Opening note: A big thank you to everyone who has read, favorited, followed, and reviewed! I'm so glad that you're interested in Lily Rose's coming of age story xD There's a lot going on in this chapter… angst, 5 POV's, Christmas, plus cameo appearances from our favorite couple!

- 2 -

Growing Pains

December

*.*.*.*

Selena Trelawney was sitting cross-legged on her bed, shuffling her tarot cards. She spread them across her quilt and ran her fingers over the blue star-spangled backs until she felt drawn to one in particular. She plucked it from the pile and turned it face up. The Fool reversed: naiveté. Selena selected the next one. Five of Cups: unhappiness, disappointment. She chose the final card. Ten of Swords: truth, endings, new beginnings. So it will be tonight then, she thought with a sigh. Selena gathered up the cards and tucked them inside her velvet bag.

She flopped back onto her pillows. Should I say something? Her intuition told her to wait, so Selena closed her eyes and listened to the cheerful sounds of the room instead… a wizard rock band playing on the wireless, Lily Rose and Aisling's soft laughter, the scratching of Tulika's quill as she finished an essay. She felt the energy shift ten minutes later. A heaviness descended, followed by a wave of turbulent emotion. As an empath, Selena could sense the feelings of others. She was able to block it out around strangers, but it was nearly impossible to do with her friends. Living with the same girls for years had forged a strong connection between them. And right now, she could sense the confusion, shock, and betrayal one of them was experiencing.

"Who in the bloody hell is Persephone Wallace?" Lily Rose exclaimed. "And why is Adam alone with her in a classroom on the fourth floor?"

"Well, there must be some explanation for it," Aisling reasoned.

"How can there be? It's nearly midnight!" She scrambled off her bed. "I'm going down there."

"Lily, no! You shouldn't confront him – you're too upset."

"I have to know the truth," she burst out.

"You don't need to see them to know that he's cheating," Selena said, rising from her bed. She had dreamt of Adam and that seventh-year girl a few nights ago, and it was not a scene for Lily Rose to witness. Selena took the map from her friend's shaking hands and folded it up.

Lily Rose's green eyes filled with tears. "I thought he was a good person."

She wrapped her in a hug. "I know you did. I'm so sorry."

Lily Rose sobbed into her shoulder. She rubbed her back, murmuring soothing words that sounded empty. I wish I could have protected her from this. But her vision had been a month too late. I only hope this negative experience won't alter her bright, optimistic spirit.

Once she had cried herself out, Selena helped her over to the bed. Lily Rose curled herself around Daisy the cat, whose presence brought her some comfort at least.

Tulika gave her a glass of water. "I'll hex that disgusting toad tomorrow."

"I don't want to see him," she said after a moment. "Maybe I'll just skive off."

"Prolonging the confrontation will only make it more difficult," Selena told her. "If you're worried about how he'll react, you can always break up with him in a public place."

"Yes… I suppose that would be for the best." She closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, but I haven't the energy to talk about this right now."

"It's fine, Lily. We'll turn the lights out," Aisling said.

Once everyone was back in their own beds, the wall sconces were extinguished, and the room was plunged into darkness. Selena pulled her curtains closed and switched on her canopy light. With Lily Rose's mind still full of chaos, it would be impossible to fall asleep. Selena was only feeling the pain of heartbreak second-hand, but that was terrible enough. It made her suddenly thankful that she'd never been in love before (and by all accounts, she probably never would be). But that was okay with her… she'd come to accept that she wouldn't experience life the way most people do. This hadn't always been the case though. As a young child, Selena had wanted only one thing: to be a normal girl. And the harder she'd struggled against her destiny, the more unbearable it became.

Meeting her great aunt had changed everything. Sybill had taught her that being unique wasn't a tragedy, but a gift. As a Seer, it was her responsibility to pass on the wisdom she received. For now, that meant guiding her friends along on their journeys – and once her great aunt retired – teaching a new generation about the divine arts. This knowledge of her path made Selena feel about a decade older than her sixteen years… but tonight, she felt like a depressed teenager.

