Faded: The Time Her Heart Sprang To Life (Marauders Era)

Chapter Three

September flew by, followed by October and November. The thirteenth of December was when Liv's secret came out.

They were all heading back to the castle after a heated Quidditch match which Ravenclaw won against Gryffindor. Everyone had been positive that Gryffindor would win due to Sirius's encouraging commentary after he had forced the megaphone out of the hands of a seventh-year Ravenclaw, but they were all wrong. Liv had no doubt that James was going to spend the following three days covered in his Invisibility Cloak.

Liv, Alice, Marlene, Remonta, and Lily were walking in a small group, not happy with their loss against the cheering Ravenclaws. 

When they reached the Entrance Hall, a Slytherin sixth-year passed by, his gang surrounding him. His long blond hair was, as always, just in place.

"Well, well, well," he sneered, approaching Remonta dangerously, "if this isn't the multicolored, ugly Gryffindor mudblood." 

The poor Malfoy knew not of what was about to happen to him. In fact, no one did, not even Liv herself. She was already feeling negative, and he was just adding fuel to the fire.

"Oh, puh-lease," Liv blurted out before she could stop herself, "if you weren't so narrow minded, you'd know perfectly well that ugly is a word to describe you. Beautiful is not ugly, dear, it's just the complete opposite of what you are!"

Alice snickered. Students were stopping to watch the two. Malfoy, on the other hand, was enjoying this as much as he was annoyed by it.

"The mudblood can't stand for herself, can she?"

"Too scared to answer back, Malfoy? How very poor."

At this, Malloy drew out his wand. Lily moved to defend her friend but Alice and Marlene stopped her, knowing her blood status won't help the tiniest bit, and completely sure that Liv could handle it all on her own. Liv reached out for her wand, but it wasn't in her pocket; she had left it on her beside table in their dormitory.

"What will a little blood traitor do without her wand? Who's the poor one now, Lupin?"

Everyone laughed at her except the four girls and some other friends. She was angry, not the kind she felt when annoyed, the kind she felt when someone made her feel little, capable of nothing, a failure, a mere girl. Olivia was furious. Malfoy's sneer grew wider before he shouted, "Impedimenta!"

Many things happened all at once: Liv's eyes burned, she clenched her hands into fists, the crowd gasped and Malfoy flew six or seven feet away.

Everyone went silent, everyone was looking at Liv in horror. She looked at the girls, then back to Malfoy, and walked to the Great Hall, the four girls at her heels.

"What – was that?" Lily panted, trying to keep up with Liv's fast, furious footsteps.

"The spell backfired," Liv answered simply.

"What? How?" Alice stopped Liv and turned her around.

"Someone must've cast a spell to —" Marlene began.

"At least not one of us, was it?"

It was only then did Liv realize how Remus felt. Words were always easier said than done. She wouldn't dare speak the truth about what happened, not even to the them. 

******

The following week wasn't any better, the story about her and Malfoy spread throughout the school, each student told it in their own way. They all agreed on a conclusion: one of Lupin's friends cast a Shield Charm between them. But Liv had no idea why it took them so long to figure out an explanation.