Lily couldn't count the number of times she'd woken up in Lysander's arms. She always loved the feeling of him next to her being the first thing she was aware of in them morning. His cologne smelt like pine wood, like home. It made her feel so safe, like nothing could ever ruin the calm he put over her. They were supposed to be together for ever, for always, and nothing was going to threaten that, not ever. At least that's what she could tell herself when she'd wake up with his arm around her waste and his face burrowed in to the back of her shoulder.
Waking up with Lorcan was different…to say the least. Lorcan smelled – at least right now – of smoke and liquor, but also of something like candy, licorice maybe? Chocolate? She couldn't quite tell. It was soothing, not in the head over heels way that his brother issued out but in a way that helped her ignore the fact that somewhere in the world as the sun peaked over the window sills of Malfoy Manor on the day after Christmas her recently estranged boyfriend was waking up holding her cousin Rose in the same way he used to hold onto her, As though she kept him anchored to the earth.
When she first woke up she was lying on her side on the sofa she'd dozed off on the night before. Curled around her stomach, resting lightly on her stomach his fingers laced through her own was one of Lorcan's hands. The other one was curled up around his head in a way she couldn't imagine could be comfortable but he didn't seem to mind. When he breathed she got a great waft of the scent she'd picked up on him upon first consideration and the tendrils of red hair that had fallen across his fact during the night would flicker.
Although it was very odd to be waking up with the twin of the love of her life so soon after their parting of ways it was also very touching to wake up holding someone's hand and having them cling to her as though they needed her there to get to sleep. Not wanting to wake him quite yet, not knowing if he would be as comfortable with the situation this morning has he had been last night, not knowing much of anything she carefully turned so that she was lying on her back next to him. Lily almost laughed when he had a typical sleeping boy reaction. Without waking or really being upset about the change of position he shifted slightly, his hand continuing to hold hers and his head finding its resting place on her shoulder.
Briefly Lily wondered if perhaps Lorcan had woken many mornings with Darcy in this very position, he seemed so at easy, so calm as he slept, as though he had not a care in the world. Was he dreaming of Darcy? Would he be confused when he awoke to find it was not his lovely seventeen year old girlfriend with the olive colored skin and the raven hair that he was holding on to? But Lily didn't have much time to dwell on such ideas and considerations. For just as she began to think that maybe she should just slip off the sofa while he continued to sleep and floo home before he knew she was missing from his embrace, she noticed someone sitting in an armchair across the room from them simply looking on.
This was the first time Lily had seen the state of the room since awakening, she had been far too consumed in the position she herself was in. There were several other groupings of what appeared to be couples strewn around the room however the only furniture seemed to have been claimed by herself and Lorcan and the boy in the armchair. A girl lily recognized as a Slytherin from her year was slumped against the wall to the left of the door, her head resting on the shoulder of a boy with a head of black hair who was sporting a tuft of blonde as bangs. On the floor the boy who had affronted Lorcan when he'd found them kissing the night before was passed out hilariously in the fetal position right in front of the arm chair.
Lily couldn't look away, it was quite pathetic really. It was just so odd to suddenly become aware of someone staring at you. On the dark green chair was draped a boy, one leg over the right arm chair and the other foot resting on the floor, as he leaned across the seat. He was clad in dark grey wash jeans and a black form fitting tee which was lightly wrinkled for wear. His skin was pale and the dark grey eyes that were trained on her seemed like they went on for ages, like she could get lost in them and never find her way out. Blonde hair fell across his face in long strands that sat very straight despite his mussed state.
The opened bottle of firewhiskey clutched in his hand, resting neatly on his stomach gave Lily the impression he had never stopped drinking as the night went on and had been sitting there nursing it for a rather long time. She wondered how long he had been watching her for and it made her slightly uncomfortable to think that she'd been being watched as she slept.
"Enjoying my sofa?" She was startled when he spoke, having been dazing off and still confused by his presences. It didn't help either that she was still feeling slightly woozy from the amount of alcohol she had consumed the night before and as a result his voice was mildly amplified.
Blinking a few times Lily tried to think of how to respond to his comment. She'd never really spent that much time around Scorpius, for obvious reasons, and so to have him speaking directly to her for the first time while she lounged on his sofa the morning after a party she hadn't even really been invited to was rather uncomfortable. "Er…it's very comfortable, thank you."
Scorpius' expression hardly changed at her response but she detected a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth as though he might be suppressing a smirk. His eyes were still set directly on hers, unwavering, it was all rather daunting to her… "I'm Scorpius Malfoy. But you already knew that didn't you?" Lily nodded, not really knowing what else to do. Scorpius paused for a moment and his eyes flickered to her hair and then immediately back to her. "Are you a Weasley?"
Lily immediately tensed up. There had been a long living rivalry between the Malfoys and…well any family who had people in Gryffindor. But there was an extra special level of hatred between the Malfoy and Weasley clans as the former thought the latter were nothing but filthy blood traitors. "Actually I'm a Potter…"
This time a smirk really did alight upon Scorpius face. It was amazing the effect it had on Lily. A tingle spread throughout her body when she saw him smile because it was something she had never seen before. A Malfoy smiling at a Potter? Her father would not believe it.
