I don't own Harry Potter. Enjoy!

"You could have killed someone!" Lily shouted at Albus the moment he had entered Gryffindor tower.

The last hour had felt like an eternity to her between worrying for Scorpius and waiting for her stupid brother to come back so she could hex him into oblivion. What he had done had gone too far this time. It was one thing to poke at Scorpius but to want him hurt or worst dead made her see Albus in a whole other light.

Albus rolled his eyes at her dramatic tone, not looking the least bit worried or regretful. "Hello to you too, Lils."

"Don't, Albus! What you did could not have only gotten you expelled but you actually hurt someone. Do you even care?" she cried out in frustration, trying and failing to control her temper.

"Nothing happened, Lily. Stop being so dramatic," he pushed past her, hissing in pain when her nails dug into his arm as she stopped him from walking away.

"I can't believe you Albus. I can't believe that my own brother didn't care that I could've almost been killed by something he did."

Albus' eyes softened at his sister's teary eyes and trembling lips. He may have been a dolt at times and hardheaded, but he did love his sister more than anything. In an act of revenge he could have harmed his baby sister, something he couldn't fathom now that his head was clear.

"Lils –"

Lily shook her head at him not wanting to hear him apologize. She didn't need him to. What she needed was for this pissing contest to end once and for all. "I feel sorry for you Albus. You try so hard to be better than him that you haven't noticed the type of person you're becoming."

Albus looked at her in hurt. Sure, they had their moments of conflict but never had she shown such disappointment towards him. To him she was still the same little girl with big eyes and pigtails that looked up to him and listened to his every word. His resentment for Scorpius grew at that moment. It was his fault that Lily was upset. His fault that she was mad at her own brother.

When he didn't say anything to her, Lily gave a sad sigh before walking up to her dorm. She didn't need to see all the judging looks she was getting from the rest of the lions for putting Albus in his place. She just wanted to be alone. She just wanted to dive into her bed and cry until there was nothing left in her.

Slamming the door behind her, Lily felt the bitter taste of tears. It hurt her to hurt Albus with her words, but he deserved it. He wasn't sorry for hurting Scorpius, only sorry for almost having hurt her. She climbed onto her bed all the while ignoring the soreness she felt from being thrown off of Scorpius' broom, and allowed herself to sob into her pillow. The pain from her bruises meant nothing when measured alongside the emotional pain she felt.

Lily didn't know how long she cried until she was startled by a soft hand running through her hair.

"Are you okay Lily?" Alice asked in a soft voice that was nothing like her usual rambunctious tone.

Are you okay? What a silly question to ask in Lily's opinion.

"Malfoy is alright. I heard it was only a fractured shoulder and while he'll miss the first game he should be better for the next one," Alice informed her when Lily didn't so much as acknowledge her presence.

He was okay. Lily was able to breathe if only for a moment at the news. She had been so worried from the moment he had let out that cry of pain. It had been a shock to see his usually crafted features crumble into something much more human. He was okay. He was okay after risking his life for her. She would never forget him shielding her with his own body in order for the bludger to hit him and not her. He had offered her a protection that only her father ever could.

"Albus is suspended from playing the first three matches as well as a semester's load of detentions, but McGonagall didn't expel him. He's sorry for what he did, Lils. You should ease up on him."

Lily saw red at that moment. Pushing Alice away from her, she sat up and glared at her so-called best friend.

"Ease up on him? Did you not see what he did? What he could've caused?" she lashed out.

Alice gave Lily a pleading look as if it were Lily that was meant to understand something, and not the other way around. "It was an accident. Albus is sorry for what happened."

"No! Albus is sorry that he almost got me killed, but he isn't sorry for hurting Scorpius. No one cares that he was hurt because you all think he deserves it. Did anyone offer to help him or even think about helping him?" Lily stood up from the bed, wiping away angry tears.

"I'm not saying what happened wasn't wrong, but Lily –"

Lily huffed, looking up at the ceiling. "That's just it, Alice! You may think that what happened today was wrong, but you're still defending Albus. No one will say anything to him because he always comes out looking like the victim and that just isn't fair."

