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A/N- --hides behind keyboard- If there is anyone that is still reading this story, thank you so much for staying with me! And sorry for the long delays in posting…

New Resolutions III
Chapter 14- Anger and Sloth
By Abbie Haven Snape

Harry closed his eyes tightly, trying not to fall asleep. His job seemed to have become as stressful as it was when death eaters were lose and running around. Some how, it got leaked to the public about what was going on at Hogwarts. Every parent that had a son or daughter at Hogwarts had owled, complaining or asking what they were doing to stop it all. A few Howlers found themselves in the pills also.

He was scheduled to make a public announcement the next day on the update at the school and what his Auror department was doing to protect the children. It seemed everyone thought he could stop anything that was going on in the wizarding world.

One reason why he was still up was because he was waiting for a report from Hogwarts. He couldn't be there, as he wanted to be. Lily, for one, would disown him and two; he had to be at the ministry.

"Harry?"

Harry slowly glanced up to see Bryan, waiting in the doorway as if he was afraid to come into the room.

"I'm not going to yell at you Bryan…but I was excepting you an hour ago," said Harry, leaning back in his chair.

"Sorry sir. I was going to be back an hour ago…but I was delayed slightly," he said coming into the room.

"Delayed? In what way?"

"Um, well, two reasons. Another vic-I mean student was infected," said Bryan slowly, not such on which words to use.

"Give me the report," said Harry, almost breathless.

"The first one was Olivia Blankenship. She's a Gryffindor 4th year. Anger was the sin. But they got the potion in her and she's fine now. The last one was Neil Swan. Also a Gryffindor, but a second year. The potion was given to him as I was there. As of when I left, he was okay."

"What sin?"

"Sloth."

Harry nodded, standing up and walking over to a chalkboard that was hanging on the wall. He crossed off the two sins off the board, and he wrote the names of the children under them.

"What was the second reason?" he asked, turning back to Bryan.

"A boy was trying to transfer the sin from Mister Swan to himself. That's not possible, is it?"

"I don't even know. The sins are a mystery even to me. All I know about them is what the Headmaster and Dad as told me. Who was the student anyway?"

"Timothy Nott."

"I should have known…"

"What do we do now?" asked Bryan, after a moment of silence.

"Help me prepare a speech tomorrow for the papers."

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"Quidditch is canceled until known otherwise…did you see that bulletin?" asked Harvey sitting down at breakfast, clearly pissed off.

"I wonder why Harvey…" said Lo, rolling her eyes.

"Dumbledore wouldn't have called if off if he didn't think it was necessary. Three students have already been infected. It could happen to anyone," said Lily.

"So…still could have quidditch…" muttered Harvey making the girls shake their heads.

Lily looked up as her friends entered the Great Hall. Austin sat beside her and without wasting time, flopped the Daily Prophet into her lap.

"Your father gave an interview…front page…" he said, nodding to it.

"Figures he would sooner or later. With everything going on here."

"Its not just about what's going on here. They took advantage of it being his first interview in over four years," said Christian looking at her.

"What could they have asked? Nothing has happened in four years to him," she said, picking up the paper but then it fell from her fingers. "Wait…four years ago?"

"Yeah…the last time he talked to papers about anything was," but Christian stopped and looked at her. "Was when you three went missing and he wanted to find you. He didn't speak to them after that."

Lily closed her eyes before turning around to see almost everyone in the Great Hall had a paper, reading it. Reading about what everyone didn't need to know about her family. Why couldn't people just leave her family alone?

"Wait…what?" asked Cooper.

"Why can't people just let Jordan rest?" she muttered, almost to herself picking up the paper. Sins were being released left and right at Hogwarts and people still asked about what was going on in her father's personal life. It seemed that they needed to get a life.

"Jordan?" asked Cooper.

"My twin sister," she said looking at her.

"You have a twin sister?"

"Had," said Nathan for her.

"We were all really too young to know what was going on then or too young to care," said Christian.

"I remember. We were here when it happened," said Lo, softly.

"Is your family still grieving over your dead daughter?"

Lily's eyes turned with a glare to where Nott was reading the paper, out loud.

