Lily Potter and the Dance with Death

by Witchy Custard

Hazel Lily Potter made her decision. With a dear friend at her side, she leaves towards the continent and begins attendance at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, where she hopes to live out all her hopes and dreams. With the revival of the Triwizard Tournament, and dark dreams threatening her life, Lily finds that peace doesn't come easily to the Girl-Who-Lived. Book Four, Fem!Harry

10. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic

Lily didn't sleep a wink the entire night. As soon as she finished packing, she laid in bed for the remaining hours, feeling entirely too excited to fall asleep. Eventually, she gave up and instead settled on readying herself early. By the time she was out of the bath, feeling fresh and sparkly clean, the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. She spent ages staring into the mirror, trying to get her hair and face to look absolutely perfect. It was hard to do when it was just so curly.

It also didn't help matters that she was very inexperienced with braiding her own hair. It used to be that if it happened, it would be because Lavender Brown insisted on the matter. As it was, she'd gone over a full year of not doing it, but it felt right for today. When she was finally finished, her plait reached halfway down her back. She definitely didn't remember her hair being long enough for that when she started. She felt like she was on the verge of a realization, playing with the long length in the mirror, when she was interrupted by a furious knock on the door.

"Come on, Lily," Ron groaned outside the door for the fifth time. "Some of us have to go."

"Fine," Lily snapped, swinging the door open. "I'm done, anyway. All yours!"

"Finally," Ron said with relief as he stepped past her.

She had her new school uniform laying on her bed, all pressed and prim and perfect. The light blue dress had a skirt that ended just above her knees, a blazer with dark blue trimming going over it with buttons of gold and the Beauxbatons emblem on her left breast. The dark socks ended right on the knee, leaving a slight amount of bare skin showing between the two sections of cloth, and the blue boots covered to just above her ankle. They also had a thick heel, making her feel even more absurdly tall, and the ensemble as a whole had a small, pointed hat to top it all off. Aside from the boots and socks, everything was made with a light silk, making her nearly freeze to death in her own home.

Lily ate breakfast alone (or, at least, she tried to), taking extra care not to drop anything on her uniform. She didn't want to embarrass herself on the very first day. It was very hard to do when one also had to deal with the usual chaos of the Weasley family trying to get ready for school.

"Mum where are my robes?"

"I put them in your wardrobe ages ago, Ron!"

"Mum!"

"Your broom is with the others, Ginny."

"Mum, I just checked, it's not-"

"Fred! George! Don't think I didn't see you; you empty your pockets right now!"

"Just relax," Sirius said as he poured himself from the tea. He took a sip of it and then glanced back over at her.

"Easy for you to say," Lily grumbled, still drumming her fingers on the table. Now that she was just a few hours from it, she was feeling dreadfully nervous.

"Did you paint your nails again?"

"Maybe," Lily said, curling her fingers inward so Sirius couldn't fully see them. He was already poking fun of her for how often she redid them, but she found it very comforting. Today, each hand was different colours. Her left was green and silver, for Slytherin, while her right was red and gold, for Gryffindor (and it just so happened to match the rings she was still wearing; they only came off while she was in the bath).

"How long did that take you?"

"Not too long."

"Lily, you did it in little stripes."

"It was only half an hour, honest!"

"Lily!" Mrs. Weasley called from the nearby sitting room. "You better be getting ready!"

"I've been done!" Lily shouted back, her fingers going back to drumming.

"How's your chest doing?" Sirius asked, gesturing to the bandages just poking out from beneath her collar.

"Fine, for now," Lily said. "Felt a bit stiff when I first got up. I'll probably be dying later."

"You'll be fine, Lily," Sirius said in French. "Better get yourself in the mindset."

"I think I made a big mistake," Lily said, burying her face in her hands.

"What? Leaving Hogwarts?"

"Eating," Lily corrected. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Sirius laughed and unfolded the morning paper. "Well, the portkey isn't going to make anything easier for you."

Lily groaned and then leaned back into her seat, staring up at the plain ceiling.

"Morning, Lily," Ron said as she entered, sitting down and quickly shoveling food into his mouth.

"French only today, Ron," Sirius said without looking up.

"Catch a word of that?" Ron asked.

"He wants me to- he wants me to keep practicing French," Lily said. "Get into the spirit of it, you know?"

"Fat chance of that," Ron said with a snort. "Where's Lupin?"

"Already left," Sirius said with a sigh. "Got word in from the office that there was an emergency."

"What for?" Lily asked, trying to hide her disappointment by pushing more food around on her plate.

"In French, Lily."

"Why?"

"Marjorie thought there might have been a break in," Sirius said calmly, as if that wasn't a terrible thing. "Couldn't find anything that was missing, but Remus keeps the office warded when he isn't in, and those are all activated, so he went to go check it himself."

"There you are!" Mrs. Weasley said as she entered the rapidly crowding kitchen. "Ron, I've just found your robes, get these in your trunk right away."

"Right," Ron said, stuffing his mouth full of toast and then taking the robes from his mother. "See you, Lily. Don't forget to keep my half safe."

"Oh, you look lovely, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, pinching Lily on the cheek and then pushing Ron's uneaten food onto her plate.

"Really?" Lily asked nervously. "Not too blue?"

"Really," Mrs. Weasley said with a confident nod. "Oh, I bet the boys will be all over you. You'll have to fight them off just to get a bit of breathing room."

"Thanks," Lily said, trying really hard not to think about the kind of people she really wanted to notice her. Sirius was giving her that knowing look again, but not a word was said on the matter.

"Well, we better head off," Sirius said as Mrs. Weasley tried to pawn more food off on her. "Portkey leaves in fifteen minutes."

"Right," Lily said, standing and wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt.

"French, Lily."

"Right."

"All packed?" Sirius asked. "Or did you push it off even further?"

"I'm packed."

"Lily."

"I'm packed!"

They used up five of their precious minutes bringing her things downstairs, two minutes saying goodbye to a very clingy Mrs. Weasley, and then another five trying to find their way through the Ministry of Magic's visitor's entrance. Sirius passed the correct phonebooth six times before Lily finally figured out what he was looking for in the first place.

"Should have just told me," she grumbled as Sirius dialed in the number and got their name pins.

They were cutting it very short once they finally made it into the Ministry. Lily spent far too long gawking at the large bronze statues in the center of the lobby, where a House Elf, centaur, and a goblin were staring up admiringly at a toned wizard, a far too busty witch with a hand placed lovingly on his chest.

"Bunch of rubbish," Sirius muttered as he pulled her past it.

"In French, Sirius."

Thankfully, they didn't have to go too far into the Ministry to reach their destination. The Authorized Portkeys Office was right at the entrance, not even past the security booth. A portly gentleman motioned them over to him in a hurry, brushing off a bit of sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. He was near a table, a bucket sitting on the surface.

"Thirty seconds, now," he said just as they both grabbed onto it. "And keep a firm grip on that luggage of yours. Portkey returns in half an hour sharp, don't miss it. Enjoy your stay in France."

"Thanks," Lily said just as the portkey triggered and they began spinning in a haze of greens and blue. She pulled her tongue back as far as it would go in her mouth right before they landed, her teeth clamping down hard on where it had just been. She could smell a twinge of salt in the air, hear the distant lapping of waves on the shore, hear chatter and laughter and voices all in French. If only she could see any of it with her face buried in the dirt.

"Ginny! We're leaving in three minutes, whether you're ready or not!"

"Hold on!" Ginny shouted back, her fingers pressing hard against a pimple on her chin, her eyes stinging with hot tears as she stared into the mirror.

"Ginny!"

"I'm coming!" Ginny shouted, giving up on the red blemish. It wasn't working out, anyway. Not for the first time, she wished she could be like Lily and never get any acne on the face.

Ginny clenched her jaw tightly. She hated thinking about Lily, ever since she walked in on her kissing-

"Stop," she told herself as she left her room, dragging her school trunk behind her. Ron gave her a strange look but allowed her to pass by first. He was off somewhere upstairs, still looking for his own broom. How Fred and George managed to get them all spread across the house, she'd never know.

"Oh, Ginny," mum said, hands placed on her hips, when she finally reached the ground floor.

"It's not that noticeable, is it?" Ginny asked nervously. Mum just let out a little sigh and hurried over, holding Ginny's head firmly in one hand.

"I told you not to pick at it," mum said, scratching at her chin with a much more tender hand.

"It bothers me," Ginny mumbled.

"Go wash your face before we head out," mum said, pushing her gently back towards the loo. "And for the last time, leave it alone!"

Ginny washed her face as quickly as possible, but it still caused the three-minute time limit to stretch into five minutes. By the time they were walking out of the house, mum was hurrying the whole lot of them. They'd practiced the route they needed to take several times in the last few days, but they were still cutting it close, even at a run. Ginny was looking forward to Hogwarts just to get some Quidditch in. She really needed the distraction.

They just barely made it to the platform in time, each Weasley breathing hard. And, still, they couldn't stop, as mum started hurrying them towards the crimson train, instead. They didn't bother looking for an empty compartment; they just tossed all of their belongings into a car, hoping to sort it all out later, and then they were climbing inside just seconds before the train gave a lurch and began moving out.

"Goodbye!" mum called after them, waving a fond farewell. "Stay out of trouble, all of you!"

"Well, that went well," Fred said, clapping Ron on the shoulder. "We'll catch the both of you later, shall we?"

"Don't be strangers, now!" George said as he followed after his brother, pulling his own trunk after him.

"Think I'll go find Nev," Ron said, heading in the opposite direction.

That left Ginny alone, which she could never stand being. She set off in the same direction as the twins, hoping to find a friendly face. It didn't take long at all until she ran into one of her fellow third year Gryffindors.

The muggleborn's hair was longer, now reaching just past her shoulders, and while it was curly, it was nowhere near as untamable as Hermione's (and Ginny would know, since the other girl secretly came for advice on trying to fix it all). Her face and brown eyes lit up in a smile as soon as she saw Ginny coming.

"Courtney!" she said, hurrying forward and placing the girl in a tight hug. "How have you been?"

"Fine," Courtney said after a long chain of sputtering and stuttering, her face just a bit red. "I've got to go. Bye, Ginny."

"Wait," Ginny called after the rapidly retreating girl. "Where are you-"

And then she was gone, leaving Ginny standing in a crowded hallway full of new students, wondering what it was she did wrong.

