Disclaimer - The original Harry Potter characters and the world of Harry Potter are not of my own invention and I do not claim ownership of them. KC
I finally return to my flat and being absolutely exhausted, I collapse on my couch. I was scheduled on for my normal shift at work today but an hour before I was meant to finish a man arrived who had been severely splinched. Nearly every single limb was unattached from his body and he was immediately taken into the surgery room to literally be put back together. This meant that many nurses were assigned to help with the operation and so the rest of our normal day's work was slowed down and pushed back. So now four hours after I was meant to finish my shift, I have finally arrived home.
However the doorbell rings and energy jumps into me with an excited beat of my heart. It could only be one person at this time of night and opening the door, my suspicions are confirmed true; Scorpius stands in front of me with a big smile on his face and a massive box of pizza. This brightens my mood instantly.
As I was supposed to finish work at 7 o'clock, we had planned to go out to a lively little Italian restaurant in the centre of London. But of course as I was kept back at work to help with the serious splinching case, I had had to send my fox patronus to find Scorpius to tell him I would sadly not be able to make it. But by the looks of it now, Scorpius has brought the date to me.
"I thought you might be hungry," he say's pushing the pizza box toward me. But I ignore it and launch myself into his arms, laughing with gratitude. We then walk inside and this time I turn my attention toward the pizza box. But trying to take it out of his hands, he lifts it above his head where I, short as I am, cannot reach it.
"Uh uh," he shakes his head when I give him pleading eyes. "You go and shower first and I will set up."
"Are you saying that I stink, Scorpius!" I say, pretending to look hurt.
"No!" he laughs. "I'm saying that you need a shower."
"Sounds like the same thing to me," I mutter and he playfully pushes me towards the stairs leading up to my bedroom.
Even though I have a quick shower, it felt wonderful to wash the day off my skin. I throw on some jeans and a loose top before walking down the stairs to a wonderful surprise; Scorpius has set up a pizza picnic on my coffee table in the lounge room.
"What's all this?" I exclaim brightly.
"Well I was going to set up all this on your kitchen table but it is covered in dishes and washing," he replies and I smack my palm to my forehead at the thought of him seeing my insanely messy kitchen.
"You have heard of cleaning charms, haven't you?" he teases.
"Yeah Mum tried to teach me before I moved out but I always seem to accidentally break or destroy something."
Scorpius chuckles at this and invites me over to sit on the floor. I make myself comfy leaning back against the couch and he sits on the floor opposite me across the table. He has also found a pathetic excuse for a candle and lights that silently with his wand. I take a piece of pizza, taking a huge bite, and sigh with pleasure.
"Swo grood," I say through the pizza and Scorpius chuckles.
We engage in light conversation whilst eating the pizza and I finish my last piece feeling quite contented.
"Merlin, that was good pizza," Scorpius sighs, echoing my thoughts.
"We will definitely have to have our date there next time," I nod.
"What! Is my coffee table date not good enough?" he says, pretending to look offended.
"Of course not!" I laugh. "But the service is terrible. My wine glass has been empty way too long!"
"Well, how's this for service!" he grins and pushes me over on the floor to kiss every inch of my face. I squeal and eventually push him off.
"I guess I'll have to redeem myself by clearing the plates then," he says and clears the table. I follow him to the kitchen and watch as he puts the dishes in the sink and waves his wand over it. It immediately fills with hot soapy water and with another flick of his wand, the other dishes on the kitchen table join those in the sink.
"Well look at you!" I exclaim, impressed. "I can never do that without at least breaking one plate. You are definitely a keeper!"
Scorpius gives a short laugh and sets the washing brush to work. "Shall I fold all the clothes too?" he teases.
"No please don't!" I blush in horror. "Merlin, I'm already incapable of simple chores. Don't make me more embarrassed."
"You're not incapable," he smiles, "just under practiced."
I groan at this. "You sound like my mother!" I mutter and pick up the wine bottle to take back into the lounge room.
"How are you parents, by the way?" Scorpius asks as we settle on the couch with our freshly filled glasses.
"Busy but happy," I say after a sip. "Mum is writing casually for the Daily Prophet and Dad's still working as the Head of the Auror office. James tells me he is still working just as hard too and we both think he needs to calm down a bit. He can't run around like he used to!"
"So James is still working as an Auror then?"
"Oh yes! And loving it! But he did take a bit of time off when little Artie was born. He's almost three now! I'm very excited to see him when I go back home for our Weasly/Potter summer holiday gathering."
Scorpius pauses then before continuing in a serious tone. "Have you decided whether or not you are going to tell you family about us?"
This question has been in the back of my mind ever since receiving the invitation from my parents. It is an gathering that occurs at the Potter House every year and is attended by my uncle and aunt, Ron and Hermione, their children, Rose and Hugo, and, of course, the Potter family. I have been pondering whether to tell my family about Scorpius and I at this gathering but I am still unsure. The discussion with Rose at the Leaky Cauldron last week about it also didn't help because neither of us were able to come to a decision about it. So with Scorpius asking me about it now, I really don't know what to say to him.
"I think I'm just going to see how I feel when I get there," I finally sigh. "I really don't know what's best to do."
Scorpius stares at me carefully for a few seconds before taking my hands. "I just want to let you know that I will support whatever you decide. I feel terrible for suggesting the secrecy in this first place and I feel to blame that it has gone on so long. I don't want your ties with them to be broken because of me."
"They won't be, Scorp, and you are not to blame at all. And I think this has been the best for them in the long run, especially while we decide if we are serious or not."
I feel his hand tighten around mine and he looks me straight in the eyes. "And are we serious, Lily?" he asks with bated breath.
"We are if you want to be," I murmur.
"I do want to be, Lily," he gushes. "In fact I've told Gringotts that I want to take them up on their offer and have the rest of the year off. That's what I was doing at Gringotts when we bumped into Rose last week in Diagon Alley."
"So that's what you were doing there that was job related," I realise and I am instantly relieved; the thought that he was planning with Gringotts when he was going to return to work in Egypt had made me quite nervous.
"I don't want to go back to Egypt," he continues. "It was a lonely life I lead there and now that I've been in a relationship with you, I can't ever imagine leaving again. I'm in for the long haul, Lily, because I'm in love with you."
It was the first time he had every said he loved me and my heart did a complete somersault.
I immediately catch his lips with mine and we kiss passionately. Pushing him back onto the couch, I feel his hands run my shirt up my back and I help him throw it off. We then do the same thing with his shirt and I lie on top of him, kissing and absorbing his body heat. We don't last much longer making out on the couch before I lead him upstairs to my bedroom. Soon we rid ourselves of the last of our clothes and make love for the first time. It was loving and passionate and it made me feel so complete. Afterwards we lie chest to chest and I feel his strong heartbeat next to mine.
And then, finally, I whisper his words back.
"I love you too."
Hi Guys! It has been such a long time since i have posted a new chapter so thank you so much for hanging around. I hope you like it! Please feel free to leave a comment too!
KC