Alice looked at Lily with tired eyes. She didn't want to fight with her again over someone that should mean nothing to them, but it seemed impossible to get anything right in this conversation. Lily wouldn't just let bygones be bygones.

"Just leave me alone, please. I don't want to fight," Lily murmured softly. She knew that Alice wouldn't see through Albus' actions because she was just as enamored with him as Lily was with Scorpius.

With a nod, Alice walked out of the room. They would surely make up as they always did but for now Lily just wanted to be angry. She didn't want to hide what she felt or pretend that nothing happened as she most often did. Alice hadn't even asked her how she was feeling. She was more worried about scolding her on her attitude towards Albus than much else.

She grabbed a pillow and screamed into it. They hadn't even been back a week at Hogwarts and all hell had broken loose. She wondered if her parents would be informed of what Albus had done. Surely if the Malfoys had been told of Scorpius' injury they would want Albus to face grander consequences than a few detentions. Lily had heard his mother wasn't the woman you'd like to have for an enemy and she seemed to dote on her children. She couldn't imagine the Malfoys wouldn't want Albus' head.

No one would be able to help Albus if Scorpius were to want for revenge. While Lily did love her brother, she knew that Albus would deserve anything that came his way. She didn't want to see him hurt but he didn't seem to care who he took down in his ridiculous rivalry. He wasn't the same person she had for years looked up to – still looked up to even if she didn't realize it at times.

As she paced around her room thinking of the two wizards she cared for, the grandfather clock on the left of the room rang with a loud ding-dong, signaling the time for dinner. However dinner was the farthest thing from her mind. All she wanted to do was run to the infirmary and speak with Scorpius. She wished she could see him for herself rather than just go by Alice's word on his condition. Even if he was already taken care of she wanted to be assured that he was fine with her own eyes. Scorpius' cousins would surely be at his side, but they'd most likely join the rest of the students at the great hall for dinner, allowing Lily at least a moment alone with him.

With a plan already forming in mind, she waited for the last of her fellow Gryffindors to leave before she quietly made her way down to the first floor. Spotting Rose alongside the rest of the Ravenclaw students –including Lysander and Lorcan – she hid behind a statue until they were out of view, and kept in the shadows until she was at the infirmary's entrance.

"I still think we should tell Uncle Draco what happened," Lily heard a feminine voice speak.

Shielding herself against a stone pillar, she saw Calliope and Corrina Zabini walking out of the infirmary, both girls looking upset.

"Scorpius said no, Calliope. We have to do what he asks."

Calliope turned to her sister with a deadly look gracing her face, her hands balling into fists. "I don't have to do shit. He could've been killed because of fucking Potter, and I'm expected to just let this go?"

"I'm just as upset as you are sister, but you're only going to make things worse. Scorpius doesn't want his parents fighting his battles –"

"I respect that, Corrina. I respect him for being a better man than Potter, but this bullshit has gone too far. Not only did he rescue the Potter girl but now he's in bed with a broken shoulder that could've been more fatal."

Corrina pulled at her sister's arm when she tried walking off, her eyes pleading. "He's fine, P. If you love him as much as I know you do then you'll stand behind him and whatever choices he makes."

Lily watched Calliope close her eyes before given a tense nod. "Fine. I'll do what he says, but one more move by Potter and I'll rip off his head with my own hands."

"Agreed," Corrina replied.

As the two walked away, Lily stared blankly at the wall ahead. He wouldn't tell his parents. He had chosen to deal with Albus on his own and not tattle on him even if he was in his right to do so. Scorpius' actions only made her more depressed by her own brother's attitude. She couldn't deny who the better man was.

Pushing the door open, she snuck a peek inside to make sure there was no one insight. The infirmary was silent seeing as it was only the beginning of the term with only a handful of students resting away their illness or injuries. Madam Pomfrey was luckily not in the room so Lily wouldn't have to explain why she was coming to see the Slytherin that lay sleeping on the far side of the room.

