"I don't get it," Arthur said, his little baby face filled with frustration. Lily wondered, briefly, if that was what she always looked like in first year. The idea that she could have once been so small and innocent seemed absolutely preposterous to her.
"It's hard," Lily said, taking up position behind him. "Try closing your eyes. It'll help to visualize what's supposed to happen if you aren't just looking at a brick."
"But then he won't know if he did it," Magdalene said. She was one of the snooty Gryffindor girls that wouldn't stop giggling or asking personal questions. Lily thought she was infuriating, but so was most of her life, so she could deal with it.
"He will once he opens them," Lily said. "But if you don't see any change while it's happening, it can be really frustrating." On that, she could speak from experience. "Close them, Art. I'll help you through it."
` "Alright," Arthur said, closing his eyes, wand still held out in front of him in drooping hands.
"Don't worry so much," Lily said, wrapping her own arms around his torso and steadying his stance. "Just focus, alright? Just keep breathing, in and out, nice and slow like. Just think and breathe. Got it?"
Arthur nodded, his hands nervously toying with the wand he was holding. Lily leaned in closer, slouching low and putting her chin on his shoulder, her arms laid along the boy's. She placed her hands gently over his, lowering his aim to where the small, red brick was laying on the ground, and spoke softly.
"Now," she said. "Picture the brick in your mind, alright? Tell me when you've got it."
"Got it," he said almost immediately.
"Take a moment to get familiar with it," Lily said. "Don't rush it." I always do that. "Picture how deep the colour is, make the surface nice and bumpy and rough. Make the brick real, don't just imagine one."
"Alright," he said after ten more seconds. "I think I've got it."
"Keep the image in your mind, because we're about to toy with it," Lily said. "Because that's all it is; a toy for us to do whatever we want with. Don't let stay the same; you're in control here. Got it?"
"I think so."
"Sound more confident. Are you in control, or is the brick?"
"I am," Arthur said, standing straighter.
"Good," Lily said. "Smooth the brick out. Get rid of all those nasty little bumps and edges. Life doesn't need those. Life isn't red and hard as stone; it's soft and fragrant. Turn that brick green with life, like a long, healthy stem, and grow it longer, up and up, towards the hot sun above, and think on the nice smells of tulips and roses. At the tip top, get rid of the stone; the petals are unfolding and blossoming. It's alive, and it's wonderful."
"Got it," Arthur said.
"Keep that image in your mind," Lily said. "It's not a brick anymore. It's flowers. It's always been flowers, and it always will be flowers. Feel your magic flowing through your arms and down to your fingers." Lily moved her hands down to his shoulders and then trailed them slowly down the boy's arms, trying to help feel the sensation.
"Alright."
"Cast the spell," Lily said, moving away from the boy entirely. This had to be his success.
"Flosemutato," Arthur said.
"Excellent job, Artie," Lily said, clapping the boy on the shoulder. "Why don't you open those eyes and see what you've done."
Lily enjoyed the boy's beaming face when he saw the bouquet of roses and tulips laying gently on the floor. The stalks were nice and long and healthy, but the red on those roses was just the wrong shade. Lily chose not to point it out, though. The chubby boy looked like he desperately needed the win, and his fellow first years crowding around him and congratulating him seemed to be doing wonders.
Lily let him bask in his little moment of glory and moved to collect the bouquet. She gave it a sniff and couldn't help but notice that it didn't smell much like flowers; it was more like fruit, than anything, smelling almost exactly like her preferred perfume (Sweet Berry, by LoveDrop; it smelled mostly like strawberry, but she loved that). She supposed she needed to work more on her teaching technique if she was going to be that much of a distraction. For now, though, she thought the bouquet would make an excellent little trophy and placed it inside her robe without anybody noticing.
"Right," Lily said, glancing up at the darkening sky above them (the Great Hall was enchanted to reflect the outside world, after all). "Suppose that'll do it for today, then. On behalf of S.P.E.W., thank you for coming, and I hope to see you again next week!"
Lily received quite a few promises that they'd do just that, although only time would tell how many of those would be kept. Still, though, she felt much better as she waved goodbye to them all, receiving a few energetic waves back for her efforts. She hardly noticed Hermione sidle up next to her.
"Well," she said. "That certainly went better than I expected."
"I told you I could handle it," Lily said smugly.
"Yes, well," Hermione said, "I still think it's best if we discuss our strategy for next week. This one was a near thing as it was. We have to do better."
"We did fine, Hermione," Lily said, sighing and plopping herself straight on to the ground. "Don't worry about it so much." She pulled her left boot off and started massaging at her sole.
"Can't you just behave yourself for five minutes?" Hermione said with a deep sigh.
"It's been killing me all day," Lily said, groaning as she kneaded at a particularly sore spot. "Think I need some new boots."
"We have a public image to uphold," Hermione said, trying to pull her up by lifting under her right arm. "You can't just sit on the floor."
"Why not? It's awful comfortable."
"Lily!"
