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Rusichan "Hey, good luck with that 'thing' you're gonna do. Don't get yourself too worked up because that guy/friend I liked—well, let's just say that he already has a girlfriend and we worked much better as friends. And I'm good with that. But hey, you'll never know if that boy likes you, too." :)

Read away!

Chapter 7—Real-ationship

Have you ever felt like you were floating in the air with bliss? Well, that was exactly what Lily felt at the moment. Kissing wasn't something new to her at the age fifteen, but this kiss was something…different. It wasn't the typical, perfect, romantic kiss by the moonlight a typical teenage girl dreamed of. Well, Lily and the word typical would never make sense. She wasn't the ordinary teenage girl who thought that a perfect kiss was under the moon and stars, or some random girl who thought of kissing as something really sappy and dreamed of it. Last year, she never would've thought that her perfect kiss would happen with him.

Let's just say that her perfect kiss happened in the library. Now. At this very moment.

It wasn't about the perfect scene or background, though. It was about the right man and the perfect feelings. Yep, she definitely felt like 'floating in the air with bliss' at the moment.

In what felt like two eternities, Lily and Scorpius pulled away, both gasping for breath. Scorpius rested his chin on the nape of her neck, trailing kisses to it, up to her jaw, and back again. Lily closed her eyes, thinking that she was only dreaming and when she opened them again, she would see the familiar scarlet hangings around her four-poster.

She opened it and felt a shiver run down her spine. Scorpius was still trailing kisses on her neck. She shivered again.

"Scorpius," she said, giggling slightly, her shoulder twitching, "i-it…it tickles."

She felt Scorpius' lips curve into a smile. "Really?"

"No," she said in the most sarcastic voice she could muster. "Of course it does. There's like, one out of thirty girls who doesn't tickle on the neck."

He chuckled and pulled away, staring deeply into her eyes. For a moment that felt like hours, Lily held her breath. "I have a favor to ask you…"

"Yes?" she said.

"Could we change something in our vocabulary?" he asked, smiling slightly.

Lily smiled back knowingly. "If you're saying we should change the 'fakes' or 'pretenses' or 'acts' into something real, then my answer is yes," she said.

"What makes you think that's what I was referring to?" he asked playfully.

"What were you thinking, then?" she said, fighting back a smile.

He smirked. "Well, I was thinking more into the lines of removing the 'you' and 'I' in our dictionary and change them replaced them with us."

She giggled. "That…is so cheesy of you," she teased.

He shrugged. "So, what say you? About us?"

She flashed him a brilliant smile. "What do you think? Of course I'd like for there to be an 'us'…"

"But?" he pushed.

She bit her lip. "Promise me you would never meet another woman while you're with me," she blurted out. "I mean it. If you want to see another girl, then cut it off with me instead of making me find it out accidentally…"

Scorpius smiled at her. "Well, knowing you, I wouldn't even dare try and do that," he said. "Or you probably would have the sweetest revenge on me."

Lily grinned. "We have a deal, then."

He gave her a look. "Wrong word," he said. "We're done with that stupid deal." He flashed her a lopsided smile. "We're starting something real-ationship," he said, leaning down for another kiss.

Lily went back to the common room, feeling so elated that she forgot getting mad at Mikayla and sat beside her at the common room, beaming radiantly.

"So, you decided to forgive me, then?" Mikayla said hesitantly to her.

Lily shrugged, remembering that she shouldn't be talking to her best friend until she told her brother she liked him. "Maybe," she said, figuring that she shouldn't be so cold towards Mikayla. "So, have you told Al about it?" she asked.

Mikayla bit her lip. "I was planning on telling him after classes when you so pointedly ignored me," she said in a quiet voice, "but I guess someone got there first." Her eyes trailed off to the corner of the room where a pretty, petite girl with sleek, dark brown hair was sitting with Albus, giggling flirtatiously at him.

Lily felt a sudden urge to either vomit because of that girl, or to kick herself for making her best friend feel worse.

"She must be just someone who…fancies him," Lily reassured in a sure voice, although her insides were squirming from the lie. Truth was, she was almost sure the girl really got into Al. She turned to look at Al, who was laughing along with the girl. "I'm going over and ask Al," she told Mikayla and marched off towards her brother.

"Hey, Lils," Albus said. "What's up? Are you fine already?"

Lily shrugged. "Well, Scorpius and I are alright again, if that's what you mean," she said bluntly. "I didn't come here to talk about that, though. Can I talk to you in private?" She looked pointedly at the girl Albus was with, who looked quite surprised at the sudden hostility in her voice.

