the labyrinth
"Lily?"
"What, mom?" Lily tried to sound as normal as possible, and quickly hid the evidence before her mom had the chance to walk into her room. She picked up a book and pulled her sleeves down.
"We're leaving to see Teddy off in an hour, just make sure you're packed and ready," her mom said, sticking her head in through the doorframe.
"Okay, yeah, sure." Lily said quickly.
Ginny paused. "Lil?"
"What?" she asked, sighing.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong."
"Why is there a knife sticking out from under your pillow?"
Lily felt tears stinging at her eyes, threatening to fall through and ruin her composure. Not here, not now, this is not how she wanted anyone to find out. Actually, she didn't want anyone to find out how completely lost she had been for the past year. "Don't, mum." she said. "Don't ask."
Ginny sat down on her only daughter's bed and looked her straight in the eyes. "Lily Luna Potter, what is going on?"
"Mom, I cut!" she shouted.
Harry stepped one foot into the room. "What?"
Lily put her face in her hands. "Oh, Merlin, Dad, go away."
He, too, sat down on her bed, and Lily felt like her privacy was being completely invaded. It was her room, her bed, her personal space, her knife, and her arms. Well, and her stomach. And legs. "Just go away, please. I don't want to talk about it."
Ginny reached out and took Lily's hand, gently rubbing her fingers. "Honey, it's okay. We're here to talk about it.
"Talk about what?" Albus asked, walking in. "Are we having a family meeting?" He sat down in her beanbag chair, making himself comfortable and Lily slightly irriated.
"Al, go away. Next thing we know, James is going to walk in, and it'll be a regular old family love session," she said, her voice oozing sarcasm. "James Sirius Potter," she yelled in the general direction of the hallway. "If you come in my room, I will hex your-"
"Okay," Harry interjected. "Lily, what is this?" He slid the knife out from under her pillow, and she felt so ashamed, so low, and so angry, that she grabbed it back and put it where he had taken it from.
"Don't ask." she said. "You know what it is, and you know I want you to leave."
Ginny wrapped her daughter in a hug, whether she liked it or not, and Lily saw Albus's face. He looked heartbroken.
"Lils," he said. "You could've talked to me."
"Al, you're sweet, but I couldn't have. I don't want any of your help. I don't want anyone's help, actually. Just leave me alone."
Ginny took her daughter's face in her hands and gave her a sad smile. "We love you, Lily. And we're going to help you through this."
But as they left, Lily knew that she had to find her way out of the labyrinth alone. She was lost, and no one could help her. Not even her family.
A/N: This was written for Cheeky's Weekly Drabble Competition, Medium: Write a family-centric fic involving at least one Next Gen character. You must use the prompts sweet, lost, and hand.
Allie