Chapter Three:
As I was sipping a glass of pumpkin juice - Robert's arm around my shoulders - one week after the start of term, the owls arrived. I looked up at the ceiling, searching for any familiar owls.
"Hey," someone behind me said, distracting me from the ceiling. I looked around. Brooke and Felicity were standing there, looking guilty.
"What? You guys here to tell me how much better Sharon is than me? Oh, wait, you already did that!" I said.
Brooke bit her lip. "Lily, we hate not talking to you. Can you forgive us?" Brooke muttered, not looking directly at me. That sounded rehearsed.
I pursed my lips for a second. "Ok, can you admit you were wrong?" I asked.
Felicity's mouth snapped open as if to say something, then shut again.
"Fine, we were wrong. Happy now?" she snapped, before the silence grew too long.
I shrugged. "Happy enough." The girls half grimaced, half smiled at me, before taking seats opposite me.
"Oh, Lily, it looks like you've got something," Robert commented, looking up. I followed his gaze. A tiny chestnut brown owl was zooming towards me, a letter attached to it's leg. I recognised the owl. Sera. Rose's owl.
I'd made her promise to write to me. Mainly because I was the only one who knew that she'd gone off to France with her boyfriend - she hadn't told her parents, or any of the family for that matter, and Hugo remained as ignorant as ever to his sister's private life, so I'd ordered her to keep me updated just so somebody would know where she was. She'd only told me after I'd overheard her planning with Scorpius about what they what they'd do when they got to France. Half an hour of pestering later, she'd told me everything, and forced me to make an oath not to tell any of the family.
Sera landed directly in front of me, just as a larger barn owl landed in front of Robert, carrying the Daily Prophet. Sera waited patiently while I untied the letter from the leg; I rewarded her with a chunk of my bagel, which she snaffled down in one gulp. I unfolded the letter to see what Rose had to say.
Lily,
Paris is amazing. Scorp has his first performance tomorrow, he's really nervous. Even though there was a sound test yesterday and it went amazingly well, he's still a bit on edge - understandably. We visited the Eiffel Tower a couple of days ago - gorgeous views of the Paris skyline! Wish you could see it! If anyone asks about my medical convention, tell them there was a lecture yesterday about possible causes of Scrofungulus. I heard a rumor a couple of days ago that the Ministry is down to the last three Death Eaters. How great is that?
How's Hogwarts? I know you've not been back for very long. I've written to Hugo too, but make sure he replies. You know how he is.
Rose
P.S Harriet wrote to me and told me how you'd spoken to her. Lily, for Merlin's sake stop doing that! I know you feel like you know her, but she's still your teacher!
I sighed, then folded up the note. I looked over at Robert.
"Is there anything in there about the remaining Death Eaters?" I asked, taking another sip of my drink Robert blinked then turned another few pages.
"Er...yeah, there is! 'It has been publicly announced today that Death Eater Nott has at last been tracked down. An anonymous tip reached the Ministry that disclosed Nott's location, and he was at last captured by a team of skilled Aurors in Guatemala,'" Robert read out.
"Great, does it say who's left?" I asked, pushing my plate away - Sera immediately started pecking at my bagel.
Robert scanned the page. "Yeah, it says there's Goyle, Macnair and Mulciber left. Good, right?" he grinned, taking a bit of his toast.
"Yeah, great," I murmured.
"Um, Lily?" I heard Felicity say. I looked up, to see her face looking slightly confused.
"Where's all your makeup?" she asked, frowning. I laughed.
"I decided to wear less," I said simply.
"It doesn't look as good. You seriously need to put on some foundation. Like, now," she stated, tilting her head to one side. I smiled at her.
"Well, I don't think I do," I lied, standing up. "Robert, ready to go to class?"
"Sure!" he answered, barely a millisecond after the words left my mouth. So cute.
