Intro note: Hello again and Happy May Day! I'm really thankful that so many people read the last chapter after such a long hiatus! This one is quite emotional (and there's a lot of crying), so heads up on that. Songs I found inspiring are: "Love Love Love" & "Black Water" –Of Monsters and Men; "Pictures of You" –The Cure; "Always in my Head" –Coldplay; "The Next Right Thing" –Frozen 2 soundtrack. The drama simmers down after this, so please hang in there! We'll get through this ;_;

- 7 -

Three of Swords

*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Lily Rose awoke with a cry of horror. The darkness was disorienting, and it took her a moment to realize that what she'd just experienced had only been a nightmare. It isn't real, she told herself. It didn't happen! But the scene played itself over and over again in her mind… she could still feel her hand plunging the dagger into Louis' chest… could still see the awful look of disbelief and betrayal in his innocent blue eyes.

"You've killed me. How could you when I love you so much?" The nightmare might have been merely a psychological reflection of her guilty state of mind, but the logic of that didn't make her feel any better. Because wouldn't rejecting him be a symbolic knife to the heart? I can't do that to him. I'll have to say yes.

"Lily Rose, are you okay?" Selena asked, pulling the bed curtains aside.

"No," she replied, her voice tight with emotion.

"Come with me. We can talk this out in the common room," Selena said gently, holding out her dressing robe. Lily Rose shrugged it on and followed her friend into the hall. Selena put a comforting arm around her shoulders as they descended the stairs. Lily Rose leaned against her, trying to hold back the sobs.

When they reached the common room, Selena directed her to sit down on the sofa while she lit a fire for them. Shivering, Lily Rose drew her knees up to her chest. Am I in shock? Is that why I'm so cold? For a while, they just sat there together while Lily Rose cried. When she was finally able to speak again, she told her about Louis' confession and the horrible nightmare.

"The three of swords," Selena said sympathetically. "I've been getting that card all week."

"Can your cards tell me what to do?" she asked, wiping at her tear-stained face with the sleeves of her robe.

"You already know, don't you?"

"I should probably give Louis a chance."

Selena frowned. "You'd do that, even though you're in love with someone else?"

Her stomach sank. Freddie. "I tried to tell him while we were dancing, but he wouldn't let me. I don't think he feels the same way about me." Selena said nothing, just gazed back at her with those searching hazel eyes that made her want to explain herself. "I've always known that Louis had feelings for me, but I never discouraged him because I couldn't bear to hurt him. And I see now what a mistake that was, because by not saying anything, I gave him a false sense of hope; I prevented him from being able to move on. In a way, my kindness was a cruelty. I feel like I have to atone for that."

There was a long moment of silence. "And you don't think that dating someone out of pity is also a cruel thing to do?" Selena asked.

"Yes… when you put it that way." She chewed on bottom lip for a moment. "I'm just worried that I won't be able to get the words out when I go there to tell him."

"Lily Rose, I know you don't want to hurt Louis, but it seems to me that something else is holding you back. Why are you hesitating?"

"I don't want to let everyone down. The Weasleys are like my second family, and I'm really close to Louis' mother and sister. If I break his heart, they're going to hate me."

"Hate is an awfully strong word," Selena pointed out.

"Fine. They'll be disappointed in me then."

"Maybe, but that's just a fact of life. You're going to disappoint people because you aren't perfect. No one is. And if you try to live up to everyone's expectations, you'll end up miserable. You can't always put others first – you have to think of yourself too. I know that might go against the kind of person you try to be, but this mindset you have can be very damaging. This is your life, and the goal here is for you to be happy."

Lily Rose let the realization sink in. She was right of course. "I know. It's just hard for me. And I honestly don't know what to say."

"Well, have you read any books where someone rejected another character because they couldn't return their feelings?"

Now this was something Lily Rose could relate to! She thought for a moment. "Yes, it happened with Cassandra and Stephen in I Capture the Castle."

