Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters, places, and ideas belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, not me.
by Auror5
On an unusually mild day in mid-February, while strolling about the castle grounds, Fiona inquired about Oliver's recent chilly behaviour towards Lily. Lily explained to Fiona what happened during the Yule Ball.
"He's not speaking to you because you wouldn't let him kiss you?" Fiona said, incredulously.
"Yes, that's it."
"What a big baby, the sulky git!"
Fiona then smiled wickedly. "You should've told him that you would prefer to kiss James."
Lily's face turned a bright scarlet shade, and she playfully pushed Fiona.
Fiona laughed. "I'm sure that James would want to become friendly with you."
Lily took a swing at Fiona, and a chase immediately ensued. After a few minutes, they gave up the chase and flopped onto the dead grass to catch their breaths.
"So, Fi, why are you all of a sudden giving Patricia Allspice such a hard time?"
Fiona looked down at the ground, and picked at the dead grass. "Because she's a stupid cow who is always giggling for no reason."
"She only giggles when she's around Sirius."
"Yes, that's because she's stupid. I don't know why he even took her to the Yule Ball. She isn't his type really."
"And just who do you think is his type?" Lily said with feigned innocence.
Fiona blushed.
"Why, Fiona! You like Sirius!"
With a red face, Fiona shouted, "You don't have to broadcast it to the world!"
"I didn't! There's no one within earshot. So, you really like him?"
Shyly, Fiona replied, "Yes."
"D'you think he likes you?"
"Probably not because he didn't ask me to the Ball. He asked that cow, Allspice. Also, he's always calling me Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum, which I hate," remarked Fiona mournfully.
Lily sighed. "Perhaps we can get Elijah to find out for us. James and Sirius sometimes let him spend time with them. It's sweet. Elijah really admires them, even after they scared him during the sorting, and they treat Elijah like a little brother."
"I don't know. Elijah sometimes can be just as silly as them, especially when he is with Chris McDonald. Plus, I'm afraid that Elijah would just shout any information he gets to everyone. You know how he can be sometimes, a royal pain."
"Aye, that's true. Oh, do you know what else is cute? Catherine Indigo said that Thora is just dead gone on Sirius. Every time she sees him, she goes into this trance."
"You know what else, Lily?"
"What?"
"Daisy told me that Elijah is in love with Samantha."
"Really? He is?"
"Yes!"
"Perhaps we can blackmail him. He's just a little boy. We can ask him to find out whom Sirius really likes. If Elijah feels an urge to open his gob, we'll just tell him we'll let everyone know that he loves Sam."
"Oh, that's terrible, Lily, but good! Let's do it! But not me, you do it for me."
"All right. It's a deal."
Later that day, with a bribe consisting of sweets from Honeyduke's, Lily asked Elijah to find out whom Sirius likes. She also threatened him that if he told anyone about what she was up to, she would announce to the entire school that he was in love with Samantha. Elijah turned an alarming shade of red, and begged her not do such an "awful, mean thing."
***
In early March, lessons were abruptly cancelled one afternoon and all students were ordered to report to the Great Hall. Lily walked into the hall with a strong sense of foreboding, and noted the black drapes hanging behind the High Table. She knew in her heart that Raina Ridgecrest had been found dead. Professor Dumbledore confirmed to the assembled group what Lily had already suspected.
The very next morning, there was a piece in the Daily Prophet about Raina Ridgecrest. According to the article, written by Rita Skeeter, Raina was found by Muggle children in a lot behind a vacated building on Teak's Row in London. Like Dewdroppe, an image of a large serpent coiled around a unicorn had been branded on her neck. She had only been dead for about sixteen hours, according to the examiner, when her body was discovered.
***
On the 31st of March, Elijah beckoned Lily to an empty corner of the common room.
"What is it?" Lily said.
"I have the information you wanted," he stated importantly.
"Oh! So, who does he like?"
He grinned, and whispered, "Fiona."