He seemed so peaceful was Lily's first thought as she stood next to his bed. The left side of his body was bandaged, his arm held securely by the wrappings as to not cause more damage. It was her fault. If he hadn't protected her and instead chosen to run off just like the rest of those on the pitch had, he wouldn't be such a state. She was the one that was supposed to be on this bed and not him.

"Come to finish what your lovely brother started?" a tired voice asked.

With a startled gasp, Lily looked down at Scorpius only to find him wide awake. His silver eyes were observing her in question and she realized she had yet to answer him.

"I needed to see if you were okay," she said softly. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? You weren't the moron that cursed the bludger," he turned his head to the side as he spoke with bitterness coating every word.

She looked down in shame. "I'm related to the moron."

"You are, but I don't blame you for that. I don't blame you at all, really."

"You should. It's my fault you're in here."

Scorpius turned back to her. "Well, I couldn't allow a student to die under my watch. Head boy and all that."

She twisted her hands around, feeling small even if she was the one standing. "Thank you. It may not have meant much to you, but it does to me."

"Lily," he called to her when she turned to leave just as he had this afternoon by the lake. "Stay."

She looked at him in surprise. His eyes were ordering her to stay and she knew she couldn't say no even if she wanted to.

"I don't want to keep you from resting," she said, even as she sat on the stool next to him.

"I've rested enough," he replied, giving a grunt when he tried to move.

"Careful!" Lily shot up in worry and went to his side. "You shouldn't be moving."

He gave an annoyed glance at his immobilized arm, prodding at the bandages with his good hand. "Staying still isn't precisely my forte."

"You'll have to learn if that shoulder of yours is going to heal properly," she lectured him.

"Don't you sound like my mother," he said in jest. "Do me a favor, won't you?"

She stopped herself from saying "anything" or something along those lines, instead giving him a simple nod.

"Could you get me some water," he glanced at the pitcher on his bedside.

"Of course." She turned to pour the water, mentally slapping herself when she tried handing it to him.

"You may need to help me sit up."

"Right," she said shakily. "I'll do that."

She was going to have to touch him. He was allowing her to touch him. Memories of him taking her into his arms and having his body on top of hers to protect her flashed in her eyes. After the fear had turned into worry and the worry had faded, she recalled the way his hand had held her waist, his fingers burning through her.

"Just place your arm around me," he instructed.

Lily moved to do as he said, noticing then that he was completely naked from the waist up. She felt her face heat up and heart quicken, and hoped to Merlin that he didn't take notice of her trembling hands.

Her small hand wrapped around him, feeling the soft texture of his skin. She wondered if every man's skin was like his, silky and smooth.

"Put a pillow behind me please," Scorpius said, sounding breathless after sitting up.

"Are you comfortable?" she questioned once he was situated.

"As comfortable as I can be," he murmured, taking the offered glass of water from her hand with a soft thanks.

Sitting back down, Lily looked around the room in awkwardness. No matter how much she wanted to be here –with him – she still felt out of place.

"You're bruised."

"I'm sorry?" she said.

"Your arm," he motioned to her with a tilt of his chin.

Following his gaze she saw a dark bruise beginning to form on her light skin. She had been so worried for him that she had given herself no consideration, only barely acknowledging the dull ache left from her fall.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," Scorpius told her, his voice sounding surprisingly regretful to her ears.

Lily couldn't stop the bitter laugh from escaping her. He was apologizing. He was sorry for having caused damage to her. Albus had only felt sorry when he had seen her cry and yet the so-called snake sounded angry with himself for marking her.

"Why didn't you tell on Albus? You could've told your parents what happened but you didn't, why?" she asked.

"Would you have liked for me to do so?" he countered.

"He more than deserves it," Lily answered him quietly. "He went too far and…and he didn't care…doesn't care."

Scorpius' didn't reply to her. What could he possibly say to make the situation any better? He of all people knew Albus was a total arsehole, and had made Scorpius' life a living hell from the moment their paths had crossed.

"You shouldn't have helped me. You shouldn't have helped me that day in Knockturn Alley or today," she choked out.

"Am I interrupting?" came the silvery voice of Heloise Belizaire.

