"For weeks you carry around this book. Practically sleep with it and you're not even remotely interested on finding out who it belonged to." Hermione said as they walked through the snow toward Hogsmeade. Lily was in a carrier Hermione's parents sent him. Everyone was fascinated with it when they first saw it. It allowed Harry to carry Lily against his chest more securely and cover her with his robes which he'd taken to wearing whenever he went out as it made it easier to wrap around himself and keep Lily warm with it.

"I just don't think it matters." Harry said and frowned. "And I don't sleep with it!" He said.

"Hermione's right, mate. We finally manage to get a little conversation in now that Lily's sleeping better, but whenever you're free you're always reading that thing." Ron said.

"Well I was curious. I went to the library but I couldn't find a single reference to any Half-Blood Prince." Hermione said, annoyed at her fruitless search.

"That settles it then." Harry said, partly relieved that Hermione should drop the search now. He paused slightly as he looked up to see Slughorn having a quick conversation with Professor Flitwick who seemed eager to get back to the castle. So he was heading to the Three Broomstiks? He held Lily a little tighter and turned to his friends. "Anyone fancy a butter beer?" Harry asked and marched ahead, leading the way.

"Yeah sure." Ron replied and Hermione smiled at Lily as she cooed underneath the blanket. Harry smiled at her, uncovering her enough to see the scenery. She shrieked where she sat in the carrier, kicking her legs energetically every so often as she tried following the path of snowflakes with her eyes.

Once at the Three Broomsticks Harry led them to a table, making sure he could see Slughorn at all times, trying to figure out how to approach him. "Ron sit beside me." Harry whispered. Ron and Hermione both glanced at each other but did as Harry said.

"OK….?" Harry kept his eyes on Slughorn as he started removing his robe. It looked a little silly wearing muggle clothes beneath his wizard's robes but by now he was used to not giving a damn about how he looked considering he was carrying around a baby at all times.

Malfoy came into his view. Once more he looked sickly pale. Harry paused as he made eye-contact with the blond. Even from where he stood he saw the alarmed look on Malfoy's face mingled with desperation. Lily babbled happily where she was, sucking on her fist. Malfoy looked like he was going to be sick from how pale he was getting. The blond broke eye-contact first and stormed out of the pub looking desperate for fresh air.

For a second Harry began to feel sorry for Malfoy and whatever the hell he was going through instead of feeling cautious. He quickly stopped that thought in his tracks. He had to focus on Slughorn. Not that sod.

Lily began to eagerly reach for the frothy top of Harry's butter beer and Harry reached down to intercept the drink before she could spill it and took a sip.

"Oh bloody hell." Harry looked at Ron and followed his line of sight to see Dean and Ginny together.

"Honestly Ron, what do you expect when they're dating?" Hermione asked. Harry saw Dean lean in to kiss Ginny and instead of the jealousy he expected he felt embarrassment as he remembered the mistake he made with Lily's mom.

"Well that does it. I'd like to leave." Ron said.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron."

"That happens to be my sister." Ron hissed.

"So?"

"Oh yeah? Harry, wouldn't you storm out if you saw fifteen year old Lily snogging some slick git like Dean?" That brought Harry's gaze to Ron back from Slughorn.

"Of course not." Harry said.

"There see?" Hermione said and Harry took a sip of his butter beer.

"I'd break all his fingers and leave with her." Harry said simply. Ron looked annoyed at his response while Hermione chuckled, trying to hold back a laugh. Harry saw Professor Slughorn get up and smiled, waving him over.

"Harry, my boy." He stretched his hand out to shake which Harry gladly did.

"Hello Professor. Lovely to see you."

"And you!"

"So what brings you to The Three Broomsticks?" The moment he said the question Harry felt stupid. Everyone knows the small pub, specially an old Hogwarts teacher like Professor Slughorn. The Professor, however, didn't seem to notice the idiocy of the question at all and simply replied with eagerness.

"Oh, me and The Three Broomsticks go way back." They shared a small laugh and Harry forced the awkwardness to the pit of his stomach. Lily cooed and babbled excitedly. "Little Lily, starting early. Nice to see." He chuckled and patted Lily on the head which she squealed at, kicking her legs once more. Harry smiled but just then Lily's foot knocked the butter beer onto them and spilt its contents on Harry's trousers. "Oop! There's a messy one. Haha!" Harry laughed but looked down trying to pat his leg dry.

