History Lessons

Chapter Five

Lily slept until eleven that Saturday morning, and when she finally awoke she didn't get up for a full twenty minutes. She curled under her sheets, feeling, for the first time since summer, fully rested and content.

When she finally made her way down the stairs to the common room, the place was mostly empty; only first and second years were present, glorying in the use of the best armchairs by the fire. Lily stared around her for a moment before smacking herself on the forehead. Hogsmeade!

She dashed back upstairs for some pocket change. Now wide awake, she noticed a note on the floor next to her bed --

Lily-

I'm off to the village with Jordan, meet us there! Jordan told me not to wake you up; you've been training so hard lately that you deserve a lie-in. Don't know where we'll be, but you can guarantee we'll visit Honeydukes and your uncle's shop, so I'd try those two. We'll wait for you before we go to the Three Broomsticks, but try not to be too late!!

Love, Jocasta

Lily scowled. They can't have left more than an hour ago and she wouldn't have missed that much sleep. Cursing Jordan, she rushed back down the stairs and out the portrait hole. She ran down the corridor, nearly tore down the tapestry in her hurry to pull it open, and ran smack into a tall, pale figure.

"Shit!" Lily took a step back and glared up at Malfoy.

"Language, Potter."

"English," she spat back before pushing past him and continuing down the passageway at a jog. When she reached the end and stepped into a corridor she slipped on newly washed stone, fell right on her bum, and burst out laughing. "English?"

Malfoy stepped out of the passageway and stood watching her with his hands in his pockets. Lily was red in the face by now and attempting to repress her laughter. When she saw Malfoy in front of her, however, she burst into giggles again.

"What're you doing in the corridor?" The school caretaker, Harkiss, stood glowering at Lily and Malfoy.

"Just on our way to Hogsmeade, sir," said Malfoy smoothly.

"Well, on your way, then!" said Harkiss. "I'm working here."

Lily nodded, her laughter finally subsided, and stood shakily. Malfoy took her elbow and led her toward the stairs.

"Thanks, I can help myself," she said, pulling away from him.

"English?"

"Shut it." She smiled at the memory. English. What was she thinking?

They continued in silence to the entrance hall and across the grounds.

"What's your Quidditch team?"

Lily was startled. "What?"

"Your Quidditch team, Potter. I imagine you have one."

"The Cannons."

"Dear God."

"What?"

"The Cannons are six months from being kicked out of the league, they're so pathetic."

"No, they aren't! They've just signed Capper and she was one of the top prospects."

"Capper isn't as good as her reputation. She's alright with a Quaffle but an overall weak flier."

"She's not weak, she just doesn't have a quality broomstick."

"A chaser isn't only as good as their broom," Malfoy said loftily.

"You're one to talk. Don't you get the newest model the moment it comes out?"

Malfoy sneered. "I'm glad you've been paying such close attention. I've actually missed the last two models; my Flameshot is holding up quite nicely, and it's a 2021 model."

"Wow, all of three years old."

"And what do you fly?"

"The Nimbus 2020. It's my brother's old one."

Malfoy let out a derisive snort. "A hand-me-down? How touching."

"I don't need an international standard to be good, thanks."

"Of course not, you're a keeper. You've got to depend on sturdiness rather than quickness."

Lily opened her mouth to retaliate but suddenly realized that he was totally correct. "Right," she mumbled. They walked in silence for another minute.

"And since you asked so politely, I'll tell you my Quidditch team," Malfoy began. "The Tidworth Trickery."

"That's the newest team in the league," said Lily.

"And they're about to bump the Cannons out."

"They haven't taken out a team since 1814," argued Lily.

"Banchory Bangers, because they were so appallingly awful."

"It was for reckless play!" Lily replied heatedly.

They had by now reached Hogsmeade's High Street. Lily had, by this point, stopped trying to figure out what was happening. Yes, she was conversing with Malfoy about Quidditch. So? It wasn't doing any harm, really. It was actually quite amusing, especially when she threw some Tidworth Trickery statistics at him that he obviously hadn't expected.

"They're doing all right now, but if you really look at their record they're shaping up to be the Wimbourne Wasps," Lily said.

"How so?"

"Well, their first couple years were brilliant but they're heading into a recession now."

"They are not." Malfoy's mouth had become a thin line.

"Are so. They've just traded Merrythought to Puddlemere, you know, and that's going to cost them more than they realize."

