aww, thank you so much Makahina! I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

"You're going to make yourself sick, Malfoy."

"I know."

"Look, Malfoy, we don't get along sometimes, but I don't want to watch you destroying yourself. Albus, Aurelie, and your dad don't either."

"You should get back, your family is probably looking for you. Go ahead. I'll be fine."

"Drink the Pepto-Bismol. You'll feel a bit better," I offered as I left. I sighed as I shut the door behind me.

How had the Malfoy Problem gotten so unmanageable?


Chapter 17: Complications

I did not tell Dad about Astoria's gift.

Instead, I sat cross-legged on the bed I was sharing with Rose, balancing the small, gold-wrapped box on my knees.

I took a deep breath and glanced warily behind me. Rose tossed in her sleep.

Then, I picked gently at the tape on the corners, lifting the paper to reveal a small black box.

I squinted at the card resting on top of the book.

Determination should never be underestimated.

Fear knotted itself in my throat. Maybe I should tell Dad.

Just do it.

I opened the box, taking care to be quiet.

A brooch lay inside. I scooped it up, holding it up to the moonlight.

The centerpiece was a pale, watery green egg-shaped stone. It looked almost like liquid in the soft light, and the gem thrummed in my hands as if it was being tossed by the waves.

I stared deep into the stone. What are you?

I fastened the brooch onto my pajama shirt and picked up my wand. I didn't know what came over me; I just had to do it.

I looked at Rose. She was still sleeping, so I tiptoed across the room, avoiding creaky floorboards, and inching the door open.

I headed downstairs. Something felt different. Clearer, stronger, present.

I pointed my wand at the curtains in the living room, thinking of a spell I'd always had trouble with.

"Diffindo!"

I gaped as both curtains and window were sliced in half.

"Evanesco!"

The forgotten cup of tea vanished.

Why not make the sofa green?

"Colovaria!"

I felt giddy and light-headed. Was this how Albus and James felt?

Maybe, I could do nonverbal magic, too!

I flicked my wand, and the Christmas ornaments floated off of the tree.

This is fun!

I laughed as I flicked my wand again, and the ornaments circled around my head, tinkling merrily.

"Lily!"

I blinked. "Dad?"

He looked distraught. Why was he so worried? Nothing was wrong.

"Lily, take that brooch off right now!"

"No!" My hands flew up to the brooch to protect it.

The ornaments fell to the floor and shattered. I stumbled back, dropping my wand. Dad was holding the brooch.

I felt weak again.

"I'm sorry Dad, something just came over me. I had to do it."

Dad sighed. "I understand. Dark objects can often... influence the mind."

Something dark flitted across his face; but the thought was gone in an instant.

He tucked the brooch under his arm and flicked his wand. The ornaments reassembled themselves and flew back onto the tree.

"Which is why I'm confiscating it. Goodnight, Lily."

I stood in the living room after he left, curling my toes against the floorboards.

The feeling of power and giddiness was gone. I was empty and weak.

I wanted that feeling again.


We did not talk about that incident in the following week. Dad did not seem open to divulging information on the meeting with Malfoy, either.

"I'm going into work today," he said at breakfast.

"Mum, Carla texted me. Is it alright if we go out to see a movie together? She just got back from America."

She nodded. "Bring Albus."

"Mum!" Albus looked terrified.

"I'm not going to let you sit in the house and sulk about Scorpius Malfoy for a full week," said Mum.

"There's nothing to sulk about, Al," said Dad. "He's been cleared. He's not a suspect. He won't get in trouble with the Ministry."

"I know!" snapped Albus. "So, he might be in trouble with Astoria! What if she finds out that he's cooperating with the Aurors! I haven't heard from him in a week. Something is wrong, Dad!"

Teddy looked thoughtful as he folded his scarlet uniform under his arm.

"Are you going to do the raid on Malfoy Manor?" asked James.

Dad shook his head. "Too risky. Evidence could be disturbed; we don't want to tip her off too soon. Besides, bureaucracy is making it a pain for us to get a warrant."

"So, what?" James spluttered, "Is the Ministry just going to stand by and wait for people to get hurt?"

"It's more complicated than that, James," said Dad.

