Half-Blood Princess Book Seven

Chapter 10 - Sacrifice

Third-Person POV

16th September 1997

A week into this torture, and that's precisely what it is. The past week Tilly hadn't been given a break from The Carrow siblings. But this did mean that not many other students were also harmed by them. Once again, Tilly and Neville walked in silence ten minutes early to their class with Alecto; Muggle Studies. The boy and many others had explained that they don't learn anything truthful about Muggle's, only the opinions of those with prejudices against them. The two quietly sit in the middle of class, with the rest of the class filling in quickly as they can. Draco sat at the desk next to Tilly by mistake; they weren't meant to interact as little as possible and only make contact if for an important reason. Looking to their side, both look into each other's eyes, mirroring the same expression; Loneliness. After a few minutes, it seemed as though neither teacher had come to the class, and for some stupid reason, a student happened to call out Tilly and Draco.

"Hey, Potter, now you're not with Malfoy; why don't you let me take you out?" Tilly sighs, rolling her eyes at the pigheaded boy.

"Back off, Jones." Draco snaps, not wanting to hear this.

"Malfoy, you aren't her boyfriend or even friend anymore, so you can back off." Draco and a few boys from various houses start to argue. Draco was trying to defend Tilly while some boys' were hitting on her, and the other third were yelling at Malfoy to 'mind his own business'. Tilly had had enough of this and stood up, slamming her hands on the table.

"I can take care of myself, thank you. I'm not interested in going on any dates right now. Can all of you mind your own business?" Tilly sighs, "Yes, Malfoy and I aren't together anymore, but that isn't your problem to weigh in on." Tilly snaps.

"So, that's a no to dating any of us?" The same boy from early who started all this asks.

"Yes, it's a no. I'm dating someone else, alright." Tilly let slip her relationship with Fred, but not his name at least.

"So, you are dating him?" Draco asks, broken-hearted that Tilly lied to him. Trying not to make more of a mess, Tilly doesn't say anything. Not having the right words, Tilly stutters, trying not to hurt Draco more.

"I don't know. Yes? Maybe? I'm not sure." She had never been this confused or felt so trapped.

Everyone slowly sat down, trying to think who Tilly could be dating. Draco sat quietly, thinking over everything that had happened, now and in the last week, but nothing added up. The Carrows' burst into the room, stopping any more questions someone could have. They were half an hour late, but that didn't stop them from provoking Tilly.

"Today, we are learning about how Mudbloods should be eradicated." Tilly's breath catches in her throat, thinking of Hermione... and Lily. "Those who claim to be 'muggle-born are lying. They most likely stole a witch or wizards wand and took on the identity of a witch or wizard." Tilly tries not to think back to when she watched and allowed Charity Burbage to be murdered and then eaten.

"Your old teacher believed mating with a filthy muggle should become normal and is encouraged." Amycus continues after his sister. "Miss Burbage is clearly not thinking properly." As he keeps speaking rubbish, Alecto walks to Tilly's desk, asking a hazardous question.

"Your parents, what were they?" She asks, referring to their wizarding blood type.

"James Potter was a Prue-Blood, but his family had no issues with Muggles or Muggle-borns." Sighing, Tilly continues knowing she can't escape. "My Godfathers are Sirius Black, a Prue-Blood, and Remus Lupin, a Half-Blood werewolf." Both teachers nod, waiting for her to talk about Lily. "Lily Potter, Muggle-Born." She mutters, looking down.