Not as good as it could have been, but I think it'll do. Next chapter'll be up soon, since I just reworked a Jigsaw Piece a little for it. It's cheating, I know, but it belongs in here, and I have added to it. Anyway, this comes first.

18th December 2022

He was surprised it had only taken a day, really, for his father to recover enough to speak with him. He'd expected it to take three, four, before Draco managed to approach the subject with his son, so he hadn't done his usual anxious rehearsing, planning every possible scenario he could manage.

So when Draco knocked softly on his bedroom door, then entered, Scorpius shifted uneasily.

"I think we need to talk." Draco said awkwardly. He took a seat on the very edge of the sofa opposite Scorpius' bed, where he'd been sprawled, reading a letter from Rose. Hurriedly putting the letter on the table bedside his bed, Scorpius sat up properly.

"Right. Sure."

"Firstly, though your mother is absolutely certain that you were telling the truth last night, I have to ask if it was some kind of strange joke?"

There was a note of hope in Draco's voice that irritated Scorpius. He'd never even met Lily for heaven's sake.

"Sorry, Dad. I was telling the truth. Me and Lily have been a couple for weeks now." Irritated, he sat up even straighter. "And I'm not planning for that to change in the immediate future, either, so get used to it."

"Scorpius." Draco said sharply. "Don't speak to me like that. Whatever our disagreements, I'm still you father."

"Yeah. And you're doing great, too. I tell you I have a girlfriend, and you stare at me in shock for God knows how long. Other dads might have asked questions, or made weird comments, or just been indifferent. And all of that is fine – I can handle that. But you just stare and I can tell that you're horrified by it. You don't know her, you've never even seen her!"

"I've seen her at the train station, actually." Draco said, because he couldn't think of anything else. It had to be the Potter girl, didn't it? Just had to.

"Dad! That's not the point here!"

"Look, son, I know you're angry. But it's hard for me to understand why you would willingly choose the one girl you knew would be the biggest problem. It's like you were trying to cause trouble. I know you and your grandfather don't always see eye-to-eye -"

"Try never."

"- but if this is an attempt to wind him up, it's a little over the top, don't you think? And it's not fair on the girl, either."

"For – Dad, not everything I do centres around this family! Do you really, honestly believe that I was just walking round one day, saw Lily, and thought it'd be fun to use her to get to Lucius?"

His anger and disgust was evident, so much so that Draco didn't reprimand him for using Lucius' name.

"No. I'm sorry. I don't think you'd do that. But you must understand why this is so difficult." Draco sighed, suddenly awkward. "Do you really like this girl?"

"Yes." Scorpius said, uncomfortable but unashamed. "I really do. This isn't about her surname, Dad. Don't you think we both tried to – to not let this happen?"

Draco hesitated, then nodded. "I do. I won't pretend to be happy about this, Scorpius. But I'm not going to try to stop you."

"Like you could if you tried." Scorpius muttered. Though Draco must have heard him, he let the comment pass. "Besides. Wouldn't Rose have got a better reaction?"

Draco rubbed a hand over his face, and hoped this thing would all be over very soon.

-----

Lily read the letter through twice, then pushed her hair away from her face. Ten minutes later, she'd worked up the nerve to leave the room, and seek out her mother.

Definitely her mother. It was far too awkward to talk to her dad about this. She found Ginny at the desk in the living room, writing. Though Ginny was evidently working, they were allowed to interrupt her when she was in the living room. If she shut herself up in her office (or rather, the tiny box room she'd managed to fit a desk into) they all knew she was on a deadline and not to be disturbed.

"Mum...I got a letter from Scorpius." Ginny put her quill down, and turned to face her daughter. It was a little difficult, her daughter, her youngest, her baby all grown up with a boyfriend. But in a way, nice, too. "He, ah, told his parents. And his grandparents. The Malfoy grandparents, I mean."

"Ah. How'd that go?"

Lily waved the letter absently. "He found it funny. His grandfather is annoyed, his mum and grandma are OK with it, and he thinks his dad's still in shock. Anyway, he, um, wants to meet up. Before Christmas."

