"How about this?"
"Hermione, that just sounds like you putting on a voice."
"Isn't that the point?"
"Yes, but it needs to sound natural."
"How about now?"
"Now it sounds like you've been a smoker for thirty years."
"How about this?"
"You sound like you've been sick all night," Lily said, taking a bite of her breakfast and chewing slowly. "Why are you trying to go so deep, anyway? Just put a bit of showmanship into it and call it a day."
Hermione nodded along and then narrowed her eyes, staring at Lily's face.
"What?" Lily asked innocently.
"You can't fool me, Lily," Hermione said, crossing her arms.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I almost didn't notice," Hermione said.
"Notice what?"
Hermione leaned forward and flicked Lily lightly on the just slightly too-large nose.
"Better luck next time," Hermione said, now turning her attention to the newspaper.
"Guess so," Lily grumbled, rubbing at the now sore tip.
"How long were you doing it, anyway?"
"About three minutes."
"You know," Hermione said, lowering her voice, "if you're going to make a public run of it anyway, you might as well go a bit further."
"No, thanks." Lily spread some jam over her hot bread.
"Still not comfortable with anyone else seeing?"
"Everybody already tries to use me, Hermione," Lily said, taking a bite of eggs. "Imagine what they'd try if they knew I could do this."
"Alright," Hermione said with an understanding nod. "It'll be our little secret, then."
"What's this secret I'm hearing about?" Clara said, sitting next to the two of them with a big yawn, Henri at her side.
"None of your business," Lily said, dropping her knife, picking up her bag, and standing from the table, bread in hand. "Come on, Hermione."
"Oh, come off it, Potter."
Lily sent a rude gesture back to Clara and stuffed the whole bit in her mouth, while Hermione hurried to follow her longer stride.
"Not so keen on her, anymore?" Hermione said.
"Not so much, no."
"Not the one who modified your memories, then?"
Lily snorted. "Clara still hasn't managed the summoning charm. She'd never manage a memory one."
"Huh," Hermione said, going quiet for just a moment as they reached the stone paths to the campus proper. "What did she do, then?"
"Did she have to do anything? You already didn't like her."
"Sure, but you were still trying to be nice to her, weren't you?"
Lily let out a little sigh. She knew Hermione would overreact, and it wasn't a conversation she particularly wanted to have, but she didn't see a way out of it at this point.
"I'm pretty sure she stole my mirror."
"What?" Hermione said, mouth dropping open.
"I ran into her right after I wrapped up my call with Sirius," Lily said, scratching at her nose warily. She could still feel a tingle where Hermione flicked it. "Sat it down next to me, she sat down next to it, I left, forgot the mirror, went back, and it was gone."
"That witch," Hermione said, glancing back to the Feasting Platform with a nasty look.
"Well, yes, she is one."
"I can't believe her!" Hermione said, her foot rising to storm off. Lily had to forcefully stop her from turning back right that second. "After all you said to defend her, she stole from you!"
"Calm down, Hermione," Lily said. "I don't have any proof. I just think she did."
"Well, you give me five seconds, and we'll know for sure."
Lily considered it, deciding that would make for a very good show.
"Just let her have it," she said instead, pulling Hermione back down in the proper direction.
"Lily!"
"Sirius wrote back, he's looking into making another pair," she said, stomach roiling. "I don't feel good about it, but it's whatever. I'll get her back Hermione, don't worry. I have a few ideas."
"I don't like this."
"Neither do I, I just said so."
"It's not fair."
Lily recognized that determined look Hermione was getting and wondered if there was anything she could do to stop it. The only thing she could think of meant more sharing. Her stomach cramps only increased in severity at the thought of it.
"Listen," she said nervously, letting Hermione go and trusting the other girl would keep walking alongside her. "Have I ever told you about my cousin, Dudley?"
"No?"
"Well," Lily said, noticing Hermione's gaze wander down to her clenching left hand, "he's the horrible, fat one you saw last summer."
"The one without the moustache?"
"That's the one."
"What about him?"
"Well," Lily said, scratching at her nose again, instead, so Hermione would stop watching the hand. "Growing up, he- err- so, I wasn't allowed anything, see? Anything I did get, they'd either toss out, or they'd give to Dudley. Didn't even get my own room; he got two, so he could fit all his things."
"Wait," Hermione said very carefully. "Where were you sleeping, then? The couch?"
"Not- not exactly. It's not important, anyway, I was just saying that-"
"Lily," Hermione said, crossing her arms.
Lily let out a sigh and refused to look any further in her direction.
"This isn't what I wanted to say, Hermione," she said. "You have to understand, I- Clara didn't even know this, and she visited, once."
"It's alright, Lily," Hermione said, her hand gently sliding into Lily's for support.
"I had to sleep in the cupboard," Lily said all very quickly, squeezing Hermione's hand back. "They- err- they had a lock on the outside of it, so- so when I was bad they'd- err-" Lily left it at that, hoping Hermione could piece the rest together.
"Lily," Hermione said after a long pause. "I'm so sorry. This is horrible."
Lily shrugged. "I'm not looking for sympathy, Hermione, and it wasn't even what I wanted to say. What I'm getting at is Dudley had everything, and I had nothing but what I could hide under my mattress."
"What does that have to do with your mirror?"
"I'm used to not having anything, Hermione," Lily said. "I keep a little treasure box of everything I don't want to lose, and- and the mirror wasn't in there at the time. So, I lost it."
"Lily, that's even more horrible."
"And it's what I should have expected," Lily said, ignoring the tight feeling in her stomach. "That's how I keep losing the cloak, too. I want to use it, but that means it isn't safe, so- so how can I be mad when I lose it?"
"I really don't like this."
"It is what it is."
"You're allowed to have things, Lily."
"Am I?" Lily said with a little laugh.
"Yes!"
"Then, how come they're always being taken away?" Lily asked. "I can't keep the cloak for more than a month. I haven't even been using it here, because I'm worried if it does get taken, I'll never get it back. Dumbledore knows what it means to me. Maxime doesn't."
"Did the Weasleys not let you have things, either?" Hermione asked quietly.
"I don't know," Lily admitted. "They haven't asked for anything back yet, at least, if that's what you're getting at."
