Singled Out

Chapter III

Breathless, Lily slipped across the room and sprawled over her stool. Of all the teachers, Professor Tanspere was the only one who insisted in a seating chart. She claimed it helped her promote organization.

"Lily Isabel Evans," Professor Tanspere wrinkled her nose delicately.

"That’s my name, don’t wear it out," Lily muttered under her breath. Professor Tanspere never failed to irritate her.

"Lily, I believe I called your name. I also believe you made a reply. I didn’t hear it. Would you care to repeat it? No? I thought not. In the future, Miss Evans, a simple ‘Present’ will suffice."

Lily nodded, her face impassive.

"Miss Evans," the Professor inquired sharply, her voice dangerously soft.

"Yes, Professor. I understand," Lily had to fight to say the words without inflection, her teeth trying to clench themselves as she spoke.

Tanspere returned her gaze to the list of names, before glancing up briefly. "Miss Evans, if you are late again, I will be forced to go to the Headmaster."

"Yes, Professor."

"So do not be late again."

"Yes, Professor."

"Miss Sawyer."

Across the room from Lily, Danielle smiled weakly. "Yes, Professor?"

"You will be on time next class. I am pleased to note that you do not have as atrocious a record for tardies as your friend, the late Miss Evans."

"Excuse me, Professor?"

"Yes, Miss Evans? You may speak."

"I’m not dead yet."

Professor Tanspere didn’t even blink. "Because you think you are so droll and because you have such an extensive knowledge of the English language, you can spend your evening with me. Perhaps you can impress your knowledge of euphemistic phrases upon me." She turned, indicating that this discussion was finished. Lily received an excellent view of her aristocratic profile, aquiline nose and all.

"Today we will be pruning the Venomous Lethifold Tentacula in Greenhouse Six. Please pick up a pair of dragonhide gloves, goggles, and an apron. When you reach Greenhouse Six, you will find a table with bezoars. Please pick up one per pair. I would like to allow you all to choose your own partners, however, some among you have betrayed my trust, and I must assign you a partner."

Lily, who had glanced at Harold and Danielle, felt her face fall.

"Miss Evans, come up here." As the class filed out of the room, heading for Greenhouse Six, Lily approached the Professor, her heart sinking.

"You can work with Pristina," Professor Tanspere’s face softened as she glanced at Pristina Forrest.

They could have been mother and daughter, both tall and willowy, with pale skin, icy blue eyes and the opinion that everyone else in the world existed for the sole purpose of admiring them. However, while the Professor’s hair was auburn, Pristina’s was golden blond. As Lily tried to force her mouth into a smile, Pristina languidly reached out a slender white hand. As Lily reached to shake it, she found it unpleasantly cold, as if the girl’s blood had frozen.

"Pristina, I look to you to make sure that the work is completed successfully." With a last sharp glance at Lily, Professor Tanspere swept out of the room, her blue and bronze robes gleaming in the morning light. Once again, Lily wondered how that old bat got to be the Head of Ravenclaw. She was a prejudiced bitch who hated Muggle-borns and Dark wizards equally.

Pristina spoke, her voice sounding slightly disgusted, as if she wanted to hold her nose but was too polite to do so. "Just call me Pristina. Although, I’m thinking changing my name to Narcissa. My boyfriend is Lucius Malfoy. He’s a pureblood, and he’s already graduated. Is it true that you’re a Mudblood?" The last sentence was slightly curious. The insult wasn’t particularly venomous. It was too disinterested; the voice of a witch watching a Flobberworm being cut apart and not caring in the slightest about the tiny life as it fled.

Lily prevented herself from slapping Pristina across the face. "Yeah. My parents are Muggles," she replied in as even a tone as she could manage.

"Are you smart?" The question was abrupt.

"I think so," Lily said, surprised into complete truthfulness.

"I am. But, you’re a Mudblood." As she spoke, Pristina was gathering her bag and cloak. Lily followed suit, trailing behind Pristina as she glided towards Greenhouse Six.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

"What year?"

"Fourth."

"Gryffindor," Lily fought an urge to ask if this was the Spanish Inquisition. Pristina would probably smile blankly and continue with the questions.

"Who?"

"Harold Potter."

"He’s not a Mudblood!" Pristina sounded astonished, but she continued swiftly, "but, he’s the one who should have been in Hufflepuff, right?"

Lily smiled tightly.

"I think his brother is more handsome. And smarter. And he plays Quidditch."