"He does? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure! I heard him tell James that he likes her, and will ask her to the next Ball. James told him that he should be nicer to her, and stop calling her Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum."
"Really?"
"Yes, and that's not all."
"There's more?"
"Yes! James and Sirius started talking about how much they wanted to kiss you and Fiona. Only, they were calling each other Pads something and Throngs or whatever."
Lily's eyes widened, and her face turned a deep red. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!"
"Are you all right?" Elijah stared at her as though she had gone mad.
Lily placed both hands on his shoulders, bent to his level, and gazed directly into his eyes. "You must not tell anyone about this. D'you hear?"
"Of course, I will not tell anyone! What do you think I am? Stupid? I'm not Jorkins, you know." He gave her a slightly disgusted look. "Besides, James and Sirius would beat the shite out of me if I did."
"Elijah!"
"Sorry."
"All right. Don't forget that I will also tell the entire school that you are in love with Samantha."
"I said I wouldn't tell anyone! Blimey, can't you give a young bloke a break?"
"All right, I'm sorry." She kissed him on the cheek, and he blushed.
"Where are my Filibuster fireworks you promised?" Elijah demanded.
"Oh. They're upstairs. I'll go get them, now. Thanks, Elijah!"
Late that night in the common room, when everyone was asleep, Lily shared Elijah's tale with Fiona. Fiona reacted by blushing furiously and screaming. Her screams woke everyone in the house.
***
Lily, Ivy, Daisy, and Samantha, on their brooms, flew haphazardly above the Quidditch pitch. They were supposed to be helping Fiona practice for the upcoming match between the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. Fiona wanted to practice as much as possible. While Fiona swooped around pretending to look for the Snitch, Lily, Ivy, Daisy, and Samantha pretended to be Seekers, Chasers, Beaters, and Keepers for both sides. Every once in a while, they threw an egg, stolen from the kitchens, for Fiona to catch before it plummeted to the ground. After some time passed, Ivy, Daisy, and Samantha tired of the game and begged Fiona to let them go. Reluctantly, Fiona waved them off. Lily and Fiona resumed playing until they spotted two distant figures entering the Forbidden Forest.
"Who are they?" Lily squinted.
"I don't know. Let's get a closer look."
"Wait, Fi! We don't want them to see us."
"If we fly above the treetops, they won't see us. Come, before we lose them."
Lily and Fiona silently glided over the Forbidden Forest, above the treetops, and caught up with the two figures. They recognised one as Professor Konrad. The other wizard, with black hair and a goatee, they had never seen before. It was difficult for them to hear the conversation, and the most they could get were snatches of it.
"...Must, Karkaroff!"
"...Increase student ranks..."
"....If not....rid of Munchausen..."
Lily and Fiona gazed at one another with a questioning expression on their faces, and then returned their concentration to the figures below.
"Look....under control...."
".....Dewdroppe......and Ridgecrest....."
Lily and Fiona sharply glanced up at each other.
"He....will take one...."
"....Hogsmeade....the right time...."
Konrad and the wizard's conversation became inaudible at that point, and very shortly afterwards, the unknown wizard disapparated from the Forbidden Forest. Konrad rapidly strode back towards the castle.
Once safe in the common room, Lily and Fiona discussed what little they had heard.
"Fi, I think I should tell Professor Dumbledore. I promised I would tell him if I saw anything unusual, and that was unusual."
"But Lily, how was it unusual? You don't know if the professors aren't allowed visitors. I don't see anything wrong them having visitors. It's Sunday, so it should be all right."
"I don't know," Lily frowned. "It just seemed wrong. That's all. Why did they meet in the Forbidden Forest? How come they didn't meet in Konrad's office?"
"Perhaps they wanted fresh air or they were afraid that someone would overhear their conversation."
"Why should they be concerned about someone hearing their conversation if they have nothing to hide?"
"Lily," Fiona stated, exasperatedly. "You and I do it all the time!"
"Yes, but we don't go to the Forbidden Forest!"
"Because it's forbidden!"
