A/N – I am so sorry. Unbelievably sorry – but I have had the biggest block ever and I've just been so uninterested in every aspect of my life lately and it's been killing me that I haven't been as faithful a writer as I want to be and I am truly sorry :( I'm even sorrier at the purely abysmal length of the chapter.

I want to be able to say that next chapter will be longer . . . but I just don't know. I am so sorry!

Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter.

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Lily's P.O.V.

One minute, Scorpius and I were kissing in my kitchen and then the next a patronus from somebody I didn't recognise was flying through my house and Scorpius was following it without a backwards glance. No sooner had he gone than Dominique and my mother apparated in to my house telling me that there's been another riot at Azkaban and Selena had been injured there. Louis, as part of his final days of training, had been stationed in Azkaban as a guard and he too had been hurt. My father had been alerted by a guard at the prison when one of the guards reportedly died. My father ordered all active Auror's to the prison.

Shortly after that, we all got ushered to St. Mungo's by another unknown patronus. Dominique, my mother and I headed up to the overly familiar Auror's ward without even needing to look for directions or look up from the floor. We weren't surprised to see that some of the family were already here. My aunt Hermione was pacing like she normally did, her hand clutched at her throat, her brows furrowed together and a small frown on her face. Aunt Fleur was standing in front of the window onto the ward, which was covered with a curtain. She had one hand on the windowsill and another stoically at her side, Uncle Bill was leaning against the wall beside her. James was sitting in one of the chairs, he had his elbows on his knees and he was twirling his wedding band around his finger slowly, his eyes never leaving the thin silver ring. Albus was sitting beside him and Demi was sitting on Albus' other side. When they heard the three of us coming in everybody looked up.

"I'm used to waiting to hear news of you," Aunt Fleur glided over to the three of us and hugged Dominique gently. She softly pushed some of Dominique's hair out of her eyes and smiled slightly. "I theenk I can get used to waiting with you."

"Any news on the others?" Mum asked. She went over to sit beside James and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "How's Selena and Louis?"

"Sel got stabbed in the back. They're fixing her nerves right now." Demi said when James didn't utter a word. He just continued to look at the ring on his finger. "Louis got knocked unconscious and he cracked his skull." She added when Dominique opened her mouth to ask about her brother.

"A healer keeps running in and out – like that." Demi pointed to a youngish healer who came sprinting out of the ward and out of the corridor we were in. I caught a quick glance inside the room and saw Selena laying on her front in the bed closest to the door. The curtains weren't closed properly and I saw her bare back. The skin was stretched open and two trainee Healer's were holding a part of her back skin up and another, much older Healer had his wand pointing at some medical tools that were tugging something in her back.

"Oh my –" I had to put a hand over my mouth to stop me throwing up there and then.

Dominique looked at me and used her foot to slide over the small wastebasket in front of me. "I have mints in my bag, " she smirked at me.

"I don't need to –"

"Her tendons aren't attaching –"

The door swung open again and we all overheard Selena's Healer's discussing her treatment. The moment that I heard the words I envisioned the healer's that were holding parts of Selena's skin. The image of her skin flapping open like that – it was too much.

I fell to my knees and grabbed the rim of the wastebasket with my two hands and I felt myself begin to shake as I threw everything that was in my system up into the wastebasket. I felt somebody pull my hair out of my face and rub my back soothingly as I choked and spluttered on my own vomit.

# # #

"This pregnancy malarkey certainly has its drawbacks, huh?" Dominique chuckled as she handed me a bottle of water. As soon as the feeling of throwing up had subsided, the door opened again and I overheard how they had mended Louis' skull and it made me throw up again. I was fine after I emptied my stomach but then the main doors opened up and another Auror got rushed in, two uniformed guards were half dragging half carrying him into the ward and they left behind a long trail of blood.

That made me throw up too so Dominique decided to take me to the cafeteria where my mother would send a patronus as soon as Dad, Ron and Scorpius got back.