"You exchanging presents?" Ginny asked, smiling at her daughter's embarrassment.

"Um, kinda, yeah. Just, little things. We agreed we wouldn't – anyway. Is that OK? If I go out for a couple of hours sometime? With, ah, with Scorpius?"

Ginny nodded. "Of course. You're almost sixteen, Lily. You do have a little freedom. Is he picking you up?"

"What? Here?" Lily's eyes widened. "No – we'll meet somewhere. He can't come here! With Dad. And James."

Ginny laughed, but made herself stop when she realised how distressed Lily was. "Look, kiddo, isn't bringing him here the best way to show them – well, James knows him, doesn't he? But bringing him here is the best way to show your dad that he's OK. Just get him to come in for a few minutes, introduce them, and go. I think you'll all survive that."

Lily blew out a breath, ran a hand through her hair, and nodded. "OK. That sounds...smart. I guess. I'll, um, I'll check he's OK with that."

First, though, she sat heavily on the sofa.

She despised this whole boy-drama thing.

------

Her reply reached him about an hour after it had gotten dark. The agreement to meet up with him. The request that she meet his parents first. She'd explained what her mother had said, added her own agreement.

And he had to admit, it did seem the best way to make sure Harry Potter didn't envision him as some kind of leech.

But he still laid in the dark, wide awake, for several hours, wondering just how Harry Potter would react to him.

-------

19th December 2022

She was more nervous now. In fact, Lily was certain this wasn't even nerves. Telling her father had made her nervous. She wasn't scared, because telling James had scared her.

This was more, different. She didn't even have a name for this. Her family was the most important thing to her in the world, and Lily would, under most circumstances, cheerfully die before she hurt any one of them.

These were not normal circumstances, however, and Lily was feeling something close to self-hate as she arrived at the Burrow. Today she would have to mention to her grandparents – casually mention, even though she wouldn't feel the least bit casual – that she was dating the grandson of Lucius Malfoy. Lucius Malfoy, who'd taunted her own grandfather mercilessly, who'd drawn on every doubt and guilt Arthur Weasley had and thrown them at him. Lucius Malfoy, who'd almost got Arthur's only daughter (and her mother, but this wasn't about her) killed when Ginny was just eleven years old, fully aware of what he was doing.

Lily had been scared her father would be angry. She'd been worried James would be disappointed and disapproving, and, well, a whole bunch of other things. But now, she was absolutely terrified that she was going to hurt her grandfather.

Arthur wasn't the focal point of their family. Grandma Molly was the matriarch, the centre, the leader. She gave the orders, and they were obeyed with love and respect. Arthur was quieter, and rarely scolded or gave orders. But he inspired just as much love and respect in his family.

God, she was terrified of hurting him. How could she do this? How could she tell him that her boyfriend was the grandson of the man who'd hurt him, so much, so many times?

"Lily?" She'd been stood, leaning against the wall, at the side of the house. She'd been able to see the family, all gathered in the garden, and had seen her grandfather, sat in a chair with little Adelaide Lupin in his lap. She appeared to be gurgling at him, eliciting solemn responses. At the sound of her name, Lily looked away, and found herself face to face with Lysander, who was looking at her in concern.

Lysander's hair was a little longer than usual, she noticed. It was the same dirty blonde as he and his brother had inherited from Luna; except Lorcan had been wearing his purple for the last couple of years. His eyes were on her, his head titled.

"You don't look happy." He told her. "Ah, problems with, um, Scorpius?"

She put his slight awkwardness down to a fear she was going to get emotional and ask for relationship advice. She didn't know – no one did – that Lysander'd had a crush on her since he was at least ten years old, and that he was struggling to accept the idea of her being with Scorpius.

"No. No, we're fine. It's just, I have to tell Granddad today. Before he hears it from someone else." She ran a hand through her hair. "He and Lucius Malfoy – well, you know all about that. I don't want to hurt him, Zander. Do you think he'll be hurt?"

"I...If you're that worried about how everyone'll react, Lily, why are you with the guy?" He asked, avoiding her question. A part of him – that small, mean, jealous part – was hoping she'd suddenly realise how wrong Scorpius was for her, and break it off. Instead, she shook her head.

