Shining Like a Diamond
AN: Okay, so this is my last chapter indefinitely. It is certainly not the last chapter of this story ever...but I did want to finish the latest chapter I had mostly done; and this is exactly what this chapter was always supposed to be, so it works out nicely because even though it isn't the last chapter it does have some closure to it, sort of... To those people that have commented and pm'ed me letting me know that you like my stories and support my decision, thank you. I so appreciate it! This chapter is for you - I just couldn't leave any of you hanging... I hope this is everything you've been waiting on; and hopefully one day soon, I'll have the urge to complete this story because I still love where it is supposed to be headed.
Thank you always.
"How do you think it looks?" She felt her words crack and shudder as she bit her lip nervously. She felt like her boutique embodied a comfortable yet glittering luxury store. Every crystal bottle, compact, etc were lined up neatly on mirrored shelves.
A pretty chandelier hung from the center of the room; and matching sconces adorned the walls. The dark wood floors shone from the lights around the room; and pretty floral arrangements were placed sporadically in open spaces. "Lily, it looks fabulous!" Adora grinned as she hugged the younger girl that had always been like a sister to her. "It's beautiful; and totally you in every way."
"I agree!" Roxy smiled broadly. "The public is going to love it!"
"Tres Chic!" Dom grinned as she leant against the checkout counter. "And I'm honored that you've asked me to help manage things!" She smiled as Victoire hugged her, in a proud older sister fashion.
"Shall we open the doors then?" Cleo smiled at her best friend since their first day at Hogwarts.
Lily looked around once more before nodding with a smile. "I'll clear the windows so people can see through while you open the doors then."
He couldn't help the cheshire grin as he sauntered down the high street as he neared Lily's shop. There was a long line of women and a few men waiting outside of the store for its grand debut. Outside of the shop, a classicaly pretty sign hung, glittering in the sunlight. He sat down on a bench across the street watching as people filtered in and out of the store, a proud feeling overcoming him as he watched people chattering excitedly.
"How long have you been sitting out here?" Astoria smiled as she sat beside her son, patting his hand softly as she did; and looked towards the shop across from them with her own proud smile.
"I'm not sure…" Scorpius chuckled as he blushed uncharacteristically. "I never knew watching a throng of people entering and exiting a boutique with purchases could be so exciting and riveting." He raised an eyebrow at his mother as they both laughed.
"That happens when you love the creator of the shop…" Astoria smiled as she sat back and watched through the windows as Lily happily talked to customers and her cousins helped check out patrons.
"Mom…" Scorpius' voice had a lilt to it as he sighed. "I…I've never said that I'm in love with her…I mean it's been years since we were even together…"
"I never said you were." Astoria smiled as she looked at him. "We enjoy watching this scene because we love her – you love her and I love her." She watched as he nodded and looked back at the store. "But, since you mentioned the in-love phrase, I'm going to let you know that I think you are…I love you sweetheart and I think you're brilliant. But, if you chose to play coy, then you are being incredibly daft and hurting your chances with her. She is the type of woman any man would be honored to call his wife. Time doesn't matter when it comes to love and the heart's desires, darling." She raised an eyebrow and shrugged as Scorpius looked at her in slight bewilderment. "Come on, we should go congratulate her before they lock the doors for closing." She felt her son following more than she actually knew that he was.
"Astoria!" Lily cried with glee as the glowing woman entered the store and the last patron for the day exited. "What do you think?" She smiled as she hugged the woman that she'd always felt a connection to (the lady that in some ways she felt she was more alike to than her own mother).
"I think that this is the most beautiful boutique I've ever entered; and certainly the most well-visited." She grinned as Lily blushed. "Scorpius and I have been watching from the bench across the street for some while."
"Aww, you should've came in!" Lily smiled as she hugged a curiously mute Scorpius, who kept his arm lightly around her eve after their hug. "It's so cold out there!"
"Well, I was only out there with him for a while….he's been out there since you opened." She laughed as her son began to blush. If he wasn't going to promote himself, then she was going to take matters into her own hands, Gryffindor be damned. She wanted a nice daughter-in-law, not some second-rate twat like Petty…
"Mother…" Scorpius' eyes were wide as Adora cooed from his Mother's side.
"That is so sweet!" Adora smiled as she looped her arm through her aunt's. "Why don't I show you that one product we were talking about?" She smiled as she and her aunt walked away giggling behind their hands.