"Yeah. I'm a Potter, a Quidditch player and grew up with you – blood and guts don't bother me!" I rolled my eyes but took a hesitant sip of water. The backs of my teeth felt all slimy and my tongue had a coating of Merlin-knows-what.

Dominique grinned wryly and just shook her head.

"You could have stayed up there. You've seen blood and guts before." I pointed out. She just shrugged and shook her head.

"Nah, they've used lemon scented floor cleaning crap and that smell makes me . . . you know." She winked and smirked heavily. I burst out laughing and was about to ask her how lemon scented cleaning products could leave her horny when she beat me to it. "I have no idea. Jen was coming out of the shower the other night and she had used lemon shampoo and I just pushed her back in." Dominique's smirk turned into a broad grin.

"Didn't you feel horny last time?" she asked me curiously.

I nodded slowly, remembering how literally over night my sex drive went from zero to sky high. "It was weird because one night Scorpius had to sleep on the sofa and then the next he fell asleep still in me." I smirked, making Dominique screech with laughter. There were only another couple of customers in the canteen and they gave her such a filthy glare. If she wasn't in a hospital and they didn't have a table full of used tissues in front of them she definitely would have gave them the finger. Instead she apologised sincerely.

"Reports have come from Azkaban prison regarding the very recent prisoner riot. Head-Auror Harry James Potter authorised our spokesperson from the Ministry to release the following statements:

Guard Officer Erika James has died. Guard Officer Alexander Armstrong has died. Auror William Aherne has died. Auror Selena Potter, Auror Megan Johnson, Auror Timothy Carter, Auror Francesca Pucey are all in St. Mungo's hospital after suffering injuries.

Prisoner Antonin Dolohov has died.

More news to come. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased."

The sound of the radio behind the counter turned up so we could hear it. When the radio host's voice died down and a slow music song came on the volume went back down to the normal level. I felt the laughter leave my face as I saw it leave Dominique's.

"Antonin Dolohov." I whispered thinking of Uncle George and how relieved he must be now that he knows that the guy who killed his twin brother has died.

"The guy who killed Fred." Dominique nodded slowly. "I spoke to him once you know?"

"You did? Why?"

Dominique shrugged and reached over for my bottle of water. "I was a trainee and had to do a week of shifts at the prison. I walked past his cell and he called out to me." she muttered. "He asked me if a pretty little thing like me was prepared to add conjugal visits." She rolled her eyes.

"What did you do?"

"Looked at his name on the wall next to the cell, opened the cell door and beat the crap out of him. Told him my uncle George Weasley sends his regards." She chuckled deeply. "Then I spat on him and told him that it was for the uncle I never knew thanks to him."

I reached out and grabbed her hand. "He's dead now. Good riddance."

"Good riddance."

# # #

Dominique and I stayed in the canteen until just after the sun rose and then she said that Selena would probably be in recovery now, her back all put back together and Louis would be sleeping. We walked arm in arm back up to the ward and had just sat down in the two empty chairs between both of our mothers when the doors burst open again.

The doors burst open and Ron and Bobby rushed in, each of them half carrying half dragging a bloodied man in.

Ron had one arm around Dad. He had an arm around his waist and the other was clutching Dad's arm which was slung over his shoulder. Immediately James and Albus got up to bring him through the doors and into the ward.

My eyes travelled to Bobby when I saw a very brief flash of the white blonde hair that I knew too well.

Scorpius was being more carried than dragged. His head was lolling on Bobby's shoulder and the white shirt that my cousin's husband was wearing was completely blood soaked. Just over where Bobby's heart is was shining with blood.

With wet blood.

With fresh blood.

"Bobby –"

"HELP ME! HE'S BEEN STABBED IN THE THROAT! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" Bobby's scream could no doubt be heard four floors up it was so loud and so scary. Ron, now free from my dad, turned to help Bobby with Scorpius' top half while Uncle Bill and aunt Hermione each got one of his legs and the four of them marched him into the ward. Half a second later a team of Healer's came sprinting through the double doors.

