Chapter Three
The Reunion Ball
Harry and Ginny, with the help of Mrs. Weasley, managed to plan the perfect event and where to have this upstanding occasion, Hogwarts of course. Harry managed to pull some strings and secure a group of Ministry employees to work the party serving food and taking care of setup and cleanup as well. All they had to do was attend and enjoy the party planned for August 1st, a month before the return of the students. The guest list included all the members of Dumbledore's Army of course, but as time when by it grew to include former teachers, members of the Order, and others who helped during the final battle. It was going to be fabulous.
Lily and Scorpious were having the time of their lives that summer, staying at the Burrow, hanging with the family, and getting to know each other's quirks, as if they didn't already know them. Lily had been avoiding the subject of the reunion ball, so not to upset her boyfriend. His father and grandfather had been part of the reason for the DA. Scorpious never seemed uncomfortable around the family, except Harry, so maybe all was resolved.
One afternoon, when Lily and Scorpious were taking a walk through the orchard, an owl swooped down and deposited a letter into Lily's hands before taking off again.
"Strange…" Lily noted, as she opened the message.
"Ms. Lily Potter and Mr. Scorpious Malfoy,
Your presence is requested by Mr. Lucius and Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy at their estate, Malfoy Manor, on the second of August for dinner and conversation. Please send your response via owl."
"It's from your grandparents." Lily exclaimed. Scorpious took the letter and examined it.
"Never thought that would happen." He said, shocked.
"What?" Lily inquired.
"My grandfather said none one that was a …" he stopped himself as Lily gave him a stern look.
"You better not have been thinking blood traitor…" she said.
"Lily, I don't think that! You know I don't! But my grandfather is a bitter old man and it is a little odd that he is inviting to his home."
"Well things change…"
"I suppose."
"Then we are going, aren't we?"
Scorpious nodded. Lily took a deep breath.
"Which brings me to another topic… my parents' reunion is in a couple days and I was hoping …" Scorpious stopped her, smiling.
"Lily, if you want me to go, I would happy to." He said, and she beamed.
"You wouldn't be uncomfortable?"
"I can't promise, but I would go to the ends of the earth for you…" he kissed her.
"As would I for you…" she grinned.
The night of the ball, everyone was excited. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had purchased new dress robes and beautiful gowns for each of the grandchildren for the occasion. Everyone gathered at the Burrow to get ready and wait for the arranged Portkey that was going to transport the entire family to Hogwarts.
Lily was the slowest at getting ready. Everyone else was waiting in the foyer. Albus stared at his pocket watch, annoyed at his sister's overdue appearance.
"Come on, Lily! The Portkey is going to leave soon!" he called. Lily descended the narrow staircase slowly, nervous. Harry gasped. Lily seemed confused.
"Do I look alright?"
She was dressed in a gorgeous ruby red dress with a gold sash around the waist. Her auburn curls were pinned up showing her exquisite face. Harry had never seen his daughter look more beautiful. Scorpious beamed as he kissed Lily's hand.
"You look stunning." He said, helping her with her cloak as Mr. Weasley entered the foyer carrying a long shower curtain rod.
"We only have about a minute, everybody gather round." All twenty three of them took hold of the rod and waited. Mr. Weasley watched the seconds on the grandfather clock and took a deep breath.
"Hold on!" he shouted as the rod glowed a bright electric blue and Lily felt a jolting sensation in her stomach. She closed her eyes and a second later, she sensed solid ground beneath her feet.
The group had arrived at the front gates of Hogwarts, where three horse-drawn carriages stood waiting. A tall, slender wizard with deep navy robes approached Harry and bowed politely.
"Your transportation, Minister." He said. Harry nodded.
"Thank you, Miles." Harry replied.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Percy, Penelope, Bill, Fleur, Percy Jr. and Penny climbed in the first carriage. George, Angelina, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry climbed into the second and Teddy, Victorie, Rose, Hugo, James, Albus, Scorpious and Lily climbed in the last. The carriages started to move up the lighted drive and almost instantly the castle came into view. Lily gasped, overjoyed to be back at Hogwarts once again.