Lily felt like screaming "He’s mine" at Narcissa for even looking at James. But on what grounds? It wasn’t as if James was her boyfriend. And they would complement each other perfectly. But still, she didn’t want that to happen. It was just that as horrible as he was, even he deserved someone better than this slut. Someone like you, right? asked a part of her mind.

Meanwhile, Narcissa continued talking. "Do you play? I do. I’m the best Chaser Ravenclaw has had in years."

Lily felt it was time for her to ask some questions. "Are you part-Veela?"

"No. I’m human, not one of those blonde whores."

Right, and you’re not a blonde whore. Lily suppressed the urge to point that out.

"They’re disgusting; turning into a bird. They’re not human. They should all be executed."

"Did you want to be in Ravenclaw?"

"No. I wanted to be a Slytherin. But my parents were awfully happy about my being in Ravenclaw," Pristina pouted.

Lily was amazed by how slowly Pristina walked. She could have covered the short distance in one-tenth the time it took the leggy blonde, with her swaying and gliding walk.

As they neared the door, a voice sounded from the air above their heads. It was Dumbledore, the Head of Gryffindor and the Deputy Headmaster. "All students must return to their dorms. You Head of House will be there soon to speaker to you." The message was repeated two more times.

Pristina continued her undulating, hip-swinging saunter. Seduction was that slut’s middle name. Lily hurried towards the castle, glad for any excuse to depart from Pristina’s presence. As she tripped up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, she couldn’t help but feel angry. She was sure that even if You-Know-Who himself had come swooping down upon her, she would have thanked him for saving her from Pristina. What a bitch! She was even worst that Tanspere. At least Tanspere hated Dark Wizardry. Pristina sounded like she admired it. Idly, Lily wondered if Pristina used any spells to make herself look so good. Maybe that’s what she could use to capture his attention…she reined her thoughts in sharply. She didn’t need to capture Harold’s attention; she had it. And who else would she want to capture the attention of? As she murmured the word "Godric" to the Fat Lady, she walked into the answer she didn’t want.

* * * * *

James was torn between amusement and embarrassment about Sirius’ prank. He had snatched back his wand and changed his pajamas back to their usual navy blue, but he was sure he would never forget the gloating, unbearably smug look on Snape’s face.

"Bloody stupid git," he murmured. Sirius glanced at him, still grinning openly, his changeable eyes now a pale blue with merriment.

As Professor Wang continued speaking, James tuned him out. Herbology wasn’t particularly hard, and he didn’t see any reason to concentrate. Of course, Professor Wang was brilliant, but noone could make Herbology difficult enough to warrant listening in class.

Disturbingly, his thoughts insisted on returning to Lily. He wondered what her schedule was. He was sure he didn’t have any classes with her, but maybe he could walk her to class once in a while. After all, she was his brother’s girlfriend. He should be friends with her. That was the only reason he cared.

I’m really bad at lying, even to myself, he thought wryly.

He knew he could find out her schedule with very little difficulty. It was one of the privileges of being a Prefect. As he thought about it further, he realized he had never seen at breakfast. Maybe she didn’t eat in the mornings. A lot of the girls did that. He’d never even seen her in the Common Room, as far as he could recall. But then, it was so crowded that even Hagrid would be hard to see. Besides, he and Sirius was usually surrounded by people. Still, maybe she stayed in her room. As he thought about it further, he decided that he should spend less time in the common room. Instead, he should go to the lake and relax. It would be good for him.

Unbidden, images rose in his mind of his brother and Lily walking around the lake together. He could see them clearly, in his mind’s eye, snogging on the shore. He felt himself wishing that the giant squid would rise up and drag Harold into the lake, then he was horrified at the thought. He was James Potter! He was never jealous of anyone; he had nothing to be jealous of. And if he ever was jealous of someone it wouldn’t be Harold. Harold was the moon, shining with reflected glory from him, the sun, but without any glow of his own.

Harold the little baby.

Harold the not-quite-bright-enough.

Harold the Quidditch-hater.

Harold, who, it was widely believed, should have been in Hufflepuff. It wasn’t that he was dumb…he was just too nice. He was just, loyal, a hard worker, the archetype of Hufflepuff. Whereas James was the smart one, witty, brilliant without effort, carelessly popular, athletic, slightly selfish, with a reputation for hating girls.

Harold was the one who held open doors. James was the one who put Locking Charms on them, laughing at the expressions of people’s faces as they tried to open it and couldn’t.

