Lily spent the next two weeks visiting various dragon sites with Charlie. Tarquin Nott became a regular companion too following along with them while they observed the unique behaviours of the different breeds.

"I've been doing this pretty much my whole life and there are still new things to be discovered about these magnificent beasts," Charlie had remarked fondly one day.

Lily and Tarquin exchanged smirks. If there was one person who loved dragons more than Lily it could only be Charlie Weasley. In fact, he'd spent so much time with these dangerous creatures that he'd never stopped long enough to meet someone, get married or have kids. He wasn't terribly interested in having a family of his own, the one he'd grown up with was plenty for him, not to mention the array of nieces and nephews he gained over the years.

Once again, Lily and Charlie sat together eating a breakfast cooked by Anca. Charlie sat his knife and fork down when he'd finished and looked across the table.

"I can't take you with me today Lil," he said. "Me and a couple of the other guys have to go further into the reserve and check up on an ill dragon. It's too dangerous to take untrained people in there."

Lily was very disappointed but knew there was no point in arguing. Charlie was very insistent upon keeping her safe while she visited him. In any case, he was right, they would travel by broomstick and she wasn't the best witch when it came to flying. It seemed that her two brothers were the only ones to inherit that skill from their parents.

"Okay," she sighed. "Can I still go up to the ridge and watch the dragons here?"

Charlie looked apprehensive but agreed with one condition.

"Make sure Tarquin goes with you. I don't want you out there alone."

Half an hour later Charlie and two other wizards were flying away on their broomsticks while Lily and Tarquin waved them off.

"I wish I could've gone," said Lily longingly.

"I don't mind staying here," replied Tarquin.

Lily looked up at him and he smiled. There was something about the way he was looking at her.

"I'm not very good on a broom," he elaborated after a pause which Lily had the feeling he used to invent his excuse.

"Me neither," she admitted. "Let's go."

They wandered off towards the ridge that the Opaleye hung around. It was cold and snow still littered the ground in various patches but the sky was blue which was a nice change from grey.

"I'm sorry that you've been sad," said Tarquin suddenly. "I wish Draco hadn't hurt you like he did."

The turn in conversation struck Lily off guard. She'd been trying really hard not to think about Draco.

"I..." she started. "...I don't really want to talk about it."

It was a lie. She wanted and needed desperately to talk to someone about it but Tarquin didn't seem like the right person. Anyway, she'd grown used to bottling up her thoughts and feelings.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately. "I shouldn't have brought it up. I just wanted you to know that...it's just... I hate seeing you upset."

Where was all this coming from? How could he tell she'd not been herself the whole time? She'd done an excellent job of covering it up.

"It's okay," she replied feeling bad, he was just trying to be nice. "I'm not upset. I just wasn't expecting you to mention it."

Tarquin looked dejected.

"Don't worry about it," Lily continued. "Come on, I'll race you to the top."

She offered him a smile and before he could protest she ran off and started scrambling up the rocky slope, slipping and sliding as she went.

"No magic," she called over her shoulder as Tarquin began the ascent as well.

By the time they both reached the top they were puffing a lot more than usual.

"Beat...you," Lily managed to say between gasps.

"You had...a head...start," replied Tarquin grinning.

"Well my legs are a lot shorter than yours," retorted Lily having almost caught her breath.

"I'm not sure that longer legs are an advantage on a slope like that," said Tarquin laughing.

But Lily was distracted.

"Look!" she exclaimed pointing down at the Opaleye's lair.

Tarquin's gaze followed Lily's and he stood transfixed as she was.

A tiny baby dragon was following along closely behind it's mother's front foot. It was a brilliant shining white with stunning purple eyes.

"My dragon..." muttered Tarquin.

They finally tore their eyes from the miniature beast and looked at each other, smiles plastered across their faces.

"My dragon!" exclaimed Tarquin louder.

"What?" replied Lily excitedly.

"It's the colour I guessed it would be," he explained.

