LILY

"Lily, you look absolutely radiant." Scorpius kissed her hand with a bow and a flourish, making her blush and giggle girlishly. In the summer sun, Scorpius' light-weight white robes seemed to glow.

"Why thank you, Mr. Malfoy, you do look fine yourself." She spread out the skirt of her muslin pale-yellow dress and gave Scorpius a charming smile. "I'm glad you could make it," she said a little more genuinely and with a little less teasing. "This is my first day gala and I do have such hopes for it." She flicked her wand lightly to push a stray lock of her hair back into place.

"More guests isn't always more success, but I'm glad you invited me. I see you and Amiri have settled down quite nicely," Scorpius continued with the small talk as Lily led him over to the resting area where, among shady trees, tables had been set up with refreshing cold drinks, bowls of fruit and plates of cheese and other appetizers. The sounds of light music floated above the area; Lily was very proud of her music charms. She fixed the lacey Italian hat she had chosen to wear instead of carrying a parasol and gestured a little nervously to the group gathered.

"I trust you know everyone here."

"Yes, of course."

Lily watched Scorpius retreat to the group of men which her husband was heading and returned to the women. Annabelle Montague, Arianna Parkinson – Amiri's cousin – Anna Rosier, Camilla Nott and Eliana Vaisey made up Lily's current group of female friends. She had only been friends with Eliana and Camilla at Hogwarts, however, even though Annabelle had been in their year. Anna was in Scorpius' year and Arianna was five years older than Lily but they got on well once Lily was introduced to Amiri's family.

"I see Scorpius was very gallant," said Anna with a knowing smile, brandishing her fan at Lily.

"Don't tease her just because you are jealous, Annie," Arianna teased, giving the younger girl a sly look.

"Hmm, If I'm jealous of anything it is of her happy marriage. I can't even get Tony to be serious about what he would call a courtship."

"Well, he is busy, dear."

"Speaking of happy marriages: do you think your firstborn will be a girl or a boy, Lily?" Camilla half-asked, half-mused, sucking on a pineapple icicle.

"Oh don't, it's bad luck to talk of these things before the child is conceived." Eliana hushed her, blushing.

"Like it's stopped anyone before." Camilla smirked and the ladies teetered, their hats and parasols swaying slightly as a rare mid-summer breeze ruffled through their ribbons and laces. Camilla had always been the brash one out of their year, completely unapologetic. She seemed interested in manners only in the most formal of senses, but otherwise she preferred to be straightforward and even found a certain delight in being crude from time to time. Perhaps that was why Lily had always found her an enjoyable companion. Camilla somehow managed to unite within her both feminine grace and the bold spark that the more delicate Eliana lacked.

"Oh it doesn't matter," Lily said, her hand unconsciously sliding over her stomach, which was still completely flat. "I truly don't know, but we'll love the child either way."

"Oh, of course! Of course!" the ladies hurried to reassure her even as Lily fell into thoughtfulness. Something told her that she may have already conceived. She felt faint sometimes in the morning, she would sometimes feel at the extremes of her moods – happy and sad – for no apparent reason, and her last monthly blood had not come. But she was nervous, unwilling to tell Ami or her mother or even to go see the mediwitch on her own. She wanted a child, with all her heart. She knew Amiri wanted one as well, even if he was so very busy these days. So she decided to wait until there were more signs. She did not want to be disappointed or, even more so, disappoint him in this matter. She knew what importance was put on a child, especially a boy, and she did not want to sound any false alarms that would then, inevitably, spread into rumors. Her time as a Slytherin at Hogwarts had taught her all about the propensity of rumors.

Lily was brought out of her thoughts by a sudden increase in the volume of the music. She looked up to see Amiri waving for attention. "I wish to dance with my lovely wife," he declared to the knowingly snide smiles of his friends. "So we dance." General appreciative laughter from the ladies and Amiri hurried to set example by whisking Lily off to dance a bubbly Irish quadrille-like dance on a patch of sun-bathed grass to the side of the sheltering tree-grove. Other couples followed them and Lily put the idea of children out of her mind and gave into the music. She was married but she felt as young and free as ever. She skipped around in a circle with Amiri's arm around her waste and hers around his and felt exhilarating joy rush through her. They were meant to be and no one could take this happiness away from her.

Lily was terribly tired by the end of the night. She had been rather worried about how things would turn out but the afternoon had proved perfectly pleasant and she glowed happily despite her tiredness as the guests began to slowly disperse. Scorpius remained to talk Quidditch with Amiri over whiskey and Lily made a retreat to the library in hopes of catching a few breaths alone. She had always liked the smell of their small, tidy library. The shelves stacked with books and reinforced with silencing charms always had a soothing effect on her.

Lily closed the heavy door of the library and leaned her back against it, eyes closed. She hand drifted over her stomach again as it often did these last few days. She couldn't help but think about being pregnant. It was scary and exhilarating all at the same time.

"Thinking about what Camilla said?"

Lily jumped in surprise; she'd thought she was alone. Her eyes snapped open and her wand was in her hand in moments only the encounter Anna seated at the small coffee table between the small fireplace and a shelf of books with a bottle of brandy and two glasses in front of her.

"Oh, Merlin, Anna…how are you here? I didn't realize…"

"That I hadn't left? That's alright. You've had a lot to think on. Amiri said you like to go here to think."

"Yes." Lily edged forward, eyeing the bottle with interest. "So you decided to, what, accost me?" She smiled vaguely.

