Chapter 2: When the Music Fades
This chapter contains content that may trigger SA survivors. Please use caution as you read. Please put your mental health first.
Lilly sat on the edge of her bed and continued biting the edges of her thumbs. As she nibbled on her cuticle, her stomach turned with dread as she waited for Sam to leave the bathroom. Her mind reeled with excuses she could use so she didn't have to go to the dorm party at Slytherin House, but each one she came up with led to a dead end that ultimately resulted in her going. She didn't even know what to wear to such a thing!
She threw her arms back and sprawled out on her bed. She traced the ceiling pattern and tried to imagine herself in a black and green room filled with opposing House students who would most likely know she was out of place. The only thing that kept her waiting for Sam was the thought of James Potter spotting her against a wall and beelining for her.
The bathroom door burst open. "What do you think of this?" Sam asked as she held her arms out at her sides. Lilly sat up and gawked at her best friend. Sam's once straight blond curls were voluptuous and air-dried, their ends curling perfectly around her pushed-up breasts encompassed by a red tube top that touched her belly button and went no further. Her thighs and ass were the only thing covered, her hips seeming boisterous as ever as she shimmied her black mini skirt lower on her waist. She looked like a Playboy bunny waiting for her Hugh Heffner.
"I'll take your look of amazement as 'I look great," she chuckled as she did one final turn.
"You look so…so hot!" Lilly couldn't contain her excitement as she shamelessly stared at her best friend's ass and chest.
Sam laughed as she flipped her hair behind her shoulder and gave Lilly a quick wink. "OK, your turn."
Lilly froze as she tried to process her words before realizing she was talking about her outfit. She had already changed before Sam came out of the bathroom. Were her jeans and T-shirt not good enough?
"I already changed," she finally said as she waited for Sam's inevitable argument.
"Uh, no way. No friend of mine is going out in 'laundry-day' clothes!" She grabbed Lilly's hand and yanked her to her feet. She pulled Lilly into the bathroom and shoved her onto a short step stool. "We're going to sexify you, Lilly Evans. James Potter won't be able to resist!"
Sam worked her magic, tossing clothes over her shoulders and tapping strange brushes and pigments against Lilly's skin. She held Lilly's arms and helped her into a black pleated skirt and matching black tube top. She took Lilly's legs and scrunched up a long thigh-high sock, draping it over her foot and sliding it up her leg. Lilly's skin prickled with goosebumps as excitement and nervous nausea glued her to the short stool.
Sam sprayed a mound of mouse into the palm of her hand and scrunched Lilly's ends, giving the illusion that her hair was thick and curly.
"Okay," she finally said as she nodded, approving Lilly's new look. "Go ahead and see my work."
Lilly slowly stood up, her legs wobbling as the time to leave approached faster and faster. She closed her eyes and stepped in front of the mirror.
What if she didn't like it?
What if she couldn't recognize herself?
She silently counted down.
3
2
1
Her eyes flew open as she gasped. First, she noticed her eyes. Her bright green eyes were painted with faint rustic orange; her corners pulled like an Egyptian Goddess with black eyeliner, and her lashes were long and black, crawling from her lids like giant spiders. She touched her hair that curled at the ends and tussled closer to her scalp, making her look like she'd stepped out of a magazine. She'd never seen her body so curvy as the tube top hugged her tightly in all the right places while the skirt met her eyes at the perfect spot on her thighs and above the best spot of her bum where you could faintly see the lines of her cheeks as she walked. The best part was the thigh-high socks Sam added as the finishing touch. They slimmed her calves to perfection but squeezed her inner thighs, causing some of them to spill over like cake filling.
Sam stepped into the mirror reflection behind her. "Damn Lilly Evans! If James doesn't eat you up tonight, I just might," she said as she winked and tossed up a few more pieces of Lilly's hair.
Lilly couldn't take her eyes off herself. She turned, still able to see her reflection as she gazed down her legs and butt, admiring the way the socks lengthened and hugged her legs, leaving the right amount of space between them and the black skirt. Her heart fluttered with excitement, and suddenly, she couldn't wait to leave.
"One last thing," Sam said as she returned to the dorm room, which was surprisingly empty.
