Scorpius Malfoy should be happy — he's doing well in school, he's Head Boy, he's got a beautiful girlfriend — and yet he feels like there's something missing. Something more...concrete.
He guides said girlfriend up the steps to the Astronomy Tower where he's got a little surprise waiting for both of them — well, more him than her, because he knows about it — and he's covering Lily's eyes with his hands because he can't be arsed to conjure a blindfold. This feels more intimate.
Lily squeaks as she stumbles and falls into his chest, which Scorpius admits to himself that this is not something he's annoyed at (he likes Lily's body pressed into his). "Close your eyes," he says and takes his hand off of her face. To make things easier for both of them, he scoops her up and carries her bridal style up the rest of the steps.
(If he's lucky enough tonight, he'll get to do it a second time.)
The stairs opened into a candlelit room, with a blanket lying in the middle, but that's not all — there's a basket, full of Lily's favorite foods. Banoffee pie, Chocolate Frogs, treacle tart — anything that is even remotely sweet is in there.
He sets Lily on her feet but keeps his arms wrapped around her waist, nuzzling his face into her strawberry-scented hair. "Open your eyes."
She does and there's a beat of silence. And then she starts wriggling in his arms, a breathless laugh escaping her mouth. "Scorpius, you didn't…"
"Surprise!" He loosens his arms and she twists around, gazing at him with her brown eyes brighter than the candlelight.
"This is the best thing ever!" A stunning smile crosses her lips. "I could just kiss you!"
"That would be appreciated," he teases, but Lily ducks out of his arms and lunges for the basket. Opening it, she rifles through it for a few seconds before emerging with a big grin.
"How did you get this all up here?"
"Had a little help," he says, shrugging. "And by help, I mean the very enthusiastic house-elves who live in the kitchens."
Once they'd known his purpose, they'd been falling over themselves to assist him.
Lily laughs. "I'm not surprised."
As she starts laying out all of the food, with repeated exclamations of "This is my favorite!", Scorpius's hand drifts to his pocket where there's a ring box. If tonight goes as planned, then it would be the best day of his life —
— and perhaps he'd get those kisses after all.
428 words
Skyscraper, Floor 3 - Astronomy Tower
Pick a Wick - 19. Lily of the Valley
Build a Better Breakfast - 13. Watermelon
Founder Says - Helga: 7. "This is the best thing ever! I could just kiss you!"
365 - 297. Stunning
1000 - 549. Brown
