The rest of the Christmas holidays passed in a bur of Quidditch games and delicious meals. Lily met so many family members that she had trouble remembering them all. She had to ask Roxy to make her a reference chart with all of the family members. Lily watched her parents all throughout the holiday. She had always been an excellent judge in character, and she was reluctant to admit that she had been wrong about them. Eventually, she just had to face the facts. She had been kidnapped. Her parents loved her. She had been wrong. She had to talk to Professor Villeti and cancel their plan.
That was something else that Lily had been wondering about. Professor Villeti had seemed so sure that Lily had been abandoned. She wouldn't have helped Lily with her plan to get revenge unless she was absolutely positive. Why would she pretend to help Lily?
When it came time for the cousins to return to Hogwarts, Lily used her reference chart to say goodbye to all of the family members who wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts. She found herself sad to leave the Burrow, but her mum promised her that she would be seeing lots of the house during the summer, and Easter holidays too.
When she was back on the Hogwarts Express, she let Roxy, Hugo, Aludra, and Elizabeth chat happily while she thought of how she was going to tell Professor Villeti that she didn't want to go forward with the plan.
"Lily!"
Lily looked up, surprised. She realized that her four friends were looking at her. They had been saying her name for a while.
"I'm sorry, what?" Lily said.
"We were wondering what you think the chances of Ravenclaw beating Hufflepuff at Quidditch is," Roxy said.
_LINE BREAK_
The next day was a weekend, and Lily took advantage of the time off to visit Professor Villeti in her office. She knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Professor Villeti's voice called.
Lily entered.
"Ah Lily! Good to see you. I trust you had a nice holiday?" the professor asked.
"Yes, thank you," Lily said.
"I'm glad you came. I wanted to tell you that I just sent the letter luring your parents to Hogsmeade and the plan will take place tonight," Professor Villeti said.
"That's why I came," Lily said. "I don't think I was abandoned. I'm pretty sure I actually was kidnapped!"
"I was afraid of this. Your parents are excellent at convincing people that they are saints. I was hoping that you would be smart enough to see through their deception, but I suppose that you are still just a first year," Professor Villeti sighed.
At once, Lily knew what she had to do.
"Are they really that good at deceiving people?" Lily asked.
"Yes. Only a handful ever saw through their deception," Professor Villeti said.
"Wow. I never thought that they were good enough to fool me. Thank you Professor Villeti! What would I ever do without you?" Lily said.
"No thanks necessary. Just seeing someone else seeing the truth is thanks enough. I am sorry to say that there is nothing else that you can do to help our plan, but just try to stay out of the way, alright?" Professor Villeti said.
"All right. I have an essay for potions due. I would hate to fall behind on my school work," Lily said.
"Yes, now run along," the professor said.
Lily nodded and left the room. She went to the library, where she knew she would find the people she was looking for. There! Rose, Scorpius, Albus, Roxy, Hugo, Aludra, and Elizabeth were sitting at a table, revising for a History of Magic test on Monday.
"Guys," Lily said, "we have a problem.