Harold was shy, but very kind to everyone. Impartially good.

And people liked James. He was charismatic. His sarcastic remarks were thrown out at random. There was rarely concentrated malice in his words. Anyone was fair game; he knew how to laugh at himself. While Harold wasn’t good at jokes. He was too earnest.

James, who, when real trouble did hit, would be there, helping out. While Harold helped, because it was in his nature, but noone was surprised, and noone ever noticed.

James, who could laugh off anything. Harold, to whom every blow hit with ten times the force intended, because he felt things so keenly.

Harold who had the girl James wanted; wanted so bad.

* * * * *

"Oomph," Lily gasped.

"Oh, sorry," two hands grasped her shoulders, steadying her. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah. Fine. Just great. Thanks." Lily was aware of the fact she was babbling; how dare he have this effect on her! Fuming inside, she tried to look as calm as she could. "Where were you going in such a hurry?"

"Um, Dumbledore called a Prefect’s Meeting. I’m supposed to be there in five minutes. Do you want to come?"

"I’m not a Prefect," Lily pointed out, wondering if this would be part of a huge joke where he would completely humiliate her.

"Well," James drew out the word. "There is a way." He looked at the dubious expression on her face and added, "really, it’s true. And from what I’ve heard, you’re practically guaranteed to be a Prefect." He noted, with satisfaction, that she blushed slightly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. So, how about coming for a little visit. You can see what it’s all about. It can’t hurt, right?"

"I guess," Lily replied, still sounding unsure. "But, how can you be certain that noone will see me?"

He smiled. "Wait here a sec. I’ll be right back."

Lily waited in the empty Common Room, half-expecting a bucket of water to fall on her as she stood there. Finally, James jogged back down the stairs, his robes flowing out behind him.

"Here," he thrust a blue bag at her.

She looked at it.

"Open it, already. We’ll be late if you don’t hurry."

She opened it, pulling out a long, silvery fabric. It was as smooth as silk. Lily touched it to her cheek, gasping at the feel of the cloth.

"Girls," James rolled his eyes. "Give ‘em an Invisibility Cloak, and they inspect the material. Go figure."

"An Invisibility Cloak?" Lily’s eyes widened. "I’ve heard of these at Diagon Alley, but they cost a fortune. And they’re really hard to get. They’re rarely in stock."

"They’re really hard to make." James shrugged. "Well, go on. Put it on."

Biting her lip, Lily slid the cool grey fabric around her shoulders, fastening it in the front, and drawing up the hood to cover her entirely. "You know, this could easily cover two people. Would you mind if I brought someone else?" She slid back the hood so that her face and the top of her head were visible.

"We’re in a rush," James looked displeased.

"Please," Lily was desperate to have Harold with her. The idea of being alone with James for any stretch of time was nerve-wracking. She needed Harold. Harold was safe.

"Who? It has to be someone I trust," James had an unpleasant feeling he knew who she would ask for.

"Oh, its someone you can trust," she looked relieved. "It’s your brother, Harold."

"I see." There was a brief pause. "Fine. He can come."

Slipping off the Cloak and tossing it over one shoulder, Lily reached into a pocket she had sewn into her robes.

"Calling Auror Godric. Auror Rowena here," blushing hotly, Lily spoke into a simple blue stone.

"Auror Rowena? Auror Godric here. Please prove your identity," the voice on the other end sounded startled.

"The Phoenix of Virtue. Child of the flame’s purity, stranger to vice. Auror Godric? Please prove your identity," Lily was trying to edge away from James, but found there was nowhere to edge to.

"The Griffin of Light. Child of the Golden Lion and the Bronze Eagle."

"Identity verified, Agent Godric."

"Identity verified, Agent Rowena."

"Come to the Truth."

"The fire will burn."

"And the dark will never quench its blazing."

Lily slipped the stone back into the pocket, her cheeks flaming. "It was a game we started in First Year," she said defensively. "We’d pretend to be agents against You-Know-Who. You know, Aurors or Unspeakables. And it is an effective way to communicate."

James nodded gravely. "Right."

"You’re being sarcastic!"

James kept a perfectly straight face. Well, it’s very interesting."

Lily’s face broke into an unwilling grin. "I guess it is really melodramatic, right?"

"Oh, I don’t know. I liked the part about the Griffin of Light. It sounded very meaningful. Although the stuff about children worried me. I couldn’t help what purity was doing lately."