*.*.*

Lily Rose woke at just past three in the morning, recalled what Adam had done, and started crying again. The only time she'd felt worse was when poor old Crookshanks had passed away a few years back. Daisy sensed her disquiet and moved up from the bottom of the bed, settling close to her chest. "Why did he do this to me, Daisy?" she whispered into her fur.

Adam had seemed like the perfect guy. When she'd told him that she wasn't ready for a physical relationship, he'd said there was no need to rush. And I believed him… I trusted him… but it had all been a lie! Why didn't I listen to Freddie? He's his teammate for merlin's sake – of course he knew what Adam was really like! Lily Rose hated herself for being so stupid and stubborn and wrong. It took her ages to fall back asleep.

When Tulika's alarm clock rang at 6:15, she could barely open her burning eyes. There's no way I can get up now. That meant missing Ancient Runes, but she didn't care at this point. Lily Rose set her alarm clock for ten, told her friends she'd see them at lunch, and pulled her bed curtains shut.

Those extra hours of rest made her feel better, but her eyes were still bloodshot from crying. She put in some drops and used an undereye salve to fade her dark circles. Lily Rose didn't bother with the Sleekeazy's hair potion though. My days of trying to impress Adam are over. She put on her uniform, added some kibble to Daisy's bowl, and packed up her schoolbag.

Lily Rose walked slowly down the staircases. The castle was eerily quiet since most everyone was still in class. She tried to mentally rehearse what she would say to Adam. Part of her hoped that he'd feel too guilty to come over and say hello. She wasn't ready to face him just yet. Her pulse started to race as she approached the Great Hall, but it relaxed when she saw that he wasn't inside. Lily Rose chose a spot near the end of the Ravenclaw table and buried her nose in a book while she waited for her friends to arrive.

At ten minutes to twelve, Aisling slid onto the bench beside her. "How are you feeling?"

"Nervous. I don't even think I can eat anything."

"Have a sandwich at least. You already skipped breakfast."

Lily Rose forced herself to eat half a toasted cheese. And then it happened… Adam appeared, looking well rested and completely guilt-free. She turned away from him as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Babe, what's the matter?"

She took in a deep breath and got up from the bench. "Let's talk near the doors."

Adam draped his arm around her. "You weren't at breakfast. Are you coming down with a cold?"

She shook her head. "I was up most of the night."

"Finishing an assignment?" he asked.

Lily Rose stepped away from him. "No. I couldn't sleep because I found out that you cheated on me."

"What? No, I didn't!" he insisted, eyes wide with feigned innocence.

"Don't lie to me, Adam," she said in a steely tone. "I saw it with my own two eyes."

"That's impossible," he stammered.

"Why? Because no one else was in that classroom except for you and Persephone Wallace?" His face paled in shock. "Honestly, how dare you come up to me today and act like nothing happened!"

He held his hands up. "It was a mistake, okay? Let me explain."

"I don't want to hear your rubbish excuses," she snapped. Anger flashed across his face. Oh, so your mask has finally slipped, has it?

Adam exhaled sharply and said, "Look, I was really upset when you told me that you didn't want a physical relationship. And Persephone kept flirting with me, so I guess I lost my head a bit. It was a moment of weakness, but it wouldn't have happened if you—"

She cut him off. "Are you seriously trying to blame me for this? You've got a nerve!"

"I'm not blaming you exactly, I'm just telling you why it happened."

"No, the reason it happened is because you're a disrespectful pig who thinks that girls are good for only one thing! I can't believe I ever thought you were like Teddy."

"Yeah? Well I can't believe I thought dating a prude with a brother complex was a good idea," he shot back.

Lily Rose slapped him hard across the cheek. "I wish I'd never wasted my time on you!"

His look of indignation made her stinging palm entirely worth it. A scattering of applause, whistles, and cheers followed Lily Rose as she stalked back to the Ravenclaw table. She was trembling with rage, but there was something liberating about standing up for herself. She had never done anything like that before; in fact, she rarely got into rows with people at all.

