Chapter 59

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Lys laboriously climbed the stands, inching her way toward Snape.

Having finally delivered the message, Lys was ready to return to her books when she overheard a nearby boy remarking, "Potter flies brilliantly. I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the new Seeker."

Hah, the arrogant, bullying, troublemaking Potter becoming Seeker...

She hoped his glasses would make him better than the previous beetle-eyed incumbent.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, the burly Gryffindor captain below shouted, "We have our new Seeker, a natural talent! Indeed, the excellent Potter! James Potter!"

Lys's expression now mirrored Snape's perfectly.

Before leaving, Lily Evans's results were also announced - she hadn't qualified, not even making the reserve team. The young girl appeared somewhat dejected.

Snape offered some words of comfort, mentioning that the Potions professor needed to see him and he had to return to the castle.

Lily Evans, seeing Potter heading her way, quickly followed Snape back to the castle.

She sincerely hoped the Quidditch captain would delay Potter for a while longer.

Lys had left two minutes earlier, encountering the stupid dog Black rushing out through the entrance hall.

He spotted Lily Evans's red hair in the distance. Since Chaser trials came after the Seeker's, and even Evans's trial was over, he must have missed James's Quidditch selection!

"Ratface! This is all your fault - you made me miss my best mate's tryouts!"

Their brewing dispute was immediately halted by Professor McGonagall, who had come to inquire about the selection results, but their mutual animosity only grew stronger.

After Lys began publicly calling Sirius Black "stupid dog" and following several minor confrontations, the final exams finally arrived.

Due to exam stress, Lys's left hand even began twitching uncontrollably.

This time, without El nearby to hear her anxieties and regrets, she climbed the beech tree where she often practiced spells.

June's breeze was consistently gentle and soothing. On this rare cloudless day, the sky was as blue as the wings of a Jobberknoll in textbook illustrations.

Lying on the branch, she tried to stop obsessing over the History of Magic exam paper. Since her magical outburst, she'd often been too anxious to sleep, only able to read and memorize books.

But History of Magic, damn History of Magic...

Many young wizards, after their first year at school, lost their initial enthusiasm, and subsequent coursework became tedious burdens to endure.

But Lys was different. She genuinely felt that Charms and those fascinating materials brought dawn's first light to her uncertain future.

They were interesting, practical, and her greatest assurance of being able to return home.

This year she would surely see that photograph on her father's desk. Lys levitated a small branch.

Steady, perfect.

This year, her magic had been uncontrollable, with either insufficient or excessive magical power, and these concerns, along with others, often kept her from sleep.

She'd spent all those sleepless hours reading.

Now Lys had mastered many spells, even some used by upper years. Perhaps her mother would be a bit happier if she helped with next term's coursework during the holidays.

Patting Gaben's head, she noticed he'd grown considerably this year, too large now to fit inside her shirt.

Hagrid had given her a bag made of Chameleon skin, saying "For a girl, it's better to keep Gaben in a bag," mimicking Lys's previous motion of pulling Gaben from her collar, "that's not proper, and your snake is really too fat."

Lying on the branch, Lys was reviewing her academic progress with half-closed eyes when scattered voices startled her awake.

Peering down, she spotted Snape and Evans. She was about to jump down but noticed they seemed upset - climbing down now would definitely be awkward, Lys thought, lying flat on the branch.

"Sev, all Slytherins become Dark wizards, you should make friends from other houses!"

"But Lily, my mother was in Slytherin, I... don't be angry, Lily."

From her perch, Lys watched as Snape conjured a spinning flower in his hand, complete with a leaf as emerald green as Evans's eyes.

But Evans left after consoling him, and the flower drifted away.

Lys tilted her head, watching Snape standing there. Dappled sunlight played across his face just like after their first Transfiguration class, dancing and shifting, but where was that joy, anticipation, and purity? Where was Lily Evans?

All gone.

After packing her belongings, she waited for the Hogwarts Express to take them home.

On the train, Lys found an empty compartment early, cast a Notice-Me-Not charm on it, and read until they reached the station.

Standing at the platform, Lys felt just as nervous as last year. Mother...

Looking at Lys, who now reached her chin, then at the ankles showing below her too-short trousers,

Senna clicked her tongue and cast an Enlargement Charm that nearly left Lys bare-bottomed in the empty station.

Senna didn't take her home, but like last year, dropped her wand at the old house and took her directly to the shop in Knockturn Alley.