Third

One year later

The morning came faster than she wanted. She stretched on the bed and her hand found something soft but rough at the same time. She opened her eyes and blinked several times before realizing where she was. And with who.

Dominic?

Last night's images flashed before her eyes, and she blinked a dozen times to pull them away. She threw back the covers and sat on the bed, reaching for her pants and a T-shirt lying nearby.

The man was asleep. Obliviate.

She dressed efficiently and left his apartment without looking back. She ran down the stairs and went outside.

It was a quarter of an hour to the Sanctuary, but she was already late, so she set off at a run. She crashed into the square just as the briefing started. Charlie hadn't commented on her being late, but she knew he would come back to it over lunch. He always came back.

Today was an extremely tough day as the new dragons had arrived and Lily was responsible for locating them. Nicolae was already waiting for her by the cages. He smiled at the sight of her, and she nodded.

"Two little Romanian Longhorns that have been abandoned in the woods. And a young Hungarian Horntail with wounded wings. But he is still very aggressive; he has not trusted anyone yet. The next ones will come in the afternoon."

Lily walked over to the cage and saw smoke rising from the Horntail's nostrils. He couldn't breathe fire, but his eyes were full of anger.

"Charlie will definitely be able to handle him," she replied, and Nico took her hand. Moments later she felt his hungry lips on hers. Hard, slightly rough. He squeezed her neck and pulled her to him.

"Nico," she tried to free herself, but he wouldn't give up.

Only a loud grunt caused him to let go. Charlie stared at them and walked to the cages.

"Nico, Andreas is waiting for you in the North part." His words were accepted without hesitation, and the man left.

Lily Luna stood by the cage, staring at Charlie, unsure what to expect from him.

"Longhorns are yours, I'll take care of the horntail." He walked over to the cage with the young dragon, and it immediately pounced on him. "We'll talk over lunch."

Lily knew she was dismissed. She moved to a different part of the Sanctuary and started making cages for the little ones.

She put on her work vest in which she found a crumpled envelope. Wedding invitation.

In a month, Rose and Scorpius were getting married, and Rose asked her to be a maid of honor. Obviously, Lily did not refuse, but she was dreading that day. For many different reasons. Some she couldn't say aloud, others were stuck deep in her head.

Getting married at Malfoy Manor meant one thing for her - confronting her past. But was Lily ready for it?

Lily Luna put on her vest and took off all her bracelets. All she had left was the necklace she had hidden under her T-shirt. The necklace was warm as soon as it touched her skin.

A few hours later, Charlie checked on her and announced that he was taking her to lunch. Lily paused in setting up the cages and followed him. She was extremely hungry, and she could use a shower too.

She sat down with Charlie and he handed her sandwiches, the soup appearing in front of them almost immediately.

"Shipment from Molly." He said and began to eat. Lily also wasted no time. After they had satiated their first hunger, Charlie looked at her closely.

"Hope you know what you're doing Lilu," he got up from the table and walked to the patio to smoke.

Lily swallowed the last bite and sent the dirty dishes away. The last few months had been difficult for him; the Sanatorium was overcrowded and they were barely making it due to so much work. Charlie's energy was drained, and she did not improve his mood.

Lily walked over to him and patted him on the shoulder.

'I have everything under control. " She didn't think she had convinced him with her words, because he looked at her and sighed.

"I'd like to believe you, Lilu." His tired voice was full of concern. "You've been acting weird this past year, but - I'm the last person to judge you." He rubbed her head and she sat on the threshold of the patio.

"You're acting weird." She teased Charlie and looked straight ahead. "Or maybe this is my new normal and l'm finally living my life the way I want to?"

Charlie took a drag on his cigarette. "Maybe, Lilu."

Lily bit her lip. Charlie has always been her voice of reason, unobtrusive, subtle, but expressive.

"But you must find that out," Charlie added.

Lily's thoughts drifted back to a place that had been deeply hidden for the past year.

The beach was completely empty and darkness surrounded them like sticky syrup. Lily felt his warm hands on her body, sliding lustfully over her dress. She felt his fingers caress her arm, then slide down to her chest. Her dress was unbuttoned to reveal her bare back. His hot breath on her neck, gentle kisses on her collarbone.

"Can I?" A soft whisper pierced the damp summer sea air.

She nodded and felt the slippery fabric fall to the ground. His hands roamed her body, searching for everything and nothing.

