Before you read this chapter, I'd just like to mention a few things.

cacata—Thanks for informing me those mistakes. I've already changed the signed 'Lily' to 'Andrew'. And just to clarify things, if you've read about the Chudley Cannons part, it was actually James—not Ginny—on that team. Maybe you've just misread it. And I'm definitely following the cannon.

clovetf—I think I didn't make myself that clear. Yes, Scor and Lily have broken up last Chapter 43. They couldn't quite continue their relationship with Scor never coming back…

I think that's it. Continue reading…


CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE—SIXTH YEAR'S NO SPARK

On the first Saturday of term, I devoted my whole afternoon to the tryout for the team. Being player for Gryffindor for four years, I was surprised to find that there were a lot more Gryffindors trying out this year. When I pointed this out to Mitch, she gave me a bewildered look.

"Apparently," she said slowly, as if explaining something to a toddler, "it has everything to do with you being Captain. You're gorgeous, Lily, and even more so when you cut your hair."

I sighed. It wasn't far-fetched and I couldn't quite disagree with her so I just said nothing. It was true. To my annoyance, I was being an object for gossip once more. People would turn their heads whenever I pass. Some girls would mostly give me annoyed looks, as if I'd just ruined their day. The reason would be because almost all boys' heads would turn to me, giving me those looks that made me feel uneasy. I ignored them, though, and continued my way like I didn't notice anything.

Turning my head from her, I fixed my look on those trying out. "Everyone, line up and sort out to the positions you are trying out for!" I bellowed over the crowd. They obliged immediately and there started the tryout filling the vacant positions of Andrew, Al and Dominic—one Beater and two Chasers. It was a tough job, trying them all out, seeing as there was just loads who were trying out and only about a quarter of them really knows their thing. Half the boys there seemed to come there just to stare at me and it took all my energy to stop myself from hexing them. It wouldn't do me good, being a prefect and Captain, to get myself in detention, and probably lose both badges in the process.

So, I tried my best to be patient and finally, I felt satisfied with those whom I have chosen. The new Beater was Jennifer Robson's brother, Cody Robson, a fifth year. The two worked excellent together as Beaters that I was sure there would be no one better to fill their places. The new Chaser's were Dominic Thomas' brother, Paul Thomas, who was in my year, and by Thea Caryn, a really excellent third year girl.

Just as I was heading back to the Gryffindor common room with Des and Kat, three people blocked our way, looking smug.

There, standing in front of us, were Cassandra Turpin, Danielle Gray, and their gang leader, Stella Selwyn.

"Potter," Selwyn sneered, smirking condescendingly at me and I raised a cool eyebrow at her. "Poor Potter. Did Scorpius got tired of your ugly face and decided to break it up"

I rolled my eyes. "For your information, you pathetic, stupid, old pig," I said and was satisfied to see her expression harden, "it was a mutual decision—and none of your business, so poke your nose on somewhere else, will you? And you couldn't mock me since Scorpius"—I mentally ached at using his name out loud for the first time in months— "didn't exactly even just fancy you, did he?"

"You couldn't know that!" she exclaimed and I gave a mocking laugh.

"What?" I snapped. "Still thinking he has a secret crush on you? Grow up, Selwyn, and stop fantasizing about people who couldn't like you!"

"You—!"

"What's going on here?" asked somebody behind our backs and I turned around to see Robert Davies, looking as if on his Head Boy stance. He was looking directly at Selwyn, who seemed to want nothing more than to lunge herself at me. It took her only a few seconds, though, to remain her composure and I was slightly impressed at her demeanor. Only a Slytherin, I thought.

"Nothing," she said coolly. "We were just heading on our way."

With one final glare in our direction, she strode off, with her buddies flanking either side of her.

The moment the Slytherins were out of sight, Robert dropped his serious posture and I gave him a small smile.

"Thanks, Robert!" I said. "Although I could handle myself, you know."

He shrugged, flashing me a smile. "Just trying to become the proper Head Boy, you know…breaking up fights."

I ached internally at his choice of words…

breaking up fights…

…breaking up…

…breakup…

Fighting the painful memories that came resurfacing on my mind, I said, "Yeah, thanks. See you…"

And I continued my way towards the common rooms, with my best friends following me without saying a word, knowing what my mind and heart were dwelling with at the moment.


