Later that night, Lily frowned at her reflection in the mirror. She was still in the sweatpants and baggy Slytherin tee-shirt that she threw on this morning. Her hair was a complete disaster; she hadn't even brushed it, just threw it up in a messy bun. She sighed softly as she sat in a chair in front of her mirror, "We've got work to do," she murmured under her breath. Though admittedly it was completely her fault, she dreaded dinner. She then threw on a nice pair of blue jeans, and a cute blue ruffled blouse. She then reluctantly pulled her hair out of the bun, and it was a tangled mess. Just before she started the battle with her hair, she heard a knock on her door. "Go away," she mumbled loudly enough so that whoever it was could hear her, and then she began brushing out the birds nest that was her hair. Whoever it was didn't want to go away, and just kept repeatedly knocking. Once Lily finally had her curls brushed out and falling around her shoulders, she opened the door and found a grinning Scorpius.

Scorpius leaned against Lilys doorway, "Change of plans, sweetheart," he said, looking at Lily from top to bottom. No matter what she wore, he was always fascinated with how beautiful she was.

Lily stared at him, tilting her head, confused, "Huh?" she asked.

"Well, you see, there's been a bit of a mix-up," Scorpius explained, eyeing Lily suspiciously and stepping into her room, closing the door behind himself, "Apparently your Uncle Ron was also invited to this dinner," he shrugged, taking a step closer towards Lily, "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you dear?"

Lily shrugged, half smiling as she took a step towards Scorpius, eliminating any space there was between them as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "What else can you expect from a Slytherin?" she teased.

Scorpius laughed as he playfully shoved her away, "I'm glad you say that," he said mischievously as he walked towards the door, and when he had his hand on the handle he glanced back at Lily, "Oh, and you might want to change," he added, and before Lily could reply with a fit of rage, with a grin he said, "Unless that's what you want to wear to dinner with my parents," then he walked out the door, smiling as he walked down the hall, listening to Lily scream death threats.


About half an hour later, when Lily, in her black knee high boots and black tight short dress, felt she was ready for dinner with the Malfoys, she headed down the hall to the stairs so herself and Scorpius could get going. Before she made her way to the stairs, James caught her wrist, a nervous, anxious look on his face, "I need to talk to you, Lils."

Lily was about to object, but when she saw the pleading look in James' eyes she nodded, "Okay, but make it quick."

He hesitated, before whispering, "You're not going back to Hogwarts."

Lily pulled her wrist free from his grasp, and slightly shook her head as she gazed at him, "James, I don't understa-"

"We pulled some strings, you can still start training when you turn 17," he added, hoping to ease the anger that he could tell was about to come on.

Lily shook her head, "James, that's crazy! My last years classes, my NEWTS, it makes no sense, there's no wa-"

James decided that the only way to keep his sister from throwing a fit, he had to be blunt with her, "Lorcan has an insider at Hogwarts, he's been seen in the castle, someone has been granting him access to Hogwarts whenever he pleases."

Lily shook her head in disbelief, "But who would help him and put all the students in danger?"

James shrugged, "We don't know, Lils. But the ministry is working on it. And the ministry agrees that you are completely qualified to begin training once you are of age, that's all you need to know, okay?"

Lily felt as if the world around her was spinning and on the verge of collapsing. Who would do such a thing? And why would he be parading around Hogwarts? As much as she feared for her own personal safety, she worried so much more for the girls who would be attending. What if he did to them what he had to her, and no one came to rescue them? It was just too much to wrap her head around, she took her wrist from james' grasp, "I got . . I gotta go," she mumbled as she turned around, stumbling, unable to stay balanced. She started to make her way down the steps, and luckily James was there to catch her before she fell forward.


Lily sat down on the couch, listening to James explain the situation to Albus and Scorpius. Lily want to explain it herself, but she honestly couldn't find the words to. She was terrified that Lorcan was starting to become a more serious threat, not just to her, but to all those innocent young girls at Hogwarts. What if he found someone new for a love/stalker interest?

Scorpius put his hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you go upstairs and rest, you have a lot to take –"

"No, no no!" Lily snapped, more harshly than she had intended to, then she sighed and added more gently, "I want to meet your parents, I'm fine. Lets just go, okay?"

Her brothers glanced at one another and then to Scorpius and nodded. James kissed her on the forehead, " Have a good night Lils, love you."

Lily smiled as she stood up, and hugged her brother tightly, "I love you too, James," she looked at Albus over Jams shoulder and smiled. Her and Albus were close by normal sibling standards, but it was no secret that Lily and James had always had the greater bond, "And I love you too, Al."

Albus smiled at Lily and nodded, as she and Scorpius, arm in arm, made their way out the door, and disappeared from the front yard of the Potters with a loud crack.


Albus excused himself from the dinner table to go get some fresh air. Truth be told, Rose and Hugo Weasley annoyed him immensely and he thought if he didn't get away from them that he might explode. So he ventured into the woods behind their house. Not far, but just far enough to the point where he had total and complete silence. He sat down on a rock, enjoying the solitude when he heard a voice behind him.

"Enjoying yourself, Potter?" the voice sneered.

Albus barley had time to turn around before a bag was thrown over his head and the darkness consumed his vision.


Lily stood nervously outside the Malfoy manor with Scorpius, "And you're sure your grandfather isn't home?" Lily asked. He had already told her that, but she just wanted to confirm.