"Don't talk before a portkey," Sirius said with a chuckle as Lily picked herself out of the sand and weeds. "And you really need to work on your landings. You'll be taking a portkey back frequently, now."

"I know," Lily said, trying to dust off her no-longer pristine clothes and rubbing at her now-sore wound. Sirius laughed again and then plucked her hat from the ground, placing it properly on her head and pulling a blade of grass from her hair. Lily felt her face burn as she looked around, several girls (and even a few boys) laughing and looking in her direction.

"Here," Sirius said, waving his wand and doing the hard work for her. With a quick swish, and a light that briefly swirled around her, her clothes pressed and cleaned themselves, looking just as they had before her little spill.

"I could have done it myself," Lily said. Sirius handed over her trunk and owl cage.

"Make sure you keep the bird alive," Sirius said, keeping his hands well away from the thing. "You'll need him if the mirror doesn't work."

Zeus looked a bit worse for wear, his feathers ruffled and his beak twitching in anger. Lily kept her fingers far away from the wire separating him from her flesh. She'd only had him a few days, but she wasn't sure she cared for him at all. The great gray owl was just mean. Whenever she tried to pet him, or feed him a treat, or anything, he'd try to bite her bloody fingers off.

"I wish I could bring Weasley," Lily grumbled. She'd been ready for it, too, had him in his little cage and everything. When Sirius gently told her that Beauxbatons does not, in fact, allow cats, she'd been completely devastated.

"Right, well," Sirius said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I suppose this is it, then."

"Yeah," Lily said, looking around. She was definitely certain some of those people in blue uniforms, just like her, were still laughing at her terrible landing. She was sure quite a few more were staring for very different reasons. Perhaps they, like Rita Skeeter, thought her freakishly tall for a girl (that was an article printed just yesterday, right in her favourite magazine, and she was still seething over it). There was a large, wooden ship sitting at the dock, where quite a few students were already boarding.

Lily was too busy staring at the crystal-clear water. She'd never seen anything like it, nor the many fish swimming just below the water. She had an almost irresistible urge to go for a swim despite having never once done so before. It occurred to her that she never even thought to purchase any swimwear, something that now seemed a drastic error.

"Listen," Lily said, trying to swallow down more nervousness. "Do you mind if I go ahead? I want to find Hermione."

"No," Sirius said a little too quickly. "Err- Just be safe, will you?"

"Trust me, Sirius," Lily said, "the last thing I want to do is get into any more trouble."

"Make sure you write, if we can't talk," Sirius said. "And I'll see you that first Hogsmeade weekend, regardless, just as soon as you get to Hogwarts."

"You really think it might not work?" Lily asked, rubbing her left arm.

"Oh, come here," Sirius said, pulling her into the most awkward hug of her life, one hand holding the back of her head. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'll miss you, too," Lily said, squeezing Sirius harder than he was her.

"I hope you have a great time at Beauxbatons," Sirius said with a sad smile. "I'll see you soon, even if you don't want to."

Lily glanced over at the ship, chewing on her lip nervously. Now that it was actually time to leave, she was finding it very hard to move her feet. They felt like stone melded completely into the ground.

"Go on," Sirius said, nudging her gently. "Go see your friend, and go make some new ones. We'll talk tonight."

Lily just nodded and then began pulling her luggage forward. It was a start, at least. Perhaps not exactly what she wanted, considering how much she was dragging her feet, but it was something. Lily left her trunk and owl with the stack of other people's belonging, assuming (and hoping) that was the proper protocol. From there, she climbed the gangway up to the deck.

"I can do this," she said as she neared the top, taking a very deep breath. She heard some more giggles from behind and tried to convince herself they weren't towards her. "You're the Girl-Who-Lived. You're the bloody Heir of Slytherin. You can do this."

The deck had far more space on it than it seemed from below. There were several shaded canopies, several masts (from the shore, the ship only had the one), and more than several House Elf servants walking about serving refreshments. Each one had a very clean white sheet for clothing, their skin and ears just as immaculate, and each wore a broad smile for each person that they served.

Lily was sure Hermione would hate it, and she began walking through the crowd looking for her. Quite a crowd it was, as well; she was certain the Beauxbatons students counted more than double the Hogwarts attendance. How the castle would house all of them and Durmstrang once they arrived, she had no earthly idea. There were dozens of empty classrooms, sure, but she couldn't remember any places large enough to hold them all.

Most of the students ignored her as she walked past them. A few she caught staring, but she did her best to ignore them. She didn't like the looks some of the boys were giving her, nor the way they nudged their mates as she walked nearby. The girls she caught looking seemed to be doing so for very different reasons, based on the way they'd laugh and giggle and point. She kept her head held high and didn't spare them so much as a glance.

She also quickly gave herself a onceover to make sure there wasn't any more sand or grass on her clothes. She panicked when she found some in her hair.

She panicked further when somebody grabbed her in a hug from behind and spoke in a very rapid French. Once she completely failed to translate any of it, that only made her realize she wasn't anywhere near as prepared as she thought she was, which only enhanced the fear she was feeling. It got even worse once she managed to turn around and look at the complete stranger.

She was very pretty, her light-brown skin complimented quite nicely by the blue uniform. She was a bit thin, giving her face a stretched sensation, as if she'd spent the last few months under a very strict diet. Her brown eyes were filled with warmth, as was her toothy smile. Her front teeth had a small gap between them that she found oddly familiar.

"Err- sorry," Lily managed to say after the girl stared at her for a full five seconds of silence. "I- err- only just learned the language."

The girl laughed and grabbed Lily's arm softly, causing her to swallow involuntarily.

"I thought it was strange, seeing you here," she said with another giggle. "This is great! It's been so long! Want me to show you around?"

"Actually, I need to-"

"Merlin, you've gotten really tall, haven't you?"

"I've noticed, thank you," Lily said, adding in a grumble under her breath, "bloody frogs."

"Don't think I didn't catch that, Lily," the girl said with a wink.

Lily blinked at her slowly. "You know my name?"

"Everybody does?"

"No, I mean my name," Lily said stupidly. "What I like to be called, I mean."
"Huh," the girl said slowly, her face drooping. "You don't remember me, do you?"

"Of course, I do," Lily lied. "I was just having you on." She needed to find Hermione immediately. Introductions were the only way she was going to get this mystery solved.

"Oh, good," the girl said, sighing in relief. "Was starting to worry you hadn't smartened up at all."

"Yeah," Lily said. "Listen, I'm looking for a friend of mine. About this tall, big, bushy brown hair. May or may not be angry about all the House Elves walking around. Have you seen her?"

"You have friends?" the girl asked curiously. "You?"

"Well, that seems rude, don't it?"

"Well, it's just a surprise, is all. Never would have thought you had it in you."

"Listen," Lily said. "I'm not sure if you know this, but I'm Hazel Potter. I'm famous. I have friends. Have you seen this one?"

"Sure, she's below deck," the girl said, rolling her eyes. "I'll take you to her, but you still owe me for the last time."

"If you say so," Lily said, following the girl's lead.

"Say," she said, bumping Lily's hip slightly with her own, "is it true you fought a Basilisk?"

"That reached all the way here to France?" Lily asked, her left hand nervously playing with the rings on her right.

"Well, yes- I mean, the Order of Merlin is international, isn't it- but I do happen to live right in England, you know. I mean, just because you escaped doesn't mean I did."

"Right," Lily said. That must be how the girl knew her. She was probably just someone from Hogwarts who transferred the same time and thought she could make an easy friend. That made sense.

"You didn't answer the question," the girl said as they reached some stairs that led below deck.

"Yes, I fought one," Lily said with a sigh.

"What did it look like?"

"Don't well know, do I?" Lily said. "Had to blind myself." She supposed that took away her Hogwarts theory. Anybody from her year could have told the full story themselves.

"You blinded yourself?"

"They kill with a look, don't they? What else was I supposed to do?"

"Blind it?"

"You know what?" Lily said after a brief pause. "I'll give you that one. Probably would have been a lot smarter."

"Yeah, well, neither of us were much for brains, were we?" the girl said.

"I suppose not," Lily reluctantly agreed.

"Who was that man you came with?" the girl asked, her hand playing with her frizzy hair. Lily tried hard not to look, and her face burned when the girl caught her and smiled. She spun the rings on her fingers again, Sirius's voice shouting encouragement in her head.

"He's my- err- uncle," Lily said, not quite sure why she was lying at all. It just seemed much easier than explaining all about Sirius Black being her Godfather.
The girl laughed and touched Lily's arm, a sound and sensation that got Lily feeling tingly all over. Lily started opening her mouth to ask a very stupid question, but the girl cut her off, first.

"No, he's not," she said. "Your uncle was practically a balloon, and he definitely wasn't a wizard."

"Right," Lily said, clenching her teeth, the warmth she was feeling vanishing instantaneously.

"Sorry," the girl said awkwardly. "Should have known that was a bad idea. It's just- well- I got stuck at home with mum, while you got to leave. Doesn't seem quite fair, does it?"

"Right," Lily said, searching about. There were still quite a few students in here, lounging about and seeing bored. A few were fanning themselves, as if they came in only to get out of the heat above. Lily thought it felt far stuffier in here.

"I saved that picture of you," the girl said, trying to break Lily from her silence. "After you got that Order of Merlin, I mean. Can't get many papers at home, but I did everything I could for that one. Don't think I'd ever seen your smile before then. It was really cute. Who was that boy, by the way? Someone I should worry about?"
Lily was certain the girl's fingers lingered a little long on her hand that time. She turned, meaning to just get it over with, ask how they knew each other, when she saw a shorter figure standing near three House Elves, her hands placed on her hips, and her bushy hair almost reaching wider than her shoulders.

"Hermione!" Lily said, moving forward quickly, happy for the distraction. The brown-haired girl's head turned, an excited smile already appearing on her lips even before their eyes locked together.

"Lily!" Hermione said, running forward and tossing herself around the girl. "You're alright!"

"And very sore," Lily said, gently peeling Hermione off of her and rubbing her chest. "Seriously, don't grab so hard, I'm still healing."

"I meant to ask about those bandages," the girl said. "What, you get into a scrap with that cousin of yours again?"

"Cousin?" Hermione said, raising an eyebrow.

"It's nothing," Lily said with a sharp glare at the stranger.

