15

Chapter 15

Painful Truth

I couldn't believe it. My girlfriend was beautiful, intelligent, talented… and now she was an Animagus! At thirteen. I smiled at her.

"That's incredible!"

"Shh! You can't tell anyone."

"I won't. My girlfriend is an Animagus, at thirteen."

She smiled and blushed.

"Now I can find out why my dad hates Lupin so much. And hopefully why he bullies my brother."

"You did all this work for that?"

"Partly. But it could also come in handy later."

"True."

She smiled again.

"Lily, there's something I need to tell you."

She nodded and I took her hand.

"I tell my mother almost everything. And I told her about what happened with Buckbeak. How you were hurt."

"I don't understand what's wrong with that."

"Lily, my father found out."

Her eyes widened and she slowly shook her head. I looked down.

"I'm sorry Lily. I never should've said anything about it to anyone in my family. This will give my father and excuse to do something cruel."

She squeezed my hand.

"I don't blame you. And no offense to you, but honestly your dad is a git."

I shrugged.

"He's not the best father either. But I needed to tell you."

"I'm glad you did. Maybe we'll be able to stop him if he tries something. Not 'if' when he tries something."

I nodded and she put her arms around me. I smiled and breathed in the scent of her hair. Roses. Always fresh roses. She stepped back and I looked around.

"So, this is where you hide, is it?"

She laughed a bit.

"I don't hide from anything. This is where I do things I'm not supposed to. Like learning to become an Animagus."

I smiled.

"Cool. Only you would this room. Especially in a library."

She winked and we left the room.

"So, what's it feel like?"

"Nothing really. Well, I feel a little small when I do it."

"Yeah? I would expect that. But you make a beautiful one."

She smiled again and took my hand.

"Thanks. Now, let's get going to Hogsmade. I still need to get dad something for Christmas."

I nodded and we bundled up before going.

Lily's POV

I still felt terrible for Harry. Having to stay behind while everyone else went off to the village. I saw him in the clock tower and I stopped. Draco looked at me, but I just looked at Harry. He smiled sadly and waved me off. I sighed sadly and shook my head. I walked away with Draco and he took me for a butterbeer. He knew that butterbeer almost always cheered me up.

"Maybe he'll find a way out." Draco said.

That was a possibility. Harry and I had always found ways into places we shouldn't. That cheered me up a bit. I had an idea for my dad's gift and it was the best one I had. Draco went with me to get it. I had a picture of dad and I when I was two. The snow was falling dad had me up in the air like an angel. The both of us were smiling.

"You were an adorable child. You know that, right?"

I chuckled and put it in the new frame.

"He'll love it. I know he will." Draco said.

I smiled again, then I felt a little strange.

"Something wrong?"

I thought I felt my brother nearby. But it wasn't possible.

"No, nothing. I just thought I felt something. Let's go. I want to see the shrieking shack."

"What is it with you and haunted buildings? Weren't you just telling me about that haunted castle in France the other day?"

I laughed and grabbed his hand.

"I think it's interesting."

He rolled his eyes but he smiled. I saw a couple of his friends walking towards us. I turned and pulled Draco into an alley. I turned into a weasel and then climbed into his pocket.

"Malfoy."

He'd figure out why I did it. Besides, it was much warmer in his pocket.

Harry's POV

I found Ron and Hermione at the shrieking shack. Malfoy and his lackeys were there too, Lily was nowhere to be seen. I saw Malfoy take his coat off, which confused me. Especially the way he hung it up. He also had my sister's bag.

"Boy's, I think it's time we teach Weaslbee, how to respect his superiors."

I narrowed my eyes and started making a snowball.

"You filthy little Mudblood!"

I threw as hard as I could. I hit him right on the side of the head. He looked around, but I smiled knowing he would never find me.

"Who's there?!"

I decided to have a little fun with him.

Lily's POV

I heard shouts so I poked my head out of Draco's pocket. He and his friends were getting kicked around by an invisible foe.

Invisible! Harry is here! Good for him.

He started to drag Draco towards the shrieking shack. He let him go and Draco ran back. He grabbed his coat and my bag before running. When he got back to the village he took me out of his pocket.

"You alright?"

I nodded and he looked around. He took me down an alley and set me down so I could turn back. I crossed my arms. I'd heard what he called Hermione. He sighed and nodded.

"I'm sorry Lily. It slipped out, I didn't mean to! Even if I don't like her… it gives me no excuse to call her that. I'm sorry."

I sighed and leaned against the wall.

"Why do you keep calling people that?"

"I hear my father say it every day of my life. I know that's no excuse."

I took his hand and squeezed.

"Don't do it again, okay? I'll slap you if you do."

He smiled a bit and I kissed his cheek. I heard the name 'Sirius Black' and turned. I saw the minister and Professor McGonagall with Madam Rosemerta.

"Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter?"

"Shh!"

I looked at Draco. He took my bag from me and nodded towards the pub. I kissed his cheek before going weasel. He said he's meet me on the Astronomy tower.

Draco's POV

I used the rest of my time to find Lily a Christmas gift. I knew she wasn't like most girls. I knew she loved to write. I smiled to myself and ran to the bookstore.

Lily's POV

I met up with Draco later. He smiled at me but I couldn't smile back.

"Sirius Black, he betrayed my mother and James. He's the reason they're dad. And he's my godfather."

The smile fell right off his face. He came and put his arms around me. This had to be one of the worst days of my life.