Chapter 3: Things Are Rarely What They Seem

Lily, after five minutes of shock, stood up and walked to her dorm as though nothing happened. Jess didn't know whether to be relived or to be annoyed at her best friend's strange behavior.

Upon reaching her dorm, Lily locked the door and began pacing in front of the full-length mirror. She didn't seem to notice that three other girls were in the room with her: Nat, Cassie, and Charm. Nat is her best friend but it's still unusual for her to act this way; Cassie, well she was in friendly terms with her but they don't hang out that often, which makes it worse than with Nat; and then there was Charm. Charm has always been the most silent, most unsociable, and most understanding person in the sixth year girls's dormitory. She never spoke to anyone about anything unless absolutely necessary.

"Calm down, Lily. Calm down," she told herself in barely whisper. "Calm down. It's not like it's the end of the world! Ok, so maybe it IS the end of the world. My world. But you got to get a grip of yourself," She stopped pacing and heaved a huge sigh. She inhaled deeply and barely got to exhaling when she realized what she just said." CONTROL MYSELF! WHAT AM I THINKING CONTROL MYSELF! I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF NOT THIS TIME! I-" she was broken off a sound from behind her.

"Keep it down will you Lily!" Cassie hissed at her. Lily was totally taken aback. "Other people are trying to sleep here!" she went on." If you got a problem, sort it out quietly and don't shout while other people are sleeping."

Lily quickly recovered from the realization that there were other people in the room. "Well, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there…" Lily stammered.

"Hey, just because you're tall doesn't mean you can make fun of my height!" Cassie countered.

"What? I'm not making fun of your height!"

""Oh, don't tell me that! I know what I heard and you are a big bully!"

"What? No, Cassie, I'm not making fun of you, nor am I bullying you!"

"Of course you're not! Because you're a prefect, and prefects don't abuse their powers! Like you don't let your friends get away with stuff," Cassie scoffed. Lily took one step backward and crossed her arms.

"Ok, now you've crossed the line," Lily could hardly believe that Cassie could say such things. She didn't want to go on, but her pride got the better of her. "I, unlike other people you know, am not corrupted by my position. And I, unlike those same people, do not bully anyone," Lily said in a surprisingly calm manner.

"How dare you talk like that? You know nothing about me," the shock and outrage is apparent with Cassie's words. "You prance around the school thinking everybody loves you. Well, guess what? Not everybody thinks that you are the greatest thing that ever happened to this school!"

With one eyebrow raised, Lily brought down Cassie's world.

"You know what the key words there were? 'not everybody'. You know why? Because although I know you would like for me to disappear right now, not everybody feels the same way. Some people actually like me. And I don't have to go chasing after some guy who never notices me and thinks I'm weird." The instant that last sentence crossed her lips, Lily instantly regretted them.

"What are you talking about?" Cassie asked the question, but she really didn't want to know the answer. Her voice was almost a whisper, as though afraid that it might consume her.

Lily is a gentle but proud person. Sometimes, that pride pushes her gentleness to move to the background; and once the process starts, she just can't make it stop.

"Aw, come off it Cass! The whole school knows, as well as you do, that you are crazy about Remus Lupin. And the fact that you think nobody knows, is pathetic." Lily stopped to take a breath.

Every body in the Gryffindor dormitory was awake now, and waiting intently for what was to come next. Cassie, as Lily predicted, turned bright red. She glared daggers at Lily as she talked. She spoke in a soft, hurt, choking voice that completely betrayed her anger and hurt. Tears were uncontrollably pouring down her cheeks as she said,

"You know, my friends were right. You have no heart. All this time I've been defending you from their harsh words; and all this time they were right and I was wrong. You are a cold, heartless, know-it-all who doesn't care about anybody's feelings but your own."

With that, Cassie stood up and rushed out of the portrait hall without bothering to comb her hair. She just grabbed her robe and ran. To where, nobody knew.

As the door closed, Lily slumped back on the nearest bed. Her eyes traveled around the circular room. She knew she had to say something.

"I'm sorry Cassie. I didn't mean any of that…" was all she could say as a single teardrop feel from her left eye. She didn't expect any response, but if there was any to come, sshe was sure it would come from Nat.

"It's too late for that now," the usually reserved Charm left that hanging as she grabbed her robe and went after Cassie.

Lily looked at Nat saw someone else. Nat's clear aqua eyes were asking her how she, Lily, could be so cruel. As Nat turned away from her without saying a word, Lily wondered if she still had a best friend.