"How bad does it hurt?" Hermione asked, chewing her lip and eyeing the bandages nervously.

"Well," Lily said, wiping some sweat from her forehead, "let's just say I really need to sit down."

Ginny sighed as she sat down next to Luna. Somehow, even with the rest of the car- hell, the rest of the train-completely packed with students, Luna still managed to secure an empty compartment all to herself. Ginny almost felt bad for her, but it was awfully convenient.

"Wasn't the Cup wonderful?" Luna asked in an airy voice, her eyes glued to the magazine she was holding.

"Luna, we were attacked by Death Eaters."

"Yes," Luna said, flipping a page, "but I don't see what that has to do with the Cup."

"Ignore her," Sae said, closing the door behind her. "Luna could have a fun time being actively murdered by You-Know-Who."

"I would not."

"Plus," Sae added, her eyes closed as she reclined on the entirety of the opposite seat, "the paper's saying it was all the Bulgarians rioting."

"Load of rubbish," Ginny said with a snort.

"Well, daddy says he has a very reputable source that connects the-"

"Oh, can't you save the theories for five minutes?" Sae said.

"I thought you sat with your family," Ginny said.

Sae snorted, almost sounding exactly like Lily used to.

"Ai's sitting with all her friends, no room there," Sae said. "And Dai's busy sitting with his girlfriend and her mates. Can't stand the lot of them, always giggling and fawning over Cedric. Course, I imagine they'll be disappointed soon enough once the news hits."

"Right," Ginny said awkwardly, trying to think of how best to bring up the topic she very much wanted to discuss.

"How was your summer, Luna?" Sae asked. "Got to be better than mine."

"Oh, it was wonderful!" Luna said cheerily.

"So, let me get this straight," the girl said skeptically. "You were attacked by You-Know-Who in the middle of the entire Ministry?"

"Well," Lily said awkwardly, "it was a forest, but the Ministry was there." She took a plate of food from a passing House Elf, ignoring the quick glare Hermione gave her, and started eating as much of it as she could. She was starving now that the nerves were leaving.

"Right," the girl said, rolling her eyes again. "I don't know, Lily, I don't think I buy it."

"Are you joking?" Hermione said in an offended tone. "Don't you see the bandages? What, you think she just put all that on for- for attention?"

"Oi!" Lily said, snapping her fingers, "come off it, alright? I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it."

"But-"

"Just drop it," Lily said, not at all sure where this flare of anger was coming from. "I mean, really, it does sound far-fetched, don't it? It is true, though. I've got the wound to prove it and everything."

"Well, you'll just have to show me later," the girl said with a wink that got Lily playing with her rings again.

"Oh!" Hermione said suddenly, leaning around the flustered Lily and offering a hand. "Sorry, I should have introduced myself. Hermione Granger."

"Clara Lavigne," Clara said, taking the hand with a warm smile. Lily ate more cheese, feeling immensely pleased that Hermione didn't ask her to introduce the two of them. That would have been mortifying.

"You're from Surrey, aren't you?" Hermione asked. "You have the same accent Lily does."

"We went to primary together," Clara said, those pretty brown eyes looking hopefully towards hers. "Course, I was probably her only friend. Not many others could stand being around her, what with her cousin being- well, being Dudley Dursley. Never left her alone with someone for long, not even on her birthday."

Lily stopped chewing, her eyes locked onto Clara's warm, smiling face. Her frizzy hair draped down to her shoulders under her hat, her skin matching the brown of her eyes with a spattering of freckles on her cheeks, her front teeth slightly crooked, and her lips- Lily could remember feeling them on her own, so long ago, for just the briefest of moments.

"Oh," she said as her plate slipped from her fingers. Her head was swimming, then it was aching, and then she was running towards the nearest bin with a hand placed over her mouth.

Ginny stepped back into the compartment, now fully changed into her school robes, and sat back next to Luna. Both other girls were also changed, although Sae had her robe over her body as a blanket while she tried to nap.

"You really didn't sleep well, did you?" Ginny asked.

"No," Sae grumbled.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Luna asked, now holding her magazine upside down for some reason.

"No," Sae grumbled again. "I want the two of you to leave me alone, matter of fact."

"We both know you'll never fall asleep in here," Ginny said, a group of first years proving her point by running by the compartment, hollering and screaming and being far too rowdy.

"Where the hell did they all come from, anyway?" Sae asked, pulling her makeshift comforter tighter around her body.

"The war ended," Luna said, flipping a page and returning the magazine to its normal orientation. "Daddy ran an article about it last week. This is the largest incoming class of students since 1971, and half of them are named 'Harry' or 'Hazel' to honour the Girl-Who-Lived."

Sae snorted. "I'm sure Lily'd love that."

"Since when does your dad run normal articles?" Ginny asked.

"Everything we print is normal," Luna said in a dignified tone.

"So, what's the twist then, Luna?" Sae asked, sounding a bit more awake now.

"Well, if you must know," Luna said, "Rowanda reckons that one of the male students is secretly Hazel Potter herself sneaking into attendance after secretly being expelled by Dumbledore last year."

"How'd she manage something like that?" Sae asked, opening her eyes with a raised eyebrow.

"She's a metamorphmagus, obviously," Luna said, flipping to the final page of the magazine.

"Right," Sae said. "And I'm the Minister for Magic."

"You jest," Luna said impatiently, "but rumour has it Fudge is also in disguise."

Sae laughed. "What, is he a student, too?"

"No," Luna said plainly. "He's disguised as our new Potions professor."

"Right, like we'd ever be lucky enough to get rid of Snape," Ginny said.

"Well, it can't all be right," Luna admitted. "Rowanda tends to get a bit carried away with her reports, but she's always at least 50% accurate."

"I don't know," Sae said. "Sounds like a load of rubbish to me."

"Then, how do you explain her absence?" Luna asked.

"Whose?" Sae asked, shifting fully into an upright position, her robe spilling to the ground.

"Hazel's," Luna said, finally closing her magazine. "She's not on the train."

"Oh, that," Sae said with a laugh. "You really need to read the proper paper, Luna. She's transferred to Beauxbatons. Should be nice and peaceful this year."

"I hope so," Luna said, turning to stare out the window with those dreamy eyes of hers. "Last year was miserable. I couldn't stand the dementors."

"Hey, that wasn't her fault," Sae said defensively. "Lily had it worse than anybody."

Ginny snorted. "And she still managed to sneak off for an adventure."

"She didn't sneak anywhere," Sae said. "Flint and Montague kidnapped her."

"Really?" Ginny asked after a pause, feeling surprised.

"I don't think I was supposed to tell anybody that," Sae said awkwardly, scratching at the back of her neck. "I just figured you would have."

Ginny would have thought the same, up until moments ago.

"What did they kidnap her for?" she asked.

"Is that what they were expelled for?" Luna asked louder. "Daddy wanted to run an exposé on them, but they had a closed trial and he couldn't get in."

"I don't know," Sae said, her cheeks going slightly pink. "I didn't ask. Lily didn't want to talk about it."

"You know something," Ginny said, narrowing her eyes at the girl.

"Maybe," Sae said. "But that's for me to know, isn't it?"

"Maybe they found out she was a metamorphmagus," Luna said excitedly. "The Department of Mysteries pays good money for their blood, they're trying to find out how to get the ability to proliferate with those who aren't born with it. Fudge is desperate to become one himself, that way he can be Minister forever by just copying whoever manages to beat him in elections."

"I thought he already was one?" Sae asked. "Isn't he our Potions professor?"

Luna rolled her eyes. "He's using Polyjuice, obviously."

"Why would he do that?"

"So he can get to Hazel himself!" Luna said. "Haven't you been paying attention? He wants her blood. Rowanda is very clear that the dark corners of the world are out for it. Really, if you're interested, I can let you read it, I have a copy in my trunk."

"I'm alright, thanks," Sae said with another laugh.

"Where did they take her from?" Ginny asked, trying to get back on track. "Flint and Montague, I mean. Where did they grab Lily?"

"Astronomy Tower, I think," Sae said carefully. "Why?"

Ginny bit her lip. That was where Katie went, every day since the two of them stopped being seen around each other.

"What do you think about two girls kissing each other?" Ginny blurted out. Sae nearly choked on the Bertie's Beans she was eating, but Luna just cocked her head to the side slightly, her gray eyes staring at Ginny curiously.

"Bloody hell," Sae said, still coughing. "Where did that come from? Something you want to tell us?"

"I don't see the problem," Luna said confidently. "Witches used to marry each other for centuries before the first wizard was born to Muggles. Daddy said I wasn't supposed to read it, but Anastasia Pritchard ran an article about it a year ago. She wrote all about all the rituals and charms they used to breed. It was fascinating, really, one of them-"

"Yes, thank you, Luna," Ginny said, her face a bright red. "That isn't exactly what I meant."

"What do you mean, then?" Sae asked with a cheeky smile.

Ginny chewed her lip again. "I need to tell you both something, but I need you to keep it a secret. Can you do that?"

"Of course, I can," Sae said with a snort.

"If we're sharing secrets," Luna said, "I don't have anything to tell. Should I leave?"

"No," Ginny said, stopping her from standing. "I just- I need promises, alright?"

"I promise," Sae and Luna said together.

"I'm serious," Ginny insisted. "I don't want to see this in the Quibbler, Luna, she'd kill me."

"I'm not interested in writing anything," Luna said. "It'd be far less of a surprise if I already knew what was being printed, wouldn't it?"

"Go on, Gin," Sae said with an excited smile. "Who have you been snogging?"

"Nobody!" Ginny said. No, her mum would kill her if she was snogging anybody, let alone another girl.

"Who, then?" Luna asked.

"Maybe I shouldn't," Ginny said reluctantly.

"It's far too late to back out now," Sae said, rolling her eyes. "If you don't want to tell us, then we can just-"

"I walked in on Lily kissing Katie Bell," Ginny said quickly, already feeling the pressure coming off of her shoulders. "They were really going at it, too. Took them a full two seconds to break away after I walked in."

"Wow," Sae said, both eyebrows raised.

"I didn't know what to think," Ginny continued. "It was so awkward being around her after that, she just kept denying it, and then I was ignoring her because I know what I saw and she just didn't want to come clean about it."

"But, wait," Sae said. "She's dating Cedric, isn't she? He was visiting Dai a few days ago, and he wouldn't stop talking about her."

