The staircase was always crowded just before lunch, with that being something that no student wanted to miss. Not even the ones who were skiving off lessons, not that she ever did. Neither did Bridget, and the girls were comparing thoughts of their last class as they headed for lunch.
Irritated murmurs reached their ears, and the girls paused on the stairs, looking toward the mutterings, and Lily winced as Bridget gripped her arm.
No wonder...
A woman had appeared in the middle of the chaos of hungry students, and was making her way down the stairs. She pushed at a student, and another crowded her. A wand appeared. Lily saw a flash of green and Bridget's hand tightened, then dragged her to the floor.
Brightly coloured curses flew and Lily clutched at her wand, putting up a shield and huddling with her friend, out of the way of the Aurors who seemed to have poured in from nowhere. She knew that they were always here, Aurors and HitWizards, but there seemed to be more of them now, and they surrounded the woman. The Headmaster was there as well, and Lily let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding.
"Headmaster Snape's here," she said, then turned to Bridget, already trying to prise the fingers loose from her arm. "You can let go now..." But her words trailed off as she finally looked at the girl, and Lily covered her mouth with one hand to stop the scream she knew was coming.
No... No! She wrenched her arm free, scrambling down three steps, then sat down in horror. Her friend. Her housemate. Dead...