Lily's mind was a blank as she stared at Demeter Gardner and the blonde girl from yesterday.

 

"What's?" she mumbled.

 

Demeter frowned. "My sister told me she had trouble with you yesterday."

 

Lily sighed. "Just leave me alone, won't you?" she snapped, irritated with Demeter's scowling face and the blonde's triumphant, smug one. Still, she was curious and couldn't help herself but ask, "Who's she? Like, what's her name?"

 

"Willow," replied the blonde girl. "I'm in the fourth year. I'm a Gryffindor."

 

"I thought you were a Slytherin," remarked Lily wryly. "With your green face and green-lined robe."

 

"Oh. I borrowed it from Lucinda. She's the brunette Slytherin, and I'm the blonde Gryffindor," Willow said. She smirked. "So. You brave?"

 

Lily frowned. "I don't understand why this is important."

 

"But it is," insisted Demeter. "Willow says you pushed her and when she and her... gang asked for an apology, you said you'd throw them in Azkaban."

 

Lily snorted. "And how did I say I'd do that?"

 

"Harry Potter," replied Demeter, as if that solved everything.

 

"And now, could even Harry Potter force some innocent girls and boys into Azkaban?" asked Lily sarcastically. "Oh, of course. Of course he can."

 

Demeter looked a little confused now, and Lily thought she was dumb for not realizing the absurdness of Willow's lie sooner. She hesitated, and murmured, "Willow. Tell me the truth. Did you lie?"

 

Willow said nothing. She just smiled. "I guess you were fooled for some time," she said softly.

 

"Oh my, you lied?"

 

"Of course. How could that not  be a lie?" replied Willow, throwing her golden hair back.

 

Demeter bit her lip. "Oh, what a fool I am," she muttered. "Sorry, Lily."

 

"And that's that, right?" said Lily cheerfully. "I really got to go. It's Friday, and I love Fridays. I have Herbology, where I have to meet face-to-face with two people who apparently despise me. And then I have Care for Magical Creatures and sit with another person who despises me. So, cheerful, wonderful, happy, happy day, right? I know, thanks. So. Please excuse me. Bye!"

 

Lily was satisfied by the stunned look on the Gardner sisters' faces, but that didn't last long. She really didn't like acting so sarcastically like this.

 

But no one will care. This is me. Eleven years old, and I already have the official "image" of me! The sarcastic, dry girl whom you should avoid at all costs. Funny. No, not funny. Stop being so sarcastic. Would stop being sarcastic help? Maybe be awfully genuine with Lorcan and Lysander? But that probably would come off as sarcastic. So be kind of genuine? But how do you be "kind of" genuine? Awfully genuine or not genuine. Hmm.

 

"Lily."

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Hmm? What's hmm? It's me."

 

Lily didn't really think about who was calling her until she looked around. Oh, gosh, why? "Oh, hi, Lorcan. What's up?" She tried her best to smile and look bright. It worked, by the way Lorcan's face was twisting into a bemused expression.

 

"What's up? Well, everything's fine."

 

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Lily asked. I'm sorry, hopefully?

 

"This is where we take Herbology, right?"

 

"Oh, yes."

 

"Thanks, then." Lorcan turned.

 

Panicking a little, Lily called, "Wait!" She didn't know what she was going to say if Lorcan did turn back.

 

Lorcan turned back.

 

"Um, where's Lysander?"

 

"I think he's already there. Is that it?"

 

Lily blinked at him.

 

"All right, then."

 

Oh, darn. "Wait! Um, again!"

 

Lorcan snorted with laughter. "Yeah? I'm waiting. Again."

 

Lily flushed, but didn't say anything. "I'm sorry." She raised her head, and felt her heart nearly stopped. Oh for the love of Pete!