"You should've come in…" Lily smiled as she bit her lip and looked up at him. Her dark auburn hair fell perfectly around her face in soft ringlets, despite the fact that she'd been running around for the past seven hours.
"No." He shook his head as she looked confused. "I mean, it was nice to watch and see how successful today was; and to see how happy and in your element you looked. I didn't want to mess up the aura you all had going on in here." He smiled as she blushed. "Congrats, Lily. This place is truly wonderful…you made it happen." He nodded as he looked around the glitteringly chic shop.
She smiled as she turned to look around the same area that he was…and "amazingly" it seemed that everyone had vanished to the stock room. "Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me." She smiled as she looked up at him and he grinned as pulled her to his side and dropped a kiss on her head.
"Not as much as it means to me to get to be a part of your life again, Lil's." He smiled as he squeezed her closer to him. "So…ready to be my date for this ball then?" He grinned as she coyly sat herself atop the counter and crossed her legs.
"Your date…?" She raised an eyebrow as he smirked and walked over to her.
"Yes, my date." He moved closer to her so that his abs pressed against her knees and he placed his bent arms on either side of her side/bottom against the counter, trapping her where she was seated.
"I don't remember getting a Valentine though…" She smirked as she placed her pointer finger to her chin and pretended to think.
"That's because it's tradition to give your Valentine her token of your affection at the midnight strike of the clock, mademoiselle." He smiled cutely as he softly took her hand from her chin and pressed his lips against it, kissing it softly. "So what do you say mon Cheri? Warm my heart, that sat out in the cold all day to see your success… and say you'll be my valentine?"
Lily laughed as she shook her head at his not so subtle bribery. She'd forgotten how cute he could be. "Only if you promise to be this charming all night long." She bit her lip as she smiled and he leaned his forehead against hers.
"With you around, I couldn't be any other way." He smiled as he pulled back and left her stunned. "I'll meet you at the top of the staircase, Lily Luna Potter." He smiled charmingly before exiting the shop and walking down the road.
"I thought you weren't sure that you were in love with her?" Adora asked as she caught up to her cousin's side and fell into pace beside him.
He chuckled and shook his head, realizing his mother had already spilt the gossip to the woman that was more of an older sister than a cousin. "I never said that… I said that I hadn't said that I was in love with her…"
"Ahh…I see." Adora smiled and laughed faintly. "Well, that was truly sweet, Scorpius…back there in the store I mean – asking her to be your date and all… So what do you have planned for tonight?"
"Ahh…ahhh…ahh, I'm not giving away my secrets that easily." He watched as she pouted.
"But Scorpi…" She whined as he smirked.
"Sorry, but this secret is staying with me for now." He nodded with a smile. "I know how you women work – sharing secrets back in the stock room when a poor innocent gentleman is totally unaware…"
She rolled her eyes at his dramatics before kissing his cheek. "Fine… But don't disappoint us all then!" She held up a finger in warning as he shook his head and laughed.
"I'll try my best." He crossed his heart as she nodded with a smile and a wave. "See you tonight then!" He called as she walked to her apparition point down the lane.
"My Dear, you look like perfection." Narcissa smiled as she entered Astoria's dressing closet and closed the door softly behind her.
"Narcissa!" Astoria blushed as she turned to face the older woman instead of staring at herself in her floor-length mirror. "I didn't hear you…"
Narcissa waved her hand dismissively as she joined Astoria at the mirror and smiled at their reflection. "I've always loved your wedding dress. I remember the moment that you put it on… And seeing you in it now, truly nothing has changed – except that my love for you has of course grown."
"I'm embarrassed." She admitted with a slight laugh. "I didn't think I'd be caught… But, I simply couldn't help myself with all of the romance in the air. I just like to try it on every once in a while, you know?"
"Of course I do." Narcissa nodded with true understanding. "I think it's a shame that a woman only gets to wear her favorite dress once in her life. Clearly a nonsensical tradition started by some idiot of a man ages ago." She joked with a wink. "In all truthful-ness though, I've decided I'm going to wear my wedding dress for Scorpius' wedding." She nodded seriously as Astoria turned to her with a grin.
"Truly?" She laughed as Narcissa nodded.
"Of course, Dear! To hell with tradition! I plan on dying it, adding some lace or something across the shoulders, and modernizing it a bit…but I guarantee you that I am going to enjoy wearing it one last time before I'm buried in it." She smiled ruefully as Astoria laughed.
"I think that's fabulous!" She smirked as she slipped off her heels. "But I recommend also ditching the veil…We wouldn't want to show up his blushing bride..."
