Lily awoke to the sunrise coming through the window of her Ravenclaw tower window. She felt groggy but the memory of what happened the night before came flooding back. The shouting, the fight, the aftermath and the letter she had sent to her parents. Her first thought of the day was 'Its all such a mess'. There were a lot of emotions from the night before which made her feel like she'd not slept.

"Are you coming down for breakfast Lils?" Lyra asked softly.

Sitting up, Lily stretched realising the others in her dorm were already awake. "I really don't know if I can face the school right now. I just want to hide."

"I know Lils, but you need sustenance. You'll feel much better after having some food." Lyra persuaded, sitting on her bed opposite. "C'mon, I'll tell them to shove it if people start whispering." Lyra jumped off the edge of her bed and went to grab some clothes for breakfast.

"Fine, you got me." Lily slid off her bed and skulked to her trunk to grab some clothes too. Lily went with some navy leggings, a plain grey t shirt and her favourite Hollyhead Harpies hoodie.

"You ready?"

"Almost" Lily mumbled with a hair tie in her mouth pulling her hair into a messy bun. "Ready as I'll ever be" she shrugged weakly.

"You heard from your 'rents yet?" Lyra said while putting her arm around Lily's shoulders as they walked out of the dorm door together.

"Nope, I figure it'll come while were at breakfast" She shrugged reaching the bottom of the tower stairs. "Hey guys" Lily smiled greeting the rest of their friends.

"Hey Lils!" They greeted standing up from the settees in the Ravenclaw common room. All five banded together in one group hug.

"Lyra filled us in with the details this morning. I mean, we also heard all the shouting from the great hall but we didn't know much then." Lucinda rambled.

"I haven't heard too many whispers in here overnight, they were mostly about Albus and Scorpius. Some were saying Al knocked Scor out, others saying Scor knocked Al out and just the normal whispers about sex life being mentioned but nothing in depth. Just that it happened." Jess piped up.

Lily sighed with relief, at least it hadn't yet gotten out of hand. "That's reassuring at least" She resigned. "Shall we go get some food? If I'm gonna be arguing today I'll need sustenance!"

The group began to walk towards the door, just before the entrance, Lyra turned. "Remember if anyone glares or whispers, glare back!"

All nodded in return making Lily smile at least her friends had her back. Lyra quickly turned back around and linked arms with Lily as a form of support.

Everyone had a look of concern, worry or eye-rolling frustration on their face as Lily walked to the Great Hall. Even many of the professors had gave her extra monitoring whilst she sat and ate. Her friends tried to keep much of the conversation normal, general chatting and homework. Lily did notice they had avoided all boy drama as much as they could. In all honesty she didn't care, she had grabbed some fruit and toast for her breakfast but wasn't all that interested in it. Today was going to be a shit day regardless of how it played out.

"Lily, isn't that your owl?" Ella nudged

Shit. This was definitely her mums response to her letter last night, the one she was hoping and yet dreading all at the same time. Lily did note that the letter was white and not red. She breathed a small but deep breath realising that she didn't have to open a howler. Once the rest of the Great Hall noticed that Lily's owl had arrived people began to quieten down trying to figure out what it was or what it will say. Prying eyes were all around her when the letter dropped into her lap and her owl flew away. "So many people are gonna think this is a howler" Lily tried to joke. "I'm going to take this back to the dorm and open it on my own."

"You okay walking back on your own Lils?" offered Lyra.

"Thanks, I'm alright. I'm used to staring people anyway." Lily chuckled as she stood up and began to walk out of the Great Hall and towards the Ravenclaw tower.

"Another story for the Daily Prophet, Potter?" Tobias Knott shouted across the corridor.

"Fuck you, Knott." She mumbled to herself but carried on walking.

Once in her dorm she sat on her bed and opened her letter.

