More students stayed at school during this holiday break, keeping the Slytherin common room constantly occupied. This forced Lys to retreat to her familiar corner, where she was deeply engrossed in "Common Household Magic - Cooking Edition," borrowed from the library.
She kept popping Earl's cream toffees and chocolate-filled candies into her mouth one after another. Her wand was tucked between her crossed legs, and since it was holiday time, she'd foregone her school robes in favor of a dark green shirt and a charm-heated vest. Her sprawled position on the sofa drew several glances from a senior girl nearby.
The piglet was contentedly grunting in her hair while Lys, drowsy from reading, was about to fall asleep with candy still in her mouth. Strange and bizarre images and lights began floating through her mind, making her sleep restless. She seemed to see Coco hanging laundry on the roof, while the fruit trees behind the house stood bare, without a single leaf.
She gathered courage to knock on her father's door to tell him about the Blacks at school, but accompanied by the sound of chains, the door wouldn't open. She wanted to find her mother to tell her she could now read and could write letters to her, which she could keep. But she couldn't find her anywhere. She lay back in her small kitchen bed, feeling cramped, and turned to see her mother brewing a potion - pink, with pearl-like spiral steam. Her mother's tears were being collected in a large wine bottle. It was getting dark, the full moon was coming - Mother!
Lys was suddenly jolted from her dream by a harsh voice, instinctively clutching what was in her hands. She found senior Carrow roughly flipping through her library book.
"Ha, look what the little Black girl is reading! Common Household Magic? Well, well, as a Slytherin, are you planning to become a housewife? Let's see, who among us is your marriage target? Is that all Black women know - how to seduce men?"
Still not fully awake, Lys worried about the book being damaged but remained silent. This person clearly had issues with the Black surname, having mocked Senior Narcissa at the opening feast.
Lys gripped her wand and adjusted her position, tugging at her shirt and vest that had bunched up from her poor posture. She faced Carrow with her large, long eyes.
"Senior, my family only moved to England from Northern Europe during my grandfather's generation. While I'm honored to have some kinship with the Black family you mention, I don't believe my actions can represent or influence them. Could you please return the library book? I need to return it soon."
The armor by the door knew how long she'd prepared that first half of her response. Ever since that ghost had said those strange things beside her during Professor McGonagall's tutoring, Lys had sometimes lain awake at night thinking about how to respond if someone made such implications.
Sure enough, Carrow narrowed her eyes and asked, "Northern Europe?"
"Yes, senior. This wand was given to me by my mother. They say it was made by Gregorovitch himself."
Carrow, still holding the household magic book, was confused by the sudden shift to wands, but this didn't diminish her desire to cause trouble.
"Don't change the subject, you fool. Look at those grey eyes of yours - who would believe that you, bearing the Black name, have no connection to that wretch Narcissa Black! All Black women are worthless, and their men are cowards and traitors! You'd better know your place in Slytherin. The Blacks are all..."
As Lys wondered what to do, a senior boy's elegant, deep voice interrupted Carrow's rant: "Alecto Carrow, have you lost your mind?" Carrow spun around startled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean... Senior Lestrange, I wasn't saying anything bad about your family, I..."
"Enough, shut up, Carrow. Everyone here knows what you're thinking. Whether it's jealousy or stupidity, you'd better not forget your own status before opening your mouth."
He threw Carrow's words back at her - two bottom-feeders trying to determine who was more noble?
Narcissa had never officially acknowledged this Stalis Black as part of their family. At least today this worthless fool showed some brains in her response.
After retrieving her book, Lys gave a slight bow to the senior boy in thanks, though he ignored her. She gathered her candies and book and returned to her dormitory.
From then on, she always checked for troublemakers before appearing in the common room.