"I, for one," Lily said, giving Hermione a firm tug and seating her on the floor next to her, "think you could do with a good deal of relatability."
"By sitting on the floor?"
"It makes you seem less uptight. Plus, it's comfortable."
"It's stone."
"It's comfortable stone. Stop complaining so much, you sound like Parkinson."
Hermione snorted, but she didn't stand back up. "Someone has to take all this seriously if you aren't going to."
"I am," Lily said, nodding towards the door. "What do you think today was all about?"
"Lily, you hardly even showed up, and you look awful. And, now, you're sitting on the floor and rubbing your foot. What am I supposed to think? What is anyone?"
"That Potter's lost it," Lily said with a shrug. "And that's she a little tired of pretending otherwise."
She'd work on her appearance, though; she did look a bit too ruffled for her tastes, with her shirt untucked, robes wrinkled and parted, and her tie completely missing (she couldn't find one anywhere). Her hair was only slightly presentable because she tied it back, and she could barely bring herself to spritz on some perfume. She wasn't even actually wearing makeup; she just made her skin look like she was, but even her Metamorphmagus powers weren't enough to get rid of the bags under her eyes (or, at least, she couldn't figure out how to get rid of them in the barely conscious state she was in prior to S.P.E.W.).
She just needed a good night's sleep, first. If she couldn't find the willpower to get off the floor, soon, she might just get it earlier than she'd like.
Hermione sighed. "You haven't lost it, Lily. You know if you need help, you only have to ask."
"Who am I gonna ask?" Lily said with a scoff, moving her hands up to her toes. "Ron?"
"Well, yes," Hermione said. "I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you with anything, but I was more so referring to me."
Lily continued rubbing at her foot, letting the conversation lapse into silence, the only noise coming from her little joints popping. When she finished with the left foot, she pulled the right, off, too, and began working on it.
"That was your not-so-subtle hint, Lily," Hermione said softly.
"I know," Lily said.
"Then why don't you-"
"You don't get to go around ignoring me and then try to weasel your way back in," Lily said firmly, kneading at her foot harder. "You want things to go back to normal? Fine. Then tell me what you're being such a prick about."
"You're the one that pulled me down here," Hermione said grumpily. "I thought that was your way of 'going back to normal.'"
"Call it habit," Lily said, starting to pop her toes here, too. "Definitely need new boots. These ones are too small."
"Lily-"
"I'm heading back down to the dorm," Lily said, standing up, holding her boots in her fingers (she had no problems walking back in her socks). "You want to talk, you better come up with an apology, first."
"Oh, like you're not one to keep secrets of your own," Hermione snapped, hopping straight up and following hot on her heels.
"Don't start," Lily snapped back. "I've been telling you everything."
"Have you?" Hermione said, scoffing. "Have you really? Have you completely forgotten I only learned you were dating somebody when I walked into it?"
"Look," Lily said reluctantly, stopping in the middle of the Entrance Hall and turning to look at her. If Hermione wanted to make a scene in front of some assorted students, she would happily oblige. "Maybe I wasn't doing it all immediately, but- but I was going to get around to it."
"Were you?" Hermione said, crossing her arms. "I seem to remember you freaking out at a certain party back in October and not saying a single thing about it."
"I did tell you," Lily said, narrowing her eyes.
Hermione shook her head and made a noise of disbelief. "You told me it was bad sausages. I just thought you'd tell me eventually, so I let it go, especially once you got roped into this tournament, but you haven't said another word about it since then."
"Wait, is that what you're mad about?" Lily said, blinking slowly. "Because I did- oh!"
Hermione sighed.
"Don't start!" Lily said warningly. "I was going to tell you, honest! I was just about to, when Greengrass came in to get my measurements for that stupid little dress." She was actually quite fond of the dress, up until it was completely ruined by the Death Eaters. "Remember?"
"No?" Hermione said, furrowing her brow.
"It was about Umbridge," Lily said quickly. "I was going to-" Lily stopped short, because the furious look on Hermione's face was really starting to tick her off.
"Please don't bring up Umbridge just to get sympathy," Hermione said. "You know what she did to me."
"But you don't know what she did to me," Lily said, breathing out a puff of hot air from her nose. "Merlin, I'm not sure I do, but- you know what? No."
"No to what?"
"You want to know?" Lily said. "Then tell me what you're being such a snob about. I only like to tell my friends things, thank you."
"I am your friend, Lily," Hermione said, face growing a bright, angry red.
"Well, you're doing an impeccable job showing it."
"I'm just trying to give you some space!" Hermione said, voice high and screechy.
"Maybe I didn't want space," Lily countered. "Maybe I just wanted my friend to-"
"Girls!"
"Sorry, Professor," Lily and Hermione said at once, still glaring at each other, still standing with their angry faces inches apart from each other. Lily could see, out of the corners of her vision, quite a few groups of students whispering and giggling to each other. She'd likely be able to hear it if it wasn't for the rhythmic pulsing in her ears.