After the family entered the Entrance Hall, the Weasleys and Lupins were taken to their tables, while the Potters were pulled aside into another chamber. The Minister and his family were to make a separate entrance.
"Protocol…." Harry mumbled as he watched his wife fix her hair in a nearby mirror. She laughed. Harry couldn't help looking at his wife. Ginny's emerald green dress made her look especially beautiful.
"You should stop worrying, dear. Everything is going to be fine." She assured him as she surveyed her children. After a few minutes, Miles appeared.
"Showtime, sir." He said and they prepared themselves to enter. Lily linked her arm with Scorpious'.
"Presenting the Minister of Magic, Master Harry J. Potter and his wife, Madam Ginerva W. Potter, their children: Master James S. Potter, Master Albus S. Potter, and Miss Lily N. Potter, with her escort…" the presenter paused as if rereading his notes. Lily took a deep breath.
"Master Scorpious Malfoy." He finished and the huge double doors leading to the Great Hall opened, revealing the spectacularly decorated room filled with smiling people. The six of them entered and the applause was deafening. Lily grinned broadly as she followed her parents up to the head table where normally the teacher table would sit. Lily took her seat and stared about the room. It was decorated with gorgeous purple and gold banners and tablecloths. Golden dishes gleamed from the table tops and floated in the air near the ceiling were hundreds of lit candles. The guests were all seated, and Harry got to his feet once more. He approached the erected podium and cleared his throat.
"Welcome everyone!" he started smiling. He glanced about the room, noticing the aged yet familiar faces. Cho Chang and her husband, Oliver Wood, Dean and Lavender Thomas, Seamus and Parvati Finnegan, plus many many more all smiled back at him.
"A lot has changed since we were all gathered in this school." He said and everyone laughed.
"We, Dumbledore's Army, worked together as a team to achieve a common goal: to live a life without fear of Lord Voldermort. In the honor of Albus Dumbledore, we met secretly and trained for the day when it would be up to us to defend our homes, defend our friends, and defend our families." Harry paused.
"We did it! With the help of those else gathered also in this room. And I would not be here if it was not for each and every one of you." Harry raised his wine goblet into the air.
"To Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted. Applause roared, people shouted and cheered, jumping to their feet.
"To Dumbledore's Army!" they shouted back.
"Well Done, Harry…" a familiar voice said. Harry spun around to find that Dumbledore's portrait had been placed behind his chair.
"Professor…" Harry bowed out of respect and Dumbledore winked.
The ball could not have been a bigger success. Everyone was thrilled to see one another and Harry had many hands to shake and hugs to receive. And to Lily's surprise, people were greeting Scorpious as if they had none him for years. A couple people even asked him how his father was doing. Lily excused herself to get a drink, happy that he was making such a good impression.
Scorpious on the other hand, had something else on his mind. After he had finished talking to Sean and Cassandra, he went to find Ginny. He found her sitting alone, sipping a glass of wine.
"Mrs. Potter, could I speak to you a moment?" he asked and Ginny pointed to the seat next to hers.
"Of course, dear, what's the matter?"
"Well, I have grown incredibly attached to you and your family over the past months. I love your daughter so much and with your permission, I would like to ask Lily to marry me. Down by the lake where your husband proposed to you…" he watched as Ginny's face changed from concern to happiness.
"Oh, of course!" she tried to keep from jumping off her seat. "You have my blessing." She hugged him, beaming ear to ear.
"I know it is more traditional to ask the father…" Scorpious started but Ginny stopped him.
"I'll deal with him, don't you worry." Ginny assured him.
"Thank you Mrs. Potter. For everything." He kissed Ginny on the cheek.
"My pleasure, and please… call me Ginny." She smiled and Scorpious took a deep breath.
"I got to go find Lily." He smiled. As soon as he disappeared from Ginny's sight she hurried to find Hermione.
Scorpious found Lily talking to Professor Minerva McGonagall.
