Oh my gosh, I know this chapter is late and I am so very sorry! I am begging for your forgiveness wonderful readers! There is no excuse for such shocking behaviour but I am going to complain about work again and blame that because I have been given 45 hours this week when I normally don't do that many and they're all massive shifts during the busy times. Honestly my manager is trying to kill me, I am sure of it!
Also on a completely unrelated note I am making plans to go to the midnight launch for Final Fantasy XIII! I don't know if any of you are fans of the games but I am a completely addicted nut! I watched the trailer for Final Fantasy versus XIII and almost died from not breathing, it was AWESOME! I can't believe how close the release date is for XIII, oh my gosh dizzy from excitement!
Right enough pointless babbling, I had originally planned to have this as two separate chapters but since I was so mean and made you all wait an extra day I decided to give you an extra long chapter as a treat, so enjoy!
Chapter fourteen – Even the thickest ice can thaw
My childhood home was eerily silent when Scorpius and I arrived. All the lights were off plunging us into darkness and adding to the creepy atmosphere. It was after all the house I'd grown up in so I easily started to make my way across the room in search of the light.
"Lily?" Scorpius' usually calm voice was tainted by panic.
"Yeah?" I replied, moving carefully around a trolley that held our pots and pans.
"Where are you?" I heard a sharp bump that told me he'd walked into the table and then the low hiss of him cursing under his breath.
"Are you ok?" I called into the darkness.
"Lumos." A bright beam of light shone from the tip of Scorpius' wand illuminating the room and I could see him clutching his thigh where he'd bashed it.
"Sorry, I don't have my wand." I told him, explaining why I hadn't thought to use the charm.
"I guessed as much." He mumbled while still rubbing his sore leg. I flicked on the light switch and the bulbs sprang to life.
"There we go." I said sounding rather satisfied.
"Nox." His counter-spell extinguished the light from his wand and he shoved it back into his pocket.
"It's strange seeing your house so empty." He mused as we made our way upstairs.
"I know, it's always been so busy and noisy here." I pushed open the door to my room and turned on the light.
"Hey it's AJ," Scorpius said suddenly, noticing the little cat curled up on my bed. "I haven't seen him in ages!" he hurried over to the bed and sat down beside the animal.
"Yeah he's never around these days, mum says he's a real outdoors lover." It was amazing how little I'd seen my pet since getting him for Christmas two years ago, sometimes I'd catch a glimpse of him rolling around in the grass or leaping out of a tree trying to catch a bird.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Scorpius scratching the little cat behind his ears, he was purring like mad and clearly enjoyed the fuss. I giggled and turned back to my wardrobe. I grabbed a few things out, not really caring what they were, and stuffed them into a bag.
"Are you going to bring him with you when you move in?" Scorpius asked from behind me. I glanced back at him and thought about it for a moment.
"Yes I think so. There are a lot of fields surrounding the cottage; I think he'll like it there."
"Yeah he will." AJ rolled over playfully and scrambled onto Scorpius' lap demanding more fuss. I laughed and grabbed a pair of pyjamas from a drawer adding them to my bag too.
"Right." I quickly ran through a checklist in my head to make sure I had everything and then nodded.
"Ready to go?"
"I think so." I told him. He nodded and stood up setting AJ back onto the bed where he resumed his lazy lounging on my duvet. We started to walk down the stairs again and his hand found mine.
"Will you miss it here?" he asked, tracing little circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.
"I suppose I will a bit, but I can come back and visit any time so it won't be that bad."
"Hmm." He hummed thoughtfully. I glanced up at him in the dim light of the living room.
"What about you, do you miss the manor?"
"No. There's no need to look so surprised, I told you that I never really liked it there." He shrugged and I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. We heard voices outside and then the back door opened for my parents to walk through.
"Lily, what brings you home?" dad asked. I could see mum's eyes were red and puffy, she must've done more crying after we left.
"Oh I just popped back for some clean clothes." I held up the bag in my hands and he nodded. An awkward silence followed where none of us knew quite how to approach the topic that we all wanted to. Mum took off her coat and then silently left to go upstairs. I guessed she was going to wash her face to get rid of the dried tears.
"How is she?" I asked dad quietly. He sighed and sank into a chair at the dining table.
"A bit shaken up but she's relieved he's home."
"Did he tell you what happened?" I wanted to know if Al had told them the truth about the trespassing misunderstanding or if he'd lied instead.
"Yes, I think your mother stopped breathing for a while when he mentioned the guns." I winced and he dragged a hand through his messy hair.
"Did she get mad again?"
"For a while yes but I think it all just got a bit much for her, having him back home and safe again. She got a bit upset." He looked at his hands sadly and I exchanged glances with Scorpius.
"I need to get to bed, I have an early start at the Ministry tomorrow." He stood up and pushed in his chair.
"Is Kingsley still away?" I asked curiously.
"Yes, I think he's going to be off for a few weeks more at least."
"He's not ill is he?"
"No, he's just fatigued I think. The workload can get heavy at times and he's not getting any younger."
"Hmm." I thought about what he was saying as he moved past us towards the stairs.
"Oh Lily," I turned to face him and he frowned. "Do me a favour will you, keep an eye on Al for a while in case things start to get to him again. We don't want a repeat of recent events."
"Sure dad." I nodded and he walked over to press a quick kiss to my forehead.
"Goodnight, you two."
"Goodnight." Scorpius and I replied in unison as my father left.
