A/N: Yay! Chapter 6 is up my longest chapter yet!!! and so much Drama!! Eek!! Read on!
Disclaimer: All you recognize belongs to JKR :D
Monday morning…the morning I have been dreading. The moment that I had to face my classmates after James had oh so graciously let it slip that I was related to Bellatrix Lestrange.
I opened my tired eyes. I wasn’t going to be in bed the entire year because of some stupid thing James Potter said. I sat up on my elbows and looked around the dorm. Everyone was still asleep. I turned to look at me clock six thirty am. I plopped my head back on my pillow. If I went early to breakfast maybe I can get to the library and figure out what exactly was so bad about Bellatrix Lestrange.
I propped myself up again but this time made the effort of climbing out of bed. It was more difficult than I had first anticipated. Al hadn’t been up yesterday and neither had any of the girls. So I slept most of the day away and studied for Herbology. As boring as that class may be I believe that I understood most everything in it.
Professor Longbottom will be proud. Not only did I study Herbology but also Potions and History of Magic…I can’t believe how much more interesting it is when Professor Binns isn’t teaching it.
I rolled out of bed and quietly made my way to the bathroom. As I closed the door I stretched and yawned staring at my small frame in the mirror.
“My name is Lilyanna Rose Black. I am a witch. I am strong. I will not let others get the better of me.” I chanted this phrase I brushed roughly through my blonde hair; put some light makeup on my face and changing into my school uniform. After I was done getting ready I kept saying this softly to my reflection as if repeating it would help my confidence.
A soft knock sounded on the door and a mass of curly red hair peeped through. Soft brown eyes met mine with a sad smile plastered on her features.
“How are you feeling?” asked Rose walking into the bathroom lightly shutting the door behind her.
“Fine.” I responded, “Just nervous…”
“Don’t be.” She said with a reassuring smile, “Al and I have your back. We won’t leave your side for a moment. Avi said that she was going to keep an eye on James all day and alert me if anything was wrong.”
“How?” I asked.
She reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a gold coin, a galleon.
“How’s a galleon going to help us?” I asked her raising a skeptical eyebrow.
“My mum taught me a spell to transfigure them into a device that we could use to contact each other…kind of like a muggle pager. That’s how Mum and granddad Weasley described it anyway.”
She re-pocketed the coin and began getting ready. “Al is meeting us downstairs in ten. Avi won’t leave until James leaves the common room. And Olivia promised Avi she’d watch with her.”
“Olivia didn’t want to help?” I asked a little dishearten.
“She did! It was her idea to watch Fred…but since Fred and James are nearly inseparable they figured sticking together would work out just the same.”
I smiled and Rose returned it. We finished up and went downstairs to meet Al. He was sitting in the common room with Scorpius, who looked antsy.
“Hey.” Rose said directing a small smile at Scorpius.
“Hi.” He responded to her but continued to stare at me. Rose gave me a look but didn’t say anything.
“Hi.” I replied staring back at Scor confused.
“Tell her.” Al said nudging him in the side.
“Ow!” he said holding his ribcage, “Fine!” He wiped his hands nervously on his robes, “How are you cuz?” He asked in a strange American accent.
It took me two seconds to register what was going on and I busted up laughing because the sight of Scorpius attempting an American accent was just comical. I looked at him again wiping away a tear and saw he was bright red.
“Don’t ever talk like that again.” I giggled, “Only I can pull off the American accent.” And then I began to process what exactly he had said, “Cuz? You mean like cousin?” I asked my smile still on my lips but fading quickly.
“Yeah, Bellatrix was my dad’s aunt…So that makes you my second cousin.” He said still bright red.
“Seriously!” I cried in delight, proceeding to bombard him with a hug, “I have a family outside my family!”
Rose started to giggle, “Lily that makes no sense.” And the four of us laughed with a carefree attitude that made it feel as if everything was going to be ok.
But boy was I wrong…
We all sat in the great hall together enjoying each others company. Being the first ones to breakfast was nice. It was quiet and peaceful, not the strange silence either but a comfortable one. That was until the first group of Ravenclaw’s came in. They simply stared at me. No one spoke, they just stared.
I felt my cheeks heat up as I turned back to my plate of food, when I overheard one of them whisper, “That’s her right? Bellatrix’s granddaughter?”