"Er, I'll meet you at dinner, Al," she mumbled and scuttled off towards who Lily assumed was her friends.

Lily took the seat the girl just vacated and said, "Who's her?"

Albus looked even more startled at Lily's attitude. "She's Meghan," he said.

"What's she doing with you?" Lily pressed.

Albus gave her a look. "She's my partner in a Potions project," he answered, raising an eyebrow. "Really, Lils, what is it that you want?"

"Well, she was flirting with you," she said bluntly.

Albus sighed. "First off, Lils, stop biting my head off. I know she was flirting with me but everyone in my year knows she'd do anything to date me. Believe me, I'm trying my hardest to be polite to her."

"Oh. Okay then." She stood up, feeling stupid.

"Why?" Albus asked. "D'you hate her or…?"

"Nope," Lily said, shrugging. "I just don't like girls like that for my brother."

"What kind of girl do you like for me, then?" Albus asked playfully.

"Someone like Kaye," Lily blurted out and blinked. Had she just told Albus about Mikayla's secret-crush-since-third-year?

Albus stared at her. "What?"

Lily sighed. "She likes you, alright."

He frowned. "But he just broke up with Lucas…"

"Well, she liked you since third year," she admitted, thinking it's better to tell the truth than use her lying skills. "She's just too scared to tell…and I told you…accidentally…So?"

"Could you tell her…Kaye…to come over here and talk to me?" he said in a voice unlike him.

"Er…sure," Lily said uncertainly. She called Mikayla, who gave her a look that clearly said What the hell! and escaped to the confines of their dormitory. Upon opening it, she wished she just stayed inside the common room. Inside were Adam and Beth in a very compromising position. Let's just say that one of them is half-naked, and the other was almost half-naked.

"Okay, that is gross," Lily said disgustedly. Good thing they were on Beth's bed or else Lily would strangle them by hand instead of wand right now. "And how did you get here?" she snapped at Adam, who smirked. "The stairs are supposed to turn into slides when boys stepped on it."

Lily knew exactly how boys could get pass the stairs, of course, but anyway, she was too mad that she'd forgotten. "Well, d'you want to know so you could bring your own boyfriend in here?" he asked.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Okay, I know that you are gross—but I never thought you are that disgustingly, repulsively gross. And throw your shirts on, both of you."

Adam grinned. "Like what you see?"

Lily resisted the urge to puke. "Ew. Could you hear yourself?"

"What? There's no need to be shy of admitting you like seeing a great, manly body."

"Arrrgh! Stop flirting with her!" Beth exclaimed to Adam.

"I want you out of here, McLaggen, when I come back," Lily said before exiting the dormitory, letting the cat and dog argue with each other. On one hand, she was pissed that they actually did that thing they've done in the broom cupboard again, but on another, she was secretly pleased that they were arguing. It was quite a pleasant thought.

She didn't enter the common room, though. She waited at the foot of the stairs, secretly spying on her best friend and brother on the corner. Yes, she had been quite mad at Mikayla for being so afraid at admitting her feelings but not everyone had it easy on them. It was easier for Lily to tell her feelings, because growing with two brothers toughened her personality. Mikayla was always a competent student, but sometimes she just lacked confidence in things outside academic achievement.

Lily watched her and Albus, willing for them to be together. She was secretly looking forward to telling Mikayla about her and Scorpius, and wanted her to share the similar things about her and Albus. It would be a really good bonding time for them. So she watched and watched and…suddenly, Albus leaned down and kissed Mikayla's plum pink lips.

Lily smiled and quietly tiptoed towards the portrait hole, thinking that she might as well drag Scorpius with her to dinner.

Days passed and things started to become normal again. Better than normal, anyway. Lily was always radiant when she's at Scorpius' side, feeling happy that it's all real now between them. The same could be said with her best friend and brother. Mikayla and Albus were an 'item' now around the school. Of course, many girls had their eyebrows raised at Mikayla because many liked Albus around the school. He's a prefect, Gryffindor Quidditch Team Captain, and the second son of 'Harry Potter'. It was also a plus that he looked exactly like his dad had when he was younger.

Well, at least that's less attention for Lily. Some people might think that being the center of attention was a good experience, but for those who were always in it, it get's more and more annoying.

"So," Lily said as she and Scorpius were decorating again along with the other prefects. It was Wednesday, six days before Halloween. "I'm curious…what d'you think your parents think of me?"

