The Marauders: Year One (female)

16. Red and Warm Blood

The next two days went past smoothly in comparison to the others. Lillian made sure his friendship with Severa was kept on the lowdown, and he knew better than to go up to the Slytherin table again.

The Slytherins were still rude, but there were no proper fights, and nobody was arguing.

When Jamie found out that Lillian and Severa were friends again, she was quite disappointed. 'Deserves better than that ruddy Slytherin tosser, he does,' she was often heard muttering.

When Sirius accused her of fancying him, she denied it vehemently. The rest of Gryffindor just rolled their eyes and went about with their business. It was as plain as day that Jamie was smitten by the Muggleborn red-head.

That day in Potions, Lillian was working with Severa. Jamie cast jealous glances at the two of them, as she was forced to work with Slytherin Moira Selwyn. When they were half way into making their Pepper-up Potions, Jamie had to admit, however grudgingly, that Moira wasn't actually a nasty person, and that not all Slytherins were scum. She'd never say that out loud, though.

She added in the Octopus Powder, and Moira nodded curtly, stirring it in.

Slughorn squeezed past, the tables lifting up as his great belly jolted them.

'Well done, well done,' he exclaimed jovially at Lucinda Talkalot and Leanne Jackknife's cauldron.

He paused questioningly at the fumes coming off of Remus and Sirius' cauldron. Both were red faced and bushy haired. Sirius had a look of horror and desperation on her face as she clawed at her bushy hair, trying to make it smooth down.

'Too much Mandrake Root?' asked Slughorn quietly.

Remus shrugged, and pointed to an empty glass bottle. Slughorn picked it up wordlessly.

After a minute of squinting at the bottle, Slughorn placed it back down on the table.

'I don't even want to know how you thought Bubotuber Pus was part of this Potion. I'm very disappointed in the both of you,' he said, crooking his finger reprimandingly.

Then he shuffled off to the other's tables. He gave them feedback, critisim, scoldings, and praise, until he reached Severa and Lillian's cauldron.

He stood there for a minute, astounded, while Lillian and Severa waited nervously. All of a sudden, he broke into applause.

'Excellent work!' he boomed. 'Excellent, simply excellent. Tell me girl, how did you do it?' he asked, turning to Severa, not giving any thought to Muggleborn Lillian.

Severa turned her head quietly to Lillian. 'It was him, too, actually,' she said quietly.

Slughorn looked at Lillian appraisingly.

Lillian looked cross. 'You know, just because I'm a Muggleborn doesn't mean I don't know anything--' he began defensively.

Slughorn looked taken aback. 'No, no, no! You mustn't think I'm prejudiced. It's just that it's not expected of you to know so much. Severa's mother is a witch, so I would expect it of her to have some knowledge in Potions, whereas for Muggleborns, it's a lot harder.'

Evan Rosier chuckled at this. 'Couldn't even do better than a filthy Mudblood, half-blood,' he whispered low enough so that only Severa and Lillian could hear. Lillian flinched as though he'd been slapped.

Slughorn continued with his rambling praise, obliviously. 'Ten points to Slytherin and Gryffindor each!'

Jamie's blood boiled as she watched Severa take credit for Lillian's work. In all honesty, Severa had done her equal share of work, but Jamie didn't want to see that.