Friendship Never Dies

The Studious Septet (Plus One)

The first half of the school year passed in a whirl of new friendships, classes, and ways for students to prove themselves.

Lily stumbled out of the History of Magic classroom, tears in her eyes. She was gaping at her first exam score- 60%. "I don't understand! I even borrowed your notes, Caroline, but I still failed! It can't be because I'm stupid- I met up with Professor Flitwick yesterday, and he said I scored a 110% on his exam."

Caroline, meanwhile, was walking out of the classroom with a bounce in her step. Professor Binns, in his wheezy voice, had announced that she was his first student ever to receive a 130% on one of his exams. "Oh, don't feel bad, Lily. I met up with McGonagall, and she told me I have to make her test up; I did that badly. I bet I also failed the Charms test."

At this, Lily's face brightened considerably, but not because of Caroline's poor score. "Ashleigh, Renny, how did you do on Binns's test?"

They both turned their dismal faces to her and showed her their scores- 60% and 30%.

Ashleigh sighed, "Oh well, at least this isn't as bad as the grade I got on my Potions essay Slughorn said he was seriously considering scoring with negative numbers now!"

Renny's face was a mask of disbelief. "A thirty percent. A thirty percent!" she kept repeating to herself softly.

"Girls, this is perfect!" They turned to look at Lily incredulously.

"We're all failures- literally- at History of Magic, but Caroline, it's your best subject! Ashleigh, you're horrible at Potions- no offense, of course, but Slughorn almost passed out when he walked by your cauldron- but it's my best subject. Caroline, you're not so good with your wand, but Ashleigh can help you in Charms, because that's her best subject. Renny, you're all around decent at everything."

The faces looking at Lily were all blank.

"Oh come now, don't you see? We can start a study group to help each other. We're covering Charms, Potions, and History of Magic as our best and worst subjects!"

They all nodded slowly, liking the idea. Then Caroline spoke up, "What about Transfiguration? That's my worst subject by far."

A voice spoke up from behind them. "I can cover that."

Lily whirled around in surprise. She hadn't noticed them, but the famous four, who had taken to calling themselves the Marauders, were standing behind them, listening to her every word.

"Oh, um, that'd actually be pretty helpful," Lily said. She was somewhat reluctant to let the Marauders into her study group, as they were prone to being disruptive, but she also reasoned that study groups should never be exclusive, because more heads were better than one. It was also a well known fact that James Potter, who had volunteered to cover Transfiguration, was excellent at said subject. He had, after all, been the one to help Lily turn her match into a needle; she was the fourth in her class to achieve the feat, after James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin.

"Where should we meet?" Renny asked faintly. She was still shocked over her abysmal grade, and she was also rather taken with Sirius.

"Yeah, I doubt Madam Pince would be too chuffed with us holding a study group in the library, especially with the noise you four usually make," Ashleigh put in bluntly, looking at the Marauders.

Sirius grinned with pride, and huddled with his four friends.

When they broke their huddle, Peter Pettigrew announced, "We, fair ladies, have thought of the perfect place. The Hogwarts Kitchen."

Caroline's face was dubious. "Are you sure-"

Sirius interrupted. "It's actually quite ideal. It's as big, or perhaps bigger, than the Great Hall, and humans are almost never down there."

"What do you mean, humans are never down there?" Lily demanded.

"It's all run by house elves," Remus explained in a calm voice. "They're really quite servile, and they're bound to be helpful."

"That sounds like it's taking advantage of them," Caroline said.

Renny laughed. "Have you ever met a house elf? They're offended if you don't accept their service. It sounds great!" She had certainly cheered up considerably at the idea of being able to raise her grades, as well as spend more time with the handsome, dashing, courteous, and oh so amusing Sirius Black....

The idea did turn out quite splendidly. The Studious-Septet-Plus-One (they liked the sound of alliteration), met three times a week in the kitchen. The Hogwarts elves were only too happy to serve them snacks and drinks while they studied- and studied they did. Even the Marauders kept the foolery down to a low, though Lily was sure to fix them with a wary eye.

With the S.S.P.O, everyone's grades, and spirits, lifted. While everyone in the S.S.P.O did a good job of tutoring and explaining their best subjects, Caroline did the best job by far. She was animated as she explained different treaties and she had the Marauders reenact some of the more famous battles. By getting everyone involved, she helped keep the material in their minds.

Renny squealed and hugged Caroline when she got her first 90% on a History of Magic essay. She couldn't stop thanking her. That night, she ran up the stairs to the girl's dormitory, holding a cage out in front of her.

Her dorm mates were packing their trunks; their Christmas break was starting the next day, and the train was leaving in the morning.

"Caroline, I know you don't have an owl, so I got this one for you. Her name is Elvira, and well- she's my thank you gift to you. You've no excuse for not staying in touch with us over the hols now!"

Speechless, Caroline emitted a sort of squeak before throwing her arms around Renny and thanking her endlessly for the beautiful owl.

Lily looked on with a smile. It was really kind of Renny to give Caroline an owl, knowing she'd never be able to afford an owl on her own. It was especially kind, because Renny wasn't so very close with any of her dorm mates at all. She spent all of her time with her Ravenclaw friends, except for when the Gryffindor girls and boys had their S.S.P.O meetings.

Lily was just about to ask her friends what they were doing for the holidays, when she stopped herself. She, Renny, and Ashleigh had learned very quickly that any mention of home or family set Caroline wailing like a baby. Nothing else touched her in that way.

Ashleigh had already dragged her trunk to the dormitory staircase. She ran and hugged each of them in turn and made them promise to write.