He shrugged. "I don't exactly know 'cause I'm at school," he answered casually but Lily knew he was just being evasive.

"Well, you know them enough to know what they're thinking," she pressed.

He sighed. "Tell me, d'you know what your parents think of me?" he asked back.

"You're changing the subject."

"Just answer it before I answer your question," he insisted.

She shrugged. "Okay. Well, my mum will probably think you're alright, especially if he sees your really cute face." She smiled and he shook his head at her, smirking. "And my dad—well, let's just say he loves me too much to disapprove of who I go out with. Well, it's your turn."

"Well, my mother will definitely like you," he said, smirking. "She'll like someone to go shopping to random countries with. My dad…well, you saw he's letter. I know it's torture for him to know that I'm going out with his old enemy's daughter but he most probably thinks we're just going out for fun and this'll end soon."

Lily sighed. She knew it was inevitable. Scorpius would graduate, she would continue her studies at Hogwarts; he's going to find someone, she's going to find another one. It's rare that two people shared one of those love stories where the girl and the boy dated since their early teens, graduate, have their own works, get engaged and get married. Well, it wasn't that unusual in their family, but the war brought them all close together. Close enough to get married.

Well, this was two and a half decades after that and things had changed. But for now, Lily just thought of enjoying Scorpius' company while it lasts.

"So, how's your team practice going?" Lily asked, changing the subject.

He smirked lopsidedly at her. "Are you spying on us?"

"No need to spy 'cause we're gonna win, anyways," Lily said teasingly, smirking back at him. She had her wand up in the air, charming the curtains, when he suddenly snaked his arms around her waist, behind her back. He kissed her cheek sweetly.

She turned around and caught his lips on hers, kissing it succulently. His arms were still wrapped tightly around her waist, her hands on his chest. She dropped her wand on the floor, but she ignored it as he kissed her softly back. He nibbled her bottom lip slightly and pulled away.

"I could feel your brother's eyes at me now," he whispered in her ear. She smiled, biting her lip as he turned to look at her.

"Well," she muttered, "I think I'm going to get an earful later." She picked up her wand from the floor. "Let's get back to work."

He grinned. "Great idea," he said, "because your brother's stare is kind of creeping me out."

Saturday morning meant another round of practice for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Despite it being five weeks away, Albus wanted the team to be in good shape already. Nobody was complaining, though. Albus was really a great captain, like James had been.

"Okay team, ten laps in the air 'round the field!" Albus ordered them. Everyone complied. Lily soared into the air besides the two beaters—Caleb Finnegan and Wren Thomas. Caleb was in Lily's year and one of Hugo's friends while Wren was in fourth year. The Chasers circled around the pitch in a line at the front, followed by the Beaters, Lily, then the Keeper, Johan Wood. He was also in seventh year and friends with Albus. He was sort of pissed when Albus got the badge, but got over it as soon as he saw how difficult it was to be Captain, prefect, and a NEWT student at the same time.

The team sped around the pitch, flying agilely in the air. After that, Albus released the Quaffle, Bludgers, and Snitch, making everyone do what they were doing.

After the practice, the Chasers did more than fifty goals, half of it by made by Albus. The Beaters' aim and power were superb. Johan blocked loads of goals, despite the fact that the Chasers had goaled a lot. Lily had caught the Snitch six times at the end of their practice.

All in all, it was such a rejuvenating practice. They were all in high spirits, even though their first match is still in a month.

"You were great, Lily!" Johan exclaimed, clapping her on the back. "That was awesome. Six times!"

Lily grinned at him. "Thanks. You were great, too!"

Johan grinned back at her. "So, I guess I'll catch you up at dinner."

Lily raised an eyebrow at him. "Er, apparently," she said slowly. "We're both Gryffindors, aren't we? So we eat at the same table at lunch this afternoon—not dinner."

"Oh," he mumbled. "Right. Er, see ya 'round."

"Okay."

Lily turned around to see her cousin giving her a look that clearly said what-the-hell-was-that-all-about?

"So," Roxanne said, "Johan likes you, huh?"

"What?" Lily snapped. "No, he doesn't."

"He clearly does," Roxanne said back."The way he looked…nervous while talking to you."

Lily shrugged. "I have a boyfriend. Does Scorpius Malfoy ring a bell?" she said. She smiled slightly. It felt good to say it out loud without adding 'fake' at the back of her head. It felt good to finally be honest in telling—or in this case, reminding—people that her boyfriend was Scorpius Malfoy.