"Then why were they talking about Munchausen, Dewdroppe, and Ridgecrest? Perhaps they know who murdered them! Perhaps they murdered them!"
"Honestly, Lily! You can't go to Dumbledore spouting all that!"
"All right! Let's stop yelling at each other. I won't say anything to Dumbledore until somehow I get more information. But, Fi, it still doesn't feel right to me. Something is very wrong."
Fiona sighed. "Okay, if we see Konrad doing any other weird stuff in the Forbidden Forest or we see that wizard again, we'll tell Dumbledore. All right?"
"All right."
On the following Saturday, the Gryffindors beat the Ravenclaws 160 to 150.
***
Lily, exhausted from studying for an upcoming exam in Defence Against the Dark Arts, put her head on her arms and fell promptly asleep on the book opened before her. She immediately began dreaming of the corridor below the castle, the very same corridor that Malfoy tortured her in. She thought, Oh dear, please not again. Then she heard voices behind her and turned. Lily gasped in shock. It was Fiona! Rosier, Wilkes, Avery, and Nott were dragging Fiona through the corridor. Fiona struggled as they dragged her toward the large, oak door. "Help me!" Fiona wailed in her ear. Lily abruptly awoke, grabbed her things, and ran out of the library.
She tore through the corridors while praying fervently that Filch or no one else stopped her. Eventually, she reached the disused corridor and ran down its steep slope. Faintly, Lily heard voices ahead and ran faster. She shoved the oak door open while pulling out her wand and barged into the room. Wilkes, Avery, and Nott were holding Fiona as Rosier kissed her on the mouth. Lily shouted, "Expelliarmus!" All four boys were thrown backwards, and Lily managed to miraculously catch five wands at once.
"Fiona, over here!" Lily kept her wand pointed at the boys as Fiona ran to her side. Lily, without looking, handed Fiona her wand, which Fiona levelled at the boys.
"You're going to pay for this, Evans," snarled Rosier.
"No! It's you who is going to pay!"
"Bitch, give me back my wand or I promise you I will hunt you down and kill you!" threatened Wilkes with a murderous gleam in his eyes. He walked slowly towards Lily.
"Back off!"
"Witch, you don't scare me. If you know what's good for you, you would return our wands. Now, GIVE ME BACK MY WAND, BITCH!" Wilkes screamed with a deranged expression on his face.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily retorted, and Wilkes fell onto the floor as stiff as a board.
"You're going to pay for this, witch," Avery stated in low, malevolent voice.
"We'll see about that. Come, Fiona."
They exited the room.
"Run, Fi!"
They ran swiftly through the corridors. When they reached the third floor, Lily found a boys' toilet, opened the door, and threw the four boys' wands into it. They heard someone exclaim, "Ow! Who threw those at me?"
A few minutes later, they arrived in the common room, out of breath, and collapsed onto a chair. Fiona started crying.
Lily hugged her. "It's all right, Fi."
"Lily, how did you know? How did you know?" Fiona sobbed.
"It was weird. I fell asleep in the library and dreamt that I saw you being dragged in a corridor. Then I heard you call out for help, and I woke up. Something told me to hurry, so I did."
"Thanks, Lily. I'm glad that you came," sniffed Fiona.
After awhile, Fiona dried her tears.
"What happened?"
"I was walking to the library to come and get you when those foul, disgusting floaches cornered me. Before I could reach for my wand, they disarmed me. Then that filthy Rosier said that he was going to teach me a lesson for hitting him in the stomach. Remember? On the train?"
"Yes."
"The goons he was with grabbed me by my arms, and wouldn't let go, and forced me through the corridors. I was hoping Filch or one of the professors would show up, but no one did. Next, they dragged me through this horrible corridor, and then they pushed me into that awful room with the bones on the floor. Nott closed the door, and Wilkes and Avery pinned my arms behind my back. Then Nott came up behind me and pulled my head back by my hair." She frowned with distaste. "That disgusting, cesspool Rosier then placed his putrid mouth on mine, and then you barged in. I think I'm going to upchuck."