"Where is everyone?" Lilly asked as she searched every bed for a sleeping body. When she found nothing, she realized where they might be.
"Probably all at the Slytherin party you were so desperately wanting to avoid," Sam snickered as she rummaged in her satchel before pulling out what looked like a golden-wrapped coin. "But I knew I could change your mind!" She beamed as she threw the mysterious small package to Lilly.
"What is this?" She said as she caught the small wrapped coin, feeling the smooth edges between her fingers.
"Condoms. Protection, just in case." She flashed a sly smile. Lilly's hands suddenly felt cold as she turned the package over, examining its edges and strange circle indentation. She'd never even had sex before! The idea of losing her virginity tonight at some Slytherin party didn't seem like the kind of occasion she'd be doing the big do.
"I don't think I'll need this," she said as she extended it back to Sam, who seemed to ignore and move past her.
"It's just in case!" She held up her hands in protest to avoid taking the condom back. She stopped just shy of the door and turned back to Lilly. "So, are you ready?"
Lilly looked back to the mirror behind her and examined her reflection again. Confidence began to seep through her pores as she straightened her shoulders and tilted her head back to see the length of her red locks behind her, touching the tip of her butt. She shook her head from side to side, watching its smooth movement and the wave of her skirt any time she moved her legs, allowing the slightest peek at the curve between her thighs and bum.
She smiled, stuffing the condom inside the crevice of her breasts before lacing up a pair of black vans. Sam slipped her feet into high heels with long lace straps, and she slowly wove them around her calves before tying the ends into a petite bow near her knee. She slowly stood from the short stool and balanced herself with her arms at her sides.
"Will you be able to walk in those?" Lilly watched as Sam tried to step lightly in a circle.
Sam nodded. "I'll be ok. Besides, it's not like I'd be the only girl with worn heels in hand at the end of their night."
They chuckled before linking their arms and letting the solid wood door to the girl's bathroom close behind them. Lilly's heart seemed to sit in her throat as she walked beside Sam, her friend leading the way, until the sound of bass thundered in her knees.
They reached one long final corridor before inevitably ending up at the Slytherin House Common room. Lilly could see a group huddled outside the large forest painting between them and blaring music. She couldn't recognize any of them but noticed two Ravenclaw students still wearing striped silver and royal blue ties. She let out a breath she must have held in her chest, relieved they wouldn't be the only outside students as they reached the painting.
Lilly had passed this painting several times at Hogwarts and had never stepped inside until tonight. She sucked in a breath and looked at Sam, who was finishing some final touches on her curls and shimmied down her skirt. "Do I look ok?"
Lilly had always wished for Sam's figure. Her wide hips, tight stomach, and thick thighs could make anyone's mouth drop and salivate. But tonight, Sam had accentuated every desirable part of her. Standing next to her, Lilly felt she couldn't compare.
"You look amazing, Sam."
Sam's concerned expression changed back to a confident smile before her eyes flew from Lilly's shoes to the crown of her head. "And you look scrumptious!" She held onto the word like the hissing of a snake before taking Lilly's hand. "Let's go."
Lilly let go of her breath as Sam reached into the crevice of her chest and pulled out a small piece of paper. She looked up to face the dreary-looking painting. "Tea root."
The vast painting suddenly pulled away from the wall, and chills ran like cold fingers down Lilly's spine as the vast open space came into view. Hundreds of students filled the Slytherin Common room; some were dancing, and others were sitting and chatting along gorgeous antique furniture adorned with green and silver accents. She hesitated but finally stepped through when Sam pulled her arm alongside her. Music pounded against her skull, a mix of techno and hip-hop music blaring through the space around her and hundreds of others.
Lilly's mouth was agape as Sam navigated her through seas of people. Furniture had been moved to the walls to open up space for a dance floor, but her eyes couldn't peel away from the painted Slytherin ceiling. Behind the lit lanterns and candlelit chandeliers, angels and cherubs sat upon clouds while historical wizards stood against the painted sky, wand in hand as they stoically posed. Huge paintings framed with silver snakes matched the portraits on the ceilings, one of them being Salazar Slytherin. Across the room were couches and massive cushion chairs with long backs, all upholstered with vibrant gold and green patterns.