"Three points from Slytherin each for causing a scene in the hallways," McGonagall said, pushing the two of them gently apart. "A very disappointing scenario to witness so soon after today's success. Potter, come with me. Granger, return to your dormitory immediately."
"But, Professor, I-"
"You have my permission to continue on the next weekend, Miss Granger," McGonagall said. "With me, Potter."
"I have a detention, Professor," Lily said awkwardly, absolutely despising the smug look of superiority on Hermione's face as she wandered over towards the dungeons. She was hoping Slughorn would just forget, but when did she ever get lucky?
"And I am co-opting it," McGonagall said, guiding her with a gentle hand on her back towards the Entrance Hall. "I do not think Horace will mind. You may consider this the week's session. You are required to attend our weekly talks, are you not?"
"I suppose," Lily said with a sigh. She was hoping McGonagall would forget, too, but she supposed that was never going to be in the cards.
"Follow me, please," McGonagall said, turning around to lead the way. "And for Merlin's sake, put your shoes back on. You are a Triwizard Champion, not an uncivilised ruffian."
McGonagall led Lily upstairs towards her office. A few hecklers asked what she was in trouble for this time, including Fred and George (but at least they seemed friendly and jovial about it), but a stern look from McGonagall sent them scurrying away. At least she had that going for her; these boots really were too small. Tromping around in them after such a long day was almost agony.
"Sit, Hazel," McGonagall said, holding the office door open for her. Lily tromped past her and took her accustomed seat, sinking into it as deep as she could. Before McGonagall sat down herself, she produced a tin from one of her desk drawers. A single tap on the lid with her wand vanished the thing, revealing the biscuits within. Lily didn't hesitate; she already knew what was expected of her. Besides: she happened to like McGonagall's biscuits.
"I don't really want to talk," Lily said, mouth full of deliciousness. Not to McGonagall, at least. She liked the woman well enough, but it was a little hard to open up to someone who used to terrify you with just a single look just a few years ago. Merlin, sometimes the signature McGonagall glare still worked on her.
"I don't believe you ever have," McGonagall said. "It doesn't change matters, however. First, though, I would like to congratulate you."
"On what?" Lily asked, brow furrowing, finishing off her biscuit and reaching for another one. She was drumming the fingers of her other hand on her armrest, wondering how long this was going to run for.
"You did very well today," McGonagall said. "You've come a long way from the little girl who cried every time her matchstick failed to change colours."
"I didn't cry," Lily protested, popping another biscuit into her mouth. She certainly felt like crying every time, though, especially when people would poke fun of her for it.
"I seem to remember you crying during each of our private tutoring sessions," McGonagall said, taking a biscuit of her own. "Failure seemed to stress you more than anything."
Well, sure, but those were different. She was just a little girl far out of her depth in a world she didn't even know existed just a few months prior.
She shifted in her chair, keeping her legs crossed tight, and did her best to look anywhere but McGonagall, her cheeks burning. She didn't really feel prepared to discuss the past, even parts that were less traumatic or depressing. Sitting here, in front of McGonagall staring her with an expectant look and a twinkle of something familiar in her eye, was almost too much for her to bear. She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat.
"So," she said, voice breaking slightly. "Was I a good- err- How'd I do?"
"Very well," McGonagall said approvingly. "Although, you had a few leaves left on that little statue of yours, despite going through several variations of material. Still, significant improvement from your performance over the last few years. Particularly impressive considering it was all nonverbal as a fourth year."
"Yeah, well," Lily said, switching legs and puffing out her chest a bit, "I am a Triwizard Champion." She took a large bite of her most recent biscuit.
"Then you should have no problem making Prefect in the next year," McGonagall said, lifting her glasses off the surface of her desk.
Lily coughed and sputtered, beating hard on her chest with a closed fist to dislodge whatever was stuck in her windpipe.
"P-pardon?" she said, still coughing. Without a word, McGonagall produced a cup filled to the brim with cold water and then, with another wave of her wand, floated it over to within Lily's reach.
"I said you should have no problem making Prefect," McGonagall repeated, placing her glasses at the tip of her nose and reaching for the nearest stack of papers. "Of course, you still need some serious improvement in quite a few categories, but I have it on good authority that Professor Slughorn doesn't believe they're worrying enough to remove you from consideration, especially as we are moving into accepting two Prefects of each gender moving forward."
"I don't want to be Prefect," Lily said between large sips of lifesaving fluid. "The last thing I want is more stuff to do."
"The Triwizard Tournament will not be around next year," McGonagall said, moving the front paper to the back. "I think you'll find yourself having quite an astounding amount of free time as a result."
"No, I won't," Lily said plainly. "Something will come up. It always does. With my luck, it'll be Voldemort making a full return, and I don't want more stuff to do on top of that."
McGonagall had to take a moment to compose herself at hearing the Dark Lord's name, the papers shaking slightly in a trembling hand.
"There's no need to exaggerate, Hazel," she said. "Even if You-Know-Who did return, and I highly doubt he will be anytime soon, being a Prefect would be an excellent opportunity for you."
