Okay, so I'm just not feeling this story right now. I'm just not. I don't know why. I think I don't like how it's structured or something.

Anyways, unless I get a wild hair I probably won't update this again. Anytime soon that is.

But I might. Never know. LOL Stay safe during this pandemic. Don't touch anyone unless you have to.

Chapter 2

Fifth year, October 16

"I hate that bitch!"

Scorpius glanced up and smiled at his friend's scowling face. "Let me guess. Lily Potter turned you down again?"

"No," Lucas snapped. "She didn't turn me down. She didn't even deign to let me speak before walking away. In front of everyone!"

"Everyone knows she's stuck up, Canley. Why do you even try?" Scorpius was bored with his obsession with Lily Potter.

"Uh, let me see: she's pretty, she's rich, her family's famous, and she may not be pureblood, but she's half. Good enough for my parents."

"But her personality is awful," Scorpius threw back. "She's the most-argh! arrogant smart-ass I've ever met. And I've met most of my parent's friends, so that's saying something. I mean look at her."

Lily was sitting next to her cousin and best friend Rose Weasley writing furiously on a piece of parchment. Both girls were actually, but while Rose looked like a regular human being, Lily sat proudly with the same bitch expression on her face that had been making everyone dislike her since first year.

"There's a reason her only friend is Weasley."

"I wish someone would take her down a peg or two," Lucas grumbled, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

"Yeah, well, you have any dirt on her?" Scorpius asked, putting aside his homework for now.

Lucas sighed. "Not really. She never does anything wrong. She's the most boring person in the world, I think."

"She like any guys around here?"

"Not that anyone can tell."

Scorpius shrugged and went back to his homework. Lucas opened his mouth to say more, but before he could a voice dripping with irritation cut him off.

"Do you two mind being quieter? I can't hear exactly what you're saying, but the drone of your voices is very annoying." Lily Potter had turned around in her chair to glare at the two boys. "I know you don't care about things like grades or doing well in life after Hogwarts, but the rest of us do." Then she turned back around and continued writing.

The boys sat in silence, staring at the back of her head. Then Scorpius spoke.

"She is so going down."

XXXXX

Fifth Year, October 21

Lily's feet echoed against the stone corridor as she rushed to make it to patrol on time. This had not been her day. First her books went missing for three periods, then Peeves had dumped juice all over her at dinner causing her to have to leave to change, then the alarm she'd set for her ten o'clock patrols never went off. As it was, she had one minute to make it on time.

She rounded the corner and saw Malfoy already waiting, a worried expression on his face. "It's alright. I'm here." She stopped, breathless and hot.

"Is everything alright?" he asked in a concerned tone.

She glanced up suspiciously and then scowled. "Of course. I got held up in a meeting with the Headmistress, that's all." She couldn't tell him the real reason she was late. It was embarrassing. "Let's go. We've got-"

Scorpius interrupted her. "Your brother changed the schedule last minute. You and I are patrolling the dungeons."

Lily cocked her head, curious. "Why? He never said anything to me."

Scorpius shrugged. "Well he told me. Is it a problem?"

"No."

"Then let's go."

He started off and after a second she followed. She was content to stay behind him a bit and not talk, but he apparently did not feel the same.

"Have you ever been to the dungeons?"

"No."

"Never?"

She shoved down irritation and looked over. They descended the stairways quickly. "I've never had a reason to. I wasn't a prefect last year and everyone in my family is either in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. I think we have one Hufflepuff."

"Why weren't you a prefect last year? I've always wondered."

She glanced at him again. What was his problem? They didn't like each other and never talked unless it was necessary for class. "You wonder about my extracurricular activities?"

He snorted. "I mean, I didn't lose sleep over it or anything. I just wondered."

And it was none of his business, so she didn't answer. When they arrived at the dungeons, she let Scorpius lead the way.

Ugh, it's cold down here, she thought. How do the Slytherins stand it?

The hallways were quiet except for the distant sounds of the Slytherin common room.

"I'm going to grab a cloak from my dorm. You can wait inside if you want."

She resisted a sneer. "No, thanks. I'm fine, but hurry. We have a schedule to keep."

He rolled his eyes and turned to a part of the wall. He whispered something and a passageway appeared. After he left, Lily felt quite alone in the dark and silence.

She shivered and looked around. What a creepy House.

Several minutes went by and she grew impatient for Malfoy to return. "Where is he?"

Suddenly something whirred past her and she jumped back into the wall. Although it was darkened in the hallways, there were still several torches lit up and down it. "Hello?" she called out.

Nothing.

Then she began relaxing a bit, something moved past her again and knocked into her shoulder hard. She whipped out her wand and held it out. Her hand was steady.