"No. I was just leaving," Lily said flatly.

Heloise raised a dark brow at Lily. The elder witch was far from ignorant and knew she had most definitely come between whatever this was. It wasn't everyday a Potter was so close to Scorpius without hexes being thrown about.

"I'd head to the Great Hall if I were you, Potter. Bletchley looked ready to hex your brother into the next century," Heloise informed.

Lily gave a tired exhale. "Of course he is."

Not giving into her need to look at Scorpius, Lily left the room. She shouldn't have been there. She had no right to be invading his space after what Albus had caused. There was no reason for her to continue this ridiculous infatuation with him. Lily would move on. She'd stop dreaming and save herself the heartache and trouble. It was best to stay away from him for both her sake and his.

"Lily?" Hugo called to her and stepped away from where he and his friends had been talking.

She gulped, hoping she hadn't been seen by him leaving the infirmary. "Hugo," she greeted in a somewhat calm voice.

"What were you doing in the infirmary?" he asked.

Damn it he had noticed, she thought to herself.

"Just wanted to see Madam Pomfrey," she thought up quickly. "I bruised myself pretty badly after the fall."

"Rose told me what happened. Albus…" Hugo sighed, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Albus can be a total arse when he wants to be and I won't even try to defend him, but he does care. He shouldn't have allowed his pettiness to have blinded him."

Lily looked away from him, feeling like a child being reprimanded by her parent. Hugo had inherited their grandmother's wisdom and though they shared the same age, he could be the voice of reason as much as Rose was.

"He and Malfoy have been at each other's throats for years now – throwing words if not hexes – and I don't see it changing anytime soon, but that should never come between any of us. Let him make amends, yeah?"

"I'm tired of this absurd rivalry, Hugo."

He let out a laugh. "And you think we aren't? This battle between them will be over the moment they step off the train this May, but you and Al will always be family. It's best not to hold grudges. Terribly awkward during family dinners."

She dropped her shoulder tiredly. Hugo hadn't needed to shout or lecture her as Alice had, instead opting to make her see the reality of thing. His reminder of her and Albus being family only crushed her wish to belong to Scorpius. Family was important to her, Albus was important to her. He may be an oversized child, but he would always be her big brother. Scorpius would only ever be a fantasy.

"How is it that you can be wise, but still a brat?" she asked him.

"Weasley and Granger genes my dear Lily. Dangerous combination when infused together," he said with a grin. "Bloody hell I'm starving. All this being wise really builds up an appetite, dinner?"

"You go ahead. I'm not up to seeing the Slytherins having a go at Albus for what happened."

"I'll save you a slice of pie,'' Hugo promised.

"Thanks," she said giving him a small peck on the cheek.

"Ew! I don't want your germs," he cried in protest.

"Love you too, Huey!" she laughed as she the stairs, taking the steps two at a time.

Ignoring his shout of disgust at his nickname since he was a baby, Lily gave the password to the Fat Lady and was welcomed by the usual warmth of Gryffindor Tower. She was glad everyone was still at dinner as she could rarely enjoy a moment of peace within the four walls. There was always something going on in their common room, and any moments like these were foreign.

She sat in that one comfy chair everyone always fought over and rested her eyes. It had been a tremendously long day that only seemed to drag more and more. She knew she would have to face Albus and hear him out, but there was a part of her that didn't want to forgive him. The bruise on her arm a reminder of today's events, a reminder that Albus was cruel and Scorpius wasn't deserving of anything.

Her thoughts went to Scorpius. He had told her that he didn't blame her for anything and that did nothing to make her feel any less guilty. The Slytherin shouldn't need to save her after all he was forced to endure at the hand of Albus, and she had no right to fantasize about him. She would simply have to grow up. She'd focus on her schoolwork and friends, and…and forget him. Yes, she'd forget him. People like them weren't meant to be together, would never be allowed to be together. Her family would hate him as much as his would hate her.

"I can do it. I can forget him," she told herself in motivation.

As people began entering the common room, she made a dash for her room. Hugo didn't tell her to make amends with Albus this very night and tomorrow would be a good day as any.