Sam suddenly tugged twice on Lilly's arm. "Look," she whispered as she held up her pointer finger enough so Lilly could see where she was directing her. She followed Sam's finger until she saw the side profile of a tall man with a curly head of hair and dark-rimmed glasses. James Potter stood with his shoulder against the wall, a red colo cup in hand, chatting with one of the Hufflepuff players he played against today.
Lilly's eyes sparkled as her gaze lingered longer on James until Sam snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Let's go get a drink," she shouted over the music as she pulled Lilly toward a long buffet-style table loaded with punch bowls and trays of appetizers that looked more delectable than the magical food they were served for dinner every night in the Great Hall.
Sam stopped her and Lilly in front of a punch bowl filled with red liquid, with the occasional mango and pineapple floating to the top. Lilly could already smell the alcohol radiating from the bowl and nearly gagged. She'd been given the occasional sip of beer from her dad, and only in the last two years did her mother let her start having a glass of champagne with Christmas dinner. Before she could object, Sam was shoving a filled red solo cup into Lilly's hands.
"Cheers!" Sam chipped the edge of her red solo cup against the one clutched to Lilly's chest and took a long swig.
Lilly gaped at her best friend as she watched Sam suck down the rest of her drink, only to go back and dip the ladle into the bowl to refill her cup. Lilly looked down at the cup in her hands, watching the red liquid wave back and forth as her hands trembled. She slowly brought the rim of the cup to her lips, scowling at the putrid smell of pure alcohol. She tried to ignore the taste as she slurped down some of her drink. She shuttered as she fought the urge to gag. The drink was horrid as it burned down her esophagus and sat uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach.
"It'll get better, I promise," Sam put her lips to Lilly's ear as she watched her face return to normal.
"Since when do you drink so much?" Lilly leaned closer to Sam as Sam held back her laughter.
"Since going to our first ever dorm party as seventh years," she said as she pulled Lilly toward an empty corner of the vast room, nearly tripping over heels and ankles as they reached a small enough opening with fewer students within earshot.
"Lilly Evans, you have never let loose in your life."
Lilly was about to object when Sam held her hand in protest and continued.
"The only time you've ever cut yourself a break was when we were at your grandmother's house during the summer as first years, and we snuck out to go to the park once."
Lilly leaned away from Sam's lips and laughed as she recalled the night they snuck through her grandmother's guest bedroom window and ran to the neighborhood park.
Sam continued to shout over the music. "You're almost 19; it's our last year at Hogwarts. It could be the only time we ever find ourselves inside the Slytherin dorms for a party!"
Lilly nodded, but not mindlessly like usual when Sam tried to convince her to do something stupid. To her surprise, she agreed with Sam. Lilly was always responsible, always the reasonable one who reeled Sam back into reality whenever she thought of doing something crazy. She couldn't remember the last time she let herself have fun, and as Sam pulled away, she looked down at her exposed thighs, admiring the long thigh-high socks once again before smiling in agreement with herself.
She wanted tonight to be different.
Tonight, she was going to be somebody new.
She looked down into her solo cup again before tilting her head back and letting the disgusting liquid burn down her throat. She could see Sam's astonished smile from the corner of her eye as she emptied the contents of her cup.
"I knew I could get through to you!" Sam squealed as she hopped up and down.
Lilly held her belly as she laughed, excited to see her friend's approval. She ignored the burning in her stomach as Sam again linked her arm through hers and led them back to the buffet table. This time, they stopped before a bowl filled with yellow liquid with peach slices floating around the surface. They dipped their cups in and took a long drink before pulling the cup away from their lips. While Sam kept her composure, Lilly's face scowled at the harsh burn of a different type of alcohol.
Sam leaned close to Lilly's ear. "Do you want to dance?"
Lilly's eyes grew wide. She had never danced before, worried she would embarrass herself with her lack of rhythm and coordination.
Tonight is different, she thought to herself again as she nodded.
Sam's smile couldn't be any wider as she took Lilly's cup from her hands and set it on the table, taking her by her now empty hands and leading her towards the center of the dance floor. A new song began to play as Lilly and Sam moved to the beat of a familiar tune. It was no radio hit, but the bass slapped against her chest as Sam flipped her hair around and held onto Lilly's hands, assumably for balance.