"Come on." He took my hand and apparated back to the cottage.
"Bloody hell!" Al exclaimed as we appeared in the kitchen. He staggered back a few steps and bumped into the cupboards. I giggled at his horrified expression and heard Scorpius snigger behind me.
"Are you ok there Al?" I asked, struggling to keep a straight face. He scowled at us both and tried to regain his composure.
"No I'm not ok. Here I am peacefully making a sandwich and then you two appear and scare the bloody hell out of me!" he bent down and angrily snatched up a mayonnaise stained knife that he must've dropped. Scorpius was still struggling not to laugh aloud.
"Sorry." I tried to sound as sincere as possible but I knew he didn't buy it. He rolled his eyes and turned back to his giant sandwich. It was at least five layers tall, I could just about make out several different types of cold meat and some slices of cheese that he was now smothering in mayonnaise and brown sauce. I wrinkled my nose and made a gagging sound.
"You plan on eating that?" I sneered. He turned around to glare at me and then slapped some bacon on top of his mounded sandwich.
"Just because you eat child's portions doesn't mean the rest of us have to starve." I scowled at his offensive remark and thrust my hands onto my hips.
"I do not eat child's portions I just don't eat like a pig, unlike some." He shrugged and then pushed up the tip of his nose with his finger and grunted like a pig. Scorpius almost choked on a burst of laughter and I rolled my eyes.
"Funny." I said sarcastically. Al winked at me and tossed his gigantic sandwich onto a plate.
"If you'll excuse me I'm going to return to my bedroom and eat my meal, in peace."
"Do you want a shovel for that?" I shouted after him. He made a rude gesture at me over his shoulder and disappeared up the stairs.
"It's good to have him back." Scorpius chuckled.
"Mmm, debatable." I wasn't serious of course. I was thrilled to have my brother back but I hadn't missed his smartass remarks.
"I've missed watching the two of you argue, it's great entertainment." He said, coiling his arms around my waist and drawing me to him.
"Oh well I'm glad you find it so funny." I replied bitterly. I shoved him away feeling a bit stung but he just pulled me back and tightened his grip.
"Aw don't be like that Lils." He bent his head to nuzzle my neck and I groaned glumly.
"I hate that I can't stay mad at you." I complained. My arms couldn't resist the urge to snake around his neck and he laughed against my skin as his lips started to kiss my neck tenderly. I could feel myself beginning to melt in his arms and forced my hands to push him away gently.
"Come on before this gets out of control." He grinned at me devilishly. It was that look he always got when he and Al were doing something they shouldn't be. I felt panic flurry in my stomach and took a step back.
"I know that look, what are you planning?" my question only widened his grin and then suddenly he bent down and knocked me off my feet. He flung me over his shoulder while I squealed my heart out.
"Scorpius put me down!" I screeched. He just laughed and marched towards the stairs.
"Oh no, not the stairs, don't you dare!" he ignored my warning and plonked his foot firmly on the bottom step heaving us both up onto the raised section. I squealed again and clutched at the back of his t-shirt.
"Oh my god, Scorpius put me down!" again he ignored me and climbed another step. Another strangled scream fell from my lips.
"Stop!" but it was no use, he was already nearing the top of the stairs. I was holding onto his top so tightly that my knuckles were white. From my position dangling over his shoulder I could see right down the height of the staircase and it made my stomach churn.
"You do remember I'm afraid of heights right?" I managed to choke out as my throat seized up.
"Oh crap, I forgot." He quickly set me the right way up and held me tightly as I tried to steady my spinning head.
"I'm so sorry Lily." I opened my eyes and saw him frowning guiltily.
"I got you to put me down didn't I?" I pointed out with a satisfied grin. His expression morphed into shock and I laughed.
"Oh, now you're in for it." he reached out to grab me again but I turned and ran off shrieking playfully.
"No! Ok I'm sorry!"
"Too late Lils." He told me, grinning wickedly. We both stopped running as I reached the end of the hallway. He took a small step towards me and I pressed my back into the wall.
"Where are you going to run now?" I looked to my left and then my right weighing up my options. I could either go left and hide in Hugo's future bedroom or go right and seal myself in the bathroom. Hugo's room had no lock so I opted for the bathroom. He must've followed my train of thought though because as soon as I made for the door his arm shot out and claimed my waist. I screamed girlishly and he yanked me into his body locking me there with his arms.
"Now you can't run away." He was slightly out of breath and flushed, the trace of colour on his usually pale cheeks only made him look sexier.
"You really think I want to?" I breathed, unable to stop my eyes from staring longing at his lips. They twitched slightly as a smile threatened to break out. A door in the hallway flew open crashing against the wall and a furious Al appeared in the doorway.
"Will you please shut up? There are other people in the building you know." He pointed to Emma inside the room and I smiled apologetically.
"Oh lighten up." I replied with a cheerful giggle. I took hold of Scorpius' hand and tugged him towards the few stairs leading to our bedroom. Al's only reply was a few inaudibly muttered words before his door slammed shut. Scorpius and I burst into the room laughing like naughty children and he quickly closed the door.
"He's turned into such a grouch since he got back." I complained. He laughed and withdrew his wand, turning his attention back to the door.
"Colloportus." He muttered. His charm sealed the door with an odd squelching noise.
"You do realise they can unlock that with Alohomora." I reminded him, pointing out the flaw in his attempt to give us some privacy.