Tulika grinned at her. "Nice one, Lily! I didn't think you had it in you! Now I won't need to hex Adam since you just humiliated him in front of the entire school."

"I think I might faint," she said, fanning her overheated face. What in Rowena's name was I thinking? Everyone is going to be gossiping about us now!

Selena cast a calming charm on her. "How's that? Better?"

"Yes, thank you." Lily Rose rested her head on the table and groaned. "I wish I hadn't done that."

Tulika laughed. "Are you kidding? The look on his face was bloody priceless!"

"It was," Aisling agreed. "You didn't see it because you turned your back, but he stormed out of the Great Hall."

She raised her head. "He did?"

"Yes. You were brilliant, Lily."

She cracked a smile. "Well, maybe I don't regret it then." People from the other houses even stopped by to congratulate her.

*.*.*

Freddie hadn't seen Lily Rose slap Adam Bentley, but one of his mates had told him all about it. The story spreading through the castle was that he'd cheated on her, which seemed likely considering his track record with girls. Freddie managed to catch up with his friend on the way to their Care of Magical Creatures class.

"Damn, Lils, you got some bollocks on you, huh?" he chuckled, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Everyone's talking about it! Wish I'd have seen it though. What made you go off on him?"

She sighed. "He tried to blame me for his cheating because I wouldn't do anything with him besides snogging, so I called him a disrespectful pig, and he called me a prude with a brother complex. That's when I slapped him."

He let out a low whistle. "I don't blame you for losing your temper. Bentley's a real piece of shite."

"I should have listened to you." This was a big deal for her to admit because she was usually right about everything.

"Yeah, well don't beat yourself up over it. Just learn from it and move on."

"I'll try." She readjusted her Ravenclaw scarf. "I'm glad that Adam didn't get my first kiss though."

His face went hot. "Uh, you weren't very happy about it at the time."

"Hindsight tends to put everything into perspective." Lily Rose met his gaze. "I wish you'd have gone about it differently of course, but it isn't a terrible memory or anything."

"That's good to know."

When they were first years, the two of them had snuck down to the kitchens for some hot chocolate and cookies. He remembered sitting across from her, listening as she chattered on about some useless fact from Hogwarts: A History, and thinking what a cute, little know-it-all she was. Freddie made his move later that night.

.

December 2015

"Hey, Lils," he whispered.

She turned to him. "Yes?"

Freddie pressed his lips against hers. She just stood there – frozen – her eyes wide with surprise. He pulled back a second later; heart hammering against his ribcage as he waited for her to speak.

"What was that for?" she finally asked. "Freddie, do you fancy me?"

But his courage failed him completely. "Nah, it was just for a laugh," he lied.

Lily Rose tore off the cloak and pushed him away. "How dare you, Fred Weasley! I told you how important my first kiss was to me, and you stole mine as a joke?" she shouted, forgetting that they were out past curfew. Tears of fury filled her green eyes. "I can't believe you would do something so awful!"

Freddie had never seen her this angry before. "I'm really sorry, Lily… I wasn't thinking."

"You never do!" She threw the cloak back over herself and ran down the seventh-floor corridor.

Not only did he feel like the biggest prat in the world, but he was a coward on top of it. Why didn't I just say yes? What in the bloody hell is wrong with me?!

Freddie hardly got any sleep that night. And in the morning, he went down to the owlery to send her a written apology. Even that didn't work though; she ignored him for almost a week. Desperate, he begged Aisling to intervene on his behalf. Lily Rose eventually forgave him, but Freddie promised himself that he'd never hurt her again. It was one of the reasons why he chose to keep quiet about his feelings.

.

"Why did you kiss me by the way? Was it really a joke like you said?"

He sighed, breath pluming out in the chill air. "No, it wasn't. I fancied you, Lils, and I had no idea how to handle it."

