Hey guys,
I´m so sorry this took so long, but... there are a thousand reasons I could list that it did.
Hope you enjoy the chapter - it is quite long ;)
There are some major changing coming and a good portion of drama will occur within the next chapters.
Let me know, what you think?
Love you all,
xxNim
Ly.
When I got up the next morning, the delicious smell of Dom´s baking lured me into the kitchen.
Popping myself up onto the counter, I looked at her quizzically while she made a second bowl of dough stir itself with a flick of her wand.
She did not answer for a while, instead pretending to oil the cake dish.
After a minute though she looked up and met my raised eyebrow with a roll of her icy blue eyes.
„I woke up early. Didn´t have anything else to do… so I thought, I´d start baking."
Smirking I hopped of the counter and hugged her from behind, trapping her between my body and the bar.
„Youuuuu… are lying."
„Am not."
„Are totally."
„Am totally not."
„Are totally. I´m right. You know it."
She made a funny noise that resembled a sneezing unicorn and wiggled out of my embrace sidestepping my grab and putting the dough into the cake pan.
I sighed dramatically and sneaked up behind her again, stealing a bit of cake batter with my index finger when she half turned her back towards the pan.
Stifling a laugh at her confused look towards her unfinished cake, I nibbled my conquest and feigned a look of innocence at her suspicious glare.
Before I could steal some more, she got the first cake out of the oven and put the second one inside.
All the while mulishly staying silent of course.
Damn Weasley stubbornness.
„Okay, spill, honey. What is it?"
Her eyes flickered to the ground and she bit her bottom lip. I rolled my eyes and walked towards my room to get dressed, but stopped, when I heard her deep sigh.
Without turning towards her, I silently counted down from ten - knowing her very well, I knew, I would not have to wait until I reached the number three.
As expected she started to talk, when I reached „four".
„I am nervous about training."
Making a grimace at the kitchen floor, that she could not see, I waited for her to continue, but spoke, when she stayed silent.
„What about it?"
I heard her shuffling around for a second, before her arms wrapped around my middle.
„I am afraid not to be good enough."
Sighing deeply, I leaned my head against hers, which rested on my shoulder.
„You will do fine. Just wait - who could ever be as good of an auror as you? Your dueling skills are brilliant, you kick ass in any sport you give a try and nobody wants to get on your bad side for your transfiguration skills."
She hummed softly and I felt the vibration through my shoulder.
Trying to lighten the mood, I bent forwards and pulled her onto my back, giving her a piggy ride through the living room.
She squealed in surprise and started laughing shortly after she got over the scare.
Running around with my best friend on my back, laughing uncontrollably, I let the happiness soak through me, fill every fiber of my body and enjoyed, how it made me feel alive.
In this moment, I could even forget that my life was anything but perfect at the moment.
Dom.
I had not lied, when I told Ly about being scared of training. But then again, I had not been completely truthful either.
Training was still three weeks away, but what made me a lot more uneasy, was the flower on my bed.
Of course it seemed cute on one hand, but on the other, I thought it extraordinary scary, how on earth somebody had delivered something without us noticing it.
Maybe it was the future auror in me, but it made me kind of paranoid to think of someone placing anything on my bed, while we were not at home.
Surely, this time it was a rose, but what if it had been something else? Something dangerous?
Lost in this kind of thoughts, I found myself apparating to my uncle Ron´s house in order to spend some time in auntie Hermione´s private library.
When I knocked at the bright red door, I felt like someone was staring at me, but ignored the feeling with a shudder, after I did not see anybody around.
It took only a second for Hermione to open the door.
She was surprised to see me, but invited me in with a hug and a kind smile.
„Rose is not at home love. Actually she is rearranging her flat at the moment and said she could not come over for tea today."
I saw a soft hint of sadness in my aunt´s eyes and wondered shortly, what it was like for a mother to see her children leave home and grow up.
Following a sudden impulse, I hugged her again and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She looked surprised at first, but then hugged me back tightly.
„Actually I haven´t come for Rose, Hermione. I wondered if I could take a look at your private library?"
Her smile came faster this time and the enthusiasm about books shone brightly in her eyes again, making me imagine the annoying eleven year-old her husband used to tell us jokingly about years ago.
When she led me through the house, I smiled at sudden childhood memories.
Rose and I had never been that close, normally it had been Lily and me, but there were some occasions, when family festivities had taken place at Ron and Hermione´s.
The house was rather big for a family of four. It looked like a huge cottage with white walls and light blue window frames to arched windows.
Red roses were climbing up the walls and made the country house look like it could take place in a fairy tale. With its idyllic setting and the cozy cuteness, that gave it its own kind of beauty, the name „Gem Cottage" seemed perfectly fitting, as did the family's nickname „The Gem".
Hermione guided me upstairs and into a rather big room with high ceilings and walls covered in bookshelves.