"How?" Lily asked.
"Well, for starters," McGonagall said, "being a Hogwarts Prefect opens all sorts of career opportunities for you. Many Ministry positions that would require years of hard work become immediately available for those who have already shown an aptitude for leadership. In addition, you'll find that the fellowship between Prefects provides an excellent network of recommendations and-"
"I'm not interested in joining the Ministry, thanks," Lily said, downing the rest of her water.
"The opportunities are not just limited to the Ministry, Hazel," McGonagall continued. "Teaching, Potioneering, Dueling, and, yes, even Quidditch would all be far more available to you should you obtain a Prefect position. Being a leader in your school years will reflect very well on your future, you'll find."
"I'll pass," Lily said, her tone not quite as confident anymore.
"Are you sure?" McGonagall said, raising an eyebrow. "I can speak to your Head of House on your behalf, if you are. I believe it would be good for you, however, to reconsider."
"How so?" Lily said, setting her empty cup next to the tin of biscuits. She definitely was not having another. That was a trap that would likely kill her.
"Did being Quidditch Captain the previous year not provide you immense relief in your personal life?" McGonagall said. "I seem to remember you being responsible for dealing out several dozen detentions. The point deductions I will not be getting into."
Well, she certainly did enjoy that part of it, she couldn't deny that much. Seeing the angry look on Malfoy's face, or Pansy or Flint or whoever, was often the highlight of her day. But that said more about the quality of her days than it did how actually effective it was. That being said, it certainly did get her thinking; there was currently nothing she'd love more than to put everybody back into their place (or at least to get them off her back).
That was up until she realized something, at least.
"Wait," Lily said, leaning forward in her seat a bit and uncrossing her legs. "You just want me to be Prefect because you- you think it'll make things easier for me? Not- err- because I deserve it?"
"Yes," McGonagall admitted straight away, Lily's face falling a bit. "But I also want you to deserve it. Your actions today prove that, on at least some level, you do. In fact- I fully believe that you do." Now Lily was starting to feel thoroughly confused (and a bit pleased). "Your misconduct can almost always be connected to the misfortunes you suffer through on a daily basis."
Well, at least someone was aware of them all. She was almost starting to feel like nobody could be bothered to notice how miserable her life was. She leaned back into her seat, falling into a comfortable silence, while she thought it all over. Her father never made Prefect, although he did make Head Boy, but her mother- perfect and peppy Lily Evans, so completely different than the Potter girl- she was.
The opportunity just seemed a little too perfect.
"You really think I could make Prefect?" Lily asked quietly.
"With a little guidance, yes," McGonagall said. "I, for one, happen to be rooting for you."
"Thanks," Lily said, blinking slowly. She couldn't help but try to picture herself wearing that shining badge; it almost seemed completely ridiculous on her.
"Now," McGonagall said, rifling through the stack of papers again. "This is all theoretical at best. We have a lot to cover before it becomes a serious conversation. Let's start with your marks."
Lily happened to sleep very well that night, even if Hermione insisted on droning on and on about the tutoring session and what they could do to improve it the next time (despite Lily's constant insistence and arguments otherwise; she couldn't help but feel they were both insufferable that night). In fact, that might have helped matters. Lily woke up drooling on herself in the same position that she'd been listening in, still wearing the same clothes from the previous day, and still having her books and notes piled around her (McGonagall seemed to be getting to her after all). Her brain was still covered in that comfortable fog of a good night's sleep while she ate breakfast, and not even Hermione's annoying little glares and comments (mostly about how she'd be turning in stained work, but Lily thought they were lucky to get anything at all, at this point) were enough to ruin how good she felt.
She wished she'd fallen asleep after finishing her homework, though, because they were now done with Slughorn and back to Belby. Slughorn would have forgiven her transgression, maybe even given her an amicable pat on the back before inviting her to whatever party he was hosting soon (which, she now realized, hadn't happened in a while), if she was truly lucky. Belby, however, frowned, scolded her in front of everybody, and told her to wait after class to receive her punishment.
"You're not staying?" Neville said, blinking slowly at her when she followed him and Ron out of the room at the end of the period.
"Fat chance," Lily said, ignoring Belby calling her name behind them. Even if Moody hadn't told her to stay away from the woman, she was sick of earning detentions. In fact, she was starting to come up with a plan that definitely would not backfire in the slightest.
On the bright side, they had Professor Flitwick again for Charms, and he was more than happy to talk about how splendid the last weekend's S.P.E.W. session was (and, Lily noticed, he was even wearing one of their pins on his chest). He even invited her up to the front of the room to do a few spell demonstrations with him. She was going to politely refuse, but then she saw Clara whispering and giggling about something with two of her Beauxbatons lackies, plus Malfoy further in the back talking with the Slytherin boys (because, apparently, he'd still failed to make any friends at Durmstrang) and she decided showing off was just what she needed.