"But they've got Davies coming up from reserves, and he's got an average of seventeen goals a game."

"Davies?" Lily was surprised. "I thought he was with Appleby..."

"Maybe Trickery does know what they're doing, after all," said Malfoy.

Lily was silent and opted to look around at the street rather than face Malfoy's smirk. The road was littered with Hogwarts students, sitting on benches, meandering the cobblestone street, going in and out of shops...

The stores were becoming less plentiful as they continued higher and higher up the street. A neon-purple sign ahead, one of the last shops before the residential district began, caught Lily's eye and she immediately remembered her Uncle George. She started walking quicker and Malfoy too elongated his strides to keep up.

"What's your hurry?"

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," she answered, point up ahead. "My uncle's shop."

"Ah," he said, and she thought she saw, out of the corner of her eye, a smile pass over his lips. When she looked back his expression was blank.

"The best joke shop in Europe, you know," she added, testing him.

He merely shrugged in response and Lily grinned. Scorpius Malfoy had definitely been a pleased customer at a shop named after a Weasley.

Lily turned into the door when they reached it and was met by a huge interior packed with students. There were five cashiers at work and two more employees working the floor, introducing the newest products and restocking the more popular shelves. An entire shelving unit was devoted to the Skiving Snackboxes, now coming in almost twenty different varieties. There were Daydream Charms and Love Potions, but also Headless Hats and Peg-Leg Boots. Even Malfoy, when he thought she wasn't looking, was surveying the store with a look similar to wonder on his pale face.

"Lily!" Someone suddenly picked her up off her feet and twirled her around in a hug. "Good to see you!"

Lily squealed, recognizing the voice. "Thanks, Uncle George," she said when she was back on the ground. "Business looks great, eh?"

"Yeah, definitely!" said George. "First Hogsmeade visit of the year...these kids have gone all summer without us so they've got to stock up again!" He grinned. "Look at you, all grown up and sixteen..."

Lily laughed. "I look just the same as I did this summer," she said.

"How'd you like the Quibbler?" he asked anxiously.

"It was wonderful," she said. "Just as outrageous as ever, I suppose."

"But not too much so?" he said. "I've got Alicia in charge of it and she's doing a right good job, but I don't want it to turn into a spoof paper, you know?"

"It's definitely good," she affirmed. "How'd you get into it?"

"Its previous owner died," he said. "Terrible...but we were asked to take over, they thought we'd do a good job of maintaining its reputation, so..."

"Well, I think it's brilliant," she said, and George beamed.

"I'll tell Alicia; she's at the Burrow today, she'd have loved to come over but she's meeting with some assistant editors...Well, I'll let you have a looksie round, all right?"

"Thanks," she said, and he clapped a hand on her shoulder before moving over to a Canary Cream and Peacock Pastry display.

Lily turned and saw Malfoy standing with his back to her, fascinated by a roll of parchment that insulted anyone who wrote on it. She grinned and walked to his side. "Good, eh?"

He jumped and Lily giggled. He quickly dropped the parchment. "Cheap magic."

"Only six sickles," she said teasingly, picking the parchment up and dangling it in front of her.

"And since when have I worried about money?" he snapped.

Lily dropped the parchment and it fluttered back to its display table. "You don't have to be such a snob, Malfoy," she said coolly.

"I'm not being a snob, I'm being dignified," he retorted. Lily snorted and he rolled his eyes.

"Lily!" A voice called out from being a clump of third years, and George Weasley pushed his way through, grabbed his niece's arm, and pulled her back away from Malfoy, panting. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry?"

"D'you know who that is?"

"Who, Malfoy?"

"Malfoy!"

"So what?" she said impatiently. This was starting to get old.

"Lily, I don't want to you hanging round him," he said. "It's not safe."

"Why not?" It was understandable for Jordan and Clement to distrust him, because of Quidditch, but Uncle George?

"Do you know what his father is?"

Lily's anger dropped immediately. "Uncle George, I really -- I mean, he's...he's just not..."

"How do you know?" George said fiercely. "I don't trust any Malfoy, Lily, and it's done me good."

Lily suddenly noticed that his wand was in his hand. She drew a deep breath and sighed. "You're right...I won't talk with Malfoy again."

"Thank you," said George. "Your dad would approve, too, I'm sure."

