Chapter 1: Aftermath
At half past one in the morning, the Gryffindor common room was almost empty. Only one girl, one miserable girl, sat alone staring into the fire.
Lily Evans sat chewing absent mindedly on a half-finished custard tart, feeling completely and utterly alone. Ever since she was 10, Severus Snape had been her one constant friend, even in the summer holidays. Now, it was over. She knew their friendship could not last past this. He had crossed the line calling her a mudbl-.
Unable to help herself, tears welled up in his eyes. Lily's one constant companion, gone in an instant. She could hardly believe it. But why not, she thought bitterly, throwing her last bit of custard tart into the fire. She couldn't make excuses for him anymore, it was true. Every one of her birth was a "mudblood," she shouldn't be any different. Still, a small voice in her head spoke out, "I thought I meant more to him, I thought I was a friend, I thought we were – "
Lily's thoughts were cut off as the portrait hole swung open, and as she turned to see who it was, her heart sank further into the pit of her stomach. The last person she wanted to see: "James Potter".
"Whose detention have you been in?" asked Lily in a dead, toneless voice, turning back to the fire. Cold bitterness flooded her. If anyone was to blame beside Severus, it was surely Potter.
JAMES
"None" muttered James. Feeling distinctly awkward alone with Lily. The truth was, he had waited outside the portrait hole until he had been sure Lily was alone.
"Which girl have you been with?" asked Lily uninterestedly.
"I-, what?" asked James, thoroughly taken aback by this question. "What do you mea-, you know I…, well I haven't." he added defensively. Lily did not stir.
Looking at Lily framed in the fire, James felt a surge of guilt wash over him. He knew it was his fault, what Snivellus had said. It was him and his friends who had pushed Snivellus onto the brink of desperation. He wanted to apologize, to say he was sorry, but he only stood there stupidly, unable to move or speak.
"Well?" asked Lily, not turning to look at him, but staring determinedly down at the cackling flames. The words re-jogged James' brain into action, before proceeding towards the spiral staircase that led to the boy's dormitory.
James' hand was on the doorknob when he paused. "I'm sorry." Lily stiffened. It was obvious he had taken her aback. Not moving a muscle, he awaited her response. But none came. James hung his head with disappointment, and proceeded up the staircase dejectedly.
Lily
She waited for James' footsteps to die from the boy's dormitory. Bitterness was filling her. She knew it wasn't really his fault Severus had called her Mudblood, but that didn't stop her being angry at him.
After a few more long moments, Lily sighed and walked up the stairs to her bed. It was agonizing, knowing Severus had said that, to know he was to blame. But she couldn't hate him, whatever she seemed on the outside. Despite everything, it was Petunia all over again.
"Stupid, it was stupid," she thought to herself. I don't want to be his friend if he's going to believe all the pureblood nonsense. She was done. As she thought this to herself, an invisible weight seemed to lift off her into the dark ceiling. No longer would she dwell in sadness and the misery of her own thoughts. Severus had chosen his path; Lily had chosen hers.
I know its not much, but I will be expanding a lot more in the future. It won't be this gloomy either :) I just thought it wouldn't be doing justice to these characters to not fully address this situation, as it marks a very important point in Lily's life. Anyways, please review, as it really does help, and I'll respond and address anything you have to say. Also, follow me and this story for more of these Stories! BYE!