Chapter 18

Olivia sat in the windowsill above her dresser, staring blankly out of her window, still mildly angry. She heard Hannah come in, and felt her heated gaze bare into her as she passed.

"Olivia." She said curtly, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Olivia sighed, irritated. "You're still mad at me?" She asked.

Hannah shook her head. "Not for the Sirius thing, the other thing."

"Oh bloody hell." Olivia said with a roll of her eyes.

"I can't believe you would talk to Severus Snape! Especially after what he did to Lily." She shook her head.

"I don't recall talking to someone being a crime." Olivia frowned. "Hmm, what a strange sense of déjà vu." She mockingly put a finger to her lips, feigning deep thought.

Hannah pointed a finger at her scolding. "I'm serious, he's bad news."

"How do you even know that I talked to him?" Olivia asked, her eyes narrowed in on her.

Hannah glared at her. "I would say you were flirting with him, but it was more like shamelessly throwing yourself at him." She said hotly.

Olivia pulled her knees into her chest and leaned back onto the window again. "And?"

Hannah pressed her lips together and looked about the room. "He called Lily a-" She faltered. "A um…well, he called her a very unforgivable name that isn't used in decent conversation. She's been nothing but nice to him, though I don't exactly know why, he is a Slytherin after all."

Olivia frowned. "So basically if I talk to him anymore, I'm risking my friendship with Lily?"

Hannah nodded. "She was extremely upset over the whole ordeal. Still is. I mean, I couldn't imagine being called such a nasty name."

Olivia stared at her evenly. "Couldn't you?"

Hannah stuck her tongue out at her.

The door rattled and Lily came in with a handful of books, Mary behind her.

"I'm so prepared for our exams it hurts." Lily said breathlessly.

Mary collapsed onto the bed next to Hannah. "So. Tired." She mumbled.

Lily looked at Hannah and then Olivia. "What are you fighting about now?"

Olivia's eyes snapped to Hannah's.

"Nothing." She said quickly.

"She's flirting with Severus!" Hannah yelled at the exact same moment.

Olivia stared daggers at Hannah, desperately trying to keep herself from throwing something at the girl.

Lily looked horrified.

"If it counts for anything, I wasn't really flirting, and I didn't know he was on your shit list until a few moments ago." Olivia said defensively.

Lily pressed her lips together, robotically moving toward her bed, staring straight in front of her.

Olivia sighed. "It's only to get back at Sirius, it's not like it means anything."

Lily stopped and stared at her. "I don't care what you do to Sirius, leave Severus out of it."

Olivia frowned, confused. "I thought you hated him?"

"I do." She said quickly. "But he's still a person. Stop using people like they're your pawns Olivia. This game is getting tiresome." Lily got into her bed quickly and shut the hangings. Shutting herself out of the room.

Olivia crossed her arms. "Are you chastising me?"

Lily was silent for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I don't know what your deal with revenge is Olivia, but it's going to gain you enemies, and right now you are making enemies with the wrong side."

Olivia glumly poked her breakfast the next morning, sitting completely alone. She heard James walk up to her cheerfully whistling to himself.

"Good morning." He said brightly. She shoved her bowl away from her and put her head in her arms.

James frowned. "What happened now?" He asked, sitting down next to her.

"I'm digging myself a hole James. I big, ruddy, hole." She mumbled into her arms.

"You and Sirius need to call this whole thing off right now." He said firmly. "It's destroying you both."

Olivia sighed and propped her head up with one hand, staring at him. "You're right, and I can see why you're right, but for so many wrong reasons I can't accept it."

James shook his head. Coming up quickly, he saw Sirius angrily making his way toward them. "Looks like you aren't the only one in a bad mood this morning."

Sirius shoved his way toward them, and Olivia could see it in his eyes instantly that he was focused on her. As a first year dived out of his way, Sirius stopped directly in front of her, trying to control his breathing.

"You've gone too far." He snarled.

Olivia frowned. "I don't recall doing anything particularly nasty." She said thoughtfully.

"You go to the dance with him and I swear to you Olivia-"

Olivia paled. "Gee, word travels fast around here."

"Wait, go to the dance with who?" James asked curiously.

Olivia's eyes flashed. "Wait, so now suddenly you can tell me who I can enjoy my evenings with?"

Sirius lost his breath for a moment. "It's not funny Olivia."

"Oh no, of course not. You have no feelings for me at all, and all you want to do is get me in bed, but now because I have a date to a dance and it's not you, you have a problem with it?" Olivia crossed her arms and swung her legs over the seat to lean back onto the table, staring up at him.

James stared between the two and realized most of the Great Hall was tuning into the conversation as well. He cleared his throat. "Could you two maybe, duel this out elsewhere? You have an audience."

Sirius put his hand up to James, ignoring him. "You're risking every friendship you've made here Olivia. It's selfish, and it's completely below the belt."

"Below the belt? So now there are rules to this twisted game?" She asked coolly.

Sirius frustratingly growled. "Fine, all bets off. You win. Just don't do it ok?"

Olivia pressed her lips together and smiled. "Oh you're not getting off that easy." She stared at James' open mouth. "No pun intended." She winked.

Standing up she brushed past Sirius' angry glare and sauntered down the rows of tables, the entire student body present staring after her.

James looked up at Sirius' dark face.

"Mate, what is going on?" James asked desperately.

"Olivia has gone completely mental." Sirius said angrily. As he stalked off James sighed heavily.

"Because no one listens to MY advice." He said despondently to no one.