Everyone was asleep. Lily was glad to see that was a case. She crept silently up the stairs to her room, amazed at how sore she felt. That was one thing she was not expecting. It didn't matter, though. She didn't regret it.

"What are you doing home so late?" Lily turned around. Her father stood at the bottom of the stairs, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I lost track of time," she admitted, feigning sheepishness. She had tried to get out of Malfoy's earlier, but he…distracted her.

"You never asked permission to stay overnight."

"Neither of you were around and I didn't want to come all the way back to the Burrow just to ask you."

"Just…make sure you ask next time."

"Ok."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Lily."

Lily slipped inside her room and shut her door. She fell into her bed, not even bothering to change, and fell asleep. She had to work in Godric's Hollow tomorrow.

3

"Lily, are you ok?" Fred asked, leaning against the counter. Lily glanced up at him from the book she was reading and nodded.

"You've been around shifting uncomfortably all morning," Jim said from across the room. "You did it with him, didn't you?"

"What?" Lily said, aghast they had figured it out.

"You and Scorpius…you finally had sex, didn't you?" Fred asked bluntly.

Lily looked from one to the other for a few minutes.

"We've known you since before you were born and both of us are old enough to remember what Vicky acted like after she did it with Teddy," Jim said sharply. "And, honestly, I'm disappointed."

"Oh, come on, Jim. Don't get all jealous because I got some before you and Al."

"I'm not jealous, Lily! You shouldn't have sunk to his level!"

"Jim!"

"How long have you been going out with him? Three months?"

"Seven!"

"That's not long enough," Jim spat.

"Are you serious? I'm not a little girl. You're still acting like I'm Flora's age. I don't need you to protect me."

"Evidently you do if you're making love to a Malfoy!"

"James!"

"Look, he's going to break your heart. I know he is. That's what he does."

"That's what Aeolus does."

"They're brothers, Lily. You don't think they're the same?"

"They aren't the same! Aeolus is brazen, bold, rash, insensitive, and selfish! Scorpius is smart, intelligent, patient, kind, and absolutely perfect!"

"No."

"You don't know him like I do."

"I'm glad I don't."

"Just shove it. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes I do. I've seen plenty of girls fall in love with a guy with all this charm and then you know what happens? He splits up with them or cheats on them or whatever. You're going to get hurt."

"No I'm not."

"You think you're going to be with Scorpius forever? You think you're just going to go through the rest of your life with only him? You think he'll go through the rest of his life with just you? Are you kidding me? How idealistic do you need to be? I thought you were a Slytherin."

Lily's stomach churned.

"You're wrong," she said. "You are so wrong."

"Am I, Lily?"

"Yes."

3

Lily sat silently between Al and Jim. Jim had told Al what had happened. Al hadn't exploded yet, but Lily could see him waiting for the right moment. Neither had told her parents, which she was endlessly grateful for. Of course, that would probably change when this whole thing was over.

It was uncomfortable, sitting still so long and listening about the life of one her best friends. All around her, she could identify various faces from Hogwarts and around Diagon Alley. A few members of the ministry were revealed by their uniforms. She could hear Vicky sniffling in the row behind them, Flora noisily shifting uncomfortably next to her. Al and Jim sat as stiff as boards.

Lily couldn't focus on what the speaker was saying, something about how noble Teddy was. The words were inconsequential; they didn't matter. The gestures he made were pointless. Punctuating a dead man's life can only go so far.

The only thing Lily could adequately think of was that he was, indeed, dead. This made it official. He wasn't going to miraculously come gallivanting through the door. He wasn't going to show up at the annual barbeque at the end of August. He wasn't going to be around for Christmas. He wasn't going to see Flora off to Hogwarts. He just wasn't going to be there anymore.

His had been a pointless death, she knew. The thought made her sick. He didn't have to die. He didn't have to go and become a part of the auror department. He didn't have to risk his life. But he did. And why? So he could save others. It wasn't a foreign thought…it was just uncomfortable. She didn't even know what he had been doing. She wished she could lean over and ask her father; he would know.

The odd thing was, as pointless as his death was, it was also indescribably noble. All around her, people were paying respects to this self-sacrificing man, who gave up his livelihood and future for the livelihood and future of everyone else. Without his death, who knows what life would really be like? The emotions were like those of the Second War, she supposed. His death, like their deaths. This was as close as the modern wizard would get to that kind of honorable experience. An auror was probably the most important role in the modern world, the most useful, the most respected, the most everything. The best.

The eulogy ended. His remains were buried in the churchyard next to his parents. Her father said a few words. Lily didn't hear them. Her brothers said a few words. Lily didn't hear them. Her uncles and aunts said a few words. Lily didn't hear them. All she heard was the cacophony of honor, the noble burial of a hero, the din of glory.

As she walked away, her brows furrowed at the memory of Teddy, she was full of purpose.