the_debt_of_time

The crowd fell into utter silence.
Mia's face paled. "Lily," she whispered, watching closely as her friend stared into
Snape's cold face.
Mia—no, Hermione—had been called Mudblood more times than she could count,
but as she watched Lily and Snape stare at one another, she wondered how much it would
have hurt if it had been Harry or Ron who called her that horrid name instead of Draco.
If Remus or Sirius used it against her, Mia knew it would shatter her heart in ways that
could not possibly be put back together; an ultimate betrayal said in a flash of regrettable
anger.
"Apologise to Evans!" James roared at Snape, wand pointed threateningly at him,
eyes blazing.
"I don't want you to make him apologise," Lily shouted, rounding on James. "You're
as bad as he is."
"What?" James yelped. "I'd never call you a you-know-what!"
"Mary, grab Lily, and get her out of here!" Mia demanded.
Mary nodded, a scathing look on her face as her eyes narrowed at Snape.
It was one thing to hex each other in the hallways. It was one thing to call names,
make fun of Houses, and cause problems on the Quidditch pitch, but there was one line
that no one ever crossed: no one ever called Lily Evans a Mudblood in front of the other
Gryffindors.
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got
off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch." Lily stormed closer to James.
For a moment, he actually looked a little terrified. "Walking down corridors and hexing
anyone who annoys you just because you can—I'm surprised your broomstick can get off
the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK!"
"Come on, Lils." Mary took Lily's hand, leading her away from the crowd.
Mia watched closely as her friends walked away and could tell Lily was holding back
tears. She turned on the boys, her glare directed at all of them—Snape included.
"What is it with her?" James asked, trying and failing to look as though this was a
throwaway question of no real importance to him, but Mia could see he was hurt and felt
guilty. Though, if she guessed, he was not sure what he felt guilty about.