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Akuma no Amy – Thank you! I loved Neville in the books and the movies and I guess it stands to reason that somebody who faced bullying as a child and later fought in the war, he would understand.

BoysLikeGirls13 – The Circle will be making regular appearances now.

Ranethelonewolf – Lily's secret due to be out soon. And thanks for not simply lurking this time.

Silverfeather222 – Thank you!

Nathy22 – I adore this ship. I am obsessed with it to some degree.

Aclockworkat – Sweetie I hope you like where this is going. That canoodling you've been hoping for – I just laid the groundwork. Enjoy!

Hufflepuffgirl14 – Thank you, same to you.

Missyca23 – I have to commend you for being so encouraging and tenacious for this fic. I tend to get very lazy in between postings, so if someone keeps popping me messages for it, I do make more of an effort. Thank you!

Plucie – My thoughts exactly!

Dominabutterflx – Glad you enjoyed it. Keep reading!

Sweaterweather21 – Your review made me so happy. I always appreciate when a reader takes the time to detail exactly what it was they liked about the chapter. I spend a lot of time fine-tuning a chapter before I post it. Because it has to be just right, and I appreciate you giving me details on the things you liked about this chapter. I always try to mix the genres up a little so that it's not always going to be romantic or angst or pure action-driven. It's everything!

Twilightlover212 – Indeed it does. Thank you!

Black Velvet

Chapter 21: Epiphany

The clock had just struck midnight when Scorpius dragged his feet from the Trophy Room. Three hours of scrubbing and scraping had taken its toll on him. He gingerly pressed his fingers into the muscles of his neck. Trying to dispel the stiffness of his muscles, he moved his head slowly from side to side. His cloak trailed on the ground. He couldn't be bothered to heft it higher upon his arm. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he moved with careless lethargy.

A small rumbling sound stopped him in his tracks. He glanced down and snorted as his stomach growled once more. Scorpius ignored it and continued to walk down to the dungeon. He slipped in quietly, casting his gaze around the common Room. He stopped short as he saw Raphael sitting in front of the fire.

Raphael moved his head slightly but made no move to look at him or speak.

Scorpius shifted his weight. He made for the stairs leading down to the dormitory but changed his mind as he remembered Astrid's words. He turned back towards the black leather sofa and sat down.

Raphael glanced at him but didn't speak. After a few moments, he held out a small steel flask. Accepting the peace offering, Scorpius took a swig from it, grimacing as he set the flask down on the table. "What the hell is this?"

Raphael shrugged. "Serves its purpose."

Scorpius shook his head, as though trying to banish the effects of the burning liquid. "If my stomach melts away because of this, I'll kill you."

Raphael scoffed. He glared into the fire. "What do you want?"

Scorpius sighed. "Marcus told me about the meeting."

"Did he?"

"Yeah. Well, I say 'told me', but he practically shouted it. I wouldn't be surprised if someone heard him."

Raphael smiled. "Your sudden concern about it is amusing Scorpius."

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "You always have to be such a smug bastard, don't you? I'm not concerned. I could care less what happens to the lot of you but he said it to me, which makes me an accomplice."

"You must attend this meeting Scorpius. We graduate this year. You can't avoid your responsibilities any longer." Raphael looked at him gravely.

Scorpius let his head fall back. "You're always going on about responsibilities. What responsibilities? I don't owe anything to anyone. I've told you ten thousand times. I'm not interested in your little game of thrones."

Raphael frowned. "Think of someone apart from yourself for once. Who else is going to do it?"

Scorpius stood, annoyance firmly etched on his features. "You do it, if you're so worried about it. I don't give a fuck anyway."

"I would but unfortunately I'm not a Malfoy. It shouldn't matter but it does! Even after all this time, they will listen to you." Raphael hissed back.

"And these are the people you choose to associate with?" Scorpius sneered. "They don't care what I do or how I think; the only thing that matters is a biological fact I was unable to control. You're better than this Raphael. Open your eyes and see them for what they are. They will just use you and toss you aside when they're done."

"They are trying to fix the wrongs in our world. What is so difficult to understand about it?" Raphael replied, growing frustrated.

"It isn't their place to do anything about it. The world is fine! It will mend without meddling by a bunch of pureblood supremacists." Scorpius shot back angrily.