“She’s pretty…” her friend commented.
“Jessica! That’s like saying Bellatrix was pretty.”
“I’m sorry Megan! I didn’t know her! Mum and Dad just talked about it.”
“Shh! She can hear us!” said brunette girl in between the two others.
I was watching them and when they saw me staring they turned away embarrassed.
“Rose I’m not ready for this.” I whispered pushing my plate of food away from me.
She squeezed my hand, “We’re not leaving your side.” And I felt Al’s hand rest on my other hand.
Scorpius gave me a thumbs up when I felt Rose’s pocket vibrate softly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the gold coin.
“James just left the common room we have exactly two minutes to eat and leave.”
“Two?” I asked, “Doesn’t it take five?”
“James has my dad’s map of the school. He knows all of the short cuts.” Al said, scoffing down as much food as his mouth could hold. It’s a wonder that he hasn’t chocked yet.
I picked up a piece of toast and jam spreading it quickly and taking bites of it. Soon the hall was beginning to fill and a small buzz of conversation erupted around the hall. I saw people watching me, glaring at me, and a couple Slytherin’s checking me out. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. Too many people were staring at me. I put my half eaten toast down and pulled at Rose’s sleeve.
“Can we go now?” I asked her desperately. All of the eyes made me twitchy and self conscious.
She nodded and stood. I followed suit and as soon as I rose from my seat the entire hall went dead silent. Every eye was on me. I felt small and I froze in the gaze of at least one hundred and fifty students’ eyes. Al grabbed my robe and began dragging me toward the entrance. I felt tears prickling the back of my eyes as I kept my head down and nearly ran out of the Hall if it wasn’t for a hard something getting in my way.
I heard Rose gasp from next to me and I felt Al’s arm tense as I saw him pull out his wand. Try as I might, tears were starting to spill over, I looked up and saw James standing before me. I retreated slightly. He didn’t say anything only stared at my small figure trying to become invisible. The Hall was dead silent, not even the teachers seemed to move. I stared into his chocolate eyes begging him to tell me why he’d put me through so much pain.
After what seemed ages I found my voice. I crocked out a strangled cry, “Why?” and ran out of the hall pulling away from Al and Rose and ran; ran as hard as my legs would allow. Ran through the grounds and out farther than I had ever run before stopping before I hit the far side of the Quidditch pitch; a force field making me stop before I hit the open unprotected boundaries of Hogwarts. I stopped standing my eyes streaming with tears. I collapsed on the ground convulsing as sobs ripped through my entire being. Nothing hurt worse than the ostracizing that I was forced to endure.
After a few minutes I felt a strong hand resting on my shoulder, “Lily?”
I looked up and saw the ice blue eyes of Damion Hill looking down at me with so much concern in his eyes.
I wiped the tears away but that didn’t stop them from falling. Damion sat next to me and put an arm around my shoulder holding me the way my mother used to back at home. I buried my face in his shoulder and continued to cry. He rubbed circles on my back. He didn’t say anything but continued to comfort me. I was sitting there for a good hour probably missing most of my morning courses, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. After what seemed like ages I felt empty…I cried myself out…no more tears came. Only an empty shell. I sat there in silence with Damion holding me for what seemed like another lifetime.
I felt Damion shift away from me slightly, repositioning himself to look at me. He put his free hand on my chin and lifted it to look into my eyes. I tired to look away because I knew my face was puffy and unattractive and I didn’t need my quidditch captain seeing me this vulnerable…well to late for that but I wanted to be pretty around him not a mush of goop that was crying all over his robes.
He forced my eyes to meet his, “Let’s grab a broomstick and start your training.”
And somehow he said the only thing that would have been able to make me smile…as weak as that smile may have been it was a smile. I nodded and let him pull me up. He looked down at me wiped a stay tear from my cheek and kissed my forehead gently. “I want you to be happy.” He said truthfully, “I need my seeker at the top of her game.” He winked and the smile returned a little stronger. He threw me a broom, “Get in the air Black.” He winked.
I smiled and mounted my broom taking to the air. He grabbed a bucket of muggle golf balls and attached them to his broom and took to the air with me.
He was about three yards away from me and without warning started to chuck golf balls at me. I dodged the first one.
“What the Hell Damion! Are you trying to kill me!?” I screamed.
He started to laugh, “Black, you need to catch them!”