He broke apart her intricately woven bun and let out a lock of hair, plunging his nose into it. He took off her mask and turned her to face him.

Lily could only see the contours of their bodies in the dark, so she raised her hands and removed his mask, tossing it away.

Her hands touched his cheeks, examining every inch of his hand. She felt stubble, thick skin, lips under her fingers. Soft, smooth. He smiled, so she felt his teeth as well. He brushed her fingers in response as if he wanted to suck them. His hands went to her face as well, and stroked every inch with strange tenderness.

He kissed her, and as their lips joined, a current flashed through their bodies, waves coming and going, leaving pleasure.

The next moments were a mixture of desire, need and the moment. Their bodies danced an unknown dance, getting to know each other. The hands wandered to find what they were looking for. The lips kissed and bit, allowing the tongues to meet.

Lily had never experienced anything like this in her life. By now, she had had several lovers, but none equaled what was happening on the beach.

Their naked bodies found each other, and as they met each other, the pleasure that flowed drove them both down to the abyss of bliss. They were one.

Shaky breaths were drowned in the sound of the waves, bodies rustled in the sand, and hands were clasped in the night breeze.

"Wow." It was all she said, and she heard laughter in response.

They lay motionless for a moment, then the man stood up and held out his hand.

"Want to swim in the sea?"

She caught his outstretched hand and they went out into the waves. Lily could see better in the dark, and the moonlight reflected more strongly than the waves. She tried to strain her eyes and only managed to see it fully when a meteor pierced the sky.

Oh shit.

Draco Malfoy caught her tightly around the waist as she swayed. He seemed surprised, but not as surprised as she was.

"Nice to meet you, Lily. I am Draco."

After work, she locked herself in her room and took a long shower. She thought best when the warm water enveloped her body, as it ran off and left her skin pleasantly warm. A bit as if someone's hands were gliding and igniting her senses.

The last year had been very complicated - she had fallen in love with Romania, the Sanctuary and dragons. She enjoyed each day, despite the hard physical work. She started to understand better and better why Charlie's heart was here and nothing else could change his mind.

Romania gave her the freedom she wanted, she felt the wind in her hair and a certain kind of independence. Charlie watched over her, but he did not create any restrictions.

She herself was to set limits. Or to obey them.

Of course, she met a few men, and with some she had a fling. She didn't want to build any serious relationships with any of them. Each of them was missing something. But what? - to this question Lily Luna did not know the answer. And while she enjoyed sex—some were fantastic lovers—she never felt that spark. The spark that causes fireworks, butterflies in her belly. That spark which is the beginning of a journey to that abyss.

Dominic, Nico, Sandu. And those names heard, unremembered—irrelevant.

Neither of them made her shivers go through her body.

Neither of them were Draco.

One month later

Rose was a bride from hell, but maybe that was saving Lily from going crazy. Her thoughts were busy all the time, her hands full and time was running out quickly.

Everything had to be buttoned up, perfect, spotless. Every little thing was a puzzle piece that would create the perfect day for Rose and Scorpius.

Lily Luna looked at it all distantly, but did not dare to comment. It was supposed to be what Rose wanted.

The whole celebration was held at Malfoy Manor, so the pressure on Lily was even greater. the whole time she was afraid she would run into Draco. A year passed, and her thoughts were even more disjointed than when they parted ways.

Fortunately, only Hermione was at Manor, accompanying her daughter in the preparations. Lily, seeing a familiar face, smiled at her, and Hermione smiled back.

Rose noticed their interaction and raised a surprised eyebrow: "Do you know?"

"Do I know what?" Lily looked at her cousin, and Rose snorted in response.

"Don't pretend, Lily. Mom is with Scorpius's grandfather."

Lily Luna wanted to say something, but Rose already shrugged, then added:

"They are to announce it at the wedding. Hope Dad will pass through smoothly."

"I hope so, Rose. He might be shocked though. For a long time I thought she was dating Draco."

"Draco?" There was disbelief in Rose's voice, making her shake her head vigorously. "Impossible. After all, Scorpius' mother died recently, how can you have someone else so quickly. It's… immoral."

Lily pursed her lips and cut off the rest of the conversation. She didn't want to listen to Rose's stupid remarks, she didn't have the strength to do so.

Hermione, who was passing her on the way, squeezed her arm and said, "Are you back permanently, Lilu?"

