The rest of the week flew by, feelings pushed aside in order to deal with the rising Spattergroit epidemic. It had been all hands on deck around the clock, even for the trainees.
By Sunday morning it had settled down and Lily was free to join her family for dinner, not that she was one hundred percent sure that was a good thing.
Rifling through her closet, Lily's hand skimmed over her emerald green knee-length dress. There was no way she was going to wear that, she would never wear green again. Considering her options for a moment, Lily chuckled to herself as she took out her chosen outfit.
Exiting her room shortly afterwards, Lily caught a glance at herself in the mirror. The crimson mini-dress clashed a little with her complexion, but it made a point. Especially with the golden snitch embroidery around the collar. Her grandmother had made it for her in celebration of her making Seeker in her 3rd year of Hogwarts, it had been a nice demure knee-length back then and Lily had barely worn it. Her usually dead straight vividly red hair hung in curls around her face, which was subtly made-up to emphasise her light brown eyes.
"Big date tonight, Potter?" Once again he had gotten the drop on her. Leaning against the hallway wall, Scorpius looked her up and down. "Lucky guy. I hope you don't plan on leading him on." He gazed long and hard at her legs. "One peak at those creamy thighs and he'll be drooling in your salad."
Lily's sigh was exasperated and her glare ferocious. "Actually, Malfoy." It seemed they were back on last name only terms. "I've got a family dinner to attend." Moving closer, her lips lifted to a wicked smile. "But just so you know, I, unlike you, do not lead people on. What you see is what you get."
Eyebrows raised, Scorpius met her gaze. "I see a lot." He taunted, his eyes moving back down to her thighs. Oh shit, wrong choice of words.
Her eyes widened at her mistake. "I meant in general, not you per se. You, Mr Malfoy, will never get any of this." Her hands gestured down her body. "Because you sir, are a jackass."
"Better a Jackass than a tease." He muttered smugly, his hand reaching out to stroke her shoulder. Her dress felt softer than expected, the fabric tickled his fingers. "If you ever decide you want to try dating real men, not pansy little Gryffindors, you let me know. Or perhaps you're more a daft little Hufflepuff fan?"
"Thanks but no thanks." Lily retorted, pulling away. "I would rather date a Hippogriff than you. At least they have some pride." Basically running to the lounge room, she glanced over her shoulder. "And they smell better." Throwing a handful of floo powder into the fireplace she said her destination quickly and was gone.
When the spinning finally stopped she was greeted by plenty of familiar and friendly faces. When he mother said family dinner, boy did she mean it. Not only were all her siblings and cousins there, but her grandparents, god-brother and a bunch of family friends as well.
Lily said a quick hello to her parents before finding a spot on the couch next to her favourite cousin, Hugo. Being the same age, they got along better with each other than most of the others.
"How's school been?" She asked in earnest. She missed being at Hogwarts with Hugo, but couldn't help it that she had finished early.
Hugo shrugged casually. "It's ok I guess. Not the same without you guys there. Prof Longbottom says hey by the way. He misses his star pupil. You should owl him sometime."
Her emotions swelling, Lily threw her arms around Hugo. "You don't understand just how much I've missed you. I have so much to tell." She whispered in his ear.
"Um, Lil." He whispered back. "There's such thing as an owl, you know?"
Lily shook her head quickly. "Nope, totes not fit to write. I needed to tell you in person."
"So spill." Hugo muttered, rolling his eyes.
Once again Lily shook her head. "Not here. Clubhouse."
The clubhouse was what they called their small tree house style replica of the Weasley house. It had been their first hang out spot as kids; they had even continued going there when something secretive was happening.
Understanding the severity of the choice of meeting spot, Hugo nodded with an unsure smile. "Ok, I guess. I'll just grab one of Granny's pumpkin pasties and I'll be right out."
Walking slowly through the backyard, Lily gazed in wonder at her childhood home. Godric's Hollow was a wonderful and magical place. She thanked her lucky stars her parents had chosen to raise her in her father's birthplace, even after everything that had happened there. It was a quick but strenuous uphill walk to their tree house, by the time she got there Lily was out of breathe.
"Meilius est Minor." She spoke quietly, touching the small knot in the base of the tree. "Nunquam Crescat." Younger is better, never grow up. It had been their chosen password since they were 9. The small rope ladder descended from the top of the tree and she climbed up quickly.
It was only a few minutes later that her cousin's curly haired head poked out over the entrance. "Ok Lilypad, spill." He mumbled, his breathing ragged. "You haven't dragged me up here since Penelope Parkinson made fun of your hair in our 4th year."
Lily sighed, playing with a random curl from her fringe. "Oh Hugo, it's much more serious than that." She confided, her eyes to the floor as she spoke. "He kissed me, and I liked it."
Confusion set in on Hugo's face. "Who kissed you Lil? And what's wrong with a kiss?"
Lips tightened, his cousin shrugged her dainty shoulders. "Scorpius, Hugo. Scorpius kissed me."