Sleep didn't come easily to her that night, however. She had shut her bed curtains and even casted a silencing charm around her, but it had been simply pointless. Her thoughts were with Scorpius no matter how much she yelled at herself for giving into childish dreams.

Deciding she needed air, she pushed away the curtains and tiptoed out of the room. The last thing she needed was to be harassed by Alice again if she were to wake her or anyone else for that matter. Perhaps she could even fall asleep on the couch by the fireplace, it seemed comfortable enough…

"Couldn't sleep?" she heard Albus say from his place on that exact sofa she had been planning on throwing herself onto.

She walked over to him and took notice of his face covered in horrible looking hives. She was surprised the Slytherins hadn't been able to cause him more damage, surely McGonagall or Rose had stepped in.

"Bletchley did that?" Lily asked as she sat next to him.

He nodded, his eyes staring at the roaring flames.

"Don't expect me to say you didn't deserve it," she said.

"I know," he replied, turning to look at her. "I know I deserved it."

"Why did you do it?" she questioned softly.

"Because I'm tired of him always having the last word. I'm tired of him getting everything I deserve when he is the son of a Death Eater. His grandfather almost killed our mother, did you know that?" Albus let out.

"The war was over long before either of you were born, Al. He didn't choose his family and neither did we. Dad doesn't even care about Malfoy's father and yet you choose to continue a battle that was long fought."

"He thinks he's better than everyone else," he huffed, his tone losing its edge and sounding like a petulant child.

"And you don't sometimes?" she arched her brow at him.

He tried giving her a glare, but he couldn't. All he saw was the sister he almost injured with his brainless actions.

"Lily, I'm so sorry."

"I know you are," she replied.

"Please forgive me. I know I'm not the best brother, but I do love you and I don't like you being mad at me," Albus said with more honesty than she expected him to show.

Letting go of the resentment she felt and following through with her commitment to stop whatever she felt for Scorpius, Lily pulled him in for a hug. "Of course I forgive you, Albie," she said, using the nickname she had once called him as a little girl.

Albus held onto her tightly as if trying to assure himself that she was alright. No matter what went on between them, Lily had yet to grow out of her love for her brother. She was still a child in more ways than one and she needed her brother, needed her family.

"Please stop fighting with him, Albus," she begged into his shoulder.

She felt him tense at her words before relaxing, and giving a nod. "I'll try Lils. For you I'll try," he promised.

"Thank you."

The rest of the week at Hogwarts continued down a much smoother path. Albus had kept to his promise and stayed away from Scorpius once the Slytherin had been released from the infirmary, and Lily had done the same. She ignored the way her heart skipped a beat when she saw him sitting in the Great Hall – his arm in a sling – surrounded by the rest of the Slytherin students. She told herself that it wasn't him that kept looking at her from his table and he most definitely didn't seek her out by the lake.

Lily continued with the life she forced herself to live. She caught herself every time from looking his way and forced her jealousy aside when she saw Heloise or Violet at his side. She was doing great she'd tell herself with every win against herself. If her brother could let his rivalry go then she could forget about Scorpius too. One only had to use their head over their heart, and it was going well until Lysander cornered her at the end of Herbology.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to Hogsmede with me," Lysander said shyly.

"Of course. We always go together," she tried playing off his question.

"That's not what I meant, Lil. I was thinking if we could go together, together."

Lily felt herself choke on her own saliva. She didn't want this to be happening. How could she ever say no to him of all people? He was one of her best friends and she didn't want to hurt him. She also didn't see a reason to say no to him. Everyone expected her to end up married to him down the road. Her own parents teased her about Lysander for Merlin's sake.

"I…um…" she closed her eyes for a moment before giving him a forced smile. "Okay."

"Really?" Lysander asked, sounding a tad shocked.

She nodded, giving a soft laugh at his dazed tone. "Yes, really."

His eyes shined like the jewels on display at one of those fancy shops in Diagon Alley, and she didn't have the will nor the courage to tell him they could go together but as friends.

"You won't regret it, Lily!" he smiled.

