Guilt clawed at Lily for the rest of the day - or maybe Demeter. Demeter followed Lily constantly, begging her to apologize and make amends with the Scamander twins.

"No." Lily said stubbornly.

"Lily!" cried Demeter.

"Look, Demi. I'm never going to apologize."

"So you're going to be enemies with them forever?" demanded Demeter. "That's harsh. You were really aggressive on that, Lils. I know they said it first, but remarking they hadn't friends when it's true is harsher than..." She trailed off, watching the expression change on Lily Potter's face. "Do apologize. You hurt their feelings, Lily."

"I can't. Don't you know that? I can't go back to laughing with them when I... already..."

"Already?"

"No. Mistake." Lily said hastily, remembering her brother's flight. She didn't know the details, just that Albus and Scorpius were already in humongous trouble. She remembered Albus burning his Hogsmeade permission slip angrily. He was definitely bothered about something, and it wasn't just Scorpius's mother.

She already felt shadowed by her brothers. She always apologized first, because her brothers refused to say sorry. They were fine without her, but she wasn't. Now, she'd get the chance to be 'sorried'.

Demeter sighed. "Your tempers going to flare. You'll regret your temper someday, Lily."

"I hope not." Lily replied. "My temper's just a part of me. I can't change it, however many detentions anyone gives me, or however much you might guilt-trip me, Demi."

Demeter flushed. "Honestly, Lils. I'm not guilt-tripping you!" she protested. "I'm just pointing out facts, and encouraging you to make up with your friends."

"If they apologize first!"

"Lily! You're impossible. Fine. I'll work on them." Demeter huffed.

"Why're you so keen on restoring that friendship?" Lily asked.

Demeter shrugged. "I like making peace. And I never want to see you angry, Lily. I've heard tales about your temper!"

"Ah. Has Dad spreading stories again?"

"No, Mr. Weasley."

Lily gave a laugh. What Mr. Weasley, exactly? There are five!"

"The sixth one," Demeter said, without thinking.

Lily furrowed her brow. "Sixth? Oh, you mean Uncle Ron! The fourth..." She bit her lip. "I'm so sorry for my uncles and mum. As much as I think they're annoying, I couldn't live without my brothers."

"I agree. Well, don't have any brothers, but have two sisters. Bigger ones, just like you. They're impossible, but loving." Demeter said.

"Not as serious as that! Albus and James always ignores me, and James Sirius is so annoying, you'll probably want to throw him out the window and erase the memories of him in your head. Trust me, you'll never want a Pensieve in your house if you have memories about James."

Demeter grinned. "Oh, hey, it can't be as horrid as that."

"It can!"

"Well..." Demeter tapped her fingers on her lap. "Ah. Apologize to your friends, Lily. Please. You have to feel guilt and apologize. Why aren't you?"

"It's a long story, but I can probably shorten it. I've always apologized. I won't this time. It's horrid trying to beg for forgiveness. I hate myself while doing that."

Demeter's eyes softened a bit. "But you have to do it. Sometimes, it's necessary to put your pride away into your pocket."

"Don't have one!" Lily said, attempting for a joke, and also attempting to draw Demeter's attention away from apologizing.

But Demeter's face was stern still. "Apologize, Lily."

"I've already put my pride in the pocket a lot of times!" snapped Lily. "Lorcan and Lysander probably never did!"

"They never apologized to you?"

Lily shut her mouth.

Demeter gave her a long look, and walked out of the dorm.