Everyone was shocked. Lily had her hand clamped over her mouth, her other hand clutching Severus's arm. James looked torn between letting Sirius go curse the boy and holding him close so he didn't get in trouble.
"Mulciber--let it go. She didn't--"
"Shut up, Snape. I don't like it when stupid little--"
"Don't. Its not worth it." Severus urged as Lily let out a squeak of terror.
There was a loose circle out on the grounds. A girl, one of Lily's friends, was staring a boy in the face. She was taunting him wit h her stare.
"Mary," Lily whispered, "leave him alone."
Mary didn't acknowledge the sound of Lily's voice.
"Severus! Do something!" Lily gasped.
"Mul--"
"Cruc--"
"Expelliarmus!" James and Severus had both shouted at the same moment. Both spells hit Mulciber and his wand went flying as he was thrown backwards. Lily and Pat rushed forward to Mary who was cowering on the ground.
"That was Dark Magic!" Mary screamed.
"What is all this?" Professor McGonagall demanded as she appeared.
"Snape and Potter just cursed Mul--"
"Shut your trap, Avery!" Sirius bellowed.
"Mr. Black!" McGonagall gasped.
"Please, Professor, Severus and James were trying to stop him from cursing Mary. He was upset--"
"Don't soften the story up for him, Lily!" Mary screeched, "Mulciber just tried to use an Unforgivable Curse on me for bumping into him and not apologizing. All because I'm a Muggle!" she burst into tears.
"And what do Snape and Potter have to do with this?" McGonagall demanded.
"They both tried to disarm him at the same time," Pat said.
McGonagall scooped up Mulciber's wand, conjured a stretcher out of thin air, and walked off back towards the castle. The crowd wandered off talking in breathless whispers about what had happened.
James, Sirius, and Severus crouched down next to the three girls on the ground. Lily glared at Severus over the top of Mary's head.
"How can you be friends with such horrible people?"