"I'm sure I won't," she murmured, accepting a kiss on her cheek from him.

"I'll see you at dinner, yeah?"

"Yeah," she replied, watching him leave before touching the same cheek he had kissed.

He had never kissed her and while his lips were soft and sweet, she couldn't help from thinking how wrong they had felt against her skin. Maybe kisses weren't meant to be all that special like people described them to be or maybe it had just been the wrong set of lips…

"No turning back now," Lily mumbled and walked up the path leading to the owlery. She hadn't written to her parents since her arrival to Hogwarts, and she knew they'd be expecting a letter soon.

"So you and Scamander,'' a voice said from behind her, his voice.

Lily had been too distracted with her own thought as she climbed up the stone staircase, she hadn't noticed Scorpius following close behind her. The elder boy moved to stand in front of her, his body trapping her against the stone hedge and preventing her from escaping like she planned to do.

The resolve she had built up had crashed and burned with just one look at the handsome Slytherin. He was wearing that dark suit that made him all too appealing and the sling protecting his arm did nothing to take from his impeccable appearance. She hated his parents for making him so beautiful and herself for being such a girl to take notice.

"He's my friend," Lily whispered, trying to walk around the blond. She needed to get away and fast. She had made a promise to Albus. A promise to herself.

"Seemed more than two friends simply going to Hogsmede together," he said, allowing her past him but still following her up.

"And what is to you?'' she snapped.

He arched a brow at her sudden change in tone with him. "Aren't we snappy? Did the princess finally decide to do as she was told and stay away from me," he mocked in a baby voice.

"It's not like we're friends," she shot back, ignoring the wave of hurt she had felt at his tone.

"I'm just surprised that's all," he gave a smirk. "You've been staring at me for the better part of five years, and now you've suddenly taken up a fancy with Scamander."

She came to a halt at his words, her face a roaring red. He knew. He'd seen her staring all these years.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lily replied unevenly, keeping her back to him.

"Let's not lie to each other," he murmured into her ear and forcing a soft gasp from her at the feeling of his front to her back.

Lily couldn't breathe. Her throat had literally closed up on her for being this close to him without him having to rescue her from some sort of situation. She couldn't even remember any of the promises she had made. She didn't even remember Lysander.

"I think I should go," she tried saying.

"Why? Do I make you uncomfortable?" he purred.

Clinging onto the last bit of her resolve, she pushed away from him and tried giving him the best steely look she could muster. "It's not polite to invade someone's personal space."

"Neither is staring at someone," Scorpius tsked.

"Please leave me alone," she begged. "I'm trying to do the right thing."

He tilted his head to the side. "The right thing for who? For you?"

"Forget it." Lily quickly turned and fled into the owlery.

The owls hooted at being woken from their slumber all except one tiny scops owl that screeched excitedly and flew down to Lily, landing on her shoulder and searching her for treats.

"Have you been a good girl, Pomme?" Lily petted the bird's soft feathers. "I hope you haven't caused any more trouble with the other owls."

The small bird gave Lily a look that read: "you know I did."

"That's your owl?" Scorpius asked in amusement. "Can it even carry anything?"

Pomme make to give him a good peck, but Lily held her back and eyed Scorpius with annoyance.

"What? Am I not allowed to send a letter?"

Deciding it best not to speak to him, she glanced back at Pomme and pulled out sliced apples from her bag, feeding them to her.

"You're really ignoring me, aren't you? If only your brother could give me the same silent treatment." He spun around not caring if she replied or not, and looked towards the highest part of the owlery. "Archimedes," he called.

Lily gaped at the eagle owl, its large wings extended elegantly as it swooped down, landing gracefully on Scorpius' shoulder. The blond ran a hand over the owl as the rest of the birds observed Archimedes in wary, including Pomme. Her own little bird was a pitiful sight compared to his, but Pomme was all she needed with her outspoken nature and rebellious streak. She was practically her own person.

"I was thinking, Potter, you owe me thrice now for saving your life," he murmured while combing through Archimedes feathers. The owl enjoying every moment of attention it was receiving.

"I already thanked you," she said rather dryly, continuing to feed Pomme.

