"Sneaking doesn't do anyone any good." – D.C. Juarez

A/N: Hey, I updated super fast! That should be worth at least four good reviews! So pay up!

Chapter Twenty Five

Hiding in Plain Sight

Stephen looked into the Three Broomsticks. He was supposed to be securing a room for himself and Rose but he couldn't order a room with James and Kira snogging at the counter. Madam Rosemerta was seeing to the dishes as they washed themselves in a vain effort to ignore the couple eating each other's faces a few meters away from her. How could he order a room with the pair of them (not so kindly referred to as Potsimmons behind their backs (though truth be told they probably wouldn't have minded being called Potsimmons to their faces)) snogging within ear shot? He and Rosie had a plan. They wouldn't be outed as a couple by Potsimmons all because Stephan had forgotten to owl in his room request.

But they did seem particularly engrossed (emphasis on "gross") in their current activity. Maybe if he was subtle they wouldn't notice him. It was worth a shot, Rosie would be there any second and he didn't want anyone suspecting he'd travelled to Hogsmeade for her.

Stephan slipped into the Three Broomsticks with a group of sixth years hoping that he didn't stand out too much. He'd just gotten switched from the reserve team to the starting lineup. His first professional season wouldn't be until next year, but that hadn't stopped a few diehard Quidditch fans from seeking him out, something he found incredibly creepy. He snuck up to the bar and tried several times to get Rosemera's attention to no avail. She was too focused on trying to keep James from putting Kira onto the bar top. James finally got his girl onto the countertop and Rosemerta had had enough. She Charmed a bottle of Butterbeer to bang into James' head. It was clearly James' fault. Kira had been trying to get off the countertop as soon as he got her up there, but she was so distracted by his kisses that all her efforts were in vain. When the Butterbeer didn't work, Rosemerta sprayed the two of them with water from her wand. The pair sputtered and parted and Stephan snorted drawing their attention to him.

"Bugger-dy fuck," he muttered.

"Wood," James said, surprised and soaked to the bone. Kira had already dried herself off but James was too easily distracted to have even thought of it. Kira rolled her eyes, flicked her wand, drying James. "What're you doing here, mate?" he asked, not noticing that he was now dry.

"Just in the neighborhood," he muttered.

"Okay…" James said, confused. "The season just ended, probably needing a drink. Plus I read in Quidditch Weekly you were transferred from the reserves to the starting lineup. Ahha! I'll buy you a drink to celebrate! It'll be great. Kiki we're going to get snockers with a professional Quidditch player!"

"James we're not getting drunk in the Three Broomsticks than stumbling back to Hogwarts. Not after what happened last time with Filch and the bucket of jello. We'll buy the liquor than go back to your dorm to get sauced. Like mature adults," Kira said, sounding reasonable.

"Right! Wood you're coming back to my dorm with me and Kira."

"Sorry, Potter," Stephan said. "But getting drunk with the two of you anywhere near a bed is a disaster waiting to happen."

James grinned, clearly seeing the former as a compliment.

"Besides I'd like a room… to relax. End of a rough season."

James was about to protest but Kira interrupted him. "Got the booze, babe," she said, holding up a bottle of fire whiskey she had swindled out of Madam Rosemerta who just wanted want the pair to leave.

"Bahh…" he began before catching a look in Kira's eye. A look even Stephan understood. A look that shouldn't be given in public where immature third years could see. "Let's go!" James grabbed her arm and pulled her out the door. He jumped past Rose as she slipped into the pub. She looked cautiously at them, before catching sight of Stephan by the bar.

He turned back to Rosemerta. "I need a room," he snapped.

"Never were this grouchy when you were a student," she grumbled handing him a key. Stephan dumped a handful of coins on the counter top.

"This should cover it for a few hours." He rushed up the stairs and into one of the small dusty room at the end of the hall. He breathed a sigh of relief. If they were found out it wouldn't be his fault. Not that he wanted anyone to find out they were together. Hell no! During the past few visits their physical relationship had leapt forward. Stephan had been putting the brakes on things, wanting to wait at least until this visit. Rose had turned seventeen a few days ago so if things became physical he wouldn't feel like such a giant pervert.

It probably would as well. Rose had been pushing and pushing him to take their physical relationship farther and farther. Which made pulling away from her harder and harder. Every time he had to disengage from her slender little body a few more of his brain cells died in an effort to remain sane. He couldn't possibly be allowed to think about gripping her perky little breasts, or groping her round bottom. If he did he'd never be able to get anything done. Really losing a few brain cells in an effort to remain efficient was a small price to pay.

