Chapter 140: Sirius Goes Home
"I know you had a reason for what you did." Lily's laughter faded, her expression turning serious. "You're not the type to bully someone for no reason. But I'll admit, I couldn't figure it out at first. I don't know the rules and hierarchies of Pure-blood families, but I know Britain has its aristocracy, its titles, its traditions of dueling over family honor. It's just... that world is so far removed from ordinary people. To me, those are plots in novels and films, not things that happen in real life."
She watched Regulus's reaction. When she mentioned films, his expression didn't flicker with confusion.
He remained calm, even a touch encouraging.
"I thought about it for a long time afterward," Lily continued. "I realized you were protecting your family's honor? Dignity? But the methods were... intense."
She glanced at him again. No anger, no rebuttal. He listened in silence.
"Later, Marcia Fawley explained a few things. She said in Pure-blood circles, certain lines can't be crossed. A lower-ranking family can't publicly treat the heir of a higher-ranking family that way. She said you weren't bullying anyone. You were drawing a boundary."
Her voice dropped, as though the concept still didn't sit comfortably in her understanding.
"Anyway." Lily lifted her chin and met his eyes. "You're my friend, so I'll support you. And now that I know why you did it, even if I don't fully understand those reasons, I accept that they exist. So no, I don't think you were wrong."
She finished and looked at him, a little tense.