"I know!" Ginny said. "That's what confuses me the most! I thought that I must have just been imagining things She even said she kissed him already!"

Sae leaned back into her seat and whistled.

"I don't see what the problem is," Luna said. "What if she likes both?"

"You don't think that's weird?" Ginny asked.

"Of course not," Luna said confidently. "Do you?"

Ginny chewed on her lip. Lily was so nice, but it just- it seemed so unnatural. She spent weeks thinking about it, watching the way Lily's eyes followed Hermione, watching the way Lily always stared at her issues of Teen Witch Weekly, a slight flush on her face. She'd never seen another girl that seemed feel the same way that Lily did, and when all Ginny wanted to do was talk about it, she was rebuffed every time.

"I don't know," Ginny said quietly.

"It's alright, Lily," Clara said, patting her on the back as they disembarked from the ship. "You're not the only one who got seasick. Blimey, Fleur's in her final year, and she still did. You'd think she'd be used to it by now."

"Yeah," Lily said, not quite listening. She felt hyper aware of every little glance or touch Clara gave her. It got her stomach turning again, no matter how hard she tried to focus on something else.

"Well, what do you think?" Clara asked as their feet touched the solid foundation of the dock.

"It's beautiful," Hermione said from Lily's side.

Lily might still be feeling sick, but she had to agree. The water was still crystal clear, the sun warm and pleasant with a faint breeze. The grass at the shore was emerald green, slight hills cresting around the visible parts of the island. There were dozens of buildings, each made from a painted marble. None of them reached the same dizzying heights as Hogwarts, but the sheer number of them was almost overbearing. Each had a large number engraved on the front, and there were stone paths crisscrossing across the campus, but Lily was absolutely certain she'd never be able to find anything.

Immediately next to the docks was a large marketplace, full of much smaller buildings and stalls. They were empty, but Lily saw a sign (more a plinth of engraved marble, really) near the entrance that read "Marketplace open on weekends!" in a very fancy script. Lily could hardly wait for the next day; just remembering all the grand things she saw at the Quidditch World Cup got her mouth watering. She made a mental note to send Zeus off for a withdrawal just as soon as they got to the dorms; she'd undoubtedly need it eventually.

The building sitting at the center of it all was an open space of marble painted a bright blue and gilded with gold, a large fire burning away at the center of it, a raised platform hosting a long table, many smaller tables scattered around the pit below it. As she watched, the fire changed colours, the bursts of flames shifting and dancing with each other as they vied for her attention. Even with everything else surrounding it, the thing commanded the view, always drawing her eye back to it whenever she wanted to focus on something else.

"That's the feasting platform," Clara said, following her gaze. "We'll need to head there once the sun starts to set. For now, everybody's free to explore, so long as you don't go into the dorms."

"Why not?" Hermione asked.

"We just don't go in until after the welcoming feast," Clara said with a shrug. "And it's later, so the first years can go on a tour of the island, get to know the place. Are you two joining them?"

"No," Hermione said, shaking her head. "At least, nobody ever said anything to us."

"You could show us around!" Lily said before she could stop herself. "I mean, if you want to."

"Not eager to get rid of me, then?" Clara said with a smile.

"Err- no?"

"I don't know, Lily, maybe we should join the first years," Hermione said, giving her the side-eye.

Clara laughed and stopped Hermione from tugging her away. "You do, and you'll never live it down. Blimey, I'd be mortified, personally. Besides, only I know all the good spots. They won't show you a bloody thing."

"I'm sure they'll show us plenty," Hermione said, giving Lily a look that said she wanted to speak privately.

"Just a second, Clara," Lily said, taking the hint. "Just a quick chat."

"Don't keep me waiting too long," Clara said. "I'm liable to sneak off if you do."

"Lily," Hermione said after pulling her a decent length away, dropping her voice. "I don't like her."

"You don't?" Lily said, nervously glancing back at the smiling and waving girl.

"Haven't you noticed the way she talks about you?" Hermione asked. "Half the things are just mean."

"She's just joking," Lily said defensively. "That's how she's always talked!"

"Well, it's exactly the same way Pansy Parkinson talks," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "All glossed up and hurtful but with a smile."

"Hermione, she's not Parkinson, I promise."

"Do you even know her? I mean, you never mentioned her, not once."

"I don't mention a lot of things."

"But a friend isn't something you keep hidden, is it?" Hermione said patiently.

"Look, just give her a chance, alright?" Lily said. "You'll see!"

"Lily," Hermione said carefully, "I recognize that look you gave her earlier. She's something you forgot, isn't she?"

"Yes," Lily admitted reluctantly, gaze towards the ground. "But that's why I want to talk to her. I need to know what I forgot."

"Don't you think it was for a good reason?" Hermione asked.

"What do you know?" Lily snapped. "What if it isn't? What if- what if it's important?"

"What are you getting at?"

Lily took a deep breath, glanced back at Clara to make sure she was still there, smiled and waved, and then turned back to Hermione.

"Lupin reckons somebody wiped my memory on purpose," she said, voice calm and collected. "He thinks somebody did it on purpose, to hide something, but I think they were doing me a favour."

"And you think it was Clara?" Hermione asked.

"It has to be," Lily said. "I remember she had a wand, Hermione, and I remember forgetting a lot right after she- well, that part doesn't matter- but it's coming back, Hermione. I need this."

"I thought you didn't want to remember anything," Hermione said.

"I don't know," Lily said with a sigh. "I thought I didn't, but- well- I want to try. It can't all be bad, can it?"

"Alright," Hermione said after a pause, nodding confidently. "I'll trust you on this, Lily. Why don't we-"

"Excuse me!"

"Yes?" Hermione said as both of them turned to face the newcomer, a handsome boy with dark skin and an athletic build (he easily stood a few inches over Lily).

"You must be new," he said, a hand running through his short hair. "Haven't seen you around before."

"We transferred from Hogwarts," Lily said, gesturing back towards Hermione.

The boy laughed. "Well, why don't you let me show you around?"

"Actually," Lily said, "We were going to go with-"

Lily turned towards where Clara was supposed to be waiting, only to find open air and a great sense of disappointment.

"She did say she'd disappear, Lily," Hermione said, patting her shoulder consolingly.

"Hello?" the boy said, waving to get their attention again. "How about it? Want a tour?"

"We'd love one," Hermione said on their behalf.

"Great!" he said, leading the way. "What year are you?"

"Fourth," Lily said, reluctantly following the boy back towards his group of friends.

"Ah, same year!" he said happily. "You should know all the prime shortcuts ahead of time. Fourth year is a busy one, that's what everybody says; you won't have much time to get from place to place."

"Lovely," Lily muttered, putting a friendly smile on her face as they joined the others, taking one more glance around for the person she wanted to be speaking with.

"Alright, I get it," Sae said, drumming her fingers on her leg in irritation. "Blimey, just let it go, will you? She's not even here this year!"

"I just don't get it!" Ginny said for the umpteenth time.

"Just let it go," Sae said with a groan. "You live with the girl, just talk to her about it!"

Ginny went quiet, and doubtlessly Sae hoped the peace would continue until they reached the castle. Luna was back to reading her magazine again, something she always did whenever they climbed into the horseless carriages. Her eyes weren't moving across the page, but Ginny was more than happy to let her pretend. It was better than listening to Luna talk about things that weren't really there. That was just a bit too creepy for Ginny's tastes.

"Is it just me," Sae said, "or is the castle bigger?"

"Yes, I think it is," Luna said as she glanced up from the pages to look.

It wasn't by a small amount, either; even from the outside, it was obvious that several floors had been added, and there were six new towers that Ginny was confident hadn't been there before. Gryffindor Tower and the Astronomy Tower (always the most recognizable of the dizzying heights) were much higher up than they used to be, and she really wasn't looking forward to having to climb all that every night. She had no idea how many candles and torches the staff would have needed to light the whole thing, but every single window was lit up. The castle was so large now that a glance at the nearby Lake showed that its reflection almost didn't fit.

"Those mountains weren't there before, either," Ginny said, pointing further into the distance and breaking her silence. You could just make out the peaks poking through the clouds amongst the thick layer of blackness and fog.

"How do you make mountains?" Sae asked as their carriage came to a stop.

"I think the more important question is why," Luna said, hopping down happily to the castle grounds. "Oh, daddy will want to hear about this, for sure. He'll probably launch a full investigation into it."

"Think it's all the firsties?" Sae asked. "Don't think we've ever had this many before."

"Oh, it can't be, can it?" Luna said. "No, there's something going on her, there has to be. Why else would they have kept it all a secret?"

"They'll probably just tell us inside, Luna," Ginny said with a sigh. A quick glance at the other nearby arrivals told her they'd also noticed. Of course, that wasn't hard, considering the now colossal heights the castle reached. Sae didn't think there'd be a larger castle in all of Britain.

"You know, you strike me as a Quidditch player," Henri said, lagging behind his mates a bit to walk beside Lily. Lily only learned the boy's name at all because she heard one of his friend's say it. When he introduced himself, he spoke far too fast for her to keep up, and Hermione, apparently, never felt like repeating it. She was up with the other boys right now, asking all sorts of things about the campus.

"Really?" Lily said, speaking much slower than Henri. "What gives you that impression?"

"Nice legs," Henri said, gesturing towards them. "Nobody ever realizes exactly how much muscle flying takes. If it was so easy, why would we spend so much time practicing it?"

"Exactly!" Lily said. "That's what I told the rest of my team last year. They wouldn't stop complaining about me pushing them so hard. Meanwhile, I just so happened to be the best flier at the school, and they just wondered why."

"You're good, then?"

"I sure am! They all used to call me the Green Goddess." She left out that they changed the nickname on her, but that's what she preferred.

"Not red?" Henri said, playfully flicking at the braid she had laying across a shoulder.

"It was a Slytherin thing. It sounds better in English, promise. Has some alliteration to it. Green Goddess. See?"

"No," Henri said with a laugh. "Don't speak very much English. Maybe you could teach me?"

"I don't know, it was hard enough just teaching myself."

"Maybe just some flying, then? I've got to see a goddess in action, haven't I?"

"I don't know," Lily said reluctantly. "I'm supposed to stay off my broom for a few more weeks while I heal."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be fine," Henri said with a confident smile. "Really, you look absolutely perfect."