Lily wasn't so sure -- her father seemed to believe in forgiveness to a remarkable extent -- but she nodded and smiled. George gave her a quick hug and stood back, watching her turn away.

Malfoy was still looking at the parchment, though he wasn't moving, and Lily was sure he'd been listening in. She shook her head slightly and left the store.

Stopping outside the door she suddenly wondered where Jordan and Jocasta had got to. Honeydukes? Perhaps...but did she really want to see them?

In all honesty, Lily wanted to know what Malfoy was doing.

So she took a seat on a bench not too much farther along the street and twiddled her thumbs, making use of her peripheral vision to watch as students left Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and turned to go back toward town. Malfoy came through only a minute later and she immediately stood.

He caught her eye and walked over to her. "Waiting for me?"

"No," she said defiantly. "My uncle was angry...I wanted to make sure he didn't give you trouble."

"No problem," he said. "Occupational hazard of being the son of a Death Eater, right?"

She flinched at these words. "I'm sorry --"

"No, that's fine," he said, though his words were tainted with bitterness. "So, you're forbidden from talking to me now, right?"

"Not exactly," she said. "Yeah, Uncle George said, but he's my uncle, he can't boss me around --"

"But he'll tell your father," Malfoy said dully. "And the famous Harry Potter won't want his little girl to be seen consorting with the likes of Draco Malfoy's son --"

"Stop it," said Lily firmly.

"Stop what?" he spat. "You know it's true."

"Stop getting in a tizzy over one little comment," she shot back.

"One comment?" Malfoy said incredulously. "Do you know, Potter, how many of these comments I've heard?"

"Everyone is associated with their dads when their dad's are well-known!" Lily said. "D'you know, Malfoy, how many times I've heard 'Playing the hero, Potter' or -- or 'Have you got a scar too? Are those hereditary?' It happens! It's just that what your dad did earned you more than a few teasing remarks."

"It's rubbish, though!" Malfoy said, clearly frustrated. "I haven't done anything to your uncle!"

"He's got bad memories of the war," said Lily. "His twin brother was killed, Malfoy, he's got an aversion to anything remotely connected to Dark Magic, and your dad..."

"My dad didn't kill anyone!"

"How do you know?" she snapped back.

Malfoy stared at her, open-mouthed. Lily blinked and looked down. She hadn't meant to say that.

"I am not my father," he said evenly.

"Prove it," she replied softly, finally meeting his eyes. He looked like he was about to respond, but didn't know what to say; Lily had never seen him so confused. She dropped the gaze. "Erm, I've got to meet my friends..."

He nodded, his expression not just blank but hollow and lost. Lily smiled meekly and as she turned around to go back to Honeydukes, Malfoy grabbed her hand. "I'm trying," he hissed. Her mouth fell open a little, his face a little too close to her own.

"Right," she said, at an utter loss as to what else to say, and she quickly pulled away and continued down High Street at a brisk walk.

What did Malfoy want from her?

She found Jocasta and Jordan at the Three Broomsticks. She bought herself a butterbeer and joined their table, which they were sharing with -- Lily grinned -- The Golden Four of Ravenclaw. Jocasta sat next to Sterling Summers on the circular table with a seat next to her reserved for Lily, which she slid into without anyone noticing.

Jordan, Leander, and Devon were involved in a discussion of Chasing tactics, although they were unwilling to refer to specific moves for fear of giving their opponents an advantage on what to expect at the next Gryffindor-Ravenclaw game. Jocasta was staring at Bennet Corner as he attempted to chug his mug of butterbeer.

"Nice to see you, too," said Lily finally as Bennet slammed the mug onto the table with a heavy thunk and a disoriented look on his face.

"Lily!" Jocasta finally tore her eyes from Bennet. "When'd you get here?"

"Just a minute ago," said Lily. "You two are hard to find."

"You wouldn't believe how bored I've been," she said desperately. "Jordan's been talking Quidditch for forever. I tried being interested, Lily, I really did, but he's taking away the only two boys really worth talking to!" She'd lowered her voice and turned away from the Ravenclaws. "Did you know that Summers was such a snob?"

"Yes," said Lily immediately. "And have you finally realized that Corner's got dung for brains?"

"Yes!" Jocasta said, as if it was the first time she'd ever heard it. "That's it exactly!"

"And Leander's an arsehole?"

"A little bit, yes," she admitted.