"Don't be daft Scorpius. You know they aren't pureblood supremacists. They want to fix the wrongs done to both purebloods and Muggleborns. They don't want to harass the muggle borns. They just want to see justice done. Is that so wrong?" Raphael asked quietly.

"The last time someone decided to act for justice, we ended up with the Dark Lord. So forgive me if I'm not turning cartwheels at the prospect of a bunch of has beens doling out justice in the world. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's been a hell of a night, I'm going to bed." He walked past Raphael.

"Just come to the meeting, Scorpius. You really can't afford to miss another."

Scorpius stopped. "And if I don't?"

Raphael sighed. "It would only be your loss."

X

Lily ignored the low sound of Hugo's voice calling her name. She hunkered down behind the towering shelves of the Runes section, hoping that he would give up searching the library and go look elsewhere. Cautiously, she peered around the shelf, and whipped her head back as she spotted Hugo standing awkwardly in the small reading room just beyond. Slowly, she began to move back on her hands and knees, sliding her feet back with care so that her shoes made no sound against the timber of the floor.

She froze as her foot hit something solid. She turned and burst into a smile as she saw what stopped her.

"Scorpius!" She exclaimed in a loud whisper.

He raised an eyebrow. The corner of his mouth turned up invitingly as he made a point about running his gaze over her body, hunched as it was on all fours. A dozen retorts about the position she was in came to mind, but he brushed them aside. He knelt down beside her.

Lily's breath caught in her throat. Her chest felt tight and she was certain the mad thumping of her heart could be heard all through the library. She bunched her fingers into her cloak as his grey eyes locked onto her green ones.

He smiled conspiratorially. "What are we doing down here?"

Lily smiled happily, delighted with the game. "We are hiding from Hugo." She whispered back.

Scorpius felt his eyebrows shoot up. He settled snugly beside her and nudged her shoulder. "I thought we liked Hugo."

She giggled. "We do. I mean I do. I adore Hugo, but he's been an absolute twit since…well since we were caught out of hours. He won't even let me talk to anyone."

Scorpius looked at her. "You mean, he won't let you talk to me."

Blood rushed into her face and she stammered. "N-No. He just isn't letting me talk to anybody. The world doesn't revolve around you, you know?" She teased, caching a glimpse of the bemused expression on his face.

"Could you look around and see if he's still there?"

Scorpius smirked. "What am I? Your personal slave?"

"You are such a drama queen. Can't you just look and see? Please?" She pouted.

Scorpius sighed and rolled his eyes. However, he stood and looked around the library. He spotted Hugo Weasley walking out the library entrance. Glancing down, he gave a start as he found Lily sitting primly at his feet, with her legs tucked underneath her.

"He's gone."

"Finally!" She quickly rose to her feet. "I've been crawling about for ages, waiting for him to go."

Scorpius scoffed. "There's this thing called growing a backbone. You should try it sometime."

Lily ran her fingers along the spines of the books on the rack. "Oh stuff it. I have plenty of backbone. I just don't like worrying Hugo."

"And Albus and Roxanne and oh, let's not forget Lover Boy." Scorpius replied in an acid tone.

She fidgeted and replied in a small voice. "Don't say that."

Scorpius shrugged. "Why the hell not?" He was baiting her, waiting for the ironclad control to slip. He hadn't expected it to irk him but when she'd appeared in the Great Hall with her personal ape in tow, he'd seen red. Jenner lost no opportunity to seek him out, smirk at him as he slipped his slimy hands around her.

It wasn't supposed to bother him, but it did. Now he was angry and she was offering him no reason to cool down. He didn't usually do this but, something had changed that night. He was tired of the charade; tired of watching her play girlfriend-boyfriend with Jenner even as her eyes sought him out in a crowded room and her face lit up if they should spot each other in the corridors.

Lily pulled a book out and began to leaf through it absently. She wasn't even reading, just skimming over the words so she'd have somewhere to look. "You don't know anything about it. Don't patronise me because you don't know anything."

"Are you sure? Because I'm not the one hiding behind book stacks so she can avoid having to confront anybody about anything."

Lily replaced the book with a huff. "What is your problem? I just need a little space."

"Why should you have to hide for it?" He challenged.

"I have my reasons."