She smiled motherly at me and left with the promise to make me some ice tea and the reassuring to answer any questions when necessary.
Nodding gratefully I started to make my way through rows of bookshelves, once again in awe of her huge collection.
Passing several shelves about Herbology and Potions, I finally made my way towards the section of Defense Against Dark Arts.
There were around two hundred books to this topic, sorted into pure defense, combat and fighting, dark creatures, and finally defensive spell work.
Randomly pulling out a couple of books to the latter topic, I carried them to a desk nearby and started looking through them.
About three hours later I had thumbed through five huge books and found several security charms and defensive spells to guard estates, properties, and apartments.
When I started to put away the books, my eyes fell upon a beautifully crafted one in the shelf next to the one I had used.
With a feeling that reminded me of compulsion, I grabbed it and brought it over to the table.
Stroking the red leather cover in awe, I reverentially read the artfully golden letters of the title out in a whisper.
„Secrets of the Dark Forces"
Opening the cover my eyes skimmed the index and I stopped at „Veelas - p. 1888".
I did not realize my frowning over the mentioning of my great-grandmother´s breed in a book of dangerous dark creatures until my aunt stepped back into the room and I looked up to smile at her.
She stepped in hesitantly, but I grinned encouragingly.
After a brief look to the book, one of her eyebrows shot upwards and she looked at me quizzically.
„Doing some research on your heritage?"
I shrugged my shoulders indecisively and looked back at her with my head tilted to the side.
„Should I?"
Her laugh was infectious and she hugged me briefly with one arm, before leaving me with the book and a new glass of ice tea.
The comment about my heritage still in mind I began skimming through the article.
It was two pages long, introducing the reader to the Bulgarian heritage at first, the magnificent looks and magical abilities, as well as the ability to
shape shift.
Later there was a paragraph about „cross-breeding" that caught my attention.
„…It is handed down through history, that veela have married and mated with wizards. Offspring of these unions are half-veela, also considered half-breeds, who normally will inherit their paternal magical ability. Also they will succeed their mother´s beauty and charm.
Through their magical abilities, veela descendants are accepted in magical schools, especially at Beauxbatons, where charm and beauty are valued very much.
Veela traits seem to persist for a couple of generations at least.
It is unknown, whether veelas have mated with muggles, any other magical creatures or magical half-breeds beside part-veelas."(*)
Thoughtfully sipping my tea, I leaned back in my chair and let my eyes roam over the books.
I knew that I had inherited veela traits from the maternal side of my family.
Suddenly the incident in my bedroom came back into my mind.
Even after re-reading the article twice, the text did not say anything about veela-descendants inheriting any of the shape-shifting abilities of their ancestors.
They wrote something about full-blood veelas being able to turn into bird like creatures, who can throw fire balls, but it was only mentioned in a short side sentence. Besides, I knew that already, due to my uncle Harry telling me about his encounter with some veelas at the Quidditch World Cup in his fourth year.
Bloody brilliant. Why on earth would you ramble about beauty and charm for half a page, but not indulge into the cool stuff?
I studied some of the other books about magical creatures, but could not find anything interesting either. Whenever veela were mentioned, you usually got a lot about their charms and looks.
Obviously most authors to mention them were male and had been quite concentrated on their appearance.
I had almost given up, when my aunt returned once more, a frown on her face and a thin book in her hands.
„There was this book that came to my mind earlier. It took me a while to find it, Hugo had borrowed it a time ago and it was still in the attic."
She handed it over and I carefully stroked the green leather binding.
Hermione smiled proudly, when I looked at her and played with a strand of hair absentmindedly.
„I found this beauty in France. It was actually on Ron's and my honeymoon. We travelled the world for a couple of weeks, visiting friends, spending time wherever we liked.
So when we were in Paris, I really wanted to visit the Chemin Transversal. It reminded me a lot of Diagon Alley. But I don´t have to tell you that - you will know all about it, I guess."
Laughing lightly, she looked at the book and continued.
„We were wandering around and ended somewhere that reminded me a little bit of Knockturn Alley. Then again, it was not as shabby or obviously evil as that street used to be, but more like it is today.
There were a couple of shops you would not visit, unless you wanted to buy something slightly illegal, but beside these, there were also various buildings that did not seem too bad."
She was silent for a couple of seconds, frowning at a thought, before shaking her head as if to make it go away.
„Walking around that street, we ended in a book store."
I giggled at that and she joined in after a second, before continuing.
„I know, I literally had to drag Ronald in there, but once we had entered the shop, he was amazed as well:
It was really magical, beautifully crafted books everywhere.
The shop attendant reminded me of a female Mr. Ollivander - she looked slightly crazy, but really nice.
So when I asked her about any special books, she could recommend, she smiled and handed me this one."
