A Sliver of Change | S. Black

Part 2: Chapter 19

Part 2:

Chapter 19 –

June 15th, 1976

"Something is different about you," Lily pointed out as the two sat in the Gryffindor common room, working on their homework during lunch.

Lia shrugged her shoulders, trying to hide her grin and maintain an innocent smile.

"Nothing is new," she nonchalantly said, waving her hand at her friend.

Lily continued to stare at her for a few moments before rolling her eyes and getting back to her homework.

"So, what are your plans for this summer?" Lia asked, hoping to divert the conversation.

Lily placed her quill down beside her parchment, listing off the things she was about to say with her fingers.

"I have to accompany Petunia and her new boyfriend to London because my parents don't trust them alone, so that'll be fun," she rolled her eyes, "the only two things that I'm looking forward to is the week I get to spend with you and the football game I'm going to with my dad in August."

Lia recalled Lily mentioning this football game before, having to have her explain what exactly it was and how the sport was played. It was almost like quidditch, but instead of a quaffle you had to get the soccer ball into the net. Lily said that it was a tradition for her and her father to go.

"I'm already excited for you to spend the week with us at Potter Manor!" Lia exclaimed, "Mum told James he had to be on his best behaviour so hopefully he acts normal."

Lily nodded at her words, not making a comment on James as she normally would, which Lia found odd.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts she asked another question that she had been wondering about, "Lils, is the muggle world better than ours?" she nervously played with the sugar quill in her mouth, "does it have bad people in it like the Dark one and death eaters?"

Lily sighed, and closed her eyes, seeming as if she was contemplating the question. After a few moments she answered, "In a way it's different but also the same. We have schools, sports, families that love or hate eachother for our opinions."

Lia watched as she learned forward on the table, considering how to answer the second part of the question.

"And yes, we do have bad people in the muggle world just like here. The only difference is that magic is used to destroy the world here, whereas in the muggle world they use different methods of evil to destroy people."

Lia stared at her, hoping that she would elaborate. She needed to know if it was just them who had to go through things like the Dark Lord, or if it was something that happened quite often to people.

"This is a bigger example, but during World War 2 there was this individual named Hitler," Lia watched as Lily played with her lip nervously, "he was very opinionated and prejudiced over certain types of people. The ones that didn't agree with him or were of ethnicity or religion that he didn't like, well...... a lot of people died because of it."

Lia understood what she was trying to say, connecting the dots to their own situation.

"Like how Voldemort doesn't like muggle?" She asked simply, hoping not to offend her friend.

Lily shook her head in yes, "exactly. There is always going to be someone out there who doesn't like someone for their upbringing, religion, ethnicity, anything. And sometimes, that person has the power to inflict pain upon people."

Lia reached out her hand to her friend, grabbing it and giving it a squeeze. Lia and her family were labeled as blood traitors, but it didn't mean they would ever be in as much danger as Lily and other muggleborns were.