The following days passed and I carefully busied myself with studies, prefect duties and Quidditch practices. I didn't spend much time with Des and Kat lately because they've been egging me on dating someone already.

But one of them wouldn't give up, though.

It was already two months since the start of term—November. The Quidditch season is coming closer and I was practicing my team harder than ever. After one particularly successful practice, I lagged behind to fix things in the locker rooms, being Captain.

Just when I was about to come out of it, someone came in, startling me.

"What're you doing here, Des?" I asked carefully, letting it slip in my tone that I didn't want to talk about what she and I know she wanted to talk about.

"We need to talk," she said straightforwardly.

I sighed. "I know what you wanted to talk about but I don't want to talk about it," I said stubbornly.

"Lily, you have to," she said in a desperate voice. "We have to talk about it. You should move on already. It's been months, Lils, find someone else!"

I looked down on my feet, trying not to get mad at my best friend. That was one of those things I couldn't bring myself to do. I've been asked loads of times that I lost count; most of whom I didn't know existed until then. Some of them seemed arrogant or self-important or overconfident or pompous, or otherwise pathetic, but some of them seemed nice and good-looking enough.

In every case, though, I would blurt out a rejection immediately and mentally kicked myself sometimes after it.

"I've told you," I said heavily, "I don't want to date someone else, yet. Could you just—could you just drop it? Please…"

She sighed. "C'mon, Lils, you should at least give one of those poor blokes a chance," she insisted. "It's been what already? Four months, Lils, four months!"

"Well I'm sorry not everyone moves on that fast and suddenly flits through another bloke," I said coldly and left the room without another glance at her. I don't know why but this seemed one of the few things she couldn't understand about me…


We didn't fight again the next day though our conversations seemed too polite to say so. At breakfast, we barely said anything but, "Morning," "Pass the salt," and, "C'mon, let's head to Potions."

Our walk seemed unusually quiet, although there were shouts and yells across the corridors where the students were moving in their ways. It seemed more so because of the fact that Kat dropped off Potions for this year and only Des and I were walking together…

Finally, after what seemed like a very long walk, we reached the Potions classroom down the dungeons and took our usual seats at the back. We were asked today to brew a complex potion—Amortentia. I took the necessary ingredients from the store cupboard in silence and started on work.

The dungeon was full of different colors of smoke half an hour later, but I barely see them. I was too busy engrossing myself with the fumes of my own cauldron, which now contained a silvery stuff color, not yet quite the mother-of-pearl sheen that the book describes. After adding a few more ingredients, however, and stirring it fourteen times clockwise, and adding, upon pure instinct, a counterclockwise stir, it turned exactly that shade.

And just then, I could smell the scent of the grass on the Quidditch Field, of the wood of my broomstick, of a cookies-and-cream ice cream, of my favorite strawberry lip balm…and the smell of vanilla and honey, with slight mint…

"Wonderful, Miss Potter!" exclaimed Professor Greencap delightedly. "Take fifteen points to Gryffindor. Could you tell me what you smell, then?"

I smiled slightly. "I smell grass…on the Quidditch Field, and the smell of my broomstick, and my favorite dessert, strawberries and…well, someone's scent."

"Someone? Good Lord, I don't want to seem nosy," he said, shaking his head. "Well, done then, well done."

He turned around to examine the other tables and I was left on my own thoughts; Des was still busy with her potion.

It didn't seem that hard now to think about it, I thought. Maybe Des was right. I should get a life or else I'll get paranoid…maybe I'll just have to wait until a nice bloke asks me out again…Merlin, even no my own thoughts, I sound arrogant!

"Lily!" Des said, waving a hand in front of me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I was asking if I could borrow your scales."

"Yeah, sure," I said, handing it over. Without thinking, I added, "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. I reckon you're right. I guess I've just been quite temperamental a—"

"And sentimental," she added and I could see her smirking from as she continued on her potion.

"Right. I've bee quite sentimental, too, and that was really stupid of me. I've been starting to get less and less than the 'real me' if you know what I mean."

"That's called change," she agreed, finally looking up at me. "Still, it's good to see you've grown up, Lils, but there are other boys around and you ought to give them a try."

I nodded and felt the heavy weight of my heart lightened considerably.


It was mid-November and it started raining harder and harder once again. I was scheduled to do rounds on Wednesday evening so I went on the Entrance Hall to meet with whoever I was doing it with. Lately, it was usually Nate or Jonathan who accompanied me, and twice, the fifth year Slytherin prefect, Malcolm Hales.

