I Am Lily (Sequel to She's Not Lily)

Ch. 7 Just Great

Fire was supposedly discovered because the caveman rubbed sticks together quickly, and a flame appeared. We soon started finding new ways to make the ball of intense heat and inventing matches, lighter fluid, and the term firewood. Wizards and witches can start a fire with a swish of our wand. So why can I make balls of fire out of my bare hands? This should not be happening to me, but of course, with my overcomplicated life, it is. I can feel Ron's intense stare at me while I push my food around my plate. Hermione cranes her neck, looking for Harry, who we haven't seen since the debate on the train.

"Don't you worry, he'll be 'here soon 'nuff, we should be focused on lil-" Ron mumbles with a mouthful before getting whacked by Hermione and myself.

"Will. You. Stop. Eating!" Hermione yells at him with a whack for each word. "Can't you see Lily is already freaking out from you know what, and to top it off, Your best friend is missing!"

"Oi! Turn around, you lunatic," Ron mutters wide-eyed.

Hermione and I spin around to see Harry and Luna approaching. In the light of the candle-lit hall, Harry's blood-spattered face is quite ghastly.

"He's covered in blood again," Ginny mumbled, which gave me a suspicious look. "Why is it he's always covered in blood?"

So, I take it, this happens a lot then. Great.

"Looks like his own this time," Ron tells us.

His own this time?! What the hell happened before!?

"Where've you been, Harry?" Hermione questions Harry like a worried mother. "And what happened to your face."

Harry slid in to sit between Ginny and me and grabbed my hand. I hold a damp napkin and begin to dampen his face.

"Later," Harry states, noting he has no interest in talking about his bloody nose. "What've I missed?"

Hermione and I quickly glanced up at each other. We shouldn't trouble Harry with my problems, should we?

"Sorting Hat urged us all to be brave and strong in these troubled times," Ron shrugs, still eating like a pig, "easy to say; it's a hat. In the first years, he seemed to enjoy it, though. Wankers. Oh, then Lily-"

Ron couldn't finish his sentence, so I kicked him under the table, followed by Hermione giving me an approved look. I look back at Harry to see Ginny. She had a damp napkin, beginning to dab his face. What is it this year with girls trying to steal my boyfriend? I glare at Ginny; and then everyone suddenly feels awkward. Harry takes the damp napkin from her and squeezes my hand.

"Thanks.." Harry mutters quietly to Ginny.

Just then, the lights in the Great Hal begin to dim gently, and all eyes turn to Dumbledore, standing by his podium. His sickly-ashed hand is raised to the enchanted ceiling, where clouds respond to his gestures and cover the shining full moon.

"What's happened to his hand?" Hermione questions.

"Fire must have appeared in his hands, too," I mutter under my breath, hoping not to get heard, but as luck would have it, everyone heard it.

What can I say? Comedy is the way I cope.

"Not Funny, Lily," Hermione tells me, giving me another disapproving look, ignoring Harry's confused expression.

"The very best of evenings to you!" Dumbledore spoke to the crowd of Hogwarts students who had his undivided attention. "First off, please join me in welcoming the newest staff member, Horace Slughorn."

Mild applause erupts in the great hall. I clapped inattentive as I forgot I had to deal with this creepy older man this year. I glance back at Harry, who looks just as excited as I am. My eyes drift to the hall entrance as a pair of Aurors station just outside the wooden doors. My brows scrunch together in confusion. 'Mione gave a questionable look, and I mouthed I would tell her later before focusing my attention back on Dumbledore.