As we were walking out of the hall, I felt him slink his arm around my waist, pulling me a little closer to him. I responded by putting my head on his broad shoulder. Ever since he'd asked me out a week ago we'd been inseparable. The only class we didn't have together was Potions - I was taking it as it was required for me to become an Auror, like my dad. I'd wanted to be an Auror for as long as I could remember, so maybe the part of Aphelia's advice on how to redeem myself about focusing on work would be more useful than I'd originally thought. I really needed to work hard to get the grades required to become an Auror. I was only admittedly only doing the subjects necessary to become an Auror - as in, I was only doing Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology and Charms. No additional, unneeded subjects, so I could focus on getting good marks for those ones with more ease. I had been going to continue with Care of Magical Creatures, but...I just couldn't. It didn't feel right, after Hagrid...
"You going to come along to Quidditch tryouts tonight?" Robert interrupted my train of thought - thankfully. A few girls pushed past me in the crowded corridor, giggling.
"Yeah, of course I am. Aphelia wants to get on the team again, I said I'd be there for her. You trying out?" I asked, smiling up at him.
"Yeah, I'm trying out for Beater," he grinned. I grinned back and took a step in front of him, winding my arms around the back of his neck.
"Well, I wouldn't miss that for the world," I murmured, before leaning into Robert to kiss him. There were a few wolf whistles, and one person cried, "Get a room!" but Robert just pulled me closer to him, wrapping his muscular arms around my back.
After another moment I pulled away, and took his hand in mine. We were only just outside the Transfiguration classroom, but thankfully Professor Hippelby hadn't seen us. He spent the entire lesson teaching us how to turn quills into lizards - you had to make sure that the lizard's tail didn't end in a nib and produce ink. I paid attention to every single thing he said, meticulously making notes - I could not afford to fall behind. In Charms I listened patiently to Professor Fizzit going over the Aguamenti charm that we'd studied last year and we could all already do competently. In Herbology, Professor Longbottom introduced us to a new plant that for the life of me I couldn't spell it's name, and in Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Dralicke had us practising Cave Inimicum, a spell to warn of any possible approaching enemies. Mine started going off when Sharon Parkinson walked past.
I saw David, Hugo and Aaron walking down to the dungeons for Potions - the only class I didn't have with Robert, or any of my friends, for that matter - so I jogged forward to get just behind them, paused, then stood on tiptoe so that my head was right behind Hugo's, and tapped his shoulder. Just as he turned, I yelled, "Boo!" causing him to yell in fear, and David and Aaron to burst out laughing.
"Hey guys!" I laughed, as Hugo rejoined us.
"Way to make an entrance, Lily," Hugo chuckled, panting slightly.
I smirked. "Shall I take that as a compliment?"
"I think that's up to you," Aaron grinned, shrugging. I laughed again.
"Hey, so Hugo, how's it going with Katy?" I asked.
"Like I'd tell you, Lil. You'd tell every person in our family," he grinned
"Shame, but true. Anyone you guys interested in?" I asked David and Aaron. David shrugged. "I don't know."
I grinned. "There is! I know there is!" I cried. "If you tell me, I'll put in a good word...?" I hinted, smiling.
"Why are you suddenly so interested in who we're dating, Lily?" Aaron chuckled.
"I don't know," I shrugged, "I guess I want to know who I can tell all the embarrassing stories about you to."
"What stories?" Hugo asked, smiling slightly.
I didn't hesitate to reply, "Second year, Greenhouse Three, the Mandrake Experiment." Hugo's face went as white as a ghost. I smirked, and enjoyed David and Aaron reliving the fond memories of that evening...
"Hey, what about you, Lily?" Aaron asked as we descended the staircase, smirking.
"What about me what?"
"What embarrassing stories do we know about you?" he smirked.
"Nothing," I replied, promptly.
"Fifth year, girls bathroom, Moaning Myrtle's toilet," David laughed. I gaped.
"How do you guys know about that?" I mouthed, feeling myself go red. The three boys burst out laughing at my expression.