They weren't laughing by the end, when Flitwick walked her through how to cast a NEWT level Charm. By the time the bell was ringing over them, Lily was more than capable of producing a Bubble-Head Charm completely nonverbally. She was so effective, as a matter of fact, that she turned it from a useful little spell meant to let someone breath air underwater (or in situations of poisonous gas) into an effective attack; Malfoy had a very hard time breaking out of the suds she trapped him inside, even with Flitwick assisting him. She would have liked to get Clara, too, but she felt like she was already pushing her luck just targeting the one prick.
She was standing smugly at the head of the class when they were dismissed, twirling her wand in her fingertips and thinking McGonagall might be right about the whole 'Prefect' thing, after all. Maybe it was time she started pushing back, consequences be damned.
"You two should come to S.P.E.W. next time!" Lily said happily as she left the classroom with her two usual companions at her side. "It was loads of fun, and I'd love to show you some stuff!"
"Sorry, Lily," Ron said, hands tucked in his trouser pockets, "but the last thing I want to do is babysit a bunch of firsties. Besides, I've got Quidditch. Angelina's lost it entirely. Says we have to make up for Katie not being around, and that means drills until I feel like I'd rather be dead than see another broom."
"Katie?" Lily said, blinking slowly, the skip disappearing from her step. "She's not going to training?"
"No," Ron said, shaking his head. "Her parents didn't let her keep her broom, did she? And it's not like she can afford one on her own. Didn't you know that?"
"No," Lily said, slouching and tucking her hands into her own trousers. "She never told me a thing."
"I'm sure she'll come around, Lily," Neville said after an awkwardly uncomfortable pause. "She's just going through it, is all. Like you do, sometimes. You always get back to normal, don't you?"
"I suppose," Lily grumbled. That doesn't mean she wouldn't have liked some help, though. "Err- I don't suppose you think she'd- err- do you think I could see- you know what, nevermind."
"If she'd see you?" Neville finished. "Why wouldn't she?"
"Yeah, it'd probably cheer her up a bit, at least," Ron added.
"If she wanted to see me, she wouldn't have broken up with me on Christmas," Lily said miserably.
"It wasn't Christmas, mate."
"It was close enough. I was giving her a necklace."
"You could just try asking her," Neville suggested. "Honestly, Lily, I'm sure she misses you."
"She hardly even leaves the common room anymore," Ron said. "And she wanders around that looking like a lost lumpkin."
"Lost lumpkin?"
"Yeah, it's like she hardly pays attention to where she's going. She's always tripping over things or knocking stuff over. It's not even funny, because if you try to help, because she looks so miserable, and you can't even help her because then she gets mad."
"I can talk to her for you, if you want," Neville said into the awkward silence. "See if she'll come down to see you."
"It's alright, Nev," Lily said with a shrug. "If she wanted to talk to me, she would. It's not like I'm hard to find." Besides, thinking about Katie just hurt her heart. She didn't know what seeing the girl, especially in such a sorry state, would do to her.
"But-"
"Now, what about you, then?" she added, nudging Neville with her elbow. "You want to come to the next S.P.E.W. session? I seem to remember promising to teach you some stuff."
Lily felt like she guilt tripped the boy into agreeing, but she also didn't really care, especially when she saw how much new homework Professor Vector was piling on them in her Arithmancy lecture. She wanted to go join her two Gryffindors in the Secret Chamber to polish off the rest of the stouts, but with how much she needed to get through, she settled on holding her head in her hands while staring at indecipherable runes and numbers, all the while Hermione ranted in the background about S.P.E.W..
And then, to her great grief, Hermione tried to help her, sitting next to her on her bed, and taking the wreath of assigned problems straight out of her hands.
"You can't just keep plugging random numbers in and expecting to get the correct result, Lily," Hermione said, letting out an exasperated sigh and pointing to her most recent error. "Even if you do find it, it's going to take you ages this way."
"That's why I just do the one and leave it," Lily said, waving off her concerns and starting on the next problem. "Vector gives us partial credit, so long as we show work."
"I'm sorry, what- what do you usually get on your assignments?"
"In Arithmancy?" Lily said, shrugging and scratching her nose with her quill. "Half credit, usually." At least that meant she was doing all of the problems.
"Lily," Hermione said, sighing again. "You aren't going to pass your OWL if this is the best you can manage. Youhave to do things properly. Getting only half credit will still only earn you a 'T.'"
"Look, it's not my fault, alright?" Lily said, crumpling up her parchment and tossing it to the other side of the room (Hermione's side, technically, although there was now a sizable pile of 'Lily stuff' pooling near the bed). "None of this even makes any sense. How am I supposed to find anything in all this rubbish?"
"You're just not trying," Hermione said, scooching closer and pointing at the top of the page she was examining. "Look, it's easy, see? Here, we're trying to calculate the largest side of the triangle, right? So that we can find the diameter of this circle for a summoning ritual, right?"
"Right?" Lily said, not understanding the second half of that.
"And we have two of them already, right?"