She denied and Hermione nodded.

"I am returning to Romania two days after the wedding," Lily clarified.

"I see. Good luck, Lily."

It sounded ambiguous to Lily Luna, but maybe that was exactly what it was supposed to be?

Draco didn't show up at Malfoy Manor until the ceremony itself. Lily guessed he also realized he might run into her in the days leading up to the wedding.

Lily tried on her dress and smoothed out the folds. This time, she could choose the outfit herself, so she opted for a navy blue, simple dress not to overshadow Rose. Her hair was arranged in soft waves, framing her face - large, red locks. She couldn't remember the last time she would have had her makeup and hair done. Probably for the Hogwarts graduation celebration last year. Rose looked phenomenal, exactly as she dreamed of it. Lily enjoyed her cousin's happiness and enjoyed being part of their little world as a friend and bridesmaid.

Before the wedding, out of the corner of her eye, when they were already preparing the gazebo, she noticed that Draco had appeared. He looked perfect, like a perfect older copy of his son. He took the side of Scorpius, right next to Lucius. Hermione chose Rose's side.

He nodded at them.

The ceremony itself was beautiful, intimate and surrounded by family. Molly couldn't hold back her tears, and Hermione could hardly hide her emotion. Her only daughter had just started her own family.

After the wedding, each of the guests greeted the young couple and the party began.

Draco avoided Lily like the plague'; she also talked to everyone but him. Only closer to evening, when Hermione decided to reveal her secret, their paths crossed. As they both knew, their reaction could cause unnecessary frustration, so they hid in the gardens. One independent of the other.

Their meeting was like in the movies - Lily stood and turned just as he entered. They were both surprised, but there was no turning back.

"Hi, Lily."

She swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Hi."

"It's been a long time."

There was an awkward silence so Draco walked over to her and spoke in that low voice she missed so much.

"You look beautiful."

Lilu felt a huge lump rise in her throat.

"Thank you," she whispered, and Draco reached out his hand and stroked her cheek with a weak smile.

"I missed you, Lily."

A spark jumped between the bodies and Lily Luna felt that familiar warmth filling her body.

"We can't, Draco."

Her voice was muffled, slightly shaky. As if she did not want to say such words aloud.

"I know."

Lily looked into his eyes and saw her whole world in them. She saw affection, desire, closeness and protectiveness. Maybe somewhere there was also love, in the distance, at the very end.

She knew when the time was right, they would be her home. She understood it right now.

"I am glad that you are safe and sound," he ran a finger along the jawline in a caressing gesture. She craved the warmth of his body, but knew it wasn't the best time. Not now.

"You know I am," she whispered in response.

"I know, Lily."

Draco took the necklace in his hands and smiled slightly.

"You know you don't have to wear it?"

She nodded.

"I know, Draco. But it protects me."

Draco laughed. "It's true. If anything ever happened to you, I would know. Not only because you are wearing the necklace." He released it and looked into her eyes again.

"You are mine, Lily Luna Potter. And you will come back to me when the time is right," his voice was low and serious. "When you make that decision yourself. I'll wait. As long as it takes, even for all eternity."

Lily flinched from the thrill that ran through her body. It was both a pleasant thrill and a strange one.

Draco's eyes darkened as he continued, "We're soulmates. You are my destiny, Lily."

Lily felt her body chill, her breath stuck in her chest.

"I told you I had a wife. But Astoria wasn't my destiny, she was just one of the phases in my life. When I was mourning and already thought that nothing better could happen to me, I met you. At the first toast, at midnight, I knew," his eyes sparkled, and Lily could almost feel the heat emanating from him. "Later on the beach, when I discovered your identity, everything fell into place."

Lily's mouth felt dry, so she ran her tongue over her dry lips.

"Did you know all this time?" He nodded, and she was overwhelmed. She shook his hands away and took a few steps back.

She felt dizzy with too much emotion, too much information.

"Lily."

Her name sounded so soft against his mouth.

"Come back to me when you're ready. I will be waiting."

Lily felt a chill wind blow over her body, she wanted to scream, but her voice was stuck in her throat.

Draco looked at her for a long moment and added, "Look after yourself. Don't do silly things."

And he dissolved into thin air, and Lily couldn't catch her breath.

How was she supposed to live without Draco if she couldn't imagine living even with him?