"Oh, Hugo ran into Myrtle in the Prefect's Bathroom and she...she might have mentioned it," Aaron choked out between chuckles. I glared at Hugo, and shoved his shoulder lightly.
"I'm going to kill you!" I cried, laughing a little.
"If you try I'll tell Uncle Harry," he threatened.
"I'm going to seriously injure you?" I compromised. Hugo opened his mouth to say something else, when the door to the Potions classroom banged open.
"Miss Potter, Mr Weasley, Mr Cooke, Mr Gidds, if you would care to join my lesson that began five minutes ago, it would be appreciated." The sharp voice reverberated throughout the dungeons.
"It would also be appreciated if you would let us finish our conversation," Aaron replied, shrugging. Professor Jollieminda's thin, dark lips pressed into a minuscule line. "Five points from Gryffindor, Mr Cooke, and if I have to tell you again it will be ten."
I rolled my eyes, but against my instinct I held my tongue, knowing that I had to reform my image. So, to everybody present's immense surprise, I was the first one to surrender and walk inside the classroom. Glancing at the board before taking a seat next to Agnes, I suppressed a groan at seeing the word Amortentia on the blackboard. My eyes widened and I whipped around to face Agnes.
"They want us to make a love potion?" I hissed, incredulously. Agnes winced.
"Um, just don't accept drinks from anybody from now on, ok?" she whispered, her voice so high it could have been mistaken for a dog whistle.
For a moment I didn't understand quite what she meant. I had been concerned about the complexity of the potion. Then I realised.
"Oh," I sighed, looking around. Sure enough, about half the class were already poring over their textbooks and sneaking furtive looks at members of the opposite gender, though Professor Jollieminda was just taking her place at the front of the classroom.
"Now, can anybody tell me what Amortentia is?" she said, loudly, her voice ricocheting of the stone walls. Lucy put up her hand. "Yes, Miss Weasley?" Jollieminda pointed at Lucy.
"Amortentiais the most potent love potion in the world," she said, breathlessly, her eyes shining.
"Good. I should have seen every hand in here raised, seeing as we looked at this potion last year, even though we did not attempt to brew it. However," she announced, her voice suddenly incredibly loud, "this year, I want you all to have at least made one cauldron full by the end of term. I shall guide you through, and once you have mastered the skills of paying close attention to whatever I am saying," she stressed, "you should not find it too difficult to brew. Now," she waved her wand, and beneath Amortentia, in chalk the ingredients and instructions appeared on the blackboard, "ingredients out, and remember - do not rush this potion, take your time. Slow and steady wins the race," she quoted.
"Shame I'm not a tortoise, then," I muttered, pulling the textbook out of my bag. I usually won the race, and won it fast. I groaned when I saw how long Amortentia had to stew. This time, it really did have to be taken slow. I drew out my mortar and began to crush my Moonstone. It had to be a fine powder, so it took me a decent amount of time to get that done. Just as I was about to begin adding my rose thorns, I felt Agnes tap my shoulder.
"Um, Lily? Would you please help me crush the Moonstone? It's so hard."
I looked over my shoulder at her. Agnes looked so...little. Helpless. Defenseless. She was like a child in some ways.
"All you need to do is press a pestle down on it. Amortentia isn't supposed to be exactly easy to make," I sighed. Agnes bit her lip.
"Well, I just got a manicure last night from Brooke." she explained.
"So that incapacitated you?"
"...What?"
Agnes' face looked so blank and confused. I realised she didn't know what the word incapacitate meant.
Agnes continued. "It's just, we have different qualities." I have no idea where she's going with this. "I'm better at hair and makeup advice, and all the stuff I'm going to need to get a job in Madame Malkins next year. You're better at getting boyfriends, getting rid of boyfriends, having snappy, harsh comebacks...and Potions," she said, smiling, clearly under the impression she had complimented me.