"I'm aware of that but the three of us had a little chat when we first moved in. We agreed that unless it was an emergency we wouldn't use magic to unlock our doors, it gives us each a bit of privacy." I arched my eyebrows in surprise.
"That's actually not a bad idea."
"Don't sound too surprised, we're not completely useless." I laughed and shook my head.
"No I didn't say you were. I just didn't think my brothers would come up with something so…logical."
"Neither did I actually but don't go giving them too much credit just yet. I have my suspicions about their motives."
"Oh, and what are they?" he scratched his hair and hesitated before telling me.
"Well James is between women at the moment but a while back he was seeing that girl from the ministry, you remember the one he brought to my birthday party a few years back?"
"Daphne?" I struggled to recall the face of my brother's date. Scorpius clicked his fingers and nodded.
"Yes, Daphne, that's her. He had a few more dates with her and I spotted her sneaking out one morning." A look of understanding washed over my face.
"Oh I see. He liked the idea of the rule because nobody would walk in on him and his dates then." Scorpius grinned at me and nodded.
"You got it."
"But what about Al, he can't have the same reason because he wasn't with Emma back then."
"No he wasn't. I think Al's reason was a bit less…serious."
"What do you mean?"
"I was in his room a while back looking for a t-shirt that had gone missing, he swore he hadn't took it but I saw him wearing it a few days before, anyway while I was searching I came across a massive stash of sweets from Honeydukes." I could help but laugh and he nodded.
"So you're telling me that Al agreed to this rule to protect his stash?" I asked incredulously.
"Oh come on, this is Al we're talking about. Is it really so hard to believe he'd do something like that for food?" I arched my eyebrows and realised how right he was.
"I see your point." He nodded proudly and I narrowed my eyes.
"What?" he sounded worried about my scrutiny.
"What was your motive then Mr Malfoy?" I asked, taking a seductive step towards him and hooking my hand around his belt. He raised an eyebrow and I tugged him towards me.
"Why don't you take a wild guess." He suggested. He lifted his hand and traced the shape of my t-shirt's neckline with his fingertip. I feigned ignorance and pretending to think about it seriously for a few seconds.
"Do you have a secret stash of something I don't know about?" While I spoke my hands that were still on his belt slowly unbuckled it. My action didn't slip past his attention and I noticed his eyes briefly flicker down before rising to meet mine again.
"I er…no, no secret stash." He stuttered a bit, thrown off by my touch as I pushed the button of his trousers undone and slowly slid down the zip.
"Oh, then perhaps your reason was the same as James'." He sucked in a mouthful of air as I pushed his trousers down.
"Perhaps…" his voice shook and it fuelled my wicked impulse. I pushed my hands up his t-shirt dragging my fingernails across his skin. He trembled under my touch.
"Then you agreed to the rule to stop people walking in on you with women." I continued, sliding my hands higher. I could feel his muscles tensing beneath my fingertips as he fought to maintain control.
"Just one woman." He corrected. A delighted smile lit up my face and I tore off the t-shirt.
"Oh?" he stepped out of his trousers and towards me, backing me up until the back of my legs hit the bed.
"It's only ever been you Lily." I sighed happily and he ducked to kiss the base of my neck. His hands cradled my back as he knelt down before me. I watched curiously as he nudged the hem of my t-shirt up with his nose and pressed his lips to the flat skin of my stomach. His hands moved to my sides and slowly pushed the top higher following its rise with his lips. He gazed at me with a powerful intensity as he rose slightly to lift the top over my head and toss it aside.
With the garment removed he sank back to his knees and let his hands trace the curve of my chest and then my hips. My hands shook as I raised them and knotted my fingers into his hair, his hands were inching my shorts down as his lips moved to kiss the newly exposed skin. A fluttering was awakened deep within my stomach and I felt my legs starting to quiver.
My shorts were tugged down gently and fell forgotten to the floor. Scorpius stood up again and pushed me back onto the bed landing on top of me and pressing our bare chests together. The touch of his overheated skin was unbearable and I squirmed beneath him. He was yet to kiss me on the lips, a fact that hadn't escaped my notice and I knew he was doing it on purpose to tease me.
"You really don't feel guilty about doing this while people are in?" I whispered uncertainly. He propped himself up on his hands so that he could meet my gaze.
"Do you?" I considered this for a moment.
"Not really…" I admitted feeling a tad guilty. He grinned at me and lowered back down onto my chest to resume his nibbling at my neck. His hand crept to my last remaining item of clothing and I lifted my hips obligingly letting him slide off the little piece of underwear.
He got up off the bed suddenly, lifting me with him until we were standing and making it easy for me to ease down his boxers. As soon as they were gone he shoved me back onto the bed collapsing on top of me and leaning back so that he could look deep into my eyes.
"Are you going to kiss me at all?" I demanded, cringing at how bossy I sounded. Scorpius just smirked and pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth.
"Be patient." I groaned unhappily and felt the rumble of his chest as he chuckled. He was lying on top of me completely naked, teasing me with his feather light touches and well placed kisses and he expected me to be patient? How can you be patient when your whole body is throbbing with desire?
Either he sensed my desperation and decided to take mercy on me or his incessant teasing had gotten too much for him too, because he lifted his head and looked at me briefly with lust filled eyes before crushing my lips with his own. I moaned into his mouth writhing beneath him and returning his frantic yet passionate kiss.
