A/N: It's finally here! I'm sorry this update took so long! I'll try to do better for the next chapter! Introducing a new character in this chapter, there's a new Head Boy at Hogwarts!

It wasn't long before Lily was at King's Cross station, awkwardly hugging her parents, brothers, and Teddy goodbye as she was leaving for her seventh and last year at Hogwarts. While the youngest of the family wasn't much for hugs or public displays of affection, Lily would've snogged Teddy breathless right there on the platform if it weren't for the fact that her family was present. So instead, she had to make due with an awkward hug, one which was far from sufficient to last her the weeks up until her next Hogsmeade weekend when she would see him again. She had gotten comfortable, seeing him daily and sleeping in his arms nearly every night, and this year was going to be inevitably long and lonely without him.

It was shocking how good Teddy had become at controlling his abilities, although when they were standing there at platform 9¾, saying goodbye for several weeks to come, Lily could see the flash of grey in his eyes which he managed to hide so well from the world. There she was, just inches away, and while she wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch him, it was impossible. She wanted to console him, hold him, never let go. Yet somehow, she was miles away, and he was untouchable in all the ways that counted.

For some reason, it felt like goodbye. Like a proper goodbye; one she would never be ready for. And she missed him already, she missed him so much it hurt. She missed him so much it made her nauseous.

"Now, don't forget to write, dear. Your grandmother will want to hear from you, and so do we. I've packed you a sandwich for the ride, and you shou…"

"Yes, mum, it'll be fine, I'll write."

"And give Neville our love."

"Sure, dad."

"And have fun, Lilyflower."

"I'll try, Teddy-bear."

Teddy dear, she thought, already knowing that it couldn't possibly be any fun without him. She bitterly remembered the last semester and how it had drained her, how terribly emotional she had been; how broken she had been. The summer had been better, the last half of summer, that is. Life had been better since she found him that night at Obscuro, and since she woke up in his bed the morning after. Come to think of it, she couldn't remember a time when her life had been any better than it had been the last month. It was as though most pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place, and while they still had a lot to figure out, being together without guilt had been inconceivably blissful.

"Alright, run along dear, we wouldn't want you to miss the train and pull a stunt worthy of your dad and uncle," Ginny mused, with a teasing grin, as she turned to face Harry, who was grinning right back at her.

"We both know you are quite fond of my stunts."

"Ew, dad!" Albus exclaimed, covering his ears at his father's remark, whereas James looked like he might be sick.

Lily was unaware of the sad smile that had made its way to her face, as her mother laughed and kissed her father right there on the platform. They were so comfortable, her parents, so care-free. And while Lily was well aware that their lives had been anything but easy, that was the word that came to mind. She couldn't help but to wonder if she and Teddy would ever have that, the simplicity of sharing a kiss on the platform, or the privilege to drop their kids off at the platform in the first place. The way things were now, it didn't seem likely at all.

He must've seen it; whatever sadness was in her eyes. Even though hers didn't turn grey at the emotion, and despite the fact that she barely ever teared up, Teddy must've known, because he pulled her in for a second embrace just then. One much less awkward than their previous one. As his strong arms wrapped around her, forcing her face into his chest, she inhaled as much as she possibly could of his scent, and could practically feel his refrain from kissing the top of her head.

"Go," he mumbled in a soft whisper, before letting her go again, and she was bare without his arms, alone in facing the world; in facing Hogwarts.

"Have a safe trip, dear. It'll be Christmas in no-time," Ginny reassured, providing the gentle nudge that sent Lily off to board the Hogwarts Express with more affliction than ever before.

Lily felt misplaced, least to say, when she finally made her way into the prefect's compartment. She had never been made prefect, and had never expected to, which was why the letter announcing her new position as Head Girl had knocked her off her feet. And from the looks of it, it would have the same effect on the prefects, who were currently staring her down as though she had broken down the door to their precious, exclusive compartment. Merlin's balls, she was already regretting that she hadn't turned down the position.

"Orientation issues, Potter?"

The mocking tone came from a grinning boy, slightly taller than herself, with well-groomed brown hair and eyes to match. Matthew Wright. She recognized him as the insufferable keeper who had made her job as chaser a hell of a lot more difficult when they were up against Ravenclaw. While he was a right prat, she had to hand it to him, he was a damn good keeper.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't aware I was late?"

"And what do you reckon you'd be late for?"

