Chapter 23
"Hey you"
Lily walked up to Severus, who was sitting alone in the window seal of a corridor. The Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L's was after lunch, and every fifth year seen was bending over a book.
"It was hard to decide who looked worse, Lily or Severus. They both had dropping eyelids and bloodshot eyes. Sallow, pale and exhausted, at least Severus was still eating.
"Lily." He stood up and hugged her, before stepping back, still standing. "Are you alright?"
Lily frowned "What are you talking about."
"Well…." Severus choose his words carefully "You look like you're going to throw up and your constantly fidgeting with your clothes. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she lied quickly, looking everywhere but at him. Was it really that obvious? Arameo sent races of embers along her skin.
"Lily." He gave a sort of half chuckle-half cry sound. "I've been your best friend since we were 8. I think I know you a bit better than that."
She smiled slightly, wincing at the muscle movement that Arameo didn't agree with.
She could tell him, he wouldn't pass it on; he was a good, trustworthy friend.
Then again, that was similar to what she had thought when she told James about Constance. Look how that turned up, she told herself.
Besides, what about Mulciber and Avery? He shared a dorm with junior Death Eaters. They could twist it out of him, but what did Arameo have to do with You-Know-Who? The Dark Lord specialized in dark magic of all sort. Was there any way this bond of pain on her chest wasn't dark magic? And if Arameo DID have something to do with the Dark Lord, would He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named come for her.
Who would he send?
"Lily? Lily." Severus snapped his fingers in her face a few times, waved his hand, shook her shoulder. "You alright? You completely zoned out on me."
"Yeah I'm totally fine, just worried about the exam." Severus didn't believe her lies what so ever.
"Sure. Let's go with that." He said sarcasm dripping from his words. Lily laughed her first real laugh in weeks.
"yes, let's go with that considering it's the truth."
Sev nodded vigorously, his entire face still glowing from her laugh.
"Here," she said, still giggling "You can quiz me," she curled up in the window seal and Sev sat eagerly besides her. From across the hall, James glared at them, at him, with every ounce of contentment he contained.
"Blimey prongs, if looks could kill, pour slimy Snivellus would be long gone by now."
"Shut up Padfoot, just look at them. Look at HIM, undressing her with his eyes, mentally draped over her like, like….. It's revolting."
"A bit jealous are we, mate?" REMUS asked from where he was trying to help Peter calm down enough to study.
"That should be me. That So should be me, and all because of one stupid slip up. I'm such a bloody idiot."
"Yup." Sirius agreed enthusiastically. "but aren't we all?" James didn't respond, after several minutes, Padfoot sighed. "Just get over her mate."
"I can't."
"try harder."
"I have, she's just so amazing"
"She hates your guts."
"Thanks for popping my happy bubble pads. 'appreciate it."
"May I have your attention, please?" McGonagall stood at the end of the corridor, slowly, the conversation dropped and every fifth year stood to look at her, James noticed Snivellus standing close to Evans, his jaw set. "Your seats for this Defense Against the Dark Arts exam are assigned; Professor Flitwick will be administering this test. Go in quietly and take your seat, your name will be floating above it. As soon as the test is complete you will be free to do as you please whether it is going outside or the library or your respective common rooms."
McGonagall stepped back and they filled into the room. James passed Lily and gave her a flirtatious wink.
"Go to hell potter" She hissed, as to not letting McGonagall or Flitwick hear her.
"Go to Hogsmeade with me first."
"No, for the hundredth millionth time, NO!"
Their fellow class mates made several "sHHHH"-ing sounds. With one final glare, Lily departed to the other side of the room to where her desk was. She could see Gemma sitting near the front, Michelle a few rows in front of the seat Lily found her name, and Adrian sitting behind Black.
She sat down, and listened with one ear to the instructions given by Professor Flitwick, the dwarf charms teacher.
"As Professor McGonagall has already explained, this is a timed test, Your quills and parchment is enchanted to prevent cheating, so do not even attempt to. At the end of the test session, I will gather your testing parchment and you will be excused. You may begin."
He flicked his wand and a paper appeared on everyone's desk, baring the test questions. Lily looked down and began
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS-
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL
Question 1) Give the correct spell used in defending against Boggarts...
Question 5) What is the name of the killing curse that is illegal to perform, thus naming it an Unforgivable Curse….
Question 10) Give five signs that identify a werewolf….
Question 15) Give the correct incantation for a Body Bind counter curse…..
The test continued, 20, 30, 40, 60, questions with several short essay prompts under that. Even Lily, who had studied fervently found herself pausing on some questions, stumped. Finally she was half way complete with her final essay question.
"Five more minutes!" Professor Flitwick squeaked from his pedestal. Lily looked up briefly before looking down again. She looped the conclusion of her answer and then immediately started double checking the rest of the questions. She made a few minor corrections before leaning back. She felt so tired, every muscle in her body ached. Arameo had gotten nastier and nastier over the last few weeks. Her attacks were violent conniptions that lasted up to thirty minutes now. There had to be a way out of this….. Her eyelids dropped, she wasn't sleeping much… her breathing regulated…
"Quills down, please!" She jumped slightly and looked up at him, trying wake herself up quickly "That means you to Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment. Accio!"