“Would have been nice if you told me before starting to chuck them at my head.” I murmured.
“What was that Black?” he chuckled.
“Just throw the damned balls!” I called with a smile.
Instead of responding he started chucking golf balls. He started slow at first then picked up speed when he saw that I was catching them too easily. Even with his picked up speed I still caught them easily. Soon he took out his wand and started throwing three at a time then four then five. I was catching each and every one. The last one was thrown and I dived to catch it.
“Lilyanna Rose Black you are a quidditch star!” Damion cried flying toward me and bombarding me in a hug. I started to laugh and somehow I knew I’d be ok…who needed James Potter when I had friends like Al, Rose, Avi, Olivia, Scorpius and Damion.
I looked down at the ground littered in all of the golf balls that I caught and giggled. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw James at the entrance of the pitch. My smile faltered as I locked eyes with him. He was frowning but something in his eyes told me that there was something else…something deeper.
Damion let go of our hug and looked at me face. He saw that I was distracted and looked to where I was watching. I saw his face turn down in a hard frown and he flew down to meet his chaser. I followed a little farther away and touched to the ground and heard Damion talk in a hushed voice to James. I was watching in concern, I didn’t want to fight with James…it was taking too much out of me. He nodded still frowning at Damion. Turned to me and nodded again. His eyes met mine and something in them…I can’t pin-point what…but he seemed to say I’m sorry. He turned away and never looked back. And then…I don’t know why…but that hurt more than anything else that has happened today.
I summoned all the golf balls back into the bucket, and it back to Damion, “Let’s do this again.”
He took the bucket from my hand and I flew up in the air. He followed me but this time there was no laughing, fooling around, it was purely training.
After a half hour in the air Professor McGonagall, or Minnie, came out and called us to the ground, “Miss. Black you missed all of your lessons this morning…as did you Mr. Hill. Detentions both of you, I want you in my office tomorrow night.” We bowed our heads.
“Yes Professor.” We said in unison.
She turned away and strode back toward the castle, “Oh,” she turned to look at me, “Miss. Black.” I raised my head to meet her eyes, “Fantastic flying.” She smiled and again walked toward the castle.
I gave a small smile to Damion. “Thanks for everything.” I said handing him the broom. “I think it’s about time I go face this day in hell.” I gave him another weak smile and began to walk toward the castle.
“Lily!” I turned to see him smiling, “Wait up I’ll walk you.”
“Are you sure?” I asked a little taken aback by his eagerness.
“Yeah.” He smiled again, “Let me just put this equipment away.” He came up to me and led me to the Gryffindor changing room. He set the brooms and bucket of golf balls down and we walked up to the castle together.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked as we walked through the corridors to my Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
“You remind me of someone.” He said simply.
“Who?” I pushed, curiosity getting the better of me.
“My little sister Arabella.” He said looking down at his feet, “She died when she was eleven. She had just received her letter and was so excited. A boy down the street was harassing her…if I had known I would have punched his face…but he called her names. Told her she was a freak. I guess it had gotten to the point that she couldn’t handle it anymore. One day she was outside, I wasn’t there…maybe if I was…” his voice cracked and I saw his eyes well with tears. I took his hand and squeezed. He coughed trying to pull himself together.
We had reached my classroom but I didn’t want to leave him just yet. He needed me like I needed him earlier. He took a deep breath and continued, “I guess it was much of the same except this time the boy had pushed her. She got so mad she tried to take him out with magic but it was too much for her and it imploded. She lay on the playground lifeless…the police had called it an aneurysm…but my family knew what happened.”
We were both quiet for a moment, “The boy moved a little while after that and we never saw them again.” He looked at me then just staring. He pushed a strand of my hair back behind my ear and wiped a tear from my face.
He looked crushed…He spoke again, “You look like her…and you act like I’ve always imagined she would…spunky and outrageous, fun loving and competitive I think of you as my little sister…I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
I gave him another smile and rested a hand on his cheek, “Of course it doesn’t bother me, I’ve always wanted another older brother seeing as the one I have is so cool.” I giggled, “Besides…” I said more seriously, “I needed someone today and you acted more like a brother to me than I had hoped. So in my book I have two older brothers.” I smiled at him kissing his cheek.
“I’ll see you at practice tonight?” I asked him.
