And here we go…a little turn around the corner, revealing The Dark Artists and what they're really like in this story. All I'll say is...poor Lily!

Chapter #15: Unfulfilled

"She's in that group? In Severus's group of friends?" Lily kept shaking her head over and over, feeling as though she had not heard correctly. She didn't know why she was so astonished; it seemed common sense now, as everything Cordelia had told her fit perfectly. Her arrogant personality, her close friendship with Lucius, her keen interest in the Dark Arts and the way she uttered the title Dark Artist all matched together like a puzzle. Of course she was in that group.

Wow, I just befriended one of Severus's friends, Lily thought to herself, making her way towards the library, where Severus and she had arranged to meet so that the latter could meet "the group" after dinner. She hadn't asked Cordelia where she was going after the Slug Club dinner meeting, but she was willing to bet on her Potions grade that she was also headed towards the library. Lily needed to think alone though. She was still very confused.

Did she or did she not enjoy Cordelia's company at dinnertime? In truth, Lily enjoyed having someone to talk to for once, and Cordelia's somewhat irksome and rebellious nature was something new and almost refreshing to be around. This shocked her, as she was known for and used to be around the wizards and witches who were all about studying and experimenting with advanced charms, spells, and potions. Yes, people like Gwen, Gizelle, and Simon. Indeed, Lily had enjoyed conversing with Cordelia and making acquaintance with her, though she wasn't sure what it would really be like to be, well, her friend.

I guess I'll just find out right now, she thought to herself, sighing as she approached the entrance to the library.

Sure enough, a small group of students were sitting together at one of the study tables, a couple of them wearing Slytherin attire—one wearing an emerald green hat and another wearing a scarf.

Lily could hear bits of conversation floating in the air from where they were at. She slowed her pace and walked quieter, curious to know what they were saying.

"—she's late, whoever she is. Are you sure she heard you correctly, Severus?" demanded blond-haired Lucius, who was sitting in one of the taller chairs. It wasn't just the chair though; Lucius looked like he was the leader of the bunch, what with his high posture and lofty expressions.

Severus was sitting in the chair closest to the entrance of the library. "Yeah, Lucius, I did," he said rather boldly. "She had to go to a Slug Club meeting, and Professor Slughorn is usually always picky with those…"

"She's in Slughorn's club?" Lucius cried in surprise and disgust. "God, those people in there are so full of—"

" A-hem." Cordelia's figure, short but hard to miss, rose slightly in her chair at the implied accusation. "Be careful as to who you insult, Lucius!" she hissed.

Lily actually gasped, for as far as she knew very few had the guts to speak to Lucius like that. And those that did were often looking for trouble. She vaguely thought of the whole Hogsmeade incident and instinctively started to turn around and flee.

But before she was able to take more than a few steps, she heard Lucius chuckling. His cool laughter made her hair stick at the back of her neck. "Cordy, Cordy," he said. "I was merely going to say that all those people in there are so full of amazing talents and admirable mannerisms. Wouldn't you all agree?" he added, addressing the other Slytherins, who laughed and consented.

"Sure you were, Lucius," Cordelia said, and Lily noted a hint of amusement in her tone. Apparently Lucius didn't intimidate his own friends.

At that moment, Severus looked up and said, "Lily!" Lily closed her eyes tightly and thought, oh shit! "There you are!"

She turned around and was sure that her face was redder than her hair.

"Lily!" Severus called again, and hurried towards her. "Gosh, I was afraid you'd chickened out." I almost did, but you caught me, Lily thought irritably.

"Hi," she said meekly. Severus eagerly turned her to his friends and said, "Guys, I know I didn't tell you exactly who you were going to meet, but—"

"You brought her?" Lucius said. The words hit Lily's ears like sharp knives, but then she realized his face wasn't as unpleasant as she'd anticipated. It was merely full of surprise, but only for a moment. "Hmm…I guess I should've known."