Al once, more than a hundred rolls of paper flew to him with enough force to knock him over. Several students laughed, Lily smiled slightly, watching Gemma help Flitwick up.
Thank you… Thank you..." Professor Flitwick huffed. "Very well everybody, you're free to go!" Lily stood up gingerly and waited for Michelle and Gemma before walking over to Adrian who was still looking after Black. Lily raised her eyebrows suggestively.
"Oh shut it Lily" she said with a mocking frown. Lily grinned hugely at her as several other girls joined them, the group grew bigger as they walked through the Entrance Hall and down towards the lake. The other girls chattered on pointlessly, Gemma looked over at Lily question burning in her eyes.
Lily looked back at her, trying to convince her that she was fine at the moment. Gemma looked away although she didn't look thoroughly convinced.
They walked over to the edge of the Lake. Gemma sat down next to Lily and the two girls stripped they're socks and stockings off, cooling their feet in the cool water.
"I'm so glad that's over!" Said Michelle lying on the grass with her arms and legs spread out. Even though the hardest definitely wasn't over for Lily she still felt relieved that at least the majority of exams were over. She closed her eyes and paddled her feet slightly, soaking in the warm sun, the cool sensation of liquid in between her toes, the grainy feel off grass under her fingertips….
"Right Lily?"
"Wha? Huh?"
"I said," Adrian restated "that we still have Transfiguration left and that will be brutal."
Lily groaned and several girls giggled in response "Yes, yes it will be brutal."
"Not that you need worry about it, you're going to pass without a blink"
"Unless I fall asleep first-"
A fit of screams and laughter brought Lily out of her dazed again. Looking up, she saw Severus crawling on the ground, soap suds spraying from his mouth, his wand on the grass, a ways away, Potter and Black were laughing, wands drawn.
"Leave him ALONE" She yelled, jumping up and marching over to him. Potters hand flew up to his hair, Lily ran through different ways to kill him in her head
"Alright there Evans?"
"Leave him alone. What's he done to you?"
"Well, it's more that he exists if you know what I mean…." He trailed off and several onlookers laughed. Lily missed the humor
"You think your funny" she all but spat on the ground "But your just an arrogant, bullying toe rag, Potter. Leave him alone."
"I will if you go out with me, Evans. Go on…. Go out with me, and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid" Lily retorted and watched Potters face fall slightly.
"Bad luck, prongs" Black said, laughing slightly "OY!" Severus had reached his wand and pointed it straight at Potter, a flash of light later, and there was a gash on Potters face and blood on his robes. It took Prongs about a second to retaliate; Snape was instantly hoisted into the air by one leg.
If the sight had been anyone else, Lily would have tried less hard not to laugh, a small smile, which she quickly fixed, pasted her face. "Let him down!"
"Certainly." Severus face planted with the ground. "Petrificus Totalus" black cried, and Severus was rigid as a board. Those little…
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily yelled, she whipped her own wand out and felt slightly satisfied when Potter and Black looked slightly scared.
"Ahh, Evans, don't make me hex you."
"Take the curse off him, then!"
Potter deliberated for a moment, before obligating. Lily rushed over to him, eager to help her friend.
"There you go," Potter said behind her "you're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus-"
"I don't need filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
All thoughts left. Stop. Cease. Gone. Dead. Mudblood. A thin line that kept Lily to sanity snapped and she blinked back tears.
How could he say that? They were friends since they were 8. Had that meant nothing. At all? She saw the similarities, thousands, between Snape and Potter just then, ling, conniving, manipulative, stubborn raccoons who cared about themselves. She was just in the way.
"Fine, I won't bother you in the future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you Snivellus."
She hated calling him that. She could see the pain in his eyes at her words. But his words had caused much more pain, though Lily was much better at hiding it now.
"Apologize to Evans!" Potter roared
Lily flipped. "I don't want you to make him apologize. You're just as bad as he is."
"What?" he cried "I'd never call you a- you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can- I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."
She turned away and ran as fast as she could possibly move away from there.
"Evans! Hey, EVANS!" She didn't look back, Potters voice only fueled her to go faster. She raced past the path to Hagrids hut, up the stone way and when she passed the rock with the spider and a crack her chest burned painfully and tears sprang to her eyes. She booked it up to the Gryffindor Common room and up to the 5th year girl's dormitories'.
Only then, far away from Potter and Black and Snape and everyone else. Only then, with her makeup melting away reveling Arameo, only then did she stop running and collapse into Gemmas waiting arms.
Ok how was that? Anyone notice something familiar in there? Sorry it took so long, I need the 5th book for this one and I left in my locker so I had to wait. :P
I really hate to do the whole five reviews or I won't post but could I pleasepleasePLEASE have at least five if not ten reviews on this chapter? I would really appreciate it
Thanks
~LIZIES~