"And Hopkins?"

Jocasta frowned. "He's not bad," she mused. "He's just been talking Quidditch this whole time."

"Petty follower," Lily said, taking a sip of her butterbeer.

"And where've you been?"

"Visiting Uncle George," Lily answered without missing a beat. It was the truth, right? Besides, she really didn't want any more reprimands for talking with a Malfoy. She was sick of it.

"Oh, how is he?"

"Potter!"

Lily turned to the boy next to her. "Yes?"

"Imagine the situation," Devon Hopkins said. "You're keeping goal, right, and a Chaser's speeding towards you with the Quaffle. They look like their aiming for the center hoop. What do you do?"

"I stay where I am," said Lily, nonplussed. "In front of the center hoop."

"But," Devon continued. "But what if he's aiming towards the right hoop? Do you leave the center hoop or stay?"

"You're just looking for inside information!" Jordan said from behind Devon. "Don't tell him, Lily!"

Lily smirked. "It depends," she told Devon. "If it's Jordan, I'll stay where I am, because there's no telling what he'll do next. But with someone that plays Quidditch as mindlessly and predictably as you do, Hopkins, I'll drift right."

"HA!" Jordan punched the air.

Devon shook his head, grinning. "That was good," he said to Lily. "So first match of the season against Slytherin -- you reckon you can handle their Chasers?"

Against her will, an image of Malfoy came to Lily. She shook it off. "Absolutely."

"I'm still trying to decide who to root for," said Devon.

"You're joking!"

"You bastard!"

Devon shrank back in his seat, realizing that he was surrounded by Gryffindors. "Hey! My brother's a snake, all right?"

"Really?" Lily was shocked. She could not think of a single Slytherin who had siblings in other houses. It was quite rare.

"Yeah, third year. He's a reserve on their team, Chaser, so he's all excited."

"Is he really a Slytherin?" asked Jordan.

"What kind of question is that? I just told you!"

"What he meant to ask," interpreted Lily, "is whether he's a total slimy snot who surrounds himself with only the richest friends and those with the purest of blood."

"Oh," said Devon, startled. "No, he and his mates are all right. Wow...you Gryffindors do hold those prejudices faithfully, don't you?"

"Yeah," said Leander, "and they're all little snots about it, too."

"Bugger off," said Jordan casually.

"The hat should write that into next year's Sorting song," Leander continued. "Gryffindors think they're the best/They're so cool and fuck the rest."

Summers and Corner heard this and snorted in laughter.

"They kill Death Eaters just for fun/You're name's Lestrange, you'd better run!" Leander finished. Again Summers and Corner laughed, Leander joining in loudly. "I'd have said Malfoy," he added, "but it'd didn't fit the rhythm--"

Lily stood up suddenly. She didn't have to sit here and listen to this. They had no idea...they didn't understand what the Lestranges were capable of, and they didn't care that the Malfoy line was still alive and in their own school...they didn't understand the reputations they crushed, they didn't care about the feelings they hurt...they were nothing but brainless bullies.

"Hey, calm down, Lily," Devon said, pulling her sleeve.

"Do you know how many people the Lestranges killed?" Lily said, her voice shaking. "Or how damaged the reputation of Scorpius Malfoy is, just because people like you put the crimes his father committed onto the son?"

"Potter, you're overreacting," said Leander. "Come on -- you're Harry Potter's kid, you've got to hate those stinking Malfoys as much as the next --" And he let out a scream.

Lily became aware very suddenly that her wand was drawn. She also realized that Leander was screaming because his face was covered with giant flying bogies.

"Cor," breathed Jordan in awe, leaning away from Leander.

Lily turned on her heel, leaving her half-drunk butterbeer on the table. She finally stopped at the nearest bench along High Street, falling onto it with a sigh. Temper, temper, said a small voice inside her head.

But this was just what she and Malfoy had been talking about! Effing fathers!

"Lily!" Devon collapsed on the bench next to her and grabbed her hand. "Is there a counter-curse for that hex?"

Lily glared.

"I mean, one that anyone around here would know?" he continued. "It's just...I've left my camera in my dormitory, and I'd love to go back and get it, but I don't want him fixed before I get back!"

Lily finally smiled a little. "Go for it. That jinx is a family secret, passed from mother to daughter; no one else would know it."

They sat in silence for another moment.