"Okay, and how did that go?"

"It was a disaster. Cassandra was hopelessly in love with her sister's fiancé, but she let Stephen kiss her because she was lonely and depressed. She rejected him later on, and it broke his heart because he'd been in love with her since they were children."

"Sounds like a similar situation to your own. And did Stephen recover from the rejection?" Selena asked.

"I think so. I mean the book doesn't show it, but Stephen got a career as an actor, so I doubt he would have dwelt on it for very long. Cassandra represented the past that he was desperately trying to hold onto. Stephen might have been afraid of change – of taking the next step. Or that's how it always seemed to me anyway."

"Hmm, Louis and Stephen seem to have that in common. Well, for what it's worth, I think he'll be fine. It might take him a few months, but the new direction he's headed in is a positive one."

That made Lily Rose feel better. "You really think so?"

"Absolutely. You're both stuck right now, and this confrontation has to happen for the two of you to finally move forward."

"That's a good point." Lily Rose gave her a little smile. "Thanks for listening to me. I don't know what I'd do without your wisdom."

Selena returned her smile. "You're welcome. The lead up is always the worst part, but once you're there, you'll know what to say. Just speak from your heart and Louis will understand."

"Okay. I'll try my best."

"Good. Are you ready to go back upstairs now?"

"No, I want to stay down here a bit longer. You can go up though." Lily Rose gave her a hug. "Thank you for being such a good friend."

Selena patted her back. "I'm always glad to help."

They said goodnight, and once Selena was gone, Lily Rose lay down on the sofa. She watched the flames flickering in the grate, feeling calmer than she did before. Selena had helped her reason it out; she could see now that accepting Louis was utterly impossible. Even if Freddie hadn't been in the picture, she knew that her feelings wouldn't change. And dating Louis knowing that would only get his hopes up even more.

Lily Rose shut her swollen eyes. Within a minute, she'd drifted into an exhausted sleep. This time, there were no nightmares – only a pleasant dream about Freddie. She was outside her house, watching him stride across the grass with a big smile on his face. He caught her up in his arms, and as they held each other, she knew that everything would work out in the end.

*.*.*

Louis didn't see Lily Rose at breakfast, but she was in the Great Hall for lunch. As he approached their table, his stomach filled with nervous butterflies. The excited courage from the night before had vanished; all that remained now was a reckoning he didn't feel ready for. But there was no taking it back – Louis would have to face her. She gave him a little smile as he sat down beside Freddie. An uncomfortable lump had formed in his throat. He took a swig of pumpkin juice.

"Louis, have you decided to go on the student exchange yet?" Lucy asked.

He shook his head. "I have until the first of July to let McGonagall know."

"I'm peeved this exchange program wasn't done a year earlier," Lily Rose said. "I would have definitely signed up for it."

Louis met her gaze across the table. "Really? What school would you have chosen?"

"Ilvermorny. I read up on the houses, but I'm torn between Horned Serpent and Pukwudgie."

"You'd be in the one for brains," Freddie teased.

"That's Horned Serpent, but Pukwudgie favors Healers and that's the career I'm leaning towards after Hogwarts," Lily Rose replied. "Plus, if I had to choose between the head or the heart, I would choose the heart every time."

The kids chatted about the Ilvermorny houses for a bit. Freddie would be Wampus because he was an athletic warrior type; Louis and Molly would be Thunderbird because they liked to travel; Scorpius and Lucy would be Horned Serpent because they favored intellectual pursuits; Lily Rose, Aisling, and Selena would be Pukwudgie because they loved helping others.

"Beauxbatons doesn't have houses," Louis informed them. "Students are sorted by years there."

"I think that's better," Molly added. "I know that Hogwarts likes tradition, but sorting does create divisions between us."

Lucy leaned across the table to snag a plate of chips. "Then what does Beauxbatons do about Quidditch teams?"

