4
Sitting in their bedroom, Ava, Belle, and Lily were alone. The three sat in a circle, eating mashmallows and playing a game of cards. Being Friday night, most of the people were in the common room below making a ruckus. Instead of joining them as usual, the girls thought a quiet evening may be best for Lily after the Dueling Club fiasco. Here no one could get to them and ask questions. There were two other seventh year girls, one was a quiet shy girl who preferred the company of some of the sixth years. The other moved when her parents divorced last year and transferred to a Wizarding school somewhere in France. So that left the three, playing poker and gambling with Chocolate Frogs. Eva dealt.
"Lily," she asked, "Where did you get that spell you used on Malfoy?"
Lily glanced at her cards and arranged them in her hand. "I read it in a book in the library," she said. "When we were all looking. I was looking for spells to use on Potter, and I found that one. I thought it was too mean, so I wasn't planning on using it. I'm glad I learned it anyways."
"Ha!" Belle said. "Usually I would say go for it, but we do need him for tomorrow's game." She shuffled her own cards. She added, "And what the heck was Malfoy laughing at?"
"The usual Belle," sighed Lily. "Muggle this, muggle that, Mudblood this, he wants me gone from the school that - it's alright though really, I'm used to him by now."
"Are you going to be ok with this Lily? I mean you looked pretty upset in there, and now, you act like everything is fine," Belle asked.
"I'm sorry Lily," said Eva. "I really am. He deserves whatever's coming to him."
Lily grinned. "I'll really ok, and I think so too Eva - and - I'll raise you two frogs."
"You know what's really funny Lily?" asked Belle, hoping for a lighter subject.
"What?"
"That Trelawny stuck you and Potter together in Divination. You two must share the same energy."
"Shut up Belle," Lily threw a pillow her way. "I hope tomorrow he falls off his broom."
"Oh stop it Lily. You two might get along if you weren't both so stubborn," added Eva.
"He's stubborn all right. And conceited, and, well, a bit slutty, not to mention self centered -"
"-and cute," said Eva. The two looked at her with wide eyes. "Oh no," she said defensively. "He's not my type, no no, but I recognize that the boy is good looking."
"You're insane. Both of you," declared Lily.
"Besides," commented Belle "He never actually dates those girls, they just surround him. As soon as he gets to know them they fail to hold his interest and he sends them packing."
"I could care less about the dating practices of James Potter. I don't care if he dates every girl in the school, or wins every Quidditch match, or gets elected the flippin Minister of Magic. I, Lily Evans, will never, ever be interested." She laid down her cards. "Full House."
Eva groaned. "Aww Lily." She pushed the frogs over to the winner, and with a desolated look ate a marshmallow.
* * * * * * *
Before they went to bed, Belle asked Lily again. "Are you sure you're ok Lily? If I were you, I would be pretty hurt by the kind of things that happen tonight."
"Trust me Belle, I am fine. Go to sleep, you have a game tomorrow morning."
"Ok, goodnight Lily."
Eva was already asleep. The fourth girl, Marilyn, had climbed into bed and fallen asleep long ago. Lily waited till the sound of Belle's breathing was slower and heavier. Then she waited a bit longer to be sure. Glancing at the clock, Lily decided that at 3:30, everyone would be asleep. She crept down to the common room. Like she had expected, no one was there.
* * * * * * *
James was awake in bed again. Remus was back, he and Sirius were sleeping silently. And Peter, Peter was snoring quite loudly. Occasionally he mumbled things in his sleep which never made sense. James turned on his side and looked at the door, his arms crossed. What would Lucius Malfoy have that someone would go through so much trouble to steal? And had Lily stolen it?
He hadn't done it. Lucius may still think he and his friends were responsible, but after Lily's performance tonight, he may begin to suspect her too. Good, James thought. I hope he catches her and turns her hair permanently blue. James stopped. He knew what Malfoy would do is much worse than that. Much worse. Still, the curiosity drove him. What is it that Lily Evans wanted so badly she stole it from the trunk of a Slytherin? How did she get in there and do it?
Tonight had been frightening. At first he was somewhat worried for his house member matched against Malfoy. Malfoy by himself was quite weak and laughable, however, there had been some strange occurrences lately in the world of magic, the rumored rise of a dark wizard. He couldn't help think that the quick improvement of Malfoy's magical capabilities were an indicator he was involved. Plus, his family was notorious for it's allegiance to the Slytherin line. And then there was Lily Evans, who he had grossly misjudged.
He had never seen anything like it. The girl rose her wand and deflected his spell as if she were merely raising her arm. So calm, so angry. Then she whispered something to herself and before he knew it Malfoy was flattened, incapacitated.
She breaks into the Slytherin common room, bedroom, escapes, and then completely destroys Malfoy in a duel. Maybe there was something strange about her as well.her behavior was awfully suspicious.
