber mutter things that I can only assume bear words that wish to cause me harm. Revenna Wilkes, the Slytherin Prefect blushes a red rage across her cheeks, and when her eyes find mine I can easily read the words she speaks on her lips

Mudblood.

"Fuck." I swear, as Mary, watches the confetti with her mouth agape. She looks to me in horror, rising from her seat to sit beside me.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"How can I?" I answer, feeling all of the blood rush to my head. My breathing comes out in chokes as my hands shake, pinned beneath my thighs as I push them down against the wood, trying to feel anything, so that I can still know I'm in my body. Otherwise I think I'd stop breathing.

"WHERE IS SHE?" In runs Black, looking down the Gryffindor table. His smile is wide and proud, as Potter stands at the back of the hall.

His eyes meet mine, as my head continues to be pressed against Remus' shoulder, and Mary watches as the confetti spell out more horrendous words:

OUR MUGGLE QUEEN

"Lily?" He calls, grabbing onto Marlene's shoulders before realising that she is not me. Marlene pulls her shoulder roughly out of his hands.

Potter still stares with a serious expression, watching my face in shock as he begins to run towards Sirius. Perhaps to join in?

"Lily. There is something I must announce." Sirius shouts, as the Great Hall watches on, many Gryffindors watching in horror. Slytherins watching with disgust. "I know I'm only a Pureblood, and that I should never be deserving of you, but I love you. I will always love you and I have always loved you. I don't think anything could stop me from screaming it to the world. I, Sirius Black, a lowly Pureblood love you Lily Evans, you fantastic, talented, beautiful muggle born witch." He looks over his shoulder, towards the Slytherin table in victory as many begin to get to their feet, the usual suspects who spout their vile words leaving to get away from Sirius' words.

"Sirius. Stop, mate." Potter catches up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder as his eyes dart over my face.

"I'm so sorry, Lily." Remus tells me. "I told them not to do it but I also couldn't do enough to stop it. I'm sorry."

"Honestly, he did Evans." I hold my hand up to silence Potter, barely able to comprehend the seriousness of what had just happened.

"It's fine Remus. You didn't join in. It's fine. I forgive you."

"Evans, it was all my idea." Potter spills quickly and quietly. "See, we had a duel with some Slytherins and they said some less than nice things about muggle borns and we just wanted to make a statement. That they are wrong, and that you-"

I stand, which silences him. All eyes, including the eyes of the teachers at the top table, are on me. Quickly, embarrassment fuelling my energy to get out of there as quickly as possible, I walk out of the Great Hall. But still, I can hear the calls of Evans behind me, and there are only two people who call me Evans, and the one I'd prefer still isn't talking to me.

"Evans, please stop. I only realised how stupid it was when I saw your face." He calls after me, drawing attention from some younger Hufflepuff students who watch us with fascination. "By then it was too late to stop. Please don't blame Sirius. I was just so furious at those Slytherins and the way they talk about muggle borns and they're wrong."

"So what?" I round towards him, wand quivering in my hand as I suppress the urge to hex his stupid, stupid face. His eyes widen behind his glasses, stopping his feet so that we are now only two metres apart. "You decided to make me the poster girl of Hogwarts for mudbloods. Did I ask for that? Did I even ask for your solidarity? I didn't."

"I'm-"

"You have no idea what it is like to spend all of your time here playing catchup." I think on of my Boggart, my fear, showing me exactly how useless I am, how I'll never belong. "I learn something new everyday, otherwise I'd look like a complete fool. How dare you turn me into the poster girl for something that is so much bigger than pissing off some Slytherins!" I press my wand into his chest.

"They could be dangerous." I remind him, and I watch his adam's apple bob up and down as he swallows down his words, letting me speak, to use my voice. "And they probably are."