"You can do better than that," he told her in a tone that made Lily feel things she knew weren't proper at all.

Finally turning to him, she raised a brow. "What's more valuable than a thank you?"

"I'm still debating," he shrugged.

"Debating what?"

"What I want from you. Although I have a fair idea."

His eyes burned through her just as his hands had the day he rescued her. There was a new spark as he looked at her. He seemed to be observing Lily as if he hadn't known she existed and was surprised at what he had discovered. It was the look she had only seen in her silly dreams.

"I don't think I can offer you much," she wheezed out.

"I beg to differ," his eyes returning to his owl. "But first I'd like to know why you are being a brat and ignoring me.

"I am not being a brat," Lily huffed.

"You are," he smirked. "It's alright though. You'll find I can be very patient."

Shying away from his brilliant gaze, she petted Pomme and wished she'd worn her hair down and not in a high ponytail so she could use it as a shield. "Aren't you always going on about how you'd like for my family's silence? I thought you'd be happy to know there isn't a Potter that wishes to disturb the peace."

"That doesn't answer my question. I want to know how in a matter of days your little infatuation has suddenly waned down."

"Infatuation?" she scoffed.

"Let's not play dumb, Lily. I know you have more intelligence in your little finger than your family has in their entire bodies. I include your cousin –Rose – as she may be intelligent in schoolwork but not in much else."

"It was the right thing to do," she repeated her words from earlier.

"For you?"

She shakes her head. "For the both of us."

"How so?"

Lily held still. Her breathing the only sound that came from and even so it was deadly silent. She couldn't do this anymore. It had been only a few days and she was already tired of lying. Tired of pretending that she didn't still draw him under the light of a Lumos spell. Tired of keeping a promise that only left her weak with every passing moment. She could no longer pretend. She didn't want to pretend.

"You say that you don't blame me, but I do. You saved me – keep saving me – and I don't deserve it. Albus didn't care. The only reason he even felt an ounce of regret was because I was involved," she told him with all the honesty she could muster. "I promised Albus and I promised myself that I would stay away from you so long as this war was finally over between all of you."

Scorpius stared at her. He hadn't been expecting such a declaration. To be honest he thought her brother had ordered her to stay away from him or she, herself, had finally decided to see him as the rest of her family did. He wondered how someone like her could belong to a family like hers. This girl whether he liked it or not was beginning to worm her way into his life in more ways than one.

It was Archimedes that broke the silence. The usually arrogant owl observed the apple slices in the redhead's hand with want, but was just as regal as his owner to ask for one. Lily smiled at the similarities between the pair. Neither Archimedes nor Scorpius would ever ask for anything.

"Want one?" she offered to the owl.

Archimedes lifted his beak into the air before looking back at Lily discreetly. Lily watched as the bird hopped off Scorpius' shoulder and fly the short distance to her, landing on the windowsill where Pomme was currently chowing down her own apple. At the sight of the large bird, Pomme let out a frightened hoot and hid behind Lily's ear.

"Its okay," Lily soothed the tiny owl. "He just wants a snack."

Lily offered the apple slice again, watching as Archimedes quickly took it from her and flew back to Scorpius, hooting his thanks.

"He likes you," Scorpius looked at his owl in amusement.

"Really?"

"He didn't go for your jugular," he said, giving her a smile. It wasn't like the smiles she was accustomed to seeing from him. This smile was new. This smile made her forget her very own name. "You've seemed to have grown on him in a matter of seconds, but I can't say I'm surprised."

"Well I'm honored," she looked away from his strong gaze.

"You should be," he agreed. "Tell me something, won't you? This promise that you made do you think you'll keep it?"

"Promises aren't meant to be broken," she said sounding small.

Scorpius closed the distance between them, their bodies only inches apart, and if she moved only a smidge her breasts would touch his chest. His eyes were like molten jewels as they looked down at her, daring her to look anywhere but at him.

She let out a soft noise from the back of her throat as he reached to take a fallen piece of hair between his fingers.

"Don't you know Lily? The best promises are those that can be broken."