"Why, the meeting of course."

"Ah, yes. The meeting. And what do you suppose your role would be in that meeting, seeing as you're not a prefect?"

"Glad you asked, I imagine I'd be leading it."

The boy barked out a laugh, crossing his arms over her chest as he looked her over, confident bloody eyes looking her up and down.

"Well, you're wrong there, Potter. That would be me."

It clicked just then, and for the second time in the last two minutes, Lily regretted having accepted the damn position as Head Girl. She had imagined it would make her life easier, having her own dorm away from the nosey Slytherin girls'; away from everyone. Now it seemed the outcome would be quite the opposite, as she realized just who she would be sharing responsibilities with; who she would be sharing a bloody common room with.

"Please don't tell me that you're the Head Boy. I mean, I can live with having to boss these mountain trolls around, but sharing my quarters with the biggest prat since Grindelwald? Just kill me now," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief.

"What are you lot staring at? Burke, Thompson! Go patrol the train before some reckless Gryffindor decides to climb the bloody roof," she continued, throwing herself down on the seat by the window with a sigh, many dumbstruck eyes glued to her.

"Do I look like I'm joking? NOW!"

The two fifth years were rapidly on their feet, storming out of the prefect's compartment, and a smirking boy with inquisitive brown eyes sat down in the seat opposite to hers.

"By all means, Wright. Lead your sodding meeting, don't let me stop you."

"If I didn't know any better, Potter, I'd say you were miserable about going back to Hogwarts."

"Sod off, Wright."

"What's the matter then? Scamander holding you off?"

"You know, for a Ravenclaw, you're surprisingly daft."

"Not Scamander… Malfoy then?"

"I'm warning you. Bugger off before I hex that bloody grin off your face," Lily hissed, throwing a glare at the boy, before returning her gaze to the window and the landscape right outside it, unconsciously grabbing the silver wolf-pendant that hung safely around her neck and releasing a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

Later that evening she had settled into her new dormitory, which was absolutely brilliant, no surprise there. Since she had spent quite a few nights in the Head Boy's dorm, she had known what to expect of the room, yet it still amazed her. It was a huge room compared to the dorm she had shared with four other girls over the last six years. The walls were covered in deep green tapestry, and the large four-poster bed in the centre of the room had thin, silver curtains hanging down around it. There was a fireplace, spreading a warm glow over the room, and mahogany desk with well-organized supplies on it.

Enissa, Lily's tawny owl, was sitting in her cage by the window, looking out over the brilliant view of the quidditch field. It should feel like home. Everything about it screamed out the word. And yet, she was miserably longing for the dulled sound of a Weird Sister's song playing in the background, for the scent of muggle cigarettes and freshly made pancakes, for turquoise and Hufflepuff yellow; for tattooed arms and ever-changing eyes. Oh, how she longed for him.

Sitting down by the desk, she let out a sigh as she grabbed a quill and a piece of parchment, to some degree keeping the promise she had made her mother on the platform. She would most definitely write, although not to her grandmother nor her parents.

Teddy,

I survived the evening and am now sitting in my ridiculously large dormitory.
I'm positive the prefects hate me, and for the better part of ten months I'm involuntarily
sharing a common room with an insufferable twat who calls himself Head Boy.

I wish I were ten years older, sharing quarters with you as Head Boy. I'm sure we would've made quite the team,
although McGonagall might have disagreed (or even retired for that matter).

I don't know how I'm going to get through this year with you so far away. Would you please consider coming back?
Not only for me, but for yourself. You were meant to teach, and I don't want to keep you from that.

Don't you dare put yourself in danger during auror training, I know dad's expecting a lot from you,
but you better be in one piece when I see you on the next Hogsmeade weekend.

I miss you,
Lily

After she had finished writing her letter, the redhead got up and let out the beautiful owl from her cage, handing it the letter and opening the window.

"Get this safely to Teddy, Enissa," she mumbled, watching the owl fly away into the horizon as she closed the window again, wondering how long it would be before Teddy got her letter. It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep in a way too empty bed, in a way too lonely room. And it was only the first of nearly three hundred such empty and lonely nights.

A/N: Okay so this chapter wasn't the most eventful one, but trust me, it's coming! What are you most excited for in this story? How do you think it'll end? If you liked it, please favorite, follow, and let me know what you think in a review! All reviews make me so happy and motivated, and I truly appreciate your input!