With that he grabbed his invisibility cloak from his trunk and stepped towards the door, hoping to go down to the potions dungeon, maybe Lily was down there for a reason, maybe she had lost something down there, or hid whatever it was that she took from Malfoy. He put on the cloak and went out the door, closing it silently.
Down the stairs and into the common room, James was almost to the portrait hole when he spotted someone in a chair by the fireplace. He heard the turn of a page. Curious, he walked towards the chair and looked around.
Evans. She was reading a book. But, he noticed, there were no words on the pages. A black book. Blank pages. She was staring at it, searching though it, looking at each page over and over. In fact, she looked quite desperate. The hand that held the volume shook slightly. She brushed her hair behind her ear and he again saw the deep cut on her arm, it seemed to be healing slowly. Maybe she needed stitches, he thought. It didn't seem to bother her, all her attention seemed to be on that book.
James sat and watched her turn the pages. Why he wasn't sure. He saw her whisper spells to the book and the pages stayed blank. She closed it finally, leaned back in her chair, shut her eyes. James didn't go out into the hall, if Lily heard the portrait door open she's know someone was there. He walked back up the stairs and laid down.
Lily Evans was trouble, he had decided.
* * * * * * *
The morning of the Quidditch match, the Hogwarts students gathered in the bleachers wore warm sweaters, coats, and most importantly scarves that bore the colors of their house. Eva and Lily were wearing their burgundy and gold ones as they watched Belle continually block attempts at the goal. She was quite good, but had received a nasty blow on the arm from a stray ball. She only had to last a little longer, Laura, the Gryffidor seeker and a sixth year looked to be chasing around the snitch. Gyriffindor was ahead by quite a bit, almost 100 points. Still, the snitch was worth more than that. James scored another goal just before Laura's outstretched had grabbed the snitch and ended the game. There was cheering and celebrating in the Gyriffindor section, Eva and Lily went to wait for Belle outside the locker room to see about her arm. She emerged with a nasty purple and blue splotch covering her upper left arm.
"Oh gross Arabella," exclaimed Eva.
"Oh it looks worse than it is," said Belle. "I just have to go to Madame Pomfrey and have her make sure nothing was cracked or moved -"
"Stop, please," Ava begged.
"Sorry, but come with me and keep me company please?" she pleaded.
"Ok Belle, we'll go. Even Eva," said Lily grabbing the arm of the girl looking at Belle with a queasy expression.
"Yeah we can see that kid in the infirmary, you know the one who lost a eye and hand and his right kneecap," Belle suggested.
"That's all a rumor you know," Lily said. "What really happened is he lost eye and then all of his toes - "
"Oh disgusting, please stop," cried Eva.
"I thought it was only the toes on his left foot," pondered Belle.
"According to popular belief the plant got a hold of both feet and a hand while he was broomstick fighting with Sean - "
"Ugh," moaned Eva as she turned green. They had all begun to walk when the locker room door opened and Potter came out, his Quidditch robes and his person covered in dirt. His usually messy hair was even messier.
"Figg, we need you back in here for a minute while we work out a new play. It'll be quick, only take a few minutes," he said.
"We are taking her to the infirmary," said Lily, leading Belle towards the castle.
"Was I speaking to you Evans?" James asked.
"Her arm is hurt, Potter, don't you care?" asked Lily.
"It's okay Lily, I should be fine for a few min -" tried Belle.
"See? She said she's fine Evans."
"Her arm could be in worse shape if she waits around for you and your play," she retorted.
"Ummm - guys - " Belle was looking back and forth.
"Why are you even here?" James bellowed.
"She's my friend you jerk, it's obvious I care more about her well being than -"
"Don't pull that crap on me Evans, Belle would tell me if she needed to go to the infirmary now, wouldn't you Belle?"
"Like you would listen anyways - " Lily shouted back.
"Ok, that's it Evans," James yelled. He took off his robes and threw them on the ground. He was wearing a pair of jeans and long sleeved shirt underneath. He was wearing a tee shirt under that. He took off the long sleeved shirt and ripped part of it, tying the ends together. He walked over to Belle, wrapped part of it around her shoulder and waist, and put her injured arm into it. He had made a pretty good sling for Belle's arm and then did a spell to tighten it somewhat close to her body.
"There. She is coming in for five minutes. I am sure she won't die in that time frame, and if she does, I take full responsibility. You," he looked at Lily, "and Eva can wait out here."
Lily noticed a smudge of dirt on his cheek. She had a sudden compulsion to reach up and wipe it off. She stopped herself and thought that it indeed confirmed her insanity. He led Belle inside and closed the door rather harshly. The two girls looked at the door in silence for a moment.
"I think he's mad at you Lily."
"Quiet Eva."