"Astoria?" Lily called as she knocked and stepped into the room in her robe without waiting for an answer. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't normally just barge in, but…" She stopped speaking with a start as she eyed Astoria in what could only be described as a wedding gown. She shook her head and cleared her throat before beginning, "…But…I was um wondering if you might have a hair clip I could borrow?"
"Well, everyone is catching me in my wedding dress tonight!" Astoria laughed good-naturedly as she moved towards a jewelry case. "I need to start locking my door…"
"I'm sorry." Lily blushed as Narcissa snickered.
"Oh it's fine Dear. We were just talking about you anyways." Narcissa nodded with a wink in Astoria's direction.
"Oh don't worry." Astoria smirked between Lily and Narcissa. "Now, take your choice." She smiled as she urged Lily towards a large drawer full of different jeweled hair accessories.
Lily smiled as she continued to look at Astoria's dress. "That's a beautiful dress…it's so timeless." She smiled as Astoria beamed.
"Thank you! We've always loved it." She smiled back at Narcissa as she began taking it off before putting it away. "I'd always hoped that I'd have a daughter who might want to wear it. It seems such a shame to go to waste in this closet…"
Lily nodded as she picked up a simple diamond hairband. "It does."
"Well perhaps one day there will be someone to wear it." Narcissa smiled as she stood up. "But, I'm afraid that the two of you really do need to be getting dressed or you'll be late for our own ball!" She winked as she opened the door and Lily thanked Astoria before darting to her room; and Narcissa made her way downstairs to re-check everything once again.
Watching his son pace back and forth was making Draco nauseous as he sat in his big leather armchair in the library. "Will you stop pacing?" Draco shook his head as he took a swig from his port glass. "You're making me nervous."
"Sorry..." Scorpius blushed before standing still as Draco groaned.
"Open a window and sit down. I'm sure the ladies will be here shortly to collect us; and to stand at the door to welcome guests." Draco's eyes followed his son as he opened the window before taking a seat across from him in another large armchair. "Why are you so fidgety anyways?"
Scorpius cleared his throat as his father raised an eyebrow. "I've asked Lily to be my date for the evening."
"Isn't she always your date for dinners here and such?" Draco smirked slightly knowing that this was indeed different.
"De facto, I suppose…" He scrunched his nose up as he spoke, carefully considering his response. "But this is an actual date…with a gift and all." He smiled and his dad sighed.
"Holidays always get me. It's impossible to find things that are good enough for your Mother." He smiled slightly as Scorpius stretched out his legs and nodded. "That's how you know that you have an incredible woman – when there is nothing that can be bought to rival or truly compliment her beauty."
"Aww, Draco, you're so sweet to me!" Narcissa smirked as she entered the library, her long violet evening gown brushing against her legs as she strode over to her son and sat on the arm of his chair. "I think that Astoria will be down shortly."
"And Lily?" Scorpius asked as Narcissa laughed.
"A little bit longer, I believe." She nodded as Draco smiled. "After all, she just got done with a very busy work day."
Astoria watched from the corner of her eye as Scorpius' eyes continued to flick back up to the staircase as guests filed in with awed expressions and gushing admiration for the decorations and the house.
"Astoria, Draco, Narcissa, everything is just beautiful." Ginny Potter's voice caught Scorpius' wondering attention as she smiled at his mother who in turn hugged her instead of shaking her hand.
"Thank you." Astoria smiled before turning her attention to the uneasy man slightly behind Ginny's side. "And how are you doing, Harry? It's nice to see you in attendance."
Harry's eyes widened slightly before he nodded with a forced smile. "Umm, well, thank you." He looked around the manor that had looked totally different than all the times he'd remembered being there when he was younger. "The manor looks very nice." He nodded.
"Thank you." Draco stated as his son stared at Lily's parents.
"Thank you for attending." Narcissa smiled, ready to send them through the greeting line already as people were beginning to make a line out the door. "We have some hors d'oeuvres and mingling before dinner in the hall."
He was determined to be the bigger person in this situation that had began for small reasons. "I can take you." Scorpius offered with a smile as Ginny nodded happily and Harry let a small guilty smile out for his wife and Scorpius' sake. "How have you been, Mrs. Potter?" He smiled as he walked with them.
"I've been doing better." Ginny smiled at the young man who looked all Malfoy, but with a graciousness and kindness that could have only come from Astoria. "I hear that you have been quite successful in your business endeavors."