"Well, obviously they have them or I wouldn't be considering it," he said, letting a sarcastic edge creep into his voice.

Lucy tossed a chip at him. "No, I meant how do you know which team to join if it isn't house based?"

"Beauxbatons has academic clubs instead. So even though I'll be sharing a dorm with students from my year, there's separate club common rooms for studying and socializing. And the Quidditch teams are based on that," Louis explained.

"Oh, that's brilliant! Have you thought about which one you'll join?" Lily Rose asked.

Her enthusiasm made him wince. Is she trying to get rid of me or something? "Not yet. There's an orientation period with the clubs, so I'll have two weeks to visit before deciding. But that's if I even go on the exchange," he reminded them.

Molly and Lucy seemed hell bent that he should, and it was starting to annoy him. "Look, can we change the subject? This is my decision to make, not yours. I'll do what I think is best for me."

"You don't know what's best for you," Lucy scoffed.

"Oi, Luce, you're bang out of line," Freddie said, shooting her a glare. "Stop being such an interfering harpy."

Lucy's eyes flashed. "Oh, you did not just say that to me! I'm about this close," she said, holding her thumb and pointer finger an inch apart, "to challenging you to a duel."

Freddie laughed. "Go ahead, firecracker. We both know I'll win."

Lucy stood up in a huff. "That's it – we're going outside right now!"

"Excuse me, but as a Prefect, I will not condone dueling on school grounds," Lily Rose reminded them. "I'm afraid you'll have to take this fight back to the Burrow."

With the tension crackling in the air, Louis felt the sudden urge to leave. He couldn't deal with any more interrogations about his future. "I'm going for a walk," he said, rising from his chair.

"Can I join you?" Lily Rose asked.

His stomach gave an anxious somersault. "Yeah, of course," he replied, even though he would have preferred to be alone. Everything was going wrong… it was all becoming too real. I shouldn't have confessed, he thought as they left the Great Hall together.

"I'm sorry about what happened in there," Lily Rose said. "Molly and Lucy mean well, but they shouldn't have pressured you like that."

Louis shrugged. "They do it all the time. Everyone in my family thinks they know better."

"Yeah, I'm sure that can get annoying after a while."

"Maybe I should go on the exchange just to get away from them," he said bitterly.

"Umm, should I leave you alone for a while?" Lily Rose asked after a moment of silence. "We can always talk later."

Louis shook his head. "No, we shouldn't put this conversation off any longer. Just let me cool down, okay? Meet me on the Quidditch pitch in ten minutes."

"Okay," she agreed, letting him go ahead of her.

He jammed his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. Get it together, he told himself. Don't let it spiral out of control. No matter what Lily Rose said to him, Louis would accept it; he wouldn't be one of those jackasses who threw a tantrum because he couldn't have his way.

His stomach was still tied up in knots when he stepped onto the pitch. As he walked across the damp grass, he tried to get his thoughts in order. Louis had been on the other side of this situation countless times before, but now that he was the one waiting for an answer, he suddenly sympathized with those girls.

Louis stood in the center of the pitch and gazed upwards. A gentle breeze caressed his face as he watched the wispy clouds drift across the pale blue sky. He took in several deep breaths, closed his eyes, and listened to the sounds around him… twittering birds, the flap of Quidditch banners, distant laughter. This is how he always settled his nerves before a big match. Louis' pulse began to slow as he breathed in and out. His eyes were still closed when he heard the soft tread of approaching footsteps. And with one last exhale, he turned to face Lily Rose.

"It doesn't even look like there was a dance here last night," she said, gazing around at the pitch.

"Yeah… maybe the whole thing was just a dream." It certainly felt that way now.

"Hey, do you remember that story you wrote for me where Peter Pan stayed with Wendy and they grew up together?" Lily Rose asked abruptly.

Louis chuckled. "Yeah, that was so cheesy."

"No, it wasn't – I loved it! In fact, I found it last summer and read it again. That was brilliant work for an eight-year-old."

