Dedicated to Sophie, for Hogwarts's Teacher Appreciation Challenge. Enjoy!
Written for the 100 Ways to Say "I Love You" Challenge (42. "Is this okay?")
Lily Potter tiptoed past her roommate's beds, stepping carefully over the creaky floorboard in the entryway of the dorm. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief at getting out safety, Lily continued to sneak downstairs and into the Slytherin common room.
The Slytherin Common Room had an eerie feel to it after-hours. The room was deserted after curfew- not even the most studious students were up this late. The lanterns on the wall were still working, casting the room in a sickly green light. There were abandoned books piled on the tables and a gobstones set lying on the very edge of a plush couch, half its pieces on the floor.
It had the feel of a dungeon long since forgotten and it was the most homely place Lily had been in all year, something that spoke a lot about her current mental state.
Lily kicked over some books and made her way over to the couches. It was so cold in the Slytherin common room that goose bumps covered every inch her skin.
"Are you okay?" Someone asked and Lily whipped around so fast her hair smacked her in the face. She rolled her eyes. In front of her, a pale, blond boy was slouched in an armchair, tiredly smiling at her.
"Yes, I am," Lily stated, sitting across from him. "Why do you ask?"
The boy paused for a second and Lily could almost see the gears in his brain turning as he thought. "Well, you are a Potter and a Weasley. Those are typically Gryffindor families so I wanted to make sure you were doing alright."
"It's not much of a surprise. I prefer cunning to bravery any day," Lily paused. "What's your name, anyways?"
"Scorpius. I'm Scorpius Malfoy," The boy stated, watching her carefully. Lily schooled her face into a neutral mask.
So, this was Scorpius Malfoy. The boy her cousins raged about and called a snake behind his back. Well, Lily was a snake also now. If she could break one tradition, another wouldn't hurt.
Lily stuck out her hand. "Lily. Lily Luna Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Scorpius let out a startled laugh and shook her hand passionately.
"I thought you wouldn't come anywhere near me," He confessed.
Lily giggled. "Why make enemies when you can make friends?"
Scorpius laughed also and Lily smiled at him, feeling something like a kinship with this other kid who stayed up far too late at night.
It was nice to finally make a friend.
...
"Lily Luna Potter, will you marry me?" Scorpius asked the mirror before shaking his head. "Is this okay? No, it's far too cliché. She deserves better."
"Actually, I quite like that version," Lily said from somewhere behind him and Scorpius turned around to see her leaning against the doorframe.
"You weren't supposed to find out like this," Scorpius said sheepishly, running his fingers through his hair. "I have a ring and everything."
"It's not like I would have said no, Scorp. You've been my best friend for four years and my boyfriend for five. Hell, at one point you were my only friend." Lily stated.
Scorpius laughed, acknowledging her point. Grabbing a ring box from behind his sock drawer, Scorpius dropped to his knees. "Lily, you been the most important person in my life since I've met you. You're the most open-minded and kind-hearted person I've ever met and I'm so happy I stayed up late that day in the common room. Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will, you goof," Lily said laughingly, reaching over to kiss him. "Always."