For a moment I just stared at her, not sure if I'd heard her correctly. I wasn't sure if she was complimenting me or not. Agnes sort of half smiled at me, clearly hoping that I'd crush her Moonstone. My instincts were telling me to tell exactly just where exactly she could stuff her Moonstone, when I remembered that I had a reputation to regain. Still, I silently retracted my previous thoughts about how she was helpless and defenseless.
I rolled my eyes. "Give it here," I sighed, taking her Moonstone from her pale fingers. I heard Agnes emit a soft sigh of relief.
"Thanks!" she squeaked, happily. "Hey, if you want I'll fix your hair and makeup later! You look like you need a serious makeover."
I bit my tongue and crushed her Moonstone to dust. And they say I'm the one who shouldn't be in Gryffindor. By the time I had finished both our Moonstone powders, and put up with Agnes happily babbling about how she could improve my appearance later, it was the end of the lesson. I hastily shoved my books into my bag, and leapt to my feet.
"Hey, Lily," I heard someone call. I turned around, glad of an excuse not to have to listen to Agnes prattling about how I should do my hair, not how I was doing my hair. I saw Aaron was slinging a bag over his shoulder. "Coming to the Quidditch tryouts?"
I grinned. "Yeah, but only watching. Robert's trying out, and Aphelia, so I said I'd be there for them." Aaron paused suddenly, a strange expression on his face. "What?" I asked, smiling and waving at Agnes as she left the classroom.
"You mean Robert Edgecombe? In Ravenclaw?" he asked, evidently confused.
I laughed. "Well, yeah, who else?"
"Lily, he's in Ravenclaw."
"So? Can't I go to support my boyfriend trying out for his team?"
"Well, yeah, of course, I just didn't think it was possible...?"
I rolled my eyes. "Ok, look. I know it's unlikely that we're going out, because apparently everyone thinks it's so rare for me to have a steady boyfriends, but..."
"Wait, what?" Aaron interrupted me, as the rest of the class filed out. "I wasn't talking about that, I was talking about how it was possible Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had tryouts on the same day."
I stared at him, dumbstruck. I was more than a little embarrassed. I had just voiced my annoyance with my reputation in front of a guy I wasn't even strictly friends with anymore. Oops.
"Go and check with Madame Lawson about field time, then, I just know that I'm going to the pitch at four to watch my boyfriend try out for Chaser," I said, shaking off my embarrassment with a flip of my hair. Aaron grimaced, still looking a bit concerned. "Well, see you round," I smiled, striding out of the classroom.
"Oh, Lily," I heard Aaron call. I turned to see him walking up to me, holding something in his hands. I raised my eyebrows at him, wishing that I had taken the time to apply a moisturiser after plucking them this morning.
"You forgot your rose thorns," he said, smiling at me slightly, handing me a jar of pointy objects. I laughed.
"Oh, thanks! Merlin, I'm such an airhead! See you!" I grinned, waving at Aaron as I walked away.
Looking at the jar of rose thorns, I remembered something. Rose. Sera would still be waiting for me in the Owlery to give her a letter to send back to Rose. In the safe knowledge that I had enough time to write a letter before going to someone's Quidditch trials, I began to make my way to the Owlery. I made the deliberate detour to Gryffindor common room to pass on Rose's message to Hugo about replying to her. After realising what I was saying, Hugo fumbled around in his schoolbag for a moment, then pulled out a crumpled sheet of parchment with a scrawled response on it for me to send on with Sera. I then headed straight up to the Owlery to write and send on my reply to Rose. By the time I got there, I could see people in blue robes assembling on the Quidditch Pitch. So it is Ravenclaw tonight. I leant against a wall and scribbled my reply to Rose.