"They would never, Lily!"
"And when they do, I'll give it back to them. Box is theirs, too, but I need a new one, anyway. Was thinking about expanding it to-"
"Lily," Hermione said very patiently, grabbing her by the wrist. "Look at me."
Lily did so very reluctantly, the worried look Hermione was giving only increasing the swirling tide in her stomach.
"This isn't right," Hermione said. "That mirror belongs to you."
Lily just shrugged again. She knew Hermione wouldn't understand, but she had to try.
"How did Sirius even make it?" Hermione said, still holding onto her.
"I don't know," she said. "He made them back in school, with my dad. Said he has to dig up their old notes, but he doesn't-"
"Lily," Hermione said, sounding even more disgusted. "It was your dad's?"
"Sure?"
"Why aren't you mad?" Hermione asked. "It's an heirloom. I thought you were doing better about your parents!"
"I am," Lily said, her belly clenching further. "I just don't want to cause a scene."
"But why?"
"Because when I did before," Lily said very carefully, "you almost died in the Chamber of Secrets."
She hated the sudden look of hurt Hermione was wearing and turned her attention back to the path ahead of them, trying to focus her mind to calm the sickness in her belly.
Hermione wasn't talking to her during Potions again, but this time it was because she spent the entire class fuming and glaring at Clara. Lily was pulled after class to discuss their Polyjuice Potion (which was very close to completion and would be finished right before leaving for Hogwarts), and when she left the classroom, she found the two girls arguing just a few feet away, a bewildered Henri watching on.
"I didn't take nothing," Clara said, her face dark. "I don't care what poor, putrid Potter thinks."
"We know you have it," Hermione countered. "Nobody else was around. Just give it back, and we won't say a thing to Maxime."
"I can't give back what I don't have."
"You have it!" Hermione shouted. "You know you have it! We know you have it! Just give it back!"
"I don't have it!" Clara shouted back. "Merlin, it's just a stupid little mirror, who cares? Just buy her another one, if it matters so much."
"It's not just a mirror!" Hermione said. "And even if it was, it's hers, not yours! Just give. It. Back!"
"What is going on out here?" Professor Belby said, suddenly appearing behind Lily, who was just now noticing the gathered crowd of observers and whisperers.
"Nothing," Clara said quickly.
"Clara has something that doesn't belong to her," Hermione said, crossing her arms.
Belby sighed. "In my office, both of you."
"I didn't take anything!" Clara said. "She's lying!"
"Now, Lavigne," Belby said in a tone that brokered no argument.
Lily hated the look of disgust she got from Clara as the girl shoved past her, and she hated the look of reassurance and the gentle touch Hermione gave her even more. She especially hated sitting in Charms alone, her mind far too busy to listen to a lecture. Finally, when they were about to begin partner work, Hermione and Clara returned, both girls looking completely furious.
"She didn't have it on her," Hermione said, slamming her bag on the table and pulling out her wand. "And Belby can't order a search of her quarters until-"
"I asked you not to," Lily said, "and you didn't even wait a day."
"Lily, with all due respect," Hermione said, sounding exasperated, "you're wrong on this one. You can't just let people walk all over you."
"I don't," Lily said. "I dueled Malfoy, didn't I?"
"Yes," Hermione admitted very carefully. "But- and don't take this the wrong way, Lily- you didn't do that for yourself."
"What?" Lily said, blinking. "Of course I did, I was-"
"Doing it for me," Hermione said. "And I love you for it, Lily, I really do- but you spent the whole year just taking it from everybody without saying a single thing back. You only did anything at all when somebody else was getting laid in on."
"I- I don't-" Lily blinked slowly, trying to think of a single instance to prove Hermione wrong. "I punched Malfoy on the train!"
"Because he was making fun of me," Hermione said. "Katie told me, Lily, she was standing right there."
Lily shook her head. "I had a plan, Hermione, I told you. I can't just duel Clara."
"Because you're on probation, or because you don't want to?" Hermione asked. "Your Patronus is a lion, Lily. Gryffindors are supposed to be brave, aren't we?"
Lily clenched her jaw.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said upon seeing her reaction. "I didn't mean to- err- I'm just mad about Clara, is all. What are we working on today?"
"Free review," Lily said slowly, watching Clara talk angrily and animatedly with Henri, still standing at their table.
"Excellent," Hermione said, smiling since Lily didn't choose to sulk. "Think we can get away with working on something else? I was going over our manifesto, and I think we can-"
"No," Lily said, pulling out her wand. "I think we better work on charms." She flicked it subtly and thought two words: Accio chair.
Just as Clara tried to take her seat next to Henri, her chair slid out from underneath her and sent her falling to the floor, a chorus of laughter ringing out from the nearby students. Lily joined in, too, enjoying just how good that made her feel, even while Hermione watched her warily.
"What?" Lily said, using her new chair to rest her feet on.
"That was your plan?" Hermione said, frowning.
"Worked with Malfoy, didn't it?"
"Did it?" Hermione said questioningly.
"I seem to recall I got him to transfer schools."
"And you're proud of that?"
"Are you saying he didn't have it coming?"
"It's not exactly what I had in mind, no."
"Maybe not," Lily said, leaning back in her original chair, hands behind her head, "but it's a lot more-"
Lily was interrupted by the little scream she let out as the chair broke out from underneath her, sending her sprawling to the floor to another round of laughs as her face turned as red as her hair.
"Oops," Clara said with a smug look, her wand not as cleverly hidden. "Sorry, Potter. Looks like the wood was too weak to hold your fat ass."
"What's your excuse, then?" Lily said, hopping to her feet. "How ugly do you have to be for a chair to run away from you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Only that I don't get how Henri can stand looking at you."
Clara scoffed. "You're just jealous I got to him, first."
"Hardly," Lily said mockingly. "Not really my type. I prefer people who are smart enough to see what a complete dunghead you are."
"Well, at least I'm not a-"
"Girls!" Professor Bricoleur said, approaching just as quickly as his stout legs allowed. "What's all this, then?"
