Lily's POV

"Lily, dear, you look ravishing!"

"Thanks Mrs. Malfoy. I love this dress."

"If fits you amazingly. You can keep it if you want. It hasn't fit me for years and I don't ever want to be that skinny again. I haven't been able to wear it since just after my seventh year. Would you prefer a room by the living room or would you like to sleep in one of the wings. We have a bunch of guest rooms in the East Wing and Scorpius lurks in the West Wing. Draco and I are in the pent house top floor. You can sleep where ever you like."

"The West Wing sounds great to me. I'd prefer not to be alone anymore. It's odd how alone you can feel in the company of some people yet totally comfortable in the company of others. Thank you for letting me stay here with you."

She bid us goodnight and straightened her robe before leaving. Draco was still in America speaking with my father but she was going to their room to wait for him. We went to the West Wing where Scorpius took me to his room to show me around. He had a gigantic bed with curtain hangings which matched the drapes over the twenty foot tall windows. The fireplace cracked happily and two chairs in front of the fire cast their shadows across the burgundy plush carpet. My father had earned his money and come half as far as this. The Malfoy's were old money and it showed.

There was a five foot hallway behind one of the curtains and once we through it a giant guest room opened up before us. Everything was draped in red satin just as his room was clothed in burgundy. There was a similar fireplace and a sofa instead of chairs. A fire jumped into the grate when we entered the room. Outside the window lights from a wooden barn lit up patches of space between the house and it. There was a pond directly below my window extending to the rooms on either side of us. It looked lovely with the sun setting and releasing its last rays into my face.

"Well, I'll leave you to get situated. I believe my mother left a nightgown in the closet for you. My door will stay open in the mini hall, if you need anything just call. Goodnight, Lily. I've missed you."

I missed him as well, more than I could say. When I tried to tell him it caught in my throat and instead I turned and hugged him until I felt like letting go. Understanding perfectly he held me closer and didn't mind that our hug lasted a solid two minutes.

"Goodnight Scorpius Malfoy. I've missed you too."

The emerald nightgown was indeed waiting for me and begged to be worn. Nothing that smooth or sexy looking should stay on the hanger longer than necessary. Once comfortable I climbed into my bed, pulled the drapes, and fell asleep before I could remember pulling the blankets to my chin.

When I woke the drapes had been pulled back and there were ten horses drinking from the pond. Scorpius had left a note saying he was studying on the porch. After donning some black fuzzy slippers I walk out of the room and down the halls until a door leading outside showed up on my right. This house was confusing and made my brain twitch while I tried to remember how to get everywhere. Outside the deck wrapped around the entire front portion of the house. Scorpius hadn't said which side of the house he would be on. After a quick trip inside to change into another dress, black and white with a one shoulder sleeve, I ran out to a jet black horse who was sitting outside the door. Riding bareback was my favorite way to ride and soon I was trotting around the house looking for a well dressed blonde boy sitting somewhere around the property.

As I rode up he smiled and shook his head.

"Ah, I didn't know you could ride!"

"I didn't know you owned horses. I love riding, sir. "

"Are you done riding or would you like a bit more time?"

Soon he was on a chestnut mare and showing me to the lake near his house. It was a five minute canter through a wooded trail and amazingly scenic and serene inside its leafy depths. Tourmaline. That was the only way to describe the color of the lake we now sat by. It's depths were out of sight and its banks were coated in softer than normal dirt and pebbles.

"This is SapphireLake. My father made it magically when he ordered the house to be built here. It has an enchantment around it to keep the Muggles away and a few spells to make it look the way it does. Sometimes the color is different but usually it looks like this."

We walked our horses around the lake a few times and swung on the rope swing hanging off a huge tree next to it before heading back to the Manor for brunch. Mrs. Malfoy made us go back out onto the porch to study after our meal and promised to bring us some fruit to eat in an hour or so. Scorpius was already prepping for his NEWTS and I should have been studying for my OWL's but just didn't feel like it. Instead I practiced my prettier charms and changed the colors and effects to entertain Scorpius. When he started looking bored I'd let a spell get out of control or make a loud, disturbing squeal or banging noise. After a while I got bored and let Scorpius teach me some of the spells he was learning or improving. By the time fruit got to us I had been able to do most of the spells, with varying degrees of success, he had to master. Astoria sat on the garden swing and sipped her tea while we tossed grapes into the air and caught them. Scorpius threw one up and I accelerated on the way down. He chocked and coughed and as soon as the grape was safely in his stomach he lunged and knocked me off the porch.

Scorpius POV

I landed on top of her as she smiled and her eyes seemed to beg for more as she seductively bit her lower lip. She immediately lost the smile and looked saddened. Without thinking I leaned in to kiss her, fully knowing that this would be cheating on her cousin, and felt immensely awkward as she allowed me to kiss her cheek. A pang of guilt shot through me. Lily Potter wanted to love me too but her dignity held her back. My eyes must have betrayed my thoughts because she smiled sadly again and caressed the angles of my face.

"Scorpius let me know when you guys are ready for dinner. We are going out tonight. I'm going to finish the laundry."

