The Marauders: Year One (female)

50. You're Special

'And,' Severa continued, speaking to Lillian for the first time in a while, 'the owl's name is Eugenia. She's a she, not a he. I should know. I come up here to escape the rest of them sometimes,' she admitted.

'I - I didn't know,' Lillian stuttered.

Severa shoved her pink hands deep into her robes. 'Yeah, well.'

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two of them. The past few days since the match had not been easy for her, and the older Slytherins were just as horrible as ever. On top of that, the thoughts of others had not stopped invading her mind, and the Dark Lord's followers were being extra careful, so she didn't know much, despite her alleged Legilimency.

'Look, I'm sorry about the Quidditch match,' Severa said abruptly. 'They were horrible and stupid, and maybe I should have done more.'

But it wasn't that. Severa had stuck up for Lillian. It was something else. Severa studied him as he shifted uneasily.

'It's alright,' he said, looking at her shoes. 'I'm sorry if it seems like I'm avoiding you. I'm not. You stuck up for me. It's not you.'

Severa placed her hand on the shoulder of her old friend. 'What is it, then?' she asked gently, looking into his clouded green eyes. 'Is it Patrick?'

Lillian shrugged unwillingly, and Severa's hand fell to her side. 'He's sent back all the letters I've written to him, and mum and dad aren't replying either. I can't tell if they're mad at me, or if Pat's done something to the mail.'

Severa felt a surge of anger. 'Of course they aren't mad at you! How could they be? They love you, and they're so proud of you. I remember, when I used to come over for dinner. Always asking questions.'

Lillian looked up with hope in his eyes. 'Do you think?'

'Yeah! And you haven't done anything that would make them angry, besides.'

Lillian shrugged uneasily. 'I dunno. I mean, I guess I sort of gallivanted off to Hogwarts and then left them all alone. They might feel like I've neglected them. And I get why Patrick hates me.'

Severa frowned. 'Yeah, well, Patrick is a prat. He's always been jealous of you. Because you have what he never could. You're special.'

Lillian looked up, his eyes full of hurt and frustration. 'Well if it's going to make Patrick hate me, then maybe I don't want to be special! I'd give him half of my magic, if I could. If it would make him happy. All I want is my brother back.' His words trailed away to a miserable whisper.

Severa looked shocked. 'Don't say that. You're far better than he ever could be, with magic or without. And it's not just your magic that makes you different. You'd be special even if you were a Muggle.'

'I don't feel that way sometimes, when your friends start harping on about how filthy my blood is, and how I'm an abomination that shouldn't be allowed to enter the school gates.'

'Ignore them,' said Severa sharply. 'They're just gits. If I just try to stay out of trouble with them for a while, then we can be together all we like once we leave. We'll travel the world and go on adventures. Just you and me.' Her eyes sparkled with excitement, although both of them knew it was more complicated than that.

'All right,' said Lillian dully, allowing Severa to lead him down the stairs, and back into the crowded clamour of the corridors below.