"I don't think it is, Harry," said Mum.

Dad sighed. "You have no idea what we could possibly be dealing with. We just need more time."

Mum saw my and Albus's questioning expressions and waved us upstairs to get dressed.


"You'll cover for me?" asked Albus as he, Carla, and I waited outside the cinema. The air was cold, and we stood facing away from the wind. I stuck my gloved hands in my pockets, listening to cars cutting through the petrol-grey slush on the streets. The chatter of the other cinema-goers disguised our conversation.

"You're going to go check on Malfoy?" To be absolutely honest, I was worried about him too.

Albus nodded resolutely.

"Then let me come with you!"

"I'll come too," said Carla. She tucked a stray curl out of her face and looped her arm around mine.

"It's too dangerous."

"Do you even have a plan, Al?" I asked.

Albus sighed. "Snoop around. The usual- Look, if I go missing, that would force the raid, wouldn't it? Just go to the movie with Carla, buy some popcorn, relax."

I frowned. "It's still too dangerous. How am I supposed to relax when you're in mortal peril!"

"Stop being overdramatic."

"We are talking about Astoria, after all."


Eventually, Carla and I managed to wear Albus down and the three of us went to Paddington Station to get the train down to Wiltshire. We then had to walk ten miles out in the freezing cold until we hit a wide driveway that led off the lane. Albino peacocks strutted along the hedge.

"Hey, look! They walk like Malfoy."

Carla giggled and Albus frowned.

At the end of the long driveway was a pair of imposing iron gates with a massive lock the size of my head. The gates soared over our heads.

I jumped back as the middle of the gates morphed into a metal face.

"State your purpose."

Albus opened his mouth to speak.

"No, stop," I said. "Confundo."

A mist passed over the metal face, and it dissipated. I stepped through the gates, shivering at the strange sensation, then beckoned to Albus and Carla. They followed me with confused expressions.

"But how can you Confound a gate?" asked Albus, "Confundo's for people."

I nodded. "That's what I thought too, until I read all those magical theory books this summer. I don't really understand all the theory behind it, but since, like Transfiguration, the Confundus Charm works by changing properties, it can be used on both objects and living beings alike. Spells like Accio cannot, because they do not attempt to change the properties of the being, but instead-" I frowned in concentration "-the embedding in space, which is entangled with the soul of the living being, and the soul counteracts such modification."

Albus and Carla looked at me disbelievingly.

"What? I can be smart, too!"

Carla looked around at the garden. "Not very cheery, is it? Even the rosebushes look a bit grim."

Albus pointed. "Look. Up there."

A sprawling manor house stood at the very end of the straight drive. Lights shimmered in the diamond-paned downstairs windows.

"Do you think they're home?"

I shuddered. "Only one way to find out."

"You're not going to knock on the door, are you?"

"You didn't happen to get the Invisibility Cloak?"

He shook his head.

"It's our only option, then."

I took off down the drive, with Albus and Carla following me closely.

An enormous brass knocker rested against the door. I reached for it.

"Might be cursed," warned Carla. Albus flicked his wand, and the knocker lifted, then slammed against the door.

The force pushed the door open.

"Okay. Is anyone else creeped out?" asked Albus.

"You're the Slytherin. Doesn't this remind you of your cosy common room?"

"Very funny, Lil."

I pushed the door open a bit more, and stepped into the hallway. The hallway was large, dimly lit, and lavishly decorated, with a plush, expensive-looking carpet covering most of the stone floor. The carpet muffled our footsteps, so that thumps instead of taps resounded through the hallway.

"Do you know where Scorpius's room is?" I asked Albus.

"Yeah, I think I remember."

Portraits of stern, pale men and women (probably Malfoys of old) watched us from above.

The first room we found was adorned in a style that reminded me of the Mirror of Erised. Two crystal chandeliers dangled above us. There was an ornate marble mantelpiece with a gilded mirror at the very end of the room. The walls were a deep, rich purple adorned with yet more portraits. Several windows went up nearly all the way to the ceiling, but the velvet curtains were drawn tight.

Baroque, I remembered from one of Aunt Hermione's books on Muggle architectural styles.