"Is that so? I'm all ears, love."

Lily pursed her lips. "I don't feel like telling you. Not if you're going to be grumpy about it." Hugging the book to her chest, she tried to step around him.

He pivoted with her, fingers closing around her arm; his hold was gentle but firm. He crowded her against the bookrack. Startled, her eyes opened wide and she pressed back against the dusty books on the rack, never taking her eyes off him. He leaned close. She didn't push him away, just watched as he inched closer and closer. His breath wafted over her lips as he spoke. "Huh. Is that because there's really nothing to tell?"

"That's not true." She stared at his tie. Looking at his eyes was much too dangerous. Her body trembled and she didn't trust herself not to simply drop the books and act upon the desires she so easily demonstrated in her dreams.

"Why are you with him Lily?" He let go of her arm, watching her curiously. "Why him?" Scorpius let his fingers slide down the length of her arm. Brushing his fingers against her palm, he watched as Lily alternated between looking into his eyes and looking at his fingers holding her hand.

She was struggling.

He felt her tug half-heartedly to pull her hand away. But she didn't want him to let her go, not really.

"I don't understand…"

"He's a tool." He replied.

She took a deep breath. "Why do you care? What does it matter?" She barely managed to get the words out, but once they were out in the open, hanging between him and her, she felt exhilarated and terrified and incredulous at her nerve. She didn't really want to hear his response because if she allowed him to speak his mind, she would have to return the favour and she didn't know if she could trust herself to dig around her heart and give him an honest answer.

Scorpius smirked. "Don't act the fool, Red." He moved closer still. His lips brushed against the curve of her ear; the warmth of his lips seeped into her body as he spoke again. "You know why."

She shivered as the sound of his voice vibrated inside her veins and left goose bumps on her body. It is a sensation she has become familiar with whenever in close contact with this boy. Her head is spinning and she knows she is probably staring at him transfixed, but she feels powerless to stop. Looking away is impossible. There is a strange, almost luminous quality to his eyes and she is possessed of a sudden urge to kiss him. To simply press her lips to his, to see what he tastes like, to tease his mouth until he begs her to stop or turns the tables on her instead. "Stop. Please." She replied in a strangled whisper.

He leaned back slightly to look at her.

A deep blush spread over her features. Lily looked down, petrified with her reaction to him and furious that her complexion allowed for no possibility to mask it. There was no way he wouldn't realise what just happened. She swallowed. "I have to go."

Scorpius stepped back and watched as she composed herself. "Does this mean you'll start hiding from me too?" He didn't miss how she refused to meet his eyes, or how she looked up at him with a smidgen of fear in her wide eyes.

Her shoulders tensed. Lily stared at the floor and shook her head quickly.

He moved aside.

X

The Gryffindor Seventh Year Girls Dorm was normally a beehive of activity but today, it seemed that the girls were using this time to gear up for the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend. Clothes lay scattered about on Dominique's bed and the girl in question stood beside her bed, scowling at the clothes littered around, on the bed, hanging out of her trunk, floating in the air for her inspection and some flung upon Roxanne's bed as she set about finalising her outfit for this week's Hogsmeade visit. It would be officially her second date with Blake and she wanted everything to be perfect.

So she scowled at the short black and white striped dress she'd decided upon earlier and thought perhaps something a little colourful was more appropriate. She once again dived into her trunk and this time fished out a tiny skirt that would bravely cover her derriere. She was about to arrive at a decision when the door to the room was flung open.

"Dom!" Lily barged into the room.

Dominique dropped the skirt back and turned. Her face lit up radiantly as she spotted Lily. "Hallo Lil! Come to help me out?"

From the adjacent bed, Roxanne groaned irritably and began to gather her books. "If I have to hear about this date one more time, I refuse to be held accountable for my actions."

Dominique scowled at her. "Leaving? You said you'd help, you miserable creature." Taking in Roxanne's hostile expression, she rolled her eyes. "Oh forget it; you'd end up telling me to dress in pants. Go on out then."

Roxanne rolled her eyes. She glanced at Lily, "If you need me, I'll be with the boys. Somebody bought Butterbeer." Hefting her books up, she trudged out of the dormitory.