Fiona ran upstairs to the girls' toilet.
***
Several days later, Professor Dumbledore summoned Lily. Apprehensively, she entered his office. Fawkes spotted her, and flew over to Professor Dumbledore's desk just as she took a seat. Fawkes then settled on her knee, and Lily began to stroke its brilliant feathers.
"Lily, Professor Konrad informed me that you had an altercation with a few Slytherins. Is that true?"
Lily nervously shifted in the chair, and Fawkes flew back onto the desk. "Yes, sir."
"Did you put the full Body Bind Curse on Damien Wilkes?"
"Yes, sir."
Professor Dumbledore sighed. "Professor Konrad is quite upset. He is very loyal to the students in his house, perhaps a bit too loyal.
"Please tell me what happened."
Lily proceeded to tell him everything that had occurred. Anger hardened his face when Lily described what she had seen upon entering the room, and when she shared Fiona's account of the incident.
"This is a serious charge. You have told me everything?"
Lily nodded her head. Fawkes returned to her knee.
Professor Dumbledore appraised her. "The one thing I find intriguing about all of this is your dream. Have you had similar types of dreams in the past?"
Lily shook her head. "No, sir."
"Hmm, interesting." He then rose from his chair, walked over to the fireplace, and threw some powder into it.
"Wilhelm, will you come up here for a moment?"
Lily started in surprise when a swirling figure appeared inside the fireplace. Konrad stepped into the room once the swirling ceased. Fawkes flew over to his perch, and seemed to eye Konrad closely.
"Professor," Dumbledore commenced. "I have just received a full account of what happened from Lily. It appears that Rosier, Wilkes, Avery, and Nott accosted Miss McKinnon on her way to the library, disarmed her, forced her into a room below the castle, and held her while Rosier took liberties with her. Lily arrived on the scene and disarmed the four boys, thereby freeing Miss McKinnon. Wilkes, in particular, began to make threats, and Lily ended up placing the full Body Bind Curse on him. This account is quite different from the one Rosier, Wilkes, Avery, and Nott provided."
"Sir, you know how these young witches tend to exaggerate, especially when their honour and dignity are at stake," Konrad replied, silkily.
Professor Dumbledore peered intently at Konrad. "Are you implying that Lily has fabricated this account?"
Anger passed fleetingly across Konrad's face. "What I am saying, sir, is that young witches tend to exaggerate. I believe that McKinnon was not telling the full truth about what occurred. McKinnon led Rosier on, and started screaming when things didn't go as she planned. That is how these young witches behave nowadays."
"That is not true! Professor Dumbledore, Fiona isn't like that. She doesn't even like Evan!" Lily said, angrily.
Konrad ignored her. "Sir, I stand by Wilkes, Avery, Nott, and Rosier's word."
"Professor, I'm afraid I do not," Professor Dumbledore quietly stated. "I believe Lily's account of the incident. Even if Miss McKinnon initially led Rosier on, as you put it, why did he, Wilkes, Avery, and Nott insist on dragging her below the castle, against her will?
"I will not tolerate such reprehensible behaviour from any student in this school. I have made my decision: Rosier, Wilkes, Avery, and Nott will be suspended for two weeks. In addition, six hundred points will be subtracted from your house. I want Rosier, Wilkes, Avery, and Nott removed from the grounds immediately. You are excused, Professor."
Konrad stepped into the fireplace. When Professor Dumbledore turned his back, he gave Lily an exceedingly nasty look before disappearing.
Fawkes flew from his perch, landed on Lily's knee, and began to sing. Lily smiled, and stroked its warm, bright feathers.
"Lily, could you do something for me?" Professor Dumbledore said, gently.
Lily shrugged. "Yes, sir."
He smiled. "Oh, it isn't anything difficult or out of the ordinary. It's just this: if you have another one of those type of dreams, could you share it with me?"
"All right, sir."