My head was spinning denying me of any hope of rational thought. My legs locked around his waist pinning him to me and my teeth pulled at his bottom lip. The little nibble spurred an immediate reaction; his hands locked my wrists to the bed above my head with a gentle yet firm move of his hips he pushed into me.
I broke away from his kiss to release a whispered gasp. His hands gripped my wrists harder as he moved with me and I moaned softly as he bit at skin of my neck. It was hard to focus on being quiet when such overpowering feelings were dominating not only my body but my mind too. Struggling to stifle his moans too Scorpius hastily brought our mouths back together muffling any sounds that escaped either of our lips.
It was impossible to describe how I felt when Scorpius made love to me. There were too many emotions and sensations to label and most of them I couldn't put names too. The feeling that welled inside of me as he inched me closer and closer to the edge was the most incredible and yet the most unbearable feeling I'd ever experienced. It was harder to bear than the most excruciating pain but my body thrived off it as if it fed my muscles with pure oxygen. It was a little piece of heaven, my own personal heaven.
It was strange waking up in my own pyjamas again after spending so many nights in Scorpius' shorts and t-shirt. I found the other side of the bed empty and set off in search of my missing Malfoy.
James' bed was empty and had been hastily made; I guessed he'd left early for more of his Auror training. Al's room was empty too but I had no idea where he or Emma would have gone. I idly wondered if she'd spent the night in his bed with him, they were dating now so it's not as if it would be inappropriate. After a quick peek into the living room and the kitchen, which were both empty, I set off to check the last place left.
The bathroom door was closed but that wasn't uncommon. I tried the handle but surprisingly it didn't open. I raised my hand and knocked twice.
"Yes?" it was Scorpius' voice.
"It's me, can I come in?" I replied. I heard sloshing water and the squeak of skin against the bathtub.
"Yeah just unlock it." he instructed. I extracted my wand from my pyjama pocket and pointed it at the handle.
"Alohomora." The charm did the trick and the door unlocked with a soft click. I pushed it open and went inside, remembering to lock it again and put away my wand.
Scorpius was lounging in the bath surrounded by foamy bubbles. Ordinarily it was he who walked in on me bathing so it felt strange to have the roles reversed. His long white hair was sopping wet and slicked back in a way that only he could make look so effortlessly stylish.
"Morning." He said softly, giving me a wide grin. I blushed, feeling suddenly embarrassed about our situation.
"How long have you been up?" I asked. I walked over to the sink and pretended to be washing my hands, they weren't at all dirty but I just couldn't look him in the face right now.
"Not long, I had a coffee with Al and then decided to have a bit of a soak." He told me as I took far too much time drying my hands on the towel.
"Oh, what time did he leave?" I continued my casual questioning as I focused my gaze on the mirror and started to brush my hair one strand at a time.
"Around eight I think, he took Emma to town for breakfast."
"Aw that's quite sweet." I was still brushing.
"I thought so too, until I realised it was probably because he still fails to cook anything without burning it to a crisp." The sound of water splashing made my hand freeze mid brushstroke, a flurry of panic erupted in my stomach, was he getting out of the bath? I know I probably shouldn't be so shy about seeing him in the bath, after all I had seen him naked several times now, but that had always been in those whirlwind moments right before sex. I'd never properly looked at him naked and just the thought of it made me blush again.
"Lily?" his voice startled me out of my thoughts and I jumped slightly.
"Um…yes?" I resumed my brushing.
"You've been brushing that same bit of hair for five minutes now." I froze, silently cursing myself for being so careless.
"Oh, yes, well it was a bit knotted." It was a weak lie, even I could tell.
"It didn't look knotted." I couldn't think of anything to say to that so I kept silent. I gathered my hair into a loose ponytail and secured it with an elastic hair band I spotted lying on the windowsill. Did I keep leaving these there?
"Lily, what's wrong?" Bugger, now I was out of things to do. I frantically looked around the room searching for something to distract myself with and settled for picking up his discarded pyjamas and folding them neatly.
"Nothing's wrong." Ok these lies were getting worse now.
"You haven't looked at me since you first came in and you want to tell me there's nothing wrong?" Oh sod it. I wasn't exactly doing a good job of concealing my embarrassment anyway so why bother trying to keep up the charade.
"It's just…well I'm not used to seeing…I mean, normally I'm the one who's in the bath so it's a bit…I feel a bit…shy, I guess." I was blushing so badly that my cheeks were burning and kept my eyes riveted to the floor.
"Lily." He said softly. He wanted me to look at him, his tone told me so. Cautiously I raised my eyes being sure to sweep hastily over his body and meet his gaze as quickly as I could.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about seeing me naked; it's nothing you haven't seen before." His kind words only had me blushing more and I fiddled shyly with my fingers.
"Yeah I know but that's different, I haven't really…looked." If it was possible I blushed even deeper and forced my eyes back to the floor.
"Would you like to? If it'll make things more comfortable for you I can get out of the bath and give you a twirl." A hysterical little giggle fell from my lips and I dared to look at him. He gave me a warm smile and I felt myself relax a bit.
"Want me to?" he prompted, his smile turning into a wicked grin. My blush returned as I fought against the image.
"No!" I gasped. He laughed and reached out his hand to me. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how I might handle seeing more of his body but eventually my worries caved in and I walked over. I took his hand but stood a safe distance from the bath, keeping my eyes on his face and nowhere else. He laughed gently and gave my fingers a tug, pulling me right over to the rim of the bath.
