The Hogwarts library truly was a magnificent place. From the moment she entered it as a tiny first year gazing upon the massive shelves in wonder, to now a more mature (yet still tiny much to her dismay) woman, she really couldn't help but to marvel at the magnificent place that is the Hogwarts library. All her knowledge from magical theory to wizarding traditions came from here. Lily knew that the Hogwarts library would always be there if she needed any information about the new world she now lived in.
She also knew that it was the perfect place to hide.
It really wasn't her fault. The Library was so massive, that there were tons of hidden corners where students never really ventured, probably because they were near the 'boring' books such as the muggle books section. Most students, even the less bigoted ones, thought that muggle books simply could not live up to magical ones, despite having never read one. While this irked Lily, she couldn't help but be satisfied that no one ever entered one of her most favourite places in the library. Whenever she felt particularly homesick, or needed to remind herself of her roots, the muggle section was her place to go.
It was also her most favourite place to hide from the prying eyes of the other Hogwarts students.
It was another day in her sixth year, when Lily was once again in her favourite hiding spot, trying to get her mind off the incident with Potter by reading another one her most favourite novels, Jane Eyre. So engrossed was she in the book, she never realised that another person had intruded into her tiny world, until she heard a deep chuckle, causing her to abruptly drop her book and nearly fall of her chair. Inwardly she scolded herself for her dramatic reactions to such little things and looked up to see who had decided to annoy her just when she was just about to reach the good part.
This time she couldn't help her shock when she saw who was in front of her and nearly fell of her chair, until a strong hand quickly stabled her.
"Woah, you okay there", said Benjy Fenwick, a seventh year Gryffindor. Lily could only stare at him with wide eyes before quickly nodding her head in a rather eccentric manner. Benjy Fenwick was muggleborn like her, and was also the same boy she crushed on from her 3rd year all the way up till her 5th year. It was not only his sandy brown hair and light blue eyes that attracted her to him, but also his beliefs regarding women and their status in society. Since pureblood families saw themselves as being superior to anyone else, they didn't see how backward their ideals and beliefs were especially regarding women. Once married, a woman's only role was to be obedient to her husband and bear his children. Barely did you see any woman work. This was probably why so few of her female pureblood classmates had any aspirations about becoming something in the future as their fate was already decided for them. Lily personally wanted to become a healer, which was a heavily male dominated field, but so was any other form of work. Even if pureblood women wanted to become something else, most pureblood men were completely resistant to any change and any talk of work after school could lead to a decline in marriage proposals.
The only pureblood girl she knew that actually wanted to have a job in the future was Alice Prewett, who dreamed of becoming an Auror even since she was a little girl. Unfortunately this caused her to be ridiculed by many of her pureblood peers, except her boyfriend Frank Longbottom. It was also how Alice and her came to know one another as they both were the only girl in their DADA class. Unlike pureblood men, muggleborn men were more progressive in terms of their views regarding women being able to work, most likely because of the society they grew up in. Most kept their views to themselves to avoid any further prejudice, except Benjy Fenwick who openly spoke about them and was never shy to point out the blatant misogyny in the pureblood society. While most people found his beliefs rather odd, his handsome looks and endearing personality made him rather popular in Hogwarts and a few students even silently agreed with his beliefs despite how radical they sounded to them. Even the marauders got along well with him.
Like Lily, Benjy was the only muggleborn in his year. This attracted her to him even more so, because if anyone understood her situation it was probably him. Throughout the years she tried to work up the courage to talk to him, but sadly her shyness won out. However it seemed that she no longer had to push herself to talk to him anymore, as he was sitting right in front of her and staring at her with an amused expression.
"Lily right? Lily Evans? I'm Benjy Fenwick ", he spoke again, and Lily could only nod and smile hesitantly at him. It really wasn't fair for someone to be so perfect.
"You know I never knew someone other than me actually visited this place. I myself only discovered it rather recently. I know any pureblood would rather be caught dead then be here", he jokingly stated as he fondly stared at the shelves holding outdated muggle novels. Lily let out a laugh and she quickly attempted to look more relaxed.
"Um err yes, well muggle novels will always hold a special place in my heart you see... probably because I'm a muggleborn", she sheepishly added.
"Yeah I know", his eyes turned to her, and Lily could almost melt at the fond look that was directed at her. While she no longer had such intense feelings for him, he still held a special place within her heart. "All the professors go on and on about the sixth year student who was by far the 'brightest witch of her age' or as Slughorn likes to call you 'the best potioneer to walk the hallways of Hogwarts. Too bad she wasn't sorted in Slytherin!'", His deep laugh and the information he just revealed caused Lily's cheeks to quickly warm and she ducked her head in a bashful manner. While she knew she was more than an average student, she couldn't believe that her teachers extensively praised her behind her back to even the seventh years, going as far as to even call her the brightest witch of her age! I mean, really.
" So I couldn't help but be slightly curious about who this mysterious student was, especially after I found out that she was a muggleborn", he smiled teasingly at her. "You know when my class found out that this so-called prodigy was in fact a muggleborn, it nearly caused a riot because those bigots refused to believe that muggles like you at me could never be magically superior than them" he scoffed. "I mean have you seen Crabbe and Goyle? You could hardly called those troll-looking monsters competent".
Lily couldn't help but let out a loud laugh before quickly composing herself hoping he didn't find the sound similar to a screaming banshee as her older sister once told her it did. But he merely laughed as well and looked at her again with an kind expression.
"You know, it really is nice to talk to someone like me, a muggleborn, I can't even talk about some things I like without anyone looking shocked at the fact that I like anything muggle-related".
"Me-me too", she said in a shy voice. "It's hard to connect with some people who sort of look down at your interests". Even with Alice, she couldn't feel comfortable being open because despite being the kind-hearted pureblood she was, Alice really did not want to learn anything about the muggle world. There still was a common belief that the muggles of today were similar to those during the 17th century.
"Well, to be honest, I think I'll finally get the chance to connect with my muggle heritage soon", he winked while I stared confusingly back at him wondering what he meant. "Would you like to be my date to Slughorn's party this week?"
Lily froze and tried to comprehend his words. While she was continuously badgered by Slughorn to come to one of his Slug Club parties, she never went because she really couldn't be bothered to find a date with her irritatingly shy nature and all. Now was her chance, and it was one with someone she had crushed on for so long as well.
Before she could change her mind she quickly nodded her head. "S-sure. I would like to come", she smiled at him, this time more genuinely.
Benjy smiled before standing up. "Well, I'll pick you up at about 7. Nice reading choice by the way", he pointed at her current novel. "But I much prefer J.R.R Tolkien. I had always considered his books to be the most magical thing I ever had before I discovered I was a wizard". He winked at her again and left her tiny world just as fast as he had entered it.
Lily had always prided herself for not being one of those silly girls that over-analysed every little thing a boy did, but this time she couldn't help her feminine sensibilities. Letting out a squeal she quickly slapped and pinched her cheeks, hoping that whatever just happened was not merely a dream. Letting out a sigh, Lily placed her head against the table and daydreamed about a blue-eyed brown haired tanned muggleborn. All thoughts of the arrogant James Potter and his minions left her mind, leaving the little mouse finally at ease for a short while.