"You didn't tell them it was me who was going to meet them?" Lily whispered to Severus indignantly. So they were still secret friends, huh?

"It's not like that," he said softly back to her. "I was just…just afraid that if they knew it was actually you they'd back out and wouldn't give you a chance, you know?" he shrugged. "Sorry if that hurts your feelings."

She didn't say anything; her feet seemed to have become glued to the carpet. She wasn't able to move forward, and yet she couldn't seem to run away either. Here she was in front of Severus's friends, with Severus looking between her and them as if he was hoping that she would meet them and greet them like they were old friends. She wanted to glare at him for putting her in this position.

To be honest, they all looked like a bunch of hyenas ready to feed on their prey. The analogy, vaguely zooming within her thoughts, made her want to shiver.

"So…" said Lucius. "Welcome to our group, Evans." Lily gave them a curt nod. "Let me and your—ah—good friend Severus introduce you to the rest of the group, or rather the Dark Artists, as Cordelia likes to call us." He chuckled, and it was obvious he was fond of the title. Lily's eyes glazed over until they hit Cordelia, whose mouth was hanging open in complete astonishment. She shook her head and closed her mouth as though just realizing it had been open. She caught Lily's eye but immediately avoided it thereafter, looking at Lucius with a cool, complacent look as though nothing was unusual about this situation.

"Meet Floyd Avery," Lucius continued, laying a hand on the dark-skinned, built fellow who sat beside him and looked big enough to knock two trolls together with his hands. Lily could tell by the way Lucius presented him that Floyd was one of his closer mates.

"And this is Rhett Crabbe and Daniel Wilkes," Severus added, pointing to a chubby fifth-year who Lily often saw in her classes and another rather skinny boy who she had never seen in her life. "And Cordelia Bulstrode."

"We've met," Lily said before she could stop herself.

"What was that?" Lucius bent over slightly towards her.

"We've met," Cordelia repeated, watching Lily. "Apparently Evans and I are both on the Slug's radar now; we were both at the club dinner just not too long ago."

This surprised a couple of the group members, who brought their heads together and whispered. Lucius ignored them. "Ah. I see…" he said, still watching Lily intently. It made her feel like she was being closely X-rayed. She felt like shivering again. "Well then, welcome. Have a seat."

Lily's heart skipped a few beats when Lucius said this; no way in hell am I going to—she began to think, but then she caught sight of Severus's encouraging face and felt him nudge her from the back. He graciously pulled up a chair for her and slowly lowered himself into his chair only when she did.

As Lily sat down, a low hiss escaped from Daniel Wilkes. She looked at him, startled, and several others turned their heads as well. Lucius reached over with his hand as though preventing Wilkes from standing up and said, "Now, now, Daniel, let us take this opportunity to get to know Severus's little red friend." However inconspicuously and casual it sounded, everybody could hear the sneers he used when he said the least three words. There was a slight uproar within the group and the amplitude of their voices heightened dramatically. Lily's face burned.

"Hey! You guys, I really want this to end well, okay?" Severus told everyone, throwing his hands out cautiously before turning to Lucius. "Lucius," he added, "you're one of the greatest guys I know, and definitely my best mate, but I really wanted you all to get to know each other. Lily's really not as bad she may seem to you, and—" at this, he glanced at Lily with a knowing look, "our group is filled with a bunch of talented, creative, and funny wizards and witch." He looked at all of them again and finished by saying, "I know you both really well, and I know you guys can be friends if you're willing."

Lily was burning inside. So it was Lucius who was his best mate, eh? Severus was not looking her way at the moment, and she wished very much that he was just so she could glare at him.

Lucius looked around at each of his friends' faces and they all nodded at him with a certain look and smile; it was as though they all knew what the other was thinking and trying to say. God knew Lily hadn't an inkling of what was being communicated between them.

"Sure thing, Severus," Lucius said pleasantly.