My dear Lily,

I can't say I'm not upset that you didn't tell me about your relationship, but then again I rarely told your grandma about most of my relationships so I understand. Sometimes families can blur the lines in early relationships and that's never fun. Especially as there is a lot of bad blood between the Malfoy/Potter/Weasley families. Having said that, Scorpius's grandma saved your dads life in the war. The majority is blown out of proportion by the press and Scorpius's grandfather. I hear the Malfoys are much calmer and more reasonable folk now.

As for your pig-headed brother, sadly I expected this sort of behaviour from him. He's always seen himself as this big protector, when really he's just a normal young man. I think his reaction comes from feeling betrayed by his best friend and his sister, but also he definitely knows Scorpius's history with women and that probably worries him more. He just doesn't want you to get hurt. Don't go in all guns blazing when you go to talk to him but you can stand up for yourself too, you're a grown woman now.

With Scorpius, hear him out and make him feel heard but also make sure that he listens to you as to what kind of predicament that put you both in and how you can move forward from here. Men aren't complicated but getting them to use their brains and ears is a challenge sometimes. Trust me your dad is no different.

I hope you managed to sleep well last night. Let me know how it all pans out.

Mum x

Lily sighed, her mum was right. She needed to make herself heard and stand her ground, whilst making sure she was aware of Albus's and Scorpius's worries and concerns. Folding the letter carefully and placing it in her nightstand with all her letters from her mum, Lily slid off her bed and walked slowly down to the common room where she knew her friends would be waiting. Lyra was the first to stand. "How did your mum react?" She asked sounding apprehensive.

"She was actually really level headed about it." Lily said trying to sound chirpy. "She called Albus pig-headed and-"

"Ha, we all knew that was true" Jess snorted.

"She said Albus was over protective and with him being Scor's best friend he knows what he was like which probably worries him more. She said that when I speak to them I need to stand my ground and make myself heard but also to listen to their perspectives." Lily shrugged. "She also said getting men to use their ears and brains is difficult." She continues laughing.

"Again, this is also true!" Laughed Jess.

"Exactly, I'm going to go speak to professor Longbottom and see if the body bind has worn off and I can speak to them. I think I'll speak to Scorp first." Lily confirmed to herself.

"Have fun, let me know if you need back up!" Lyra joked as Lily walked towards the common room door.

"I think I can handle it but thanks," Laughed Lily. She always knew her friends could make her laugh and help her feel calmer about her day.

The corridors of the castle were fairly quiet this morning, for that Lily was thankful. She wanted to see as few people as possible whilst she got a handle on this and put both men in their place. The walk to the greenhouses was long but it gave her time to get her words in place and figure out exactly what she was going to say to them. Reaching the door to Professor Longbottoms office, Lily lightly knocked.

"Come in!" Professor Longbottom shouted.

Lily walked into the office filled with plants "Hi Uncle Neville" Lily said sheepishly "I wondered if I could go and speak to Albus and Scorpius."

"Well the body bind should've worn off by now and hopefully their testosterone levels have reduced to normal, sane levels so they're not blinded by that now. Are you wanting to see them separately or together?"

"Well, I was thinking separately to hear both sides without them shouting. But after a meeting with all three of us sounds useful. Would you mind being stood in the corner for that one though please?" Lily knew she sounded weak but she didn't want to have to sort both tempers at once. They didn't listen to her last time.

"Of course. Shout through the fireplace when you need me and I'll head up." Neville reassured.

"Thank you, Uncle Neville," Lily walked to give him a hug.

"Of course, Lily."

Lily released her uncle from the hug and walked out of the office on her way to the hospital wing with a plan of action in her head. She would speak to Scorpius first, but make sure he listened to her as well as her listening to him. Then go and speak to Albus and try and get him to back off as her protector.

Madame Pomfrey greeted her at the hospital wing door, and pointed her in the direction of Scorpius's room. They'd had to put them in separate rooms because they were too angry to be in beds. Entering the small, grey brick room, she saw Scorpius sat on a white metal framed bed with his head in his hands.

"Scorpius, are you okay?" She said quietly, still stood at the door.

"Lily!" Scorpius jumped up and walked over to give her a hug.

