luminescence

𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬

Lily's eyes shot open. James was laughing and Remus was rolling his eyes as he shook her awake. She looked out the window, a faint view of the castle in the distance. Her eyes snapped open and focused on the three boys. They were all wearing matching black robes with red and gold ties.

"You've already changed?" She shot up, quickly grabbing her own robes and tie and running out of the compartment. She headed down the carpeted hallway to the bathroom, standing behind a tall figure. She looked up at the boy, her eyes looking right back down at her feet when she realized she was standing next to Severus. Her breathing quickened, and she partially hoped he would speak to her, for she missed him dearly and wanted to apologize for what happened.

"Are you dating him?" He muttered quietly, fiddling with his silver and green tie. Lily's eyes shot up to him, and, against her will, she began laughing.

"I don't know who you think I'm dating, but I can assure you I'm single," Lily said, chuckling quietly. "Honestly, Severus." Severus was quiet.

"They're pricks. All of them," he turned to her. Lily stopped laughing.

"I know, and I'm sorry for what they said. But your friends aren't exactly a fresh bed of roses. And neither are you," Lily retorted, thinking about Bellatrix and Lucius. Faintly, she could hear footsteps heading her way, and she turned to see James headed down the hallway. Once James saw Severus standing next to Lily, a smirk broke on his face.

"If it isn't the one and only Snivellus. Missed me?" He chuckled, wrapping an arm around Lily.

"James..." Lily said under her breath.

"There's a bathroom on the other end of the train that Sirius has been holding for you, I was coming to let you know," he said, his eyes never leaving Snape's.

"Oh," Lily said. "Well, alright." She gave one last reluctant glance at Snape before turning and following James to the bathroom. The two were silent as they walked down the hall.

"Why do you tolerate him?" James muttered. Lily looked up at him

"He was my friend."

"And what now? He calls you a Mudblood, he disrespects you, and for what? He's not deserving of your time, Evans." James said, stopping in front of a door. "Bathroom" he muttered.

"James, this is unfair. You taunt him as well, you're not innocent," Lily said.

"Right, I taunt him. I make fun of his bloody hair, call him Snivellus. You don't see me calling him a filthy half-blood, do you? And why do you think I make fun of him, huh Evans?" He gritted through his teeth, running a hand through his thick black hair. Sirius stepped out of the door of the bathroom, looking at the two of them.

"Everything alright?" He said tentatively. James ignored him and turned on his heel, heading back to the lounge car. "You alright, Lil?" Sirius turned to Lily. She slapped a smile on her face.

"Everything's fine," she smiled. "Thank you for finding me the bathroom." He nodded and she stepped inside the room, shutting the door behind her. The frustration of her conversation with James was pushing her to her boiling point. She scoffed to herself, stripping down and pulling the robe on.

He was bullying Severus. It was quite simple to understand. The principle of it. And to imply that he had the right to comment on his blood status? Because what, he's pure blood and Snape is a half blood? It was preposterous.

Well, that is what he's saying about Severus relative to Lily.

But it's different, Lily affirmed. Quite different. James set out to humiliate Severus on a regular basis. Lily paused, attempting to justify Snape's actions to her. It was a predicament she was in. She fumbled with the tie, stepping out of the bathroom and slowly trying to tie it.