"One thing: do you remember how to reach the corridor Miss McKinnon was taken to?"
"Yes."
"Tomorrow, I want you to show me the corridor. I want to seal it, and the room. You may leave now."
Fawkes flew onto the desk as Lily stood to leave the room. When she reached the door, Professor Dumbledore halted her. Lily turned to face him. Oddly, his eyes were full of joy.
"Tell Mister James Godric Potter that I said to go slow."
Lily frowned slightly. "Erm, all right."
***
The following week, Konrad held Lily back after Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Let's talk, shall we?" Konrad watched Lily with a chilly gleam in his eyes as he closed the door.
He sauntered to his desk while continuing to stare at Lily. Once he reached the desk, he sat down, and ordered Lily to take the chair directly in front of him. For several minutes, he stared intently at her with a shrewd expression on his face. Lily, feeling uncomfortable, shifted slightly in the chair. A smile that did not reach his eyes spread across his face.
"So. Perhaps I should start calling you Miss Busybody. You seem to have a rather irritating habit of meddling in affairs that do not concern you." He removed the wand from his pocket and began tapping it on the desk.
tap, tap, tap
"Anything concerning Honourable Lord Salazar Slytherin's house is my affair."
tap, tap, tap
"Meddlesome busybodies such as yourself are a real problem."
tap, tap, tap
"You seem to be a remarkably bright, young witch. Tell me, how should I solve this problem?"
tap, tap, tap
Konrad slammed his wand on the desk forcefully. Lily started in her seat.
"ANY ANSWER WOULD SUFFICE, WITCH." Sparks, like burning embers, drifted lazily from his wand.
Lily, wondering if he had gone stark, raving mad, answered, "Erm...."
"Is that all you can say? Obviously, I overestimated your intelligence," he acidly snapped.
"I did NOT appreciate you losing my house six hundred points. I did NOT appreciate having a few of my best and most promising students suspended because of you. You are a meddlesome busybody, witch, and that makes you a problem."
tap, tap, tap
"You must feel that you can get away with anything now that you have that old crock, Dumbledore, wrapped around your perfect little finger, eh?"
tap, tap, tap
Lily's face began to slowly burn with anger. She glared at him.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor for your insolence," he snapped.
tap, tap, tap
"If I were you, girl, I would watch my back. In some circles, being a Mudblood is worthy of death."
I hate you, Lily thought while simmering with anger.
"Another fifty points from Gryffindor! Don't you realize, girl, that I can read you like an open book?" he snarled.
tap, tap, tap
"Mudbloods and meddlesome busybodies eventually come to a sticky end."
tap, tap, tap
"Do you know the details of Munchausen's death?" he said in a low, silky voice.
"Sally Munchausen was placed under the Imperius Curse. First, she ripped her own ears from her head, and ate them. Second, she amputated her feet, and then ate them. Third, she plucked the eyes from her head, and then ate them. Fourth, she sliced open her abdomen, and spilled her guts. While dying, she managed to chop off one of her hands, which she attempted to eat."
Lily stared at him with horror and revulsion.
Konrad grinned at her coldly. "Do you know what happened to Dewdroppe and Ridgecrest before they died?" he whispered.
tap, tap, tap
"Keep meddling in my affairs, Mudblood, and you will find out."
Lily, sick with never before felt rage, leapt from the chair. "I HATE you! I HATE you! YOU killed them!"
"SIT DOWN, YOU STUPID GIRL! DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW!"
She remained standing while gripping the wand in her pocket.
"SIT DOWN, WITCH!"
Trembling with rage, Lily retrieved her wand.
Konrad whispered ominously, "Put your expletive wand away, and sit down."
Eyes locked onto his, Lily slowly sat down with impotent rage coursing through her body.
"That little display of yours just resulted in a loss of three hundred points from Gryffindor."
He rose from his chair, walked over to Lily, placed a hand on each arm of the chair she was sitting on, and leaned down so that their faces were separated by only a few centimetres.
