Chapter 22

On the first day of school, every Gryffindor who knew me greeted me with a surprised expression on the school bus. Okay, the change was quite dramatic, but could they please close their mouths? I could see their cavities.

Shutting the compartment door, I started to complain, "Is it that shocking? Their reactions are so exaggerated. Sure, I've changed, but I look perfectly normal now!" I glanced at my light blue dress, which I thought was quite suitable.

Lily, who had been holding back her laughter since we got on the bus, finally burst out laughing, "Haha... Maybe the contrast is just too stark, hmm, they need time to digest it. Hahaha..."

Severus smirked, "Seeing others go through the same shock makes me feel balanced. Don't thank me, Lily, I just voiced your thoughts."

Rarely did Severus tease me, making Lily laugh even harder. I lunged at her, hooking my arm around her neck, laughing and threatening, "No laughing!" We ended up in a playful tussle.

After the scuffle, I sat back down, tidying my slightly messy hair. Remembering the earlier conversation, I felt a bit embarrassed. "Maybe I was a bit too... unkempt before."

"Actually, it wasn't that bad," Lily said, still catching her breath. "Just not very girlish." She started giggling again. Severus watched us with a pleased expression.

"Lily, did you take a cheerfulness potion or drink some elixir of euphoria? You've been laughing non-stop," I muttered.

The Sorting Ceremony this year was much like the previous ones, except for a small incident.

Professor McGonagall called out the names of the new students as usual.

"Regulus Black."

A small, black-haired boy timidly walked onto the stage. Sirius, at the Gryffindor table, shouted excitedly, "Regulus! Come to Gryffindor!" So, he was Sirius's younger brother.

The hat finally called out, "Slytherin!"

Regulus Black set down the hat and walked towards the Slytherin table. Sirius stood up angrily and shouted at his brother, "Another Slytherin! Did those nasty old relics force you? I knew it! Rebel, Regulus!"

I couldn't help but frown. Publicly saying such things about his family, without considering what Regulus would do if he was disowned. As the eldest son meant to inherit the family, Sirius had already rebelled and joined Gryffindor, and despite not being disowned yet, the Black family had been lenient. Yet, he still urged his brother to follow his path. I suppressed the urge to speak out; this was a family matter.

Regulus, now sitting at the Slytherin table, didn't look back at us once.

Back in the dormitory that night, while washing up, the mirror spoke, "Merlin, you finally decided not to murder my eyes. Is this beautiful young lady really the same person as before?" Its voice was almost floating with excitement.

"Yes, it's me," I said through a mouthful of toothpaste. This annoying mirror had been nagging me since my first year—about wrinkled robes, crooked collars, messy hair... especially critical of my hairstyle. As a result, I had sped up my washing routine to escape the mirror as quickly as possible. Sometimes, magical items could be really annoying.

"I told you, long hair suits you better. You should have given up that old look earlier..." I shut the bathroom door before it could continue.

The next morning, I got up relatively early, my long hair a tangled mess, even worse than when it was short. Stepping into the bathroom, the mirror screeched, "Dear, your sleeping posture must be terrible to make such a mess of your hair."

I sprinkled water at the mirror. Oh, shut up. Morning grumpiness isn't a crime, so don't provoke me.

It took five minutes to get my hair back to a presentable state. Maintaining my image was quite a hassle. I had to wake up at least five minutes earlier every day to deal with my hair, just to make it to breakfast on time.

It didn't take long for my true nature to emerge. By the first Friday morning, dragging my tangled hair in a fit of morning grumpiness, I cursed under my breath, "I hate long hair..."

I loved to sleep in, often not getting up until the last minute. Every day, I barely made it to breakfast and sometimes skipped it to go straight to class. Now, having to get up five minutes earlier, cutting down my precious time in bed, was extremely cruel. In my continual self-persuasion, I eventually opted to braid my hair instead of using a series of beautifying charms to keep it smooth and tidy. It was quick and convenient, perfect for me.

After breakfast, on the way to class, Lily and I encountered a small group in the midst of a dispute. It was Sirius and his three friends facing off against Regulus Black, his younger brother. It seemed Sirius had led the charge, cornering young Black, who was outnumbered. Regulus looked both defiant and stubborn, standing off against his brother. Sirius was trying to convince him, "Don't be afraid of those Slytherin snakes. If they bully you, I'll show them—"

"It's because of you that anyone dares to look down on me and the Black family!" Regulus interrupted coldly. "The disgrace you brought upon the Black family is why people dare to scorn its honor. You don't care what the family loses because of you, or what Father and Mother have to endure. Since you abandoned your responsibility, I will bear it. You're a coward." He turned and left, maintaining his noble dignity, despite Sirius's flushed face.

I couldn't help but silently applaud his stance. This seemingly small and timid boy displayed a powerful spirit for his family, making him more suited to inherit than Sirius, who was talented but rebellious.

The group dispersed, still in a rage. "Let it go, Sirius. The more you act like this, the harder it will be for him in Slytherin. If you really care about him, the best way to help him now is to keep your distance," I couldn't help but advise.

Sirius looked dissatisfied but didn't say anything, his expression gloomy as he headed to class. The other three greeted us before following him.

"Pure-blood families are nothing but trouble," Lily muttered.

"Exactly. So, Lily, be careful when choosing who to marry in the future," I diverted the topic, then quickly ran towards the classroom. "Haha, let's go. Class is starting."

"Sawyer! Stop making fun of me..." Lily complained, chasing after me.