Liliana's POV

If I had one word to describe Julian, it would be cute. You'd think I'm mad, but I'm really not. Sure, he's a little aggressive and all that, but when he's calm he's fine. And cute.

"Lily?" Aww! Isn't his accent just so adorable? It's even cuter than Seamus'!

"Yes, Julian?" I turned to look at him. He stood at the door, looking really angry and...worried? "What's wrong? What is it?"

"Your brother wants to talk to you," he seethed. "Alone."

"Well-l okay?" I stepped around him, and just before I left, he grabbed my wrist. "Huh?"

"Be careful, okay? And if anything happens, tell me." He looked into my eyes and I nodded. Then he let go of me and I hurried downstairs and out of the common room. Harry was waiting right outside.

"Liliana," he greeted. He sounded...lost. I looked around us. "It's just us. I told Ron not to come."

Ron. Weasley. Our friendship had lasted a few months and a few months only. It felt distant now to call him Ron and not Weasley, like Draco does. Julian only calls people in other houses three names: Blood Traitor, Mudblood, and filthy half-breed. Takes after his mother, I see.

"Liliana?" Harry asked, snapping me from my thoughts. He gently put his hand on my arm. "You okay?"

I don't know who made the next move first, but in a split second, I found myself in Harry's arms, and he was hugging me tightly, whispering, "I missed you, Lily," over and over again.

"I missed you too, Harry," I replied when we finally broke apart from the hug. "I feel a little bad for calling Hermione a Mudblood, you know, come to think of it."

Harry nodded in understanding. "You want me to talk to her, or-"

I scrunched up my face. "Do you mind? I mean, can you tell her first?"

Harry nodded again. "Sure."

I smiled and headed for Salazar Slytherin's portrait. "Is that it, then?"

"Wait, one more thing."

I turned back around. "Yes?"

"Who is this new Lestrange boy?" he asked. "What is he to you?"

I paused and grinned. "Julian, you mean? He's my new friend. He's nice!"

"Really?" Harry asked in a disbelieving tone. "He didn't seem like-"

I sighed. "He's nice to certain people, happy? And I just happened to be one of those certain people."

"Fine, good night, Lily," Harry hugged me one more time and left for the Gryffindor common room.

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Ron's POV

"I still don't understand! How could she?!" I screamed at Harry in the morning of the next day. It was 6, and Harry just woke me up to tell me that Liliana befriended that Lestrange! "And you're alright with it?!"

Neville, Seamus, and Dean stared at us.

"Ron," he huffed. "I'm trying to make her happy, can't you see that?"

"No! I don't see it! How can you accept that she's turned into a slimy Slytherin?! Is that what you've really wanted?!"

That seemed to be the last straw for Harry. "DO. NOT. CALL. MY. SISTER. THAT!" he yelled and smacked me across the face.

I stood there, stunned as he sent me a glare and stormed out of our dorm.

After he left, I touched my cheek and winced at the pain. Neville came forwards to have a good look at it.

"Whoa Ron, he got you good there!" Dean exclaimed.

I glared at him. "Didn't need you to point that out."

"It was your fault for talking about Lily behind her back like that!" Seamus snapped. And he too, left, after bumping into my shoulder harshly whilst passing me.

Dean left too, after his best friend.

"I guess they still stand by Liliana," Neville spoke, breaking the silence. "Well, Dean's in the middle, really, but Seamus has Liliana's back."

"Do you?" I asked.

Neville shrugged. "I'm like Dean, in the middle. But after that Lestrange story, I'm sliding more on your side."

I nodded, regretting what I said about Liliana instantly. I just- I mean- I, uh...

I guess I still had a crush on Liliana. Just a tiny one, but it was still from last year.

And I couldn't get over it.