eloquence | sirius black ✓

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ANOTHER YEAR ENDED

- ⚜️ -

"I'm sorry," said Severus, almost begging for Lily's forgiveness. At least, he sounded like he was begging for forgiveness from her. Lily stood tall, nose scrunched up in disgust.

       "I'm not interested," snapped Lily.

       "I'm sorry!" yelled Severus.

       "Save your breath," said Lily in a monotone voice. It was night-time. Lily stood with her arms folded in front of the Fat Lady painting, at the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. "I only came here because Mary told me you were threatening to sleep here," said Lily with a sigh.

       "I was - " said Severus nervously. " - I would have done. I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just - "

       "Slipped out?" asked Lily in an innocent tone. There was no pity in her voice at all. "It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. Diana didn't even call me a you-know-what. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious Death Eater friends - you see, you don't even deny what you're all aiming to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who, can't you!"

       Severus opened his mouth, but he closed it without speaking. "I can't pretend any more. You've chosen your way, I've chosen mine." said Lily, her tone softening for once.

       "No - listen, I didn't mean - "

       " - to call me Mudblood? But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus. Why should I be any different?"

       Severus struggled on the verge of speech, but with a contemptuous look she turned and climbed back through the potrait hole, a look of hurt etched upon her face clearly.

       That memory played through Lily's mind multiple times ever since. Her friend wasn't the one she knew anymore.

       That changed everything.

- ⚜️ -

"At least next year we're free!" exclaimed James excitedly, almost like a little kid receiving his birthday present, in Diana's opinion. He reminded her of a little kid, at least. A very enthusiastic child that just got their Christmas present.

       "Shut up, James," Remus interrupted. "Next year may be free. But it's only for rest - and preparing for the NEWTs. Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. Does 'nastily exhausting' mean anything to you?"

       "Shut it, Moony. It means that we don't have to join Divination!" exclaimed Sirius with a smile.

       Peter smiled in approval.

       "At least we'll have free periods - to prepare for pranks," said Diana. "Don't expect me to help you a lot. Does the word Death Eaters ring a bell? They might be after me next. Besides, I was told that they recruit people by the age of seventeen. My birthday is September fourteen - I'm supposed to be one year above you Marauders." She blew a piece of stray hair from her face.

       The happy atmosphere in that train compartment disappeared as soon as Diana mentioned the word 'Death Eaters' and 'recruit'. Sirius muttered something like 'Regulus wanted to be one', while the other boys shuffled nervously in their seats. James was biting his nails, a habit of his when he was nervous (it was kind of annoying, but everyone had their own habits), and Remus shut his book quickly. Peter looked around, shifting between Diana and Sirius.