Stolen Years: The Flower Reborn as a Tree

Chapter 2: Hypocrite

Felicis didn't know how long she had been at her willow tree. Albus and Minerva had planted it for her on her first birthday with them, they had set the first wards upon the drooping tree. It was a place where she could safely play at Hogwarts, a place to hide if things went bad. Felicis eventually wanted her own wards to gaurd her safe place and, after much study and practice, she was eventually able to cast her own wards upon the tree. Felicis was stirred from her thoughts as she felt someone pass through her wards.
"I thought I might find you here," a soft voice said.
Out of all the four people who were allowed to pass through her wards, she was the last person Felicis expected.
"Evans? What are you do here?" Felicis asked as she quickly sat up against the trunk of the willow tree.
"I'm making sure you're alright," Evans replied matter-of-factly.
"I doubt it," Felicis said with scowl. "This past month every time you've pulled me aside or approached me to talk it was to bad mouth Severus with your damn accusations."
"Accusations?" Evans said, taken aback. "Severus is a dark wizard! He's been taking advantage of you and influencing you this whole time!"
"Oh, so now I'm the innocent first year being taken advantage of ?" Felicis said as she rose to her feet. "Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that you were saying that I was a dark as Severus was?"
"That was before I knew that you were only acting the way you were because you were trapped with a bunch of Slytherins!" Evans replied defensively.
"I'm a Slytherin as well, Lily."
"You're not like the other Slytherins," Evans retorted.
"Isn't that what you used to say to Severus before you started calling him a dark wizard?" Felicis asked.
"He became no better than the rest of his house mates when he called me a mudblood," Evans spat.
"I've called you a mudblood as well," Felicis replied.
"That was different," Evans said.
"How?! How was that any different?!" Felicis said, having finally lost her composure.
"You were being pressured by your house mates into saying it! They probably would've hurt you if you hadn't told them what they wanted to hear!"
"And Severus wasn't experiencing the same thing?!"
"No, he wasn't! He chose to become dark like the rest of them!"
"Unbelievable," Felicis scoffed. "You're such a fucking hypocrite."
"Excuse me?" Evans asked in an offended tone.
"My words and actions this year have been nearly identical to Severus', yet you defend me and still call Severus a dark wizard. You really were just looking for the chance to drop Severus, weren't you? He was the convenient neighborhood friend who was able to introduce you to the wizarding world--"
"How could you say that?! None of that is true!" Evans said.
"But it is, Evans," Felicis said, "You just don't want to admit it to yourself. You arrived at Hogwart and found yourself surrounded by all these other witches and wizards. You realized you didn't have to settle for Severus anymore. But you didn't want to seem mean, and you still had yet to get use to Hogwarts and the Wizarding World. So you bided your time, used Severus for your own comfort and for his knowledge. And with every horrible deed and word he had said or done, you distanced yourself from him--"
"Because he changed, Felicis! Severus changed!"
"Yeah, he did. But many people do. Just like you have, Evans. You think Severus is the only one who has changed, but you have as well. And it has not all been for the better. Maybe before you go placing all your judgment onto Severus, you should take a good look at yourself in the mirror. You're not as good of a person as you believe yourself to be."
Evans began to grow red in the face, anger building inside her. But before Evans could respond, Albus came briskly walking through the wards.
"We need to get you home immediately," he said
Felicis nodded and walked away from Evans towards him. She then hooked arm into Albus' and the two dissapeared with a loud pop.