Chapter 7

The quidditch pitch was full of Gryffindors, all planning to try out for the team. James stood in the center of the field, giving instructions. Lily flew in overhead on her broom, lowering herself to the ground, all the while trying not to blush as James saw her. He smiled as he caught her eye. Lily saw that Camille was also on the field to try out.

"We're first going to start with those of you trying out for seeker!" James called to the crowd. Anyone trying out, please form a line over here." He began to place people in order. Camille was two places in front of her. Lily was last in line.

"Save the best for last," James whispered to her as he walked by, winking.

Lily began to feel nervous. What was she doing, anyway? She'd never actually played a real game of quidditch in her entire life.

"Okay, If I could please have everyone's attention!" called James. "When it's your turn, you're going to fly up as high as the goal posts and circle around to start. Then Sirius will release the snitch. All you've got to do is catch it and land. We'll start with the first person in line." A younger looking boy flew up into the air, wobbling all the way. After about a good fifteen minutes of trying to catch the snitch, he gave up. Sirius retrieved the snitch, and moved on to the next person. No one did very well, in fact about half of those who tried didn't catch the snitch at all. Lily began to feel better; she knew she could control her broom, and that was the key to it.

It was Camille's turn. She mounted her broom and flew towards the goal posts. She was fast. Everyone stared at her, mouths open in awe. Sirius released the snitch, and in less than 10 seconds she flew to the ground, snitch clenched tightly in her fist. Everyone cheered. Even James looked impressed. The next two girls went, neither of them doing very well.

Finally, it was Lily's turn. Feeling rather foolish, she mounted her broom and flew up to the goal posts. Sirius released the snitch, but instantly she lost sight of it. She flew in circles, feeling ridiculous. She couldn't see it anywhere. What have I gotten myself into? She wondered. Suddenly, she saw a gold sparkle out of the corner of her eye. There was the snitch, hovering just feet from the ground. She plunged into a dive and reached out her hand. An instant later she felt it enclosing on the small snitch, its wings beating against her fingers. She landed, snitch in her hand, receiving applause from the crowd.

"The team members will now make their decisions," said James. "Please wait just a few moments." He, Sirius, and three other Gryffindors huddled in the center of the pitch. For a moment it looked as though they were arguing.

Lily was anxious. It might have taken her a little while to find the snitch, but she was sure her dive was magnificent.

"We have reached a conclusion!" James called out. The field fell silent. "And the new Gryffindor seeker is…" he took a breath. "Camille Honnete!"

Lily felt as though someone had just slapped her across the face. It hadn't started to hurt yet, it was just numb. She was shocked. Before she realized what was going on, she felt her eyes beginning to overflow with tears. She mounted her broom and flew back towards the castle before anyone could say a word.

The dorm was empty, so she sat on her bed and sobbed. James had done nothing but lie to her. He said she was good. He said she'd make the team for sure. She'd told him everything, she trusted him. And then he betrayed her like everyone else, all because of Camille. Everyone loved her, it was plain to see. She was good at everything, and she was deceptive. She was probably a Death Eater, controlling everyone's minds. She sobbed and sobbed, punching her pillow as hard as she could with her fist.

"Lily?" she heard Camille's voice.

"Don't even talk to me!" Lily shouted. "Don't you come near me!"

"I just wanted to tell you that you did really well today," said Camille.

"I'm sure you did! More like you wanted to rub it in my face that you're better than me at everything I do!" Lily bawled.

"It does not do you any good in life to be jealous, Lily," said Camille.

"I am not jealous of you! I hate you!" Lily screamed. "I hate you! You ruined my life! You killed my friends! You take away my other friends! You do better than me at everything I'm good at! What's left for me? What the hell is left for me?"

"I have done no such things, Lily," said Camille calmly, walking out the door. Lily screamed as loud as she possibly could, then rolled over and fell asleep.

The next day was Sunday, and the only time Lily left the dorm was to take a hot bath in the prefects' bathroom. Camille was at the first quidditch practice, so Rae had nothing to do.

"I really want to apologize to you, Lily," she said. "I know we haven't been spending much time with you lately. But you're not very nice to Camille either."

"That's because there's something weird with her. And she has to be better than everyone at everything."

"There's something weird with YOU, Lily," said Rae. "You've been acting so different this year."

"Don't try to make me believe Camille didn't tell you what happened." Lily rolled her eyes.

"She didn't tell me anything. So what did happen?" Lily's eyes began to tear up.

"Look, my friends Chris and Lauren were killed the day before school started!"

"Oh my gosh, Lily! I had no idea!" Rae put her arm around Lily. "I can't believe it! I'm so sorry."

"I'm not looking for your pity," said Lily coldly. "Don't expect me to be friends with you if you're friends with Camille. She's got something to do with it, and I'm going to figure out what it is."

"Lily, how can you possibly think that? I suppose Camille, who wouldn't harm a fly, came to your neighborhood and murdered your two best friends for no reason whatsoever."

"She knew about it on the first day of school. I think she's a Death Eater," Lily replied.

"Now you're really freakin' crazy!" exclaimed Rae. "You have no right to call Camille a Death Eater when you have no evidence! The only reason you're acting this way is because you're jealous! You make me sick!" Rae stormed from the dorm, slamming the door behind her.

Lily was shaking with rage. She wasn't upset anymore; she was angry. How could everyone be so blind? Camille was up to something, and she was going to find out what it was!