"Yes, things have been going very well for me. I can't complain about anything." He smiled as Ginny patted his arm. "Things have a way of working out for the best." He smiled at Harry who only seemed able to nod in this awkward situation. "And congratulations on your running for Minister of Magic. You're bound to get it!"
Harry stared at the boy before him unable to comprehend how he could be so nice and so forgiving after all that had transpired…
Flashback:
Harry sat beside Scorpius at the bar of the crowded muggle pub. "I just think it would be for the best if you broke things off."
"You…you do?" He could feel the lump in his throat growing and tightening as the older man spoke to him about how it would be best for Lily and how she really wanted space to grow independently…how they were so young…
"I'm glad that you understand, Scorpius." Harry smiled half-heartedly at the dumbfounded and broken-hearted looking man next to him. He knew it was wrong, but he was terrified of his daughter growing up, terrified she'd never know true independence if they continued to date, terrified of the deep connection she had with Scorpius. He had been in love with Ginny forever, but there was a part of him that knew that his daughter connected to Scorpius on a level he couldn't comprehend – and for a father, that was unpredictable and scary.
Harry shook his head slightly trying to rid himself of the memory that had haunted his sleep for years. "Thank you. I haven't been so certain about it as of late, but…"
"I'm sure it will all be a good fit." Scorpius smiled as he led them into the great pre-dinner and pre-ball hall. "I should get back to greeting the other guests, but I know that some of the rest of your family are floating around here – maybe in the gardens."
"Thank you, Scorpius." Ginny smiled as the young man nodded before walking back to the entrance. "Astoria and Draco should be proud of him."
"I'm sure they are." Harry nodded as he turned to his wife a bit anxiously.
She patted his arm as she led them out to the balcony to see if they could spot any friends or family in the gardens. "Everything will be fine, Harry. She won't stay mad forever." She heard his sigh more than she felt him relax as she waved to her nephew who grinned up at her with a wave.
Lily smirked as she saw Scorpius standing in the dimly lit library upstairs. He was staring out the window with a cup in his hand oblivious to the fact that she was so close to him that if he turned around he'd knock her over. "Guess who…" She smiled her voice sultry and soft against his neck as her small ands covered his eyes.
The scent of her shampoo, the touch of her soft hands against his eyes, and the way she brushed up against his back set his senses on fire. He would know her smell and her touch anywhere, but when she spoke against his ear, he could feel the hairs of the back of his neck stand up and goose pimples rise. "Mon cherie…" He smiled his voice lower and huskier than normal.
"Perhaps…" She laughed softly as he removed her hands from his eyes but kept them in his hands as he turned to her.
He felt his stomach clench as he looked at her for the first time. "You're beautiful." He blurted out as he took in her dark hair that was piled atop her head in soft curls and her fitted pale pink dress with tiny lace capped sleeves and a sweetheart neckline.
"Thank you, Scorp." She breathed out slowly as she blushed and he kissed her knuckles sweetly while looking in her eyes.
He kissed her lightly on the side of her mouth before offering his arm to her. "I am by far the luckiest man here because you are the prettiest and most interesting lady here." He couldn't help but grin as she laughed and squeezed his arm with her hand as they began their descent from the grand staircase.
"You're really taking your promise to be charming quite serious…" She smiled at him before looking down the banister at all of the people milling around happily below.
"I take everything serious with you, Lily." He smiled as they found rather secluded seats in the dining area and talked and joked through four courses without any lilt in conversation or notice of anyone else around them.
Lily threw her head back and laughed as Fred spun her around the dance floor like a mad composer. "Faster!" She smiled as he dipped her daringly low before spinning her out and back into him.
"How am I not off the market, Lils?" Fred grinned as his younger cousin continued to laugh gleefully. "I am a stellar dancer, funny as hell, handsome, and bloody good in bed." He nodded as they continued to dance.
"Because you're bonkers, Fred." She giggled as the song began to wind down and so did their crazed pace of dancing.
"All the best people are!" He smirked as Lily giggled into his shoulder, hugging him as the song ended.
She shook her head as they walked off towards the bar. "I can't believe you're quoting Alice in Wonderland… What are we? Six?" She stuck her tongue out causing him to do the same as he took his whiskey from the bartender.
"Hey! It's the one movie Aunt Hermione made us watch to 'better connect with our muggle peers' that I actually loved." He took a swig of his drink as a pretty girl at the corner of the bar eyed him, unbeknownst to him.