Dominique absently picked up a delicate shirt with lace and glanced at Lily. "This isn't supposed to be tricky." She sighed. Brightening up, she turned to Lily and smiled widely at her. "I can't wait for Saturday!"

Lily worried her lip. Her fingers clenched around her robes and she kept her eyes trained on her cousin's. "I need to talk to you, Dom."

Dominique blinked. She pulled Lily down onto her bed and huddled up beside her. "What's wrong?"

Lily took a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair. "I don't know what I'm going to do. Dom, I…I think I've been very stupid." She pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them. "I should have said something before; maybe I should have done something. I don't know what is going on anymore. I just_" Lily began to ramble. Words jumbled up and tumbled out of her mouth like water.

Dominique held a hand up. "No. Stop. Just stop."

Lily stared at her, flummoxed.

Dominique sighed. "Merlin's pants, Lily. What happened?"

"I kissed Scorpius." She whispered in a tiny voice.

"You what?" Dominique couldn't help but shout. She clamped her hand over her mouth as she realized how loud she'd been. She felt like whooping for joy. Finally!

Lily held her head in her hands and shook her head. "No, no, dear Merlin, No, what am I saying? I didn't kiss him…but I wish I had."

Dominique could only stare at her. "You wish you had?"

Lily dropped her head on her knees. "Don't make me say it again please." She moans desperately. "I wanted it. Oh Merlin, how I wanted it. I really wish I had kissed him. It felt like every cell in my body wanted me to just move forward and kiss him but I didn't and I don't know what to do because he knows. He knows."

"How do you know he knows?" Dominique repeats calmly.

"He knows Dom. I don't know how he knows but he does. It's just the way he looked at me after, like he was letting me go, like he knew every thought passing through my head, as though he could tell what I was thinking before I thought of it myself." Lily cringed. "He must be laughing at me."

Dominique placed an arm around her gently. "I do not think he was laughing at you Lily. I don't think he would do that to you."

"What am I going to do, Dom?" Her voice shook. "I thought it would just blow over but it's getting worse. And each time I see him, I just…it's worse."

"Okay." Dominique took a deep breath. "Okay, what are you going to do about this?"

Lily was quiet. She leaned into Dominique's embrace, resting her cheek against her cousin's knee. She shuddered. "I have to tell him."

Dominique tensed. "Tell Scorpius?"

Lily sat up. "No! Tell Lucas. I have to…end things with him. I can't.." She shook her head. "I'm a horrible person Dom. I've been having dreams, about Scorpius and I've been lying all this time. But I didn't mean to! It just happened." Her voice faded away into nothingness.

Dominique patted her head reassuringly. "You're not a horrible person. These things happen. It doesn't mean you're a tart. It just means you don't get the tingles from Lucas. That's fine! It doesn't matter."

"Lucas will hate me."

Dominique narrowed her eyes. "No, he won't and if he does, he's a bigger idiot than I thought possible."

"I don't even know how I'm going to tell him." Guilt welled up inside her chest and once again, she felt engulfed by the feeling of apprehension and nervousness when she now thought of her boyfriend. There had been a time when simply catching a glimpse of him would set her heart racing but now it was no longer so. They seemed to do nothing but fight lately and she was tired of constantly rearranging her words and measuring her sentences so that no mention of Scorpius and her Slytherin friends remained uncensored. She was tired of pretending. She felt strangely suffocated when they kissed and it scared her. Lucas had become very bold lately, or he attempted to be at the very least. Wasn't it strange however, that even the heaviest make out sessions with him left her cold or scrambling for cover. Kissing him, actually touching his lips with her own had never left her as flustered as she'd been today with Scorpius. Moreover, he had barely touched her. His lips left but the faintest brush against her ear, but still shattered her carefully nurtured emotional equilibrium. She had never felt so vulnerable.

Dominique's voice cut through the haze. "Just keep to the point. You don't have to mention anything about Scorpius. Just tell him what he needs to hear. Keep it short and simple. Run away after, if you have to, but do not dither on this." She said firmly. "Alright?"

Lily nodded vigorously. Turning to look at her, she whispered, "I'm scared Dom."

Dominique smiled. "That's alright. You'll be alright."

"You promise?"

Dominique laughed softly at this. "I promise."

Lily leaned against her and sighed. "Tomorrow, I'll tell him tomorrow."

X

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