He gave her a sheepish smile. "Thanks."

"Thinking about that again makes me remember all the happy times we've had together." She took his hand in hers. "I've shared some of my best memories with you – things I'll never forget. We've been so lucky, because I know how rare and special it is to have a lifelong friendship with someone. And I want you to know just how much that means to me."

His heart hammered against his ribcage as he waited for her to continue.

"Even as a kid, you've always been so hard working and inspiring. I really admire that about you, Louis. That's why I hope you won't let my answer change who you are – or discourage you in any way from being so positive and passionate about life. Because you have such a bright future ahead of you; I truly believe you will achieve your dream and become a Pro-Quidditch player."

Louis swallowed thickly. "What are you trying to say?"

She exhaled. "I'm saying that I can't be your girlfriend. I've done nothing but hold you back your entire life. Like this thing with Beauxbatons—"

"Is that why you're rejecting me?" he asked, pulling his hand from hers. "Because you want me to go on that stupid exchange program?" There was an angry, wounded tone in his voice.

"No, that isn't why. I'm saying no because my feelings for you are not romantic," she said gently.

Hearing that felt like being hit with a Bludger. He sucked in a breath. "And you don't think they ever could be?"

A tear spilled down her cheek. "No. I'm sorry, Louis."

He walked a few paces off to put some distance between them. "Do you like someone else?"

"If I said yes, would it make you feel any better?"

"Not really. So that's it then." Louis looked over at her, his eyes brimming with tears. "I guess I'll go to Beauxbatons since there's nothing left for me here."

"Oh, Louis." She started towards him, but he held up a hand to halt her progress. If she tried to hug him now, he'd fall apart completely. And he couldn't bear to have her see him like that.

"Please don't. Let's just say goodbye, yeah?"

"I'm so sorry for hurting you," Lily Rose said in a quavering voice. And then she turned and walked away from him.

Louis vision blurred with tears as he headed for the locker room. He slumped on the bench, covered his face with a towel, and wept. The pain in his heart was knife sharp and intense. He allowed himself to feel it, but he wouldn't let this moment break him. Louis had always been resilient; if he could pick himself up again and again after a Quidditch loss, he could find that same strength when it came to Lily Rose, too.

*.*.*

Aisling glanced across the aisle at Lily Rose. She was staring out the train window – the glass reflecting a bleak expression. Aisling had never seen her this depressed before. Even after her breakup with Adam, she'd been more outwardly angry than sad. What can I say to make this better? Aisling had no idea. It didn't help that the only other people in the compartment were fellow introverts Selena and Scorpius, who were currently engrossed in their hobbies.

Then she remembered her birthday at the end of the month. "Hey, I'm thinking of having a party at my house. For my seventeenth. If I have one, will all of you come?"

They said they would, but Lily Rose still seemed despondent. She's probably thinking that Louis won't be there. "Lily, will you help me plan it? You're good at that kind of thing."

"Absolutely," she replied, brightening a bit.

"Great! Maybe you could stay over this weekend and we can brainstorm some ideas?"

She smiled. "I'd love that."

Aisling lived with her father in an old farmhouse that was much too big for only two people, but it had been in the Hannigan family for generations, so they'd never sell it. She was glad of the size now because it meant that all of her friends would be able to stay the night. I'll even invite Rei, she decided. The older Healer had completed his training and wouldn't be interning at the hospital wing anymore. Rei had been such a great support during this past year that her feelings had naturally progressed to romantic ones. They were only friends for the time being, but she thought they could be more someday.

She gazed out of the window and daydreamed about her birthday party until someone opened the compartment door. It was Freddie with an armful of snacks, which he generously doled out. He sat beside Lily Rose and handed her a chocolate frog.

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Freddie."

Aisling tried not to stare, but she was finding it very difficult considering the amount of pheromones they were giving off. Selena poked her in the arm and whispered, "Look what I just pulled." She flashed The Lovers card and Aisling stifled a laugh.