“Absolutely how else are we going to win the match against Slytherin next month?”
I laughed and gave Damion a hug around the middle, “I’ll see you tonight then.” He hugged me back and kissed my forehead, “You’re the best little sister ever.” I smiled and walked into the classroom waving goodbye.
I walked into the classroom and looked around for Rose or Al. it wasn’t hard seeing as Rose was practically jumping out of her seat with excitement and Al looked as if he was going to murder someone.
I went to sit in between them; I kept my head held high and my eyes on my friends. I noticed that a spit wad shot its way toward me and I blocked it with my newfound Quidditch reflexes and glared at the Slytherin who shot it. They backed into a corner away from me and my scary look. No more Misses nice Lily. I’m done breaking down into tears. I sat confidently in between Rose and Al.
Rose was still jumping up and down and Al had his face on the desk a murderous look still plastered on his face.
“Was that Damion Hill!?” She asked me excitedly, “Were you with him all morning? Why didn’t you come back? What did you say? Why did he kiss you? Why did you hug him? Are you going out? Are you not telling me something Lilyanna Rose Black!?”
“Ohmigod Rose, deep breaths.” I say with a giggle. Rose’s eyes widened and Al looked up at me.
“What did he say to you?” said Rose in awe…”You’re all smiley…”
I giggled again, “It’s not what you think.” I said with a smile. “After I ran out of the hall I went passed the quidditch pitch and I guess he saw me running passed. He came up and just kind of held me for a couple of hours letting me cry. Then he started chucking golf balls at me in the air as a quidditch practice thing. He walked me to class and told me I reminded me of his sister…and that I’m like a little sister to him. Nothing romantic.” I confirmed for Rose who looked a little let down but Al seemed to be happier with the news.
Professor Jordan walked into class then and began to teach us about stunning spells. We gat into pairs and practice them. We had practiced previously the blocking spell and I basically mastered them both already seeing as my entire weekend was spent studying locked in my dorm.
As the class began to move he stopped us, “Nope, I’m pairing you up.” The class groaned and Rose and Al both exchanged nervous glances toward me. I wasn’t bothered as Al had scooted toward me. “Avila and Al,” called Professor Jordan, “Rose and Scorpius, Olivia and Grace, Kyle and Maryanne, Lily and Adycus.” I looked over to the group of Slytherin’s and a particularly ugly one was watching me with greedy eyes. He then stood and made his way toward me.
My stomach twisted in knots as I realized this was Adycus Flint. One of the worst Slytherin’s in our year. Al’s eyes had widened as he turned to Professor Jordan and begged to switch partners with me.
“No Mr. Potter, Lily has to deal with her partner.” He said and continued to pair the class.
Adycus finally reached me and put a hand on my arm. He was surprisingly strong as he roughly brought me closer to him, “Hello beautiful. I’ll take it easy on you.” He winked at me and I saw Al’s face turn red with anger.
“Back off Flint.” I said pushing him away roughly. He stumbled backwards, catching himself he sneered at me.
“That’s how you want it?” his sneer turned into an ugly smirk, “Fine.”
“Stupefy!”
“Protego!” I called simultaneously. His curse bounced off and flew toward an unsuspecting Gryffindor whose friend blocked the curse again glaring at me.
I turned back toward Adycus who was shouting another spell at me. And then the duel began. Before anyone else started we were shooting different colored sparks at each other.
The entire class had gathered to watch the fight. Fearful whispers erupted around the room words like, ‘Bellatrix’, and ‘dangerous’ filtered through my ears but I couldn’t concentrate on them.
Suddenly I saw a green light streak towards me. My eyes widened and I jumped out of the way. I may be a muggleborn but I know a killing curse when I see it. The curse hit the wall thankfully not injuring anyone but I knew this duel was getting serious. I shot spell after stunning spell. I tried disarming him but he was quick. Another green spark shot out of his wand and I jumped out of the way again. Shooting another spell, my stunning curse finally hitting him in his open chest. His eyes were wild and hate filled as he collapsed to the floor. I fell to my knees as Al and Rose rushed toward me.
“He tried to kill you!” shouted Al furious.
“He almost did…” I said weakly.
“Great job Lily!” called Professor Jordan who hadn’t seen any of the green sparks. Al was going to tell him but I grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.” I whispered. The room was watching me. They saw what had happened. A lot of them were watching for my reaction. “It’ll only get worse if we get him expelled.” I said standing up and almost fell to the ground because of my weak knees.