"I suppose?"
"So," Hermione said, handing her the page, "What in the name of Merlin's toenails did you even do here?"
Lily could feel her face growing hot.
"I took the numbers," Lily said, pointing to her outlined work, "and I doubled them, added them, and then halved that. I'm not just guessing randomly, Hermione." Not all the time, anyway.
"I almost wish you were," Hermione said, sighing again. "Lily, this is just all wrong. Did you even listen to Professor Vector?"
"Of course I did," Lily said, jumping off her bed when Hermione tried to lay a hand on her knee. "And don't you give me any of that rubbish. I tried. I just can't do maths, it's impossible. It's always been impossible, even when-"
"Lily-"
"Forget it," Lily said, grabbing her broom. "I'm going to Quidditch practice."
"Lily, you have to fix this, you can't just leave it! I'll show you how to-"
"Do it yourself," Lily snapped, slamming the door shut behind her.
Lily stopped attending their usual training sessions ages ago, so it didn't come as a shock that the team seemed completely surprised to see her. Briefly, she considered just heading back to her dorm room and hiding. Instead, she held her head up high and launched into the air without another word, preceding to spend the entire session running herself through tough drills and dives, sometimes swerving in and out of the others' formations and being a general nuisance. The rest of the team didn't seem to enjoy that part very much, but Alderton didn't like using live bludgers during practice, and they needed to prepare somehow. Plus, it was very funny whenever one of the rude girls she couldn't stand (and also couldn't stand her right back) fell off their broom and landed in the cold mud below. She happened to sleep very well that night, too, when she came back and settled in for a late nap.
Too well, in fact, because she slept straight through their Astronomy lesson. Hermione seemed awfully ticked off about it (or perhaps it was still over the homework fiasco), but it wasn't like she even tried to wake up her supposed friend so she wouldn't accidentally miss a class. As it was, she had to sprint all the way up to the top floor of the castle (which was quite the feat, now these days) just to make the last ten minutes.
And then, coming back down with Ron and Neville, she found Professor Belby waiting for her, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently on the tile.
"I must speak to you, Potter," Belby said, immediately falling in step with the three of them (Ron and Neville did not at all seem pleased about it).
"You can forward it through Professor Moody," Lily said casually, picking up the pace of her walk.
"I am your professor, Potter," Belby said, easily keeping up. "You will show some respect, and you will be in my office tomorrow, after supper, for a detention."
"Fat chance."
"This is nonnegotiable," Belby said coldly. "Your continued enrollment at Beauxbatons depends on your recent behaviour being corrected, and you will not-"
"But I'm not enrolled at Beauxbatons anymore, am I?" Lily said, stopping in the middle of the crowded hallway and gesturing to her black robes and green tie (which, thankfully, she actually remembered today). "And I seem to remember you dropping our private lessons the instant you could."
"Madame Maxime ordered that a student of Hogwarts could not receive private lessons from a professor of Beauxbatons," Belby said, holding her head up high and continuing to speak French so the Hogwarts students watching around them wouldn't understand. "If you have an issue with it, I'm sure a meeting with your Headmistress can be arranged in-"
"Not my Headmistress," Lily said, turning around and walking away. "Not my problem. If she wants me back just because I'm winning, then she can tell me herself."
"But you're not winning, Lily," Neville whispered, quickly hurrying after her.
"Not yet," Lily said determinedly.
"I don't know how you expect to beat a couple of seventh years," Ron said, stepping in on her other side. "I mean, they've got a bit of a head start, don't you think?"
"I'll figure something out," Lily said. "I'll show them all, just you wait. And you two are going to help me do it."
"Us?" Neville and Ron said together, exchanging a confused look.
"Later," Lily said, taking a turn down the hallway that lead towards the Owlery. "I need to write someone. I'll need to borrow your owl, Ron, but I'll tell you both tomorrow, alright?"
"Lily, it's after curfew!" Neville shouted after her. "We're not supposed to go anywhere else!"
"Neville, when has that ever stopped me?" Lily said, waving to the both of them, turning fully around, and breaking into a quick jog.
She had a little harder of a time falling asleep that night, both because of her nap as well as the latent excitement over her evening, but when she woke up, she hopped straight out of bed, ready and willing, for the first time in weeks, to get her day started. She was even fully washed and dressed before Hermione stumbled out of bed, standing over the bathroom sink, door open, and brushing her teeth.
"Morning," Lily said through a mouth thick with paste, spitting it out right after.
"Morning?" Hermione said, blinking slowly, sounding as if she wasn't even fully awake. She rubbed at her eyes with the sleeves of her fuzzy pink pyjamas and then continued standing and staring as Lily pondered tying her hair back. She decided on something else, today, and set the little red band on the edge of the sink.
"What do you think?" Lily asked, changing her hair to a bright blonde, eyes squinted slightly in concentration. "Too much like Greengrass, do you think?"
"What are you doing up this early?" Hermione asked, blinking slowly again.