I was surprised to find the Head Boy, evidently waiting for me there by the Entrance Hall.

"Hey, Robert," I said. "I thought Head Students were always supposed to do rounds together?"

"Well, Ashley isn't doing well today. She's in the hospital wing."

"Oh, is she alright?"

"She will be. Shall we get on with rounds?"

"Yeah. Yeah, of course."

And we began prowling the corridors of the castle for some troublemakers.

"So how's being ex-Captain, Keeper, and Head Boy rubbing on you?" I asked casually.

"Pretty hard, honestly. I was beginning to think of quitting on the team to focus on Head duties but it's not exactly easy to drop it."

"Must be hard to choose," I agreed.

"Yeah, I'm quite glad to drop off being Captain, with the state I'm going and what with the NEWTs coming about," he said. "Anyway, how's your team going? I heard you were doing an excellent job."

I smiled at the compliment. "Yes, of course. I would prefer nothing but the best, especially on Quidditch. I don't want to take any chances of other teams winning the Cup."

He chuckled. "I must try and grab it from you, then, even if I'm Captain no more."

"You could try," I said, smirking. "Good luck with that."

I heard him take a deep breath beside me.

"Lily, can I ask you something?"

The tone of his voice made me have an idea to what he was going to say.

"Fire away," I said.

"Er…well, I was wondering…since there's a Hogsmeade weekend next Saturday…would you like to…to go with me?"

I bit my lip, trying to decide how to phrase it. He seemed uncomfortable enough…maybe he was really serious.

"I couldn't go on Saturday, I have a practice with the team," I said, looking up at his crestfallen face and smiled. "We could do with another weekend, though. What say you?"

Slowly, his face broke into a grin and I found my lips were doing the same.

"You don't know how you've made my day, Lily," he said. "I've been meaning to ask you out for a while."

"It's good you did, then," I whispered. He leaned down and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck as his lips found mine, and old emotions, physical, came rushing after me. I felt warmer at his touch. His lips were soft, but slightly rougher compared to Scor's, as it gently caressed mine at first, but then I let him gain more entrance and I could taste his tongue…it wasn't anything near the vanilla or honey I was expecting that I felt myself pulling away.

Opening my eyes, I found them staring not at a pair of silver eyes, but blue. Feeling slightly guilty, I leaned my lips back up to him, this time thinking it was Robert's lips I was kissing, not Scorpius'…I should stop comparing them.

Pulling away, I gave Robert a small smile.

"You're a better kisser than I thought," he whispered, his eyes slightly dazed and I smiled slightly.

"I take that as a compliment then," I said, holding his hand as we continued rounds, trying not to think too much that this hand was slightly bigger, rougher and colder than I was used to.


The news that Robert and I were going out spread around the school during the weekend. It caused such a stir because he was famous for girls and a Head Boy whereas I was Lily Potter. Just hearing my name brings no need to elaborate more. I would be surprised if anyone above second year didn't know my name.

"Looks like our Lily's back," Kat said, grinning at me as we entered the Great Hall that Saturday. "Everyone's talking about you again."

"Great," I said sarcastically. "Bloody awesome. That's exactly what I wanted, everyone talking about me behind my back, probably with a hoard of females plotting my murder."

Des and Kat laughed.

"Anyway, I was beginning to wonder what made you go out with him," Des said.

I shrugged. "He's...attractive, I guess."

"Too right, you are," she said, beaming at me.

Just then, hundreds of owls soared up from the Great Hall, delivering the morning post and one of them went flying towards Des.

"Who's it from?" Kat asked.

Des grinned. "It's from Al," she said, her eyes sparkling.

"Open it," I said.

"Yeah, we'll read it over here."

Des tore it open and we read over her shoulder.


Dear Desiree,

I miss you already. It's quite boring here, see, and a bit colder, if you know what I mean. Anyway, about your letter last Thursday, well, I'm quite pleased to here Lily's doing fine. And the one you've asked, well, I've been going on quite well in my job.

Well, it's really more than 'quite well', actually. It was an exciting job, curse-breaking. It's not some boring Ministry work…well, not all Ministry works are boring because Aurors are bound to have great adventures but there's just too much peace today for them to have that great to do.