Her ears perked up at Lily Rose's question. "Are you disappointed in me for turning Louis down?"

"Nah, of course not. You did the right thing by following your heart. Hey, hey, no tears!" He used the sleeve of his flannel shirt to wipe her eyes. "Come on little hosepipe, it's okay. Things will be all right." Lily Rose gave him a brave smile. "That's better, love."

Freddie's voice and actions were so gentle that Aisling felt moved by them. They're so lucky to have each other, yet all they can see are obstacles. It almost made her want to yell 'wake up and be together already!' But of course she held it in.

Scorpius made an appreciative noise, which got Freddie's attention. He turned to his right and said, "What's got you so excited?"

The blond snapped out of his trance. "Oh. I just wrote a really good paragraph, that's all."

"Let's see then." Freddie snatched the notebook away and cleared his throat, preparing to read it aloud. Then he stopped, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the page. Freddie's skin paled before flushing with embarrassment. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so alarming.

"What's the matter?" Lily Rose asked.

"Nothing!" Freddie slammed the notebook shut and tossed it back to Scorpius. He leaned close to him and hissed, "We'll talk about this later. Don't show it to anyone else."

Aisling's hearing was extremely acute, so she doubted anyone else heard the exchange.

Freddie stood up. "Well, I gotta get back to my compartment. See you lot on the platform." And with that, he hurried from their compartment.

"Scorpius, what in Merlin's name did you write?" Lily Rose asked, bewildered at Freddie's abrupt departure.

"Hmm, something that was a little too on point I expect," Scorpius replied cryptically.

"Can I read it?"

He shook his head. "It's just a draft right now. Maybe once I finish it."

Aisling thought it highly probable that Scorpius had used Freddie and Lily Rose as character models in his story. He'd even written one about a werewolf that had been eerily accurate to how she felt before and after a full moon. Scorpius had a lot of talent when it came to understanding human nature in all its strengths and weaknesses. Who knows… maybe his story will open up Freddie's eyes, she thought. Aisling glanced at Lily Rose, who was eating the chocolate frog with a little smile on her face. That boy never fails to cheer her up. She heaved a sigh. He better get his priorities straight soon.

*.*.*

When Freddie Apparated over to Shell Cottage, he found Louis watching Frozen 2 in the living room with Dominique, who was singing 'Show Yourself' at the top of her voice.

"Nice solo, Gingersnap," he said when she had finished.

Dominique beamed at him. "Thanks, Freddie-kins."

She was the only one in the family who could get away with calling him such a cutesy nickname. He ruffled her bright copper hair. "You're a cheeky little girl, you know that."

"Well, I have learned from the best."

"Right you are." He held out his fist and she eagerly bumped it with hers.

When Anna sang 'The Next Right Thing,' he noticed that Louis was trying his hardest not to cry. Sweet Merlin, he's a bloody mess... I need to get him out of here. But before he could say anything, his cousin excused himself to use the bathroom.

"Louis has a broken heart," Dominique announced once her brother had gone.

Freddie raised his eyebrows in surprise. "He told you about that?"

"Yep, and this girl must be daft if she doesn't like my brother. Everyone loves Louis – he's a darling just like Kristoff is."

He sighed. "It's a little more complicated than that, Dom."

She frowned at him. "Why? Do you know her?"

"Yeah, and she happens to be a sweetheart who feels awful about hurting your brother."

"Good. She needs to. But she still should have said yes." Dominique peered at him with her big blue eyes. "Why didn't she?"

Freddie rubbed at his temples. "You'll understand when you're older. Like that Olaf song."

She grinned. "That's my favorite one! And you're probably right; I am only eight. When I'm at Hogwarts, I'll know more about life. Roxie's lucky because she gets to go on September first."

"Godric, that's right..." Seeing his little sister at school was going to be strange. Not to mention that he'd have to be on his best behavior, especially if she was sorted into Gryffindor.