"That's what Selena told me. It's why I forgave you." Lily Rose grinned at him. "Remember when you first met her on the train and she already knew who you were? It's because she dreamt about us in that corridor. I'd shouted: 'How dare you, Fred Weasley.' That's how she knew."

"Woah, that's kinda crazy!"

"She dreamt about Adam cheating on me a few nights ago too."

His brow furrowed beneath his Gryffindor beanie hat. "Did Selena warn you?"

Lily Rose shook her head. "I saw them on the marauder's map, so she didn't really need to. I may not have believed her if she'd tried to tell me anyway. I was so blind when it came to Adam."

"We all make mistakes. Even you apparently," he added, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, and it's not something I want to repeat."

"There's an easy solution for that, Lils – just pick a decent bloke next time."

"Easier said than done!"

"Nah, I'll screen 'em for you. It just so happens that I have impeccable judgment."

She let out a mirthless laugh. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm through with boys for the time being. In fact, I may never date again."

"Thank Godric for that! I doubt Louis, myself, or your father could handle another one of your relationships. It was very stressful on us, you know."

She sighed. "The three of you need to stop being so protective of me."

"Nope, not gonna happen, Lilybud."

She rolled her eyes. "You're insufferable, Fred Weasley."

"Pffft, you adore me," he said, brown eyes dancing playfully. "You wouldn't know what to do without me."

Lily Rose smiled. "Well, it is true that I need your jokes to keep myself from becoming too serious."

"I knew it!" he crowed. "I'm really loving this new dynamic of me being right and you being wrong."

She elbowed him in the side. "Stop acting like such a smug git!"

"Sorry, sorry," he said, chuckling.

She glanced at her silver wristwatch. "We'll be late for class if we don't hurry."

"I'll race you down the hill then!"

"Uggh, you know I can't run that fast!"

He grabbed her gloved hand and pulled her along as they rushed down the hill together. Lily Rose's happy shrieks made him grin despite the cold wind stinging his face. When they reached the bottom, he turned to her. "Have I cheered you up?"

She beamed at him; cheeks flushed with exertion. "You have. Thank you, Freddie."

He knocked her shoulder with his. "That's what I'm here for."

*.*.*

Harry had never liked Adam Bentley. Even before the Gryffindor Keeper had started dating his daughter, he'd always thought of him as nothing but a swaggering playboy with an inflated ego. When he'd heard about Adam and Lily Rose, Harry had busted into Hermione's office and proceeded to have a mini breakdown over the whole thing.

.

November 2019

"She's only fifteen for Merlin's sake – that's far too young for a boyfriend," he ranted. "And especially not one with such a rotten reputation! I won't allow it!"

"Darling, you cannot forbid Lily Rose from dating," she said, leading him over to an armchair. "I understand that you're worried, but we have to let our daughter make her own decisions."

"But that Bentley prat is going to break her heart!"

"We don't know that, Harry. Perhaps he's changed."

"Don't be so naïve! Boys like him don't change, Hermione," he snarled. "And of course I can forbid her from dating – I'm her father!"

She heaved a sigh. "Would you please stop raging and think about this logically for one minute? Even if you did forbid her, she has your invisibility cloak. She'd be able to meet him in secret, which is worse than dating out in the open. I'm sure you don't want her sneaking around in empty classrooms with him."

"Then I'll just take the cloak away! She never should have had it to begin with."

Hermione shook her head. "Oh, Harry, do you want Lily Rose to hate you?"

"My little girl would never hate me."

"She will if you act like a tyrant."

"But I can't just sit here and do nothing," he insisted.

"Darling, our daughter is a young woman now. You will only drive yourself mad if you don't accept that. Lily Rose is going to kiss boys and fall in love and get married one day. She cannot stay your little girl forever – as much as you might want her to."

His heart clenched painfully. "I know that… I know, but it's hard for me."

Hermione cupped his face between her hands. "You'll get through this, Harry. Our daughter knows her own mind; she won't do anything that she isn't comfortable with. This is her very first relationship, so odds are it won't last much longer than a month or two anyway. You have nothing to worry about."

