Over the summer, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, 96 Diagon Alley

Harry tugged urgently on Lylli's sleeve. "Come on, Lylls!" he whispered. "Are you coming?"

Lylli tore her eyes away from the display of Pygmy Puffs (both she and Ginny were enthralled by them) and glanced at Harry. "Coming where?"

Harry gave her an impish look. "We're following Malfoy. He's snuck off from his mother, and I want to know why."

"Suit yourself; I'm not interested."

"Come on, Lylls! It'll be fun."

Lylli looked at on and Hermione. "Fine. Will the Cloak cover all four of us?"

"It should." Harry threw the Invisibility Cloak over them. Their feet stuck out. No one noticed. "Come on; let's go before we're noticed."

They stopped outside of Borgin and Burkes, in Knockturn Alley. Lylli suddenly felt her stomach lurch. "I'm going back," she whispered loudly.

Harry turned to her. "You can't. I wish we could hear them…"

Ron produced a box of Extendable Ears. "Forgot I had these. Here, each of you take one."

They each did, and when the little Ear fed its way under the door, they heard everything loud and clear. Lylli's stomach did violent flip-flops. "Guys, I think I'm going to be sick."

Hermione patted her arm. "You'll be fine. What is he saying?"

They listened for a minute. Malfoy's voice came floating to them easily. "You know Fenrir Greyback? He's an old family friend. He'll be checking up on you from time to time." As he turned to the door, they had to quickly retract the Ears. Right before the door opened, Malfoy gazed in their direction for a second, then turned and walked away.

Lylli began to wriggle out of the Cloak. "I'm going after him. I'll meet you back at the shop, okay?" Before anyway could protest, she had extracted herself from the Cloak and taken off down the alleyway.

Draco heard the quick, light footsteps behind him. He turned, expecting anyone but Lylli. He frowned in confusion. "Lylls! What are you doing in Knockturn Alley?"

She gave him a look. "I could ask the same of you. Harry followed you, Draco. He saw you from the window of Fred and George's shop and decided you were up to no good. What is going on, Draco? You never write; I hardly ever see you; you were in Knockturn Alley, for goodness sakes. What's up?"

Draco looked away. "I…it's nothing. I…don't worry about it, Lylls."

"Draco, I'm not stupid."

"I didn't say you were! I just…" he glanced over his shoulder; his mother was heading towards them. "Damn! Look, I will tell you everything, but not now, okay?" He turned to take off down the alley, but Lylli's hand at his shoulder stayed him. She looked genuinely concerned. "When, Draco?"

"As soon as I can. I have to go, before my mother sees me. I'll see you at school, okay?" He took off before Lylli could respond.

As soon as Draco was out of sight, Narcissa approached. She looked Lylli over with more than a hint of disgust. "Of course, the next generation in the Black family line. Tell me, how fares my cousin Sirius? Oops, that's right; he's dead." The malicious grin that had threatened to overtake her face vanished, and she looked at Lylli coldly. "Have you seen my son? He seems to have vanished. Some romantic liaison that I would not approve of, no doubt."

Lylli barely concealed her fury at Narcissa. "No, Mrs. Malfoy, I haven't seen Draco. If I do, I'll warn him you are looking for him."

She turned to leave, but Narcissa's pale hand snaked over her shoulder, nails digging into it deeply. "Like I told your precious Potter, you can't hide behind someone forever. Your closest relative is already dead, and it won't be long before anyone who can protect you joins him. I hold you personally responsible for Lucius being in Azkaban. You'd better watch your pretty little blood traitor neck, or else someone might have to…" she drew her finger across her throat.

Lylli glared at her. "Is that a threat?"

"No. It's a promise." The hand was removed from her shoulder, and Narcissa started away. Lylli glowered after her. "So you'd be responsible for the death of your own son?" she murmured, walking away. If Narcissa heard, she chose not to respond.

As soon as she was outside of Knockturn Alley, Lylli looked up and down the street. Harry's hand slid out of nowhere. "Lylli! There you are!" The Cloak fell back, revealed Harry's face. "We thought maybe…" he trailed off, catching sight of her shoulder. "Lylls, you're bleeding. What happened? Did Malfoy…?"

"No!" Lylli was shocked. "Come on, let's just go back in."

Fred looked the three over as soon as they slid out of the back room. "Find anything good?"

Lylli nodded. "Quite a bit."

She sighed as Fred's gaze traveled to rest on her torn sleeve and bloody shoulder. He looked concerned. "Lylls…"

"It's nothing, Fred."

"Doesn't look like nothing. Did…"

"No, Fred, Draco didn't do anything. Look, Fred, you've always been like a brother to me, and I appreciate that you're trying to protect me. I really do. But I'm almost sixteen. I can handle myself when it comes to a relationship. You know I can. And you also know that you're one of the first people I'd talk to if I needed help. But you have to let me try to handle myself first."

Fred looked apprehensive, but he nodded. "Okay. Well, at least let me heal that shoulder. So my mother doesn't ask."

Lylli smiled. "Fine."

Fred pulled out his wand. "Episkey." He smiled. "Better?"

Lylli nodded. "Yes. I'd better get back to the front before your mum noticed."