Scorpius laughed half out of amusement and half out of annoyance, "Don't judge him before you've met him," Scorpius advised.

Lily scoffed, "He's tried to kill my father."

Scorpius was really tired of hearing Lily talk down on his grandfather, but at the same time completely understood, "Let's just go inside," Scorpius said calmly, and opened the door for Lily.

Upon entering the manor, Lily squeezed Scorpius' hand so hard he thought she might break it. Sure, Lily had been to the manor before, but that was without Scorpius' parents home. When they reached the dinner table, Astoria smiled widely and stood up. She embraced Scorpius in a hug and Lily stuck out her hand for her to shake, but, to Lilys surprise, she hugged her tightly. Lily awkwardly returned the gesture, introducing herself and shaking Dracos hand. When they had all sat down, Lily smiled at the couple, "It's so nice to finally meet you two!"

Astoria, who did most the talking, responded, "Same to you dear! Oh, Scorpius had told us so much about you!" And as the night went on, Lilys nervousness vanished. The conversation was mainly held by Lily and Astoria chattering back and forth. Lily decided that she really liked Astoria, and Astoria decided the same about Lily. The night went off without a hitch, and dinner was going fantastic.

For the first time that night, Draco joined in the conversation, "So, Lily, looking forward to your last year at Hogwart?" He asked casually.

Lily gulped, she wasn't sure how to respond to that, she looked at Scorpius, pleading, and he answered for her, "You see, Lily has been excused from her last year at Hogwarts and begins training as an Auror when she's 17," he gave a glance to his parents that said yes there's more to it but just shut up about it for now.

Astoria smiled, looking at lily proudly, "Well, beauty and brains,' she then averted her gaze to Scorpius, "You picked a keeper."

Scorpius took Lilys hand beneath the table and looked at her, smiling, "I sure did."

Astoria scanned the table, then slapped the table as she stood up, "Well heavens me I forgot to put out the onions, I'll be just a moment . . " Then she left, leaving Draco, lily, and Scorpius sitting in an awkward silence.

Lily looked at Draco and smiled, "I can see where Scorpius gets his good looks from."

Draco laughed, he was growing an affection for this girl. He picked up his drink and took a sip, when he was done he looked from Scorpius to Lily, "Yes, from his mother."

They all laughed as Astoria came back out with a boil of cooked onions. Suddenly, as Astoria set the bowl down right in front of Lily and she breathed in the fumes, without warning, Lily covered her mouth and ran down the hall into the bathroom. Astoria and Draco both looked to each other and then to Scorpius.

"Oh that poor thing," Astoria said sadly as she gazed at Scorpius, "Has she ever done anything like that before?"

Scorpius shook his head, really thinking nothing of it, taking another bite from his plate, "She's probably just caught a bug, I'm sure she'll be okay."


When Scorpius returned Lily home, she thanked him for a great night, assured him that she was okay, and sent him on his way. She walked into the house to find that Hermione, Rose, and Hugo were still there. She groaned as she came through the front door.

Albus noticed her and smiled, "Where were you?" he asked, smiling up at her, and staring at her for a bit too long for her liking.

Lily gave him a weird glance as she slowly set down her purse on the counter top, "At Scorpius' place for dinner," she said, studying Albus face carefully. At the mention of Scorpius' name, he tensed. Lily sat down beside him and put her hand on his shoulder, "Al, are you okay?"

Albus shrugged her hand off and nodded, looking at her and grinning, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Lily shrugged, eyeing him suspiciously before making her way to where her brother James was sitting. She sat down beside him and whispered to him, still eyeing Albus, "Does Albus seem a little off to you?" Lily whispered.

James nodded, shaking his head slightly as he whispered back, "Yeah, something definitely wrong."

Before lily could respond, Ginny spoke to her, "Lilybug, could you hand me that bowl of onions please?"

Lily nodded, picking up the bowl and standing up. But before she could hand it to her mother, it clattered to the floor and she was leaning over the garbage can, hurling. Everyone turned their attention to her, which she didn't like at all. She slowly stood up, wiping her mouth and excused herself, "I'm gonna go lay down . . " she said shaking her head slightly. After she got comfortable in her bed, she heard a small knock. "Come in," she said, irritated.

Albus slowly came through the door and turned on the light, making Lily groan. She sat down on a chair across from her as she sat up, and he just kinda looked at her.

Lily waved her hand in front of his face, "Hello? Earth to Albus? What's up? Why are you in my room?"

Albus now seemed to be alert and smiled at Lily as he stroked her hair, "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Lily smacked his hands away from her, looking at him in surprise, "You don't stroke my hair. "

Albus tilted his head, trying to appear confused, "I didn't."

Lily squinted her eyes, "Yes you did."

Albus shrugged, "Just wanted to make sure you were okay," she said, and left the room, Lily quickly pulled out her phone.

***INSERTLINEHERE***

James was beyond boredom sitting at the table with Ginny, Hermione and Rose, listening to the three chatter on about girl stuff. He felt as if he were about to die when he heard his phone buzz. He quickly and gladly picked it up, reading a text message, which came from Lily.

DON'T LET ALBUS SEE THIS MESSAGE.
MEET ME BY THE APPLE TREE IN HALF AN HOUR.
DON'T LET ALBUS FOLLOW. BE CAREFUL.

James read the message in confusion, and nearly jumped when he heard Albus' voice behind him, "Who are you talking to, brother?"