"Stop being so nervous, it's just me." he told me in a soft voice. It really was silly how uptight this little detail had gotten me. I shook my shoulders in an attempt to brush away some of the rigidity in them.
"Why don't you come in too? The water is still hot." My eyes widened to about three times their usual size and the stiffness returned to my body.
"What?" I spluttered, unsure if I'd heard him right. He chuckled lightly and then stood up. My misbehaving eyes immediately slipped down below his waist, I gasped sharply and forced myself to turn away. Oh god did I really just look at him there? Naturally my cheeks were on fire with the worst blush yet.
Scorpius' wet hands came up to cup my face making me flinch from shock. He shushed me soothingly and I tried to focus on breathing steadily. When he was sure I wasn't going to pass out he lifted my chin so our eyes locked.
"Would you like to relax in the bath with me?" he asked the question deliberately slowly letting me absorb every word. I decided to set aside my silly embarrassment and take the plunge. I nodded. Scorpius smiled at me happily and his hands started to remove my pyjamas. I kept my eyes above shoulder level the entire time which resulted in me almost tripping up as I tried to step into the bath – it's surprisingly hard to do when you can't look to see where the rim is. He sank back down into the water and I shakily knelt down in front of him. I was so nervous that I didn't even notice the searing hot temperature of the water that was now turning my skin an unattractive shade of pink.
He reached out and gently steered me so that I was settled between his legs and reclined back against his chest. His body was wonderfully smooth and soft against my back and I soon found myself relaxing. My head fell back onto his shoulder and he pressed a gentle kiss onto my neck.
"See, that wasn't so bad was it?" his words vibrated against my throat as he kissed me again. I sighed blissfully and wondered why I'd been so scared in the first place.
"Not bad at all." I mumbled in reply. I felt him smile and move his mouth to kiss my jaw. His arms wrapped loosely around my waist keeping me held against him. We were silent for a while, content to just enjoy this moment together.
"There's been something I've been meaning to tell you." he admitted, laying another kiss onto my skin – this time just below my ear.
"What is it?" I tried not to sound worried.
"My parents invited us round for dinner before you go back to Hogwarts." I turned my head so that I could meet his eyes.
"They did?" Despite Astoria's genuine friendliness to me I found it hard to believe that Draco would want me in his home. I found myself wondering what the reason behind their invitation was, surely it couldn't just be a social call, there had to be a motive.
"I was as shocked as you are, especially since my grandmother is staying with them at the moment." An involuntary shiver ripped through me as I recalled my last encounter with Narcissa Malfoy. Scorpius felt it and tightened his arms around me.
"Don't worry, she won't hurt you. My father told me she wouldn't be attending the meal anyway."
"Why do they want us round? I mean this invitation is rather out of the blue."
"It is yeah, my father didn't mention any reason when we spoke. He just said he hoped we could make it." I frowned and sank back into his chest mulling over the odd occurrence. Was Draco Malfoy really attempting to mend our rocky relationship by inviting me around for a civilised dinner?
"Would you like to go?" Scorpius asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned to glance at his face and then forced a smile.
"Of course I'll go, when will it be?"
"Well you only have a few days left at home so what do you think about going tonight? I can apparate over and let them know." I stumbled over my reply for a moment; shocked by the suddenness of it all but I quickly regained my composure.
"Tonight sounds fine." He nodded and caught my lips in a tender kiss.
"Thank you, I know you're probably not thrilled about going."
"It's not that Scor, I'm just worried. You know your dad hates me." he gave me a comforting smile and squeezed me a bit closer to his chest.
"He doesn't hate you Lily, he's just…paranoid about who your family are. I think he's worried that you'll judge him because of what happened."
"I can understand that, but I don't." I assured him. Our fathers had a massive history together and they had once been enemies, standing against each other on different sides of a war. But that was in the past, before Scorpius and I were even born. I didn't care about any of it, I just cared about Scorpius, regardless of what his family had or hadn't done.
"I know that sweetheart, and he'll see it eventually too." He kissed me softly and I nestled my head back into the crook of his neck. My thoughts were quickly dominated by the imminent meal at Malfoy manor.
"Stop fidgeting, you look amazing." Scorpius instructed. He caught my wrist as I reached up to adjust my dress again. Despite his reassuring words I still wasn't convinced.
"I should have worn the red one, you always say I look nice in red." My voice was thick with worry and he tugged roughly on my arm bringing me to a halt. We were crossing the field that led to his childhood home; in fact I could just see the giant gates peeking over the hill ahead.
"Lily, stop panicking. You look beautiful in every colour."
"Yes but you always say that red…"
"I know I always say I love red on you but that's just because it's my favourite, I'm sure you have a favourite colour on me." I tilted my head and considered this for a moment.
"I like you in green." I admitted, blushing faintly. He smiled and reached to stroke his fingertips across the flurry of colour.
"But I'm sure you like me in every other colour too, am I right?"
"Of course, you look gorgeous in everything." He grinned broadly at me and took hold of my hands.
"Exactly, so please stop fussing. The white looks stunning." I cast an evaluative glance at my white dress for the millionth time since I put it on. I'd spent almost the entire day combing through my clothes at home trying to decide what would look best and eventually I trekked to town and bought a new one. It was a simple knee length white dress with a delicate black laced section on the chest. I nibbled my lip and resigned myself to the fact that it was too late to change now so I might as well just relax.
"Sorry." I mumbled. Scorpius hooked a finger under my chin and lifted my face so I met his gaze.