Lily didn't know about that, to be honest. She felt a bit clammy, and the longer they walked, the worse off she felt. Even if they were nearing the Feasting Hall, she still wasn't sure if she'd make it all the way. All that was carrying her on was the very fragrant and tempting smells wafting her way on the breeze.

"What do you fly, anyway?"

"Firebolt," Lily said, not sure what the French name would be.

"Heard those are pretty decent," Henri said. Lily could tell just by the reaction that he had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

"You can just say you don't have them here," she said, giving him a laugh of her own. "They're the best we've got available up in Britain. England, Wales, and Ireland all fly them."

Henri whistled at that and then spoke in a very rapid French, perhaps forgetting that Lily asked him to speak slower.

"Come again?" Lily asked after she completely failed to understand a word.

"Err-" Henri stammered, scratching at his large nose. "How you say- err- Sun?"

"Gotcha."

"Err- how do you say child?"

"Child? The broom is called Sun Child?"

"Well, admittedly, it doesn't sound quite as nice in English. Much like your goddess, no? How did you say that again?"

"Goddess?"

"Ah, I think we will just stick with Lily. Much easier that way, and nicer on the tongue, too. Not quite as much as the eyes, though."

"What kind of food gets served?" Lily said, not quite catching the last part. She was far too focused on the growing smells and the sounds of laughter and chatter. A little less than half the school was seated, with a few members of staff even starting to take their places at the High Table.

"Oh, just the usual stuff," Henri said as they started climbing the steps on the platform. Lily had to lean hard on the rail for a moment to catch her breath, but Henri offered her a hand, and she gladly took it. "You should come sit with us. I'd love to keep talking with you."

"I'd love to," Lily said, "but I really should find Clara."

"Clara?" Henri said, sounding completely confused. "You know her?"

"Yeah, we went to primary together," Lily said. "Why don't you come sit with us, instead?"

"With Clara?" Henri repeated again.

"With Clara, yes," Lily said. "Is that a problem?"

"Well, it's just that- ah, no there's no problem. Perhaps she's more pleasant with friends!"

"Right," Lily said, not quite sure how she was supposed to take that.

"Mind if I sit here?" Ginny said, adding without waiting for an answer, "thanks."

"Oh, sure, just make yourself at home, why don't you?" Ron said, moving over anyway. "Don't you have your own friends?"

"Courtney's being strange," Ginny said. "Keeps clamming up when I try to talk to her, but nobody will tell me what I did."

"Probably just got tired of you like the rest of us."

"Don't, Ron," Ginny said. "I'm being serious. She was fine when we wrote each other over the summer, even talked about how excited she was to get back, but now we're here and she wants nothing to do with me. What am I supposed to do about that?"

"You could always just ask her," Neville supplied helpfully.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure that'll go well," Ginny said. "You have no idea how girls work, do you?"

"No," Neville admitted reluctantly.

"I already tried asking her," Ginny said. "But she's still in the 'nothing' phase. Got to wait it out, for now, until she's ready to talk."

"Just get it over with and apologize," Ron said, drumming his fingers on the table and eyeing all the new first years with impatience. "That's what I do with Lily. Gets her happy faster."

"That is not what you do," Neville said.

"Alright, well, it's what I'll be doing now. I've learned my lesson. Course, Lily's never happy, but it should work for you."

Ginny let out a little sigh and placed her chin on her hand. "You have no idea how girls work, either, do you?"

"Not a clue. Merlin, how long is this going to take?"

"What do you do when somebody is ignoring you?" Ginny asked.

"Nothing," Ron and Neville said together.

"We usually just wait for Lily to get over it," Ron added with a shrug.

"And if it's one of your other mates?"

"I know you don't live with him, Gin, but if Seamus is being a prat, it's nice when he's not speaking."

Ginny sighed again.

"Well, what if it's going on too long?"

"We tell him to stop being such a prat," Ron said. "That usually works. Slugged me last time, but we're getting on well enough now."

"He punched you?" Ginny said in horror. "What were you even fighting about?"

Ron shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Might've been about you eating his Skeletal Sweets," Neville suggested.

"No, he never even noticed that. I just slipped some new ones into his trunk the next weekend and he was none-the-wiser."

"Was it the Snape thing, then?"

"Which one?"

"You were laughing after Lily called him a baboon, and Snape took it out on him when he messed his potion up."

"I'm pretty sure he was more upset with Lily on that one, mate. Besides, it couldn't be, happened before she ever-"

"Wait, back up," Ginny said. "When did Lily call Snape a baboon?"

"During the exam," Ron said. "It was brilliant, too. Don't think I've ever seen him speechless like that before."

"What did he even do?"

"Nothing, really," Ron said. "Just stood there. Did he say something, Nev?"

"Something about turning in her vial," Neville said with a shrug. "I was more focused on trying not to die, to be honest."

"She blew up on him for that?" Ginny said. "Really?"

"Well, no," Ron said. "She was stewing more than her cauldron was, by that point."

"You never asked?"

"Should we have?" Ron asked, sharing a confused look with Neville.

Ginny groaned and buried her face into her hands.

"Boys."

"Wait, you actually fought a Basilisk?"

"Did I not tell you that part yet?" Lily said, twirling a lock of her hair around a finger and nervously glancing over at Clara.

She was silent and staring down at her hands, only occasionally looking up and locking eyes with Lily, smiling briefly, and then looking back down. It was behaviour that Lily knew all too well, but she didn't want to make it any worse by asking about it. That wasn't what she would have wanted.

"I think I'd remember if you had," Henri said, dragging her attention back to him.

"Well, I did!"

"You can't just leave it at that, Lily."

"Alright, so," Lily said, "There's this thing called the- err-"

"Chamber of Secrets," Hermione said helpfully.

"Right, thanks. It was created by Salazar Slytherin- he's one the four founders of Hogwarts- and he supposedly made a giant-"

"Do you really expect anybody to believe any of that rubbish?" Clara grumbled, finally speaking up for the first time.

Lily blinked and stared for a moment, mouth hanging open midsentence.

"Seeing as how it happened, I'm sure she does," Hermione said, tone just a tad too hoity-toity for Lily's liking.

"Lily?" Henri said, not following the conversation.

"Right," Lily said, trying to get focused again. "Err- so, he built this big chamber underground, see, and he hid it behind a sink. Nobody could ever find it because only his Heir can open it, so it fell into legend, but fifty years ago, Voldemort opened It and-"

"How did Slytherin put it under a sink before plumbing was invented?" Clara asked sharply. "Doesn't add up, does it?"

"Phineas the Brown invented it centuries before the Muggles did," Hermione said before Lily could, "and he was in contact with Rowena Ravenclaw. Would you just let her finish her story?"

"You just made that name up!"

"I happen to pay attention in History of Magic, thank you," Hermione said. "And even if I didn't, it's only in dozens of history texts."

"Right," Clara said, rolling her eyes and only annoying the fuming Hermione even more.

"Oh, there's Victoire," Henri said, clapping Lily on the shoulder, not paying attention to any of it. "I'll meet up with you later, Lily, don't want to get in trouble. Want to go flying?"

"She can't," Hermione said for her, eyes sharply locked onto Henri's hand still touching her. "She needs to heal, first."

"I'll be there," Lily said with a cheery smile. "Around noon, let's say? You can show me the Quidditch pitch!"

"Sounds wonderful," Henri said as he stood, his hand trailing along her back as he left.

"Lily," Hermione said in a whisper, "you can't go around-"

"Oh, let her have some fun," Clara said, perking up the instant Henri was gone. "A little flying never hurt anybody."

"Oh, really?" Hermione said. "And you're an expert, I suppose?"

"I've been to the games, if that's what you mean," Clara said. "Only a complete moron could really get injured during a match."

"I got my skull cracked during my first game," Lily said, taking a bite of her bouillabaisse. She was skeptical, at first, but Hermione was right; it was lovely.

Clara laughed. "See?"

"Lily is not an idiot," Hermione said. "She only got injured because Professor Quirrell was trying to-"

"Listen," Clara said, ignoring her, "you should come with me tomorrow, instead. I could show you around!"

"Henri already did that," Hermione said.

"Yeah, well, he doesn't know everything, does he?" Clara said with a smirk. "Reckon I could show you things he'd never dream of."

"Like what?" Lily asked innocently, not liking the way Clara smiled at her at all.

"All sorts of things," she said with another wink.

"Lily," Hermione said sternly. "I really don't think you should meet with Henri tomorrow."

"Why?" Lily said, tearing her eyes away from the freckles on Clara's cheeks.

"Because he was clearly flirting with you," Hermione said.

"What's wrong with that?" Clara asked.

"Nothing," Hermione said, "except for she already has a boyfriend."

"I still don't see the problem," Clara said. "He's not here, is he? So what if she has a little fun in the meantime?"

"He was really flirting with me?" Lily asked while Hermione sputtered helplessly.

"Doesn't surprise me," Clara said. "He flirts with all the girls. Victoire's only his current one. They'll probably be done by the end of the week."

"Huh," Lily said, leaning back into her seat. Sure, it probably wasn't likely to get anywhere, but she would have thought she'd at least notice.

"Course," Clara said, leaning in and distracting her again, "if you really want to have some fun, I've got a perfect little spot I can show you, don't think anybody else knows about it. I like to go there and- why is Fleur coming over here?"

"Fleur?" Hermione asked. "Didn't you mention her earlier?"

"Bloody hell," Lily said, turning pale and following Clara's gaze. "It's the angel."

In fact, the blonde girl still seemed to have a sort of radiant glow about her, which only increased when her smiled turned into a beam. She even had a strange sort of grace to her normal stride, and it only became more noticeable as she picked up her pace towards the three of them. Lily felt completely torn between panic and longing, torn between running and staying. She didn't have the time to make up her mind before the girl was upon them, placing Lily into a far-too-fond hug and planting two quick kisses, one on each cheek.

"It's so nice to see you!" she said, her voice calming and oddly melodic. "I've been worrying about you for weeks, now. I had no idea you'd be here!"
"Thank you," Lily said, not catching what she said at all, a hand placed upon one of her burning cheeks.

"You're alright, then?" she said as she sat, a hand going up to Lily's neckline and delicately touching the bandages that just poked out. Lily had an odd shiver go through her body at the contact, but she didn't think anybody noticed.

"Hermione," Lily said, still holding her own cheek and staring at the smiling, lovely girl. "What's she saying? My brain doesn't want to work."