"Listen my boy, in the old days I used to throw the occasional supper party. Just a select number of skilled students. Would you be game?"

Harry covered his victorious emotions with surprise. "I'd consider it an honour sir." Slughorn turned to Hermione and smiled.

"You'd be most welcome too Miss Granger."

"I'd be delighted sir." Hermione said.

"Splendid. Await my owl then." He glanced at Ron and forced a smile. "Nice to see you Wollenby." And he walked off. Harry chuckled at Ron's annoyed look.

"What the devil was that all about?" Ron asked. Harry dropped the smile.

"Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him."

"Get to know him? Why?" Ron said, passing Harry the tissue Hermione handed him so Harry could dry the spilt butter beer.

"I don't know, it must be important. Otherwise, Dumbledore wouldn't ask." Harry said and sighed. "I'll be right back." He went to the toilet to get more tissues. On his way out he crashed onto Katie Bell rather hard. Thankfully it was his shoulder who took most of the force instead of Lily who cooed softly but didn't cry. He needed to stop crashing into people so much.

Harry was going to apologise but Katie just walked off. "Okay then." She must be in some mood if she wasn't even glancing his way. Something caught his eye and Harry looked down, picking up a leather bound package. "I wonder what this is." Harry said softly and went to find Katie but saw her leave with her friend. Harry put the package down on the table and hurried to put on his robes.

"What's that Harry?" Hermione asked reaching for it.

"It's Katie's. She just dropped it. I'm going to give it to her. You guys stay I'll be right back." Harry said and picked up the package again once Lily was wrapped up nicely. Once he was out he looked around the village and spotted Katie up ahead, heading back to the castle. "Katie!" Harry called and walked after her. She seemed to be in a real hurry. He hurried after her but didn't run, not wanting to jostle Lily too much.

He caught a glimpse of blond hair form the corner of his eyes but didn't pay it much attention as he got to the road. "Katie! You forgot your package!" Harry called. She didn't seem to hear. Harry huffed, getting out of breath. Carrying a baby could do that do you. Harry glanced down at the package. It wasn't wrapped very well and it was becoming undone.

He reached forward to readjust the wrappings.

"Don't touch that!" The package was smacked out of his hands and it dropped ahead of them. Harry looked up to see Malfoy looking at him as pale as snow and visibly shaking. Harry felt his heart skip a beat as he looked down and checked on Lily who blinked at the brightness of the white snow when she looked to be trying to nap. She seemed alright.

Suddenly Katie was returning, her friend desperately trying to catch her attention. "Katie! I said what package?"

But Katie had already reached the package and leaned down to grab it, the wrappings coming undone enough for her to touch the contents inside. Screams were heard all around them, the sounds of hundreds of pained souls, all coming from Katie's opened mouth. Harry covered Lily once more to stop her from seeing this.

Harry stared helpless as Leanne screamed, Katie falling onto her back and getting tossed and dragged over the snow, lifted into the sky a couple of metres before slamming right back to the ground with a thickening thud. Her head turned slightly a few times before stopping.

Malfoy released a shudder and Harry turned to look at him. His face twisted with horror, his eyes glistening with unshed tears and his hands still shaking. He did this. He did this. But why did he stop Harry touching it? Lily shrieked in Harry's arms, tugging at the robe, the sounds enough to have terrified her.

"Get back! Get back all of you." Hagrid said coming forward and scooping up the catatonic girl. He turned to look at them and then at the necklace. "Do not touch that. Except for the wrappings." Hagrid said and left. Harry quickly used his wand to put the necklace back in its case and wrap it up again. He looked at Malfoy who was looking away, seemingly trying to remember how to breathe.

Harry looked down at Lily. "There, there, Lily. It's ok, it's ok." Harry cooed, kissing the top of her head as she kept crying. "Oh sweetheart… don't cry." Harry whispered passing the package to Malfoy who flinched but took it as Harry took Lily out of the carrier, turning her around so she could hold onto him and rest her little head against his shoulder. It helped as he rubbed her back and she gripped onto him for dear life.

Quietly the three of them followed Hagrid back to the castle, Leanne at the front and Harry behind Malfoy.