"Nothing," both girls said together. Lily whirled and fixed her chair with a single, silent flourish of her wand, Clara snatched hers away and dragged it back to her table physically, and both girls spent the rest of the class glaring at each other and shooting tiny, harmless hexes when they thought others weren't looking.
Luckily for Clara, they didn't share another class together until Tuesday's Care of Magical Creatures, during which she avoided Lily entirely as they swept up ashwinder ashes. Doing it made Lily feel oddly sad, but they were extremely useful in potions, and the Beauxbatons supply was nearly exhausted. She was still feeling down during Ancient Runes, but Hermione dumping some extra food on her plate during supper made her feel much better.
"Not going to meet with Fleur today?" Hermione said, instantly deflating Lily's ego once more.
"No," she said. "We're done, now. No more mentoring, no more meetings." No more dancing.
"Well, I still have to meet up with mine," Hermione said. "Why don't you go for your run early? We still have to practice our speech, but when we get back, I'll help you with your Transfiguration, and then we can get started on our real work."
"You mean-"
"Yup," Hermione said, smiling as she stood. "Hats."
Lily was really starting to like hats, she decided. If it wasn't so warm at Beauxbatons, she'd wear the one Katie bought her so long ago just for the hell of it. She really liked the way they looked resting on her head, and now that she could change it at will, they always complimented her well. She liked traditional wizard hats, she liked brimmed ones, she liked caps, beanies, flats, berets, you name it, Lily loved to wear them. She even ordered a few very cute ones from Teen Witch Weekly just a few days ago, although they'd yet to arrive.
Her favourite ones were a secret from the world at large, though; she only wore Hermione's lumpy, hand-made ones around the dorm room. It wasn't because she was embarrassed, no, she'd wear them everywhere if she was allowed to. She just liked keeping them her own little secret.
That, and Hermione would have died from embarrassment if she wore one out. It was hard enough on her when Lily wore them as she tried to knit her own, but she'd already made Lily the promise, and there was no way she'd ever be allowed to back out on it.
Of course, Lily was nowhere near as good at making them, even if Hermione wasn't skilled herself. Her hands weren't used to the little movements knitting required, and if she managed to make any stitches at all it was a complete miracle. She wasn't even sure if what they were doing was stitching; Hermione bought her a little book for beginners, but she'd yet to find the time to peruse it. As such, she was completely unfamiliar with the proper terminology.
It also didn't help that Hermione was a very poor teacher. She just sat at Lily's side, humming away and working much faster, while Lily struggled and grunted her way through something that more closely resembled the isles back home than it did a hat.
"So, what do you think?" Hermione asked on Thursday evening, her own box filled and complete, Lily's only containing two acceptable goods.
"About what?" Lily asked, letting out a sigh of frustration as she once more undid her hard work.
"Here," Hermione said, taking it from her and handing over a fresh ball of yarn. "I was asking if you'd read over my manifesto, yet."
"How can I? You've got me working in a bloody sweatshop."
"I don't hear any complaining."
Lily sighed again and rubbed at her eyes. "Where is it?"
"On my desk," Hermione said, humming to herself again.
"I'll give it a once over before my bath," Lily said, hopping up and giving herself a good stretch.
"You take a lot of baths."
"I'm aware."
"Just making sure. What do you even do in there?"
"A lot of reading."
"Reading what?"
"Well, Dr. Watson, it seems we've got a Listery on our hands."
"I never should have told you about that."
"The game is afoot!"
"I shouldn't have let you borrow those, either," Hermione said with a very deep sigh.
"Probably not," Lily agreed with a shrug. "We still on for this weekend?" She skimmed over the first page of Hermione's thirty thick manifesto. She'd have to do some serious editing later on, and they definitely needed a conversation on trimming down her own work to be more concise.
"I already promised, didn't I?" Hermione asked, just a bit annoyed.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked.
"Nothing."
"Well, good," Lily said, not buying it one bit, but fully assuming she'd learn the truth in a matter of minutes, "because I've finished my look, and I want some critiques in case I need to change anything."
"Lily, the manifesto!"
"I'll read it later," Lily said, gently setting it on her mattress and hurrying over to her wardrobe. "What do you think?" She held out a flowy, green sundress for Hermione's approval.
"I thought we were just wearing our uniforms," Hermione said with a frown.
"I thought this'd be more fun!" Lily said cheerily. "I have one for you, too, but it'll need some fitting. Same shade as our uniforms, you'll love it. Mine's got these little flowers embroidered around it, see, and when the wind blows, they sway!"
"Lovely," Hermione said, crossing her arms.
"And yours," Lily said, pulling the light blue one out next, "has these little white seashells, see?" Lily hurried over so Hermione could get a better look. "They float around, like they're caught in the tide, and sometimes a little fish comes through and- look, there it is!" Lily pointed excitedly at the little, funny fish as he weaved in and out, avoiding all the shells around him.
"You- you bought me a dress?" Hermione asked very strangely, carefully taking the light material into her own hands.
"Yup! Well- it's mine, but you can borrow it!"
"Why?"
"Because I was the only person wearing the uniform, last time," Lily said, laying her dress on her bed and pulling out her wand. "And, honestly, I wanted to see what you look like in one."
"What?"
"I've never seen you wear anything but those baggy t-shirts or our school uniform," Lily said, flourishing her wand above her head and letting the warm air settle over her. "Don't you think it'd be nice to try something new?"
"What's wrong with what I wear?"
"Nothing!"
"Then why do you care?"
"Because, Hermione, sometimes it's feels niceto look nice," Lily said, aiming her wand at her dress. "You've been having a really hard time lately, so we're going to look good and feel good about ourselves and go to a party together."
"Now you sound like Lavender," Hermione grumbled.
"You can find a nice boy to dance with," Lily said, waving her wand at her dress, "and I'll- err- not do that."
"Lily, I'm not going for boys, I'm going so we can- how did you do that?"
"Do you like it?" Lily said, giving her dress a little twirl. "I ordered these a month ago, and not going to lie, it's been a pain waiting for the perfect chance to-"
"Lily, how did you do that?" Hermione asked, pointing towards the school uniform now laying on her bed.
"It's a-"
"If you say a Listery, I'm going to kill you."