When Louis returned, Freddie told Dominique that he needed to borrow her brother for a bit.

"That's fine. Louis has seen this movie loads of times anyway."

Freddie had too, and that's why he didn't want Louis to watch the Kristoff/Anna proposal scene in his current state of mind.

They went outside to walk on the beach. It was a breezy, overcast day that seemed to match their somber mood. "You okay?" Freddie asked him.

Louis shrugged. "Trying to be. It's not easy though."

"Yeah… going to France should be a good distraction though." Louis would be staying at his Aunt Gabrielle's apartment in Paris for a few weeks. "When are you going to Beauxbatons?"

"This Friday. Aunt Gabby is taking me on a tour. I'm glad she's an instructor there; knowing someone makes me feel more comfortable about the program."

"I'm sure you're gonna love the school," Freddie encouraged.

"I hope so." Louis paused. "I sent Aisling an owl and told her that I can't make her party. But even if I was still in the country, I don't think I'd go. I can't be around Lily right now. It hurts too bloody much."

"I know. But I hope you won't miss Lily's party in August. She'd be devastated if you didn't come."

Louis looked down at the ground, his mouth compressed into a thin line. "I'll go," he said after a long silence. "I'm not petty enough to purposely hurt her like that."

Freddie patted him on the back. "I'm glad. I know things will be awkward, but she'll appreciate having you there. Lils is torn up over this too – she really cares about you, Louis."

His cousin kicked a pebble across the sand. "Yeah, but not enough to go out with me."

"Come on man, don't be like that."

"Sorry. I know I sound like a bitter arsehole. Guess I'm at the anger stage of mourning."

"Give it time. Things will get better."

Louis let out a humorless laugh. "Well, it can't get much worse. Unless she starts dating another bloke, that is. Cause I'm pretty sure she fancies someone else."

Freddie's blood ran cold. "Why d'you think that?"

"Just a feeling. Let me know if she gets a boyfriend while I'm gone."

He looked away, his pulse racing. "That's not a good idea, mate. You need to get over her – not dwell on her personal life."

Louis grabbed his arm. "I don't want to be the last to know. If she's serious about someone, I need to hear it from you. Swear that you'll tell me."

A pain gripped his chest as he met Louis' imploring blue eyes. "Okay. I swear it."

His expression relaxed. "Thanks, Freddie. I knew I could count on you."

Panic and guilt surged up like a wave. The situation was so awful that he couldn't see a way out of it. I'm going to drown, he realized, looking out at the endless expanse of dark water. Freddie needed to leave right now.

"Hey, I gotta get back to the joke shop. I told my dad I'd help out today." He forced a smile. "Send me an owl once you get to France, okay?"

"Sure thing. I'll let you know how the tour goes."

He gave Louis a one-armed hug. "Have a safe trip."

By the time he Apparated over to the shop, Freddie felt physically ill. George took one look at his face and said, "Ron, keep an eye on things for me." His father draped an arm around his shoulders and led him to the back room. "What's going on, sport?"

Freddie sat down on the couch and confessed the whole sordid tale to him. "I'm a horrible person, dad."

"No, you're not. The same thing happened with me and your Uncle Fred."

He looked at his father in disbelief. "What?"

"We both fancied your mum, but he asked Angie to the Yule Ball before I could."

"And you forgave him?"

George smiled sadly. "Course I did. He was my other half. They dated during seventh-year, and yeah, seeing them together was hard at first, but I moved past it because they were happy." He ran a hand through his short red hair. "They broke up before the war; it was a mutual decision, so they remained good friends. Angie was just as gutted after Fred's death. We spent a lot of time together after that."