Lilly giggled, her cheeks feeling warm as her head grew fuzzy. She moved to the song's rhythm, immersed in the natural and euphoric sensation, blissfully unaware of whose back or hip she brushed against while gliding around Sam. Suddenly, the song changed to one that she knew.
"Oh my gosh, I love this song!" she exclaimed to Sam over the music, pulling Sam into her embrace as they jumped in place together. Lilly felt exhilarated as she swayed her hips and pressed her back against the person behind her, a stranger she didn't care to know the name of. Just that they were willing to dance with her made her feel more alive than she had in a lifetime. This brand-new feeling of release and escape sent adrenaline through her veins. She felt the hands of the friendly stranger grip her hips, directing her and letting her lead all at the same time as the bass pounded in her chest.
When she found Sam's gaze again, she noticed her friend in the arms of Kurt Fowler, a Hufflepuff quidditch player they'd raved about in the past together any time they saw him on a broom. He was a fabulous beater with arms the size of tree trunks. Sam was running her hands through the tips of his braids when Kurt moved her hands to his biceps. Her hands gripped his warm mahogany skin that glowed beneath the candles above them. Kurt's eyes held hers still as the two pressed and swayed against each other, Sam completely forgetting Lilly was there.
In a different situation, she might have been annoyed with Sam for ditching her for a quidditch player she had just met, but as the alcohol buzzed through her system, she felt almost giddy for her best friend. She threw her hands into the air, tossing them aside as a new upbeat song blared through unseen speakers. The hands on her hips slowly traveled up her arms and held her hands above her head, the two flowing along to the beat until the mysterious stranger suddenly spun her around to face him.
A pool of warm honey filled her belly as she came face to face with gorgeous blue eyes and the perfect set of supple lips that slowly leaned closer, sending her on the tips of her toes as she waited for their lips to meet until the edge of his skin grazed her ear instead.
"I'm Jackson," he said over the crowd and music, his voice sultry and rich in timbre. Lilly's legs wobbled beneath her, either from her abbreviated state or the way Jackson made her chest feel hot. She let her eyes wander over him, admiring his shaggy blond hair and gorgeous, sharp jawline. She noticed slight stubble dotting across the edge of his chin and down his neck. She quickly scanned his chest and neck for a tie or logo that might give away his House but found nothing but a black skin-tight T-shirt and black jeans to match, making his presence even more romantically intimidating.
At first, she mumbled but realized her voice made no impact as she leaned closer to his neck on the tips of her toes. "I'm Lilly," she managed to stutter out, giggling as Jackson wrapped her arms around his back, caressing the top of her neck and guiding her in a smooth dance across the floor that reminded her of a salsa.
As they happily jumped back and forth to the lively rhythm, Lilly was pleasantly surprised to feel so at ease. She let go of any worries or fears about stumbling while Jackson took the lead, allowing her thoughts to drift and savor this wonderful feeling. Now and then, she would spot Sam and Kurt sharing a sweet moment on the couch against the far wall. Reflecting on her night, she felt a delightful giddiness as Jackson continued to guide her along the way.
Even though she was being held by a boy even more beautiful than James Potter, she couldn't believe she managed to find herself here, at this enormous Slytherin party with what had to be hundreds of students, having her first drink and feeling the dazzling blend of drunk and in love with a boy she'd never met before. It all felt so—
Suddenly wrong
Suddenly, Lilly's ankles wouldn't budge as she and Jackson stopped in the center of the dance floor, a horrid expression of concern washing over her.
"Lilly? What's wrong?"
She struggled to find the right words, yet her mind remained blank. As she scanned the dark sea of clothes and robes surrounding her, she pondered what might have sparked such an intense emotion.
"Let's go sit down," Jackson held the small of her back as he led her to the nearest couch at the end of the long buffet table. Even the way his hand gently grazed a small portion of exposed skin made her shiver. They sat down, and Lilly suddenly felt she could hardly keep the room still. She groaned low enough to where Jackson couldn't hear, holding the front of her forehead as she tried to stabilize the space around her.