"I love you." he said softly, moving his hand to cup my cheek. I smiled serenely and leant into his palm.
"I love you too." I replied, sighing contentedly. He brushed a brief kiss across my lips filling me with confidence. No matter how badly tonight went he would still love me.
"Ok, I'm ready, let's go." I clutched his hand firmly and marched off towards the house with him at my side.
I tried my hardest to fight the feeling of intimidation as we drew up to the imposing metal gates. Scorpius' parents must've seen us arrive because the gears kicked into action with a painful screech and the entrance opened. I clutched Scorpius' hand a little tighter and he cast me a reassuring smile.
The walk up the driveway seemed to take forever and every step made my feet feel heavier. When we finally drew up to the glossy black doors my legs felt stiffer than stone and my short shallow breaths were making me dizzy.
"Calm down." Scorpius whispered. He kissed my temple gently and then reached up to bang the brass knocker. The loud sound echoed around my head and my knees trembled.
We waited all of thirty seconds before one of the large wooden doors clicked and swung open and a beaming Astoria stepped into view. Her bright white teeth practically sparkled as she scooped us both into a welcoming hug.
"Scorpius, Lily, it's so wonderful to see you both." Once again I found myself completely taken aback by her genuine friendliness. Somehow I managed a steady smile which it only seemed to widen hers.
"It's lovely to see you too Mrs Malfoy." I didn't have to try and sound truthful because I honestly was. Scorpius' mother was so polite and kind that you couldn't help but like her. It had me thinking again about how much she contrasted to Draco and the other Malfoys but perhaps that was what had drawn him to her in the first place.
"Oh don't be silly dear, call me Astoria. Now come on in out of the cold." She ushered us inside and closed the door quietly.
"I'm glad that you decided to accept the invitation, the house feels so empty since you moved out Scorpius." I caught the trace of sadness in her cheerful tone but she hid it well. We followed her as she led us along the vast corridor.
"Maybe you should think about getting a smaller house." Her son suggested. I slapped him on the arm and shot him a scolding look.
"Oh I know, I've suggested it several times but you know what your father is like. He loves this house." Unlike me, Astoria seemed to be completely unfazed by Scorpius' slightly rude suggestion.
"You'd think he'd jump at the chance to leave, what with all the bad things that have happened here." I shuddered involuntarily and Scorpius hastily snaked an arm around my shoulders hugging me close to his body.
"Very true, but evidently he doesn't share your opinion Scorpius." We reached a large foyer and Astoria's red heels clicked loudly on the polished marble floor as we crossed into a cosy sitting room. Waiting for us in a high backed velvet chair wearing a sombre expression was Draco Malfoy. He rose as we entered and Scorpius and I stopped in front of him. My heart felt like it was beating in my throat and not my chest as his piercing grey eyes fell upon me.
"I am pleased you both decided to come." He said in a toneless voice. My fingers bore into the back of Scorpius' hand as my grip tightened. I focussed all of my efforts on keeping a relaxed expression.
"I was just saying how quiet the house seems these days." Astoria told him. A strange look shot through his eyes but was lost as quick as it came on. The smallest of smiles played on his lips.
"Yes, well quiet isn't always a bad thing." His eyes fell upon me again and I tried to smile.
"I understand it was your birthday recently Lily."
"Um, yes it was." My voice accidentally trembled and I cleared my throat in an attempt to banish it.
"And did you have a nice day?" I frowned at his question, was he seriously trying to make small talk with me? How odd.
"Yes thank you, it was the best birthday I've had. I know that sounds really clichéd but I mean it." a ghost of a smile flickered at his lips and he nodded.
"I don't doubt that. I'm afraid we haven't gotten you a present, I hope you'll forgive us."
"Oh no, don't worry about it. You don't have to buy my anything." He gave me a thoughtful look and then glanced over at his son.
"Perhaps we can make it up to you sometime." He said lightly, never tearing his eyes away from Scorpius. I didn't know how to reply to that so I clamped my mouth shut.
"Why don't we go through to the dining room, I expect dinner will be ready soon." Astoria suggested brightly. I smiled at her gratefully and let Scorpius take my hand and lead me out.
The dining room was the very same one we'd eaten in years ago when Draco had invited my parents along. The memories of their heated conversation filled my head and I forcefully shook them away. This was no time to be dwelling on the past. I took my seat opposite Scorpius and focussed on not slouching.
"I expect you'll be sad to say goodbye to Hogwarts soon Lily." Astoria broke the uncomfortable silence.
"A little, but I think I'm ready to leave now." she smiled at me and nodded.
"I know what you mean. When I was in my last year I felt the same. I got so annoyed because I had to keep going back when I wanted to stay at home." She laughed at the memory and Scorpius raised his eyebrows at me, I rolled my eyes and smiled. I was just like that, getting annoyed at the prospect of going back.
"Oh, I'll go and check on the dinner." She rose from her seat and gracefully left the room. An awkward silence followed and I fiddled idly with the silverware in front of me.
"Scorpius would you give me a hand for a moment please?" at the sound of his mother's voice, Scorpius cast me an apologetic look and left me alone with Draco. I took a steady breath and focussed my gaze on the table.
"Lily." I was startled by how normal my name sounded on his lips. There was no animosity or sharpness; he said it as he said his son's name. I looked at him expectantly and was surprised by his torn expression.
