Lily POV:

Scorpius had been released two days later good as new. We both knew the other was thinking the same thoughts. Was the attack frightening enough to break up over? I wasn't ready to loose him and, though I told him if it got to dangerous I would call it off to protect him, I had grown greedy and selfish. I loved being with him and knowing he was always there for me. It was beyond me to walk away now that everything about me was enamored by his very presence. He didn't bring it up and why would he? Scorpius was determined to carry us through the prejudice and make our relationship last. We both knew it would be me who called it off.

It was amazing how time flew by. My summer with the Malfoy's had taken me to Australia to the coral reef for a month. After that Scorpius came with my family to France for a month in to stay in the summer vista belonging to Bill and Fleur. Our stay was magical and though I could barely remember the walks through the endless groves of trees and riding horses through the landscape it was one of my happiest moments since childhood. I attempted to remember all the details as I used my wand to curl my hair before breakfast. Today was Halloween and marked my official one year anniversary with Scorpius. We were going in to Hogsmead again and I wanted to look spectacular for my special gent. He agreed to meet me later than usual as well, knowing I would want more time than usual.

Again we walked the snow covered path down to the little shops and tavern. Before we left McGonagall had put protection charms and spells over us, knowing if there was to be an attack this is when we would both be most vulnerable. After the attack on Valentine's Day we had promised not to wander after curfew and to keep to the curfew. It put a stopper on most of our alone time but we both understood it kept us safe. Now we finally had some time to ourselves. Some time where we planned on vanishing from the beaten trail and having a quality "conversation" of sorts. I needed a good snog and by the looks of Scorpius' scanning eyes he felt the same.

We happened to pass an abandoned building after our first few steps out of the village proper and after two hours of cuddling, snogging, and giggling we were returning to the Three Broomsticks for a warm butterbeer. As crowded as it was we managed to get a room away from the loudest of groups and talked about what we were going to do over Holliday break. Scorpius lay his head on the table and kissed the back of my hands as he spoke. When I got in this mode Scorpius seemed to be the only being around me. The noise levels dropped and I could hear him as clearly as I could if we were off on that little island again. All that seemed to exist was his blonde hair and steel grey eyes and that Malfoy smirk.

Our mugs had been empty on the table for a good hour before we decided to head back to the school again. There was a Halloween Masquerade Ball tonight and I wanted to look spectacular for it. On our way towards the castle I noticed a person trailing behind us a good twenty feet. To make sure they were following us I led Scorpius towards the Quidditch pitch once we were close enough and observed as this other person also left the trail but made it look as though they were heading to the Herbology greenhouses to the left of the field. We were being tailed. I felt like throwing up as I remembered the last attack and the state it left Scorpius in. Would this attack be different? Could it be worse? I couldn't forgive myself for carrying this relationship forward if he was injured like that again.

We snogged for a bit by the fields but stopped after a few minutes. Scorpius could tell I was distracted. Truth is, it's hard to focus on kissing when in the back of your mind you know some creepy person is a ways away and watching your every move. We went back inside and I lost sight of our tracker. Scorpius left me at the Gryffindor tower and told me to meet him at the stairs around nine. I agreed and kissed him goodbye before saying the password and entering the Common rooms, which contained only first and second years.

Upstairs I curled my hair into a million ringlets and pinned a lily made of pearl and emerald up with my bangs. I slipped into a slinky silver, form fitting gown; an Anniversary present from Astoria, and admired how far the slit in the side came up. If the material had been any looser I would be concerned about the bottom of my buttocks slipping into view. The emerald necklace around my neck seemed to play with and twist the light shimmering off the dress. I must have looked like a gem myself. When I had finished applying makeup and adding silver sparkle polish to my nails the clocked began to chime. It was only five. Scorpius would be done by now ass well. After calling my owl and attaching a note to her leg I donned a black cloak and went to wait for Scorpius in the abandoned classroom on the first floor.

Scorpius POV

I had just lay down for a nap when Lily's owl flew into the room. On her leg was a note and before moving to undo it I knew what it would say. I was right, of course.

S,

Done early. Meet me in class.

~L.

When I straightened my hair and left the dungeon Albus wolf whistled as he stared into the fire.

"Go get her Malfoy!"