"She's doing much better," Hermione said on her behalf. "She just got out of the hospital a few days ago, though, and has a few weeks of healing left to go."

"You'll have to let me take a look at it," the girl said, pulling at her bandages again. "I'm not much, but my father is a Healer, and he's taught me a lot."

"Hermione?"

"She said her dad is a Healer, and she wants to see what she can do for you, if you'll show her later."

Lily sputtered, an odd, high whine coming from the back of her throat at the mere thought of showing this perfect being a single inch of skin on her chest.

"I asked first," Clara grumbled.

"Is she alright?" the angel asked Hermione when her whine didn't stop.

"She's been a bit feverish," Hermione lied for her. "And I think that gesture means she wants to know your name."

Lily nodded enthusiastically at that.

"I'm Fleur," Fleur said with a bright smile. "Fleur Delacour. You are Hazel Potter, no?"

"No," Lily said, smiling and nodding her confirmation to a very confused, very pretty woman.

"She prefers Lily," Hermione said patiently. "It was her mother's name."

"That's a beautiful name," Fleur said. "Rolls off the tongue quite well, no?"

"Tell her about the Basilisk, Hermione!"

"Here we go again," Clara said, rolling her eyes and leaning back into her seat.

"Do you know who your mentor is yet?"

"She's asking about your-"

"I got that one!" Lily said excitedly. "Adrienne Touissant, haven't met her yet, but that's what it said in my letter."

"Adrienne?" Fleur said with a scoff. "She's hardly fit to teach a first year, let alone a fourth. I'll speak to Madame Maxime on your behalf. You need a proper mentor."

"You really don't need to!" Lily said quickly.

"I do," Fleur said seriously, holding her chin up to seem stern. "I have seen you in action, and I am not impressed. You need some serious work, and only I am fit to see it done."

"You?" Clara said in horror. "You can't! She has to have Adrienne!"

"We shall see," Fleur said as she stood. "I will see you next week, Lily. We will work on your spellcasting form first, I think."

"Sounds brilliant," Lily said, still feeling lightheaded as she watched Fleur walk away.

"Oh, stop staring, will you?" Clara snapped.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," a voice called from the staff table. "Silence, please. Madame Maxime would like to say a few words before we retire for the night."

"Ron will you please stop eating like that? It's embarrassing!"

"Who's getting embarrassed?" Ron said with his mouth full of cake.

"Everyone, mate," Neville said with the same face Ginny was wearing.

"What's wrong with the way I eat?"

"Everything!" Ginny said.

"I'm no worse than Lily," Ron said as he swallowed. "Really, she's lucky Cedric hasn't seen her, yet. Whole thing would be over if he had. Come to think of it, maybe I should-"

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Dumbledore said as he stood. "If I may have your attention, please. I would like to say a few words before we retire for the night."

"You think he ever gets tired of this rubbish?" Ron said with a sigh.

Lily watched in awe as the largest woman she'd ever seen stood from the center of the staff table. She was easily a foot over Hagrid, although she was certainly less wide, and she had a very large nose placed promptly in the middle of her very large head. Despite all of that, she carried herself with a certain elegance, and Lily happened to think she was quite pretty.

It certainly made her feel less terrible about her own height, at least.

"For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting me," the woman said in a sultry voice, "I am Olympe Maxime. I am your Headmistress hear at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and I am absolutely thrilled to have you here."

"Sure sounds like it, don't she?" Clara said with a scoff. Hermione glared at her, but Lily was tempted to agree. She sounded bored, if anything.

"A full list of banned items can be found in the office of our Mr. Filch," Dumbledore continued. "As our student body has increased dramatically in the last couple of years, we've found it increasingly difficult to maintain our high standards with so few of us. Therefore, I am pleased to introduce you to your new professors! Alastor Moody, teaching Defense to third years and above, and-"

Ginny missed the last bit over the sudden chatter breaking out around her.

"Mad-Eye?"

"Has Dumbledore lost it?"

"Doesn't he remember the last time?"

"Bloody hell," Angelina's voice rang out from nearby. "Don't know if I can avoid the loo for a whole year."

"In addition," Dumbledore's voice continued once the chatter ceased, "I would like to welcome back our esteemed colleague, Horace Slughorn, who has agreed to return and teach Potions to our third years and below."

"Oh, come on!" Ron shouted along with the sudden din.

"Luna was right?" Ginny asked.

"How come we get Snape?" Fred shouted from down the table.

"Sack the baboon!" George added.

"Did everybody know but me?" Ginny asked.

"Pretty much," Neville said with a shrug.

"And now," Dumbledore said once the older students' wrath abated (with some very stern glares from McGonagall and Snape), "I have one final, glorious announcement to make before we head off."

"Wonder what that is," Ron said, sipping from his cup.

"I am proud to announce that, this year," Dumbledore said. "Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament!"

"You know what?" Lily said. "I'm glad they told us earlier. I would have been livid if I'd just learned here."

"You knew?" Clara said in disbelief.

"Now," Maxime continued, "the tournament itself will only be available to those who are of age which, in British law, is those older than 17."

"Rubbish!" Fred and George joined in the shouting (despite already knowing this bit of news).

"Now, now," Dumbledore said, silencing them all with his calm demeanour and a raised hand, "that is not all we will be hosting this year. In addition to the main tournament, there will be a variety of events for students of each and every age: painting, sculpting, theatre, dueling, and much, much more! A full list of activities can be found in your common rooms, posted on the boards."

"What about Quidditch?"

"Ah, thank you very much for asking, Miss Johnson," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "And may I say that Gryffindor's Captain badge looks lovely on you? Yes, there will indeed be Quidditch this year! Far more than you're used to, as well. In addition to House teams, and quite the emphasis on teams, each House will also be playing against representatives from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang."

"Not Potter!"

"Yes, I am sure Miss Potter will be participating, Mr. Asari," Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "For this year, and each year henceforth, each House will be allowed two Quidditch teams; one for the first through third years, and one for the uppers. First years must have parental permission in order to participate, as well as the permission of their Heads of House. In addition, each House will be allowed to have two reserves for each position, and they will be allowed to swap members midgame. We are lifting the time restrictions and increasing the speed of the bludgers and Snitch to professional level for our upper years. Yes, I thought that would excite you."

"Well, that settles it, then," Lily said in disbelief. "I have to play."

"Lily, you can't!" Hermione hissed.

"Just try and bloody stop me," she said with a scoff.

"The dueling tournament is open to all those who wish to participate," Maxime continued unabated by the excitement around her. "You will be sectioned off into your own years, and you will not be allowed to duel anybody in a different class. The exception to this are the Triwizard Champions. They will automatically be placed into the highest class, regardless of their school year. Triwizard champions are allowed only to participate in the tournament itself, with the exception of Dueling and Quidditch, as those will help to refine the skills and reaction times necessary in our main events."

"Are you going to enter?" Clara asked.

"Of course, I am!" Lily said. "Quidditch and painting, yes please, and dueling sounds fun, too, don't it?"

"I meant the tournament, Lily," Clara said, rolling her eyes. "Don't you want to win a bit of glory?"

Lily scoffed. "Clara, the last thing I want is more glory. I've had quite enough, thank you very much."

"Now, without further ado, let us retire to our dormitories," Maxime said, ending just a bit lamely (in Lily's humble opinion, anyway).

"You're really not interested in trying for it?" Clara asked in disbelief.

"How would she, even if she did?" Hermione asked. "Dumbledore would never allow it, and there's no way he doesn't have a hand in however they're choosing champions."

"So," Lily said, interrupting the two girls before Hermione could really get going, "where, exactly, are the dorms?"

"What, Henri didn't show you?" Clara asked snidely.

"As a matter of fact, he did," Hermione said, crossing her arms. "Come on, Lily, we should get going."

"A moment, Miss Potter," Maxime said, clamping a large hand down on one of her shoulders from behind. "I need you to accompany me to my office for a word."

Lily stared in silence, along with those lingering about them, as Madame Maxime turned and walked away without waiting to see if she'd follow.

"What did you do?" Clara asked, a bemused laugh escaping her.

"Nothing!"

"Blimey, not even I've been called on the first day. You must have really-"

"You should get going, Lily," Hermione interrupted, giving Lily a gentle push forward. "I'll see you later."

"Right," Lily said, reluctantly moving forward. She had to run to catch up, and then she had to jog just to keep pace.

Ginny's feet were killing her by the time the Gryffindor crowd finally found their way into the common room. Her face was flushed and tired, her breath was coming in fast, and her legs felt like lumps of iron. By the looks of it, the rest of the House was in the same state. Hell, the first years practically had to be carried up half the way, and she was certain most of them were now regretting their Sorting.

"Blimey," Ron said from nearby. "Sure hope it doesn't stay that way every year."

"I'm sure it won't," Neville said, his face completely red and covered in sweat. "Probably. Hopefully."

"Goodnight," Ginny said, leaving the two of them as quickly as she could. She really wanted a nice bath, and then she was turning in early. Plus, she had enough of their blabbering for one night. She didn't know how Lily could put up with them, let alone like to be around them. As she passed the fifth year girl's dorm, on her way upwards, she changed her mind after hearing a familiar voice.

"Yeah, the Cup was brilliant, all considering," Katie said, laying on her stomach, feet in the air and her chin in her hands. "You should have been there."
"Katie?" Ginny said tentatively after knocking lightly on the door. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"What is it, Ginny?" Katie asked, all eyes in the room turning towards her. "Alright?"

"Privately?" Ginny asked, staring straight into Katie's eyes and willing her to understand.

"Yeah, alright," Katie said after a brief pause, feet sweeping off the bed. "Be back in a bit."

Ginny moved down towards the common room proper, Katie following her closely behind. There were still a few people sitting at some tables, a few armchairs occupied near the fireplace, but it was mostly empty; people liked to get settled in on Sorting day. Ginny moved towards the back, taking an empty table near a window. Katie was giving her a confused look, but she sat down across from her.

"Is this about Quidditch?" Katie asked. "Sorry, Gin, but there's nothing I can do about getting you on our-"

"It's about Lily," Ginny interrupted.

"Oh," Katie said after an uncomfortable silence, her lips pursed.

"I saw you kissing her," Ginny said, leaning in and lowering her voice.

"Look," Katie said, joining her, "it wasn't what you think it was."

