"Hi," Sev mumbled as I caught up with him, panting.
"Hi, Severus," I smiled cheerfully. He smiled a little when I said his name.
"Sev, it was awful, Black was acting like a hypocrite! He didn't even do a tiny bit of work!" I complained, panting. "Sev, you're too fast! Severus! Wait up!"
"Sorry," he told me.
"S'okay," I squealed. A look of slight annoyance crossed Sev's face.
"What it is, Severus?" I asked, concerned.
"Nothing," he said unconvincingly.
"Okay," I dismissed it.
"What do you want to do?" he asked returning to his old self. Before I could say anything, bounded up to me.
"That was an awesome performance in Charms!" she smiled happily. I smiled back. "Thanks, Dylan! You didn't do half-bad either!"
"Mudblood," spat Sev at Dyl. My eyes widened. "Severus..."
He walked off, his legs unbelievably stiff.
"I don't understand, Dylan. He NEVER calls me that foul word."
"It's okay, Lily," she said softly. "I guess he was just jealous that you were supposed to be hanging out with HIM, and talking to HIM.
"Well, then, he's an idiot," I scoffed. I clapped a hand to my mouth. Severus was my first best friend! I was such a-but then I remembered his words to Dylan and my guilt evaporated. "I'd better go catch up with him," I told Dylan.
In the distance I heard him say "MUDBLOOD!" to someone else.
I sighed. "Don't take it personally. He's like that to-"
I heard aanother "MUDBLOOD!" ring out.
I sighed heavily. I hated to admit it, but it was the truth. "-Everybody."
I ran to Sev and gave him a look, and he seemed to wither. "What. Was. That. For?" I growled.
"I-I," he stammered.
"I-I nothing!" I yelled. "You don't go around calling innocent people Mudblood! You-"
"Why not?" he interrupted.
"Because I said so," I said.
He actually seemed sort of scared of me.
"But-" he stuttered.
"BUT WHAT? BUT? I'M A MUDBLOOD TOO SEV!"
Severus shook his head at me. "I'm really sorry," he pleaded.
I calmed down.
"All right, Severus. You will apologize to whoever you insulted."
He shook his head really fast. "But Malfoy and Avery and Macna-"
"SHUT UP!" I shouted. Then I held his gaze. "Sev," I said. "Go."
After that I walked off to find Black and Potter talking in low voices.
"His mom is ill!"
"But Remus wouldn't miss the homework for his MOM, Prongs!"
Peter sat at the edge of the sofa. I smiled kindly at him, and he scuttled off.
Potter sat up. "Why, hello, Evans," he grinned slyly.
"Go away," I said stomping off.
"Fancy meeting you here!" he called after me loudly.
Alice was in my dormitory changing into pretty green-silk pjs.
"Hey," she smiled.
"Hi," I told her. "Why are you so dressed up?" I couldn't help adding.
"I'm looking out our windows for if we have a werewolf," she told me.
I rolled my eyes. "...we DON'T," I informed her.
"And, besides even if we did...why are you so dressed to check out WEREWOLVES?" I asked her.
She shook her head at me and went on combing her hair.
"Now, now, L-"
Aooooo!
The howl sent shivers down my back. I glanced at Alice.
Aoooo!
"It could be a normal wolf," I told her nervously.
"Yeah," Alice murmured. "Let's just go to bed."
Soon enough the other girls came up. I was dreading Marlene's return as I knew she would turn it into some sort of play. But I guess she was tired from the events of the day, because like the rest of us, she didn't resist her bed.
I dozed off easily, and woke up right on time. Then I gradually set off for breakfast, and got ready for our first lesson of Herbology.