.

His wife had been right of course. Looking back on it now, Harry couldn't believe how he'd reacted. A man of thirty-nine shouldn't be having dramatic outbursts like a teenager. Perhaps it was a mid-life crisis? He didn't know exactly. But one thing was clear to him now: Lily Rose could handle even the worst situation. The only downside was how public the breakup had been. One of those gossip rags would probably print a story about it.

When his daughter entered the classroom that afternoon, he gave her an encouraging smile. Then he scribbled:'I want to talk to you after class. Don't worry, you're not in trouble,' on a scrap of parchment.

Lily Rose stifled a laugh when she read it. "Okay, dad."

He patted her on the shoulder and returned to the front of the room. Harry could tell that she was distracted during class, but that was to be expected. The fact that she'd shown up at all spoke well of her character. Regardless of what people were saying, she was holding her head up and facing it.

Harry waited until all the students had gone before approaching her. "How are you, Lilybud?"

"I'm managing." She met his eyes. "I suppose you heard then."

"Yes, and I want you to know how proud I am of you." He smiled. "You know, your mother did something similar back in third-year."

"Really? Who did she slap?"

"Draco Malfoy. It was one of the best things I've seen – well, except for when he got turned into a ferret the following year."

"Now I want to hear these stories!" So Harry told her, and he watched his daughter's face light up with amusement. "I'll have to tell Scorpius; he doesn't know much about his father's years at Hogwarts."

"Yeah, I reckon Malfoy wouldn't want his son to know what a colossal prat he was back then, but I'll happily fill Scorpius in on the details if he's interested. Tell him to stop by my office for some tea."

She laughed. "I'll let him know."

He gave Lily Rose a hug. "By the way, I plan on lowering Bentley's grade."

"Daddy, you can't do that. It isn't ethical for a professor to show bias," she scolded, sounding exactly like her mother.

"Lilybud, I'm sure you already know this about me, but I've never been very good at following the rules."

She grinned at him. "Well, perhaps one assignment would be okay."

*.*.*

It didn't snow on Christmas Eve, but Hermione conjured a magical storm out in the garden. The family of four drank mugs of hot chocolate as they watched the snowflakes spiral down from the starry sky.

"Lily, will you read a few chapters of Percy Jackson to me?" Jamie asked. He was dyslexic, so he preferred hearing stories read aloud to him. Not that he couldn't manage on his own – it just took him longer to work things out.

"Of course. Do you want to read upstairs or down here on the couch?"

"Upstairs. Then you can tuck me in when I get tired."

"Okay. Why don't you say goodnight to mummy and daddy?"

Jamie gave them a hug. "G'night!"

"Don't forget to brush your teeth, sweetie," Hermione told him.

"I won't," he called out as he hurried up the stairs. Lily Rose followed several paces behind.

Harry and Hermione curled up on the couch and watched the second half of It's a Wonderful Life.When the movie was over, they headed upstairs. The light in Jamie's room was already switched off and she could hear the shower running in the hall bath.

"Lily Rose seems depressed," Hermione said once they were inside their bedroom.

"Yeah, she's not as full of holiday cheer as she usually is," Harry agreed.

"I'll go up and talk to her once we finish wrapping these presents. I need to drop off her book anyway."

After finding out that people in Iceland exchange books on Christmas Eve, Hermione and her daughter quickly adopted the tradition. They turned it into a scavenger hunt of sorts by having two rules: the titles must be found at her mother's bookshop, and they had to fit a particular genre. This year's theme was historical fiction with a supernatural twist.

"You seem a little off yourself," he pointed out.

Hermione sighed as she boxed up a flannel shirt for their godson. "It doesn't feel right without Teddy here."

"I know, but I suppose he won't be spending any more Christmas Eves with us now that he has his own place." Teddy and Victoire were living together in a small London flat. "At least he'll be by tomorrow."

She nodded. "I'm happy for him – it's just a little depressing for me."

