Authors Notes ~
Just to clarify some points. The story takes place years after Lily's last year at Hogwarts. Lily and Scorpius are about 24 and 26 years old, respectively. It's also a slow burning series so if you're looking for some sappy fast pace fanfiction this probably isn't for you.
I've also tried to include some British English in here but have probably failed horribly . And obviously not everything is going to go hand and hand with the actual novels but I've tried my best to make this as realistic as possible.
In my head Lily looks like a very redheaded Rachel Hurt-Wood and Scorpius a white-blonde Bill Skarsgard. If that helps.
Feedback and criticism is very welcome as long as it's polite. Enjoy!
Lily Potter stormed into the lobby of the luxury flats in central London and made her way to its five elevators… well four if you didn't include the giant full length mirror that separated them. Of course few people ever did concern themselves with that mirror; with the amount of enchantments and spells placed around it only a wizard or witch could pay it or any of its users any attention. So without any hesitation the very angry young redhead walked straight into the mirror to be in what looked like an ordinary elevator with no buttons.
With and exasperated groan Lily swore, noticing for the first time how difficult it actually was to see this man with whom she was in a very nasty.
"Aparecium", she hissed impatiently, waving her wand.
Sure enough, silver and gold buttons appeared with the corresponding levels and names of its residences. She jabbed at the button marked level seven and a half, the Malfoy residence. The elevator shot up so uncomfortably Lily stumbled back slightly showing just how distracted she was, as this motion normally would startle her. As quickly as she recovered the elevator chimed at her destination but the doors would not yet open.
"Damn it Malfoy let me in!"
A long moment later the doors slowly slid open to reveal a grand sitting room bathed in sunlight coming in from a line of windows facing Lily that would be invisible to the outside world. This time the youngest Potter was not distracted by the sights, she simply stepped into the fancy flat as the doors closed and disappeared behind her.
She looked around until her eyes landed on his tall and slender form to her right in an equally overly elaborate kitchen.
"You're just going to stand there?", she questioned, looking at his back, "Of course you are! I don't even know why I bothered asking. You'll do anything it seems to get to me and force my hand, but it won't work. I'll admit I came down here to give you an ear full for meddling in my affairs, but it's pointless. You're really thick you know that? Oh for FUCK SAKE LOOK AT ME!"
Unperturbed and very slowly, Scorpius turned his body to face her furious gaze holding a newest copy of The Daily Prophet in one hand and a steaming mug in the other. Frowning, but otherwise paying Lily little attention he continued reading the paper in his hand and said, "You're early".
For a moment nothing else happened. Scorpius moved to drink from his morning brew but then suddenly moved the mug as far away from his body as he could just as the bottom of the cup shattered. The sly young Malfoy looked up finally, equally frustrated but very amused, to see the redhead glaring at him her eyes in slits hiding their warm brown color and her bare face flushed a similar red to her hair, which was a slight mess curling in some parts but not others. She wore simple robes draped over a loose T-shirt and casual form fitted jeans. She looked very comfortable except for the pretty but impractical shoes she wore, bring her slightly closer to his over 6 feet. In a passing thought Scorpius notice what a striking natural beauty she'd become in the past few years even as her tomboyish tastes still remained. Just a passing thought it was however.
"You're also becoming strangely predictable again but now that you've gotten that out of the way can we move on to a more… civilized visit?". Grabbing a second identical mug from behind him, Scorpius took a long sip then set both items back down on the counter top and moved to sit on the chair right beside the rigid woman. He unbuttoned his dark suit and ran his fingers threw his white blonde ear length hair -getting comfortable -then gestured for Lily to take a seat on the couch sofa closest to him.
Eventually she obliged. The sofa was jet black leather but it was also soft. Very soft, so much so that Lily couldn't really help but relax her body into its cushions; sure enough her mood followed from furious to exhausted.
"That little stunt you pulled today has not changed my decision", she sighed, "I will not work for or even with you. Especially not to find Billie".
"I've explained to you before I'm not after your girlfriend, just what she has in her possession. And my… stunt takes care of your biggest excuse for not working for me".
Shock and confusion flashed across Lily's face before she could stop it, "First off Billie isn't my girlfriend we're just, I'm just her friend. Regardless, how do you figure telling my father we're involved helps anything?!"
"I didn't know me referring to the little thief as your girlfriend would make you so uncomfortable but that's what I meant. She's a girl that is your friend. I wasn't poking fun at Wilhelmina's unrequited love for you", with a smirk he continued, "Your biggest concern was the reaction of your family once they notice all of your unexplained run ins with me. A Potter and a Malfoy. The Scandal! But why not let them believe that just that? I never told your father we were involved I just told him -out of respect for our families' history -that I would be pursuing you, and I am currently just not for the reason he thinks. Giving you the opportunity to turn me down, once our business is finished. No strings attached".
Doing much better to hid her embarrassment at the comment on the complicated relationship with her close friend, Lily continued to point out the flaws in his plan.
