Anger

Fourth year

"Lily!"

It took her several seconds to recognise Severus, because his nose occupied a startling portion of his face, having swollen to five times the size.

"Merlin!" she blurted, shutting her copy of The Five Greatest Threats to Wizardkind by Josselyn Patchgut in her alarm. "S-Sev? What happened?"

"Nffin," said Severus, his mouth muffled under his still-growing nose. Then, "Jame Pffr!"

"I knew it," she growled, her eyes narrowing. "I've had enough of him. Sev, get yourself to the hospital wing. I'll come and visit you later."

"Mff!" exclaimed Severus. "Dun oo nffin!"

"Don't worry," she said, unable to make out quite what he had attempted to shout at her. "You'll be fine. Just go, and I'll come and see you later. Alright?"

Severus hesitated, then nodded reluctantly and left. Instantly, Lily set down her book and hurried to the Gryffindor Common Room, where James Potter would surely be. Her mind churned; this was the last straw.

"Polka-dots," she half-growled at the Fat Lady, who swung open with a grumble.

Sure enough, there stood James with his gang, laughing about none other than Severus.

"Did you see his face?" said James, an arm around Remus.

"No, it was obscured by his nose," laughed Sirius, holding his side. "That was brilliant, James!"

"Really great!" said Peter.

Lily strode across the room to him, and he turned, still laughing. She drew out her wand in one fluid motion, her cheeks flushed with anger.

"You'd better have an explanation, Potter, or I'll curse you beyond recognition," snarled Lily.

"Whoa there," said James, holding up his hands in mock-surrender. "I'm terrified."

"You disgust me," she spat. "You and your little gang, who torture innocent, nice boys like Severus just for what? Fun?"

"Yes, it was quite fun," said James. "You didn't see it, Evans! You'd have laughed!"

"At WHAT?" she demanded, her voice nearly a shriek. "At your bullying? That's all you are, James Potter, an under-talented, self-righteous BULLY!"

He flinched for a moment, then looked as unfazed as ever. "I haven't heard that one before," he said drily.

"MELOFO–"

"Protego!" he shouted, pulling out his wand faster than she could ever have imagined. "And that was a jinx, Evans, not a curse. Besides, why do you always stand up for him, Evans? He's just a pureblood-loving, Slytherin slimeball."

"Who happens to be my FRIEND!" shouted Lily, her eyes blurry with tears. Where had these tears come from? "You just don't understand, do you? You don't know what people do for their friends! THEY STAND UP FOR THEM!"

"Listen, here–" began James sharply.

"You probably don't care for your friends as much as I do," she continued, "or you'd stop being so cruel!"

"I care for my friends!" declared James. "You have no bloody idea what I've done for my friends!"

"No I don't! Because it's probably a LIE!"

"You don't know what you're talking about, Evans," snapped James. "You're a hypocrite, calling me self-right–"

"You've been bullying him for three and a half years now!" cut in Lily, and the tears were now streaking down her face. "Can't you STOP? Aren't you TIRED of it yet? Because I AM! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOU, JAMES POTTER!"

James flinched. "Well I didn't know you felt–"

"OH, YES YOU DID!" She gave a short, scathing laugh. "I've told you COUNTLESS times, and every time you just… just laugh at me and make some stupid comment, then go and torture Sev – Yes, you TORTURE him! That's what you do!"

"What about him and his Death-Eater friends?" demanded James. "What about that?"

"We're fourth years!" she exclaimed. "None of them are D-DEATH EATERS!"

"They might as well be!" countered James. "They all want to follow You-Know-Who so bloody badly, it's like they have a sign above their heads saying–"

"SEV'S NOT EVIL!" she shouted, feeling her fury suddenly rear up. "HE'S NOT A DEATH-EATER!"

And Lily, unable to argue anymore, collapsed in tears, the only way left for her anger to seep out of her.