"A switching spell, then," Lily said, twirling her way over to her wardrobe instead so she could admire herself. "I should have worn this thing ages ago. Do you think I should order more?" She was going to order more, but it'd be nice to have permission.
"Where did you learn a switching spell?" Hermione said, still fixated.
"Fleur," Lily said simply, trying a different pose. "What do you think? Too short? I could always lengthen it, I guess, but I'm worried about-"
"Lily, that's really advanced magic!"
"I suppose it doesn't matter if it's short if I can shrink myself," Lily said, pulling at the corners of her skirt and then letting them fall back down. "What do you think?"
"We're not supposed to learn those until sixth year!"
"I'll teach you later, Hermione, I promise," Lily said, starting to get annoyed. "Do you like it or not?"
"What?" Hermione asked blinking slowly.
"Forget it," Lily said, snatching the manifesto off her mattress. "I'm taking a bath."
"Don't get it wet!"
"Don't know why I even bother," Lily grumbled, tossing the manifesto on the counter and pulling her dress over her head.
The next morning, Lily got up extra early to ensure she had the time to eat a fruitful breakfast. There was a lot to do that day, and she didn't fancy starving through most of it. Hermione joined her a little later, just as a large, mean owl landed on their table and knocked Lily's plate straight to the ground.
"Oh, piss off, Zeus," Lily said, grieving over the remains of her meal.
"Sirius?" Hermione asked as Lily snatched the letter off Zeus's leg.
"Lupin," she said, sucking on the finger he still managed to nip at.
"Think it's about the thing?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "What else would it be? And why are you whispering?"
"Well, I- I just thought that- err-"
"He said he's delighted that we're taking such an interest in politics," Lily said, giving it a quick scan, "and he's more than happy to accept our invitation to join. He says Sirius, too, but the way he wrote it makes me think Sirius tried arguing about it."
"Well, he does own an elf," Hermione said, narrowing her eyes at Lily again.
"Hermione, it's his, not mine, stop doing that. I asked him nicely for that bath!"
"Did you pay him for it?"
"No, but-"
"Well, you should have."
Lily sighed. "I promise I'll tip him next time, alright? Do you want to know what's in the rest of the letter or not?"
"Please."
"He said he'll gladly stock our pamphlets, and Sirius is even looking into buying a printing press for us."
"Oh, that'll really help!" Hermione said, positively beaming.
"He also said while he's already been looking into improving matters for the local werewolf packs, he thinks your suggestion of hiring exclusively them won't help."
"What? But he's a-"
"Let me finish, Hermione. He said he already hired a few for his staff prior to the store's opening- he also sent a list of who, since he's required to tell me now- but it's unrealistic to fill every position, and he doesn't think it will help matters to begin with."
"Hang on, we'll get to that," Hermione said, swallowing her bite of bread covered in a delightful little jelly. "What do you mean he's required to tell you who is a werewolf?"
"Well, I'm the owner, right?" Lily said, giving that section another brief scan.
"Yes?"
"He says the Ministry's passed new legislation on werewolf regulations," Lily said. "Says all werewolves are required to disclose their condition to potential and current employers."
"That's horrible!"
"Yeah," Lily said, glancing over the list of names again. "I think I'll write to them tonight, let them know I don't care and I'm more than happy to have them around."
"What about Wolfsbane?" Hermione asked. "Are they stocked up?"
Lily scoffed. "Hermione, Lupin can hardly afford the stuff. Do you have any idea how much a single dose costs?"
"No?"
"Well, it's a lot," Lily said. "And you also need three of the stuff, two for the two days prior and one the day of."
"We could get them some!"
"Hermione, I know I said I'd pay for all this, but if you start having me supply every werewolf in Britain with Wolfsbane, I'll be broke before we finish school."
"We'll set up a fund," Hermione said quickly. "We can accept donations for it and then fund it through that, get it distributed to as many people as we can. In the meantime, I suppose you'll just have to get brewing."
Lily sputtered, choking on the glass of cold juice she was previously enjoying.
"Me?" she managed.
"You," Hermione said with a nod.
"Hermione, I-"
"We can ask Professor Belby for her husband's notes," Hermione said, bowling straight over her protests. "She'll give them to you, she likes you well enough. Maybe there's something we can do to make it easier to brew, improve it somehow."
"Hermione, we're fourth years."
"And Maxime's got you on track to be one of the greatest witches of all time," Hermione said simply. "Dumbledore was inventing his uses for Dragon's Blood around our age, wasn't he?"
"Yes," Lily said reluctantly. "But I'm not Dumbledore, Hermione."
"We'll see," Hermione said with a far too pleased look in her eye. "Back to the previous matter."
"What?"
"Why can't he hire more werewolves?" Hermione said, gesturing to her letter.
"Because nobody will shop there if he does," Lily said. "Now that werewolves are required to register with the Ministry, we've already got a few boycotts going on. Flourish & Blotts has been posting ads about being 'deviant free,' bloody bastards."
"I still don't see why he can't do it."
"He doesn't think it'd help, anyway," Lily said. "Says he wants normal wizards working with them, seeing that they're not all that bad or dangerous. He says that will help, more."
"Fine," Hermione said. "We'll table it, for now, but let him know I want to meet with him when we're back at Hogwarts."
"I'm sure he'll look forward to it," Lily said, putting her letter in her satchel and turning her attention back to her supper.
It was a nervous walk to Potions that morning, with Lily completely dreading what Hermione was forcing her to do. The Muggleborn girl didn't even approach the Professor with her; she went straight to their desk without so much as a peep, watching expectantly as Lily approached the front desk.
"Professor?" Lily said after clearing her throat. The Greek woman hardly looked up from her papers before responding.
"Potion's almost done, Potter," Belby said, turning her attention back to the stack of homework. "We can check in on it after class, if you'd like to give it a test dose. I'll arrange permission for you to skip your day's classes while we wait for it to wear off."
As tempting as it was to just take that permission completely and wait for another day, a quick glance back towards Hermione told her there was no way she'd ever get away with it.
"Actually," Lily started in nervously, "I was wondering if I could ask a favour."