"You're leaving already?" Renny asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to America, New York, actually, to stay with relatives over there, so Lexi's picking me up from Hogwarts tonight. Why don't you all come down to the entrance hall with me so you can meet her?" Ashleigh was still trying to break down barriers between Gryffindors and Slytherins.

"Sure." Renny jumped at the chance, mainly because she had forgotten that Lexi was a former Slytherin.

Lily and Caroline declined; they both had lots more packing to do.

As soon as Renny and Ashleigh left, Lily turned to Caroline. "Hey, do you want to come with me over the holidays? To...to my house?" Lily asked hesitantly; she didn't want Caroline to cry again.

To her relief, Caroline's eyes only watered. "That's really nice of you to invite me home with you, Lily, but I can't."

"We have more than enough room, and my parents told me to bring a friend home," Lily urged her gently.

"No, really, I can't. There are...family things for me to take care of. But thanks anyways. I would have loved to go with you." Lily knew that Caroline's words weren't empty because there was longing, mixed with determination in her eyes.

"All right," Lily said, backing down. "But write me if you change your mind." She hugged Caroline tightly, and then went back to her packing.

Lily was happy to be back home. Much though she loved Hogwarts, she had missed her parents and the comforts of her home. She, however, had not missed Petunia being nasty to her. Lily had hoped that given the time she had been away, Petunia might have decided to be kind to Lily as she once was, before Lily had received her Hogwarts letter. Unfortunately, Lily's hopes were dashed as soon as she saw her parents.

"Mum, Dad!" Lily ran to hug her parents, who held her tightly.

"Oh, darling, we missed you. The house was so quiet without you!" her mum exclaimed.

"Where's Petunia?"

Mr. and Mrs. Evans exchanged a glance over Lily's head, then Mrs. Evans said delicately, "Uh, Petunia is in the car, dear."

Lily's face fell. So Petunia hadn't decided to let go of Lily's "freakiness".

"Oh, right." Lily scuffed her shoe against the bottom of her trunk. "Well, I guess we ought to bring my luggage to the car at any rate."

When Lily opened her car door, she saw that Petunia was crouched next to her own door, looking at Lily as though she was contaminated with Ebola.

"Hello, Petunia. I missed you," Lily said, hoping against hope that Petunia might manage to say something nice. Or civil. Either one worked.

Her hopes were set too high.

"Hello, Freak. I didn't miss you at all," Petunia spat, though her voice was muffled due to the fact that her hands were cupped around her mouth, as though breathing the same air as Lily might kill her.

"Petunia! Lily is your sister. Be kind to her," her mother cried from the front seat in an appalled voice.

Lily's eyes filled with tears. If anything, Petunia had gotten meaner.

"So, how was your school year?" Her voice came out squeaky and high pitched.

"What happened to your voice?" Petunia sneered, although that she knew quite well that Lily turned squeaky when she was trying not to cry.

Biting her lip, Lily vowed not to let Petunia get to her. Instead, she put on a bright and cheery smile and chirped, "Mine was great, thanks. I learned loads about magic. We had History of Magic, Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. I really love Potions, there's something so satisfying about a simmering cauldron full of-"

"How dare you!" Petunia screeched. "How dare you come back, and act like that's all normal??? You're a freak, and you know it!"

Lily looked at Petunia in some alarm before continuing, "- Forgetfulness Potion. Transfiguration is excellent as well. One of the boys, James Potter, has helped me out a lot. Speaking of which, we formed a study group, so people take turns, tutoring the group in their best subjects. My friend, Caroline, helped everyone pass really well in History of Magic, which is easily our dullest class. It's taught by a ghost professor."

Petunia was paper white with rage. She was trembling so hard that her blonde hair was waving in front of her face. "You- are- so- selfish! Don't talk about your- freakiness- in public! People will find out, and no one will ever talk to me again! People don't associate with the sisters of freaks."

"Petunia, we're in the car, no one can hear-" Lily started, but Petunia would have none of it.

"THEY CAN HEAR, ALL RIGHT? WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP ABOUT YOUR weirdness AND LEAVE ME ALONE?" Petunia sobbed.

"You really are ashamed of me, aren't you?" Lily said softly, reaching out to touch her sister's face.

Shrinking away from her sister's hand, Petunia cried, "Don't touch me!"

Lily pulled away and hid her own tears from her sister.

Mr. Evans finally spoke up from the front. "Petunia, there is nothing abnormal about Lily and her form of education. It's rare, but not abnormal."

Petunia gave a shaking, bitter laugh.

"Really, I had hoped that I raised you to at least keep a civil tongue in your head...." Mrs. Evans gave up when she saw that Petunia was not listening to her in the least.

"Lily, I am so sorry about your sister's behavior," Mr. Evans said. "You deserve a better welcome."

Something in his voice made Lily feel as though she were an outsider, a guest who just witnessed an ugly family argument.

"Well I deserve a better sister," Petunia muttered to herself.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Evans heard. She turned around with the intention of slapping Petunia, her face contorted with rage. Forcibly, she held her hand from striking Petunia. "I have vowed to never lay a hand against my children, but Petunia, you are cutting my vow so close."

Petunia, formerly shaking with anger, was now trembling with fright. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had never let on that they were even thinking of punishing their children by force.

"Petunia, Lily is your only sister. Treat her as such! There is no more to be said on this subject."

The girls had never heard their mother's voice take such a cold and curt tone. Petunia glared at Lily, as though it were her fault that their mother was angry. In her turn, Lily just sank back against her seat and prepared herself for what would prove to be a very tense and long vacation.