I didn't get up from my chair. My feet wouldn't move and I honestly don't think that my legs would be strong enough to hold me up anyway. I watched as my uncles, Hermione, brothers and Bobby were all practically pushed out of the ward and then as the doors to the ward were slammed shut and locked.

Bobby was standing with his back to the wall, shaking slightly. Hermione was next to my mother. Ron was trying to calm Bobby down and my brothers were trying to look through the windows on either side of the doors. I felt my hand shake in my lap and looked down at it.

No other part of my body was shaking. Not even the arm of the hand that was shaking.

"What happened?" Dominique's voice carried over the small commotion of people bustling around in the ward.

"A prisoner came at me with a broken off piece of door. He got me to the ground and was just about to stab me in the heart with it when Scorpius tackled him off of me. I tried to help but another prisoner dived for me – it took me a few seconds to get my head together and restrain her. When I did, the prisoner was on the floor dead and Scorpius was on his knees, his hands clutching his throat . . . completely soaked in blood." Bobby whispered. He looked directly at Dominique when he spoke.

I followed his gaze and saw Dom sitting beside me. Her face was pale, she was nibbling her bottom lip nervously and her hands were on her stomach. Her foot was tapping on the floor nervously and erratically. She looked so scared and lost and honestly looked like she about to burst into tears any moment.

I reached out and took one of her hands in mine and let out a deep breath.

Right now at this very moment, she needed to be comforted about Scorpius more than I did.

"What about Dad?" Albus asked quietly. Demi went to stand behind him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He didn't move his face away from the window.

"He jumped in front of Greyback." Ron told us all.

My mother looked up sharply and exchanged a look with two of her brothers.

"I was trying to restrain a prisoner and Greyback got me from behind. He cut me a little and got me to the floor. He was gonna kill me when Harry jumped in front of the knife and then one of the Auror trainees took over and we came here –"

""Who's -?" James asked awkwardly.

We all knew that he was clearly somebody who was on the wrong side of the last war from the reactions of my mother and uncles and aunts.

"Werewolf." Dominique stood up and walked over to the window to try and get a look. She tapped her finger on the window and then the wall beside the window. "The one that made daddy ever so pretty." We all watched as she pulled out her wand and twirled it around her fingers. "Lily, look away." She muttered before she traced a shape identical to the window directly beside it.

I cringed when the shape she traced became transparent and the image of Scorpius sprawled on his back with a healer running a wand over his open throat.

My mother rushed to the make-shift window and then some other relatives hurried there too. I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach it though so I remained in my seat. I felt someone sit down beside me and take my hand.

"He'll be fine." Demi assured me softly.

I smiled slightly at her before I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes. Experience has taught me that I'll be here for a good few hours more so I might as well get comfortable.

# # #

Bobby and Ron left shortly after they arrived. My mother and aunt Hermione wanted them both to stay but they insisted on returning and help the remaining Auror's and guards try to restrain the prisoners. Demi left a couple of hours after we got the news that Selena would be perfectly fine; apparently she and Albus had floo-called one of her brothers and left Demetrius with him and she wanted to get back to him. She told James that she would pick Aphrodite and Jamie up from Freddie's house and bring them into the hospital during visiting hours and she said she'd send word to Astoria and Draco who were in Brazil.

That just left us waiting around until one by one they were all moved into separate wards. My father was allowed to leave first; he and my mother went to a private ward with my aunt Hermione and Albus going with them. Selena went to an all female adult ward with James holding her hand and then Louis went to an all male ward, with my aunt and uncle following.

Leaving Dominique and I sitting in the waiting room for Scorpius to wake up.

"I don't mind." Dominique said quietly as one Healer came out of the ward, a folder open in her hands.

"Don't mind what?" I yawned and stood up to stretch my legs.