"Really?" Ginny asked. "Then what was that all about at the cup?"

"Just a little row," Katie said. "I was supporting the Bulgarians, and we got a bit too heated and-"

"You were wearing a shamrock!"

"Yeah, well, I am Irish, aren't I?" Katie said. "Fine, alright, it was a lousy excuse, and it wasn't about the Cup, but it's nothing."
"It was clearly something."

"Look, it doesn't matter, alright?" Katie insisted, trying to stand. "It's over."

"Good," Ginny said, Katie halting at that.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't want you bothering her when she gets here," Ginny said. "That's all I wanted to talk about."

"What makes you think I want to bother her?" Katie asked, sitting back down.

"I saw the two of you snogging," Ginny said, whispering again. "She isn't like that. Just leave her alone, alright?"

Katie's jaw dropped, her brow furrowing.

"Are you serious?" she asked.

"I've been thinking about it a lot," Ginny continued. "I didn't get it, at first, and Lily didn't want to talk about it at all, and she always got really angry, so the only way I can figure it is that you were kissing her when she didn't want you to. So- so just stay away from her, alright? She's not like you."

"Not like me?" Katie asked. "Not like what, exactly?"

"Well- you know-"

"No, go on, I want to hear it," Katie said, crossing her arms. "What, exactly, is the issue here?"

"The issue," Ginny said, "is that you shouldn't go around kissing other girls, and especially not Lily."

"I'll kiss whoever I like, thanks," Katie said. "I don't see how it's any of your business."

"Look, it's- it's just not natural, is it?"

"Not natural?" Katie said with a laugh, a few of the heads in the room swiveling in their direction. "Are you serious?"

"Keep your voice-"

"I don't see how it affects you in any way what kind of people I fancy," Katie said. "Or who Lily fancies, for that matter."

"Lily doesn't fancy girls," Ginny said, voice lowered again. "She told me herself. That's why I'm-"

"I don't think you know a bloody thing about what Lily likes," Katie said, still staying far too loud, her face reddening slightly in her anger. "I'm sure she told you that because you're a nosy little prat who won't stay out of her business."

"That's not-"

"Let me ask you something," Katie said, bowling right over her, "after you saw our little kiss- and, yeah, you know what, we were snogging- what, exactly, did you say to her?"

"Nothing!" Ginny said. "She wouldn't talk about it, so I- I just ignored her, for a bit, while I-"

"Ignored her!" Katie said, the same people turning to look at them again when she threw her hands in the air. "Oh, I'm sure she took that well."

"Well, it's her fault, isn't it?" Ginny said accidentally raising her own voice. "I just wanted to talk about it and she wouldn't-"

"Did it ever occur to you to mind your own business?" Katie said, her face twisting slightly. "Did it ever occur to you that this whole thing is really painful for her? That she's feeling a lot of- well, a lot of everything? Because, I can assure you, it wasn't easy for me when I figured it all out."

"I just wanted to know why she did it!"

"Well, gee, I think you can figure out that much," Katie said, not bothering to lower her voice even now that everybody in the room was staring at them. "But you just couldn't mind your own business, could you?"

"Don't you-"

"You couldn't just let her figure things out on her own, could you?" Katie continued. "You had to butt your little nose in where it wasn't wanted and make things worse, didn't you?"

"I didn't make things worse," Ginny said. "She has it figured out, she's dating Cedric now!"

"Of course, she is!" Katie said. "Blimey, after the way you freaked out on her, why wouldn't she say yes to the first bloke that asked?"

"What are you talking about, she was-"

"You're supposed to be her family," Katie said, her face turning completely red and gaining a nasty sneer. "Family is supposed to be accepting, they're supposed to tell you everything is alright and- and they're supposed to be there."

"I'm not-"

"Not what?" Katie said, cutting her off.

"I- I don't- I-"

"You need to think very carefully about what you say next," Katie said dangerously. "Because, I assure you, Lily most definitely feels you are."

"Of course she's family," Ginny said at last.

"Then what's the problem?" Katie asked. "Why can't you just be there for her? Do you really hate the idea that badly Does her existence really offend you that much?"

"No!" Ginny said far too defensively.

"You couldn't just tell her it's alright?"

"Mum did!" Ginny said, starting to panic as more people looked their way. "She tried to tell her after I told her about what I saw!"

"You told somebody else?" Katie said in complete disbelief.

"Err-"

"You have got to be kidding me," Katie said, slamming the table and scaring Ginny. "What is wrong with you?"

"I was just-"

"Do you really have your head so far up your own arse that you think the world revolves around you?" Katie said. "You really couldn't just mind your own fucking business, could you?"

"I didn't-"

"All you had to do was nothing, if you couldn't handle the very basic level of support. But, no, you had to go and tell every person around you, didn't you? You couldn't just leave good enough alone?"

"I didn't-"

"It's no wonder she's terrified if this is how her family is going to treat her for it!" Katie said, laughing in disbelief again.

"I wasn't trying to-"

"I mean, fucking hell! Your sister almost died, and you're sitting here ranting about- about what? About how her liking girls has you confused? Are you serious?"

"Katie, you need to-"

"I don't need to do anything," Katie said, standing and slamming both hands on the table again. "And I definitely don't need a third year telling me what to do, nor do I need you telling me the way I feel is wrong. I get enough of that from home, thank you very much."

"Katie," Ginny said, reaching out a hand when the girl turned to storm off. Katie whirled, smacking her hand away, angry tears now spilling from her eyes.

"Here's an idea, Weasley," she said with venom. "When Lily gets here, how about you just stay away from her, hmm?"

"She's family," Ginny said far more confidently.

"And I'm sure she'd be much happier without someone like you telling her what she's feeling is wrong," Katie said.

"Oi, Katie!" Angelina shouted from the girl's staircase. "What's going on down there?"

"That wasn't what I was trying to say," Ginny said quietly.

"Well, it is what you said," Katie countered, then turning to stare down the rest of the Gryffindors, only to turn back towards Ginny, the words she wanted to continue saying clearly etched on her face.

"I was just confused," Ginny whispered.

"How do you think she feels?" Katie whispered back.

"I'm sorry," Ginny said, feeling completely ashamed of herself.

"You should be," Katie said. "Fuck off and leave both of us alone."

And then she was gone, storming off through the gathering crowd and ignoring each and every question. Ginny sat back into her seat, holding her head between both hands, and feeling like she deserved every bit of that for being such a complete idiot.

Lily felt incredibly small in Maxime's office, in a manner that felt oddly reminiscent of having tea in Hagrid's Hut. The only difference was she never felt like she was in tremendous trouble with Hagrid, and even when the man was physically looking down at you it never really felt like he was.

Madame Maxime was most definitely judging Lily, on the other hand, silently watching her fidget in an incredibly large chair in a room that was bigger than Hagrid's entire house. She felt like she should be used to being in the Head's office by now, but Maxime's was completely devoid of the same sort of warmth offered by Dumbledore's, despite being much higher temperature wise. There weren't shelves cluttered with items, there weren't dozens of portraits all snoring and pretending to sleep, there weren't friendly floral patterns on all the furniture, and there wasn't even a dish of candies available on the hard wood desk (despite never taking one, she was missing that most of all). It felt slick and modern and like nobody could possibly live here.

"Welcome to Beauxbatons, Miss Potter," Maxime said at last. Lily felt the tension leave her shoulders, only to come back moments later when she began speaking again. "I will keep this short. I have called you here so we may have a discussion on your future here at Beauxbatons."

"It's really nice to-"

"Please, allow me to continue," Maxime interrupted, one hand raised slightly. "I did not mention it in your letter, so allow me to do so now: your tenure here at Beauxbatons is, at best, fragile, and I will be keeping a very close eye on your behaviour."

"Oh," Lily said, squirming further into her seat.

"The board of admissions was reluctant to even consider your application, considering your history of delinquency," Maxime said, casually flipping through a stack of papers that seemed far too small for her hands. "Bullying, truancy, disrespect of authority, poor academic marks in several key categories. Need I go on?"

"No," Lily said, crossing her legs. "But most of those weren't my fault!" She certainly wasn't going to deny disrespecting Snape, though.

"And if it had not been for Dumbledore assuring me of that very thing, you would not be sitting here in front of me," Maxime said. "Make no mistake, Hazel; you are here purely because of Albus Dumbledore's personal recommendation. I want to see the same things in you that he does, I want to prove to the board that taking this risk was correct, but it will require your full cooperation. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Lily said quickly, nodding enthusiastically.

"For starters," Maxime said, "You should keep a firm distance between you and Miss Lavigne."

"Clara?" Lily asked, blinking in surprise. Maxime nodded before continuing.

"She has a rap sheet even longer than yours," Maxime said, flipping through even more papers. "That she remains here at all is due solely to her father's presence on our board of directors. There is nothing I can do about her, but I will not tolerate any of it from you. Do you understand?"

Lily opened her mouth to argue, feeling particularly brave and defensive, but Maxime cut her off again.

"Until you prove you can handle the responsibility, you will be allowed limited access to our resources," Maxime said. "You may play Quidditch, assuming you make it through the tryouts, but that will be revoked at a moment's notice should your marks slip. Any other extracurriculars will need the direct approval of me or another member of staff. Your application to our arts program has been denied, as it is intensive and time consuming and I do not believe you can handle it, but we will revisit the matter in the future. The painting you submitted has been returned to your quarters. Professor Morisot tells me it is good work, and it is by her request that your future application will be considered at all"

"Brilliant," Lily said under her breath, clenching her jaw.

"Beauxbatons has a zero-tolerance policy towards violence," Maxime continued. "I do not know how Hogwarts has allowed it, but if you should be found physically assaulting any students while here at Beauxbatons, you will be immediately expelled."

"And what if they swing first?" Lily asked before she could stop herself. "Am I not allowed to defend myself?"

"You are a witch, Hazel," Maxime said plainly. "I suggest you use your wits. Miss Delacour asked me directly to take charge of your mentorship, and I have granted my permission. This is an excellent opportunity. She is top of her class and our prime candidate for Triwizard champion. She will show you how to handle yourself, I am certain. Do you remember where the dorms are, or do you require an escort?"

"I can find them," Lily grumbled as she stood.

"Then you are dismissed," Maxime said. "This was just a precautionary discussion, Hazel. Don't take it too much to heart. You will do well here at Beauxbatons. Have a wonderful night."