"I feel I should…apologise." The last word seemed difficult for him to say and he swallowed hard afterwards. His usually cold grey eyes met my brown ones and I saw a flicker of another emotion there, it looked like regret.
"There's no need, Mr Malfoy." I said politely. He shook his head stiffly and pressed his hands together on the table.
"There is every need. I have not treated you very well, nor have I had a legitimate reason not to." I opened my mouth to argue but found no response. He sighed and looked at me seriously again.
"You have been good for Scorpius. Your whole family have. His friendship with your brother encouraged him out of his shell, so to speak." I briefly recalled my first meeting with young Scorpius and remembered how shy and subdued he had been. True enough Al had helped him overcome that, mostly by being loud and mischievous but it helped Scorpius come into his own.
"Friendship can do that, sometimes you just need someone who likes you no questions asked." I replied carefully. He nodded.
"His friendship with Albus made him confident despite the obstacles set ahead of him no thanks to myself." I knew he meant the many problems the Malfoy name had caused Scorpius.
"You shouldn't feel responsible." I replied with what I hoped was a kind smile. My father had explained Draco's situation, bullied and scared into doing things he didn't want nor was he ready for. A sad example of the power behind family influence and pressure, I didn't blame him and neither did my parents, not really. They were angry, yes, but they didn't blame him.
"You're very kind Lily. Your father was always kind. He has helped me on occasions when most would have turned their back on me. I did not deserve his kindness."
"You shouldn't be kind to someone solely because they deserve it. Kindness should be unconditional." I declared confidently. For the first time since I'd met him, Draco Malfoy smiled. Not a hint of one or just a twitch of the lips, he gave me an actual smile. It was startling, I had always imagined his smile would be cruel and sarcastic but it wasn't at all. It transformed his whole face and gave it a light it didn't have before.
"You are a remarkable girl Lily, and thus I am apologising." I was still reeling from the presence of his smile and didn't manage to form a response.
"Your family and mine have a past that I would wish forgotten, but such things aren't likely to happen, are they? I should not have said what I did when I spoke with your father, it's always been a habit of mine, speaking rashly without thought to the consequences." He gave a low humourless laugh and scratched his chin.
"I owe an awful lot to your family, not just from the past. Your brother has been a good and loyal friend; he helped my son to break out of the restrictive mould that being a Malfoy had placed on him. Your parents welcomed him into their home as if he was their own son and you, Lily, you have made him smile like I never would have thought possible. I never expected to see him so happy and it's all because you love him."
"You make it sound like I did something amazing when really I haven't done anything." I said, looking shyly at the table.
"You've done more than you think and for that I am thankful. So you see there is need to apologise. I should have behaved many times better than I have towards you." I chanced a look at him and was startled to see the softness of his eyes.
"Why don't we start again?" I offered. He gave me another of those transforming smiles.
"I'd like that very much." I nodded and stuck out my hand.
"I'm Lily Potter, I've been dating Scorpius for a few years now, it's lovely to finally meet you." I grinned at him in a playful way that I'd picked up off Albus as a child; it was the same grin he used when he was trying to lie his way out of trouble with mum. Draco's eyes twinkled with what looked like humour and he shook my hand.
"It's a pleasure to put a face to your name, Scorpius talks about you a lot." I titled my head curiously.
"Does he?" I asked, feeling a bit silly afterwards. Draco raised his eyebrows and released my hand.
"What do you think?" he replied with a hint of sarcasm. I laughed; this new side of him was so bizarre after seeing the cold, unresponsive Draco. Just then Scorpius and Astoria returned carrying our meals and I couldn't help but notice the coincidental perfection of their timing. I had a sneaky feeling the elder Malfoy's had planned this prior to our arrival. Perhaps this was the motive behind the invitation.
The meal went surprisingly smoothly and was filled with pleasant conversation. Draco even joined in from time to time. It was a complete contrast to the last visit I'd had at the manor.
Afterwards we retired to a small sitting room where Draco took Scorpius off for a father-son moment of some sorts. He didn't really explain and I didn't want to pry. It left me alone with Astoria, which I didn't mind in the slightest.
She was laughing merrily as I told her stories of the trouble James and Al used to get into before school started.
"Oh your brother's sound so mischievous!" she declared, laughing lightly again.
"You have no idea."
"I always wanted a brother. It's not that I didn't love my sister, I think every girl wishes for a big brother to protect them and sisters always have that awful rivalry." When I was younger I had often wished for a sister, when Al and James had cut me out of their games because girls weren't allowed or when they'd reduced me to tears once again with their cruel jokes. But now, honestly, I was perfectly happy to be the only girl.
"Brothers are a hassle in their own way but I'm glad I have mine." I told her. She gave me a warm smile and then rose from her seat.
"I'm just going to make a trip to the bathroom, I shan't be long." She left me alone in the room and I decided to have a bit of a look around. The sitting room was elegantly decorated with cream walls and beautiful silver stencilling. I crossed to the fireplace to look at the framed photos mounted there. They were various photographs of Draco and Astoria together. Draco was smiling broadly in every one.
I looked at the various scenes of them on holiday or at fancy parties together, one was of which looked like her sister's wedding. The two girls didn't look at all alike; Astoria was slender with delicate and almost angelic features, whereas her sister was curvaceous with large full lips and a bulging bust. Her husband was a tall and very thin man; he had neatly combed brown hair and stood proudly.
"Ah, that's my sister, Daphne." Astoria's voice startled me and I almost dropped the frame. She came to stand beside me and took the photo from my hands to look at it herself.