"Listen to me carefully, witch. I did not murder Dewdroppe or Ridgecrest. If I hear of any such rumour being circulated around this expletive school, I will personally hold you responsible. Is that clear?
"IS THAT CLEAR?" Tiny droplets of spittle sprayed her face.
"Yes!" she snapped.
"Another fifty points from Gryffindor. Now, get the hell out of my sight!"
Most of the Gryffindors became very angry with Lily after they learned she was responsible for them losing four hundred and fifty points.
***
About a week after the meeting with Konrad, during breakfast, Lily received a gift. Like the others, it was from someone who wished to remain anonymous. Lily unwrapped the package, and revealed a red and gold box with lilies engraved upon it. There was a gold key attached to the box.
"Another one?" Fiona said.
"Aye."
Lily placed the key into the keyhole, and the top portion of the box sprung open. Two life-like figurines, a male and a female, emerged as a woman with a high, sweet voice began singing. The female, bearing a remarkable resemblance to Lily, curtsied before the male, who bowed in return. The female wore a green, frilly dress robe, of a satiny type of material, with a plunging, nearly revealing, neckline. Unlike the female, the male's face was completely free of any characteristics.
"An Erato Music Box! That's so romantic!" Daisy exclaimed.
The music ended, and the male started passionately kissing the female as the lid of the box closed.
Lily's face burned.
***
"I'm awfully thirsty. Let's go to the Three Broomsticks, now," suggested Ivy, one Saturday in Hogsmeade.
"All right," said Fiona with her mouth full of a sticky tart.
Lily, Fiona, and Ivy, holding small bags full of sweets from Honeyduke's, headed toward the Three Broomsticks. When they entered, they immediately noted that it was rather crowded.
"Erm, we're going to have a hard time finding a table for the three of us," Lily stated.
"Lily! Lily! Over here!"
Lily, Fiona, and Ivy spotted James jumping up and down and waving his arms. They slowly made their way over to his location. Once they arrived, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter hastily created space for the girls by grabbing unoccupied chairs from other tables. Once situated, the girls and boys gazed at one another in awkward silence.
"Erm, Fiona, what's that you have in your bag?" Sirius said. Fiona was seated beside him.
Fiona, with face flushed and eyes downcast, murmured, "Candy and things from Honeyduke's."
Seated next to James, Lily's face reddened when she recalled what Elijah had told her slightly more than a month ago.
"We went to Zonko's to resupply our store of dungbombs. It was getting low," James put in.
"James and Sirius also bought a few Bursting Eardrums' Sound Magnifiers," said Remus.
"To use in Binns' class," added Peter. "They also bought an Exploding Cauldron for Potions."
"Erm, are you two really going to use those in class?" inquired Ivy with disbelief.
"Of course!" James answered.
Lily frowned. "But, James, aren't those Bursting Eardrums things awfully loud? Elijah and Chris used them in a boys' toilet once, and they said that the walls cracked, and the sinks fell onto the floor."
James smiled wickedly.
"Noooo, James! Please don't do it in Binns' class!" Lily exclaimed with alarm.
"Wear earmuffs," suggested Sirius.
"They wouldn't work!" Ivy retorted.
James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter laughed at the identical stricken expressions of dismay and worry on each girl's face.
"Never fear, James and Sirius figured it all out," chuckled Peter.
"We bought the three of you a Sound Neutralizer while we were in Zonko's," Remus added.
Feeling very much relieved, Lily replied, "Good."
James, Sirius, and Remus reached into their packages, and handed each girl a Sound Neutralizer.
"Good afternoon, my favourite young wizards, and witches. What can I do for you today?" interrupted Madam Rosmerta.
"Erm, I'll have a Goblins' Gold, and a kiss from a beautiful older woman such as yourself," stated James imperiously.
Madam Rosmerta laughed. "You shall have a butterbeer, and a kiss." She bent over to kiss James on the cheek.
"I'll have a cigar, and one of those kisses James received," said Sirius.
