Hey! Sorry for the no show, you guys must think I'm dead or something. I'm not of course. I finished exams in June and since then I've been working towards my flute grade 7 which was last week. I've had this chapter written for a while, I've just always forgotten to upload it. Anyway it isn't very long, but here you go!

Thanks for all the review etc.

L x

Chapter 21: Third time lucky.

Lily looked at the clock, it was only eight thirty. That left her three and a half hours until meeting Scorpius. For some reason that she could not explain, she was looking forward to it. She loathed him of course, but there was something that made her curious of him. She knew him as a selfish competitive womanising Slytherin, but she did not know him as a person. And by just being a human being, she was naturally intrigued.

"Oh Lily..." Alice waved: "Is that much of a shock?"

"Oh sorry, what did you say? I zoned out..."

"You only just missed my biggest but if news in over a year." Alice explained: "Mum's pregnant!"

"Oh, tell her congratulations from me!" Lily exclaimed.

"I can't wait, a new baby brother or sister. It's going to be so exciting." Alice squealed: "Dad told me this morning. He said he's happy, I mean they thought they couldn't have any more. Though I think he's not happy that he can't live at home. I'm no longer an only child!"

"Yeah, there's always holidays though."

"Lily, James just got these for us. They were owled in this afternoon on mass delivery and everything." Albus handed her an envelope. It had delicate light pink swirls on it and "Lily Luna Potter" in elaborate lettering.

"Lil,

I know it's a shock, but well we didn't tell anyone till yesterday. What with Auror training and everything, we couldn't cope with the timing. But since I'm qualified, it makes sense.

I proposed to Victoire last summer, when I was in France with her family. We were alone in the garden, sitting in a hammock. It was night and Fleur and Bill were asleep. I don't know where it came from, just came out of nowhere. She was speechless, literally, but then she said yes. I've never felt so happy.

So anyway, I told Mum and Dad last week and they were so happy. Vic has told her parents as well. We're going to get married in May, at the burrow. It might be cramped, but Dad says we can have Grimmauld place as the other houses for accommodation. There's a hell of a lot of French cousins!

Anyway, I guess I thought I should tell you then you can have the pleasure of telling all the other girl cousins how it happened. I can see you sighing from here!

Will you be bridesmaid?

Ted."

Alongside it was a wedding invite:

"Miss Lily Luna Potter is invited to

The wedding of Theodore Remus Lupin and Victoire Clementine Weasley

On the 14th April at The Burrow.

Owl us with your reply."

"Teddy and Vic are getting married." Lily told Alice.

"Oh my god, what with the baby and now this. Can today get any better? We have to get the best outfits for this wedding." Alice brimmed with excitement.

"I'm bridesmaid, I don't think I'll have any say in what I'll be wearing. And you just wanna impress Hugo." Lily smiled.

"Oh Lily, I'm so sorry. This must freak you out, me fancying your cousin."

"It doesn't, I mean look at my Dad and Uncle Ron. I don't mind, I mean I can't marry Hugo myself. And I'd rather have you then some annoying bimbo."

"Yeah, I guess so. So, tell me who you fancy then?" Alice asked her.

"I dunno." Lily shrugged.

"Well we all know that Lysander Scamander has his eye on you." Lily looked shocked.

"No, not Lysander. He's practically family, he wouldn't. I mean he wouldn't even think of me like that." Lily denied it.

"Oh believe me he does. You'd be surprised to know how many boys would happily claim you. Oh you're so lucky Lil, with your perfect skin and long hair. It's not fair." Alice sighed.

"At least you don't have two obsessive protective brothers. That's not even mentioning the cousins. Even if I do get a boy, my hands will be handcuffed so I can't even hold his." The girls shared a laugh.

"Ok, I don't envy you there." Alice smiled: "I'm gonna go and see Dad, see what he's up to. You wanna come?"

"No, I'll catch up with him later I guess. Tell him I said hi." Lily said. She got back to her potions essay.

"Sorry, I had one inch left on my essay and I didn't wanna have to get up to write my conclusion in the morning." Lily apologised to Scorpius. He stood there smirking.

"Off to a good start Potter." Scorpius said.

"Yeah, I guess it's a challenge but I can last an hour without being horrible." She replied.

"It's not of my nature. But I guess I can make polite conversation to some extent, how was your day Potter?"

"Well, I heard my brother Teddy is getting married in May, I guess that makes it good. How was yours?"

"Teddy Lupin?" Lily nodded: "He's my half cousin. I mean I've never met him, but that's good for him I guess. It was not good, I found out my seems like Zabini has been messing around with Parkinson again. I told him she was mine."

"Why do you mess with these girls anyway? I mean, doesn't Parkinson know you don't even like her?" Lily asked.

"Parkinson likes me though. You see, she's trying to win me over as her boyfriend, so she improves her reputation. But yes, she's extremely annoying. And why? Well, for the same reason I would never talk to you in public. It's my reputation, I have to keep it up."

"I have to agree with you there. I don't like Parkinson one bit."

"Well, I think the same can be said for any Slytherin."

"Hey! I like your sister, she's nice." Lily protested.

"And me?"

"I'm not allowed to say anything bad in this conversation." Scorpius laughed.

"Shame, I would have quite liked to hear it. So, any gossip in the Gryffindor common room, I mean we never hear anything scandal from that corner of the castle."

"Nope, well not in my family. There's never really any that goes on. Other than Gryffindors dating Gryffindors. Same old, same old." Lily sighed.

"Well that's a bummer, thought I could find something to taint your perfect house."

"By all means, we're not perfect. We have our little dramas." Scorpius looked intrigued.

"C'mon, tell me." Scorpius raised an eyebrow.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Well you can't, because I'm a big angry Malfoy." Scorpius teased.

"Not tonight, you're not living up to your reputation."

"Yeah, I'm only a venomous snake when I want to be."

Lily looked him in the eye: "You know what? I haven't enjoyed tonight."

"Not one bit?"

"No, our usual backstabbing and prejudiced conversations are much better." Lily replied.

"So this isn't permanent?"

"Nope, I mean what would happen if we weren't enemies."

"I guess so." He replied: "Well, see you around Red."

"Yeah, see you snake."

What do you think? I know it was just mainly conversation but I've made sure the next chapter isn't. It's written and I will upload it later this week or early next week. Anyway, I'm off to Canada in 9 days! It's really exciting, and there's a lot to sort out. But if you don't hear from me after, you know why :D

Please please please review!

L x