Harry Potter: 19 Years Later

15: Lilith's POV

Lilith woke peacefully the next morning, her stomach grumbling, reminding her of the dinner she skipped last night; Albus had invited her to study together in the Slytherin common room.

Of course, Seraphine accompanied them... uninvited. Lilith still had no idea why Seraphine had joined her and Albus in their study session when Lilith was the one who'd been invited.

Don't dwell on it. Don't be jealous. Don't let your imperfections get the best of you. Lilith let these thoughts dominate her mind as she made her bed and got dressed in her uniform.

Realizing she still had half an hour until breakfast started, Lilith settled down at a desk in the common room with a piece of parchment and a quill, beginning to write a letter to her family.

Dear Mum, Dad, and Phil,

Hey, it's Lilith! I'm sorry for not writing sooner; I've been so busy with schoolwork, homework, and new people I've been meeting. Anyway, I've had an excellent time at Hogwarts. The food is delicious (not that your meals aren't, Mum!) and the people are so kind. I got sorted into Ravenclaw, right where I belong! The people in my House are so smart and studious, exactly like me! We study at every chance we get and our House gets the best marks. The professors absolutely love me! I met many new friends; Lorcan, Lysander, Mimi, Alice, etc. Guess who else is a first year like me this year? Albus Potter, Harry Potter's son! He looks a lot like Harry Potter, with green eyes and Ginny's facial features (I've seen them both at the train platform; that's how I know how they look!).
  I've been extremely outgoing in class; I'm known as the smart, funny, nice one! ALL the professors and students LOVE me! I'm the top in class and I'm one of the most popular girls in Ravenclaw! How are you all doing? Is everything okay? I must go now. Breakfast will be ready soon; can't be late! 

                         Much love,
                                               Lilith

  Lilith lost count of how many lies she'd written by the time she strapped the letter to her owl after writing her family's address.

Walking to the Great Hall, she began making a mental list. She wasn't in Ravenclaw, she barely knew Lorcan and Lysander (they were the only people whose names she knew in Ravenclaw), she'd made up "Mimi" and "Alice." She definitely wasn't the most popular in Ravenclaw, or any House. She wasn't outgoing at all and Lilith was sure that only Nathan, Albus, and Seraphine knew her name. The only things that were true in the letter were that the food was delicious, she got good marks, Albus and his resemblance to his parents, and that she had to go because of breakfast.

Someday I'll tell them how I feel, Lilith thought as she grabbed a handful of her red lollipops, stuffing them into her pockets, and walked out of the common room, towards the Great Hall.

"Hey, Lilith, want to walk with me to Potions?"

Lilith turned around, joy fluttering in her stomach as she met Albus' emerald green eyes. He looked happy to talk to her.

"Yeah, sure," Lilith replied.

As soon as they started walking, Albus leaned in close to her. "So what's going on between you and Nathan?"

That stopped her right in her tracks. "That's none of your business!" she snapped hotly. How could he be so nosy?

Albus looked taken aback. "S–sorry! I didn't mean... anything bad. I was just wondering because... well, you two seemed like best friends and now I notice you barely talk." He fumbled with his shirt collar as he spoke, clearly nervous.

Lilith's sudden anger fizzled away like the soda Muggles drank. "I know. I'm sorry for snapping. It's just, well, Nathan and I were best friends, and I guess we still are. We just... got into an argument. You know, it happens all the time with friends."

Albus nodded. He opened his mouth, presumably to say something, but closed it. Lilith had just realized that they'd arrived at Slughorn's classroom.

She reluctantly made her way to her seat, next to Nathan. Lilith inwardly rolled her eyes. It was only her first class and her day was already bad. She had to sit with Nathan, Albus had been nosy, and she felt a sudden bloodthirsty feeling lurching in her stomach.

Panic easily overcame her as she realized the feeling was becoming thirstier, hungrier. Oh, no, oh, no. Lilith stared at the girl in front of her, trying to ignore the yearning to sink her teeth into her neck, to taste the delectable tang of blood.

Oh, Merlin. This is bad. This is REALLY bad, Lilith thought frantically. She looked around the classroom. Good. No one was paying attention to her.

Lilith reached into her pocket and "casually" took a lollipop and started licking it. After about 5 or 6 licks, she put it back into its wrapper and stuffed it into her pocket again, well aware of the strange looks she received from a few students.

It was only when Professor Slughorn began roll call that Lilith noticed Seraphine wasn't here. She hadn't seen her in their dormitory or at breakfast. And she wasn't in the classroom.

"Seraphine Parkinson!" Slughorn called for the second time, looking around the classroom suspiciously. "Is she here?"

Lilith raised her hand. "Umm, Professor Slughorn..." She cleared her throat. "Seraphine wasn't in our dormitory this morning and I didn't see her at breakfast."

Just as Slughorn began scribbling something on a piece of parchment, Seraphine staggered into the classroom and shuffled to her seat hastily. She obviously didn't like attention. "I–I'm here, Professor! Sorry for being late!"

Slughorn nodded impatiently and began the lesson. The whole time while Slughorn was speaking, Lilith couldn't help staring at Seraphine. There was something different, something odd about her, but Lilith just couldn't place her finger on it. Halfway into the lesson, she realized what it was.

Seraphine's hair was in greasy clumps, clearly not brushed this morning. Her clothes were wrinkled and had slight rips in them and her note-taking was hasty and quick, as if she couldn't wait to get out of here.

Lilith couldn't blame her; she wouldn't want to be in a room full of people either if she looked like a mess like that.