Lily stared at him for a moment, then her mouth opened and closed. James found himself wondering what it would be like to kiss those lips, running his tongue on the insides. Would they be as soft as they looked? He looked away, praying that he’d hear the sound of Harold’s footsteps.

Meanwhile, Lily was still trying to find something to say. "You pervert! I swear, you’re as bad as Peeves," she punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"Why, thank you," James grinned, comfortable with the light banter. Suddenly, there was the patter of feet coming down the staircase. Harold hurried over to the pair as another set of footsteps approached from the right.

"Hey, Elizabeth! What’re you doing?"

The third year smiled. "Walking in a hallway, amazingly enough."

Lily turned to James. "This is Elizabeth T. Sawyer. She’s a thirdie Ravenclaw. Her sister’s a fourth year Gryffindor, Danielle, you might know her?"

"No, sorry." He smiled lightly and put out his hand. "But I’m charmed to meet you, Elizabeth. What does the T stand for?"

Elizabeth shook his hand, looking slightly overawed. "Um, I’d rather not say," she replied, her cheeks flushed.

"Well, I must be off." He winked at Elizabeth. "See you around."

He strolled away.

"He oozes charm, doesn’t he?" Elizabeth watched him go.

"Yeah, in the same way as Pristina Forrest."

"Oh, ew, I know her."

"Elle a du chien," Harold said thoughtfully.

"Which means?" Lily looked confused.

"It’s a phrase that means a woman has a lot of charm without necessarily being pretty."

"Oh, Pristina’s pretty. Except now she’s thinking of calling herself Narcissa."

"Makes sense. Self-absorbed bitch," Elizabeth frowned.

Lily was surprised; Elizabeth normally didn’t use such strong language. "What’d she do to you?"

"She got the Quidditch position I wanted. It’s so stupid! The only reason it happened was that she has the captain wrapped around her little finger. I mean, I’m every bit as good at her, better, probably, since I’m not afraid of breaking a nail while playing."

"Who’s the captain?"

Oh, I can’t even remember his name. It’s just that whenever she’s around guys, they take her side on everything. All she has to do is smile, and they queue up to let her throw the Quaffle in the goal. It’s so disgusting!"

Lily glanced at Harold. "Do you know her?"

"No. And doesn’t sound like I’d want to."

Lily hated herself for the hypocrisy of suspecting Harold of liking Pristina when she couldn’t be in a room with James without thinking about how hot he was.

"Well, gotta go," Elizabeth waved cheerily.

When she was out of hearing range, Harold spoke. "So, why’d you call me here?"

"Here," Lily pulled the Invisibility Cloak out of the blue bag, where she’d folded and stuffed it while waiting for Harold.

"Wow, an Invisibility Cloak! These take a long time to make. You need Demiguise hairs, and you have to weave it by night and…" Harold trailed off. "Well, they’re really cool, at any rate."

Lily laughed. "Spare me the lesson, Professor Potter."

"So, what’re you going to do with it? And where’d you get it? You realize we have the entire school in our reach with this Cloak."

"Well, I’m aiming for something a little less ambitious than the whole school. Dumbledore and Curtis can have that. We’re going to the Prefect’s meeting."

"OK. You know, we could get into a lot of trouble if we get caught."

"Well then, we just have to make sure we don’t get caught."

"True," Harold agreed. "So, how are we getting there?"

Oh, James is getting us in."

"My brother?"

"Yeah."

"I should have guessed. This wouldn’t be his Invisibility Cloak, would it?"

"Erm, yeah. Should it not be?"

"Our parents wouldn’t get him one, but I figured he’d find a way. So, what’re we waiting for?"

"Let’s go."

Shoulders touching, they made their way down the hall under the Invisibility Cloak, with only their faces uncovered. The Cloak was so big, Lily wondered if she should have asked Danielle to come along too.

As they rounded the corner, James was waiting.

"Finally. You know, we’re going to be a bit late, so I’m not sure you’ll have a seat."

"We can stand," that was Harold.

"Good. Well, cover your faces. I’d hate to have someone see a pair of floating faces, although they’re enough weird things in Hogwarts for that to not surprise them. Still, its bad form."

"Right." Lily pulled the cloak’s hood down past her forehead, her nose, her chin, and she was covered.

"OK, now walk this way."

For a moment, Lily had to fight a desire to imitate his walk, but it passed.