"We can continue this conversation later… The blonde at the far end of the bar is eyeing you." She smiled as Fred's eyes lit up interestedly. "See you later, cous." She announced with a certain loud emphasis and a covert wink before sauntering off, wine in hand, to find Scorpius.
"Lily!" Ginny called with an apprehensive smile as her daughter walked by them clueless-ly. Lily and Scorpius had arrived to the dinner a little late; and had sat across the room with his family…so Ginny wasn't even sure Lily was aware that they were there. The sheer amount of people in attendance was a little overwhelming considering this wasn't a company or ministry party.
Lily stopped, gripping the stem of her wine glass confusedly before turning to see her parents staring at her hesitantly. She felt like the air that had filled her lungs was suddenly being sucked away from her – she hadn't expected to see them…hadn't realized that she missed them… "Hello…" She felt her mouth curve up into a smile more than she consciously decided to smile. "…It's so nice to see you." She smiled as her mother hugged her and she hugged back, but it felt like an out of body experience – like she was there, but not really because she was not ready for this moment, not really.
"How are you doing?" Ginny smiled as she looked her only daughter over – she looked beautiful and happy. "I'm so glad that you're opening went well! Draco, Adora, and Scorpius were telling us about it." She smiled as Harry nodded beside her, unsure of what else to do.
"They were?" She smiled and nodded. "It was great! Busy the entire time…" She bit her lip as she stared at them. "I'm good too…really busy, but really good." She nodded as they chorused about how wonderful it was to hear that. "How are you?"
"We're alright… It's just so good to see you." Ginny squeezed her daughter's hand as Lily smiled a little ashamedly. "We've missed you."
"I…know." She nodded before taking a sip of her drink. It was good to see them, to hear how they were doing, to feel their warm touches and hugs…but it didn't make what had transpired any easier to forget. "I just needed…need time." She smiled a small smile as they nodded.
"I understand." Harry spoke for the first time causing both women to look at him. "I shouldn't have did what I did; and I am sorry, Lily." He watched as Lily gulped in a breath, not expecting to hear this speech here. "But, you were my little girl – my only little girl; and you were so quickly growing up and advancing into your relationship… And there were loads of other ways that I could've and should've handled the situation, but I was a father and there was no road map for how to deal with a daughter growing up. No book on how to handle the emotions of your daughter having a new number one guy in her life. So, I'm sorry that I didn't handle it better and that I never told you…but I'm not sorry that you had years to be Lily Luna Potter – leader of her own life. I just wanted you to know who you were and who you wanted to be before you became a part of a unit and it was too late to know where you ended and he began." He sighed as he felt his hands go clammy, never prepared for her unpredictable reactions.
Ginny watched as Lily stood before them wordlessly and emotionlessly. But she knew, she always knew as her mother, when the wheels were turning in her daughter's head. And she just hoped with all of her heart that they were turning in her father's favor…
She licked her bottom lip before nodding slowly. "I…I understand what you're saying even if I really don't want to." She watched her father's surprised expression before continuing. "But, I will never agree with what you did…will never fully comprehend how you could take my choices away from me when what you wanted for me was choices." She watched as both of her parents' expressions fell before her eyes. "I do miss you though…and I don't want for us to not be in each other's lives. I'll try – but I need you to try too." She bit her lip as her mother nodded exuberantly. "I need you to accept whatever place Scorpius and the Malfoy's have in my life because I love them and they're my family too." She watched her father's hesitant nod turned into a solid one as her mother smiled. "And I'm working towards forgiveness because you're my daddy and I know that even if I can't understand it, I know you'd never set out to do anything but advance me. But, you need to apologize to Scorpius because even if things have worked out fine – even if we're never anything more than friends, he respected and trusted you enough to blindly listen to and do what you wanted because he is a good guy."
"Of course." Harry nodded as he hesitantly hugged his daughter, who somehow seemed so much older and so much more settled here in Malfoy Manor than she had anywhere else to him. "I love you, Lily."
She nodded as she choked out a 'love you' and hugged her mom as well. "I need to find Scorpius now…it's almost midnight and…"
"We understand." Ginny smiled as she squeezed her daughter's hand one last time. "Drop by sometime for tea this week, okay?" She smiled as Lily nodded began walking away turning back to look at them every few steps before disappearing completely.
"Do you think she'll ever really forgive me?" Harry sighed as he hugged his wife's side against his.
"One day…" Ginny nodded with a smile and a sigh. "One day."