"She's very pretty." I commented, choosing not to mention that I thought Astoria herself was much more attractive than her sister.
"Yes, that was her best quality at school. She was rather renown for her many boyfriends." She cast me a look that said her sister's relationships with those boys had not been as innocent as she would have liked.
"When did she get married?" I asked, choosing to steer the conversation down a safer direction.
"Oh it must be eleven years ago now. This is Theodore Nott; he was friendly with Draco at school."
"Were they in love?" I don't know why I asked it but the question sprang into my mind. She set the frame back on the mantle and sighed.
"I can't say for sure but my instincts tell me no. Daphne was always very ambitious; she longed to have a powerful husband with good connections, so that she might live a luxurious life. She tried for many years to gain Draco's interest but as you can tell, that was a lost cause." She gave me a little smile and I could see within her eyes a burning sense of pride that her husband had preferred her over her sister. I didn't know Astoria very well but I could easily tell that she had grown up in Daphne's shadow. Draco had obviously been one of the few people to notice her and not her sister.
I picked up another photo off the mantle and found myself looking at a very different wedding. Gone were the drunken guests laughing wildly and this bride wore no low-cut dress. This picture showed a wedding of classy quality.
"Gosh, it seems so long ago now." Astoria said quietly as she gazed with me at the picture. I looked at the photo of her and her husband together outside of a magnificent cathedral. Draco looked ecstatic as he wrapped his arm around her small waist and hugged her against him, they both waved excitedly at the camera and I could see tears in Astoria's eyes. They were tears of joy.
"He looks so happy." I mumbled. I didn't realise Draco could smile as broadly as he was in the photo.
"Yes, it's the happiest I've ever seen him, except for the day Scorpius was born of course." I looked closer at Astoria's beautiful wedding gown.
It had a magnificent lace section covering her shoulders and stretching right up the curve of her neck where it branched off like petals under her chin. The bodice was a rich ivory silk, gathered stylishly at the chest and then flowing down into a flattering floor length skirt.
"Your dress was…incredible." I breathed, sounding as amazed as I felt. She looked at me with twinkling eyes.
"Would you like to see it?" she offered. My eyes widened for a moment before I nodded enthusiastically. She took the frame from me and set it back down before leading me off towards a grand staircase. We eventually entered what looked like a dressing room, the walls were lined with various rails, shelves and drawers, and in the centre were four cushioned stools.
Astoria walked over to one of the sections and took a large white box down off the top shelf. She set it onto the stools and took off the lid. I moved closer, eager to see the contents and she moved aside motioning that I should look inside.
My nervous fingers carefully folded aside the protective tissue paper and I gasped softly. The photo didn't do the dress any justice, the top section wasn't just lace, it was also embroidered in incredible detail and pearls were affixed in an intricate flower design. The expensive silk shimmered in the room's lighting revealing the thin silver thread that had been woven through it.
Gingerly I lifted the dress from the box and was surprised at how heavy it was. I touched it as if it was sacred and couldn't resist holding it up against my body.
"It's the only one of its kind; a lady I know in Versailles made it especially for me." Astoria told me as she reached out to touch the material affectionately. I vaguely recalled Scorpius mentioning that to me before.
"Its incredible." I breathed, sounding astounded. She smiled at me brightly and nodded.
"It is. I felt like a princess wearing it."
"I can imagine." I gushed, glancing at my reflection in the mirror as I held the dress against me.
"Why don't you try it on?" she suggested. My head snapped around and she laughed softly.
"I'm not implying anything Lily; I just remember what it was like to be young and to want to feel like a princess in dresses like this. Besides, it seems a shame to leave it in this box forever." I nibbled on my lip unsure if I should try it on but eventually my girlish side won over.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" her face lit up into a radiant smile and she was already ushering me over to a small changing area concealed by a heavy curtain.
"Go ahead, I'll fasten the back for you." she drew the curtain and I burst into action. I tore off my own white dress and carefully slipped on the luxurious wedding gown. It was extremely heavy and I struggled to keep my shoulders squared under the weight of the expensive material but I couldn't help but think it was worth it. I felt like I was wearing a piece of art and not merely a dress.
Astoria gasped as I emerged and became glassy eyed as she admired me wearing her old wedding dress. She steered me over to a full-length mirror and then it was my turn to gasp. I wasn't a very vain person but in that moment I couldn't deny that I looked beautiful. A dress like that could make anyone look beautiful, or so it seemed. While I stood mesmerized by my reflection, Astoria fastened up the many little buttons along the back.
"It's a perfect fit. You're the exact size that I was all those years ago." She said softly, reaching down to flare out the skirt of the dress. We stood for a moment, gazing into the mirror and then I sighed wistfully. It was almost painful to stand there in such a magnificent dress knowing that I wouldn't be wearing it properly. I couldn't ignore the part of me inside that longed for it to be my wedding dress and that longed for me to be engaged to Scorpius. I wanted this to be real.
"Thank you for letting me try it on." I said politely as I returned to the little changing area. The experience, however touching, had left me feeling quite sad.
"It was my pleasure dear; it was nice to see it again." I folded the dress back into its box and pushed the lid back on feeling like I was leaving behind a very small piece of my heart too.
Ps. Sorry for having two characters names Daphne. I promised a friend of mine that I would name a character after her and completely forgot that eventually I would include Astoria's sister! Darn.