"Not quite in those terms, but yes." Anna poured out the alcohol into the two glasses. "Come, let us have drinks. I've always liked brandy more than wine," she continued with a pensive look. "Too bad there are all these stigmas about women and what they drink. Don't you think?"

"I…I don't know." Lily sat down and looked at the glass. If she really was pregnant, she didn't think she should be drinking. "I'm really not a drinker."

"Nonsense. Well, I mean, I won't force you, of course." Anna gave her a look. "Are you really pregnant? Is that why you don't want to? Camilla told me you sang a very different tune back at Hogwarts."

Lily bit her lip to keep herself from smiling. There had been a few times in sixth and seventh year when the boys had snuck some cheap firewhiskey into the common room and the entirety of Slytherin house that was at least fifteen had proceeded to get shamelessly drunk and play all sorts of scandalous games. Lily had participated with unabated enthusiasm. "I don't know if I'm pregnant."

"You're too scared to go to the mediwhitch aren't you?" Anna smiled and drank from her glass. "You missed your bleeding but you are too afraid to know for sure."

"How…did you know?"

The other woman smiled. "You're very willing to please, you know? Wanting to be the good little Pureblood wife. We're not all that old fashioned, Lily. No one will think worse of you if you don't have a nursery established within a year."

Lily flushed. "I just don't want to let Ami down. He really wants a child."

Anna laughed, puzzling Lily. She flushed again, wondering what she had said wrong. "Amiri wants his heir, they all do. But I think he married you because he loves you, not because he needs a child right this moment. Besides, my dear brother has other things to worry about."

"His politics?"

"Yes."

Lily nodded slowly. "I'm really no good at politics. My father talks about it a lot these days. I feel like everyone is talking about it."

"Well with the new opposition party, how can they not? Especially the men – politics and Quidditch are their social bred and butter, if you know what I mean." Anna poured herself another drink. "I feel so strange drinking hard liquor all by myself."

"I can—"

"No-no. We wouldn't want any harm to come to that baby. Anyway, your father and husband aren't the only ones. Tony has a hard time not talking politics even on a date."

"How is that going?"

"The courtship? Oh all right. I mean, we're nowhere near an engagement but maybe that's better. Sometimes I think that Tony and I are better as friends than a married couple."

"It's very strange, the whole story about his family, don't you think?" Lily mused.

Anna shrugged. "I suppose. I was a little taken aback when I found out myself. But the Dolohovs aren't the only family who has ever changed their name to escape prosecution. It isn't exactly a very well received name here after the last two wars."

Lily felt the shock resonate through her. She knew the history of the two latest Wizarding Wars very well – her father had made sure of that – so she knew all about Antonin Dolohov and his high ranking position among the Death Eaters. What she did not know was that Tony Deschain was actually a Dolohov. "Wait…are you saying Tony is…a Dolohov?"

Anna's eyes went wide and she nearly dropped her glass. "Oh Merlin. You didn't know? I was certain that Amiri had told you, especially now that you're part of the family. I didn't see any reason for him to hide this…" She looked extremely uncomfortable.

"I'm sure he just…hasn't gotten a chance to tell me yet," Lily said, trying to not sound too shaken. Why wouldn't Amiri tell her? She trusted him wholeheartedly and it probably wasn't intentional but she did think it was strange that there was information she was obviously not privy to. "Excuse me, I should go see that the elves have cleaned up properly." She stood, straightening the skirt of her dress.

"Lily, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it."

Lily only nodded and slipped out the door.

"When were you planning on telling me?" Lily asked, watching Amiri's face for any flashes of emotion he would rather hide. She was perched on the edge of their bed in her negligee as her husband undressed and put out the candles except for the ones next to the headboard.

"Tell you what?" He sounded unconcerned.

Lily chewed on her lip. "That Tony is a Dolohov and not a Deschain."

Amiri froze and turned sharply. "How do you know about that?"

"So you were keeping it from me?" Lily wasn't sure what she felt more – angry or disappointed.

"No I—I just…it never came up and I didn't think it was anything of importance." She could tell it was important, however, simply by the sudden tenseness of his shoulders. "Who told you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Possibly? Not a lot of people know. Tony would rather it stay low profile. For political reasons. I'm sure you understand. Dolohov isn't exactly a good last name to have after Pot—your father won the last war."

Lily blinked at him and crossed her arms. Her mood was swinging toward offended now. "So that's what all this secrecy is about? My father? You think I'm going to just run to him and tattle on all of your secrets?"

"No," Amiri snapped, a little too quickly and a little too sharply. "No, Lils, that's not what I mean."

She slid off the bed and went to stand in front of him. Lily placed both hands on Amiri's shoulders and looked up into his face with as earnest and open an expression as she could mange. "I'm your wife, Amiri. You have to trust me. You should trust me."

"I do trust you. But you have to trust me, too. It wasn't anything against you. I really just didn't see any reason to tell you. It shouldn't change anything. It's just a name after all."

Lily had her doubts. If there was one thing she had learned about Purebloods was that there was no such thing as just a name for them. Names were everything. But she had no legitimate argument, so all she could do was rest her head against Amiri's shoulder and nod in acceptance. "Anna told me, by the way."

"My sister?"

"Yes. She thought I already knew. I don't want to talk about it anymore." She tiptoed up and kissed him, allowing herself to forget about the whole thing. The last thing she needed was to get paranoid about her own husband.