"Listen, Lily, you've got to put him right," said Devon quietly. "He's a right prat, I know, but he can't be spewing bogies forever."

"I dunno about that," mumbled Lily. "I was very angry." What was this? Wasn't Hopkins supposed to be the petty follower? Well, he did follow her outside, but he was trying to get her to follow him. Lily was confused. She was even more confused when she felt his thumb move over the back of her hand; he hadn't let go.

No wait; this wasn't confusing. Confusing was Scorpius Malfoy. Devon Hopkins fancied her. She suddenly recalled that he hadn't laughed at Leander's song.

She then thought of Jocasta's smug expression if Lily dated one of the Golden Four and was on the verge of withdrawing her hand when she caught sight of Malfoy walking down the road, Sylvester Vaisley at his side. Lily watched him quietly, hoping to catch his eye, but he didn't look up. As she watched he stopped outside a book shop, shaking Vaisley off as he disappeared inside.

"Lily," Devon began.

"I'll go put Goldstein right, shall I?"

"You don't have to," he said desperately, and Lily laughed, withdrawing her hand. She left the bench and went back inside, followed quickly by Devon. Petty follower, she repeated to herself.

A crowd of Hogwarts students now surrounded their table. Some were trying counter-curses on Leander, others cheering or jeering, and one boy actually had a camera on him. Lily elbowed her way through the pack and performed the counter-curse. Leander's face was suddenly clear again and he fell onto the table, breathing heavily, his eyes still popping. A groan went through the crowd, and a seventh-year Hufflepuff looked down at her crossly. "Hey Red, I was enjoying that."

Lily didn't bother with a response. She reached out and took Jocasta's arm. "Let's go."

Jocasta nodded and stood hurriedly, pulling Jordan out of his chair as she went. They managed to get out of the pub and into the fresh air of High Street in no time. Jordan was grinning broadly, his arm around Lily as they walked down the street.

"Brilliant," he kept saying. "Brilliant."

Jocasta walked on Lily's other side but seemed intent on observing the surrounding shops rather than Jordan and Lily.

"And you didn't even get to see the others' reactions," Jordan continued. "Summers just shot out of his chair like Goldstein had dragon pox or something, it was amazing. And Corner just stared for a moment, then looked at Jocasta and said, 'Do the counter-curse,' like she was a house elf or something. How did he even end up in Ravenclaw?"

"Luck," said Lily.

"I guess," said Jordan. "And Hopkins cleared out; I suppose he went to find you?"

"Yeah."

"And...?"

Lily pulled away immediately. "Briscoe Jordan..." she said warningly.

"What? I didn't do anything!"

Lily's eyes narrowed and Jocasta's curiosity peaked. "What happened?" she hissed in Lily's ear.

"I don't know," she replied and returned her glare to Jordan. "Why don't we ask Briscoe?"

"Shut up, Lily!" Jordan moaned, pulling on his dark hair.

"What did you tell him? Come on, it won't do any harm."

Jordan sighed and checked behind him. "Well...you know he fancies you."

"What?" shrieked Jocasta. "Since when?"

"I dunno," said Jordan, "but he's been nagging me all week to ask you about it, so I finally said that I had and that you'd said you fancied him as well --"

"BRISCOE!"

"Shit!" Jordan ducked, as though Lily had sent another Bat-Bogey Hex in his direction.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Lily demanded.

"Well, I figured you might --"

"Do you?" Jocasta asked eagerly.

"I do not!" Lily exclaimed. "Have you listened to anything I've said concerning the Golden Four?"

"The Golden what?" said Jordan, curious.

"Nothing!" Jocasta glowed crimson. "So...who do you fancy, Lily?"

"No one," she replied carelessly.

"That's not true," Jocasta said quickly. "You've got to like someone."

Lily did not want to talk about this. "How about you, eh? Who does Jocasta fancy?"

Jocasta's cheeks colored again as she glared at her friend, and Lily laughed tactlessly. She knew it! Jordan, meanwhile, walked along totally clueless, so Lily struck up a new conversation as to what sweets they'd bought at Honeydukes. They slowly walked back up to the iron gates of Hogwarts, already exhausted from the eventful day, and though Lily had tried to convince herself that she wasn't purposefully looking, she caught sight of Vaisley, Portia Flint, and other Slytherins in a totally Malfoy-less huddle, and wondered where he had gotten to.