Chapter 22: Blood Traitors
"Mary should be here soon." Lily assured Irma who sighed impatiently from the head of the table they were seated at. Lucas and Lucinda looked at Irma who nodded to let them know she was okay with this development. Irma turned to Lily. "Just five minutes alright, that's all I'm giving her. Then we start the meeting." Irma laughed suddenly. "Knowing Mary she's probably talking to someone and totally forgot she had to be here."
Lily nodded in agreement. "Yeah. That does sound like her." But she wasn't so sure. If it had been once then maybe she would have ignored it, but Mary had constantly been late for meetings and some days she didn't even show up. Lily was beginning to worry. She had promised Irma that she would make sure Mary showed up and was dedicated to the club- but as she watched the prefect walk around impatiently she was beginning to worry how much she was letting her down- and that something was seriously wrong with Mary.
Aloyde spoke up after a while. His deep voice startled Lily who was still thinking about Mary. "I think we should start the meeting now. We don't have all day as it is."
Irma sighed and looked over to Lily who gave a silent I'm sorry I didn't know she wasn't going show up today either. Lucas grinned and stood up, Lily focused on him pushing Mary down her mental list of worries. "So last weeks paper focused on the O.W.L.S and the importance of passing-If we're going to continue this focus on exams I believe we should add a informative piece on internships as well as possible internship ideas for students to choose from. That way it's interactive and we can get a much greater viewer response."
"We could also entice more viewers with the addition of the horoscope section." Damion Skeeter spoke. Lily rarely heard the Slytherin 5th year speak so it was a treat to her. "Aloyde and I spoke to Sybill who agreed. Divination Club has a lot of members that would stir more interest if their interest meddled with ours."
"Excellent idea, Damion. Lucas." Irma nodded. She waved her wand towards the chalk board that noted down both Damion and Lucas's idea. "Professor Hawthorne was pleased with the idea you presented last week and I'm sure she won't mind that addition. In that wake I'll have you and Lucinda-"
"Actually," Lucinda raised her hand. "I was wondering whether you thought about my gossip column proposal from last week."
Irma looked down before answering. "I did. Yes."
Lucinda waited before continuing. "I know we're trying to do more "school-specific' issues here but O.W.L.S, N.E.W.T.S, and internships only affect older students at the moment- only 43% of the school population. The whole point of the Holy Grail is to include everyone and a gossip column would increase viewer percentage by 25% as well as-"
"Glimore. Please." Irma rubbed her forehead. "We've had the same discussion last year. My answer is final."
Lucinda sighed and flopped back onto her seat. "That being set. Lucinda has a point. Let's veer away from the school issue for a bit and shed a little light around happenings around Hogwarts." Irma turned to the small group surrounding Lily. "This will be the responsibility of our newbies." Irma turned to each of them as she spoke their name. "Lily, Zach, Danny- I want each of you to find a story that you think is worth telling-"
The door opened rather loudly, disrupting Irma's speech, and gathering the attention of everyone in the room. Mary smiled her trademark crimson bow clashing greatly against her swaying dark her as she walked in. "Sorry I'm late I was- you know Peeves just has the worst timing."
She was greeted by a monument of silence until Irma spoke again. "Well come on then. We've got stories to get too!"
Mary grinned and took the empty seat between Lily and Zach turner, the new Hufflepuff first year who had joined with her. Mary smiled politely at him and grinned at Lily. "Did I miss much?"
Lily shook her head. "No."
Satisfied with the answer Mary turned her attention back to Irma who was going over the criteria and how many inches of parchment they would need to submit. After Lucinda had once more asked Irma to consider her proposal and Danny Reedman wondered out loud if he was able to address more controversial issues did Irma let them split into groups to brainstorm.
"Why were you late?" Lily demanded looking down at Mary as soon as Irma was out of earshot.
"I told you, Peeves was messing around in the halls." Mary answered. She turned to Zach. "Hey, what do you think of a story on the Qudditch tryouts?"
Zach shrugged. "I guess it's okay."
"Mary!" Lily said once again demanding the girls attention . "Why were you really late?"
Mary chose to ignore her and turned to Danny. "What do you think about it?"
"I think it's rather plain." The 3rd year Hufflepuff spoke brazenly. "Theres no controversy in that. It's just a list of people who made the team on a piece of parchment. I doubt she would be impressed with that." He said referring to Irma who was yelling once again at Lucinda Gilmore.