It wasn't until the room finally began to settle that she noticed Jackson was holding the top of her thigh, the size of his large hand nearly swallowing it whole. She left it there, letting butterflies swarm around her, sending her back into the fuzzy warmth she felt before they left the dance floor. Her gaze traveled up his toned arms, tracing every vein that bulged through his skin until she reached his shoulder, neck, and back to the pools of blue that were his eyes.
"I'm okay," she finally said. "I'm sorry for ruining our dance." She blushed as heat rose to her cheeks.
"Don't worry about it," he said as his eyes sparkled. "You probably had too much to drink and needed a break."
She thought about the two drinks she and Sam pounded back before they somehow got themselves onto the dance floor. She nodded, happily accepting the reason for her sudden nausea and relieved it wasn't something more sinister.
"You're probably right," she touched the top of his hand, gently running her fingers along his knuckles as he squeezed her thigh with the tips of his fingers, sending her into another rush of euphoria. She searched the room, wondering if she could spot Sam and Kurt. However, her eyes landed on the curly-headed brunette, still leaning against the silver and green paisley wallpaper with a red solo cup occasionally touching his lips.
Her head swam with pleasure as she imagined James' hand resting across the top of her thigh instead of Jackson's. She smiled, her head filling with images of James' hands on her hips as they swayed back and forth on the dance floor until Jackson's voice took her out of her head.
"What year are you?"
Her head snapped back to his face, and suddenly, the thought of James Potter disintegrated until Jackon's dazzling presence took its place.
"I graduate next June," she smiled as she adjusted her posture to face him better, wanting to take all of him in, not allowing anyone or James Potter to steal her attention.
"Me too," he smiled as his hand moved up her leg, the tips of his fingers touching the inside of her thigh. Her body shivered as she swallowed hard, unable to hide her smile.
"What house are you in?" She pinched her brows together with a smile, pleased with the illusion that Jackson seemed to come out of nowhere, never having seen him before tonight.
"I'm in Slytherin."
She smacked herself internally, delightfully admitting that she was falling for the opposing house.
"I'm in Gryffindor," she said sheepishly, giggling behind her hand as Jackson scoffed and searched the room before his eyes were back on hers, locking her in place.
"I guess this means we can't be seen together." His smile curled at the edges, equally devilish and inviting, as his hand moved from the top of her thigh to her hand.
Lilly froze as Jackson intertwined his fingers with hers and pulled her to her feet. The room seemed to tilt, the walls falling in and out of focus as a soft buzz pulsed through her. She blinked, steadying herself as he pulled her out of the large Slytherin Common Room towards a cozy nook lined with black book shelves and four small couches where two or more couples bundled together, making the room a designated makeout area. The music had grown soft behind them, and soft moans and rustling clothes now drowned out the blaring beat.
Her stomach jumped, pushing her heart into her throat as they halted before a plain wall. She wondered if this was why Jackson had brought her. She barely recognized the couples before a wall panel opened, revealing a stone spiral stairwell.
"Where are we going?" She whispered as Jackson stepped through and began ascending the stairs, pulling her behind him. Once she reached the final step, she gazed upon an enormous room with a dome glass top and tall wood-paneled walls with glorious paintings of stormy seas and tattered pirate ships. Between each one were framed tomes, and beneath it were couches, chairs, and end tables with small candle-lit lamps that cast the expansive space in a warm glow.
Her mouth hung open as she followed Jackson until they reached a spinning globe beside a black leather couch. The sudden silence made her ears ring, and she searched the room, suddenly realizing they were the only students there.
"This is a space for elite Slytherin members," Jackson held up two fingers to use quotes around the word elite. "Some students know about it, but none ever comes up here."
Lilly's eyes flickered with unease as she looked around the ample space. "Why not?"
Jackson shrugged. "They have no reason to, I guess." He motioned to the black leather couch behind the spinning globe. "Wanna sit?"
Lilly nodded, her body moving independently as she nuzzled against Jackson. A wave of heat shot through her veins as their knees leaned against each other. She smiled, recapping her night again until she remembered the words Jackson had used before he swept her away to this somewhat secret place.