"I plan on it Potter!"

Inside the classroom I was met by an angel. I had never seen Lily in something so breathtaking. She looked like Guinevere from the legends of King Arthur. If she had belonged to someone else I would have been her Sir Lancelot in an instant. Luckily, she was my lady fair and showed no interest in anyone else. Her dress seemed to have molded itself to her every curve at the bottom it looked like the opening on the top of flower and pooled around her figure. The skirt hugged her closely and peeked her leg out at the perfect moment, stopping at the last. As I walked towards her she came closer as well, her dress dragging behind her as she walked towards me. She looked ravishing.

"Sir, it is good to see you again."

"Mi' Lady, you got ready fast. I expect you to be pampering yourself until the last moment."

"I am not like those other girls, kind sir."

"Thank goodness."

She couldn't stop smiling. It was one of those times she knew how beautiful she was and couldn't hide the fact that she knew. I couldn't stop smiling either. I had a natural high from being with the most lovely girl in the school. I pulled her into my chest and hugged her tight. As I let her go she dropped to the ground and fanned her dress out like a blossom around her. She patted the ground and asked me to join in her most seductive voice. I locked the door and ensured I was the only one who could open it. Once sitting on the floor Lily crawled into my lap and brushed my lips with her finger. We talked for a while and I kissed her quickly then pulled away to gaze at her again. She had a hard, blazing look in her eyes as she closed the gap between our lips once more.

We seemed to be locked in each others embrace for at least an hour and it was only as I felt a temperature change that I opened my eyes and pulled away. Lily had unbuttoned my dress-robes and slid her hand onto my chest. Immediately the creature inside me screamed a triumphant "YES!" but in my head I was screaming, "NO SCORPIUS, NO!" I began tracing her shoulders and sliding her fitted off-the-shoulder-top slowly down her body until I could see her slim waist and her adorable belly button. As she continued to trace my muscles and shoot me lusty looks I battled it out inside my head. In the end, as Lily's tracing hand was getting lower and lower on my body I whispered.

"No, Lily, we can't."

She stopped and looked at me, pausing for a second as her hand left my navel and came back to my chest, then again she smiled and wandered lower.

"Lily, no. We can't. I can't. I'm sorry."

"Why can't we?"

I'm just not ready for that kind of relationship or affection. You are thirteen and, though your body makes you look years older, older than me, you are much too young for such a physical, adult decision."

"I am mature for my age and..."

"I am only fifteen and I'm not ready for such an adult decision either. Maybe you are ready but I am not. I can't go through with this. I love you, I really do, so much, but I can't commit the way I should. Not yet, anyway."

During my monologue I had pulled her hand out of my shirt and buttoned my top again. She looked so hurt and abandoned as she looked up at me. Her top was still around her middle and she began to cry as I pulled it back up, leaving my hand on her trembling shoulders once her skin was concealed in her gown. How was I supposed to tell her I wanted to do this as well? How was I controlled enough to stop? Lily. I was protecting her. How had she thought this through, or what made her think we could do this? We were so young. Way too young for this sort of commitment. What if we were attacked again and she decided to call it off? What if she decided she was finished with me or didn't want to continue this way? If we did this our fates would be intertwined and inseparable without causing both of us a great deal of pain. I looked at the clock and realized it was just after seven. The ball would be starting soon.

As I tied my jet black mask on Lily slipped her green one into place over her puffy, tearing eyes. She stood and went over to the window, looking out to the Quidditch pitch, as she dried her eyes. We were different in the way we portrayed ourselves in public. I wore my emotions on my sleeves. If I was angry or sad or hurt everyone who saw me knew it. Lily had inherited her mother's trait of toughness. She rarely cried and if she did she didn't let people see her. She wore a perfect mask just over her skin to hide all emotions she didn't want others to see. When she turned around I stood by the door my face showing the concern and my disappointment and my sorrows. She smiled and cheerily spoke with just the bit of wavering that would give her away.

"Well, shall we go to dance the night away now? I can't wait to show off my new dress. It was a gift, you know, from your mother. It arrived this morning!"

"Sure, let's go."