"So what? All of a sudden you think I'm pretty?", this was ridiculous, she though. So ridiculous, in fact Lily was sure she could use this exact conversation for the next boggart she saw.
"What about your family? Your friends?", she questioned, "We have barely any history with each other. Except for your old friendship with Al that fell apart years ago. You expect the people closest to you to just accept your new found feelings for a young blood traitor you barely know. I don't care how reformed you and your company are there is still a world of difference between us. This solution of yours is unrealistic and strange, Scorp".
"Scorp? Interesting nickname for the bloke you have no history with? We might not have been as close as Al, Rose, and myself but I still know you Lily. Besides, I'm a widowed man who's rarely left his flat in the last two years and according to the old bag, Rita Skeeter, I'm knee-deep in the Dark Arts trying to bring my wife back as an Inferi. Everything I do is strange these days".
Lily looked away from Scorpius, uncomfortable at the mention of his wife. She hadn't known the witch at all but from what Lily gathered she was a pureblood Scorpius meet outside of Britain shortly after his fall out with Lily's older brother and cousin. It seemed right after Lily heard about their marriage she'd also heard of her death, the circumstances of which were never really explained. What was clear to everyone was that Scorpius still hadn't moved on from it or her.
She remembered how horrible he looked a few days ago when he first invited her here. His white blonde hair had grown out past his shoulders and was beginning to matte, he'd grown a very unkempt looking beard, there were dark circles under his eyes despite fact that he'd been dressed for bed all day and his skin looked a very unusual shade of grey. It was a far cry from this very clean and smooth sophistication he presented currently. In just days he'd wiped himself and his flat clean of any signs of the last two years; the husband and widower were gone. Anyone who care for Scorpius and looked at him now would just be thankful for the change and really wouldn't care of its origins, she realized.
Although she didn't want to admit it he had given her an almost perfect solution to her reservations about helping him track down her best friend. Truth be told Malfoy had access and resources that she, a junior Auror, did not possess. Billie's disappearance over a year ago wasn't -to the Ministry -Dark wizard related and thus not her job to investigate. But ever since the day she's left, Lily knew something was desperately wrong. It wasn't until a couple of months ago when Billie's name started slowly coming up amongst wizards in the werewolf community and a few days ago when Malfoy approach Lily to track her down that Lily knew her gut had been right.
Whatever it was her friend had gotten herself into it wasn't looking good, so Lily made a resolve that she need to find her and fast. It was becoming increasingly obvious, however, that she couldn't afford to do it alone. Now the question was could she afford to trust Malfoy.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
The sound of tiny foot steps pulled her from her thoughts only to realized she and Scorpius had been staring at each other for some time now. Thinking.
She's noticed the elf before cleaning the mess she'd caused in the kitchen and making what seemed to be brunch, but in her frustration hadn't acknowledged her until now. With the little wrinkly gray elf in full view Lily was convinced that this could possibly be the oldest living elf in all of London. She'd seen plenty of house elves in her life but this one seemed even smaller and definitely more fragile than the rest, as her body was hunched rather badly from aging. Lily watched as Scorpius turned his gaze onto the ancient elf with a softer expression reaching his cold grey eyes.
"What is it Pint?", he said gently.
"Master Malfoy, sir", she croaked worriedly, "the Misses isn't yet in for lunch sir."
Scorpius sighed almost pained, "We'll wait for her then. In the meantime, why don't you go get her favorite sweets for her as a surprise from Honeydukes".
He laid three or four Galleons in her small hand, "Make sure you get enough for the both of you. You know how she loathes eating those things alone".
A shrill chuckle escaped the elf and with an excited, "Yes Master." There was a pop and she was gone.
An embarrassed Scorpius continued looking at the spot the elf had been for a moment before looking back at Lily, who awkwardly pretended to be looking elsewhere.
"My wife, um, Rose -Rosalie. Pint belonged to Rosalie's family when she was very young, she's never fully parted with her so she became our-"
"You don't have to explain".
He continued, "Pint didn't take to Rosalie's death well; and she's just so old that…it's easier to let her be".
Silence fell between the two again but this time it was one of awkwardness; but somehow it helped Lily make her decision in a way Scorpius' manipulations never could. In that minute of watching him appease his dead wife's senile house elf Lily realized that she would take Scorpius up on his offer. She may not trust him but she trusted her gut, which told her that he wasn't worthy of her suspicion either. There were just a few things to get out of the way first.
"I'll agree to work with you to find Billie under three conditions. One I get to publicly turn you down and end this romance charade at any time. Two you agree to listen to me in all areas outside of your expertise. And three you never lie or keep anything from me. Agreed?"
"Agreed", he said, surprised at the sudden decision.
"One more thing".
"Four conditions?"
"No just one question"
"What?" truly curious he waited as she fidgeted for a second.
"What are we going to do about my brothers?"