"Do you really care if people see us hanging around each other?" She turned to face him, studying his expression as he chuckled. His high cheekbones and gorgeous complexion made her stomach leap into her chest. His blonde strands, falling just below his ears, looked soft like silk, and she wondered how they might feel between her fingers.
He shook his head gently. "Not necessarily," he said, turning his body to face her more fully, leaning closer, and lowering his voice to a whisper. "But I wasn't sure how you'd respond to this," he murmured, his words barely leaving his lips before he suddenly leaned in, closing the distance between them and capturing her mouth in a forceful, passionate kiss.
At first, Lilly's eyes were wide with shock as Jackson's warm hands cradled her face, keeping her still. Then, as the tip of his tongue traced the shape of her lips, her eyes fluttered shut. She submitted to him, letting a heat flow through her that almost felt scorching as he pressed himself against her. She couldn't tell if this new rush of ecstasy came from the haze of intoxication or the thrill of being kissed by one of the most gorgeous guys she'd ever seen.
A mental whirlwind swept through her as Jackson's lips continued to trace hers. She couldn't believe where her circumstances had taken her. She wondered if Sam knew where she had gone or if she'd seen her sitting with Jackson in the immense room below. What if someone walked in to see her kissing this stranger? As her pulse quickened, she admitted she didn't care. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he shifted his body to cover hers, carefully guiding her back against the couch's cushions.
He pressed his body against hers, his thighs and waist pressing between her legs. The denim from his pants caused the inside of her thighs to burn. A soft moan escaped her lips as he kissed the edge of her collarbones. Her breaths increased, causing her head to spin in exquisite pleasure as she wrapped her ankles around Jackson's waist. His lips traveled across her chest until they reached the round edge of her breasts. She wondered if she should remove her top until she remembered what she had stuck between her breasts.
She angled his chin towards her and pulled him closer, their mouths crashing together as she reached into the crevis of her chest and pulled out the shiny wrapped circle.
"What is that?" Jackson reached his hand across her wrist and felt the sharp edge of the plastic.
Lilly chuckled as he continued to press kisses against her jaw and neck. "Just protection that my friend Sam gave me."
His hand wrapped around her wrist, pushing it and the condom above her head. She gasped, wincing in pain as a searing throb scorched the skin on her wrist, but Jackson only shoved his tongue deeper into her mouth.
She squirmed beneath him as the pain quickly became unbearable. "Ahh!" She screamed, but the noise only sounded muffled as Jackson kept her still. She wiggled her wrist to loosen his hand, convinced it was his tight grip.
His mouth finally released hers, but his other hand quickly found the waistband of her skirt. The tip of his finger dragged along its edge, sending goosebumps across her belly and making her shiver. The sharp sting took over her pleasure as she finally pulled her wrist away from Jackson's grip.
"What's wrong?" Jackson pushed himself up with his hands, his arms on either side of Lilly's head as she shook wildly beneath him. Her eyes swayed back and forth like a boat on waves as she managed to sit herself up.
She pushed herself up by the palms of her hands, tears forming behind her eyes as the pain in her wrist overtook her senses. "Something is wrong! My wrist is killing me." She groaned as she held it against her chest.
Her vision finally settled as she studied Jackson's alluring face. He smiled wickedly, sending chills up her spine as she tensed against the arm of the couch. She watched him shift closer until his hands suddenly returned to her neck and jaw. His mouth crashed against hers as he held her still. She whimpered as he tightened his fingers around the front of her throat. She pinched her eyes tighter as she tried to focus on one pain at a time.
"Get off of me!" She fought against his hands, the dreadful pain in her wrist suddenly throbbing as she scrambled beneath him. He straddled her, both of his legs squeezing her hips and legs, making it impossible for her to move.
"You wanted me just a second ago," he leaned into her chest, his torso crushing her into the couch. "I can tell by the rubber you pulled out of your chest." He kissed the skin beneath her collarbones again as she cried out. Her face suddenly burned as he put his hand over her mouth.
She thought quickly as she bit the palm of his hand as hard as she could with her front teeth and molars. Adrenaline spiked through her veins, helping her ignore the unbearable pain in her wrist.
"Ah!" Jackson swiftly yanked his hand away from her mouth as anger and pain caused him to breathe between his teeth. She caught sight of the blood she must have drawn from her bite as he held his palm in his hand. "You bitch!"