"A Potter huh? My father would be so pleased to know I allowed you to sleep here then. Perhaps it shall just be our little secret." He winked at her and the tingles spread through her again. She wanted to stop talking to him, wanted to disappear for the way he was making her feel but what was she to do? She was still in the grasp of Lorcan Scamander and somehow having him next to her was the only thing keeping her from running scared in the other direction as Scorpius sat there staring at her.
"You're really cute for a Potter." That was honestly the last thing she had ever expected to come out of his mouth. At this moment she did not feel cute at all. The front of her white dress had soot on it from flooing into the fireplace at the Manor and her hair was sticking out at odd angles because of the way she had slept on it. At that point she came to the conclusion that Scorpius must still be all kinds of intoxicated to be saying let along thinking that she was really cute.
That didn't stop her however from unconsciously gripping Lorcan's hand on her stomach a bit tighter for support and worriedly glancing to the side at him as though he might wake up just in time to hear Scorpius' comment and think something was going on that it wasn't. But then again she had no reason to be worried about what Lorcan would think. It's not like they were together, they had only kissed a bit when they were drunk, when they were both upset. All the same she did care what he though, for whatever reason. And she didn't want him to think she was…what was she afraid of him thinking?
"Don't worry. Lorcan will be out for another hour at least. He always sleeps the longest after a night like last night." Thanks for the reassuring words, Malfoy, who asked you? But there was no reason for Lily to be hostile towards Malfoy. She was just cranky because she was hung over and confused and was having feelings about things she didn't understand currently. Suddenly she had the undying urge to go home and be in her own bed.
"I should go…." She started to get up, carefully sliding her legs off the side of the sofa and sitting up so that her hand still held Lorcan's on her lap. His head slid off of her onto the sofa cushion but still he did not stir. Looking down at him she reached out with one of her free hand and ran her fingers through his short blonde hair again, enjoying it slightly but wishing for more because of the long straight hair she was used to. No, Lysander's hair was wavy not straight. Who had straight blonde hair?
Realizing she was thinking of Scropius she looked up at the armchair but was shocked to find that he was merely a foot or two away from him now. Standing, looking down at her the fire whiskey bottle hanging from his hand he was still cool and calm. "Don't leave. We do this every year when my parents go to Italy for the holidays. No one else will be leaving for a few days at least. You should stay…hang out."
For a moment she considered it but then he winked at her again and it sent the jolt through her she needed. "No…no I really have to go…"
"Suit yourself." He started backing away from her. "Me? I have to go find someone." He smirked and turned around, calling back to her over his shoulder. "Live a little, Potter girl." As he past the piano in the corner he trailed his hand across the keys in a flourish which resounded off the walls. Moments later he disappeared around the corner. In his absence there were groans from those that were awoken by his musical expertise.
Lily glanced back at Lorcan who had silently opened his eyes, typical she thought of his personality. They locked eyes for a moment and Lily smiled at him briefly. Acting on impulse she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Placing the hand she had been holding on his stomach she patted it and started to stand up. Lorcan grabbed her hand and kept her from walking away.
"Where are you going?" His voice was low and husky in that sleepy way she was used to hearing from someone else who he reminded her of.
"Home. My parents, they'll worry. I just took off. I don't do that." She tried to pull her hand away again but he wouldn't let her.
"Fuck that. Stay here. We'll get up at noon and have breakfast with everyone and then we'll drink ourselves to oblivion again tomorrow night and forget all our problems, all our responsibilities." As he spoke he sat up slightly and pulled her to sit next to him, rubbing her side with the hand that wasn't on hers. She paused and looked hesitant so he continued. "Don't worry about your parents. You're with me. Mum knows I'd never let anything happen to you and she can handle Harry and Ginny.
Lily still wasn't convinced and she shook her head, not looking at him. Why did he want her to stay so bad. The hand on her waist stopped its activity and found her face turning it so she was lookng him. She was surprised to find his face so close to hers. She was even more surprised when he ducked in and kissed her softly sending the same chill through her she had found when Scorpius smiled at her. It was a nice feeling especially with something to compare it to. But then he pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers like he had the night before after they kissed. "Stay. Please?"
"Okay." She didn't know why she agreed but she felt on some level that she would rather be here with Lorcan than home with a family that would drill her with questions and remind her that they were all back stabbers. And so she'd stay and perhaps she wouldn't stay for the next party but breakfast sounded amazing at this point and so did a bit more sleep.
"Good." It seemed that Lorcan had the same idea about sleep on his mind because he started lying down again and pulling her with him. "Now come here." and she laid down on her side again and he laced his arms around her waist and kissed the crook of her neck . "You smell really nice." And she felt his breathing steady as he fell back to sleep. After a few minutes she relaxed as it seemed the room was silent and calm again, filled with the sleeping breathing of its occupants. Maybe this was just what she needed. Maybe Scorpius was right. It was time for her to live a little. And with that thought she adjusted her head in its resting place and let sleep overtake her once more.