"This won't do, Hermione. You're supposed to be happy on Christmas Eve." Harry used his wand to switch on the wireless. That cringe-worthy Celestina Warbeck song 'A Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love' was playing. "Oh, this is perfect!" He stood up and gave her an exaggerated bow. "May I have this dance?"

"Yes, you may," she replied, taking his outstretched hand. Soon he was spinning her around and making her laugh.

Harry's eyes sparkled behind his glasses. "Now that's the expression I want to see." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. His arms tightened around her waist as they snogged like teenagers. He grinned at her when they broke apart. "I'm glad I asked you to dance, Mrs. Potter."

Hermione smiled at him. "You're silly tonight."

"Must be the mistletoe." Harry pointed up at the ceiling. "All those blasted nargles."

She laughed. And just like that, her mood was completely turned around.

When they finished wrapping the presents, Hermione stuck a green bow on the hardcover copy of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. "I'll be back in a little while," she told Harry. Hermione crept up the attic stairs and knocked at the door.

"Come in." Lily Rose was sitting at her red painted desk, writing something in a notebook. She swiveled in the chair. "Happy Christmas Eve!"

"Happy Christmas Eve, sweetheart." Hermione handed her the book.

"Oh, I've been meaning to read this! Thanks, mum." She got up from the chair and hurried over to her nightstand. "I have one for you too. Let's see… I know it's in this stack somewhere…"

She sat on Lily Rose's double bed and gazed up at the ceiling, which was enchanted to look like the aurora borealis. Hermione watched the undulating purple and green bands of light.

"Found it." Lily Rose plopped down beside her and held out Angelology by Danielle Trussoni.

Hermione scanned the inside of the jacket. "Sounds intriguing. I'll start on it tonight." She kissed her daughter's cheek. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I may want to read it after you've finished."

Hermione smiled. "That's fine. We'll swap and then discuss them."

"Okay, sounds good."

She touched her daughter's damp curls. "Would you like me to plait your hair the way I used to?"

"Sure, mum." Lily Rose scooted forward on the mattress.

Hermione started sectioning off the long strands. "Are you doing alright, sweetheart? We haven't had a chance to talk since you've been home."

"I'm okay I guess."

But Hermione knew that she wasn't. The air was practically thrumming with unsaid words.

"It's just… I don't think I'll be able to trust someone again," she admitted.

"I know it feels that way now, but you will. You've always had such a loving heart. It's one of your very best traits, so please don't close yourself off from others."

"I don't want to, but I'm afraid of being hurt again."

"It's perfectly natural for you to feel that way. You just need some time to heal."

Lily Rose didn't speak again for half a minute. "Will you tell me about your first heartbreak?"

"Oh, goodness! It was with your Uncle Ron. I had a crush on him all throughout school, but he was always saying insensitive things and making me cry. When he left your father and I during the war, my heart just shattered. That's when I should have realized that it was never going to work between us, but I stubbornly held on for another year. It was a toxic relationship though; all we did was argue."

"That sounds awful." She turned to look at her. "Why did you even like Uncle Ron?"

"Well, I suppose what attracted me to him initially was how different we were. But that was our downfall really – we had nothing in common. And we didn't even respect each other." She paused. "I think we have to fancy the wrong boys to know who the right ones are. When we're young, it's easy to overlook the person who is the best match for us because there's always someone else who's just a bit more attractive or exciting or challenging. Growing up means learning the difference between a fleeting relationship and a lasting love."

"When did you realize that daddy was the right one?"

"Not until we were working at the ministry together. The two of us are proof that platonic love can develop into something romantic."

Lily Rose considered this. "I have a few close friends who are boys, but I can't imagine being in love with any of them."

"You may change your mind someday."

"I dunno… it seems kind of impossible," she replied warily.

"I thought that about your father too. All I'm saying is not to discount it just yet."

*.*.*

When Teddy and Andromeda stopped by on Christmas day, they brought quite the surprise along with them. In a carrying case were two adorable kittens. One of them was a white longhair with black spots; the other a sleek black and white with a face mask.