The veins in his biceps bulged as he pulled his hand back. Lilly pinched her eyes closed as she waited for the sting of his fist to meet her cheek. Fear caused her to freeze until bodies slamming against the stone floor echoed off the walls. She sat up with her wrist still trembling in her hand and gasped at the sight of Kurt's fists pounding into Jackson's nose and chin. She screamed into her hands as tears welled up behind her eyes. She gasped as a hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Lilly!" Sam rushed to her side and pulled her up from the couch. "Are you okay?"
Lilly suddenly felt her heart pounding as if it was vibrating in her ears. She searched the room for other students and was relieved to see only Sam and her friend's frantic green eyes. "I'm fine," she whispered as she wiped Jackson's blood that dripped from the corner of her mouth after she bit him.
"Kurt will be fine. Let's go." Sam grabbed Lilly's hand and pulled her to her feet off the couch. They hurried toward the spiral staircase. Lilly looked back only once but immediately regretted it after seeing a bloodied, swollen Jackson. Kurt was finally getting to his feet again when she could no longer see the enormous room. She and Sam returned to the sitting room, where even more students claimed corners for long makeout sessions.
Sam pulled her out and through the hundreds of dancing students until Lilly snatched her arm away, holding her still throbbing wrist to her chest. "Wait, where are we going?"
Sam spun on her heels, her eyes frantic as she held her hands up in shock. "We're leaving, Lilly."
Lilly looked toward the sitting room and found no familiar face. "What about Kurt?"
Sam scoffed as she grabbed Lilly's hand again and pulled her back through the crowd of bodies, stopping a few feet in front of the painting that led to the hallway. Lilly couldn't make out the phrase mumbled by Sam that caused the large painting to suddenly pull away from the wall, exposing the exit and a quiet, empty hallway lit only by torches. As they stepped through, Lilly's ears began to ring again from the sudden silence. She could finally hear the sound of her breaths as she clutched her wrist to her pounding chest.
She wanted to fall to her knees and scream. The skin between her thighs throbbed as she stood still and waited for the ringing to stop. Tears streaked her cheeks as she clenched her jaw, grinding her teeth. She looked up to see Sam with her arms crossed over her chest, her brows pinched together in concern.
"What happened in there?"
Lilly hung her head and sucked in a breath, trying to form words through her sobs. "I don't know. We were kissing, and then things got heavy…" Her words trailed off as she slammed her knees into the stone floors and tried not to scream through her tears. She expected pain or sting to radiate from her kneecaps, but everything within her felt numb as she tried to retrace her steps. Her mind felt like it was racing, unable to catch up as she tried to steady her breathing. Images of the night replayed against the black of her eyelids, and she couldn't believe what had just occurred.
Sam ran to Lilly's side, putting an arm around her shoulder until she was ready to stand again. "It'll be okay. Kurt took care of it. I don't think you'll ever hear from Jackson again, and tomorrow we'll go to the headmaster."
"No!" Lilly's head snapped up to see Sam's shocked expression. "We can't tell anyone." Her cheeks burned with embarrassment at the thought of everyone in school knowing what had happened. She couldn't believe she let things go as far as they did, and she didn't want to risk everyone else in school knowing, too.
Suddenly, she felt naked as she wrapped her arms around her nearly exposed chest. She instantly hated how she looked and despised how easily her friend persuaded her to wear something so revealing. Feeling cold and tempted to let her teeth chatter, she tucked her chin to her chest and rubbed the sides of her shoulders.
"Lilly, do you hear yourself? You were almost—
"Please, Sam." Lilly searched Sam's face for a hint of understanding, and once she saw the grim realization in her best friend's eyes, Sam nodded.
"Let's go back to the common room and get you cleaned off." She hugged Lilly's shoulder to her chest as she stood.
Lilly and Sam wobbled back to the Gryffindor dorm rooms, Sam carrying most of Lilly's weight while she kept adjusting the skin between her thighs and desperately ignoring the searing pain that still lingered in her wrist.
When they reached the Gryffindor stairs, they headed straight for the bathrooms. Sam found a clean washcloth and soaked it in warm water while Lilly sat against the wall with her knees to her chest, replaying the night again in her mind and wondering where it all went wrong.