"Don't you think I keep asking myself that? Don't you think we've both talked about it? Zander, when he said he was going to tell Al, and I knew that meant we'd have to tell everybody, I really considered just ending it. Because I don't want to upset the family, or to make them mad. I don't want him to have to suffer any hassle, either, for me. But I couldn't, just like I couldn't stay away in the first place." She offered him a wry smile. "I tried to do the smart thing and stay away from him. Guess I'm just not used to doing the smart things."

"You could still break it off, Lily, if you wanted to." He said quietly. For a second, the briefest second, he considered telling her to end it with Scorpius, and give things with him a try, instead. But he'd sworn to himself, almost three years ago, that he'd never tell anyone, especially not Lily. That unless he had reason to believe she saw him as anything more than another cousin, he wouldn't risk their friendship.

"I can't. It makes me feel stupid and girly and pathetic to admit it, but I can't make myself end it, because I really, really don't want to. I can't explain it. And I know it's selfish, to put what I want above the family, but..."

"It's not selfish." He murmured. "The family want you to be happy, Lily, and if Scorpius makes you happy, well, no one will have a problem. And Granddad? He's the least prejudiced person I know. Don't worry about it."

She thought it over for about a minute, then smiled slightly. "OK. Thanks, Zander." She flung her arms around him, hugged him tightly, then released him. "I better go get this over with."

He watched her walk to Arthur, and sighed. For a long moment, he stood, leaning against the wall, unaware he was being watched by Lydia.

----------

"Granddad?" Lily sat down in the empty chair next to Arthur, immediately catching his attention. When Adelaide started to struggle, Arthur allowed her to wriggle from his arms into Lily's.

"What's wrong?" There was no pretences, no small talk or hints or dodging around the issue. They weren't that kind of family; and when something was so obviously bothering one of his youngest grandkids (the youngest blood grandkid, but since when did blood matter?) Arthur wasn't going to waste time. "Lily?"

"I have to tell you something." She said, looking at Adelaide instead of him. "It's...it's no big deal. I'm just a little worried you'll be – be upset with me."

"Lily, whatever you've done, you know this family will always love you, support you, and be proud of you." Arthur said carefully.

She'd heard the statement before, as had her cousins. When she was eleven, she'd tried to confess to accidently (it was mostly accidental) setting the old, largely unused broomshed on fire, and he'd said those words. She'd responded by asking if that still held if she decided to run away and become a muggle hooker.

He'd been stunned into silence, then laughed, while her father cringed and her mother reprimanded her.

She couldn't think of a clever, distracting line, though, so she simply shrugged. "I'll hold you to that. OK, here it is. I guess you remember Lucius Malfoy? That was stupid, of course you do. Well, he uh, has a grandson, Scorpius, and you knew that too." Awkward, she cut herself off, and was about to start again. She looked up in time to see Arthur visibly relax. "Lily, is this about you and that boy?"

Her mouth actually dropped open. She hadn't thought that happened to people in real life, but it did. "You – you know?"

"Of course. Your mother mentioned it to Molly, and she told me. Is that what had you so worried?"

She squirmed. He was amused. Well, wasn't that fantastic? Her mother was amused. James was, now at least, somewhat amused. Lydia was amused. Even Scorpius was amused. She seemed to be the only person who didn't find this whole situation funny.

"I thought...I thought you might be...I know you and Lucius Malfoy have a – a bad history. I thought maybe you'd think I was being...disloyal, or something."

His face softened. "Lily. I've met the boy. Only a few times, only for a small amount of time. But I've met him, and I know he's nothing like his grandfather. And I also know that you are not a stupid girl, Lily. I'm not upset or angry with you. I worry, of course, but I know you're smart, so I only worry a little."

She smiled weakly. None of this was the smart choice, though, was it?

"Thank you." She murmured, and would have hugged him if not for Adelaide, who chose that moment to grab a handful of Lily's hair and yank it. "Ow, ow, ow, OK, Addy, I'm paying you attention now."