Like magnetized my eyes lay on the cover and I opened the book carefully.
The first page bore an ink drawing of a beautiful woman, whose hair reached her hips, sitting on a stone near the sea.
The title above the drawing was French and said „La Belle et la Bête".
Hermione cleared her throat awkwardly, before speaking again.
„The title „The Beauty and the Beast" was chosen by the author herself - who happens to be a veela as well.
It actually is a book of memories about herself and her coping with her nature.
This is not a fairy tale that ends in a happy way though.
The epilogue was written by her daughter…
She stayed silent until I caught her eye.
„What happened to her?"
We both looked at the book again and I felt a sudden burst of emotion that made me unsure if I wanted to hear the answer.
„She gave away a strand of hair to her granddaughter."
Another pause took place, until my aunt hugged me gently with one arm.
„You can borrow and read it, if you´d like to. It is actually pretty good. Not easy to read, but very impressive.
And there might be some things of interest for you in it."
When I came home, it was already noon and Ly was not at home.
After tidying up a bit and making the dishes clean themselves in the sink with a flick of my wand, - did I mention, I love magic? - I considered reading the book I had just borrowed, but decided against it.
Instead I found myself setting up quite a lot security charms on our flat.
Ly came home, when I was just finishing the last one and I earned a skeptical look.
„What is this going to be, when you´re done - are you locking me out?"
I rolled my eyes at her, but decided against telling her about the flower.
Instead I went into the kitchen and got each of us a big piece of cake.
Minutes later, both of us were sitting on the kitchen counter, legs dangling, a piece of cake in one hand and a cup of ice tea in the other.
„So what did you do today?"
My best friend finished the bite of cake, before she spoke to answer.
„I figured, I´d best look for an alternative to the healer apprenticeship. So I went to Diagon Alley."
Waiting for her to continue, I scooped up the last of my crumbs.
„Somehow I ended in Knockturn Alley - none of the big shops needed an assistant, besides Ollivander´s that is, and that Lysander kid got that spot last year, so he will have it this year as well."
I tried to hide the frown, when she mentioned Knockturn Alley, but she caught it anyway.
„Come on, it is not that bad anymore! There are actually a couple of interesting stores there…"
The sparkle in her eyes made me sigh.
„Let me guess - you found a job somewhere in the deepest corner of this underground?"
She nodded excitedly.
„Yeah, I found something in a tavern called `The Rabid Rabbit´. They were looking for a waitress and I happened to be just the one."
My look must have been incredulously, but she chose to ignore it, instead nibbling on her cake.
„`The Rabid Rabbit´? Seriously? Who would call their tavern that? It´s plain right stupid. And it does not even sound very good."
She shrugged her shoulders carelessly.
„I think, it´s catchy. As long as they don´t make me wear a bunny costume, I´m game."
My snort made her look up and she grinned crookedly at me.
„Come on. Don´t be so stuck up. You know, I can handle myself, I´m a grown up witch."
The thought of her having to take care of herself made me shudder.
Suddenly I realized how much earlier she had to grow up in comparison to myself and I felt really small and childish.
Glad for my decision of not telling her about the intruder to our home, I faked a smile and nodded.
„Yeah, I guess you are. Just take care - and don´t believe any guy who tells you he has baby bunnies…"
Lily
My hands were shaking and I felt like I could hardly breathe.
Trying to gulp down my fear and pain, I knocked the serpent rapper twice, before stepping back with closed eyes.
It took him a couple of seconds to open the door, but when he did, he made room for me to step in immediately.
Wordlessly hugging me with one arm, he led me towards the living room.
Like he did last time.
He motioned for me to sit down on the white leather sofa and handed me a soft black blanket.
Just like last time, he disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, before returning with a tray of tea.
My hands weren´t shaking as violently anymore, so I tried to estimate this time´s damage.
When I pulled up my sleeve, I heard him suck in his breath sharply.
„Lily."
I hushed him with a single look.
Of course he was not intimidated - the already darkening bruise around my left eye made him listen even less.
A second later he was cowering in front of me, his hands lightly on my bruised knees.
The contact made me shudder and he shrugged back immediately.
Suddenly I could not hold back the tears anymore - and like last time - I threw myself into his arms.
Sobbing soundly I felt him pull me closer carefully and stroking my tangled hair.
It took me almost half an hour to regain my composure and another couple of minutes to sit back on the sofa again.
When I finally was able to breath, he took out his wand - slowly and carefully, just like last time. As if I was a wounded animal and he was afraid of scaring me away into certain death.
Every bruise he healed made me flinch in pain, although my broken wrist was the worst.
After I could sit without physical pain, he sat down again with a deep sigh.
I knew I could not do this any longer. But then, he had said, I should come to him, if it ever happened again.
Of course I knew, what he would say next, but I still dreaded the words, when he spoke softly.