He was really wondering whether or not he should… take his girlfriend's… virtue. They only had a few hours. If he properly prepared her for what they would do and if he did it, he wouldn't have much time to hold her afterwards. And he wanted to be able to hold her. He wanted her to know that he… loved her. Without him having to say it. Their relationship was so odd right now. He wanted to devote hours to worshiping her body before he… took her. And right now he just didn't have the time. He wanted to be able to actually spend a significant amount of time with her before taking such a giant step. He felt like a bloody tosser for taking their relationship as far as he had. Very much decided, he wasn't taking it any farther now that she was seventeen. Not until she graduated and they moved in together.

Stephan banged his head against the wall. By the time that happened, he'd probably be brain dead. He was about to bang his head again when the door flew open and two snogging teens fumbled in. At first Stephan thought that James was back with a girl that definitely wasn't Kira. His worry vanished as soon as the messy head popped up from the bed and revealed two startled green eyes. Albus then. But who was the platinum blond giggling on top of him?

Albus cleared his throat and wiggled his way out from under the girl. "Sorry, Wood," he said. "We weren't paying much attention, you understand?"

The little blond in his arms giggled. "Oh, we were paying attention," she smiled knowingly. "Just not to where we were going!" She pulled him out of the room and into another room down the corridor. As the door slammed shut, Stephan had no doubt who the aggressor in that relationship was.

Rose rushed up the stairs moments later. Stephan held the door open for her and closed it gently behind her. She whipped off her cloak. Stephan turned back in time to see her throw herself down on the creaky bed. He stiffened. The walls most be very thin, he thought, cringing at the sounds coming from Albus' room. There was also no doubt what they were doing.

"Is that what I think it is?" Rose whispered.

"Probably so." Stephan sat down next to her on the bed. "Who's the girl?"

"Persephone Lovelace. She's the same year as me in Gryffindor. Not much to her really… can't keep her mouth closed. Can't stop gossiping and always has a bloody Witch Weekly in her hand… she likes Quidditch, though."

"Can't be that bad, then," Stephan decided.

Rose laughed. "He's asking for trouble really. When they're not shagging, they're arguing. Poor bloke is doomed to another break up. I wonder why he bothers."

Stephan tilted his head towards the moans and creaking coming from down the hall. "I think I know."

Rose grinned up at her boyfriend who gulped. "Rose," he sighed.

"Oh, bloody hell, Stephan!" Rose snapped sitting up. "Albus is the same age as me and listen to him! He doesn't even like that girl and I… well, you and I do like each other. Why can't we be like them?"

"Because we're not like them."

"That's sh-"

"The reason that they're shagging in the Three Broomsticks is because not only do they, apparently, not like each other very much, but they also certainly don't respect each other. It's just-" Rose cut him off.

"But you've shagged girls before! What's wrong with me? What have they got that I haven't?" She stood up in front of him with her hands on her hips. "I'm sure you liked and respected them well enough!"

"But I didn't, Rosie," Stephan snapped, standing up, towering over her. "Those girls were slags and I was a despicable pervert who took advantage of that fact. After we were done, I barely paid them any mind. If you put any one of those girls in front of me I wouldn't be able to tell you their names. And I bet you the reverse would be true, as well. Because we were disposable to each other, but Rose you are not disposable to me. I adore you too much to disrespect you by shagging you in a dusty room with thin walls and your cousin mounting some girl down the hall, with little to no time to prepare you and certainly no time to hold you afterwards. It's not good enough for me and shouldn't be good enough for you!"

"You can't make me feel bad about wanting to be with you," Rose snapped.

"Which, if you were listening, you'd know was not my point. I love the fact that you're attracted to me," Stephan said with a self satisfied smile. Rose smacked him lightly on the chest but smiled.

"I'm just frustrated," she mumbled.

"Me too, Rosie. But it'll be worth it when we finally do it and do it right."

She smiled. "You wanna do it?"

"I wanna do you," he muttered huskily.

He leaned down and kissed her light on the lips. Rose gave a high pitch laugh and wrapped her arms around his waist. They kissed each other a few times before falling on to the bed for a giggle filled snog. And even if Stephan knew he would lose a few brain cells when he pulled away from Rose's perk little body but it was totally worth it.

Lily ran down the hall, grasping for breath as she searched for any person in her family who she could tell what she'd just heard. What was worse was how calmly Scorpius had told her. He told her like it didn't matter. Like it didn't change everything. How was she supposed to deal with this one her own? And what was worse was that Scorpius didn't seem to care. She didn't know how to deal with it if he didn't care, so she had to tell someone.

