Lili sat at the Hufflepuff table, distracted by Draco in his sling. The day had been long and full of stupid tea leaves and dramatic Draco. She rolled her eyes, then looked down at her food.
"Post?" She heard from Cedric next to her, and looked up to see an owl delivering a letter. To her. Lili was surprised. "Must be important Lil, for it to come this late."
"Yeah..." She wasn't as excited as Cedric was. She recognised the hand writing. Lili opened the letter with dread of its contents.
'Lilianna,
I am very disappointed in you, and angry that you have disobeyed me yet again.
Draco has informed me of your romantic intent with a Weasley and your friendship with that Diggory boy. On top of being sorted into Hufflepuff and many other disappointments, consider yourself disowned.
You are no longer welcome at Malfoy Manor. Your belongings will be sent to Hogwarts shortly. You will be removed from the Black Family Tapestry.
Father.'
Lili rose from her seat, tears welling in her eyes. "I have to go," She said, running off and leaving the letter face down.
Cedric watched her go and decided to read the letter himself to see what made her upset. When he read it over, he looked up and glared at Draco.
--
"According to Madam Pomfrey, another minute or two...and I could've lost the arm. What do you want, Diggory?"
"How could you do that?" Cedric spat, shoving Draco. "She's your sister!"
"She deserved it for being a blood traitor," Draco spat back.
"She didn't do anything!"
"She was your friend!"
By now, everyone in the Great Hall was looking and trying to figure out what was happening.
"Oh, you did not just say that."
"What are you gonna do about it, Doggery?"
Angry at Draco's actions and at the nickname, Cedric acted on instinct. It was almost as if the Weasley twins sensed what he was about to do, as they were there the moment after Cedric's fist connected with Draco's face.
"Come on, Ceddy," They said, dragging him away. Near Draco, a few Slytherins were holding a tissue to his bloody nose and stopping him from going anywhere.
--
The only place Lili wanted to go was the Astronomy Tower. So she did. She ran and ran until she reached the tower, then curled up against a wall. The tears started to fall as she began to think about everything that would change. Where was she gonna live? What was she going to do?
Lili heard voices from the stairs and curled further into herself. It was a pointless action, really, as she was out in the open with nowhere to hide. The voices sounded familiar, but Lili was too upset to bother trying to recognise them.
"Are you sure she'll be up here?"
"It's the only other place she'll be. If she's not here I don't know whe-Lili!"
Lili looked up when she heard her name called, and burst into tears again when she saw Cedric coming towards her. "Ced," She said quietly, standing up and rushing into his hug.
"Hey, it's OK," He whispered, letting her cry and holding her close.
"What did I do wrong? Why do they hate me so much?"
"You didn't do anything wrong. Don't worry about your family. If they can't see your worth, then you don't need them in your life."
"Where am I gonna go? I don't have anywhere to live now."
"You can come live with me for a bit. I'm sure if I explain the situation to my dad then he'll be fine with it."
--
The next day, Lili stuck to herself in classes. Her classes were all shared with Draco and people who had picked up on what happened. She stood to the side in Defense Against the Dark Arts, not far off from Hermione. She watched as a tall wardrobe rattled violently.
"Intriguing, yes?" Professor Lupin asked. "Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?"
"That's a Boggart, that is," Seamus replied.
"Very good, Mr Finnigan. Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?"
"No one knows," Hermione answered. "Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the form of whatever a particular person fears most. That's what makes it so-"
"Terrifying, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart. Let's practice it now, shall we. Without wands, please...Riddikulus!" The room was filled with students saying the charm, including Lili. "Good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is...laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Neville, come up here, will you?"
Neville stepped uneasily forward, clutching his wand tightly. "What would you say is the thing that frightens you most?"
"Profter...Snafpt..."
"Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry."
"Professor Snape."
"Hmm...yes. Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?"
"Yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either."
"It won't. But I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?"
"She carries a red handbag..."
"That's fine. We don't need to hear it. If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do..." Lupin leaned in to say something that the class didn't hear, but it made Neville's eyes pop. "You can do this, Neville. Right then. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three!"
A spark flew from Lupin's wand. It striked the doorknob and the wardrobe flew open. Snape instantly appeared, his eyes flashing hideously as he stalked forward.
"Think, Neville. Think!"
"R-r-riddikulus!" With a crack and a flash of light, Snape was donned with what Lili assumed was his grandmother's clothes. Neville looked proud of himself.
"Lili. You next."
Lili looked at Lupin with shock. "I don't think that's a good idea, Professor."
"Nonsense. Go on. Wand at the ready."
Lili resigned and stepped forward, the Boggart changing its attention from Neville to her. It began to change, and Lili dreaded what it would turn into. She was afraid of a lot of things, things she wouldn't dare ever say. First the Boggart changed into Cedric, saying his distaste in her friendship. Then into Bellatrix, cackling from her cell in Azkaban and chanting that she would come after the blood traitor Malfoy. Then into her father, his wand tipped in flames.
Already, Lili's heart was racing. Her breath was fast and she felt fixed in one spot, unable to move. Her attention was only on the Boggart, what it would turn into next. She could see the dead bodies of Cedric, George and Draco on the ground, lying lifeless. Then it happened. The Boggart turned into Draco, pulling his sleeve up and proudly wielding a Dark Mark. That was what snapped Lili out of her trance. She looked quickly at Draco and then at Lupin.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I have to go."
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