Lilly lifted the heavy luggage bag over her head and it slipped and bumped her head.

"Ouch!" She said rubbing her forehead. Harry Laughed and helped set the luggage into the compartment above her head.

"Don't hurt yourself now." He said and Lilly smiled.

"You really don't have to do this." Lilly said

"Put your bag up here? You seem to nee-"

"No! I mean come with me."

Harry's gaze softened as Lilly looked at him, waiting for a response. As he was about to speak, a voice came over the plane's speaker, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to push back so please take your seats."

Harry and Lilly sat together and prepared themselves for a long flight back home. Lilly and Harry had a long conversation about their plans for the upcoming winter break. Harry had told Lilly that he was always with Ron and his family and wanted to spend the break with her instead. Ron was slightly skeptical about that but Hermione was very enthused about Harry changing his plans and spending the break with Lilly.

Lilly was confused at this because she was usually the one who worried about danger and consequences and leaving Harry alone with Lilly may cause some damage beyond epic proporations. Lilly didn't oblige out loud but knew there must have been thoughts of this subject in Hermione's mind.

Lilly was constantly asking Harry if he was sure about his decision and every time, in a heartbeat he answered, "I couldn't think of a better way to spend my holidays."

Now as Lilly was laying her head on Harry's shoulder she was very happy that he came along. When the plane landed Lilly and Harry waited behind several people people to get their luggage and then they were walking towards the entrance where Lilly's mother was waiting for them

Lilly couldn't hold the excitement and dropped all her luggage and ran to her mother who engulfed her in a hug and she started crying.

"Oh Lilly it's so good to have you home!" She said and then looked at Harry who picked up Lilly's luggage and set it beside him.

"Oh, this is Harry. He's the guy I wrote to you about from my school." Lilly said

She walked up to Harry and linked her arm in his and brought him forward to her mom. He held out his hand and shook Shenae's hand.

"Harry, It's so good to meet you. I'm happy to know that Lilly has made close friends." Shenae then pulled Harry into a hug.

"Mom, Let's get going! we're blocking the other passengers ways." Lilly said.

Shenae let Harry go and they all walked outside towards the car. After Lilly was able to put the luggage in the trunk they climbed in and Shenae drove them home.

When they arrived Lilly was taken aback with a surprise party from her friends and family. Katie, Jared, Jessie, and Jade were all waiting inside and surprised her when she walked through the door.

Lilly squealed and a smile spread across her face that looked like it was going to tear her cheeks. She ran to her friends and engulfed them into a group hug. Lilly felt tears pooling in her eyes. She couldn't help it, she had missed her friends and family back home and it was such a relief to see them again.

"Lilly it's so good to have you home you have no idea! You have to tell me all about your trip and who you've met and what classes you're taking a-" Katie was saying at Harry cleared his throat behind Lilly.

Lilly turned and muttered an "oh" before she turned back to her friends and felt her face flush from embarassment for forgetting her friend.

"This is Harry. He's the friend from school that I was telling you about." Lilly gestured towards Harry who stepped forward and shook Jared's hand.

"Hello everyone, thank you so much for allowing me to stay here." Harry expressed. Lilly looked up at him. His smile was genuine and she could see the happiness in his face. She wanted to kiss him right then but bit her lip in hesitation.

"Oh it's no problem! Lilly never has boys over anyway." Jessie said and snickered. Lilly snapped out of her trance and glared at her sister.

"Jessie play nice, you're sister has only been home for five minutes! I made dinner let's all go eat! You two must be hungry." Shenae said to Lilly and Harry as they followed everyone into the dining room.

The amount of food on the table was far from that that you would have on a normal every night. Shenae had cooked up asparagus with Hollandaise and grilled chicken. She tossed a salad and made dinner rolls. There was garlic and butter pasta and seared halibut. Then, resting on the counter, was a strawberry cheesecake. Lilly looked at her mom in desbelief.

Shenae just shrugged her shoulders nonchalantely and then ushered everyone to the table. Harry sat next to Lilly, Jared next to Katie, Shenae next to Jade and Jessie sat at the end. The food was wonderful and Harry got along great with Lilly's family. He was able to talk freely with them. He was polite and kind and listened intently when some one was speaking. His laugh was infectious and beautiful. Lilly loved to watch him and the way he moved. They caught each other's eye a couple time but Harry would immediately smile and go back to talking to her family. Lilly would never have guessed that her life was in danger, that her father wasn't truly a murderer, and that some crazed powerful being was after her right at that moment.

Later that evening, Harry and Lilly were in her room unpacking their things. Lilly was making room for Harry's things and was listening to him talk about how well he got along with the family.

"Dinner was great, your friend Jared is a great person and very funny too. Oh and your younger sister, Jade, is really smart for her age."

"Thank you Harry." Lilly said sweetly, turning away from her dresser, leaning her back against it and staring at him.