Sam knelt in front of her, dabbing the wet cloth across her now bruised knees. Goosebumps danced across Lilly's skin as she tried to focus on the warmth of the steaming washcloth. Something about the way it made her skin sting comforted her, helping her forget the awful memory of Jackson. As Sam's comforting touch traveled up and around her kneecaps, she could feel her abbreviated state slowly slipping away as her vision started to adjust.
Sam's touch moved to Lilly's bare shoulders. She winced against the sudden pain that radiated around the edge of her collarbones. She looked down to see two long bruise lines that encompassed the edges of her chest, no doubt from Jackson's aggressive touch. The image of his angered face lingered in her mind and caused her to shiver.
Sam switched to Lilly's right side, circling her like a mother lioness protecting her cub. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
Lilly's heart sank to the bottom of her stomach as she recounted the night. Guilt ate its way to her core, and Lilly felt she was to blame for Sam and her leaving the party early and pulling her friend away from a strong, tall, handsome Kurt.
Lilly shook her head no, her gaze falling to the place between her legs, tracing the marble pattern on the bathroom floors. "I'm sorry that your time with Kurt was cut short because of me."
Sam leaned back on her heels. "Lilly. Stop." She shook her head in frustration, returning to rub Lilly's back with a now-cooled washcloth. She lifted her long red strands, careful not to get them wet as she tended to her friend's aching muscles.
"It's just that I know you and Kurt were having a good time before—
"LILLY!" Sam's voice bounced off the walls, rattling through the stalls and drumming deeply into Lilly's ears, causing her head to snap in her direction and her eyes to grow wide.
"I don't care about Kurt right now, Lilly. I don't care if I ever see him again, nor should you!" She got to her feet, folding the washcloth before aggressively tossing it into the sink. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, pinching her eyes closed as she tried to form the rest of her thoughts into words. "I won't tell you what to do, Lilly. I would never make you do something you're uncomfortable with," Sam said as she scanned Lilly's body again before rising to her feet. "But I really think you should reconsider telling the Headmaster."
Lilly's gaze snapped away from Sam to the row of wall sinks. The way the bright lights above them held the white porcelain made something in her eyes ache, exaggerating the painful pound that was still in her head. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't muster up the tears. She could only squeeze her wrist in her palm, which seemed to help dull the throb that pulsed against it.
She finally shook her head. "I can't," she whispered, her bottom lip trembling as the tears finally conjured. "What if everyone finds out about it? What if James finds out about it?"
Still kneeling beside her, Sam grunted as she flopped onto the floor, her back against the wall while nustling closer to Lilly. "Lilly, if James is a good person like you, he wouldn't care about something like that. And telling the Headmaster doesn't mean everyone in school will know about it, but it does mean that you might save another girl from feeling this way, or maybe even saving someone from something even worse…" Sam's words trailed off at the end as the harsh realization hit Lilly's chest like a stone.
Hot tears streaked Lilly's cheeks as she leaned against her friend for support. Finally, the pressure behind her eyes began to wane as she clung to her friend for support, struggling to steady her breath and the rise of emotion.
"You're right, Sam," Lilly said between sobs. "I just don't want all the other students to know." She wiped her nose on her bare arm, unable to care about its wet, horrid feeling while she replayed the night with Jackson over and over again, wishing more than anything she'd never followed him.
Sam reached her arm around Lilly's shoulder and stroked her hair. "We'll think of something. Even if someone finds out, Lilly, it is none of their business."
"I know, but Sam—
"Shhh. I know, Lilly." She said as she pressed her cheek into the top of Lilly's head and continued to slide her fingers through the tips of her strands.
As Lilly let the tears continue falling, she knew her friend understood her embarrassment; how much worse it would be if the other students found out what happened and what almost happened. She scolded herself internally but gave up the fight she warred against herself, which she knew would do no good. She silently prayed that the helpless feeling would diminish and that anger or hatred would soon replace it. Still, exhaustion overpowered her as she peaked past Sam to see the bright orange sky peaking over the rolling hills surrounding the school, and the only thing she could think of was her bed.