"Have things to do," Lily said, furrowing her brow and changing the colour to a nice, light ginger. "How about this? Too Weasley?"
That time, Lily could have sworn Hermione's eyes weren't even synced up in their blinking.
"You're not going to tell everybody you're a Metamorphmagus, are you?" she said.
"No," Lily said, changing the colour to a cosey little blue, "but I've realized I can just say I did it the old fashioned way. With magic."
Lily made a funny little hand motion in Hermione's direction that only seemed to amuse herself.
"You're going out there with blue hair?" she said, finally slinking out of the gravelly voice of a heavy sleep.
"Yes," Lily said, nodding to herself in the mirror. "As a matter of fact, I am. In fact-" Lily squished her face a bit as she concentrated. "I think I'll go with a bit shorter, as well." She pulled her hair back inwards until it was right at her chin, making herself a cute little blue bob, running her hands through it satisfactorily.
"You can't have blue hair," Hermione said. "It's against the rules. You can't have any hair colours that aren't natural."
"Maddie Evergreen literally has green hair. It's why her family is named that."
"But nobody has blue."
"Don't be such a knob. It's fun."
"You'll get in trouble. You'll get S.P.E.W. in trouble."
"Fine," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "I'll change it for S.P.E.W.." By the time they came back around to their usual position, her hair was back to blonde, this time a bit darker and dirtier so nobody could compare her to any snooty, awful Slytherin. She ran her hands through it, one more time, just to make sure she got it all, smiled at herself, and then walked straight past Hermione. "All yours. See you in class."
"You're looking- err-"
"Thanks, Ron," Lily said, taking a bite of her toast without taking her eyes off the morning's paper. "I was aiming for 'err.' A girl's favourite compliment, really, right above 'really pretty' and 'fabulously cute.'"
"You seem chipper," Neville said, sitting down across from her.
"Chipper?" Ron said, sitting next to Lily. "Seems like she's lost it, you ask me."
"Because I changed my hair?" Lily said, running a hand over the back of her head. "That seems a bit callous, don't you think? I thought it looked nice."
"Why did you change your hair?" Ron asked. "Red made you seem like a part of the family."
"Aww, thanks, Ron," Lily said, patting his hand and setting down her paper (nobody was dragging her name through mud today, at least). "If it makes you feel any better, I was going to go with a ginger, but Hermione said it was 'too Weasley.' Blame her."
"What are you on about now?"
"And, unfortunately," Lily continued, completely ignoring his question, "as much as it warms my heart that you said that, it's all a part of my plan. Can't change it again so soon."
"Plan?" Ron said, furrowing his brow and looking over at an equally confused Neville.
"What plan?" Neville asked for him.
"Take a look up there and tell me what's missing," Lily said, pointing with her fork up at the staff table. She then used the same fork to spear a fat little sausage from a nearby platter.
"Nothing?" Ron said.
"Look harder."
"Lily, come on, I don't get it. Just tell us, you wanker."
"Nope," Lily said, wiggling her sausage at him. "You have to guess."
"Some of the professors aren't there?" Neville said, scratching his head.
"But what one professor in particular isn't?" Lily said, biting off half the sausage. "What annoying little French minger that won't leave me alone as of late?"
"Belby?" Ron asked.
"Precisely," Lily said, shoving the rest of the sausage in her mouth.
"I don't get it," Neville said, scratching his head again.
"She was here earlier," Lily said. "She sat there for an hour, watching the Entrance Hall for a certain someone to come in. When they didn't, she left, probably to go wait somewhere else, so she can catch them and possibly issue out a detention between all the screaming."
"Someone?" Ron said. "You mean you?"
"Wow, got two right, Ron," Lily said, grabbing at another sausage. "Good job. You're on a roll today."
"I don't know if I like this side of you."
"Tough," Lily said, eating the sausage whole this time. "Because she's sticking around, if I have any say in it."
"So, she didn't see you?" Neville said. "Because your hair is different?"
"Among other things," Lily said. She left out the part that they only noticed her in the first place because she spent half a minute waving at them with her paper and trying to get them to come over.
"Wait," Ron said, narrowing his eyes at her. "It's not just your hair. You're shorter, aren't you?"
"And your face is thinner," Neville said, mimicking his friend.
"I don't know what you mean," Lily said coyly. "We don't learn how to transfigure any other features until NEWT level. I'd never be able to manage anything but hair and nails."
Both boys stared at her incredulously, and she quickly decided to move the conversation along before they could question it any further.
"Anyway, I changed my hair," Lily said, pointing with her fork again, this time at her own head. "See, I've got it all figured out. If she can't find me, then she can't exactly give me a detention, can she?"
"Lily," Ron said slowly, "I think that's the stupidest plan you've ever come up with."
"Well, it's working, isn't it?"
"I give it two weeks, tops."
"Better than what I was," Lily said, shrugging and grabbing another meat vessel. "Honestly, I didn't think it'd work at all, but I did think it looked 'err,' so I went for it."
