A/N: This is an extension to Shayalonnie's "Bad at Love" one shot that she just published- which is excellent and you should go read it. Anyway, this is standalone of the same vein.


She tasted like Jack. I hated that. She tastes like strawberries and vanilla and a hint of Assam Supreme with a dash of milk. Lucius laughs at my look of disgust and not too subtlety suggests that perhaps I'd prefer the pain of punishment in lieu of participation. I'm not a brave man. I build walls in my mind and pretend she is her. It makes the revel easier from there. She never really liked my friends.


Today she looked at me like I was the creepiest soul alive and I feel that I am. I'm obsessed with her and I hate everyone that orbits in her significant gravitational range. Because I can't. She won't even talk to me. Our last conversation before I uttered that foul word rent my heart in two anyway. I'll never forget it.

"Lily, why do you let him speak to you that way? He's a shameless flirt. An irritation. He could never love you like I do."

I take her face in my hand and in an act of unsurpassed boldness press my lips to hers. She pushes me away.

"I can't do this."

"No."

I toy with her hair.

"Yes, and I didn't give you permission to kiss me. Answer me this honestly, why do you let Lucius speak to you that way? He isn't a shameless flirt but he hates me. How can you claim to love me and love him at the same time?"

"You don't understand. It's complicated."

"No I don't. I can't read you and you never explain it. You hate me around them and love me when we're here. I'm done with this. You're hot and your cold."

"No."

"Stopping saying that. I'm serious. Whatever this is or could have been, we're through."

"No, please. Lily, you know I'd be lying if I said you were the one to finally fix me but I'm bad at love. I'm willing to try. Please. I will love you, always. Always!"

"I know." She stared at him and forcefully pulled her hand from his and she got up and walked away.

The next time he saw her he'd said the unforgiveable words. Well, the words that she didn't want to forgive him for anyway. He didn't believe for an instant that she was that offended. She wanted it to be over and he couldn't let it be- she had said as much. So he lay outside the portrait of the fat lady for days and continued to stare at her across the great hall.


Their wedding was in the paper today. I caught it and half my temporary lean-to in the woods on fire in my anger. Guess I'll go back to Spinner's End now. That bitch. Potter. I hate him. I hate her. I'm bad at love but one word echoes through my misery: "Always."