When we got up to the castle Sai and I got out of the carriages, walked up to the side entrance and sat down at our table. We watched the sorting and listened to the speeches, nothing new or interesting. We sang the school song and ate our meal. I half-heartedly joined in and excused myself early. I snuck up my room where my cat and case were waiting for me. Midnight, (being her usual catty self) was sleeping on top of my case. I gently picked her up and put her on the bed. My cat was weird. I unpacked my bag and saw pecking at my bed curtains I looked outside and saw three owls. I had never had more than one owl trying to give me something. Curiously I opened it and I recognised the owls. Flash who was mothers owl a small but fast bird, Clara who was fathers owl she was larger and more powerful and a tiny but energetic bird, Snitch who was Matts bird. I opened Father's letter first.
'To Lily Potter, Slytherin common room, The bed with the cat.
So I'm alive! That's good, so you can stop worrying about me. I'm perfectly fine I promise, Lucius didn't stand a chance against Ron and me. I've just a slight scar from a spell that I dogged but its just a cut and its healing. Please check on Stryker, I hate to think what that monster has done to him over the holidays. Did you know about that? Let him know that he is welcome to stay over at our place anytime.
Love Dad, Harry James Potter, Aurors office.'
I put the letter down, I was going to read the rest before I made a reply because if I didn't the other owls would get impatient and peck me. I picked up mums letter next and Snitch gave me an offended look.
'To Lily Potter, Slytherin common room Dungeons, Girls Dormitories, the third door of the right, the last bed on the left. (How did she remember this?)
I think your dad sent an owl but I just wanted to tell you anyway, He is fine, they caught Lucius and he is now at the ministry, no doubt he'll be out within a day. Your father has a small cut but apart from that he's fine, he went back to work to file an incident report. Your wand is in the envelope. Please don't blame Stryker, the poor boy has been through enough, he needs help, he needs you, Lily. Stay out of trouble. Ask Stryker if he wants to stay at our house over the holidays and we'll see what we can do from there. Ok?
Love, mum, Ginevra Molly Potter, Quidditch bench.'
Why does everyone care so much about Stryker? He's a traitor! I took my wand out of the envelope and waved it at the bedside table, parchment and a quill came out, it started writing a reply to the letters. Meanwhile, I opened the last letter.
'To Lily
Lil, Please. I know you're mad. But he didn't do this. If you just listened to me and let me finish you would know...'
There were about two more pages of the letter, but I didn't need to read anymore. So Matt thought he knew how I felt?! Well, he didn't! Why was everyone so worried about Stryker? He was a TRAITOR! I crumpled the letter and its many pages into tight balls and threw them at the wall, before remembering about magic and setting them alight.
Stryker doesn't need help, he doesn't deserve my pity. I'd show him what a traitor deserved.
For the rest of the year, I avoided Stryker and Matt. Matt was on his side, not mine. Sai was my only friend now, and I wasn't going to lose her. I made sure she stayed away from Stryker before he could convince her to join him, there was nothing I could do to keep her away from Matt. One time, in potions, Stryker cornered me after class. Tears were running down his face, he looked tired and, even though it was halfway through the term, he still looked starved.
"Lily, please. I didn't...Just let me explain." He begged.
My face remained hard, I looked him in his eyes, my own eyes cold.
"I have no words for a traitor."
My words seemed to cut through him, like scissors through paper. He broke down, crying on the ground.
It hurt me to see him like this, it hurt me more than I could say, but I held my head up and continued walking to my next class.
The terms marched by I took my N.E.W.Ts and before I knew it it was a week before the end of the term.