Anyway, I'm coming over there at Hogwarts next Saturday for Lily's first match as Captain. Save me a seat. I'm looking forward to see you soon. Hope you didn't find some ugly bloke to play hearts with.

I love you.

Albus


Des was smiling as she finished reading the letter and tucked it inside her pocket.

"You never told me he loves you," I commented.

"Well, he does," she said. "I just…didn't say it back, yet."

"Yet?" I said questioningly. "So that means you're going to say it back?"

She smiled and nodded. "It has a bit of something to do with you, actually. I was afraid when he told me that…last summer. But I remembered what you said…"

"Exactly how many conversations have you two gone on without me?" Kat asked in a would-be casual voice, except that her expression gave it all away.

"Sorry, Kat, but it was ages ago…when we had an argument last year, we didn't exactly tell you what we fought about, did we?" I said apologetically.

"It's okay," she said, sighing. "Anyway,"—she turned to Des—"just continue…"

"Well, you said it would've been better to say it than keep it," Des said, looking at me. "And now that I think of it, I should probably tell him when he comes here. I'll just have to be honest, right."

"Look where that's got me," I mumbled moodily. "Anyway, it's different on you two. You seem meant to be together."

"Well, there you have it then. Maybe you were meant to be with Robert," she said, eyeing the said person's figure rising from the Ravenclaw table, making his way toward me.

"I don't think so," I mumbled just before Robert reached me.

"Hey Lils," he said, sitting between me and Des and putting an arm around my waist. "You don't mind me visiting you here, do you?"

I shrugged. "Well, it wouldn't set a good example for Head Boy to go wandering off other tables, you know."

He chuckled. "You're probably right, but who the hell cares anyway?"

Me, because many eyes are following me, me, ME!I thought but instead, said, "Yeah. Who would've cared?"

I suddenly grew slightly annoyed of getting myself into this 'relationship' when people started paying me a more attention once more. I wish I have my old long hair back, so that I could hide myself on those curtains. I feel more exposed with my now shorter hair.

"Walk with me," he said, standing up and taking my hand.

"Er, why in particular?" I asked.

"It's not raining today. Good weather."

"Right," I said, stifling a sigh as I murmured goodbyes to Des and Kat.


We strolled on the grounds and he dragged me to where a large, oak tree stood, standing not too far away from the beech tree I've grown used to.

He sat on the edge of the tree and pulled me to his lap, engulfing me in his warm embrace in a pair of arms I wasn't used to…

For a few moments, we were silent as he stroked absentmindedly my short, red hair. I closed my eyes, trying not to think of someone else doing this and letting Robert's name repeat a thousand times in my head, reminding me it was him.

"Lily," he whispered in my ear and I opened my eyes, looking in to him.

"Mmm?" I mumbled.

"I've been meaning to this all week…"

And he leaned down and closed the distance between us, crushing his lips into mine that they no longer felt the same soft the other, but slightly rougher and more aggressive. I responded equally, trying to let all my senses break and just feel him…He's Robert, I kept reminding myself.

I let him gain entrance on my tongue without protest. I didn't feel bothered as I felt a hand caressing my toned stomach or when I felt my back behind the tree and just let him kiss me. It was arousing my physical senses that I felt lighter, my thoughts in a swirl. I've never been kissed like this before…it was rough, demanding, too sensual…

I felt his hands hitch further up inside my shirt and froze for a moment and said, "Stop."

His eyes opened and found mine, and yet, I didn't feel the same feeling I felt when Scor had looked me with his silver eyes countless times before. I didn't feel the same intensity…

"Sorry," he murmured, pulling himself from me and sitting on my side. "I…didn't mean to…"

"Just…shut up for a moment, will you?" I said, trying to think what was best to do—should I continue this, I don't know. I know deep inside me that if it was Scor, I wouldn't have minded and welcomed the touch pleasurably…but I could feel differently after months, right?

"Lily, I really am—"

"Don't apologize," I cut in. "Just—just don't go further up, will you? I don't want to take this too fast."

He nodded in understanding, but there was definitely a hint of annoyance in his expression that only my shrewd, observant eyes would see.

"Let's go back to the castle now, shall we?" I said, standing up. "I still got practice in an hour. I want a head start."

"Yeah, sure," he said and stood up from the ground and the two of us walked back to the castle hand in hand.


