Chapter 78 - Dad's little flower

"I'm sorry Lily!" Scorpius burst out and hung his head. He looked at the stony floor of the Entrance Hall and scratched his neck.

Lily could feel herself blushing crimson in embarrassment. Many of the students around them threw them curious looks and she felt rather shy all of a sudden.

It had taken a lot of courage to walk up to him smiling and hoping for the best this morning. She had a hard time eating anything at all at breakfast, because she had been so nervous.

I was a fool, Lily scold herself, and tried to keep the smile on her face. All she wanted to do now, was run up to her dorm and cry into her pillow, until she felt like this lump in her throat would vanish again. She knew she wouldn't do it, because she would rather eat the whole box of Bertie Botts Beans than give the Slytherins behind Scorpius the satisfaction of seeing her getting hurt by this. Gathering all her courage she clenched her hand around the strap of her bag and blinked twice before she answered.

"No problem. It's my bad. I gave you no chance to give me – "

She was cut of by Scorpius mortified look, when he finally lifted his head and looked at her. He wore his Slytherin uniform and hadn't even brought a jacket or a scarf with him. Had she taken a moment to observe him she would have noticed he wasn't dressed for a trip to Hogsmeade at all.

"No!" He tried to dismay her train of thoughts. He must have noticed he came off to strong, because he blushed and took a step back.

"I'm the only one to blame here. I thought about this a lot."

"Thank you?" Lily wasn't sure how to answer to that. All she wanted to do was turn around and forget this ever happened. Why did she think her first crush would end better than her mothers again? Ginny had told them so many times that it took her years to win their dad over.

"I understand." Yes, that was a mature answer Lily thought to herself.

It made Scorpius smile at her as he added "I'm really sorry."

He raised his bag from the ground and took a step towards the dungeons.

"I'll hurry now or I'm late for detention. I promise next time I'll pay the butterbeer for sure!"

He took of in a sprint and left behind a speechless Lily, who didn't understand a thing. Hadn't he just rejected her? Why did he offer to invite her next time then, and what detention?

Her head was still swimming when her brother joined her.

"Common sis, I'll keep your company for today." He took her arm and lead her out towards the carriages when she didn't react right away.

"In case my idiotic mate didn't make himself clear: He fucked up and has detention, so he has to postpone the little date you invited him to. It's sad really, it was the first time I saw him grow a backbone and he had to get caught by a Prefect. He doesn't want to hear it, but I think he would have made a wonderful Puff. Anyway, I'm glad he ended up in Slytherin with me, else my life would be just plain boring. Bad for you sis. So, instead I'll take his place so you can tell me all about this fantasies you want to live out with him. You know, I got to protect his virtue, he's a virgin in anything romantic after all."

Lily glared at her brother and yanked her arm from his grip to enter the carriage. She hadn't needed the reminder that her crush had only ever had eyes for their cousin.

"That was uncalled for Alb. And what do you want to protect him from, hell I'm not even thirteen yet. It's just a crush I decided to act upon."

"Yes little sis, and we all know you've got the dirtiest mind. So tell your big brother: Did you dream of holding his hand by accident, or steeling a kiss. Mhh, maybe even touching his hair?"

The way Lily blushed made it rather obvious that she might have thought about all of that and Albus laughed to himself while he riled his sister up.

"Just tell me little Lilypuu."

Instead of an answer she hit him, looked out of the carriage they shared, and ignored Albus snickering.

"Such a violent little flower, what would Dad say!"