Sitting in their bedroom, Ava, Belle, and Lily were alone. The three sat in a circle, eating mashmallows and playing a game of cards. Being Friday night, most of the people were in the common room below making a ruckus. Instead of joining them as usual, the girls thought a quiet evening may be best for Lily after the Dueling Club fiasco. Here no one could get to them and ask questions. There were two other seventh year girls, one was a quiet shy girl who preferred the company of some of the sixth years. The other moved when her parents divorced last year and transferred to a Wizarding school somewhere in France. So that left the three, playing poker and gambling with Chocolate Frogs. Eva dealt.
"Lily," she asked, "Where did you get that spell you used on Malfoy?"
Lily glanced at her cards and arranged them in her hand. "I read it in a book in the library," she said. "When we were all looking. I was looking for spells to use on Potter, and I found that one. I thought it was too mean, so I wasn't planning on using it. I'm glad I learned it anyways."
"Ha!" Belle said. "Usually I would say go for it, but we do need him for tomorrow's game." She shuffled her own cards. She added, "And what the heck was Malfoy laughing at?"
"The usual Belle," sighed Lily. "Muggle this, muggle that, Mudblood this, he wants me gone from the school that - it's alright though really, I'm used to him by now."
"Are you going to be ok with this Lily? I mean you looked pretty upset in there, and now, you act like everything is fine," Belle asked.
"I'm sorry Lily," said Eva. "I really am. He deserves whatever's coming to him."
Lily grinned. "I'll really ok, and I think so too Eva - and - I'll raise you two frogs."
"You know what's really funny Lily?" asked Belle, hoping for a lighter subject.
"What?"
"That Trelawny stuck you and Potter together in Divination. You two must share the same energy."
"Shut up Belle," Lily threw a pillow her way. "I hope tomorrow he falls off his broom."
"Oh stop it Lily. You two might get along if you weren't both so stubborn," added Eva.
"He's stubborn all right. And conceited, and, well, a bit slutty, not to mention self centered -"
"-and cute," said Eva. The two looked at her with wide eyes. "Oh no," she said defensively. "He's not my type, no no, but I recognize that the boy is good looking."
"You're insane. Both of you," declared Lily.
"Besides," commented Belle "He never actually dates those girls, they just surround him. As soon as he gets to know them they fail to hold his interest and he sends them packing."
"I could care less about the dating practices of James Potter. I don't care if he dates every girl in the school, or wins every Quidditch match, or gets elected the flippin Minister of Magic. I, Lily Evans, will never, ever be interested." She laid down her cards. "Full House."
Eva groaned. "Aww Lily." She pushed the frogs over to the winner, and with a desolated look ate a marshmallow.
* * * * * * *
Before they went to bed, Belle asked Lily again. "Are you sure you're ok Lily? If I were you, I would be pretty hurt by the kind of things that happen tonight."
"Trust me Belle, I am fine. Go to sleep, you have a game tomorrow morning."
"Ok, goodnight Lily."
Eva was already asleep. The fourth girl, Marilyn, had climbed into bed and fallen asleep long ago. Lily waited till the sound of Belle's breathing was slower and heavier. Then she waited a bit longer to be sure. Glancing at the clock, Lily decided that at 3:30, everyone would be asleep. She crept down to the common room. Like she had expected, no one was there.
* * * * * * *
James was awake in bed again. Remus was back, he and Sirius were sleeping silently. And Peter, Peter was snoring quite loudly. Occasionally he mumbled things in his sleep which never made sense. James turned on his side and looked at the door, his arms crossed. What would Lucius Malfoy have that someone would go through so much trouble to steal? And had Lily stolen it?
He hadn't done it. Lucius may still think he and his friends were responsible, but after Lily's performance tonight, he may begin to suspect her too. Good, James thought. I hope he catches her and turns her hair permanently blue. James stopped. He knew what Malfoy would do is much worse than that. Much worse. Still, the curiosity drove him. What is it that Lily Evans wanted so badly she stole it from the trunk of a Slytherin? How did she get in there and do it?
Tonight had been frightening. At first he was somewhat worried for his house member matched against Malfoy. Malfoy by himself was quite weak and laughable, however, there had been some strange occurrences lately in the world of magic, the rumored rise of a dark wizard. He couldn't help think that the quick improvement of Malfoy's magical capabilities were an indicator he was involved. Plus, his family was notorious for it's allegiance to the Slytherin line. And then there was Lily Evans, who he had grossly misjudged.
He had never seen anything like it. The girl rose her wand and deflected his spell as if she were merely raising her arm. So calm, so angry. Then she whispered something to herself and before he knew it Malfoy was flattened, incapacitated.
She breaks into the Slytherin common room, bedroom, escapes, and then completely destroys Malfoy in a duel. Maybe there was something strange about her as well.her behavior was awfully suspicious.