Smiling, Madam Rosmerta replied, "One butterbeer and a kiss coming up." She leaned over to kiss Sirius on the cheek.
"I gather that the rest of you would like a butterbeer, yes?"
Lily, Fiona, Ivy, Remus, and Peter all nodded their heads in agreement
She left, and, about two minutes later, returned with their butterbeers.
They chatted for a while about their lessons while drinking butterbeer. When they finished their drinks, they caught Madam Rosmerta's attention to request another round, which she promptly brought over about a minute later.
"What do you think of Konrad?" inquired Remus to no one in particular.
Lily and Fiona glanced at each other.
"I think," Fiona began.
"Look at King Potter, surrounded by his fan club," interrupted Severus Snape with cold malice on his face. Rosier, Wilkes, and Avery stood next to him like bodyguards.
"Get your ugly, big-nosed face out of here, and take your bloody bats with you," sneered Sirius.
"Are you Potter's mouthpiece? Can't the saintly Potter speak for himself?" Snape snapped icily while glaring at Sirius.
"Oy!" James slapped himself on the forehead. "It finally came to me! Snape, do you know what you remind me of?"
Snape stared at James with a mixture of loathing and envy.
"A dementor! A cold, dark, miserable, soul sucking dementor. GET THEE GONE, DEMENTOR!"
Lily, Fiona, Sirius, Ivy, Remus, and Peter laughed.
"A show off, eh, lover boy?" Snape replied coldly as his eyes avariciously crawled over Lily's face. "I would watch who I associate with, Lily."
As Snape, Rosier, and Avery, began to walk away, Wilkes reached over Fiona, grabbed her goblet of butterbeer, and then poured the contents over Fiona's head. Fiona leapt from her chair sputtering, with butterbeer dripping from her face and hair.
In a blink of an eye, Sirius lunged towards Wilkes, knocked him onto the floor, and began pummelling him with his fists. Snape, with an odd expression of excitement and animosity on his face, aimed a calculated kick to Sirius' head. Sirius fell to the floor limp. James leapt onto Snape, who crashed onto an adjacent table and knocked food and drinks over. The students at the table screamed and quickly backed away. As James swung his fists at Snape, Rosier made a grab for James at the same time as Remus grabbed Rosier into a chokehold. Avery ran over to assist Rosier, but was thwarted by Peter who tripped him with his foot. Avery crashed ungainly to the floor. Wilkes grabbed a chair, preparing to bash it over James' head, but Hagrid nimbly plucked it from him.
"OH NO YEH DON'T," thundered Hagrid.
"Now, break it up! Break it up!" Hagrid then began pulling the boys apart.
After Hagrid separated the boys, he inquired, while frowning, "James, what's goin' on here?"
James, his nose bleeding, glared at Snape. "These bloody Slytherin trolls started it, Hagrid."
"Erm, could someone please do something? Sirius is hurt," Fiona pleaded worriedly while kneeling next to Sirius, who was stretched out on the floor with blood sluggishly dripping from one ear.
"WHICH ONE OF YEH BLOODY RUFFIANS DID THIS?" roared Hagrid, as a crowd of onlookers silently gazed upon the scene.
"The ugly git I'm looking at," James coldly replied while staring at Snape.
"Why don' yeh four leave, now, eh? Yeh've caused enough trouble. Go on. Leave," Hagrid ordered Snape, Rosier, Wilkes, and Avery.
"Who do you think you're talking to, Gamekeeper?" Wilkes gazed at Hagrid with an expression full of contempt.
"The suspension wasn't enough fer yeh, eh? I know what yeh are, Wilkes. I know all about yer father. Death Eater he is, eh? You're probly jus' like him. Now, get out of here, and take yer friends with yeh!"
They defiantly remained where they were.
Hagrid roughly lifted Wilkes and Rosier completely off the floor, by the backs of their robes, and then proceeded to carry them out of the Three Broomsticks amid a scattering of applause.