Lily ran past the third floor broom closet for the fifth time and skidded to a halt. There was moaning, groaning and the clanking of bottles behind the door. That meant only one thing. Potsimmons. She ripped open the door, James stumbled out backwards with his shirt flapping open and his trousers around his knees. Kira pocked her head out while hiding behind the side of the door. Do to her bare shoulders Lily assumed she was topless. Perhaps bottomless as well.

James looked up at his sister from his position flat on his back on the floor. "What's up, Lils?" he asked, casually.

"Clearly, not you," she said, hands on her hips.

"I was a moment ag-oww!" Kira hurled his robes at him from the broom closet cutting James off. Lily gave the pair a moment to right themselves silently thanking Merlin that it was a nice spring day and most of the students were out enjoying the weather. "What can I do for you, sister mine?" James asked, now fully clothed, with an equally (though neater looking) fully clothed Kira by his side.

"You can stop talking like an idiot," she snapped.

"I actually can't promise that."

"This is serious, James!" Lily yelled.

"I don't even know what this is!" James yelled, back.

"Well, hush then," Kira said, "and maybe she'll tell us."

They both turned to her and suddenly Lily hadn't a clue how to begin. "Scorpius… his parents… there was a letter in his hand… he was so calm about it…"

James and Kira waited for more, but Lily was at a loose.

"Calm about what?" James asked finally.

"What was in the letter," Lily answered promptly wringing her hands.

"What was in the letter?" Kira asked.

"It was from his parents."

"We got that bit," James muttered.

"They were telling him something."

"Usually the function of a letter."

"Something bad."

"Easily inferred from your attitude."

"Oh, would you shut up, James!"

"Well, get on with it! You interrupted something very important!"

"Scorpius' Mum is pregnant." She just blurted it out. Which was about the only way she was likely to get it out.

Both James and Kira stood frozen. Probably in shock and maybe in disgust. Mrs. Malfoy was as old as their parents and the thoughts of their parents doing what needed doing to get pregnant was disturbing. On another level the thought that these two people would try to replace their son with another child was emotionally disgusting. Especially to try to replace a boy they all felt was as wonderful as Scorpius.

"How's he handling it?" Kira asked, eventually.

"How's he-! He's a man, Kiki! Like me. We handle it like men-"

"James you were an inarticulate mess because your dad was talking about sex." James grumbled at his girlfriend.

"He's acting like it doesn't matter. He tried to tell me in passing! In passing!" Lily exclaimed. "I know he's upset. His mother will be focusing on the new baby and eventually she won't be writing to him anymore. He's acting like that won't upset him. I know it will and soon he'll start thinking that if it weren't for me he'd still have his family. And then he'll break up with me and I don't know what I'll do. He can't break up with me! I love him!" Lily slapped a hand over her mouth and turned a horrified face to her brother and his girlfriend.

"Okay, you need to cool it," James said. "Scorpius isn't a sixteen year old girl. He's not going to blame you for his parents acting like idiots."

"First off." Kira punched James in the shoulder.

"Why?"

"Sixteen year old girl—Ass!"

"Meany."

"And second, James is right, Lily. Scorpius is not the sort of bloke who would blame you for what his parents are doing. And if his mother is willing to completely abandon her son, well that's not your fault. Scorpius is smart enough to know that. Plus he loves you too, so-"

"Whoa!" James held his hands up. "What do you mean he loves her?"

"Oh don't be ridiculous, James! Anyone with eyes can see that he loves her. He refused to leave with his parents for her-"

"No-no!" Lily interrupted. "He said he left his family because he didn't want his family controlling his life. It wasn't for me."

"Go on thinking that if you like," Kira said. "But the truth is that if he hadn't been with you the whole situation probably wouldn't have happened and if it had he'd have had a much harder time turning his back on his family. In reality he might not have done it at all." Silence followed this.

"So he will blame me!" Lily whaled.

"Merlin! You and your brother are so bloody thick! I was just proving that he loves you not that he'll blame you. You both are such damn drama queens! Really, its tiring being around you both."

Lily cleared her throat. "Well, I understand how being around my brother is trying for you. Every five seconds he's mounting you."

"Up top!" James' hand went up, Lily went with it, slapping her hand against his. James took most insults as compliments. It kept him happy.

"What are we going to do about Scorpius?" Lily asked. She was at a loose. He was so bloody calm about it. It just wasn't normal.