"They're half-Kneazles," Harry said, handing the spotted kitten to Hermione. "I know that you still miss Crookshanks, love, but I thought it might be time for you to let another cat into your heart."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, darling. I already adore her."

"I've been keeping them at my flat for a week," Teddy informed them. "Hercules seemed overwhelmed by them. He's become cranky in his old age."

Daisy took to the kittens though, and even Padfoot sniffed at them curiously.

Jamie was ecstatic at finally having his own pet. He threw his arms round his father's waist and grinned up at him, displaying his rather large front teeth. "Thanks, dad!"

Harry ruffled his matching mop of untidy black hair. "You're welcome, Jamie. Are you ready to take care of him? It's going to be a lot more responsibility than you're used to."

"I can handle it," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "I am nine and a half now."

Lily Rose scooped up the boy kitten. "What will you name him, Jamie?"

"Grover!" The satyr, Grover Underwood, was his favorite character from the Percy Jackson series.

She smiled. "What about you, mum?"

"Sophia, after the goddess of wisdom."

Jamie sat on the living room floor and opened a large box that said: 'To the Potter Family Pets' on the tag. Inside were litter boxes, food bowls, fleece beds, and loads of cat toys. They had fun playing with the excitable kittens.

Teddy gave Lily Rose tickets to a Pride of Portree match, plus one of their limited-edition purple scarves patterned with golden stars. The Prides were her favorite professional Quidditch team. She all but tackled him. "Thank you so much, I can't wait to go! Will you be taking me during Easter break?"

He kissed her on the forehead. "Absolutely. I wouldn't miss it for anything, little sister."

Lily Rose also received a gold charm bracelet from Victoire. She particularly loved the blue enameled book and the tiny red rose.

Their grandparents came over for Christmas lunch, bringing with them a delicious coconut-vanilla cake. After they finished eating, Teddy, herself, and Jamie piled on the couch and binge-watched the first season of The Dragon Prince. Jamie had already seen it about four times already, so when he fell asleep against her arm, she didn't bother to wake him.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Lilybud," Teddy said during the credits. "You hanging in there?"

She met his turquoise eyes. "Yes, I feel better today. Being around everyone has cheered me up."

"I'm glad to hear that." He clenched his jaw. "I was so furious when I heard about what he did. Let me just say this: if that Bentley bloke even tries to apply for my department, he's not gonna get hired. He better hope a team recruits him."

"As much as I appreciate it, I don't want his career to be ruined because of me."

"Lilybud, someone who cheats on their girlfriend is seriously lacking in principles. He'd probably be the type to gamble on matches, which people in my department are forbidden from doing. So don't feel bad for that wanker. He can find another job elsewhere."

She laughed. "Yeah, you're right."

"Hey, you want to come shopping with me and Victoire tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'd love that." Lily Rose was relieved that her twenty-one-year-old brother wasn't too busy to hang out with her. "Thanks for being here, Teddy."

He paused the show before turning back to her. "Where else would I be?"

"At your flat with Vee or at the Burrow with all the other Weasleys."

Teddy shook his head. "This is my home, and the Potters are my family. I'm not going anywhere, Lilybud."

Her nose tingled with unshed tears. Having a broken heart was turning her into a human hosepipe.

"Were you worried about this?"

"A little," she whispered.

Teddy looked upset. "I promise that I will always make time for you. Okay?"

She nodded and wiped at her eyes.

He leaned his head against hers. "You'll get through this, little sister."

Lily Rose knew that she would, but only because of her family and friends. Their support made her feel even more grateful for this Christmas season.

Closing note: Phew, that was quite an emotional ride o.o Have any of you liked someone unworthy before? This happened to me a lot because I had terrible judgment (and I tended to idealize everyone, especially popular athletes). Being a teenager is just a heartbreaking and confusing time, which is a major theme of this story. But don't worry – there will be plenty of lighter moments as well! I'll see you again in July or August for a fun summer chapter xD