"Lily, honestly," Ron said, "this isn't going to work, mate."
"It has so far! Nobody's noticed me!"
"They're probably just all too busy wondering if you've gone as barkers as Moody," Ron said. "I mean, think about it, Lily. How many Slytherin girls come and sit at the Gryffindor table? It's just you and Asari, and she's down by Ginny. You can't just-"
"But I can," Lily said, reaching for her neck. "Because I'm not a Slytherin."
"What are you-"
Lily gave a smug little laugh as she pulled the crimson and gold tie free from the confines of her robes, letting it dangle down across her chest. Honestly, she was surprised neither of them even noticed before now, but she supposed they might have still been used to it from their first two years together.
"You have lost it," Ron said, horrified.
"Have not," Lily said, giving up all sense of willpower and piling a heap of eggs onto her plate. She was starving, and the sausages just weren't enough on their own.
"Lily, you- you're a Slytherin! You can't just go around changing your uniform!"
"Why not?" she said, taking a big bite. "Everybody down in Slytherin already loves to remind me that I'm not one of them. Why bother pretending otherwise?"
"I- because- you-"
"Besides," Lily said, continuing to eat unopposed by the bafflement around her, "way I figure it, I'm still stuck in Hogwarts Limbo, so what does it matter?"
"I- what are you- come again?"
"Hogwarts Limbo," Lily repeated as if that was helpful in the slightest. "See, I realized something last night, after Belby tried to nab me. I both am and am not a Hogwarts student."
"You have lost it," Neville echoed.
"Think about it," Lily said. "My name got pulled out of a magic goblet to compete for a school I no longer attend. The Headmaster of my actual school says that if I'm going to compete, I won't be doing it as one of them, but I'm still enrolled in Beauxbatons until the end of the year, where we'll revisit it and see what happens."
"Alright, but-"
"Let me finish," Lily said, patiently taking a bite and waiting for the boy to lapse back into silence. "At the same time, Hogwarts has let me back in, making me sleep down in Slytherin where I was sorted. But I'm not really a Hogwarts student- not until a decision is made, anyway. So, I'm stuck in Hogwarts Limbo until I'm either expelled and forced to come back here for real, or I'm let back in to Beauxbatons, where I won't have to ever see this place or Parkinson again."
Not that attending Beauxbatons seemed like a pleasant idea anymore, but it wasn't as if she had many options.
"And here I thought you were getting along well enough with her, lately," Ron said.
"Who?" Lily asked.
"Parkinson," Neville said. "You just mentioned her."
"And I feel like the two of you have been staring at each other a lot lately," Ron added.
"Well, of course we have," Lily said, chewing slowly. "I've got to make sure she isn't up to anything."
"Lily, I'm pretty sure I know a wistful look when I see one," Ron said. "I mean, we've only seen you staring at every girl in school since second year, is all."
"I do not fancy Parkinson," Lily said.
"You sure seem like it."
"Really?" Lily said, blinking slowly while she chewed her food. "Did you miss the part where she and Greengrass made half the common room gorilla suits to follow me around with?"
"Well, you're the one who was acting all lovey with her before break," Ron said.
"I was not acting 'lovey' with Parkinson."
"Honestly, Lily," Neville said, joining in, "we thought you'd tell us any day now that you were going out with her."
"I am not going to date Parkinson, no matter how cute she might be," Lily said, hoping they would leave it at that.
"So you do think she's cute?"
"I'm gay, Ron, not blind," Lily said, rolling her eyes and trying not to look in the direction of a girl she was suddenly very aware of. Parkinson quickly looked away from her, which only confused Lily even further. Honestly, if she didn't have such a rubbish personality, she and Greengrass both could have been excellent candidates for-
No, that's silly, she thought, shaking her head to rid herself of unclean thoughts.
"Post's here," Neville said, finally loading his plate with his own food.
"So, why blonde?" Ron asked.
"Because Hermione wouldn't let me go blue," Lily said, reaching for a jug of milk, only for an envelope to be dropped straight on to her hand.
"Probably better off that way," Ron said, watching her open her letter. "Maybe save it for a Ravenclaw day, yeah? Mum write you again?"
"No," Lily said, feeling oddly pleased at the timely response. "Maraktis. Didn't think he'd get back so quickly."
"Who?" Neville said.
"Maraktis," Lily said, standing from the table and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "He's my therapist. I needed some advice." She was fully aware her plan seemed mad, so she was hoping to get some pointers or encouragement.
"What's a therapist?" Ron and Neville asked together.
Lily paused, in the middle of tearing open the envelope, staring at the two boys in complete bewilderment.
"You know," she said patiently, "that explains so much about the wizarding world. I don't even know where to begin on that one."
"We've got time," Ron said, drinking some pumpkin juice and gesturing for her to sit back down. "Besides, you said you'd clue us in on how we're going to help you win this bloody tournament."
"Right," Lily said, sighing and doing as she was told. She supposed she'd have to get around to the Maraktis letter later. "Here's the plan, then."