Belby finally set the papers to the side and then looked up with her full attention, hands steepled in front of her.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if you still had your husband's notes for the Wolfsbane Potion," Lily said, getting it all out very quickly. "I was also wondering if I could have a look at them. I have a friend, you see, and-"
"Absolutely not," Belby said shortly, waving her off to her seat. "Do not ask me again."
"But-"
"You have my answer, Potter. Go."
Lily did exactly that, hurrying to take her seat next to Hermione and shaking her head to fend off any questions from the girl.
"We'll come up another plan," Hermione said, once class was well and truly on its way towards completion. "Snape was brewing it for Lupin, right? We could always try getting it from him."
"I'm not asking Snape," Lily hissed, adding some frog feet to her cauldron.
"It was just an idea. We have to try something, Lily."
"We're not-"
Lily was interrupted by her cauldron exploding, only just getting her mouth closed in time to prevent any liquid from getting inside of it. There were a few screams from the closest tables, a few laughs from the ones further away, and a whole lot of swearing from the red-headed girl.
If it wasn't for the thick, padded gloves and the magically reinforced goggles they always wore during the class, Lily would have been in for a long, painful night. Instead, she just got a long, embarrassing lecture from Professor Belby right in front of the entire class.
"It seems you aren't as dutiful of a Potioneer as I believed you were, Potter," Belby said, flipping an errant strand of frizzy hair out of her face. "You need to pay more attention to your cauldron than the no doubt stimulating conversation of your friends. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," Lily said, jaw clenched.
"Please, Professor, we weren't speaking," Hermione said on her behalf. "We never do during Potions, Lily hates it when I-"
"Then how do you propose this mess was made, Granger?" Belby said, gesturing to the mess that Lily was still cleaning up all on her own. "You were all told about the delicate properties of the Blood-Chilling Concoction last week, no? And, yet, my warnings were ignored, and the cauldron grew too hot, no?"
"Yes, Professor," Lily said, silencing Hermione with another glare. "It won't happen again. I promise."
"See that it doesn't," Belby said, skirt snapping behind her as she turned to move back to her desk. Lily's ears grew hot as she heard more whispering and snickering from behind their table.
"I can't believe her," Hermione said as they left the classroom together. "When's she ever snapped like that before? What do you think's gotten into her?"
"Does it matter?" Lily said, still steaming as a few more giggles broke out in front of them.
Hermione let out a sigh. "I suppose not. Why did your cauldron blow up, Lily? You haven't made a mistake like that since first year."
"I didn't make one like that during first year."
"Alright, but why did you here?"
"I didn't," Lily said, clenching her jaw again. "Everything was perfect."
"But it doesn't make any sense! Potions don't just explode on their own!"
"Of course, they don't," Lily said with a snort. "Somebody messed with my cauldron while I was- err- looking at something else."
"Who?"
"I don't know," Lily said, glaring at the laughing Clara ahead of them. "But I have a pretty good guess."
That was, thankfully for Clara, the only class they shared with the girl on Fridays, so once they reached Herbology, where they were growing an enchanted breed of seaweed right off the coast (they'd harvest them next week, their final week here before Hogwarts), Lily's mood improved significantly. She was back to joking and speaking with Hermione, as well as making fun of the voice Hermione was trying to perfect.
"Merlin's sake, just go to the Hospital Wing, Granger," Professor Foncée said when she made it even deeper.
"It's working," Hermione said with a shrug towards the laughing Lily.
During arithmancy, Lily was in such a good mood that she was having a hard time paying attention. She entertained herself by, instead, drawing funny little caricatures of people she knew and trying to get Hermione to make a noise during the middle of a lecture. She almost won with her "Snape dancing ballet" masterpiece, but Hermione managed to compose herself at the last possible second. Lily settled for getting her next time.
After a hurried supper, the two girls returned to their dorm to get ready for the evening.
"Maybe I was wrong about the dress thing," Hermione said, admiring her own swirly skirt in the mirror.
"I told you they were delightful," Lily said, focusing on readying her own self. She shrunk herself by just a couple of inches, feeling that made her look absolutely perfect. It took a bit gussying up on Hermione's end before she was convinced they could leave; Hermione was content to leave her hair as is, but Lily thought it'd be a nightmare once they got to the breezy beach. They compromised right before leaving, and Hermione allowed Lily to tie her hair in a tail matching the red-head's own (albeit a lot poofier).
"Got the tin?" Lily asked one more time as they neared their destination.
"Lily, you watched me pick it up."
"Thought you might have lost it."
"When have I ever lost anything?"
"What about the pamphlets, then?"
"Now you're just having me on. We haven't made any."
"Just testing your memory."
"Do you still remember your part?" Hermione said, rattling the tin of badges just to annoy her.
"Yes," Lily said, taking a deep breath to relieve her nerves.
"Are you sure you can do it? I won't blame you for backing out, Lily, it's normally far beyond what a fourth year can do."
"I can do it," Lily said, fighting the urge to pace. "I'm powerful. Maxime wouldn't want me if I wasn't. This should be easy."
Besides, she thought as they entered the ring of lights, her bare feet sinking into the cool sand, sandals dangling from her hand, if it doesn't work, neither does my plan.
The first people they saw were Henri and Clara, dancing and chatting with the rest of his mates. Lily had to be dragged away by Hermione before she did something stupid, but that was probably for the best. Lily tried to head straight for the second group, a group of random older students she didn't recognize at all, but Hermione dragged her from them, too.
"Stay on task, Lily," she said, leading her through the crowd. "You said it yourself. 'Big fish, first, and the school will follow.'"
"When did I say that?"
"Well, maybe not exactly that. I'm paraphrasing!"
They found who they were looking for near the center of the party, where the group of five girls were standing just at the edge of the tide, their feet soaking as they sipped from their cups of Sand Lion. Lily wished she had some of her own when Rose saw their approach and nudged the nearby Fleur.
"I think this was a mistake," Lily said far too late, as the girls (all except for Fleur) were already welcoming them inside their circle (after joining them on the beach proper).
"We thought you weren't coming!" Rose said happily, handing both girls a conjured cup full of the wonderful liquid and pushing back a lock of her pink hair.
"Oh, no thank you," Hermione said, trying to hand it back. "I'm not here to-"
"Just drink it," Lily said, nudging her friend and then quickly downing half of her own cup.