We danced for about two hours before I took us to a side table and left Lily as I got our drinks. Albus approached me the second I left her and asked what I had done to make Lily feign happiness. He obviously knew when she was hiding. I tried to tell him it was nothing but when he asked if I had hurt her there was nothing I could do but tell him.

"She wanted to perform a sealing. Her hand was rubbing my chest and trying to unbutton my pants and I had to stop her, to force her off me, to tell her we were not mature enough. She was so hurt and so angry at me for preventing it. We are just so young. I couldn't do it. Lily is just thirteen and I'm not much better off at fifteen am I. I didn't mean to hurt her I just couldn't do it. I couldn't risk her changing her mind and what if we had gone through with it and something happened? Then we would forever be scarred and bitter and..."

"Whoa, dude, calm down. You did the right thing. You really did. I don't know how I would have responded in that situation if I loved someone as much as you love her. I'd never imagine her to be so bold..."

He punched my shoulder softly and wished me a happy night before walking off to his date, a Slytherin girl he'd asked at the last moment. He had been talking about snogging the night away earlier and had to find a girl willing to join his game. Not like he had to try that hard. He was Albus Potter. The two of us had quite the fan base but now that I was off the market he got more attention than ever. I watched as he swept his lady off her feet and pulled her to the dance floor while I walked back to Lily.

"What did you tell him?"

"The truth."

"Why? He is probably so angry with me now."

"He said it was uncharacteristic of you then grabbed a drink, shot it, and went back to his date. He didn't seem to perturbed by it."

"I still can't believe you told him."

"I tell him almost everything, Lily. Want to go dance?"

"No. I'm tired and want to go to bed. Tonight has been a disaster and I can't wait for tomorrow to come. Goodnight Scorpius."

She rose and much to my dismay walked straight from the hall without looking anywhere but ahead. The hall seemed to grow silent, save for the music, as everyone watched Lily fume while she left the hall. This would be all over the school tomorrow. They would have no clue why she was so angry but multiple stories would arise; some would be less dramatic and some more than what actually happened. A few of Lily's friends and cousins who roomed with her left to cheer her up. I was left, stranded on my one year anniversary in a room full of curious students and staff. As there was nothing left to do I left the hall myself, heading back to my Common room. Lily was right, tonight had been a disaster.

Lost in my thoughts and angered by the way my one year mark with the most beautiful amazing girl ever had occurred my mind was on little else. It wasn't until the hallway grew light that I realized something was wrong. A spark shot past me and as I turned a voice murmured another spell. Really? Attacking me alone on my anniversary? Was this person so desperate to do my relationship in that he had no sense of pity or no heart? I cast a shield charm moments before being pushed back by the force of the spell. As the gent sent another harmful curse my way I scream out, "Albus, I'm being attacked!" before sending my Patronus toward the Great Hall and performing another shield to take most of the damage. I sent a bat bogey curse down towards my attacker as he sent a crystal clear spell my way. It came slowly, which was odd for a curse, but passed to my left, the corner of it entering my shield. He seemed to stop and watch as it missed before sending another fresh bout of harmful or lethal spells my way. How had it got through my charm? I used the most powerful type of protection. This was dark magic aimed my way. Again I used the most advanced and powerful stunning spells and distracting jinxes I could perform and prayed Al would get here soon with aid. My attacker sent off a bout of spells and I reacted accordingly. Unfortunately, I saw that same crystal, milky curse enter my shield and enter my body before I could react. He had sent it first then sent a bunch of other spells to conceal it in their midst. My lungs. They screamed out and lunged and pulsed and ached. Somewhere behind the man I saw spells assaulting him and a few moments later Albus and McGonagall, accompanied by some other blurry figures dropped to my side and yelled, though they sounded so far away. My lungs, they were burning. Liquid began to drip from my mouth and foamy bubbles leaked from my nostrils. With a fierce look in her eyes McGonagall grabbed the collar of my dress robes and ripped them down past my waist before pumping at my expanding chest. If I hadn't been so concerned about my life essence oozing out of my body I would have been embarrassed about the indecent exposure of my body. Before I could make a noise she realized she wasn't helping and seemed to scream something to the others before grabbing my arm and apparating out. The last sight to greet me before I fell out of consciousness was an ugly mannequin and a reception room. I had made it to St. Mungo's.