Then something shoved her from behind and she fell forward, landing on her hands and knees. Before she could get up though, what felt like a shoe pushed her over onto her back. Something was around her throat but there was nothing in front of her. Whatever it was was invisible it seemed.

Where was Malfoy? She looked over at the wall and then clawed at whatever was choking her. Then her eyes widened a fraction. Against the wall, was a clear outline of a person. A shadow.

What it was, she had to clear her head and think before it killed her as it seemed to want to do. Nonverbal magic was harder, but she'd been practicing since fourth year. And given that she couldn't speak right now…

Raising her wand quickly in the direction of the shadow, she sent a blast from it that caused pieces of stone to flake off from the wall. The grip around her neck loosened but didn't let up.

Suddenly, a white-blonde head hovered over her, yelling something and pointing his wand and then she was free. She rolled over on the floor, coughing and gagging for air. Her vision cleared ever so slowly.

Strong hands gripped her shoulder and waist, pulling her up and leaning her against the wall. She wanted to shove Malfoy away but her arms were still tingly from lack of oxygen.

"Potter, are you alright?"

"What was that thing? It tried to kill me." She looked at him accusingly. For all she knew, it had come from him.

"I'm not sure but I think it was the Dark Shadow Curse." He actually looked worried. "Did you see anyone down here before it attacked you?"

"No. I just felt it. Like a person. Are you saying someone down here did this?"

Scorpius looked wary. "I'm not sure, but we need to go to the Hospital Wing now. It could've done lasting damage."

Lily ignored his outstretched hand and walked toward the stairs. After a moment, she asked, "How did you get it to go away?"

"I blasted the shadow with fire and it went away."

She narrowed her eyes. "But why didn't my spell work then? The Knockback Jinx. My aim was good."

Scorpius shrugged and went around her. "First of all, I have no idea. You're the genius. Second of all, you don't know where you're going so follow me."

She scowled but followed in silence.

"You're welcome, by the way, for saving your life."

"For all I know, you're the one who attacked me."

He snorted. "Merlin's sake, you're paranoid. Why would I attack you and then save you?"

"I don't know. Maybe to get me back for some perceived slight that I wouldn't even remember that probably happened days ago. Close?"

He chuckled. "Not even. If I wanted to get you back for something that wouldn't be the way I'd go about doing it."

"Oh yeah? How would you do it then?" The banter was keeping her mind off the fact she'd just almost died. It felt good.

"I'd probably mess up the thing you love the most in this world."

She looked at him sharply. "My family?"

"Jeez no, I meant your homework. I didn't even think you liked your family. Except for Weasley that is."

"Of course I like them. I love them."

He shrugged and pushed open the door to the Entrance Hall. The warm air felt amazing. For one moment, she felt Scorpius' hand lightly touch her shoulder as she walked past him and he shut the door.

"I just never see you talking to them. Or anyone really."

Lily fell silent beside him. Her throat felt raw from her attack, but she spoke anyway. "I… I'm a quiet person. I don't really like to talk much. I'm not very popular and Rose is my only friend. So there's no reason to talk really."

Scorpius slowed down a bit and glanced at her. "That's strange. Harry Potter's your dad. I always figured you and Albus would be the most popular kids at Hogwarts."

She snorted, a bitter look crossed her face. "Yeah," she muttered, but didn't offer up any more information. They walked in silence for a couple more minutes.

Then Lily spoke up. "It's none of your business but do you have idea what it's like to have Harry Potter as a father?"

He looked over in surprise. He'd never heard her say anything really except to Rose outside of class. Before he could answer, she went on.

"Imagine being a little kid and having strangers follow you around everywhere you go. Taking pictures and writing stories about you that aren't even true. Having people only want to be your friend because your dad's famous for something that happened before you were born. Boys asking you out on dates because they hope some of that fame will rub off on them. Never being able to trust anyone because early on you learned that everyone has an agenda. I don't talk to many people because…"

Malfoy finished it for her. "So you won't get hurt."

She nodded and they finished the walk in silence.

Later that night, Slytherin dorms

"So what happened?" Canley asked, excited to hear from Scorpius when he arrived back from the hospital wing.

Scorpius walked over and sat in a chair next to his friend. "After I 'saved' her we went to the hospital wing and got her checked out. You know, I thought you were just going to scare her, not go that far. You could've warned me."

Canley chuckled. "You had to be a hero, remember? I take it you were. What did she say afterwards?"

Scorpius sighed. He didn't really want to expose Lily's feelings but at the same time they were supposed to be getting revenge on her for six years of being such a bitch. "She whined a lot about how hard it is to come from a famous family. That sort of thing."

Canley snorted in disbelief. "Merlin, fame is wasted on most people, I tell you. What a brat."

"So what's next?"

His friend thought. "Let's play it by ear and see how she treats you tomorrow. I mean, she thinks you saved her life. She's gotta be a little grateful."