"As I so often tell all of you to do," Kira said, a superior gleam in her eye, "we just have to be supportive. We have to let him know that we are here for him and that we love him. And that if his mother truly abandons him we have to make sure he knows that we won't."

"You'd think by now we'd all know that," Lily said. She fell against the wall with a heavy sigh.

"Well, I know that I'm shagging a genius," James said. "And on that note-" James grabbed Kira around the waist, hailing her back into the closet while she squealed happily.

"That was embarrassing, Kira!" Lily yelled. All that answered her was James growling and Kira giggling. Lily sighed. Everything was so easy for them. They didn't have to worry about either of their families abandoning them and the other one blaming the first one for it… Lily grumbled. That hadn't even made sense in her own head.

Lily kicked her leg out and walked down the hall aimlessly. All she wanted was to be snuggled in a broom closet with Scorpius, feeling his big hands on her breasts. Her heart stuttered at thought. All of the sudden he'd become so active in their intimate relationship. It was so wonderful how close she felt to him when he filled her mouth with his tongue, flicked his thumbs over her nipples and rubbed his thigh against the center of her body. She was just so happy. She was terrified of losing that happiness. She felt that she had gotten it so easily she could lose it just as easily.

Happy but terrified. Emotion was exhausting.

Eventually Lily ended up on the first floor, she wondered over to the wall by the one-eyed witch and slipped down to the ground, her legs stretched out before her. The halls were bare, all the students outside. She had no idea where Scorpius was. They'd been laying together next to the lake when he'd told her about the letter he was playing with. She'd taken a few minutes to talk to him when it occurred to her that he was, on the surface at least, completely fine with his mother's pregnancy and all it would mean for him. After that Lily had lied telling him she had to use the loo and had gone in search of someone to talk to. It just figure that when she wanted a member of her family she couldn't find one and when she just wanted to be alone she was tripping over them.

But life—Lily grunted in disgust at her own inner musings. Everyone always came up with some vague adage about "life" when things were tough. They'd say things like "well, that's life," or "sometimes life punches you in the gut, you just gotta take it." None of it actually helps. None of it makes life's challenges any easier to manage. If she had to wax poetics on life she might as well be honest.

"Life kicks the crap out of you and then it kills you," she muttered to herself. There, she thought, that suits my mood.

"What was that, love?"

Lily jumped and looked up. Scorpius stood over her, looking curiously down at her. His face changed suddenly to worry and he rushed to her side. He reached out and ran his fingers over her cheeks. Lily felt the moistness on her cheeks and she realized that she was crying. Silent tear running like twin streams down her cheeks. Lily rubbed her eyes, dislodging Scorpius' gentle touch, trying to stop the flood.

"Baby," Lily looked back at him. Her noble man. Her Auror. Her love. The tears fell faster. "Please."

Scorpius opened his arms and Lily fell into them. He held her, stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head while she cried. Eventually the tears slowed and stopped. Lily pulled away from the wet stain on his shirt, nuzzling Scorpius' neck. He put his finger under chin and directed her lips up to his own. His kiss was gentle almost pleading and it made Lily immediately guilt ridden. She was worrying him. She didn't want to worry him she wanted to make him happy. So, if/when his mother truly abandoned him, he'd be too happy with her to blame her.

Lily slipped her tongue between his lips and Scorpius pulled away. His expression was slightly reproachful. "Lily." One word with so much meaning. 'Now is not the time,' remained unspoken between them.

"I told James and Kira," she said. "I hope you don't mind."

"That's all right. They'll tell the rest of your family so I won't have to. Not even sure if they'll care," he said, idly.

"Of course they'll care!" Lily exclaimed. "And they're not my family, Scorp. They're our family. For that reason and a million more they'll care about the things that bother you."

"It doesn't-"

"Don't lie to me. Please don't."

Scorpius sighed. "I suppose I've had longer to come to terms with it. It sucks-"

"It's terrible."

"But it's not surprising." Lily began to protest. "At least not for me. Mum's always deferred to Dad. Whatever he wanted she gave him. No backbone in that woman."

"How can you be so… okay with this?"

"How come you're so upset about this?"

"You know what's going to happen."

"Nothing is certain, Lily. My mother might surprise me. I hope to Merlin she does but, on the other hand, I'm the person I am today because of how she focused her love on me. I'm not selfish enough to not want my brother or sister to experience that."

"You're too good for them," Lily whispered.

Scorpius smiled. "Yes. Isn't it pretty to think so?"