„Lily. You have to stop going back to him."
Lifting my eyes from the carpet, it took me a moment to be able of speaking.
My voice was raspy when I finally answered.
„I know. But I can´t."
He was about to respond, when I interrupted him.
„It is not as easy as you think, Scorpius. There is more to it and you know… you don´t know it."
There was a short silence, in which he figured out, what to say.
„You know, you can tell me without me telling anyone else, right?"
I nodded and a storm of emotions raged through my chest.
Very gently he took my hand in his and started to draw patterns on it.
That always calmed me down and despite me never telling him, I figured, he had worked it out by himself.
„Look Lils, this has gone on for far too long. I don´t want to pressure you, but I think it is time for you to either tell me what happened or to… move on."
I swallowed hard, but could not respond.
„It´s been over a year now since I first found you! You said you had not had any contact to him while Al and I were on our journey."
My eyes cast down I muttered something so silently, that he could not hear me.
„What was that?"
„I lied."
He sighed again.
„So you´ve been seeing him through the whole year?"
Tears sprang back into my eyes when I nodded.
I dreaded looking up, before they were gone - after all this times, that he had seen me cry, I still could not bear another person seeing me weak.
He gave me a minute to collect my emotions, before he continued.
„Lily, this is not, how this works."
His voice was stern now although I heard the strength it cost him, to give it this hard notch.
„You promised me, to come to me, whenever something like this happened again. I had not meant for you to stay with this asshole. You come to me, all beaten up, yet run back to him, after I healed you up."
There was annoyance in his voice and I heard hurt as well.
„You lied to me about not being with this guy, when I was too far away to help you.
I bet he did this, when I was gone, as well."
My silent tears, now dropping down on my hands in my lap were answer enough.
„Now that I am back, you appear again - all bloody and full of bruises.
What do you expect me to do?"
I shrugged my shoulders, defeated, yet not able to admit.
Guilt crept over me, when I made myself look up and saw the distress in his eyes.
„I don´t know, what to do, Scor."
I hated my voice for its vulnerable tune, but then that was just, what it took to make him take a deep breath and hug me gently again.
Talking about my feelings, showing my violability, was something I hardly ever did nor felt comfortable doing. But then again in this case it made him give up the argument and just hold me close, which was exactly what I needed - or maybe wanted.
Him not asking questions.
Him not accusing me.
Him not over thinking things or coming to the conclusion, he would have to tell somebody.
We stayed silent for a couple of minutes, me still enveloped in his gentle hug.
It was him who broke the hush.
„Lils, I really want to help you. But I don´t know how.
And this - " he motioned to the two of us „ - is not helping you. This was a temporary thing.
But you are using it as a solution."
I knew, what he was going to say, yet I was not prepared to hear it.
„I can´t help you like this anymore, little one.
I have to quit this.
We have to tell somebody - you have to tell someone, who can help you."
In an act of defense I slipped away from him to the other side of the sofa, holding the blanket close to my body.
„You can´t tell anybody.
You promised!"
His sigh was agonized and I could not help the tiny bit of guilt inside my chest.
But being the Slytherin I was, I pushed it aside and concentrated on his guilt instead.
I could not have him tell anybody and I could not have him telling me not to come back the next time. Because I knew, there would be a next time.
„You promised, you would be there, you promised, you were my shoulder to lean on!"
Of course he knew what I was doing - his whole family had been in Slytherin and despite him ending in Gryffindor, they had still taught him to think the way, Slytherins did.
Yet he did not throw my low blow back into my face for which I was grateful.
„I did and I want to be. But I can´t have you going on like this. It´s just not… right."
Before I could respond, he silenced me with an unexpected hard look on his face.
„Lils, you will be going back to Hogwarts in two weeks. What are you going to do then? I won´t be around anymore."
Brilliant, now he came up with the one argument I had dreaded most.
It cost me a lot to act indifferent.
„You weren´t around last year."
He sighed again and I knew I had won this time. If you could call it winning.
With a pained look in his eyes, he took my hand again.
„Alright. You know, I hate it. But I won´t tell anyone. But please - and now I really beg you - tell one of your friends? Your closest confidant?"
My breath was shaky, when I drew it in. My voice was quiet and sounded defeated.
„There is none. I can´t tell anyone, Scor. I don´t have anyone beside him and you."
Hey guys.
Sorry AGAIN for this long wait - I won´t even try to promise to continue soon. Although I will try, but don´t make me promise…
Hope, you liked it - any comments or questions would be appreciated a lot ;)
Also let me know - did you like Lily´s POV? What about the newly revealed plot twist...? Scor and Lil have some kind of history and who is it, they are talking about?
Let me know what you think :)
Also I want to say thank you to my once-again-beta speeds - you are the best, thank you so so much! :**
xoxo Nim
(*) paragraph inspired by harry wiki/veela