"Who needs a pipe organ in their living room?" asked Carla.

"Drawing room, actually."

The three of us jumped as we whirled around to face Draco Malfoy.

I let out a sigh of relief. At least it's not Astoria.

"Hi, Mr. Malfoy," we chorused sheepishly.

He strode over to the table, inviting us to sit.

"To answer your question, Ms. Lewis, I do in fact play the pipe organ," he said.

"Does Scorpius?" I asked without thinking. Why do I care if Scorpius Malfoy plays the bleeding pipe organ?

Mr. Malfoy looked amused. "Yes, he does. He's home, if that's who you were looking for." He got up and strode into the hallway. "Scorpius, come downstairs! You have guests!"

Albus, Carla, and I looked at each other. So, there had been nothing to worry about.

Mr. Malfoy sat back down. "Where were we? Oh, yes. Confounding the gates was quite clever."

I was aghast. "You saw?"

He laughed. "Yes."

"Dad?" Scorpius Malfoy came into the living - excuse me - drawing room. He was barefoot and dressed in pajamas. It looked as if he had just woken up.

He looks cute with his hair all tousled - ugh, no, Lily! Stop! What is wrong with you!

Scorpius walked over to hug Albus, then sat down opposite me. He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Hello, Lily," he said pointedly. I glared at the pipe organ.

"Hello, Malfoy."

Mr. Malfoy looked between us with the faintest hint of a smirk. "Scorpius, why don't you play for our guests?"

"Dad!"

"I'd like to hear it," said Carla.

Scorpius groaned. He shuffled over to the pipe organ and rested his hands on the keys.

"Announce what you're playing, Scorpius," said Mr. Malfoy.

"I am playing Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J. S. Bach," said Scorpius in a soulless voice. Then he took a deep breath and began to play.

Each note seemed to shake the entire room, but Scorpius was laser-focused as his fingers moved in a blur across the keyboard.

Wow. He's good. Really good.

He nodded along to the music, deep in his own trance as we all stared at him, completely in thrall.

I felt like I was floating out of my body. My skeleton had no use but to absorb the reverberating notes.

The music swelled to a crescendo, and he stopped for a brief moment before continuing, playing long, shattering, and almost discordant chords. He stopped again, then his fingers began to move even faster that they had before.

Finally, he slowed down, holding a chord that seemed to last for minutes. Scorpius took his hands off the keyboard and breathed deeply. The spell was broken. I hadn't wanted it to end; I wanted him to keep playing.

Scorpius swivelled around, looking sheepish as we clapped for him.

"Wow, Malfoy. You're good. Really good, that was incredible!"

He ducked his head, looking uncharacteristically shy. "Thanks."

Mr. Malfoy nodded. "While this has been lovely, I suspect you three did not break and enter my house with the sole intent of listening to a pipe organ performance."

He held a hand up. "I'm sure you're all decent liars, but let's cut to the chase. You're worried about my wife."

We said nothing.

"That's a yes. I assure you, I am fully capable of protecting my son."

"From what?" I asked in my most innocent tone.

"That's between Astoria and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Scorpius and I are happy to cooperate with the Auror Office, but we cannot risk the spread of damaging information. You understand, don't you?"

We nodded.

"Wonderful." Mr. Malfoy stood. "I expect your parents will want you back for dinner, and the next bus leaves at quarter to four, so you should arrive back in London just after six. Scorpius, get dressed and walk your friends to Southgate."

Scorpius returned about ten minutes later, dressed in Muggle clothes.

"Alright, let's get going."

The walk back to the station was cheerful; Albus's mood improved immensely after seeing Scorpius safe. The air didn't feel so cold, and the ten miles felt more like three. Soon we were standing in front of the bus.

"Hey, wait."

I was just about to follow Albus and Carla onto the bus.

"Yes, Malfoy?"

His face was very close to mine, and our warm breath formed steam in the air.

Scorpius's cheeks were very pink and his eyes were shining with something odd and intense. My face felt warm as I stared back at him. He leaned in suddenly, and my heart caught in my throat as his lips brushed softly against my cheek.

I was rooted to the ground in shock, and he had started to walk away without me noticing.