He led the way down a number of halls Lily didn’t know about, until finally they reached a large closed door. James muttered a word Lily couldn’t hear, though she strained her ears, and the doorway opened. She wondered if the doorway would automatically close after him, or if the spell told it to remain open until ordered to close.

Hoping she wouldn’t be sliced in half by some spell against intruders, Lily walked through the doorway, with Harold by her side. It was easily wide enough to fit up to four people abreast. Then, they were in a room, and what a room it was. Beautiful windows let light stream in. Only, no light ever looked like this. She glanced in front of her and saw a long mirror. At the bottom of the mirror were flames.

"C’mon," James beckoned in their general direction. "We walk through the mirror to get to the room. Just like at Platform 9 ¾."

"OK." Uneasily watching the flames, she put out her foot, and felt the heat.

"Ouch," there was a muffled exclamation from her side.

"Sorry, I forgot. You aren’t authorized to enter. Here, hold on to my hand."

He reached out, and she walked up to him. His palm was cool and dry, and his fingers interlaced with her, gripping tightly, encompassing her smaller hand. Crazily, she thought of how she and Harold hadn’t even gotten this far in their relationship. All they did was talk and walk with their shoulders occasionally bumping.

"Now, hold on to Harold."

She obeyed. As she glanced at the mirror, she realized her reflection was gone. "Now it recognizes the Invisibility Cloak, and doesn’t overlook it as being less important than your intrusion. So, let’s get in there." Together, they stepped through the mirror, over the flames, and into a large room with a large table in the middle.

As Lily and Harold made their way to a corner, fervently hoping that they wouldn’t make any unexplainable noises, Lily noted, with some nervousness, that the eyes of the Head Boy and Head Girl were following them despite their invisibility.

"Mr. Potter," Dumbledore smiled. "Good of you to join us."

At Dumbledore’s side was a man with a wooden leg. "This is Alastor Moody, the Auror."

"Good to meet the Aurors of tomorrow," Moody growled.

"Pleased to meet you, sir." James looked surprised, and Lily deduced that it wasn’t normal for anyone other than the Prefects and Headmaster to attend these meetings.

Dumbledore looked at the table gravely as James slid into one of the benches, across from a Slytherin Prefect.

"I have called you here to make an announcement that is even now being made to each of the Houses by the Heads. Gryffindor," here Dumbledore nodded to James and Ari Figg, the Prefects for Gryffindor, before continuing "has a new Head of House. It is Professor McGonagall."

"But," Ari began, looking startled.

Dumbledore held up a hand, and she was silent.

"I am now the only Headmaster. This is a temporary arrangement, and may be ended when the Board meets to elect a new Headmaster. However, my colleague, and co-Headmaster Professor Curtis has been murdered by Voldemort. He was on a mission," Dunbledore surveyed the room gravely. "And his body was just recovered."

Next to Dumbledore, Moody gave a decisive nod, and his gaze swept the room as well.

Lily groped for Harold’s hand as the images crept through her mind, a roiling, seething mass of fear and anger and sorrow. This wasn’t supposed to happen! It was something that happened in History of Magic, not here, not in her life. She tightened her grip, tears pricking her eyes as she thought of Professor Curtis, old and kindly.

The Prefects were silent, each watching the others, eyes wide. The Ravenclaw prefects looked at the Hufflepuffs, who glanced at the Gryffindors, who intently watched the Slytherin prefects, Severus Snape and another girl, named Alexandra, or something like that. They alone were cool and composed.

Dumbledore looked at each face, his piercing blue-eyed gaze studying each in turn, and Lily could have sworn that, for a moment, he looked at her. He rose, slowly, as if there was a heavy weight pressing him to the ground.

"I aim to make Hogwarts safe. It is in times like this that education and friendship are more important than ever before. As this war, which has been brewing for years, progresses, you will all be called upon to make sacrifices, and I pray that all your learning will serve you well in that time. I speak not of the lessons you learn in class, but what you know about life. For those are the teachings that will keep you strong in the time to come, and I hope they will not fail you. Prefects, you are dismissed. I would appreciate it if the Head Boy and Girl would remain."

Quietly, the Prefects exited. The female Ravenclaw prefect, Naomi Graber, walked with her head down. Lily vaguely remembered being told that Professor Curtis was Naomi’s great-uncle.

They walked through the hallway in the same hushed silence, that beat at Lily’s ears with words unsaid, questions unasked. It hung over their passage, ominous, hinting at more darkness to come. As much as she wished it otherwise, Lily was afraid this was only the beginning.