A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you like this one :)

Lily had been conscious again for three days and she still felt like she was on fire. She had had lots of visitors from her immediate and extended families but now that her condition was more stable most of them were going to return to England and wait for her transfer to St Mungo's once she started to regain her strength and could safely make the journey.

On the day that most of them were due to leave Lily received an early morning visitor. Not being able to sleep very well, Lily was awake, she had her glasses off and was trying to get her eyes to focus without them. It was in vain, she knew, but it got her mind off Draco and the strange sense of loss that she felt for the baby she'd never known about until it was already gone.

"Hey," came the voice of Rose.

"Oh hi Rose," she replied not having seen her approach. "You're here early."

Lily put her glasses back on and was slightly annoyed at how well she could now see.

"I wanted to get in before everyone else," said Rose with a smile although Lily noticed that perhaps the smile didn't quite reach her cousin's eyes.

"How are you feeling this morning?" asked Rose.

"Okay, I guess," replied Lily. Truth be told, she still felt very weak and it was frustrating especially because it meant she couldn't get up and go to see Draco. For some reason no one would take her to him either and this only made her worry more. There was definitely something they weren't telling her.

"This sucks," Rose sighed. "I hate seeing you in this hospital."

The comment was normal enough but it still took Lily by surprise.

"My own stupid fault," she replied bitterly.

"Don't say that Lil," said Rose with concern. "You never would've gone near that dragon if you'd known this would happen."

"I know," conceded Lily. "But I can't help blame myself, especially since Draco is hurt."

Suddenly tears welled in her eyes and it burned like crazy.

"Oh don't cry," implored Rose as she too felt tears surfacing. "Please don't Lily."

Suddenly they were both sobbing and Lily and Rose each thought it strange that Rose should be sobbing the hardest.

"Are you okay?" asked Lily finally once she'd gained control again.

"Yes," replied Rose. "Of course. Why should I cry? You're pain is greater than mine."

Lily wasn't quite sure what Rose was talking about.

"I only have to see you hurt like this," Rose went on. "You're the one that's feeling it. I do hate having to see you like this though. You gave us all such a fright. I didn't know if you were going to make it Lily..."

Lily finally realised just how much Rose did care about her. There had been a cloud hanging over their friendship ever since the argument they'd had in Lily's fifth year at Hogwarts but it seemed to have finally broken apart and was spilling out along with their tears.

"I'm so sorry," lamented Lily. "I've caused everyone so much trouble and heartache!"

They hugged immediately and although they both sobbed it felt like a great relief had engulfed them too. Like they'd finally put the past behind them.

After this they were both happier and chatted about boring everyday things that calmed both their troubled minds. However, Lily couldn't help thinking that Rose had some unconnected melancholy about her and it wasn't the first time she'd noticed it. Another visitor showed up at that moment, pushing the thought from Lily's mind.

"Oh, you're still here?" said Scorpius with a roll of his eyes. The comment was, of course, directed at Rose.

"Well I am Lily's family," she snapped back.

"I practically am," retorted Scorpius with a glint in his eye.

"Please don't quarrel," sighed Lily. She wasn't in the mood for their petty schoolyard rivalry, or whatever is was, today.

They shared a glance of guilt but both quickly covered it up. For once, they gave in to her request.

"How are you today anyway?" said Scorpius trying to adopt a sarcastic tone but not really achieving it. Lily got the feeling he didn't want Rose to see him caring about something or someone.

"I'm okay," smiled Lily, she secretly was enjoying seeing Scorpius uncomfortable for once. Although it was mingled with guilt, he'd been to visit her everyday and was told by a young nurse, who she was certain had a crush on Scorpius, that it was the only time he left his father's side.

"I wish I could see Draco though," Lily went on. "Is he awake yet?"

"No," replied Scorpius. "I will tell you when he wakes."

"I know," said Lily quietly.

An awkward silence fell upon the group as neither Rose nor Scorpius were comfortable being civil, even for Lily's sake.

"I have to go now," they both suddenly said in unison.

It was followed by a glare at each other.

"Oh," said Lily. "Okay..."

She wasn't sure if one of them was going to back down and stay. They were still glaring at each other and Lily thought Rose's face may have faltered slightly under Scorpius' gaze.

The moment passed and after muttered goodbyes to Lily they both made their way towards the exit, keeping pace with each other in a venomous manner.

Lily shook her head to herself at the childishness of it all but immediately regretted it; a stab of pain had shot up through her neck and head. She was thoroughly sick of this happening but there was little to be done. The treatment of injuries caused by dragon flame was extremely difficult and exposure to the intense form of magic used needed to be limited, therefore effective pain relief wasn't really an option, instead she had to settle for weak potions that only numbed it for a short amount of time.

Not ten minutes after Rose and Scorpius had departed someone else arrived.

"Lily," they whispered from the door.

Lily turned her head to see who it was and immediately wished she hadn't, a sharp pain shot up through her neck straight to the crown of her head...again. How could she have forgotten so quickly the effect of moving her head?

"Ouch," she winced.

"Sorry," Tarquin Nott replied as he slowly approached her bedside. "Didn't mean to disturb you."

"That's okay," replied Lily brightening a little. All the awkwardness from the last few weeks seemed to have burnt out along with rest of the dragon fire. She was happy to see her friend.

"How are you feeling?" Tarquin asked anxiously. "I was so worried."

Okay, maybe things were going to get awkward again. The tone of his voice held too much concern for Lily's liking.

"I'm okay," she lied forcing a smile that said you shouldn't be worrying about me.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed now and reached out a thin, ghostly hand to hold hers.

Lily was actually glad her face was already red from the dragon attack because she would've hated for him to see her blushing right then.

She pulled her hand away.

"Lily," he implored. "Please don't..."

"Don't what?" Lily cut in. "I told you before, there's nothing between us, nothing like that." She added the last bit after he looked like he was about to cry but then again he'd always had a sulky face.

"Could there be though?" he asked.

Lily looked at him in surprise.

"No," she answered. "I love Draco. It's always been him and always will be. There's never been anyone else."

"Maybe that's the problem," suggested Tarquin irritably. "You're just scared to admit that there could be someone else."

"I am not!" exclaimed Lily her temper rising. "There was never anyone before Draco, never during and never will be after!"

"What about in between?" asked Tarquin bitterly.

Lily looked at him bewildered.

"I can't believe you," she said.

"What?" he returned. "Can't believe I love you or that I'd tell you I do?"

"You don't love me," argued Lily, her head throbbing now. "You just have a stupid crush or something. Anyway now is not the time to talk about it."

She felt a little dizzy now, the exertion was taking it's toll.

"I love you more than him," continued Tarquin.

"Shut up!" snapped Lily. "Just shut up! You know nothing about Draco and I. How could you possibly?"

"I know enough," was the same old response.

"He could die!" she screamed taking them both by surprise. "Draco could die and you're here badgering me about something that's never going to happen! Just leave me alone!"

A touch of colour appeared in the pale cheeks of Tarquin.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Just go away," she said quietly, silent tears falling down her face.

He didn't say another word but just got up and left feeling considerably worse than he had before he'd arrived. The familiar feeling of disdain for Draco Malfoy settled upon him but this time it was stronger than ever.

A/N: Thanks again for reading. Please leave me a review and let me know if you liked it or not :)