Wasting Time

37

The next morning, Lily joined us in the hospital wing with bloody knuckles. James and I both sat up in shock at the sight of her.

"What the fuck did you do?" I asked, barely holding back a laugh. Lily looked away from me for a moment, perhaps not wanting to admit what had happened.

"I punched Snape," she said reluctantly. James let out a cheer and I laughed.

"All the spells you know, and you punched him? With your hand?" I asked. She sighed.

"I've seen you throw shoes at Sirius, Marlene, don't act like you never use muggle forms of attack!"

I laughed uproariously at her words and expression.

"I was very angry when I did that, thanks for reminding of that Lily. Anyway, he's my boyfriend! I'm not just going to curse him! But Snape—" I cut myself off, changing my mind mid-sentence. "Actually, I'm glad you attacked him with a muggle means. That should really put him in his place."

Lily shifted her attention to James. Her face was now full of regret. I knew she'd come around. I didn't think it'd be this quickly, but I knew it would happen. I suspected that Remus had something to do with it.

"I'm sorry for being so awful yesterday. I should have listened to you, and I should have been here. I just got myself so worked up, and it wasn't fair."

James smiled. He had been less sure of her than I was and he had spent a good portion of the night before worrying that this fight could be the end of them. They didn't fight often, and it showed.

"It's okay. I get it, Lils. Old habits die hard, I know that better than anyone."

Lily sighed in relief and hugged him. I just rolled my eyes. They were so dramatic, and I was dating Sirius Black, so that was really saying something.

***

I spent the next week or so watching in class. Waiting to see what had happened to Snape, Mulciber, and Avery. They had tried to use the cruciatus curse on us and all. And day after day, they were still in class. And day after day, I got angrier, until one day, I stormed into Dumbledore's office to confront him myself. In my mind, this entire situation only proved what I had told Sirius nearly a year earlier. The man simply could not be trusted.

I burst through Dumbledore's door in the middle of a Thursday afternoon, and the man looked up at me in surprise.

"Miss McKinnon, shouldn't you be in class right now?" He asked me. He sounded amused, but I was not. I walked up to his desk and put y hands on the smooth wood.

"No Professor, I have an issue that I would like to discuss with you."

He gestured to the chair beside me. "Sit."

"I'd rather not," I replied briskly.

"Of course, Miss McKinnon. Go ahead, what would you like to discuss?"

"Professor McGonagall informed you of the incident by the lake last week?" I asked, though I knew the answer.

"She did."

His tone was unfalteringly kind and calm and it was driving me even crazier.

"Then I just have one question, Professor. Why are they still here? I mean, what does someone have to do to get expelled around here?"

Dumbledore leaned toward me. "Please, have a seat Marlene. I'd like to tell you something, just between the two of us."

I let out a sigh but sat regardless. He was still my headmaster.