That woman had tact. She felt the tension and broke it slightly to tell us we would be alone. There wouldn't be pressure on our relationship one way or the other. Earlier during the summer when I voiced my concerns and both her and my father had chuckled. Simply saying to be patient. When I asked how they knew they told me to observe her with others then remember how she had been with me. Which way was she more alive and happy? While we were hanging out her smile never left and she did crazy, rambunctious things, and laughed randomly and constantly. So she would come back. But when? What if she went back to school after this summer and Tom apologized and she gave him a second chance or what if someone else showed up and she was swept off her feet? How would I handle it then? I had a single year left at Hogwarts; nine months to woo Lily again and to present her with the necklace and plan a way to keep in touch and remain a pair.

I realized I was still lying on top of Lily while I thought all this and as I rose and sat leaning against the deck she resituated herself so that her head rest in my lap. There she was. Back in my presence and reclining in my arms. She was here but we didn't belong to each other again. It was a high tension reunion. Lily wanted so badly to live the summer as though we were dating then go secretly back into the school year and I believe she would have if I had not been dating Rose.

"I'm so sorry Scorpius. I just don't want to start this again. I don't want to put us back in that situation of choosing between our safety and each other."

"I understand. I just can't seem to help myself today. I apologize."

She played with a belt loop on my pants and stared dreamily off towards the horses. I didn't want to disrupt her happy thoughts but now was as good as ever a time was to do so. This morning I had received and owl from Rose who said she would love to come visit my manor this summer. I had written back that I had the next weekend free. Telling this to Lily would dampen her spirits.

"So, I got a letter from your cousin this morning..."

"Rosie. What did she say?"

"She wants to come spend a weekend here this summer. I figured next weekend was as good a time as ever. I've told her to show up Friday morning and we can spend time together until Monday morning. She has to convince her father, I'm sure, but she will most likely be stopping by for a few days."

"Oh, I guess I'll stay out of your way while she's here. I don't want her to feel like I'm a third wheel or that we are anything but awkward old friends."

"Yeah, we can still spend our nights together. I'll tell her I got to bed the same time during the summer as I do at school. I don't think we've ever hung out past ten at Hogwarts. She thinks I get sleepy which is better than the alternative which is that I get bored and want to be alone."

"Why are you still going out with her then? Why Rose?"

"Same reason you dated after we broke up. I didn't want to be alone and I chose Rose because then I would still be able to watch out for you and keep you safe. When I decided to act like a badass she just encouraged it and I became worse, meaner, more pompous. We are a terrible pair. Once I realized how much damage I was doing I mentally separated myself from her and tried to fix some things instead."

"That's a rotten thing to do Scorpius. If you don't actually like her you really should call it off before she becomes too attached and is hurt worse when you eventually do."

"No, I really like her most days. If I couldn't stand hanging out with her I wouldn't have let it go on this long."

"Fine. I have to go to the restroom."

She stood and left me sitting there. One look at her and a stranger could tell she was upset. Lily stomped off towards the West wing and I knew from her abrupt tone that she would not be coming out of her room for a while. How could I irritate her so easily? In her current state she was so fragile and vulnerable and every sharp word cut her like a dagger. I guess she was close to Rosie before I destroyed their relationship.

My mother was in the kitchen and as I walked in and sat down on one of the bar stools next to her she sighed and shot me an encouraging smile. How did she seem to know everything before I told her? Had she seen every face or been through every experience or was she just the worlds best mom? I had to go with the last because an instant later she put a piece of cheesecake in front of me with a silver fork and asked if I could remove the greens from a box of strawberries while I waited for Lily. Of course, I had to agree. It was silent while I ripped the fresh stems and bitter smelling leaves from the tops of the red fruit. Every once in a while my mother would look from the cake she was making to my face and smile coyly when I made eye contact.

"Scorpius, is your little spat due to Rose Weasley?"

"Rose wants to come out for a weekend, next weekend. I told her that would be fine and Lily didn't take it so well. She plans on locking herself in the West wing for four days. I don't know what to do."

"Well, that would be terrible hospitality. I have some shopping in London that needs to be done but I'll wait and take her with me all day Saturday. Besides, we still have a month until school starts and Lily can only wear the same four outfits so many times. She needs some new school clothes. If I plan everything right she can do things with me all weekend and Rose won't even notice Lily is here. We can make Rose think I have spent more time with Lily than you have."

Again it got quiet and after I had finished with the strawberries my mother passed a large carton of raspberries over and asked the same thing. As she baked she stole raspberries from the bowl. Soon I started copying her and by the time I was finished plucking the stems off there was a total of twenty berries in the bowl. When I started there was five pounds of Freshly washed berries. A tinkling laugh escaped my mother when I told her I had finished and pointed at the bowl. She would pick up more tomorrow and take the stems off herself. With the last of these raspberries she filled a bowl with yogurt then cut mango and peaches into it and garnished with raspberries.

"While I take this to Lily would you mind washing the bowls and the knives we used? I'll be right back."

Doing dishes didn't bother me; the thought that my mother would be protecting Lily and cheering her up instead of me did. As I scrubbed the large knife Lily came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

"It was so thoughtful of you to make me the yogurt and fruit. I had no clue you were so great in the kitchen! I'm sorry I ran away. I didn't want to break down in front of you. Everything will be fine though. Your mom is taking me to London to clothing shop and pick up supplies while Rosie is here. She said we are going to stay out of your way and have some fun of our own. She is going to take me to America for a few hours too so I can see my parents and explain everything. I can't believe how awesome your mom is."

She was holding the little crystal bowl with have the yogurt and fruit still in it. She wore an emerald dress with crème trim and accompanied the ensemble with bare feet.