"Who is your friend?" another girl asked, causing Lily to realize she never quite caught most of their names before.
"Hermione Gr-Granger," Hermione said, sputtering a little on her first sip of the delightful liquid. "Lily, what is this stuff?" She whispered the last bit.
Lily shrugged and downed the rest of her cup.
"Not sure," she said, "but it's good, right?"
"What? Are you having me on again? It's-"
"You're just in time, Lily," Rose said, taking her by the shoulders and dragging her towards the nearest burning fire. "We've talked to some of the others, and we've decided to take our little sculpture contest further. We were hoping you would- oh, do you need some more Lion?"
"Yes, please," Lily said, happily handing over her empty cup. She never quite did get the spell to work, but to be fair to herself, she only heard the incantation the one time, and she happened to have a very pretty girl resting her head on her shoulder.
Her eyes flicked over to said pretty girl, who was inspecting a S.P.E.W. badge with what Lily hoped was genuine interest. She was counting on it.
"You know," Rose said, leaning in, dropping her voice, and following her gaze, "she's been awful quiet since you two stopped meeting up."
"Really?" Lily said, watching as Fleur held the badge up to the distant moonlight. She tried to distract herself by drinking some more.
"Almost didn't get her to come out tonight," Rose said. "But between all the rubbish we put up with preparing for exams, and all the pressure Maxime has on her, we thought she needed the break."
Lily nodded and sipped some more, her head starting to fog up, her cheeks getting that wonderful, fuzzy feeling.
"Go see if she wants to have a dance," Rose said, shoving her forward lightly. "We know she's been teaching you."
"What about the contest?" Lily asked.
"It can wait," Rose said, shoving her forward again. "I need to round up the other participants, anyway. Go on!"
Lily downed the rest of drink two, handed the empty cup to Rose, stood up a bit straighter to project confidence, and then almost chickened out the closer she got.
"Hey, Fleur," she said, taking the final step and wishing she didn't have her hair tied back so she'd have something to occupy her hands. "Do you want to-"
"I disagree," Fleur said sharply in a heavily accented English, ignoring Lily and handing Hermione back the S.P.E.W. badge.
"How can you disagree that actual slavery is wrong?" Hermione asked, her face growing red.
"I 'ave 'eard you out, as promised," Fleur said, turning her nose up. "I am not convinced. My family owns many Elves, and zey are given nothing but respect."
"Just because you treat your slaves well doesn't mean others do," Hermione countered. "And the whole 'nothing but respect' thing is the issue, anyway! Don't you think they should be paid for their work?"
Fleur scoffed at that. "Elves do not want money. If zey did, they would ask for eet, no?"
"Of course they wouldn't!" Hermione said.
"I assure you ours would," Fleur said dismissively. "Elves do not want payment. Zey want ze work, no, Lily?"
"Err- actually, I rather think that they-"
"I don't 'ave ze time for zis," Fleur said, waving off and turning slightly pink once she realized who she was talking to. "I am 'ere to unwind, not to be lectured by a little girl who knows nothing of which she speaks."
"Lily!" Hermione snapped, standing at attention. "We're doing it now."
"Now?" Lily repeated stupidly.
"Now."
"Err- Hermione, there's going to be a contest, see, and-"
"We're doing it now."
"But- I- err- I was hoping to ask Fleur for a- err- now?"
"Now."
Lily sighed and pulled out her wand.
"What ees zis, Lily?" Fleur asked, her curiosity obtained. Lily supposed that was better than nothing.
"A lecture," Hermione said with a tight smile, turning to face the small crowd waiting at the beach (presumably for the contest they were supposed to be doing).
"Merlin, don't let me down," Lily mumbled to herself, running a hand over her rapidly numbing face in the thin hopes it would help sober her up. She was definitely regretting finishing that second drink, now.
"Our tale begins in the year 1044," Hermione began, voice elegant from their preparations, gesturing towards Lily, who was standing ankle deep in the water. "In the hidden kingdom of Elgarast, there lived a small community of elves."
"This is what we practiced for," Lily told herself for a bit of encouragement. "Let's go."
Lily took a deep breath and then focused hard, raising her hands towards the sea, wand placed firmly in her right. With a push of power, and an image in her mind, sand rose from the waves, hardening and crystalizing and shaping itself into a community of trees, buildings hidden among the leaves and bridges connecting each of them.
"The elves lived in peace and quiet amongst themselves," Hermione continued, "They harvested the nuts and flora native to their environment, and they used their powerful magics to keep themselves contained and isolated. They were most well known for their incredible skills in woodworking and crafting, creating such wonderful armours and structures."
Lily pushed again and flicked both hands in a quick circle, twisting and changing her sculpture into a different shape. The stone morphed before their eyes, turning from a forest of trees to a single canopy, where an elf laborer was proudly showing off his work to a wizard. The strangest part wasn't the coin in his hand; it was the elaborate, delightful robes the Elf was wearing, adorning it all with a stuffed hawk sitting upon his head, his long ears poking out from under it.
"The only visitors allowed in their kingdom were those invited," Hermione said. "These were primarily traders. They'd place an order with the elves, pay them the pittance the elves requested, and then upsell the good at a ridiculous price to the witches and wizards denied access. The elves did not mind, though; they worked out of the love of their craft, and were happy to deliver their services. All they wanted was to replenish their stock so they could satisfy the next job."
"This only proves my point," Fleur said, interrupting the story. "The elves like to work."
Lily moved again, shifting her sculpture once more. She heard a few gasps behind her, although not as many as they'd been hoping for.
The trees were burning, now, actual flames smouldering the brittle stone and marking it with ash as it crumbled, and there were elves scattering and trying to escape from the armoured knights and the mages with lightning trailing from their staves.
"The wizards weren't happy with this arrangement, even if it did only cost them a pittance," Hermione said, smirking at the shocked look on Fleur's face. "They didn't want to pay anything at all. Why should they have to bow and barter with creatures beneath them? Why shouldn't they control it all, why shouldn't they have it all? It was their right, their duty, to conquer and bring civilization to those lower than them."
