CHAPTER FIVE

SECRETS AND LIES

I was kept in the hospital until Saturday night, so they could monitor me. It was the most attention I've had in my whole life. As well as my parents and brothers all my cousins came in. I got presents too. Roxie and Fred brought me a box of Weasley Wizard Wheezes products, free samples that their Dad had given them. Louis and Dom brought me all my favourite magazines and Molly bought me a book, a gift more suited for Rose but I was grateful all the same. James said his present to me was his very presence, Hugo gave me his favourite T-shirt that I like to steal on holidays - as a loan though - and Victoire and Teddy even came to visit me. Their present was letting me be the first to hear their good news - their engaged. The best present though came when Rikki and Mel came to visit me. They had made up and I was so happy. It was a huge weight off my shoulders. When Mel went to the bathroom I cornered Rikki.

"So, what happened with you two?" I asked her.

"We made up." She stated.

"I can see that." I laughed, "But how did you make up?"

"We just talked and stuff. It's all fine now so you don't need to worry anymore, ok?"

"Talked about what? Did you find out what was wrong with her in the first place?" She avoids my eyes, "Rikki?"

"Yes, I found out. But I can't tell you. Nothing's wrong, I swear, she's fine. It's just ... it's a secret and I promised her."

"But why won't she tell me? We tell each other everything. I-"

"Lily. Aren't you always the one saying how people have the right to keep secrets. It's not hurting anyone." She says, but there's a look in her eyes as if she doubts what sshe's saying. I know she won't tell me though so I drop it.

On Saturday night, Al comes and walks me to the Gryffindor common room. Luckily, my armchair is free. In fact the common room is empty. We sit down in silence and stare at the fire. We haven't properly talked since that night in the hospital and things are a little akward.

"So." I say, "Hows ... things?"

"Good yeh. Loads of work. Yourself?"

"Fine. Bit of a headache but -" That was the wrong thing to say.

"Oh crap, do you need anything. Maybe we should take you back to the Hospital Wing. I told Mum I thought you were out too early. Are you dizzy, nau-"

"Al, Al I'm fine. A headache is normal ok? I promise." He leans back in his chair and clears his throat.

"Yeh well. Eh listen, I'm gonna head back over to the Slytherin dorm. You ok alone?" I nod. He gives me a half smile then leaves. I can't help but feel sad that I'll probably go back to being invisible again.

I sleep all Sunday, take some medication and read over the notes that Hugo, Rikki and Mel have let me borrow. They aren't in all my classes but some notes are better than none. When I wake up on Monday to the sound of my alarm ringing, I sigh. But regardless I drag my tired ass out of bed.

When I walk into the Great Hall something is off. People start looking my way and whispering. Their looking at me? I check behind me to make sure. Nope, definetly me. A girl in the year above me, who has never spoken to me in my life, walks up to me.

"Lily. I heard what happened. I think it's awful, how could he do that. I mean I would never expect that from him it's-"

"Excuse me, Kaydie, but what on earth are you talking about?" I ask her.

"What happened." She states, gesturing towards my head. I shoot her another confused look and she sighs, a sympathetic look plastered on her face.

"Lily everyone knows. It's all over the school, it's in the paper. There's no point being in denial abo-" I zone out, not listening to her and look around the room. Everyone is reading a copy of Hogwarts Weekly. Their eyes flick between it and me.

"Excuse me? Can I borrow this?" I ask a random boy, not waiting for his answer before taking it anyway. I gasp when I read the headline.

Potter Punches Perfect Sister

Albus Severus Potter, "The Golden One", has done it again. He has disgraced his good boy image and shown us all his true colours. This time though, his violence was not directed at his mischevious older brother, James, but at innocent young Lily, his quiet, vunerable little sister. His argument with Lily, unlike with James, did not happen in empty hallways in the middle of the evening but first thing in the morning in the Great Hall. It is said that Lily sat down next to Albus and tried to start a conversation. Albus was embarrassed with his younger sister sitting with him in front of his friends and told her so harshly. A hurt Lily opened her mouth to retort but an out of control Albus then hit her across the face. She hit her head hard on the ground and passed out almost instantly. Lily was rushed to the Hospital Wing by, surprisingly Albus, who tried to save his reputation by staying with her throughout her hospital stay. There were rumours of brain damage circling around the school but they were quickly proved false when Lily was let out of the wing this Saturday. Her injuries have healed but will poor Lily get over the emotional scars caused by her brother.

Reported by Hailey Frockler

I finished the paper just as Al burst into the Great Hall, furious. He was clutching a copy of the paper in his left hand and in his right was his wand. Oh shit.