"One of these days, Potter, no one is going to come to your rescue," Snape venomously hissed, and then strode rapidly out the door with Avery following on his heels like a puppy.
Hagrid returned, and gently lifted Sirius' unconscious form. They followed Hagrid to a horseless carriage, which James and Fiona tightly squeezed in with Hagrid.
"Meet us at the hospital wing," James shouted as the carriage rolled away.
***
This Quidditch match, between the Gryffindors and Slytherins, was by far the dirtiest game the students had ever seen. It appeared that the Slytherins' goal was to injure or take out as many Gryffindor players as possible. The Slytherin Beaters, Snape and Winters, were especially ruthless.
Lily watched the game with dismay and worry while hoping that Snape did not kill James. Her face wrinkled with distaste at the thought of Snape. She recalled her tentative friendship with him long ago, when she had been a first year. Snape had seemed different to her then, aloof, but not unpleasant. Now, he was unpleasant and cold, not so different from the wretched group he associated with. She especially did not like the way he had been watching her lately. It gave her the creeps.
James prepared to throw the Quaffle, but was thwarted by Snape, who swooped towards him while swinging the club he held at James' face.
CRACK!
The Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and a small number of Slytherins in the stands gasped and rose collectively. Then a number of students screamed, "Foul."
"JAMIE!" Lily said as James fell off his broom from the blow to his face. Then she ran down the stands with Ivy, Sirius, Remus, and Peter in tow.
The students in the stands angrily shouted at the Slytherins on the field.
Lily, Ivy, Sirius, Remus, and Peter reached James just as he landed gently on the ground.
Chaos was on the field. A number of the Gryffindor and Slytherin players were fighting with each other, and Professor McGonagall was screaming at Snape at the top of her lungs.
Madam Pomfrey arrived on the scene, and pushed the players out of the way. James lay on the ground unconscious with his nose broken. His battered glasses hung from his face.
"Oh dear," Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. She conjured up a stretcher, and a few of the Gryffindor Quidditch team members helped place him upon it.
Lily gently removed James' glasses and placed them in her pocket. Then she, Ivy, Sirius, Remus, and Peter solemnly followed Madam Pomfrey to the hospital wing amid cries of outrage.
After about thirty minutes, Madam Pomfrey stepped out into the corridor, just outside the hospital wing, where Lily, Ivy, Sirius, Remus, and Peter quietly waited.
"Is James all right?" Sirius inquired.
Madam Pomfrey briefly scrutinised their small group. "Yes, he's fine now, but he will remain here overnight for observation. Concussions are a nasty business, as you should well know, Mr. Black. Heavens knows why anyone would want to play such a violent sport." She shook her head, and sighed.
"Erm, can we see him?" said Lily.
"All right, but only for a few minutes. He needs to rest, not socialize."
They walked inside, and saw James propped up in bed, his face slightly pale. His nose had been returned to normal.
"Hi," Lily said. "Are you all right?"
"Aye, I guess so, but I lost my glasses."
"Oh!" exclaimed Lily. "You didn't lose them! I have them." Lily carefully removed his glasses from her pocket. "They're broken, but I can fix them." She pulled out her wand, tapped his glasses, and said, "Resarcio." Lily handed them to James as good as new.
"Thanks, Lily," James smiled as he put his glasses on.
At that moment, Fiona and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team burst into the room. Each member grinned with joy as the team captain presented the Quidditch Cup to James.
Several minutes later, Madam Pomfrey strode purposefully into the quite noisy room, and yelled, "It's time for all of you to leave. This is a hospital wing, not a place for rambunctious teenagers to celebrate."
***
On the last day of school, Professor Dumbledore announced to the students that the Ministry of Magic passed legislation further restricting the use of underage sorcery. Specifically, the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery had been amended, in paragraph C, to state that magic is no longer permitted outside school for any reason. The students were further told that violating the decree might result in expulsion from Hogwarts.
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Note: The last part, composed of seven chapters, will be posted within a few weeks.