Rose,
I know that Harriet is my teacher, but that doesn't change the fact that she told me to tell you she said hey, when she is perfectly capable of picking up a quill and telling you herself. Great that you're having such an awesome time in Paris while I'm stuck at school transfiguring lizards into quills. I saw about the Death Eater thing, apparently only Mulciber, Goyle and Macnair left now. I passed on your message to Hugo, I'm sending his reply with this. Lorcan Scamander is in Ravenclaw, Lysander is in Gryffindor. Thought you might want to know.
Say hi to Scorpius,
Lily
P.S Just wondering why you didn't tell me that everyone thinks I 'date around'. Why did nobody tell me? I had a right to know! Anyway, trying to fix that now, no thanks to you.
P.P.S I'm dating Robert Edgecombe now since Kej and I broke up.
I then called Sera down from a perch where she'd been napping, tied the two letters to her leg, gave her an owl treat and sent her back to France, to Rose. By then, I really had to leave to get to the Quidditch pitch to go to the tryouts, so I hurried out of the Owlery and then rushed down in the general direction of the pitch.
The rain was pouring thick and fast as I headed down to the pitch. I was beginning to regret promising Robert I'd come. I brushed that thought aside, however, since he was my boyfriend. I had to come. Actually, I wanted to come - I really wanted to see who got field time, Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Plus, watching tryouts was always fun. Last year when I'd watched them I'd made the mistake of telling Felicity all of the gossip I knew about each candidate. A few days later, I had been one of the most hated people in Hogwarts. It had all quietened down, however, when an equally nasty rumour made its way around the castle about me - everyone had realised that I hadn't spread all the gossip, only relayed it. There was another perpetrator - no prizes guessing who. But Felicity had apologised to me about that, saying it was because I had just started going out with Oliver, who she also liked. We'd cried and made up, and I'd broken up with Oliver; Felicity went out with him for about a month, then dumped him for Sean, who she was still going out with even now.
This time around, I was determined to talk behind anyone's back. I would go through this year, and finally be the golden girl everybody thought I ought to be. I heard someone call out my name. I turned in the direction of the caller, and saw Hugo and Aaron jogging up to me, looking incredibly cross.
"Let me guess, Ravenclaw got the pitch tonight?" I sighed, smiling slightly.
"Not even!" Hugo said loudly, scowling. I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"He means that Slytherin suddenly booked the pitch at the last minute and sent everybody else away," Aaron rolled his eyes, then spat at the ground.
"They can't do that!" I gasped, the pitch of my voice rising very high. "That is not fair, two other teams had already booked!"
"I know!"
"I'm going to go over there and complain!"
"I have."
"And?"
"Nothing," Hugo sighed.
"What?" I sighed, knowing full well what was coming next.
"Madame Lawson gave them exclusive rights to the pitch, you know, because she was Slytherin when she was here," Aaron groaned.
"Referees are supposed to be fair," I sighed. Hugo was the first to reply.
"Didn't anyone tell you? Quidditch isn't fair."
"You know what they did?" Aaron asked. I shrugged.
"Graffitied the Quaffle?"
"No, the teachers, not the Slytherins," Hugo sighed.
"Oh, then no."
Aaron looked across at Hugo, then back at me.
"They scheduled every team that applied tonight, one after another. We're on last, after Slytherin and Ravenclaw, it's going to be pitch black!" Aaron then swore quite loudly, which made all the birds who had been roosting in the trees fly away in fright, thinking that a particularly foul-mouthed ghost had come their way.
I looked at them questioningly. "So what time is everyone on?"
"Slytherin are on now, for however long they want. Then Ravenclaw have an hour, then it's us," Hugo sighed. I bit my lip for a second, thinking about what I should do. After a moment's deliberation I walked up to the two boys and slung an arm around each of their necks.
"Well, let's go check out the competition and watch Slytherin. Nothing left to do at the castle," I smiled. I was a lot shorter than both of the boys - or as my mum called, petite - so it was quite a strain to have my arms around their necks. Thankfully, they grinned and quickly agreed, so the three of us set off towards the pitch.