"If you and Scorpius get together again." She pulled her legs up and tucked them under her bottom on the chair. I turned from reading a notice board full of advertisements for Rose's clothing line and George and Roxanne's joke shop to see her scratching the nail varnish off of her fingers.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard. I don't mind if you two become a couple –"

"Like we need your permission –"

"I am going to be the mother of his child –"

"That just means you get weekends free and thirty percent of his pay every month." I retorted with a slight laugh. Dominique looked up from her nails and winked at me teasingly.

# # #

"Mrs Malfoy?"

Astoria jumped up from her chair opposite the door and nodded her head eagerly. She and Draco arrived straight from Brazil about an hour ago and had joined Dominique and I in the waiting room. After them my mother wheeled my father down in a wheelchair and Jenna arrived with two basketfuls of provisions from my grandmother. Dominique and I were munching our way through a tin of homemade sausage rolls when one of the healers came out.

"Yes?"

"Mrs, Lily Malfoy?" the healer corrected herself. "Mr Malfoy's wife?"

I quickly swallowed the mouthful of sausage and stood up, wiping my mouth as I did so. "We're not married anymore." I muttered.

The healer frowned and glanced down at the folder in her hand. "He must not have updated his information. You're his only Next of Kin. You and a . . . Miss. Dominique Weasley?" she looked up and smiled slightly at Dominique. "I just need one of you to sign this."

Dominique hurried forwards and signed the parchment quickly and then looked at the healer expectantly.

"He's fine. He won't be able to use his voice for the next full day at least and he could have a very faint pink mark just over his Adams Apple –"

"So he's going to make a full recovery?" Astoria asked worriedly.

I didn't have a voice to speak with. All I could do was focus on breathing normally and trying not to run into that room and hug him until a healer told me he was in danger again.

"Yes and he's allowed visitors. Two at a time . . . he wants to speak to Lily first though." The healer nodded and smiled at me slightly. She opened her mouth to say something but I didn't stick around to hear it. I pushed past her and Dominique and hurried into the wing where Scorpius was. I slammed the door behind me.

He was lying in bed, propped up on pillows and looking around the room with a bored expression on his face. He had a black eye, a swollen cheek bone and a split lip but other than that. . .he looked absolutely perfect. Even the small and thin bandage wrapped around his throat made him even more desirable.

"Damn. Looks like I did die." Scorpius spoke gruffly, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Nope, still here." I smiled and walked over to sit on the edge of his bed.

"Well then I must be dying and an angel has come to escort me –"

"Your jokes suck, you know that?" I smacked his leg, making him chuckle.

His face twisted up in pain when he did that. I got up and went to call for the healer but he waved his hand and shook his head.

"They told . . . me to stop talk –"

"So shut your mouth then." I teased him, moving back to sit on the bed, this time I sat nearer his upper body though. My hand reached out to pull his up to rest on his chest. "In fact . . . you not being able to speak might be a good thing. Means you won't interrupt me." I took a deep breath, ignoring the slight shake to it and squeezed his hand tightly.

He looked right at me and it hurt me to see the fear and pain in his eyes. I didn't look away from them as I spoke.

"I thought of this big speech and all these fancy metaphors and anecdotes to tell you and try to impress you but they're not important right now." I whispered, scooting further up the bed so I was sitting beside his chest. "I mean, what use will they have ever been to us? Plain and simple . . . that's us." I laughed lightly.

"I love you, Scorpius Malfoy." I cupped his face, stroking the stubble there and gently touching the bruised and bloodied lip. "Even though you probably cause me more worry and stress than a million illegitimate children will! I don't care what people think, what people say or whatever - I love you and I need you and –"

I was cut off from saying anything else by Scorpius pushing himself up off of the bed and pressing his bloodied and bruised lips against mine. He put one hand to the back of my neck and the other to the small of my back and pulled me so we were both lying on the bed.

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A/N 2 – I know this is incredibly rude of me – but please check out my co-story with Jadeesunshine? She's so bloody talented that it makes me sick to my stomach! We're creating a storybaby and we have the most amazing ideas for this story so I'm excited for where it's going to go! You guys should check it out!