The following day all students returning home for the holidays boarded the Hogwarts Express. James, Albus, and Hugo met in the back right corner of the common room by the stairs to the boys' dormitories. Lily watched as they came down one by one waiting for the next. She noticed for the first time that they never associated with anyone outside of the family. Before they came to Hogwarts they almost never hug out with each other. Yes, they would spend time with each other during family things but they wouldn't stick together like they do now. Al was always with Junior Cathewicker. James was never without Alana's brother Michael. Hugo was friends with Daniel Robins-Peakes although he did tend to spend more time with Stanley Longbottom. Rose came down the stairs and tapped Lily's shoulder interrupting her thoughts. Lily jumped and spun around.

"Little jumpy there aren't you" Scorpius laughed. Lily turned around and glared at her friend. "You ok I just heard the girl was another friend of yours Soleil Salamander."

"Scamander" Rose and Lily corrected him in perfect unison.

"Oh well I'm very sorry." He said sincerely. Lily broke down in tears. Rose hugged her. "Oh Lily I'm sorry I didn't mean to—"

"No it's not you. I've hardly even spoken to Soleil since school started and now she's gone. I spoke to Finny once and then she disappeared. We were the 3 Musketeers. We were inseparable! And now they're gone and I didn't get a chance to say good bye. Soleil never cared that I was friends with Scorpius but I still basically ignored her. I'm just like them!" Lily pointed to the rest of her family standing by the staircase. "I ditch my friends just because I have other ones!"

"Oh Lily you didn't ditch them" Rose laughed a little. "You talked to Soleil everyday. She knew the only reason you didn't hang out with her a lot is because you were busy. You studied with her almost every night and Finny disappeared the first day of school. So you didn't talk to her much for a few days because you were busy getting ready for school. Big deal!"

"Lily, you are a great friend. I know you're upset but they'll be found. Everyone is still looking for Finny and I'm sure they're starting the search for Soleil too" Scorpius smiled and wiped away a stray tear from Lily's face. She blushed and smiled weakly. Rose released her and she quickly composed herself seeing that people were starting to leave.

At King's Cross Lily ran to her parents and hugged them dropping all of her stuff on the ground. Albus and James came a second later. Albus started straightening her stuff but James hit his hand and he put it back the way it was. Harry, seeing this exchange, made Lily release his neck and pulled his sons off to the side for a chat. Lily stayed with Ginny, Hermione, and Ron who was more interested in watching Harry talk to the boys. Rose was also watching. Hugo came off shortly after and walked slowly and coolly to his parents as if he hadn't even missed them.

"Oh Hugo get over here" Hermione motioned for him to move faster. He looked around then ran to hug his mother. Ron turned his attention away from Harry to give him a look.

"Hermione you baby that boy way too much" Ron shook his head.

"Oh shut up Ron" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"What happened" Hugo asked pointing to Harry talking to the boys.

"They're getting in trouble" Rose laughed. Hugo looked at her and opened his mouth as if to say something then remembered he wasn't supposed to talk to her.

"Are you in on this nonsense too" Hermione asked. Hugo looked down. "Hugo Weasley you apologize to the both of them right now! You know better than that."

"Leave him alone Hermione." Ron smiled at him. Hermione hit his shoulder. "Ow." He looked at her. She glared and he sighed. "Apologize to Rose and Lily."

"But dad I'm not supposed to talk to them" Hugo looked at Rose then back at Ron.

Lily tuned out the conversation knowing that nothing her parents or aunt and uncle do during the holiday will have any affect on what they're like at school. She started looking around for Scorpius and his family. She saw him leaning against a wall looking at his watch obviously waiting for them. She tapped her mother's shoulder then pointed to Scorpius. She nodded and Lily skipped off to talk to him. Still staring at his watch she decided to sneak up on him.

"BOO!" she yelled. He jumped sky high. She laughed and hugged him quickly letting him go and looking at the floor.

"What are you doing" he asked.

"What do you mean" she looked up at him.

"Why aren't you over with your family" he asked.

"They're arguing and I don't feel like listening to them because they're not going to get anywhere. They may act all sweet and nice while we're home but as soon as we get back it will be business as usual." She shrugged and looked around the platform noticing you could see everything from the spot they were standing in. She saw Mrs. Thomas crying Michael and Mr. Thomas attempting to console her. Even the incessantly cheerful Luna was crying as was the normally stone cold Charles. Lily was about to go over when she saw Rose walk over.

"You can go if you'd like" Scorpius said out of the blue.

"What? Lily looked at him as if he'd just grown an extra head.

"Go talk to them" he laughed then quickly stopped himself. "Sorry."

"Don't be" Lily rolled her eyes. "Rose seems to be handling it quite well on her own. She'd probably be mad at me if I went anywhere near her precious Charles when he was so fragile scared that I would hurt the feelings of Mr. Ice. And Alana was her friend. Not mine."

"Well still don't feel like you have to stand here with me just because my parents—" He was cut off by the arrival of his parents.

"Scorpius who's your friend" his mother asked looking at Lily.

"Lillian Potter" she held out her hand. "Pleasure to meet you." His mother looked at Lily's hand but didn't shake it. Within seconds of their arrival both Ron and Harry were standing behind Lily. James, Al, and Hugo weren't far behind but apparently not coming any closer.

"Potter" Scorpius's father said curtly.

"Malfoy" Harry matched his tone.

"Dad did you need me" Lily asked.

"Yes Lily we're going now" Harry said not taking his eyes off of Malfoy.

"Really" she said slightly amused. "Because I thought we were waiting for Professor Longbottom." She pointed to him talking to a parent. "He doesn't seem to be ready quite yet."

"He said he'd be a while" Ron interjected. "He said to go on without him and he'll apparate home."

"If you say so" Lily rolled her eyes and turned to Scorpius. "Good bye." She started to hug him then thought it not wise in front of his parents and instead patted his back. "It was very nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." She smiled and turned around. James, Al, and Hugo had vanished. She left with Harry and Ron looking back once at Scorpius who held up his hands signaling 10 days. She laughed then waved blowing him a kiss and kicking up her heel. He laughed then his mother pinched him and his face turned to stone and he looked directly in front of him away from Lily. Lily frowned and looked at Harry and Ron. They were strict but would never be that mean to her.

"Harry James Potter" Ginny hit his arm repeatedly. "I can't believe you pulled her away minutes after lecturing James and Al about how they can't choose her friends and they have to accept them and know that Scorpius is not a bad person."

"I have no problem with Scorpius" Harry said honestly.

"I do" Ron said earning him a slap on the wrist from Hermione. "Ow. Jeez woman. I do! I don't think Rose should be associating with someone whose parents were nothing but rude to her parents for years. Death eaters aside. Malfoy was still a jerk."

"Scorpius may bear the last name Malfoy but he's nothing like his father" Rose assured them.

Neville walked over just in time.

"Sorry" he apologized.

"Oh that's quite alright" Hermione said. "Let's go now."