"Well, you do," Roxanne said, "but that doesn't stop people fancying you."

"What're you on about?" Lily said suspiciously. "I didn't, don't, and won't ever date boys, in plural. I only date one at a time. You know how I hate it when people cheated on their relationships."

Roxanne sighed. "Well…right. Sorry."

She made to turn away, but Lily, realizing something, grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"Do you fancy him?" Lily asked her cousin. "Do you fancy Johan?"

"W-What?" Roxanne stuttered. She didn't have to answer, though. The look on her face said it all. Her olive skin turned even a shade darker—evidently blushing in a non-reddish way.

"You do, then."

"No, I don't!"

Lily sighed. "Look, c'mon let's go to the showers."

"I'm fine," Roxanne said abruptly. "I'll just take a shower back in the castle."

Lily gave her a look. "Well, I say no you won't so c'mon."

With a surprising strength, she yanked her cousin half-way through the girls' bathroom until Roxanne gave in and walked with her. She locked the door and pushed her cousin and her inside a cubicle.

"So," Lily said, "what's the story?"

Roxanne glared at her but Lily wasn't in the least bit perturbed. "There's not a story and there's nothing to tell."

"Hate to break it to you Rox, but apparently, there is something to tell," Lily said nonchalantly. "So, you do like him, huh?"

Roxanne sighed, giving in. "Fine. I like him, then."

"And you're mad 'cause you think he likes me," Lily said knowingly.

"No," Roxanne answered immediately. Lily gave her another look. Roxanne sighed. "Fine. Yes, then."

Lily smiled. "It's not so hard to admit, is it? Anyway, back to you. I think you should ask him out to the ball."

"Well, he likes you. Everyone likes you." Her cousin sighed. "And well, maybe he already has a date."

"There's nothing to lose if you're gonna try," Lily said. "You'll lose so much more if you don't try."

Roxanne bit her lip and thought for a moment. Finally, she smiled. "Okay, I'll ask him."

Lily beamed at her and made to walk out of the cubicle, but just as she was about to open the door, she turned back around and said, "Just so you know, not everyone likes me."

She closed the door and showered in another cubicle, thinking about the people who didn't like her anymore—a.k.a. Adam and Beth.

Well, she thought, rinsing the strawberry-scent shampoo from her red hair, I don't and will never like them again as far as I'm concerned.

When Lily got out of the locker rooms, she was surprised to find Scorpius waiting there for her. He leaned down and gave her a chaste kiss on the mouth.

"Hey there, strawberry," he said, smirking as he took her hand and led the way towards the castle.

"Strawberry?" Lily repeated questioningly.

He shrugged. "You smell like one—and you're hair's definitely strawberry-ish."

Lily giggled. "Well, you got that right. My shampoo's strawberry."

"Oh," he mumbled. "Really? Er, right. Well, let's not talk about strawberries."

"So, what should we talk about?" she asked.

"Mmm…how about—how's your practice?"

Lily shrugged. "It was…great, and a bit exhausting. I'm starving now, actually."

"Well, let's go grab you some lunch, then," he said.

"Are you gonna join me, then?" she asked, looking up at him with puppy-dog eyes.

He scratched the back of his head anxiously. "Er, I kind of promised Hayden I'll sit with him today."

"That's okay," Lily said quickly, smiling. "Anyway, you've sat with me for almost everyday since…you know…when we had a real-ationship."

He chuckled. "Yep."

They were quiet for the rest of the walk, just holding each others hands. It was great how it felt to hold someone's hand like this and not feel like it's just for the show.

At last, they reached the Great Hall. Before separating no their tables, Scorpius leaned down and gave her a soft, swift kiss on the lips. Lily went over to sit next to Hugo. Mikayla seemed a bit busy with having a laughing time with Albus.

"Hey, Hugo," she said, sitting down between him and Caleb. "Sorry to crash here to you, guys, but…" She tilted her slightly towards the direction of her friend and brother.

Hugo shrugged. "Like I could force you to sit anywhere other than sit with us," he said lightly.

"Yep." Lily beamed. "You couldn't."

She started piling her plate with large amounts of food, incredibly ravenous. Halfway through her food, she noticed someone looking at her across and looked up to see Scorpius staring at her. He winked at her. She smiled at him. He was talking to his friends but his eyes were only on hers.

She shook her head at him and turned away.

"So, how's it going?" Lily asked her cousin. "Have you got a date for the ball, already?"

"Yep," Hugo answered.

"Anyone I know?"