Mary nodded. "Well...thanks Danny." She turned to Zach. "See Zach be more like Danny here. He get's straight to the point. Nice and direct. I like it."
"Look Mary," Lily started apolgetically. "If it's too much for you, you don't have to be here for my sake. It's my fault- I dragged you here..."
"Do you think I can't do it?" She stood up abruptly, suddenly getting all defensive "You think I can't handle being in a club like you Lily?"
Lily shook her head. "No. Mary that's not what I meant-"
But Mary was furious. She turned to everyone in the room. "Sorry for wasting your time everyone." And with a slam of the door she left the room, all eyes looking at Lily. Lily felt her face burn and took a seat, trying to bury herself in her parchment. When she heard the gong signaling the end of their time she was the first one out the door.
"Woah you might want to slow down there, red."
Lily cocked her head at Lucas's newfound nickname for her. He shrugged. "You know because your hair is red. Anyway what's the hurry?"
"Mary." Lily said noticing that Lucas was trying to match her stride. She slowed down, just to let him catch up, but not enough to let him know she had slowed down for him.
"Ahh." Lucas remembered. "What did you say to her?"
"I didn't mean that she couldn't handle it." Lily looked down at the blank parchment Mary had left. "I was just worried that if she thought she wasn't going to be able to handle it-" Lily screamed. "It sounds worse when I say it now."
"Hey."
She looked up at Lucas. "You were only trying to help, you did nothing wrong. You were being a good friend to her, thats all." He continued. "Just talk to her- find out what's really wrong and show her that you care."
"Thanks." Lily smiled at him. "You just know how to make everything better don't you?"
Lucas shrugged, walking into his next class. "I just call em as I see em. People just seem to like it that way, you know?"
Lily smiled as he left trying to figure out what he meant. She pondered over his words all the way until she reached the common room and spotted Dorcas singing in the corner with the girl from the store back in Diagon Alley. It turned out she was a first year starting at Hogwarts after all.
"Hey Lily." Dorcas stopped singing as she neared. Annie turned around too and waved at Lily. "What are you guys doing?"
"Practicing." Annie explained. "We're trying out for chorus. Professor Flitwick said I might be able to join as a first year if I'm good enough so."
"That's nice." Lily told her, not particularly caring at the moment "Hey have any of you seen-"
"Over here!" Annie shouted suddenly waving Mary and Marlene over. Marlene was walking carefully as she carried a a tiny clear vial with what seemed like golden light. Mary was inspecting it carefully and shoving any and everyone who got in their way.
Dorcas was squealing as Marlene and Mary made their way over. "There. One bottle of Elswickers throat tonic. It's strong stuff so make sure you only take one drop before you sing." she warned.
"Mary..." Lily pleaded looking towards the dark haired girl. Marlene immediately took charge standing between her and Mary. "Mary doesn't want to talk to you, Lily."
"Mary, please." Lily said. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that if you were worried about something you can always tell me-"
"That's not what it sounded like you said." Mary spoke finally peering at Lily from behind Marlene.
"I know." Lily looked down ashamed. "I know it sounded bad but believe me I never meant to say that you were terrible at it- I just want to know what's wrong. Is something bothering you?"
Mary folded her arms and sniffed. "No, I'm fine. Really."
Lily squinted suddenly and looked up at Mary. "Oh Mary! Where's your necklace?" Lily mentally smacked herself. "Is that whats been bothering you, that you misplaced the necklace your dad gave you?"
Mary looked down at her bare neck and then up at Lily. "My necklace-oh, "She looked down as if realizing she had lost it in the first place. "You're right I can't find it anywhere-that's why I was late to The Holy Grail and-"
Lily smiled glad that she had finally figured out what was going on with the girl. "It's going to be okay. I'll help you find it."
"We all will." Dorcas smiled joining Lily with a smile.
Marlene wasn't convinced and she looked at Mary with an odd expression before shrugging. "Yeah I guess I'll help."
They didn't find the necklace that day, but Mary had assured them it was okay and that it was probably somewhere around the dorm.
"If you ever sort through all this junk that is." Dorcas agreed kicking a handful of wrappers that littered the area around Mary's bed. "Oh but wish me luck- I've got tryouts in an hour."