"Well hello Mr. Malfoy!" Minerva smiled as he approached. Lily wrapped her arm around his.
"Wonderful, thank you! How are you?" Scorpious asked, pleased to see the headmistress and Transfigurations teacher he admired for so many years.
"Just fine, thank you. I was telling Ms. Potter here about my retirement plans in a couple years. Sadly, both of my positions will be unoccupied and I have already given names for them to the governors of the school." She explained. "Your names." Lily and Scorpious' jaws dropped.
"What do you mean?" Lily inquired. Minerva smiled.
"Lily, you have shone brighter here than any other student I have seen in almost thirty years. Not only in academics, but with the students and faculty. You always greet with a smile, and your extensive knowledge of the school surpasses that even of your aunt's. The governors have agreed that when you reach the age of twenty, if you like, that you may take over the position of Headmistress."
"You don't think I am too young?" Lily asked.
"Not at all." Minerva grinned.
"Lily, that's wonderful!" Scorpious kissed her.
"And, my dear boy, my classroom will be yours come that time. Full-fledged Transfiguration teacher. " Minerva added.
"Oh thank you, Professor."
"You two will do wonderfully, but of course you both have a few years to think about it." Minerva laughed. Neville Longbottom came up behind his colleague (Neville was the Herbology professor) and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Would you care to dance?" he asked, and Minerva was delighted.
"I would be honored." She excused herself and headed to the dance floor with Neville.
"Come with me!" Scorpious whispered happily and the two of them headed through the hall to the huge front doors. They slipped outside into the cool night air.
"Can you believe it? Me as Headmistress?" Lily squealed with excitement.
"You'll be wonderful," Scorpious said, as they made their way down to the lake.
"You think so?"
"I know so…" he smiled as she laid her head on his shoulder. " Come over here." He led his girlfriend to the huge oak tree and sat down on the bench beneath it.
"Your parents were engaged here…" he said, gazing up at the stars.
"It is terribly romantic…" she smiled up at him, her brown eyes sparkling.
"I would agree." Scorpious pulled out a velvet box from his robes. Lily stared at it curiously.
"Lily Potter, I love you with all my heart and I could not imagine my life without you." He paused, for Lily was already crying. He cracked open the box and revealed a huge diamond ring with tiny green emeralds embedded in the band.
"Would you do me the honor of being my wife?" he asked and Lily sobbed with happiness.
"Oh Cor, a million times, yes!" Lily wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed passionately.
"I love you so much, Lily." He said, kissing her on the forehead as she leaned into his chest.
"I love you too, Cor." Lily replied, feeling more magnificent than she had ever. Scorpious pulled out the engagement ring and slipped it on Lily's finger, a perfect fit.
"It's beautiful." She sighed, examining it.
"I hoped you would like it." He answered.
"Can we can show my parents?!" Lily asked excitedly.
Scorpious was hesitant but agreed.
When Lily and Scorpious headed back into the Great Hall. Lily instantly saw her mother and father talking with Hermione, Ron, Luna and Neville.
"Mum! Dad!" Lily cried happily, running up to them. Harry noticed the ring on Lily's hand and felt his knees go weak.
"No…not my baby." He thought as his daughter approached.
"Cor and I are getting married!" Lily announced. Ginny screamed with happiness along with Luna and Hermione. The three of them hugged Lily and Harry shook Scorpious' hand, congratulating him.
"Thank you, Daddy…" Lily whispered as she hugged him.
Harry smiled as Lily and Scorpious ran off to tell Rose, Hugo, and the others.
Ginny glanced up at her husband.
"Harry, dear, are you alright?" She asked. Harry's eyes were locked on his daughter. She looked so happy with him. But Harry could not rid himself of the feelings he had.
"I can't do this, Ginny." He whispered. He shook his head but quickly grinned as Ron clapped him on the back.
"Congrats, mate." He handed Harry a glass of champagne to toast. Luna, Neville, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron held up their glasses as did Harry.
"To Lily and Scorpious!" Ginny said and they drank to the newly engaged.