Harry Potter: 19 Years Later

19: Lilith's POV

Lilith stepped to her trunk and rummaged around through it, searching for something to wear, preferably her regular Hogwarts skirt, robe, and tie. Hmmm.... That's strange. She had looked beneath her undergarments, where she usually kept her clothes, but they weren't there. As she began hunting for clothes one more time, something in the back of Lilith's mind forced its way into her memories.

Seraphine's clothes yesterday.

The way they looked larger than normal on her. They looked Lilith's size. Something else triggered Lilith's suspicion. The familiar smell she had scented on Seraphine. At first, Lilith had assumed that she'd imagined it and didn't give it another thought after that.

But now, her early presumptions were aroused again; the smell she had scented on Seraphine was lavender and lilacs, her two favorite flowers and the scent of the perfume she wore everyday. The perfume Lilith hadn't smelled on anyone else in their dormitory. The perfume she was 99.99% certain that only she owned.

The guilty, nervous countenance Seraphine had displayed only further confirmed Lilith's suspicions.

Seraphine had stolen Lilith's clothes. And her perfume as well.
 
But why? Why would Seraphine steal someone else's clothing? She didn't seem like the type of person that didn't have enough money for clothes of her own. But there was something a bit... off... about Seraphine. The way she always looked scared or sad all the time. As if she was afraid that something–or someone–was watching her at all times.

And Lilith had taken a (small) peek into Seraphine's trunk... merely out of curiosity. She had only found a couple of skirts, ties, and one Hogwarts robe. Maybe Seraphine really was in need of clothes.

But that didn't mean Lilith was willing to give any of her own clothes to her... even if it was "for the greater good." Her clothes were her own and no one else deserved what she'd paid for. Especially Seraphine. That girl was constantly trying to get between her and Albus, even when Albus clearly wanted to be around Lilith more.

And she had definitely not forgotten how Seraphine had gotten her into trouble with McGonagall a couple weeks ago. McGonagall had pulled her out of Transfiguration and her eyes were burning with rage by the time she opened her mouth. And what had come out? Nothing except pure accusation.

  "Miss Evans, as you are obviously perplexed as to why you were let out of the classroom, I will satisfy your inquiries."
McGonagall paused to tuck a stray strand of gray hair back into her neat bun. "You, young lady, were accused of betting that Miss Parkinson wasn't 'brave' enough to venture into the Forbidden Forest. And how did she react? Why, of course, she went in!"
  McGonagall pursed her lips, glaring at Lilith with utter disgust. "And, no, Miss Evans, she did not merely enter the forest and exit unharmed! No, she was bitten! And by what? The worst possible option; a werewolf! Because of you, Miss Evans, a young, innocent student was bitten by a werewolf! Her life will never be the same! Do you realize what you've done?!"
  By this time, the Headmistress was shouting and waving her hands around in rage. She stopped to look at Lilith, whom she had most likely assumed had been cowering in guilt or shame. Her eyes burned even more when she laid them on her, who was simply standing there, staring the woman down with black eyes that sparked with confidence.
"Well? Aren't you even a bit ashamed of what you've done, Miss Evans?! Because of your... idiocy... you've just ruined a completely innocent little girl's life! Have you no empathy?!"
Lilith was exploding with confusion, rage, curiosity, and panic on the inside, but was been fighting for a neutral expression. Calm down, calm, she had tried telling herself. She had no reason to feel guilty, after all. She hadn't done this, so why did she still have a twisted, gnarled feeling in the pit of her stomach?
Stop, Lilith. Just stop and think; you are completely innocent and are being falsely accused. Think carefully. Don't make it sound like you're lying.
Lilith straightened her posture and set her jaw. "I have absolutely no clue about anything you are saying, Headmistress. I never bet Seraphine or anyone to do anything like that. I never even considered it, let alone did it. I can assure you that I was falsely accused."
 
McGonagall had given her a strict lecture on honesty and then pressed her on the topic again. After getting "no" for an answer for the third time, she gave up, saying she had "a zero tolerance policy for dishonesty."

Lilith had just stood there as she walked away, seething with anger.