A/N: Thanks to JKRowling for letting me play with her friends for a while. I hope my shyte plot doesn't offend anyone... Then again, I'm writing this for myself and Myra at this point, so anyone who doesn't like it can go find another story better suited to their tastes or get their bum off the internet and go do something productive, like discovering the seven magical powers of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack [alas, on this point, I shall take liberty with and bastardize Ms. Rowling's post-book notes on what happens next... but my dears, this is why it is fan fiction].
Rose and Albus and Abagail dragged Hugo ahead, while Lysander and Lorcan escorted Lily to the Inn on the main road of Hogsmeade where her parents were staying. Lorcan remained silent and walked a few feet ahead of Lily and Lysander.
"When?" Lysander asked after minutes of silence.
"My-" Lily's voice caught in her throat. "My third year."
She stopped spinning around to block Lysander's path as she stared at him.
"He's not a bad guy, Xander. He's not like his family."
Lysander smiled.
"He's the one who gave you that necklace then?"
"Er..." Her hand moved subconsciously to where the pendant lay under her scarf.
"I thought so. I mean, I thought it was a boy, you know. But I didn't ever realize."
"Has anyone else?"
"No, of course not. I can see why you haven't told anyone, though."
"It's not that we're embarrassed." Lilly moved back to his side and they continued to walk to the inn.
"I mean we were, at first, because I was supposed to hate him and he was supposed to hate me, and whatnot. But... I can't explain it, Xander, I had to give him a chance, and then when I did, I just... we became really close friends and then one day it was more than that and I don't know how it happened but it did and now it's done and I -"
"Lily, breathe."
"Okay. Right. Sorry. I just... I care a lot about him and I know this won't be received well."
"You're going to tell your parents, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Well, that's brave."
"I'd like to think so."
"Then do. Here we are. I think you'll need your privacy..." Lysander nodded and went to go rejoin his brother who had wondered into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes where the others were meeting Ron and Hermione, leaving Lily to face her parents alone. She went into the inn and sat down, looking around. It wasn't crowded, but it wasn't empty, either. There was the usual crowd of people stopping by here and there, and as Ginny came downstairs found her daughter immediately once she reached the bottom. Lily was staring out the window when Ginny walked up to her table and pulled out the chair across from her, spinning it around and straddling it backwards. She folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on them. As she did this, Lily redirected her attention.
"You look out of it, dear."
"Yeah. I have been."
"Is everything okay?" Ginny turned her head slightly to the side, inquisitively. Lily took a deep breath and sighed, but she did not reply.
"What happened?" Ginny sat up slightly, leaning forward and putting her weight on her elbows.
"Mommy?" Lily was sure that the look on her face was terrifying her mother.
"Do you need me to go get your father, dear? He's down at George's place, I can go get him if-"
"No. No, I just... I need to tell you something."
"Right..." Ginny leaned back slightly, placing her hands on the back of the chair in front of her. "Just us girls, though?"
"Yeah. Just us girls."
"Okay. What is it? Sweety I'm your mother, you can tell me anything."
"I'm seeing someone."
"And?"
"What do you mean?" Lily looked at her mother, confused.
"Well, you're seeing someone, yeah, okay, you're fifteen, not a big deal, but I mean... why the stress? Although I can see why you don't want your father to know."
"Well, I've been... been seeing him for a... a while now, actually."
Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"How long?"
Lily inhaled deeply and began her practiced rant.
"We started seeing each other when I was in third year and he was in fifth year but he as really nice about it and it was more like a close friendship than anything except we had already been friends for a while and then things changed one day and I don't know how to describe it but we've known each other for years and been together officially for two years except it hasn't been official because we haven't told anyone and his family isn't so nice but he's not like them at all, mum, not at all and he's really nice and charming and sweet and funny and he makes me laugh and we want the same things out of life and I'm pretty sure I love him but I don't know what to do because it's all been a secret and I-" And Lily burst into tears, drawing odd looks from those who occupied the tables nearest them.
"Lily, honey, calm down." Lily reduced her sobs to sniffles.
"So let me get this straight. You met a guy."
"Yes."
"Some time ago."
"Yes."
"And you were friends."
"Yes."
"And then you became more than friends."
"Yes."
"And now you're in love with him."
"Yes."
"Does he love you?" Lily nodded, and Ginny watched her hand go subconsciously to the necklace she wore.
"And he's a nice, funny, charming guy."
"Yes."
"The good kind of charming, not the Lockheart kind?" Lily smiled.
"Yeah, mom. He's the good kind."
"So you've known this really great guy for a while and now you're dating."
"Er, yeah. Basically."
"Well, that's not a problem," Ginny said. "But the problem is that his family is unpleasant."
Lily nodded.
"And so you've kept the relationship a secret."
"Yes."
"Well, Lily," Ginny said softly, reaching her hand out across the table and holding her daughter's hand, "People are not their parents. Sometimes they have similar qualities, sure, but people are different, they have their own characteristics. They have their own lives."
Lily nodded and turned to gaze at the people walking around outside. It proved to be a mistake, which she knew as soon as she saw the platinum blond ponytail emerge from the store across the street, flanked by two large goons. She knew her mother had picked up on the infinitesimal changes in her body the moment it recognized him and Ginny slowly pulled her hand away from Lily's as she, too, looked out the window.
"Lily... Why exactly haven't you told me his name yet?"