Lily flicked her wand again, burning the forest down entirely to ashes, the dead husks hardly rising out of the ground. The elves were clasped in irons and chains, each connecting to the next, as they were led to their futures by the victors. The knights and the wizards stood above it all, clasping collars to the elves and throwing what precious belongings that could be saved into carts, to be divvied up and divided amongst themselves.
"The elves were more powerful," Hermione said, "but they were outnumbered. The wizards took them, and they bound them to their rule. They made them slaves. They robbed them of their treasures, they declothed them to take away their very dignity, and they divided them up amongst their most powerful members to make servants of them. Eventually, the wizards and witches learned how to craft the goods on their own, and they turned their sights towards the goblincraft, instead. Even so, the elves were not freed. They were forced to complete lesser tasks, instead, and denied any education or knowledge of their past and culture. Even their native tongue of old is gone from history, burned down along with the kingdom of Eldagast."
"So?" some boy said from the now-larger crowd.
"So," Hermione continued, "wizards have kept them oppressed for centuries, all because they desired what they didn't have. Wizards have always shown a complete disregard for anything but themselves. They still do the same. Centaur-"
Lily flicked her wand, turning the sculpture to a centaur being driven out of its native lands by an attacking wizard.
"Goblins."
Again, this time showing the first goblin rebellion, when their kind decided they didn't want the same done to them as the elves received.
"Muggleborn."
One, last raise of the arms, and Lily put all her might into it.
The battle with the goblins collapsed into itself and rose into the air, forming a stone orb. One dramatic flick downward, and the stone stretched and slammed into the water, covering her in a cold spray of salt. The tide receded at the base of the last image, pulling back around Grindelwald's throne, formed and shaped out of the dead forms of his slain victims. This time, Lily heard quite a few dark grumblings from the beach. She'd argued they should use Voldemort, but Hermione was right; their fellow students would be more easily swayed by a figure they frequently saw in their History of Magic texts.
"That is what we fight," Hermione said, pointing towards the dark wizard. "You all think Grindelwald is in the past, that nothing like it can happen again, but it still is. Most of Grindelwald's followers are still alive today. They were never caught, and they were never punished. Muggleborn are still oppressed in every wizarding country out there. Voldemort was defeated by her just a decade ago!"
Lily shuffled her feet nervously as eyes turned towards her.
"That is what S.P.E.W. is here for," Hermione said, rattling the tin of badges in her hand. "So long as we refuse to acknowledge what we've done, and so long as we refuse to fix what we're still doing, we're just doomed to repeat it all. We just want to make the world a better place and make sure everybody is treated equally."
Hermione had a few people approach her as she finished, but as Lily feared, most of them just shook their heads and walked away, while a few more even dared to laugh at it all. Lily grabbed her cup (freshly filled) from Rose before hurrying over to Hermione, just as she finished handing out badges to those who decided to join.
"That went better than I expected," Hermione said with a triumphant smile.
"Yeah," Lily said, taking a sip. "Hope Hogwarts goes better."
"We'll find out soon enough," Hermione said with a sigh. "Can you believe that this time next week we'll be there again?"
"Please don't remind me," Lily said, drinking more deeply.
Hermione crinkled her nose. "How can you drink that rubbish?"
"What?" Lily said, taking another sip. "It's good!"
"I'd hardly even call it tolerable."
"Oh, lighten up," Lily said, shoving her cup into Hermione's hands. "Go on, have some."
"I'd really rather not-"
"Hermione," Lily said, crossing her arms. "You just made me show off my art in front of half the school when you know it makes me uncomfortable. You owe me."
Hermione glanced nervously at the cup. "I'd hardly call it half the school. It was three dozen at best."
"I'm waiting."
"You said you were trying to get over it!"
"I'm waiting!"
"Fine," Hermione said, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath, and then downing the entire cup in one go.
"Blimey," Lily said, genuinely feeling impressed. "I just thought you'd take a sip, I didn't expect that."
Hermione made a disgusted face and then handed the cup back to Lily. "Is it supposed to burn that bad?"
"Dunno," Lily said with shrug. "I'll get you some more, and then we'll find out."
Hermione continued protesting only until Lily produced two cups, one for each of them. With Lily drinking alongside her, she didn't put up nearly as much of a fuss, especially when a few of Fleur's friends asked her some additional follow-up questions about S.P.E.W.
Lily took that as her chance to approach the pretty, blonde girl sitting on a fallen tree at the edge of the beach, staring at a small badge held in her hand, her cup hanging loosely from the other one.
"So," Lily said, taking a seat right next to her. "What did you think?"
"I think I have a lot to think about," Fleur said after a pause. Lily was absolutely delighted when the S.P.E.W. badge went into her pocket instead of being discarded into the sand.
"Why are you sitting all the way over here?" Lily asked, gesturing to her friends on the nearby sands, cheering Hermione on as she downed another drink, nose still crinkled in disgust.
Fleur let out a sigh. "I think it best if I temper myself, after the last night."
"You were pretty pissed."
"Treasure the memory, Lily, because you'll never see me like that again."
"Sure I can't tempt you with another drink?"
"Perhaps a bit later," Fleur said with an airy laugh. "Let me stick to my convictions for at least a little bit, please."
"And what about a dance?" Lily asked hopefully.
Fleur seemed to consider it for a bit, and Lily briefly hoped her plan worked.
"No," she said at last.
"Figures," Lily grumbled.
"You did good work tonight, Lily," Fleur said, placing a hand on one of Lily's and confusing her all over again.
"Thanks?"
Fleur glanced back towards the beach, making sure nobody was looking their way, and then leaned in and gave Lily a quick peck on the lips.
"A reward for tonight," she said, immediately standing afterwards. "I will reconsider what I said previously, but do not expect anything. I still do not think it will work between us. Go, have fun. I think I'll turn in early, tonight."
Lily continued sitting in shocked silence as she watched Fleur walk away from the crowded beach, a stupid smile incapable of leaving her face. She supposed that was as good as it was going to get, and as soon as feeling finally returned to her feet, she hurried back over to Fleur's group of friends to follow her orders.
"Lily!" Hermione said happily upon her return, throwing her arms around her neck, her drinking slipping dangerously over the lip of her cup.