Scorpius wasn't so sure. Lily was intuitive and smart. He'd almost died when she'd accused him of sending the Shadow Curse. She hadn't been far off.

"Alright," he agreed, though reluctantly. Soon they would be able to publicly embarrass Potter and take her down a couple notches.

Fifth Year, October 31, Halloween Dance

"When are you going to quit dodging me, Potter?"

Lily looked up quickly into Scorpius' grinning face. Reluctantly, she smiled back. "You're really persistent, Malfoy. What do you want?"

He sat down in a chair next to her and waved at all the couples dancing in front of them. "I want to dance."

"No one's stopping you."

"I want to dance with you," he clarified. "I know, I know," he started before she could open her mouth, "You don't trust me. You don't trust anyone. Everyone's just out to get you. I know. But," he emphasized, "since I did save your life like a week ago it's only good manners to show your gratitude by giving me one dance."

Lily snorted and rolled her eyes.

Scorpius sighed at her silence and then leaned back in his chair. "Alright then. I suppose I could also just sit right here and keep you company. Where's Weasley, by the way?"

Lily turned her head to look over at Rose slow dancing with Devon Watts, a sixth year.

"Hmmm, I don't get it."

"Get what?"

Scorpius motioned with a hand towards the couple. "I mean, I know she's your friend and all, but I just don't see the attraction."

"Rose is very pretty," Lily said sternly. "You must be blind."

"You are far prettier than she is, and yet you sit here like a lump refusing to have any fun."

Lily stared at him. "Do you think this is my idea of fun?"

He shrugged. "Most girls do."

"Well, I'm not most girls," she muttered, looking down at her hands.

"That is very true. Okay, then let's go do something fun. Live a little for a change." A wicked gleam entered his eyes and for a moment Lily wasn't entirely sure what he meant. "Meet me in fifteen minutes outside the Herbology classroom."

"Herbology? What do you-?"

Before she could finish he was gone, leaving her staring after him. There was no way at all she was going to sneak out and meet Scorpius outside in the dark. She barely knew him. For all she knew, he wanted to go out there to maul her or something.

But he didn't really seem like that, the small voice that advocated her having fun and taking risks sounded in her head.

But you don't know him so he could seem like anything, the louder, more cautious voice said. You'll go out there and look stupid when he doesn't show up.

Lily clenched a fist. Malfoy didn't give her the same irritation that the other boys did. He'd never flirted with her or anything like that. Ever since that night in the dungeons when he'd saved her, he seemed to just be friendly.

She stood up. She was going. If she hurried, she'd make it on time.

"I didn't think you were going to come," Scorpius said when she cautiously entered the greenhouse.

"What do you want?" She coughed at the smell of dirt and the heat of the place.

He grinned and motioned her over to where a black bag sat on the dirt floor. "Come here." He crouched down and dug through it, producing two bottles, one of firewhiskey and the other butterbeer. "There's food too."

She stood over him with widened eyes. "Where did you get that?"

"I pilfered the kitchen for the food and butterbeer. The firewhiskey was Canley's."

She made a face at the name.

Scorpius held up his hands. "I know, he can be annoying sometimes, but we've been friends since first year. He's an okay guy, usually."

"He's transparent," she said bluntly, taking a seat on the dirt floor next to him. From their position, no one walking into the classroom could see them unless they stood up.

He raised a brow. "Oh?"

She took a drink of the butterbeer. "He's been asking me out since third year but he doesn't like me. I can tell."

Scorpius made a face. "Why are we talking about Canley anyway? I see enough of him everyday."

"Yeah, me too," Lily snorted.

He held up the bottle of firewhiskey and clinked against her butterbeer. "Cheers. To… what should we toast to?"

Lily cracked a smile. "I don't know."

He thought for a moment. "To new friends."

At that, Lily smiled shyly and for just a moment, her heartbeat sped up.

The next night, Slytherin Common Room

Scorpius walked through the passageway and stopped up short when he saw Canley surrounded by other boys in their grade and a couple of fourth years too. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Hey, Canley, I need to talk to you in private."

He laughed and looked around. "Come here first. I've just been letting them in on our little game we're playing with Lily Potter. Anything good yet?"

Scorpius' stomach flipped a bit. He'd come here to tell Canley that they should cool it with the revenge plot. Now it would be ten times harder with everyone in their year knowing. His friend walked over and slapped a hand on his back, leading Scorpius over to the group of boys.

Reluctantly, he filled them in on some of the details that he didn't feel too guilty about sharing, but his mind was whirring with ways to get himself out of this predicament.

Lily … wasn't as bad as he'd previously thought. She was beautiful and thoughtful and very insightful. It made him wonder why she couldn't see through him and schemes. He wished she would.