"You're right!" said Lily as it dawned on her. "It is! Congratulations!"

Without thinking she flung herself at him and hugged him, caught up in the excitement.

Tarquin, although not opposed, was shocked.

Lily let go of him and looked sheepish.

"Sorry," she apologised. "I just got caught up in the moment..."

He smiled slightly before saying; "Don't worry about it."

"How cute is that newborn though," Lily commented looking back down at the creature.

"Yeah it really is something," said Tarquin.

They waited there and watched it for Merlin knows how long as it played with it's mother and shied from it's father who flew by a couple of times. Any other dragon that strayed into the area was met with a snort of scarlet flames from the protective mother. Eventually she herded it back into the cave and out of sight.

"Want to get something to eat?" asked Tarquin when there were no dragons left to look at.

"Okay," replied Lily. It must have been lunch time by now.

"Race you to the bottom," said Tarquin.

He went to step forward and slipped in the lose rocks, then half-falling, half-running he pelted down the side of the ridge.

Lily laughed and chased after him.

Going down seemed to be quite a bit more dangerous than going up and before they knew it, both of them were out of control.

Lily ran straight into the back of Tarquin and they tumbled further forward. Just as Lily was bracing for a painful collision with the ground she found herself floating in mid-air at the base of the ridge along with Tarquin, his wand in his hand.

"I said no magic," huffed Lily jokingly.

"Well if that's what you want," he replied grinning as he released her from the spell and she fell to the ground.

"Ow!" she complained. "No fair!"

She'd pulled her own wand out and aptly countered the levitating charm so he too soon fell to the ground, landing almost on top of her.

They sat there on the cold and uncomfortable rocks laughing for a while before Tarquin finally managed to stand. He stuck out his hand, offering to help her up and for a moment she was back at Hogwarts sitting in the wet grass staring up at Draco...

She shook the memory from her thoughts and took the proffered hand. With more strength than she expected he pulled her up. Apparently she'd been lighter than he'd expected too and she flew up into his arms.

Their faces almost touched, their eyes connected for a second and he leant forward to close the gap.

Before she really knew what was happening his lips were on hers and they were kissing. No, they weren't, he was kissing her, wasn't he?!

Lily put both hands on his chest and pushed him away.

"No," she gasped. "No."

She wasn't with Draco anymore but it still felt like cheating.

"Lily," whispered Tarquin. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have."

That was the second time today he'd said that.

"No," she said again and the word tore at him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

Guiltily, she felt that maybe she had led him on a little but it wasn't because she liked him in that way, it was just because she was lonely and liked the company of a friend. That's all he was, wasn't he?

"I have to go," said Lily. "I'm not hungry anymore."

She started back towards the village.

"Wait," called Tarquin running to catch up.

Lily sped up a little but he reached her side in no time.

"Please don't go," he said. "It was a mistake, I'm sorry. Please stop, just look at me."

She finally stopped and turned to face him, looking up into his dark eyes.

"Do you still love Draco?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes, maybe, I don't know," she replied but the truth was that her instinct to say yes first was right.

Tarquin looked hurt. Did he imagine that there was something between Lily and himself? Or that there could be?

"Are you going to go back to him?" asked Tarquin.

"I don't know," said Lily and she really didn't.

"But you want to if he'll have you?" deducted Tarquin bitterly.

"What? I said I don't know" replied Lily. "Anyway, it's not really any of your business."

"Not my business?" said Tarquin. "We just kissed so I think that it kind of is my business."

"We did not just kiss," hissed Lily glancing around, she didn't want to be overheard. "You kissed me and I pushed you away."

Tarquin went to retort but realised she was right.

"I just don't feel that way about you," she went on. "And if I made you think that I did I'm sorry. I'm going back to Charlie's place now. I just want to be alone."

She walked away leaving Tarquin Nott behind her. He stood there for a while before retreating to his room at Costel and Anca's. He'd suddenly lost his appetite too.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know :)