"Hermione!" Lily said with equal enthusiasm.
The rest of her evening was a blur of sweet, strawberry liquid and dancing. She danced with a lot of people, since all of Fleur's friends insisted on it, and then she had some others approach from other groups, and she was having so much fun she figured "why not?" and went for it.
Most of all, she danced with Hermione, who seemed to finally start liking the Sand Lion upon finishing her fourth cup. Every time she finished a turn with somebody else, Hermione was right back there immediately, tripping over her own limbs and stepping on Lily's feet and having a wonderful time, that toothy smile of hers never once leaving her face.
After the third time Hermione slipped and fell in the sand, Lily decided enough was enough. She said goodbye to the rest of Fleur's friends, scooped Hermione off the sand, grabbed their sandals from where they were left, and then began the long trek back to the dorms.
"Don't wanna leave," Hermione said as they were doing just that.
"You didn't even want to go in the first place until I made you," Lily said, at least pleased that Hermione was far lighter than Fleur had been.
"Was having fun."
"Well, now you can have fun in bed," Lily said.
"Dance."
"What was that?"
"I wanted to dance," Hermione repeated, her voice a mumble.
"We did that. For hours. You kept falling over."
"How come you're not-" Hermione hiccupped, and Lily took the chance to reposition her grip.
"Not pissed off my rocker?" Lily asked.
"That."
"Because I, unlike you, am perfectly capable of handling my drink," Lily said, ignoring the fact she was barely walking straight without Hermione's weight on one side of her body.
"Not fair," Hermione grumbled.
"Yeah, well, neither is life. You get used to it."
Lily barely managed to get the door open, let alone carry Hermione over to her mattress. As she laid the other girl down and tossed a blanket over her, she decided that, next time, she was the one that was going to get carried back after drinking herself into a stupor.
"Been looking everywhere for you," a voice said from behind. Lily whirled, finding Clara standing at the still open doorway, clothes a bit ruffled, hair a bit messy, and with a small piece of glass held in her hand.
Lily clenched her jaw and snatched the mirror out of her hand. When she went to slam the door in Clara's face, the other girl slipped inside.
"I need to talk to you, Potter," Clara said, her words slurred and fast.
"Get out," Lily said, trying to open the door again only to have Clara push it shut.
"Not until you hear me out."
"You stole it," Lily said, shoving the thing in her face. "You refused to admit to it, and then you just- you just try to give it back?"
"I don't like us fighting," Clara said, almost in one breath. "We're supposed to be- we're- we're the same, right?"
"No," Lily said.
"Yes, we are!" Clara said. "I just- you just forgot, is all, and- and I just want to go back to- to that."
"To what?"
"Oh, come off it," Clara said. "I know you fancy me, Potter- I look at you the same way- and- and don't you feel it?"
"Go home, Clara," Lily said, trying to open the door again. "I don't want to hear this, and I don't want to see you."
"I don't want to," Clara said, grabbing Lily by the front of the dress and trying to pull her in for an embrace.
"Stop," Lily said, pushing her away.
"Oh, forget about you boyfriend and kiss me, would you?" Clara said, trying again.
"It's not about Cedric," Lily said, pushing her away more firmly. "I'm going to break up with him, anyway. Please, leave."
"I saw you kissing Fleur!" Clara said, really starting to annoy Lily with her pushiness. "I- I was just looking for you, right, and- and I want that! I don't want- err- can I kiss you? I- I'm sorry I didn't ask before."
"No," Lily said, pushing her away.
"What?" Clara said, her grip loosening a bit.
"Just leave me alone," Lily said simply. "You don't want to keep fighting? Fine. But don't say anything, don't look at me, just leave me alone, and I'll do the same for you."
Clara let her go completely, and, for a brief moment, Lily thought that was it. She thought the girl was going to give up and leave the room.
And then her face darkened, and Lily wished she'd just kicked her out to begin with.
"Go out with me," she said one more time.
"No," Lily said, crossing her arms. "And don't you have a boyfriend yourself? What would he think?"
"It doesn't count if it's a with a girl," Clara said dismissively.
"I'm pretty sure it-"
"Is that it?" Clara said with a scoff. "Are you still just pretending you don't like girls?"
"No," Lily said, taking a deep breath. "I'm done pretending. I just don't like you."
"I wish I'd thrown that mirror in the bloody ocean," Clara said after a long, tense silence. "You stupid little-"
"Get out," Lily said, wrenching the door open as Clara finished the last word.
"I hope you're happy with your little dyke friend," Clara shouted, glaring at Hermione's slumbering form. "The both of you, you're just- just a bunch of-"
"Get out," Lily said, grabbing Clara by the blouse and physically tossing her from the room.
"Fuck you, Potter," Clara said, stumbling back to her feet. "You're a freak, and I hope you-"
Lily didn't hear the next part, since she slammed the door in Clara's face. In her anger, she turned and threw the mirror she was still gripping, feeling intense, simultaneous horror and relief as she watched it sail through the air and collide with her pillow. She took a deep breath, then, and turned back to the door, leaning her forehead against the cold wood in an attempt to calm down.
"Lily?" Hermione said softly.
"Go back to sleep, Hermione," Lily said.
"I don't think you're a freak," Hermione said. Lily turned and found Hermione with a little smile and her eyes still closed, one of her pillows held between her arms in a tight cuddle.
"Thanks," Lily said.
"If you're a freak, then- then I am, too!"
Lily was pretty sure Hermione was trying to lift her arms in the air, perhaps as some grand gesture that looked great in her head, but all it resorted in was her pillow tumbling down to the floor and a dejected look coming over her face at the loss of the comfort. Lily let out a sigh and picked it up for her, tucking it back between her waiting arms and then sitting on the edge of the mattress when the girl insisted on pulling her down by the skirt.
"You're not a freak, Hermione," Lily said, putting a hand on the girl's bushy hair.
"'m too," Hermione said quietly, her eyes drooping closed again.
"No, you're not," Lily said. "It's just me."
"Do you want to dance?" Hermione mumbled.
"Maybe tomorrow."
"Don't forget," Hermione said, voice trailing off as she finally fell back asleep, leaving Lily wondering just how much of the argument she heard.