"It's working in your blood,
but you know it's not the same as love,
love is only in your mind,
and not your heart,"

~MGMT, It's Working

3 Years Later

"Bitsy, get the hell out of bed!" a voice shouted irritably, followed by a muffled banging on her door. Lily sighed and threw back the covers. It was September first, time to head back to Hogwarts. She climbed out of bed and dressed quickly, knowing she was the last one to wake up, only taking her time on her makeup. Ruby lipstick (matte), smoky eyes, lengthening mascara. Then she dashed downstairs in hopes that the boys hadn't eaten all the breakfast. It was too late.

"Jeez, what took you so long Lil?" James asked through a mouthful of food. "There's nothing left but toast!"

Lily glared at him, and was about to give a scathing reply, when her mother intervened. "I just finished making some pumpkin muffins Lily, they're still warm, and there's soy butter in the refrigerator. James, don't bait her like that."

Lily munched on the sweet muffin thoughtfully. "When do we have to leave?" she asked.

"Now," her father said as he walked into the room, snatching a muffin off the kitchen counter.

"Long night?" Albus asked.

"Very," he said, sounding exasperated. "Never mind that now though, go get your trunks."

Lily was about to stand, but James waved his wand and the trunks came hurtling down the stairs one by one.

"James don't do that!" Ginny gasped, swatting him with a wooden spoon.

"Your mum got run over with a trunk when your uncle did that," Harry said quietly, hiding a snigger.

"Shut up Harry!" his wife replied irritably, brandishing her spoon again.

"Let's get moving," he said hurriedly, grabbing Lily's trunk and hurrying towards the front door, winking at lily as he went. The rest of the family followed and quickly piled into the car. The drive wasn't long, but it was full of teenagers complaining.

When they arrived, the kids said their goodbyes, Lily's somewhat tearful as usual. Once they were on the train, they went their separate ways.

Lily stepped into her usual compartment to find Bethanie already waiting for you.

"Hey honey, long time no see!" she said excitedly. "How was your safari?"

"Africa was fabulous!" Bethanie gushed. "I met a boy-"

The compartment door slid open and Damien and Rowan walked in. "What about boys?" Damien teased.

"Shut up, devil child!" Bethanie laughed.

"Oh come on Bethy, don't be angry with me," Damien pouted.

Hugo walked in next, waved, and kissed Rowan on the cheek before settling down next to her.

"Where's Scorpius?" he asked in his usual soft voice.

"Here," a cool voice said from the compartment door.

"I thought you were sitting with your other friends again this year," Lily said, confused. Scorpius smiled and sat down next to her.

"That was my original plan," he told her, reaching into her bag and stealing one of the Monster cans she had stashed away. "But I would much rather ride with my...erm, young friends."

Lily glared at him. "Stay out of my Monster," she told him levelly, snatching the can from his hand and taking a sip, before grudgingly handing it back. "Why do you have to share my addictions?"

"Because you were willing to share a sip with me. Your fault."

"Let's play exploding snap!" Bethanie cut in.

Soon everyone was involved in an enthusiastic game of exploding snap. One game became two, then more, until the next thing they knew they were arriving at Hogwarts.

"Remember when we first started here?" Ro asked with a laugh.

"And Lily fell in the lake!" Damien shouted. Lily shivered and shot him a glare.

"That was you!" Bethanie exclaimed. " I couldn't remember who fell in when the others were making fun of you, but now it makes sense!"

"Tammi Parkinson right?" Lily rolled her eyes. "What a skeezy little skank." The group settled into a carriage. "Wonder what Thestrals look like," she mused, motioning to the front of the carriage vaguely.

"They're interesting..." Scorpius said softly. Lily looked at him curiously, but the conversation continued in another direction, presumably to keep Scorpius from feeling awkward.

The carriage arrived at the castle, and everyone headed to join their separate houses. "See you later!" the called to each other. One would think the houses would be a little more split up, divided. But not quite.

See, things had changed a bit since Lily's first year. James and his friends had used the Room of Requirement to hang out when they were separated into different houses, and still did. So did Albus and most of the other Potters and Weasleys, plus any friends they made along the way. Now Lily and her friends were privy to the secret as well, and Hogwarts' elite from all four hosues occupied the room as their own private lounge. When they weren't at clubs, activities, or classes, most of this quickly growing group hung out together, getting along surprisingly well.

So being divided into houses didn't have to split up friendships so sharply anymore, and although Lily went and sat with Scorpius and Bethy quite happily, she was glad to know her time with Ro and Damien wouldn't be quarantined to summertime and breaks. Thinking about her friends had actually caused Lily to completely miss the sorting. Suddenly, food appeared in front of them.

"Want a steak?" Bethy teased, pushing the plate towards her.

"No thank you," Lily shuddered, leaning away from her friend and grabbing some basmati rice and ladling herself a bowl of sweet ginger soup. "Disgusting, hormone-injected, dead cow muscle..." she muttered, and the other two laughed at her. She looked up to see Scorpius smiling slightly absently.

"Earth to Malfoy!" she said, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Sorry love, was spacing," he said smoothly.

"Don't call me love," she said automatically, blushing. 'Why am I blushing?' she thought irritably. 'It's just Score, he always calls you love.'

Dinner went on, with much sarcasm and teasing, and soon the trio was headed back to the dorm.

"Goodnight ladies," Scorpius said to them, eyes seeming to linger slightly on Lily. Her face went slightly pink again, and she muttered back, "night."

As soon as the girls were back in their room, Bethanie grabbed Lily by the hand and spun her around. "Spill, woman," she directed.

"What are you talking about?" Lily replied, puzzled.

"You and Monsieur Malfoy!" she exclaimed.

"Obviously, there's something going on with you two. Come on, don't be stupid!" she admonished. "Don't lie to me..."

"There's nothing happening!" Lily protested, shaking her head emphatically. "Really," she added in response to Bethanie's eyeroll.

"Okay...maybe nothing's going on...yet," she said. "But mark my words, it's coming."

"What-ever," Lily laughed, throwing herself down on her bed. "You're ridiculous." Still, she couldn't help but wonder what had changed...