“You’re going to just let him get away with performing the killing curse?” said Al furiously.
“Yeah and risk him being expelled then going after my family? I think not!” I snapped at him, “Just leave it alone I don’t want to give him an excuse to hate me.”
“But he tried to kill you!?”
“And he would have done the same to anyone he dueled…it’s just a blessing that it was me and not you or anyone else…I’m glad I spent the weekend studying.”
“Professor?” I called out. He looked at me, “Can I please go to the hospital wing…I’m a bit worn out…I’ll bring Adycus.”
He nodded. “Al, Avi, go with them.”
Al grabbed Adycus and Avi walked next to me a warm hand on my shoulder. I smiled at her and she smiled back.
“You ok?” she asked me quietly.
“Yeah just a little shaken up.” I said honestly. But as I said it my legs gave out on me and I fell to the floor. “Lily!” cried Avi trying to catch me. Al dropped Adycus and ran over to me.
“You ok?” he asked me. I swatted his hands away.
“I’m fine my legs just gave out on me.”
That’s when I heard voices, “What’s that?” I asked.
Al called out, “Hey! Can we get some help please!?”
Two thundering pairs of feet answered and a pair of arguing voices met them. It sounded like…Damion and James came around the corner and saw the mess around them Damion rushed toward me, “What happened?”
“Um…” I said dumbly, “I fell.”
Avi rolled her eyes, “The dumb ass that’s unconscious over there tried to kill her.”
“What!” yelled James glaring daggers at Adycus.
Damion looked to Al pleading for answers.
Al met his eyes with a bit of envy seeping out of him as he saw Damion’s arms wrap tightly around me. I felt so small in his arms.
Al retold the story of the duel and how Adycus shot the killing curse at me right up until this moment.
Both James and Damion looked ready to kill. Damion picked me up and I gave a squeal.
“Put me down!” I cried.
“No, we’re going to see Headmaster Shacklebolt.” Said Damion beginning to walk in the opposite direction.
“No!” I screamed struggling out of his grip. He stopped walking as everyone watched with open mouths as I kicked and squirmed in his grip. He set me down in a huff.
“What the hell is wrong with you Lily?” he screamed.
“I don’t to give him the excuse to hunt down my mom and Jace! I’ve lost enough already!” I shouted at him.
“Damn it Lily!” He screamed grabbing his hair, “He tried to kill you! I can’t lose you again! It’s like I’ve been given a second chance! Please can we go tell the Headmaster?”
“No!” I yelled back, “What good will it do if we get him expelled? He’ll do anything he can to get back at me! That includes killing my family. I can deal with the prat! I can’t deal with loosing my mom or Jace. It’s not going to happen!”
“It’s the same feeling here, Lily! My sister Lily! My sister! I can’t deal with that twice!”
I looked at him, and continued at a softer tone, “I know…but I can’t have him hurting my family.”
“I can’t have him hurting mine either Lily! And you are my family whether you like it or not!”
“Then let me deal with it. Okay?” I said.
“I’ll kill him.” Said Damion in a growl looking at Adycus’ limp figure on the ground.
I grabbed his face and turned it away from Adycus, a collective gasp went around the corridor. I ignored it, “Damion you are my brother, you’re as much of a brother to me as Jace is. Jace knows I can handle myself. I can take care of myself. Besides,” I continued moving my eyes to James who was staring at me, “I am the granddaughter of Bellatrix Lestrange.”
James lowered his eyes and I returned them to Damion’s. “I just want to get to the hospital wing please.”
He didn’t say anything but looked into my eyes, “Fine.” He said after a moment and then picked me up again.
“Hey!” I cried as he swooped me into his arms. I giggled, “Really? You have to carry me?”
“Yup.” He said smiling. I sighed rolled my eyes and we walked as a group to the Hospital Wing, weakly levitating Adycus behind us and a light thump thump sounded as his head hit the ground behind us.
A/N: I hope you liked it!! I wrote it really fast at work but I couldn't stop the ideas just kept flowing! Hopefully the following chapters come just as easily!
You know what will help??? Your lovely reviews going into the little box a little farther down the page!! Thanks for reading!!!
XOXO Bella Bug
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