It was the early in the mornings of the first match of the season—Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. I woke up early like I usually did and braced myself for the game. Washing my face in the bathroom, I noted that my reflection looked slightly different in the mirror. It wasn't because of the change in the length of my hair, because I've already gotten used to it. Somehow, I looked different. Looking back, I wasn't this tall and my face was a bit more round. Now, it has taken a shape that shows how much I've matured in physical. There was seriousness in my face that didn't much surface before and I let my mind wander…

I was always used to taking everything lightly; I still do. That doesn't mean I couldn't do with some growing up…a bit more. I took my responsibilities on the team seriously, making every practice worth it. I made sure I wouldn't neglect my prefect duties. And if I've been taking my studies lightly before, this year was different. You would rarely find 'Lily Potter' inside a library in the past years, unless you counted those days when I was studying with my ex, or else helping Kat out of her miseries.

Now, though, I've taken everything with responsibility. I divided my time with my friends, duties, studies, practices and Robert in a reasonable amount each. I've grown used to Robert's presence through the course of the week and gotten to know him better. Sure, there were those times when all we do was snogging, but there was more to him than just that. He was a tad studious, so sometimes we spend our time in the library. He was planning on working on the Ministry when he graduated. He would steal kisses sometimes whenever I'm babbling things and I found myself having a bit of fun with him.

Sometimes, I would think he could better pass off as my friend, just minus the sensual acts, but he seemed doing a nice job covering as boyfriend. He'd taken to doing patrols with me whenever I was in schedule, insisting that Ashley Harwood, the Head Girl, a Gryffindor, didn't mind patrolling with the seventh year Gryffindor prefect, Kendall Michaels. Yesterday, third time we've done rounds together; he pulled me inside a broom closet and brought me out of my senses once more. It brought me another memory, a hazy memory that I was, for once, able to forget for a moment…But without Robert here to distract me, that memory seemed more solid in my mind and…

Pulling myself back from my reverie, I saw my own eyes looking back at me from the mirror. My heart was thudding fast, as though I'd just ran a hundred miles. Hastily pulling myself together, I grabbed a towel, wiped my face, and dashed out of the bathroom.

Dressed in day clothes, I went down to the Great Hall on my own for breakfast. I didn't want to wake Kat and Des up. Mitch was already there so I sat beside her. The moment I sat, she fixed me a curious look.

"You never had nerves before a game," she commented. "Why do you seem to be anxious now, though?"

I sighed, thinking I couldn't tell her the truth. "I'm Captain, now, remember? 'Course I'd be nervous on my first game on my first year of Captainship," I lied convincingly.

"Yeah…I bet."

Shortly after, the rest of the team arrived and after what seemed like merely a few seconds, it was already time for the game."

I shook hands with the new Captain Harold Moon, a tall, menacing-looking seventh year. I could tell he was trying to crush my hands with his grip, but I didn't wince. It would take more than that to push me down. I've suffered worse.

On Professor Wood's whistle, I soared high up in the air, in search for the Snitch. I wasn't paying attention to the commentary lately and I was stunned to see that the new Slytherin Seeker was—

"SELWYN?" I yelled and practically laughed and she glared at me. "Honestly, you've got nothing on me."

She made a noise between a shriek and groan but before she had the chance to retort, however, a Bludger streak past us and I flew at the other end of the pitch in the process of avoiding it.

I continued circling around the Pitch, searching for the elusive Snitch. Half an hour past already and the current score was 130-40 to Gryffindor. I should get the Snitch, though, because there we'd lose if Selwyn gets it.

And there it was, hovering a few feet above the ground, near the Gryffindor posts. I dived straight towards it, extending one hand, not letting my eyes lose sight of it. A Bludger passed a few inches from my left ear but I paid no attention to it. I could hear Selwyn speeding behind my back, but, too late. I wrapped my tiny hands on the Snitch and steered my broom just before I hit the ground.

Grinning, I raised the Snitch high above me, hearing the cheers of everybody.


"You're awesome, Lils!" Al said when I reached the outside of the locker rooms. I grinned and hugged him, laughing. Des smiled at me behind his back.

"Thanks, Al! How's Gringotts?"

"Amazing," he answered, grinning back. "Anyway, congratulations Captain! I knew you'd do a great job!"

"Thanks," I said again. "Anyway, I'd better talk to the team. See you, later!"

He and Des strode past me, heading towards the castle.