George's hazel eyes were shining with tears when he looked at Freddie. "If it weren't for your mum, I wouldn't have gotten though that. We fell in love. And at first, I worried that I was just a replacement for my brother, but she set me straight on that score. We might have been identical twins, but our personalities were different in a lot of ways. Fred was the life of the party; he had this spontaneous energy about him that everyone was drawn to. But that impulsive streak also made him reckless, and I had to reign him back a lot. I was the level-headed one who thought our schemes through." George smiled at his son. "You've got the best of both of us, Freddie. You're a good kid who's in a difficult situation, but I'll tell you this – if Lily Rose fancies you, then you should go for it. Your mum would tell you the exact same thing."

"Thanks, dad," he said, smiling.

George gave him a hug. "You deserve to be happy, sport. And as for Louis, he's a good kid, too; he'll understand."

"I hope you're right."

"I am. I've got a lot more experience than you, remember."

Freddie chuckled. "Yeah, old man, I know."

His father patted the side of his face. "Cheeky bugger."

"I learned from the best," he said, repeating Dominique's line from earlier.

George let out an appreciative laugh. "Damn right you have! And when you're feeling up to it, go ahead and feed the Pygmy Puffs. If those fluffballs don't cheer you up, then nothing will."

Freddie received a flash of inspiration. "Hey, can I send one to Lily by Express Post? She could use a little happiness right now."

"Go ahead, sport." He grinned. "I never knew you were such a romantic."

"Yeah, I s'pose I am when it comes to her. I just really love her, dad. I can't help it." Freddie had never spoken those words aloud before, but saying them now made him feel free for the first time in years.

"Believe me, I understand. And Lily Rose is a lovely girl – she's a good match for you."

He smiled. "Thanks for hearing me out. It's a relief to get this off my chest."

George slung an arm around his shoulders. "Come to me anytime you need to talk, okay?"

"I will." Once he got back to the shop, Freddie headed towards the Puffskein cage to pick out a new companion for his best girl.

*.*.*

Bonus scene:

Jamie burst into Lily Rose's room. "Look! Someone sent you a package from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes! And it's making a squeaking noise too!"

She took the package from her brother. Judging by the small airholes, there was something living inside. Lily Rose opened it carefully and out popped a purple Pygmy Puff. The squeaks intensified when she picked up the little creature. "Aww, aren't you a cutie," she cooed as the miniature Puffskein nuzzled her cheek.

"Wicked! Can I hold it too?"

"Sure," she said, transferring the puffball to Jamie's cupped hands.

Lily Rose found an orange envelope taped to the bottom of the package. She opened it and pulled out a sheet of paper with the joke shop logo on it.

.

Lils – I hope this little guy cheers you up. Before you go to bed, feed him some cracker crumbs, and give him a small dish of water. Puffs sleep best in a cage, but you can stick him in a shoebox with air holes for tonight. I'll help you shop for some pet supplies tomorrow. Meet me at the Magical Menagerie at 3 o'clock. See you then, F

PS: I'm paying for the supplies because it's part of your gift. No arguments. You can treat me to an ice-cream and we'll call it even ;)

.

"Who's it from?" Jamie asked.

"Freddie," she replied, feeling her heart swell with love.

"Err, is he your boyfriend or something? Cause I wouldn't mind if he was or anything," Jamie added.

Lily Rose laughed. "Oh really? You approve of him then?"

"Yeah. Freddie would treat you good. He always plays Quidditch with me whenever we're at the Burrow."

She joined her brother on the window seat. "Well, we aren't dating, but I'll keep that in mind."

Jamie gave the Puffskein back to her. "What are you gonna name it?"

Lily Rose looked into its adorable little face. The shiny black eyes reminded her of apple seeds. "Pip," she declared. The Pygmy Puff let out a chorus of happy squeaks. Lily Rose kissed the top of its fluffy head. "Welcome to the family, Pip."

Closing note: That was a tough one, but it ended on a happy note because brighter days are ahead! Louis' moodboard and character profile is up on my livejournal, so head on over there to see it (and to read some of my thoughts on his character arc). Until next time, please take care of yourselves! Love, D