"Just ignore him Lils," said Sierra, glaring down at him too.

"Its been hard but, yes, I believe we all have. We haven't forgotten her but we know she isn't coming back," read Trent from beside him.

Lily went to stand up but Austin and Harvey grabbed her arms, pulling her back down. She didn't care what he did to her but Jordan was something that she couldn't take.

"Even her twin?" said Nott, very loudly.

"I can't speak for my daughter, but yes, I think she has," said Trent, reading the paper with a smirk.

Lily looked up at the staff table, meeting Severus' eyes. She saw him get up rather quickly, seeing the look in her eyes.

"You can read? I didn't know that Nott. That's a good boy," said Cooper.

"Told you I wouldn't let you forget," said Nott, looking straight at Lily.

"Now everyone knows so its nothing really you can use against me now," she snapped at him.

"You are forgetting, I know all the details though Lils…"

"Jackass," she muttered.

"Is there a problem here?" asked Severus, approaching the group.

"No sir," said Lily softly.

"Miss Snape…" he began but Lily got up. "Don't walk away from me Miss Potter-Snape," snapped Severus.

Lily just shook her head, heading out the door. Severus glanced down at the group to see Austin grabbing his things also. Faintly, Severus heard him muttered a curse word under his breath.

"Mister Blaine, I would advice you to explain before you end up in detention for the rest of your years at Hogwarts."

"Nott has left. Lily has left. Put two and two together," he said glancing up at him. "I don't care how strong she is. I'm not letting her go and fight battles alone."

Severus watched as Austin left the Great Hall, wondering why eleven-year-olds seemed to be more grown up than some seventeen-year-olds. Before he knew it, more Slytherins left the table after hearing Austin words, including the Trouble Makers.

"She should have ended up like her. And so should have your brother," snarled Nott in the Entrance Hall, Lily and him glaring at each other.

"Well we didn't. So live with it."

"Oh, I can live with it but can you?"

"Its in that past. Why can't you leave it there?"

"Do you really have to ask me that question?"

Lily drew out her wand and had it pointed at Nott in seconds. "You're walking a thin line boy."

"You wouldn't do anything…"

Lily raised her wand but someone came up beside her, grabbing her wrist. "Don't Lily. He's not worth it," said Austin, making her lower her hand. "Its getting old Nott. Just give it up."

Nott glared slightly at Austin before smirking. "I always knew you were soft. You wouldn't have the guts to gain any type of power. Your father will be disappointed in you Austin."

"Like I give what my father thinks."

"Does Lily know of your father?" continued Nott as if Austin hadn't said anything. "About how he was there, at the Malfoy Manor, seven—"

"Don't you even go there."

"When her twin was murdered. But escaped didn't he?"

A collection of whispers broke out behind them, but Austin ignored them. He glanced at Lily who just nodded, telling she understood.

"I might not be like my father but I did learn one thing from him," said Austin walking toward him. And before anyone would stop him, Austin hit him straight in the jaw. Lily flinched down, whispering "ouch" as Severus, came forward, grabbing Austin off of Nott.

"Mister Blaine, that was totally uncalled for?" said Hermione, finally coming out from the teachers, Lily seeing her for the first time besides at meals at Hogwarts.

"Oh, it was called for Professor Granger," said Severus, wrapping his arm around Austin chest so he wouldn't go back after Nott.

"Gentlemen, I believe that is forty points from Slytherin for fighting and detention with me tonight. One with me and the other with Professor Miller," said Professor McGonagall, correcting herself.

Austin rolled his eyes. "If that was all I was going to get, you could have let me hit him a few more times," he said glancing up at Severus.

"Now that this event is taken care of, Severus, Jade, I need to see you in the hospital wing now," said Headmaster Dumbledore.

Lily turned to the Headmaster as well as all the other students. "Who?" she asked.

"Not now Miss Snape–Severus, Jade, hurry. Professor Granger, please contact Harry and Leah," spoke the Headmaster, ignoring the students.

Lily ran a hand through her hair, thinking. "Not another one…"

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Read and Review…thanks to all that reviewed the last chapter!

Love From, Abbie Haven