"You'll be fine!" Marlene told her, sitting back up. "You've taken the tonic yes?"
Dorcas nodded. "Annie's waiting for me- I'll be back and-"
"We'll celebrate when you get back." Mary told her earnestly. "A bigger party than the one they had for Quidditch tryouts."
"But I might not-" Dorcas started nervously shuffling her feet.
"You're going to get in!" Marlene laughed practically getting up and shoving the girl out the room "Now go!"
"I should get going too." Lily told Mary apologetically. "I've got to find a story, but we can look later alright?"
"Oh!" Mary realized jumping up suddenly "I should get started on that too-you mind if I tag along Lily?"
"Not at all."
Mary turned to Marlene who had settled on her bed and was looking quite bored as she flipped through her Forever magazine. "You coming, Marley?"
Marlene looked up her eyes shifting between Mary and Lily and then towards the sun outside. "Oh sure. I might as well."
Mary grinned and pulled Marlene along. "Good I have to find an amazing story that will blow Irma and the rest of the Holy Grail away."
"You could write about the tragic moment that James Potter didn't make the team. He'll love the publicity and finally quit mopping for once. " Marlene laughed. "I'll even give you an exclusive statement."
Mary laughed. "You know I just might take you on that. It's exactly what the Holy Grail needs...tragedy. Romance. Drama. Flair!" May spun around with each word. "Did you know the Holy Grail comes from the time when Merlin himself was here? And did you know he was a Slytherin and..."
"We know, Mary." Lily and Marlene said at the same time giving a knowing glance towards each other. Mary was the one thing that could make Marlene and Lily pretended to be cordial to one another, for a while at least.
Lily had suggested that they start looking outside the castle for interesting stories, there were some things that even castle walls couldn't hide she determined. The girls headed towards the gardens with Mary skipping ahead of them leaving Marlene and Lily to walk at a slow pace together behind her. Lily cleared her throat- without Mary she didn't really know what to talk to the girl about.
"He's with him again!" Marlene huffed suddenly looking towards the green expanse where she pointed out James Potter and Sirius Black who were arguing about something- or perhaps having a friendly discussion Lily decided once she saw Sirius throw his head back and laugh loudly.
"James?" Lily asked Marlene looking at the murderous expression she had directed towards the boys.
"Black." Marlene growled. "He's not good for James. I keep telling him but he won't listen."
Lily didn't know Sirius Black very well, but she had heard many things about him. Not all good.
"...we're just a bunch of blood traitors to him." Marlene was saying when Lily zoned back. "A bunch of what?"
She had heard the word being thrown out a lot but hadn't given it much thought until now.
"Blood traitor?" Marlene raised her brow, like she couldn't believe Lily had asked. "They're pureblood's that don't necessarily agree with all the pureblood ideals that some, including the Black's abide to."
"Is it bad to be a pureblood?" Lily asked was fascinated by this although she had no idea what relevance blood was to anything.
Marlene looked at Lily. "It's not about being pureblood, it's about the pureblood ideals. Take a look at the Slytherin most if not all Slytherins are pureblood, hasn't your little friend told you that?"
Lily blinked. Severus hadn't said anything about that to her. "His name is Severus. And possibly. He might have mentioned it." She didn't want to give Marlene the satisfaction of knowing something she didn't.
But Marlene prodded further. "What's his surname?"
"Snape." Lily told her cautiously. It was common knowledge so she didn't think it could hurt.
"Hmm." Marlene said. "I have't heard of Snape before- but I haven't exactly reviewed the sacred families in detail yet.
"About time you two got here." Mary said swinging off the crumbling wall towards the open grounds. "I thought you two would never get here."
"Find anything interesting?" Lily asked
"Not really I was going to do the Quidditch thing Marle-"
"Oye Mary I think there's something sparkling there!" Marlene pointed out suddenly looking in the distance "Maybe it's your necklace?"
"Or a lost treasure." Mary swooned following Marlene interested. "Now that would be a story!"
Lily caught a flash of black and turned to see Sirius Black look around furtively before pulling James away towards the castle . Lily wasn't a reporter yet but she knew suspicious when she saw it. Marlene might be right about Sirius Black after all, she thought, and besides she couldn't let Mary have the best story.
With a smile, Lily grabbed her quill and parchment, and followed James and Sirius. There was definitely a story to be told here.