Chapter 12:
Only a week after the close call with Remus werewolf condition, the friendship between Snape and Lily shattered. It had begun innocently with a debate about one subject or another that quickly turned heated.
That wasn't a strange sight in the library, the regulars were quite used to the sight of the Gryffindor and the Slytherin debating heatedly. To be honest Marianne couldn't quite remember everything that had been said but one thing had burned itself into her memory, the "stupid mudblood whore." echoed through the library. Snape seemed to have finally snapped and showed his true nature.
It was silent for all but a second before Ms. Pince bellowed through her halls "Mr. Snape, why I never! You can rest assured that your Head of House will here from this! You'll come with me this second, move it young man!"
And while she all but dragged Snape to the dungeons Lily burst into tears and ran out of the library. With two quick charms Marianne had her and Lily's stuff packed and she ran after the red haired Gryffindor.
Marianne found Lily crying in one of the smaller courtyards that weren't occupied at that time of the day. Tentatively Marianne sat beside the red head and offered her a tissue, she still carried them around after the nasty cold she had had the week before.
Hiccupping Lily thanked her and pressed it against her face while her shoulders shook. Unsure what to do Marianne slowly stroked down her back and hummed a soothing melody until Lily had than moved closer to her so that Marianne could put her arms around her and hug her. They spent nearly half an hour like this before Lily had calmed down to a few single sobs.
The rumors about the fall out in the library had to have somehow spread throughout the whole castle in mere minutes, because ten minutes into comforting Lily, James and Sirius appeared out of the corner of her eye. Marianne had shaken her head and winked them away, Lily didn't need to be made even more upset. Reluctantly the two had retreated; thankfully those two had been the only ones to had found Marianne and Lily.
When Lily had finally composed herself enough she whispered a quiet "Thank you and no I don't want to talk about Snape."
Said Hufflepuff just smiled slightly and took her by the hand. Marianne led the two through some hidden passages that the Marauders had shown her to the kitchens.
There the houseelves surrounded them in seconds and a minute later they had every possible and impossible comfort food in the world before them. Lily dug into the triple chocolate cake with vigor while Marianne filled their hot chocolates with whipped cream and put extra cocoa powder over it.
She put the beverage right in front of Lily who sent her a slightly shaky smile as a thank you when she grabbed the drink and swallowed half of it before putting the mug back down.
In commiseration Marianne also worked herself through the piles of sugary heaven. After they had tasted themselves through the different chocolate cakes and pastries they now attacked the more fruity desserts like candied apples, chocolate covered strawberries and cherries, apple pie and many more.
Somehow between the chocolate soufflé and the chocolate pudding they had started rating the food. The houseelves were delighted in having willing guinea pigs and piled more and more food on the table until Marianne asked for something salty to counter balance the sweet stuff.
The two females spent the rest of the afternoon tasting themselves through the various foods until finally shortly before dinner they had to stop because they were in danger of bursting.
While the rest of the Hogwarts population was at dinner Lily and Marianne brought their stuff two their respective common rooms before they met up again at the West tower.
This particular tower was a secluded place that few students knew about because of the out of the way entrance. Marianne had made a stop at the Den where she grabbed two stomach potions so that they wouldn't feel the consequences of their feeding feast.
The two sat at first in amicable silence while they watched the sun going down before they started chatting about non consequential stuff. Marianne hadn't known Lily that good before, her continuing friendship with the Marauders had been an instant deterrent for Lily but it seemed that that was changing now.
Said red head now regretted that decision of shunning the younger Hufflepuff. She found Marianne to be a sensible if a bit shy girl, with a strong interest in Ancient Runes and Potions.
Being a potion prodigy herself Lily enjoyed the debates about the newest potion discoveries and methods. Really Lily couldn't understand how such a sweet girl had befriended Sirius Black and then in turn the Marauders? Sitting there and contemplating that topic the question slipped out before she could change her mind.
"How can you tolerate Potter and Black?"
Marianne just smiled at that and looked down on her hands while she searched for the right words.
"They aren't that bad,… no listen to me, you shouldn't judge a book by its' cover. I know that Sirius is a playboy and prankster and that he can really overdo it sometimes,..."
Lily snorted "Sometimes?"
",… anyway, but he has also his good sides and those outweigh the bad ones. He is loyal like nobody else to his friends and believe it or not he is very protective and looks out for those that are important to him. Do you see this bracelet? That was his Christmas present for me, here feel it."
And with that she shoved it into Lily's personal space. The red head couldn't help but gasp, the protective capabilities of it where so strong that she could feel it radiating of the delicate silver bracelet. It was astonishing; somebody had spent a lot of time and power to make this.
",… you have to understand something. Sirius and James are prodigies, no don't interrupt me! They are prodigies with attentions spans of five year olds, if they aren't occupied they start to get stupid ideas. I have noticed this the moment I began schooling here and really in the last few years it has started to get better, you can't deny that. So yeah they use pranks and hexing to alleviate their boredom. They are under challenged, and unoccupied genius always spells trouble and here you have teo of them! The trick is to challenge them with something that they like. Like you for example, don't look that disbelieving. James really likes you and you being difficult just makes it even more interesting for him. I know that his advances are overbearing and annoying for you but he really just tries to impress you. You can't tell me that you have never entertained the thought of going out with James if he lost that childishness and grew up."
At this Lily looked annoyed but nodded grudgingly; Marianne couldn't help but smile at that. At least Lily didn't deny it vehemently and then chose her words carefully.
"I know this is asking for a lot but would you give him a chance? Just try to talk to him when Sirius, Remus and the rest of the Gryffindor common room aren't egging him on."
Lily had a stormy expression on her face and then diverted, "I can't believe how we came from experimental potions to dating James Potter in less than 10 minutes. It is already late; we should go back to our common rooms."
Marianne just nodded at that and also stood up. What Lily didn't seem to notice was that she hadn't denied giving James a chance, now she only had to have a heart to heart with said Marauder before he asked her out again.
The two witches walked in amicably silence. At the corridor where their paths separated Lily brought Marianne into an impulsive hug and said in an earnest voice.
"Thank you, you made this horrible day a lot better and well okay I will think about what you said. But NO promises."
Marianne just nodded at that and whished Lily a good night before she skipped down to the Hufflepuff common room.
On the next day she intercepted the Marauders on their way to breakfast and expressively forbid them from addressing Lily about the topic Snape. She also pulled James to the side to gave him the rundown of the talk yesterday.
The Quidditch captain looked like Christmas had come early and eagerly absorbed the pointers the younger girl gave him regarding Lily. Marianne hoped that he wouldn't forget them as soon as he caught a glimpse of the fiery red head.