I gave the team a short talk, praising everyone, before changing once again on casual clothes. As usual, I was the last to come out there as Captain. Turning off the lights with a flick of my wand, I was about to come out of the door when somebody there blocked my way, leaning his forehead on me.

"Hey, Lils," Robert said. He pushed me back inside and closed the door with his foot. There was little light now aside from the gap from the door and the translucent light from the windows through the curtains.

"Congrats on winning. It was quite a catch."

"Thanks," I said, smiling at him as he wrapped his arms around me as I wrapped mine around his neck, our foreheads still touching.

"You're still beautiful," he whispered, flashing me a smile I half-saw in the little light.

Simultaneously, we leaned towards each other for a kiss, and this time, I wrapped my legs around his waist, resolving the height distance. It has been like that around us…mostly snogging, but I didn't care, though, as long as I still get some pleasure on it. I felt him walk without breaking the kiss and before I knew it, the two of us have fallen gently on a couch, with him on top of me. His hand slid inside my blouse once more, but this time, he didn't push it up, for which I was glad.

After some time, we pulled away, both gasping for breath. He rolled over and lied beside me, hugging me and trailing off kisses from the nape of my neck, to my jaw, to my cheek and back again and I would occasionally let out soft moans of pleasure.

"Mmm," I mumbled. "We should get out here, now, Scor; they might look for us."

I felt his lips hover on my neck for a moment and shivered slightly. He fixed me a confused look and frowned and I felt as if I've made a mistake. Whether he didn't hear me or chose to ignore my comment, I didn't know, because he suddenly crushed his lips to my mine again and I was savaged with pure pleasure of the physical attraction he could bring me.

With difficulty, I pulled away and opened my eyes, looking straight at him.

"I need to go. There's a party in the common room and they'll wonder where I've been," I said.

"Yeah, sure," he said breathlessly that I wondered how much effect I had on him. I didn't sound that breathless, I was sure of that.

Standing up, I noticed that two buttons of my blouse were open. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I didn't know the Head Boy was such a bad boy," I commented, righting my shirt again.

"Sorry about that…I…didn't know what I was doing most of the time."

With a flick of my wand, I turned the lights back on and turned to look myself in the mirror. With another flick of my wand, my hair and clothes smoothed out.

"You coming?" I asked him, making my way towards the door, holding out my hand. He smiled and nodded and the two of us went to the castle together.


Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and suddenly, I found myself at home once again. it was Christmas, but unlike the usual tradition, we're spending it here at home and not at the Burrow. Most of my cousins seemed busy and even James only had three days before he went off to practice again.

"How's the Cannons going?" I asked him.

"It was…great, actually," he said, grinning. "I was due to play next Season, though. They're saving me."

I grinned at him. "So my brother's a secret weapon, then?"

"Indeed, I am," he laughed. "Who's this Davies bloke I've heard about, anyway?" he asked suddenly.

"None of your business," I said pointedly. "How's Marian coping up with your schedule?" I asked, hastily changing the subject. It worked.

"She's fine with it, sometimes coming with me through practice when she doesn't have work. She's working as trainee Healer in St. Mungo's now."

"It would probably do you good," Al said, "seeing as you'd get more and more injuries the moment you play in the League."

"Too right, you are, brother!" James said, not in the slightest scared of the idea of him sporting injuries.

"Lily," Mum said, appearing in the sitting room, an apron wrapped around her waist and a package in her hand, "There's a late present for you, here. Might have gone amiss. The poor owl's just set off after I gave her some potions."

I stood up and took a small parcel in her hands, tucking it inside my pocket.

"What's inside it?" James asked curiously, taking a glance at the spot where I put it. He made to grab it but found my wand pointing at him instead. He merely scowled and edged away.

Smirking, I said, "It's really fun to be of age, now."

Al and I laughed at the expression of our eldest brother.

"Just because you turned seventeen yesterday, doesn't mean—" he began but someone cut him off.

"Doesn't mean what, James?" Dad asked, slipping pass the door unnoticed by any of us.

"Nothing, Dad," James said, grinning slyly.

"You've tested your gift yet, Lily?" he asked me and I shook my head. Yesterday, on my birthday, to my astonishment, they bought me a grand piano which was now lying in the drawing room, still untouched.

"Why don't you try, then?"

"I'm not yet up to it. I'm nervous," I said but the truth was, I was afraid…the last time I played on a grand piano; it was in the Malfoy Manor, the time when Scor saved me from his best mate.