"See you at school, She-Potter!"

I gaped. He laughed.

"Oi, Lil, what are you doing! The bus is about to leave!" I heard Albus yell from the bus.

I waved goodbye to Scorpius, then shuffled onto the bus to sit opposite Carla and Albus.

I put a hand to my cheek without thinking.

Carla and Albus smirked.

"What did I tell you? Scorpius Malfoy fancies you!"

"He has a girlfriend!" I shot back. "It was a friendly kiss, that's all!"

Carla turned to Albus as the bus lurched forward. "Does Malfoy give you friendly kisses, Al?"

"No, I don't think he does," Albus responded mockingly.

"Oh, stop it!"


"How were the movies?" asked Mum, looking up from the parchment spread across the kitchen table. Albus opened the fridge.

"Great," I said.

"What did you see?"

Albus and I exchanged looks. I nodded at him.

"Oh, the new Terminator," he said airily.

"Was it any good?" asked Mum. I shrugged.

"Fine. You know, repetitive."

Did she know that we snuck out?

I changed the subject quickly.

"Where's James?"

"He's gone out with Alice, he'll be back later."

Alice was James's girlfriend; she'd just graduated from Hogwarts, too.

Dinner was quiet, as usual. Dad and Teddy did not talk about work, and Albus and I definitely did not talk about our visit to Malfoy Manor.

I re-read some of my magical theory books before I went to bed. Some of the concepts were starting to make more sense. I had started to keep a notebook, where I wrote down my own interpretations of the laws of magic.

I extinguished my wandlight and leaned back against the pillows. The notebook was still propped open in my lap.

"He kissed me, Nisha," I said to my sleeping cat. "Scorpius Malfoy kissed me."

I put my hands to my cheek as I remembered the feeling of his lips brushing against my cheek.

I felt giddy. Why didn't I kiss him back? Did he want me to? What was I supposed to do?

Of course he didn't want to kiss you, Lily. He has a girlfriend. And he said it himself. You're just his best mate's sister.

My giddy mood soured.

"Goodnight, Nisha."


I made a vow not to think about Scorpius Malfoy and The Kiss at the Bus Station for the last few days of break. Thankfully, Albus did not remind me of it.

I found myself dreading the beginning of semester; I wasn't ready to return to detention with Magellan, gruelling Quidditch practices with Rhys, and petty House politics.

But the passing of time was inevitable, and I soon found myself on the Hogwarts Express going back to school, and even sooner back in Gryffindor Tower unpacking my bags and reviewing the assigned reading for our first classes of the semester.

Rhys had the brilliant idea to put us through strength and conditioning, so I found myself running laps around the Quidditch pitch in the sludge, then being forced to listen to long lectures as we deconstructed the upcoming Ravenclaw versus Slytherin Quidditch match in excruciating detail in preparation for ours against Hufflepuff.

"Knees up, Lily!" he'd direct cheerfully as we jogged in place.

Detention with Magellan was as unpleasant as could be expected. I spent every Thursday evening being sneered at and scrubbing cauldrons. Lysander and Lorcan spent most of their time holed up in Ravenclaw Tower studying for their O.W.L.'s.

Scorpius was rather withdrawn and I tried my best to stay out of his way and avoid the hallways that he frequented.

My own fourth-year work felt more grueling than usual. Hugo, Maddie, and Carla were as despondent as I.

And perhaps worst of all, the riddle that James, Albus, and I had discovered remained maddeningly unsolved. None of us had the time to meet. If James wasn't grading papers, Albus was brewing Wolfsbane with Magellan, or I was studying for yet another practical with Hugo, Maddie, and Carla.

And so, the cold, bitter month of January rolled on - boring, commonplace, and utterly unsatisfying.


When I was checking up on details on Malfoy Manor on the wiki, I discovered that the drawing room has a pipe organ and I just couldn't help myself, so here we are.

Also, if you've never gone to a pipe organ concert, definitely put that on your post-COVID bucket list. It's an out-of-body experience, 10/10 recommend.

I seriously did not plan the kiss. It just felt very... natural? Scorpius wanted to kiss her, and I'm just the poor writer. Sometimes characters have a mind of their own.