Initially Lily was hesitant to hug him. After all the emotions she had gone through in the last day she felt she needed to discuss it all first. But the embrace of Scorpius Malfoy was completely enveloping, like a warm blanket in winter. Lily let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. They stood for a moment just enjoying the exchange of comfort of each other. When Lily came to her sense she remembered what she had come to discuss. Yesterday. The fight. The push.

"Scor, what was all that yesterday?" She pushed him out of the hug and walked to sit on the chair opposite his bed. "Was that sensible to tell him then, in that way? Why did you push me out of the way?" Lily didn't mean to say it all at once but it seemed to all roll out in one sentence.

"Erm, in hindsight. Probably not." Scorpius scratched the back of his neck showing his large bicep muscles that Lily loved. "But I got fed up of hiding from him, Jesus I told him I was dating a sixth year from Hufflepuff!"

"Really?" Lily responded sarcastically.

"Yeah! I didn't know what else to tell him and I had to say I was dating someone! He was getting suspicious that I wasn't talking about girls that were fit. And I knew he'd deck me if I said that I was sleeping with you!"

Lily rolled her eyes "Prediction correct Scor"

"Yeah I know, but you got to tell your friends and I was alone with it all. I know my family are great at secrets but I am not! I was trying to figure out a way to tell him last week but I just couldn't find one and then the opportunity came and well I took it because if I'm going to get decked it may as well be in public."

Lily couldn't really argue with him. She had told her friends and could make sense of everything with him with them and he was alone. "Okay, I accept that. I shouldn't have made you keep it a secret. My bad." She held her hands up. "But why did you push me out of the way when I tried to help. I was trying to help and you pushed me out of the way!" She got louder as she spoke. This was the one part she was frustrated about. She could've helped.

"Because I didn't want you to get hurt Lily!" Scorpius stood in exasperation. "Did you see Albus's face? He was seething! He would've hit you and I can't let that happen!"

"So you decided to become his punching bag and break your face in protection? I can handle my brother Scorpius!" Lily was getting frustrated now, she wasn't a little girl that needed protection. She was a grown woman.

"If that's what it took to protect you then so be it!" Scorpius shouted "I can't deny that your magic is more powerful than his, but his punches are much more powerful."

"You didn't give me chance to use my magic! You pushed me out of the way first!" She was getting angry now.

"Yes! Because I didn't want to give him the opportunity to hurt you! I would take any punch to protect the woman that I love! Is that so bad?"

Lily was taken aback by this statement. She had never heard him say he loved her before. It was completely unexpected, why did this have to come up in an argument.

Scorpius continued calmly "Seeing you get hurt would break me, and to think that I could be the cause of that pain would break me." There were tears coming down his face "Plus Albus doesn't punch as hard as a bludger so I'm fine" He laughed trying to lighten the mood.

"Really Scor?" Lily looked up into his tear filled, grey eyes.

"To which, the taking all punches for the woman I love or Albus's punches? Because both are true." He laughed through the tears.

"That you love me?" Lily said quietly, really hoping he meant it.

Scorpius closed the distance between them, towering over Lily placing his hands in her hair caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. Leaning down and placing his forehead on hers. "Yes." Scorpius kissed her deeply, trying to convey all his emotions within his kiss. After a time, they came up for air Scorpius searched Lily's eyes for any worry but found none. He brought her into an embrace, holding her tight like he'd never let go. "I love you Lily." He said softly.

Lily felt the tears roll down her cheeks as she felt the comfort of his words. "I Love you too Scor." She stood on her tip toes to give him a tender kiss. "I need to go and talk to Albus. He needs to know I'm grown up and don't need protection from him." Lily shook her head as she spoke.

"I know Lily." Scorpius replied quietly.

Lily took a step back "I'll see you in a bit."

"Go get 'em tiger" Scorpius winked and laughed, as Lily closed the door behind her. Lily was reassured by Scorpius's reaction but she knew her brother would be a much more difficult conversation to have.