"Lily? Nervous?" Al repeated. "Those two words don't make sense together. The three men laughed and I let them to it.

"I'll just go up in my room," I said with every intention of opening the new gift that arrived to me this night when Christmas was close to coming to an end.

There was a letter but I saved it first and opened the gift. Inside a medium size elegantly carved box, was a necklace with an emerald-lily pendant dangling on it. The moment my hand touched it, music filled my ears, a kind of music I've never heard before. It didn't seem to be coming from the pendant, but from inside my own ears. I sat there, stunned, for a few moments before putting it around my neck. The moment I ceased to touch the lily-pendant, the music stopped. I looked down at it, marveling it's beauty, before tucking it inside my shirt.

I took the letter lying on my bed and opened it. For a moment, my vision seemed to be filled with white light and I shielded my eyes. And then, the light was gone.

There, hovering above the letter was a real lily. It was white and pure, and yet, it seemed to give off a glow that not all lilies have.

"I took it and gave it and inhaled its scent. It was the smell of a strawberry…the exact strawberry-scent of my lip balm.

My heartbeat quickened and there was no doubt in my mind now of the person who sent these gifts.

I took the letter and read. It was short.

...

Lily,

Merry Christmas and happy birthday…I wish you all the best…

x'

...

Though the handwriting was different, though there was no signature, I have no doubt that it was him who sent this and before I could help it, a single tear slipped as the heavy weight of loss powered over me once more.


I've never felt tougher than I had before. I didn't take off the necklace he gave me. After a couple of tries, I succeeded in playing that wonderful music in the piano that my whole family wondered where I've gotten such kind of music.

"I remember the sound of a phoenix's song," Dad had murmured after I played.

Before I knew it, I was back at school, with a new light in my heart that he was still there…that there was a tiny hope I could even just see him again.

Through the rest of the school year, I continued with life and was almost back to normal. I wouldn't do anything much too reckless with Robert anymore and just satisfied myself with small kisses. I didn't exhaust myself with practice, studies and duties and spent more time with my friends now more than ever.

Months passed and there wasn't a day when I didn't remember him. It was a just tad painful now, but more so whenever I remember him while holding another's hand…

I got through my life with more laughs and smiles. Whenever I think of him, I would touch the pendant of the necklace he gave… I know he gave it, even if he charmed his writing or didn't put a name…

I found that no one would hear it but me, for which I was glad of. I wouldn't cry anymore, no. I still love him. That part wouldn't go away, even as time passes. Still, if he were here, he'd tell me to stop moping around and get a life. So here I am…

Time seemed to fly fast and before I knew it, exams were over and it was only a few days time before I went back home.

"Lily," Robert said as we were sitting on the empty stands, the wind breezing on our hair. My hair have grown slightly longer over the course of the year, and I wasn't about to cut it again. I felt like, as it grows, the real me was growing back.

"Mmm?"

"I was wondering…I'm out of Hogwarts after this…"

"Yeah, I was wondering about that, too…" I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the face. "I think we should break up," I said straightforwardly that his eyes widened in surprise.

"I—er, what?"

I sighed. "I think we should break up. I'll be honest with you, we don't actually—"

"Work out?" he suggested and I was stunned to see that he was chuckling. "Yeah, I thought so, too."

I smiled at him. "Well, I must be off, then…"

I barely took three steps when he called my name again.

"Yes?"

"Just so you know," he said, "you've called me another name when we were kissing one time…after the Gryffindor and Slytherin match. I've known you still have feelings for him. He's a lucky bloke, I don't know why he let go of you."

"What're you talking about?" I asked, confused.

He smiled. "You called me Scor, that's all. I knew from that moment on we have no spark but that didn't stop me from trying."

I blinked for a few moments, but couldn't remember. "Now you're making me feel like I've cheated on you," I said with a slight shame on my voice.

"Don't worry 'bout that," he said. "Off you go, then."

I smiled at him and set off down the stands and towards the grounds. Heading to the beech tree by the Lake, I sat under it and stared ahead, touching the pendant of my necklace and hearing the music of my heart's desire and knew that it was still Scorpius.


That's about it...

About five chapters left :)

And I'll edit all of the chapters once again, for greater measure. :)

See you all 'til the end!

Thanks for reading! Please review!