Lily found him talking to a group of Slytherin guys around their age – drinking port and talking quidditch. "Hey…" Her voice was soft as she wrapped her arms around him from the back and laid her head against his shoulder. She was feeling the effects of all of the alcohol she'd consumed – too much to keep track of. Her head was swimming and the familiar curve of his back and light smell of cologne made her feel like she was sixteen and their every move was still in synch.
The light touch of her hands as they graces his hips and then clasped together around his middle caused him to sharply inhale…and exhale slowly as her cheek pressed up against his shoulder blade. He relaxed as her soft voice cut through the light buzz of conversation and his friends raised an eyebrow or smirked slightly at the situation – typical drunk Lily and typically affected Scorpius. "Hey, Lils." He smiled as he rubbed her arms with one hand and loosened her clasp enough to wrap his free arm around her shoulders and pull her beside him to the crook of his arm and side where she fit perfectly. "Having fun?" He smiled as she took his glass of port and downed it before sitting it precariously on the arm of a chair and laying her head against his chest nodding.
"The most." She smiled as she looked up into his eyes and wrapped her arms around his slender and toned waist. "But you haven't danced with me yet…" Her voice trailed off suggestively as he chuckled and Donovan snickered.
"Well, don't let us stop you." Theo smirked as Lily turned towards them with a mischevious glint in her eyes.
"Thank you boys. Scorpius will catch up with you tomorrow…or something." She waved as she dragged him past the dance floor and to the gardens - his friends watched in amazement – since when were Scorpius and Lily even talking?
He smiled as they swayed together in the garden a dreamy smile on her face as he held her close. "You really do look so beautiful." He smiled down at her as she looked up at him her expression becoming serious.
"Do you love me?" Her eyes searched his desperately as he stared down into her eyes and pulled her flush against him as they continued to sway to a tuneless song.
His answer was automatic as he felt his heart clench in uncertainty. "Of course."
"No, I mean really love me." She shook her head as her hand found its way to his cheek and she caressed it, running the pad of her thumb across his bottom lip tentatively. "Do you love me Scorpius?" Her eyes were squinted as she felt traitorous tears begin to build up as he leaned into her hand.
He pushed his forehead against hers as they stopped swaying and the music and noise from the inside seemed to fade away. "How could I have ever stopped, Lily?"
"How?" Her voice cracked as the tip of her nose brushed against his, insistent on being as close as possible. "How can you love me after everything…all this time…"
"Because you don't stop loving the person that knows everything about you better than you do and still loves you despite the flaws…" He swept his hand against her cheek as a tear slipped from her glassy green eyes. "Because it's not a choice to stop loving someone when they've had your heart for the majority of your life…and even if it were, I'd always choose to love you because loving you motivates me to be the best man I can be…"
Her lips crashed against his fiercely cutting off his speech as her hands found their way into his hair pulling him closer. She felt him lift her up and her legs instinctively went to wrap around his waist, her dress pooling around her hips as she did so – midnight and presents and ball all long forgotten. She couldn't get near enough to him, her dress and his dress robes hindering her from being as close as she needed. "Your room…" She mumbled against his lips, kissing him deeply – feeling his tongue and mouth, remembering how wonderful this had always felt…
He pulled away from their kiss and sat her on her feet clasping her hand in his as he pulled her through the crowded ball room and entrance, ignoring as people called after them, taking the stairs two at a time and picking her up once they reached the top landing. He laid her against his bed softly, looking at her with uncertainty as he pulled away from their kiss, his shirt long discarded. "Are you…" He was stopped mid-question as she kissed him and began unzipping her own dress before he brushed her hands away and did it for her. And between kisses and caresses all the years that had transpired melted away and they became Scorpius and Lily – two parts of a whole.
"I love you…" She mumbled into his bare chest as her naked body curled up to him sleepily. She felt him kiss her head and his hand run through her hair lovingly as he voiced her sentiments back to her. The alcohol was wearing off…and things were undoubtedly complicated, but she drifted off to sleep happier and more carefree than she had in years. Tomorrow she'd deal with whatever this was…tomorrow they'd sort everything out…tomorrow things would be back to normal – whatever that was. But for now, they were just Lily and Scorpius and that was enough.
AN: So, I sincerely hope you enjoyed this chapter! :) I completed it at like 3 am, so if there are mistakes - you know why! This really is not the end of this story, but I hope it provides a little consolation until I come back to it. Thank you for the support and love. 333