"Well, her name is Denise Shenanigan," he said. "Hufflepuff. She's in fourth year, so…you might not know her."

Lily shrugged. "Where is she, then?" she asked, nodding towards the Hufflepuff table.

Hugo sighed, knowing that Lily wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted. "Well, there she is," he said, pointing at a girl with long, wavy, dark-brown hair and was that blue eyes?

"She's pretty," Lily commented, grinning at Hugo. "You've got quite a taste, cousin."

Hugo shrugged in response. "Well, you sure do," he said. Was that sarcasm she was hearing?

Lily scowled at him. "What's that s'pose to mean?"

"It means, why Malfoy, of all people?" he asked and there was apparent confusion in his voice.

"It really isn't about standing out from all people," Lily said irritably. "It's about him. Well, hate to break it to you but he's incredibly good-looking." She noticed Hugo's ears flushed a little. "And he's good-looking inside and out."

Hugo gave her a dubious look. "Well, you'll never know if he's that good an actor."

"Well, he isn't. Stop making up things 'bout him."

"I'm not making up—"

"Yeah, yeah," she cut in. "I get it. I knew I couldn't convince all of my family that Scorpius is good for me."

She stood up and went outside the hall, heading towards the Astronomy Tower for some time to think by herself.

She reached the top of the tower in less than ten minutes, closing the door so no one would see her in. The Tower is out of bounds except during classes, but who the hell cares? She wasn't stealing any telescopes here, and for all she knew, many students had been in here to do something worse and gross.

She sat there, her feet dangling on the spaces between the rails, looking at the sky. It was clear, forget-me-not blue—a good day. With a day as good as this, one thing had dampened her positive spirits. It was the thought that somehow, even her family had some disagreements about Scorpius. It wasn't a big deal. In all honesty, she didn't think it would last until marriage, like her mum and dad. But still, her family was always with her no matter what. And Hugo—he was her closest cousin, just like Rose was to Albus.

But she was sure as hell Hugo was apprehensive about her choice. Well, she was born to break the rules, though. She could handle those things perfectly well, but it was just a bit annoying. Prejudice could still be felt around the air. It had been here since the beginning and would never be gone.

"Wish they'd just all agree," she murmured softly through the air.

"Who?" someone asked behind her. There was no need to look behind her back. She would remember that voice anywhere now.

"Scorpius."

He sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"What's up?"

"Nothing," she answered, knowing fully well that he wouldn't believe her.

He sighed against her neck, breathing in the scent of her. "I don't believe that," he answered predictably.

"'Course you don't," she said, smiling a little. "You're a nosy git, that's why."

He smirked and before she could stop him, he began tickling the side of her neck. She giggled madly, unable to form the word 'stop'.

After a few seconds, he pulled his hands away. And after those few seconds, Lily was on the ground, her hair cascading messily around her face. Scorpius was sitting beside her, grinning. She scowled up at him.

Sitting up, she hit him hard on the back.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed, jumping slightly. "What did you do that for?"

Lily rolled her eyes at him. "Let's think," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Who d'you think have irked me by tickling me on the neck?"

Scorpius sighed. "Okay, please just tell me why you're in such a bad mood," he said anxiously. "I mean—is this about me not sitting with you at lunch?"

With that concerned look he's giving her, Lily couldn't help but give in. "Okay. Well, let's just say Hugo doesn't think highly of you…"

"Oh," he mumbled, scratching the back of his head. Sighing, he slid his arm once again around her waist. He tilted her face upward using his other hand, forcing her to look at him.

"Lily," he said softly, his voice velvety, "I don't care what they think of me. It doesn't matter whether or not they like me." He gave her a lopsided smile—one that she really loved to see. "What matters is that you do."

He leaned down and closed the distance between them, giving her a passionate kiss on the lips. She wrapped one hand around his neck, the other one lying against his chest. He smelt like a combination of freshly mown grass, peppermint, sweat and honey.

And nothing smelt better.

Hey guys, I know this chapter's a bit shorter than [my] usual...and I updated later than [my] usual. I've had a busy week at school because I'm one of those who were assigned to do the programs and schedules and stuff. And we had a practical in basketball [not Quidditch] yesterday, so I'm aching all over. Hey, I'm a girl but we're all 'forced' to play it.

Anyway, I hoped you—yes YOU—weren't unsatisfied with this chapter. It was supposed to be longer, but I'm putting the Halloween Ball in the next chapter.

See you guys there in a week or so! Thanks for reading! Please review!