With that he grabbed his invisibility cloak from his trunk and stepped towards the door, hoping to go down to the potions dungeon, maybe Lily was down there for a reason, maybe she had lost something down there, or hid whatever it was that she took from Malfoy. He put on the cloak and went out the door, closing it silently.
Down the stairs and into the common room, James was almost to the portrait hole when he spotted someone in a chair by the fireplace. He heard the turn of a page. Curious, he walked towards the chair and looked around.
Evans. She was reading a book. But, he noticed, there were no words on the pages. A black book. Blank pages. She was staring at it, searching though it, looking at each page over and over. In fact, she looked quite desperate. The hand that held the volume shook slightly. She brushed her hair behind her ear and he again saw the deep cut on her arm, it seemed to be healing slowly. Maybe she needed stitches, he thought. It didn't seem to bother her, all her attention seemed to be on that book.
James sat and watched her turn the pages. Why he wasn't sure. He saw her whisper spells to the book and the pages stayed blank. She closed it finally, leaned back in her chair, shut her eyes. James didn't go out into the hall, if Lily heard the portrait door open she's know someone was there. He walked back up the stairs and laid down.
Lily Evans was trouble, he had decided.
* * * * * * *
The morning of the Quidditch match, the Hogwarts students gathered in the bleachers wore warm sweaters, coats, and most importantly scarves that bore the colors of their house. Eva and Lily were wearing their burgundy and gold ones as they watched Belle continually block attempts at the goal. She was quite good, but had received a nasty blow on the arm from a stray ball. She only had to last a little longer, Laura, the Gryffidor seeker and a sixth year looked to be chasing around the snitch. Gyriffindor was ahead by quite a bit, almost 100 points. Still, the snitch was worth more than that. James scored another goal just before Laura's outstretched had grabbed the snitch and ended the game. There was cheering and celebrating in the Gyriffindor section, Eva and Lily went to wait for Belle outside the locker room to see about her arm. She emerged with a nasty purple and blue splotch covering her upper left arm.
"Oh gross Arabella," exclaimed Eva.
"Oh it looks worse than it is," said Belle. "I just have to go to Madame Pomfrey and have her make sure nothing was cracked or moved -"
"Stop, please," Ava begged.
"Sorry, but come with me and keep me company please?" she pleaded.
"Ok Belle, we'll go. Even Eva," said Lily grabbing the arm of the girl looking at Belle with a queasy expression.
"Yeah we can see that kid in the infirmary, you know the one who lost a eye and hand and his right kneecap," Belle suggested.
"That's all a rumor you know," Lily said. "What really happened is he lost eye and then all of his toes - "
"Oh disgusting, please stop," cried Eva.
"I thought it was only the toes on his left foot," pondered Belle.
"According to popular belief the plant got a hold of both feet and a hand while he was broomstick fighting with Sean - "
"Ugh," moaned Eva as she turned green. They had all begun to walk when the locker room door opened and Potter came out, his Quidditch robes and his person covered in dirt. His usually messy hair was even messier.
"Figg, we need you back in here for a minute while we work out a new play. It'll be quick, only take a few minutes," he said.
"We are taking her to the infirmary," said Lily, leading Belle towards the castle.
"Was I speaking to you Evans?" James asked.
"Her arm is hurt, Potter, don't you care?" asked Lily.
"It's okay Lily, I should be fine for a few min -" tried Belle.
"See? She said she's fine Evans."
"Her arm could be in worse shape if she waits around for you and your play," she retorted.
"Ummm - guys - " Belle was looking back and forth.
"Why are you even here?" James bellowed.
"She's my friend you jerk, it's obvious I care more about her well being than -"
"Don't pull that crap on me Evans, Belle would tell me if she needed to go to the infirmary now, wouldn't you Belle?"
"Like you would listen anyways - " Lily shouted back.
"Ok, that's it Evans," James yelled. He took off his robes and threw them on the ground. He was wearing a pair of jeans and long sleeved shirt underneath. He was wearing a tee shirt under that. He took off the long sleeved shirt and ripped part of it, tying the ends together. He walked over to Belle, wrapped part of it around her shoulder and waist, and put her injured arm into it. He had made a pretty good sling for Belle's arm and then did a spell to tighten it somewhat close to her body.
"There. She is coming in for five minutes. I am sure she won't die in that time frame, and if she does, I take full responsibility. You," he looked at Lily, "and Eva can wait out here."
Lily noticed a smudge of dirt on his cheek. She had a sudden compulsion to reach up and wipe it off. She stopped herself and thought that it indeed confirmed her insanity. He led Belle inside and closed the door rather harshly. The two girls looked at the door in silence for a moment.
"I think he's mad at you Lily."
"Quiet Eva."