"For what?" He looked at her, his eyes filled with amusement

"For being kind and amusing with my family. You are more than what I expected." Lilly admitted

"Oh? What were you expecting? A disaster? The eye of a hurricane?" He asked laughing lightly under his breath

"You just did better than I thought is all. You were so alive and so friendly. It was great to see such a side of you where you look like you have no troubles in the world."

Harry's eyes grew serious and he walked over to Lilly, his strides even. He stood in front of Lilly and just looked at her. She blushed and broke her gaze first.

Harry placed his hand under her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his again. His look was sullen and longing. The room faded. The walls broke away and the floor gave. The colors and lights blurring into nothing. Lilly only saw Harry.

Harry was fixed on Lilly's eyes. They turned silver then brown and back. He was wondering what was happening in her head. Harry knelt down and held his lips just away from hers. He felt her breathing hitch in her throat and grinned to himself.

Lilly lifted her arms to touch Harry. She left them on his arms and Harry gave in from her touch and kissed her. She slowly closed her eyes and was englufed in him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him so they were pressed against one another in a tight embrace.

Lilly lost all feeling in her legs and gave into Harry. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and held him.

Lilly knew deep down that she should control herself, she didn't know if something wrong was happening but she also knew that somewhere deep down Harry was the one she wanted and it killed her that she couldn't have him. He was a distraction, yes, but she knew that she could control herself. Why couldn't anyone else see that?

Harry was the one to break the kiss and they just looked at each other. Out of habit Lilly reached up to touch her swollen lips where Harry's lips just were.

"Excuse me a moment." She whispered and slipped out the door which she slowly closed behind her. She could hear Harry exhale deeply and noticed that he had stopped breathing too.

She walked down the hallway with a smile on her face. Her mother passed by her and didn't say a word. Lilly walked right to the end of the hall and said immediately, "Why didn't you tell me?"

She turned around to see her mother standing there, also about to enter her bedroom wondering what Lilly was talking about.

"Why didn't you tell me about Demitri?" Lilly repeated louder this time.

"Oh Lilly, can this wait till you don't have company?" She said with a pained look on her face.

"No it can not. I need to know mom. You knew he was an Irisian and didn't tell me. You never told me what I was! You let me believe that I was a freak! I went through school being picked on as a child! You made me wear contacts!" Lilly pointed her finger at her mother and spit each word, "You heard all the horrible things those kid would say to me and you let me say all those mean thigns about myself! What kind of mother does that?!"

"Shh, Lilly you don't understand!"

"I don't understand what Mom? Did you know that Dad wasn't actually a murderer too?!" Lilly said even louder, she was certain Harry could hear them.

"No I didn't! Lilly listen, there are things that mothers have to do in life to protect their children. You may think you understand but trust me sweetheart, there are things you have to learn!" Shenae said.

Lilly lowered her hand and just looked at her mother. She just stood there and looked at her.

"Go to bed Lilly. Harry is waiting for you. We will discuss this another time." Shenae entered her room and quietly closed the door. Lilly stod there for a moment looking at the door after it shut.

Her door opened and Harry peered into the hallway. He walked up to her and grabbed her hand. He led her back to the room and shut the door. Lilly sat on the bed and started to play with her hair. Harry sat next to her and they said nothing. Harry could read Lilly even when she didn't want to be opened. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. She then sighed.

"Once when I was a small child, about 3 or 4 when my dad was still around," Lilly started, "He took me to the park." She felt tears pooling around her eyes.

"And there was this balloon stand. I was really little so of course I wanted one. I loved the way that my dad would laugh. I remember it was hearty and deep. He called me buggy because my of my eyes." Lilly laughed, "He bought me two balloons. He said the pink one was his favorite because it was me everyday. Then he bought a light blue one because he wanted me to remember how happy I was.

A couple days later I could hear my mom and dad arguing about something and of course I couldn't understand what was going on. Then I heard a pop and soon another one. I ran out to see what happened and there were the police, coming into my house to take my dad away. My mom picked me up and stepped far away from my dad as a police officer tackled him and pressed him into the ground. The whole time he looked at me and said, 'Be a good girl angel and I will try my hardest to come see you. Daddy loves you Lilly, don't ever forget that' and on the ground were my balloons. The police has deflated them and left them there."

Lilly opened her side table drawer and pulled out two rubber pieces that were wrinkly and dusty. One was a dirty and dark shade of pink. The other was a dusty blue.

"Now I realize, I spent my whole life thinking that he was this horrible monster and he never was. He was doing everything he could to protect me. I could never tell my dad how sorry I am." Lilly burst into tears and clenched the balloon scraps to her chest.

Harry pulled her into a hug and she sobbed into his shirt. He smoothed her hair and lay down and Lilly lay with him. He turned off the table lamp and cooed Lilly until she fell asleep. Harry kissed her head and took the balloon scraps from her. He placed them back in the drawer and fell asleep with her.