Lily went to tuck her hands into her pockets as she left, the thick office door closing of its own volition behind her, only to find her skirt had no pockets. She had to settle for kicking a loose stone along the path instead. Beauxbatons was dark at night, the only lights coming from scattered offices and the large dorms ahead. Lily briefly considered going for a run along the beach, decided she wasn't much in the mood, and turned down the right fork towards the girls' dorms.

The large palace took up almost a mile's stretch of beachside property, with balconies and lights all around every edge of it. The entryway immediately came out into a common area, with a large fire pit in the center to warm it all, and several couches, chairs, and tables scattered across the tiling. Boys were allowed in here, apparently (Hogwarts would never have let that happen), and Lily passed by several snogging couples as she wandered off towards the halls. Boys were not allowed past here. There was a large sign right at the entrance that warned exactly what would happen if they tried it.

It took Lily ages to find her room. Each door had a pair of names engraved into the surface to show who lived where, and she found hers and Hermione's all the way up on the top floor. She didn't bother knocking; she just pushed it right open and entered.

The room was large, with an open portal in the center of the opposite wall that led out to the balcony, only two curtains hanging past it to keep the outside world out. Immediately to the right and left of it were two desks, one of which had a wrapped brown package sitting on top of it (Lily assumed that was her rejected artwork), the other had an assortment of Hermione's belongings. Next to the desks, on each side wall, were the beds, large and clearly soft, with blue sheets, blankets, and pillows on top of them. At the foot of each bed was a large wardrobe, Lily's hanging open and showing the inside was lined with mirrors. In the corner of Lily's side was her owl, the bastard staring at her menacingly. On Hermione's was her own owl, Hedwig, her head tucked under her wing as she slept. On the left and right sides of the entryway were two doors. From the outside, they seemed impossible, as they would have needed to exist in the hallway.

"There you are!" Hermione said, immediately hopping up from her bed. "How did it go?"

"Brilliant," Lily said with a tight smile. She moved towards her wardrobe and started unbuttoning her blazer.

"You're not in trouble, then?"

"No," Lily said, "but if I get in trouble, I'm as good as expelled."

"You can't be serious!"

"'Fraid so," Lily confirmed, offering Hermione a sad smile as she started on her shirt. "Apparently Dumbledore is the only reason I was allowed in in the first place. The board wanted to turn me out. Oh, and she said I can't do anything but play Quidditch and my art is terrible and I'm stupid."

"She did not!"

"Well, no," Lily admitted, opening her trunk and digging for her pyjamas. "She just used nicer words."

"Lily-"

"Bath's in here, yeah?" Lily said, heading for the closed doors, pyjamas (and a little something extra hidden in them) in her hands.

"Yes, we each have our own, but we should talk about this, first!"

"What's there to talk about?" Lily said with a shrug. "Don't wait up for me. I'm going to have a nice, long soak and try to forget about the world hating me for a bit."

Lily closed the door behind her before Hermione could protest further and was very pleased to find out that it completely blocked out all sound. The bathroom was also almost entirely made of marble and gold, the tub itself on the far side larger than Lily's bed back home. It also felt like the tile under her feet was warmed, somehow.

Lily set her clothes down on the sink, dug the mirror out from under her top, and then sat down on the toilet and clenched it hard between both hands, staring back into her own distressed reflection.

"Sirius," she whispered.

Nothing happened. She just kept staring back.
"Sirius!" she said again, louder this time, running a hand through her hair, one foot tapping on the floor involuntarily.

Nothing happened.

"Sirius!" she shouted.

"Lily!" Sirius said as he came into view, his face sliding into the center of the mirror's surface. "Looks like it works, don't it? Picture's a bit fuzzy, but nothing we can't fix with a bit of-"

"They're going to expel me," Lily said quickly, her foot tapping speeding up.

"Come again?"

"They're going to expel me, Sirius, because I'm not going to be able to stay out of trouble because I'm too stupid and everything always gets blamed on me anyway and-"

"Lily, slow down," Sirius said gently. "Connection's fuzzy this long distance, I can only catch every other word when you talk like that."

"Sirius, please."

"Just start from the beginning. Deep breaths, Lily."

Ginny rolled over in the dark, staring at the ceiling. She could hear the other third year girls breathing deeply, a couple even snoring, but no matter how hard she tried, sleep refused to come to her.

"What a nightmare," she whispered to herself, rubbing at her eyes with her palms.

"Not sleeping well?" Courtney whispered from the bed next door.

"Oh, now you talk to me?"

"I can't sleep, either," Courtney said, completely ignoring her. "Want to go downstairs and talk? I don't want to wake everybody else up."

Ginny sighed and rolled out of bed. She supposed it was better than the alternative.

The common room was completely empty, which meant they got to take the prime spots right in front of the fireplace. Ginny leaned back into the cushioning and closed her eyes, ignoring Courtney nervously wringing her hands on the seat next to her.

"So, what was that all about, earlier?" she finally said.

"Nothing," Ginny said with a sigh. "Nothing I can talk about, anyway." Katie was right about that much, at least. She never should have told anybody.

"Katie's always really nice to everybody," Courtney said. "I don't think I've ever seen her that angry before."

"Yeah, I haven't either."

"What did you say to her?"

"Look, I really don't want to talk about it."

"Do you hate her?"

"Of course, I don't!" Ginny said. "And I don't hate- I don't hate Lily, either." She said the last part quiet enough so that Courtney couldn't hear it. She only said it at all because she needed to get it all out, but the only person she wanted to say it to wasn't even in the same country.

"I know she likes girls," Courtney said after a pause. "I heard her talking about it at- with one of her friends before the holidays. Is that what you were arguing about?"

"Maybe," Ginny said with a sigh. "I- err- I actually saw her kissing another girl on the train, last year. That's what we were arguing about." She figured she could say that much, if Courtney already knew.

"Do you have a problem with it?" Courtney asked quietly. "Girls liking other girls, I mean."

"I don't think so," Ginny said after a long pause. "I don't know what to think, to be honest. I just- I never even really considered it before I saw it, and then I couldn't stop thinking about it, but the person I kept trying to talk to about it wouldn't, and I- I don't know."

"Why did it bother you so much?"

"I don't know!" Ginny said again. "I just- I don't know. You only ever see girls kissing boys around school, don't you? I just- it got in my head, I think."

"Have you ever thought about trying it?"

"Maybe," Ginny said. "Once or twice, I suppose. Doesn't everybody? But that doesn't mean anything. I really shouldn't have said anything to Katie, Merlin."

"Do you want to-"

"I should apologize," Ginny said, rubbing at her eyes again. "Assuming she doesn't blow up on me all over again, that is. What were you saying?"

"Nothing," Courtney said, her cheeks a bright red. "I should head up to bed, I think I'm starting to get sleepy."

"Good night," Ginny said, wondering what that was all about.

"-and I just want to go home, I don't think I can do this!"

"Right," Sirius said, not skipping a beat. "Well, first thing's first: you need to calm down."

"Sirius-"

"I know, Lily, it's a stupid thing to say, but you do. There's nothing you can do about it right now and freaking out is only going to make you feel worse."

"But what do I do?" Lily said, sitting on the edge of the tub, trying to stop her pacing. "Sirius, I think I'm losing it."

"Well, for starters," Sirius said, "you're going to want to stay away from this Clara girl. If Maxime says she's trouble, then you being around her isn't going to help a thing."

"I can't," Lily said, running another hand through her hair.

"Well, blimey, you just met her, it's not like-"

"We went to primary together," Lily said quickly, needing to get it all out, the dam bursting before she could reinforce it. "And she was my only friend the entire time, the only person who was ever nice to me, and- and she came over for my birthday and she kissed me, Sirius, and she's- she's just so pretty and I think I like her."

"Oh," Sirius said, blinking slowly while Lily rubbed the nervous tears from her eyes. "Are you sure you're ready to talk about it?"

Lily shook her head and sucked in her lips.

"You can do this, Lily," Sirius said reassuringly. "Take it one step at a time. If it's too much, just set the mirror down; that'll cut the connection immediately."

"Sorry," she said, taking the moment to cry harder, completely losing her composure. "I- I just-"

"Take all the time you need, Lily. I'm right here."

"N-no, you're not."

"Deep breaths, I'm right-"

"I w-wish you were h-here," Lily said, wiping at her face again. "I c-can't do this by mys-self."

"I know," Sirius said. "I know, Lily. Listen to me. Alright? You're going to be fine."

"B-but-"

"Hogwarts isn't too far away," Sirius said, "and you've got the mirror. We can talk every night, Lily. I'm here for you."

Lily sniffed and wiped at her face again. "Sorry."

"Don't be," Sirius said. "Don't ever apologize for how you're feeling, Lily."

"But I just- I- I don't want to be-"

"Take a deep breath for me," Sirius said, pausing while she did just that. "You've had a hard day. Use your Occlumency and calm down."

"I can't," Lily said, taking another deep breath. "I can n-never do it when I'm crying. It just doesn't w-work."

"Then just keep breathing and listen to me, alright?"

"A-alright."

"There's nothing wrong with you, Lily," Sirius said. "And there's nothing wrong with how you're feeling. Alright?"

"B-but-"

"I want you to keep telling yourself that, every single time you have those thoughts. There's nothing wrong with you. Can you do that for me?"

Lily nodded, sniffed, and wiped at her eyes again.

"Good," Sirius said. "We'll bench the topic for now, I want to have it in person, alright?"

"Alright," Lily said, nodding again.

"You're going to be alright, Lily," Sirius said. "This is your first time away from home, at least like this."

"I went to Hogwarts!" Lily said, wiping at her nose again.

"You didn't have a home then, Lily," Sirius said gently. "You didn't have anybody you thought cared for you. You were just in a new place."

"But-"

"Now, it's different," Sirius said. "It's only natural to be nervous or homesick. Blimey, our first night at Hogwarts, Remus cried even worse. Err- don't tell him I said that."

"I won't," Lily said with a nervous laugh.

"I don't think Maxime meant everything the way you're taking it," Sirius said. "If she didn't want you there, you wouldn't be there. Just be yourself, and they'll all see how talented you are."

"And if they don't?" Lily said, sniffing and wiping at her face one more time.

"Well," Sirius said with that clever smile of his, "you're just going to have to prove them wrong, aren't you?"