A/N: I originally had Scorpius as a sixth year and Lily in fourth, then changed it at the last minute before publishing and I've decided to change it back because that just feels more appropriate. I've changed it in the first chapter for future readers, but I wanted to let those who haven't reread that to know. Also, is "you ass" an appropriate insult for someone English? I honestly don't know but if someone does, I'll be eternally grateful. In addition, basically this whole chapter was typed on my iPod, so if you see any glaring issues in spelling/grammar/flow, please point them out to me. Thanks for reading and please review. Knowing people like my work legitimately inspires me!


Scorpius had not fully grasped what he had signed up for when he first offered his help to the youngest Potter. He had simply assumed that he would help her study two or three times, she would pass her Potions test with flying colors thanks to his superb tutelage, and there would be no more need for his expertise. The blonde had been quite wrong.

Scorpius had either overestimated his teaching ability or -as he preferred to believe- underestimated Lily's lack of knowledge. She did show some improvement in her Potions work, which was hard not to do Scorpius thought bitterly once after he explained one concept to her for a third time, but it was not enough for either of them to be satisfied. And so that was why the two were sitting in the Library three months after Scorpius' initial offer of help.

Tonight was one of the nights in which Lily only seemed to need his help a few times as she worked diligently on her latest assignment, so Scorpius sat across from her and worked on his own studies. Though neither of them was likely to admit it to other people, especially each other, they had grown to enjoy each other's company whether they were legitimately working or just goofing off when neither was feeling motivated. They had become comfortable enough that silence, like the type that was occurring right now, was much more comfortable than awkward.

Their quills scratched against their parchment in the quiet of the library, and they were both so absorbed in their work that neither Lily nor Scorpius realized the figure standing over them until he coughed quite loudly and interrupted their flow of ideas.

"This certainly looks interesting," James Potter said nonchalantly, but both occupants of the table could recognize the accusation in his voice. The two Slytherins looked up at the seventh year nervously, then back to each other.

Scorpius and James had never been best buddies, far from it. James had been one of the kids who mocked and been nasty to Scorpius when he had first arrived at Hogwarts. While this behavior had mostly subsided -James didn't have the attention span or passion to bully only one person for an extended length of time-, James and Scorpius were certainly not high on each other's Christmas lists.

"Far from it, actually," Lily said as she gained her composure. "Awhile ago, Malfoy here offered to help me a bit with Potions homework and such after I almost decapitated someone out of frustration. That's all we're doing." She looked at him pointedly, daring him to consider the possibility of anything beyond study partners. "Homework."

"'Awhile ago,'" James quoted, clearly missing the rest of Lily's impromptu speech once that little fact was disclosed. He sat down next to Lily. Without taking his eyes off Malfoy, he asked, "And how long approximately is 'awhile.'"

Both members of the guilty party shrugged, but it was Scorpius who answered.

"Oh, I'm not sure," he smirked, somewhat enjoying the fact that he irritating the exceptionally annoying James Potter. "Maybe two and a half, three months." Scorpius could tell that James was considering what to do next very carefully, which was not a course of action that James Potter or any other Gryffindor generally employed. But Scorpius realized that Potter was trying to find something, anything, wrong about the innocent situation.

"Well, if it's just homework, d'you mind if I stick around?" James had already kicked his feet up on the chair opposite him and was looking ridiculously arrogant, when he was answered.

"Actually, we do," Lily said with a tinge of anger. Scorpius was quite relieved that Lily felt the same way she did, and was more than happy to add to the rejection.

"Neither of us do well with distractions, else we'd study in our Common Room," he said. Scorpius hoped to clearly indicate that James Annoying Prat Potter was not invited or welcome to the study session that he had come to enjoy.

James got up in a huff, though Scorpius was sure that he was at least a little relieved to getting out of the library that he couldn't have spent more than an hour in during his Hogwarts career.

"So sorry," he exclaimed sarcastically and loudly enough to earn himself a prolonged stare from Madam Pince, the librarian. "I'll be sure not to disturb you like this ever again." Scorpius highly doubted this, and expressed this concern to Lily once James was out of earshot.

"I wouldn't worry too much about him," Lily said with a smile. "Maybe he'll write to my parents and the whole family will get a good ribbing in over Christmas break." Lily sighed and threw her Potions work into her bag, clearly done for the day. "He can't seem to forget about the little six year old girl who came to him to get rid of the monsters under the bed."

"'Monsters under the bed,'" Scorpius chuckled. "I never expected you to be the type to be afraid of things creepy and crawly under the bed." Lily hit him on the arm playfully as the two Slytherins gathered their things.

"I was being figurative, you ass."

"You sure, because I can check under your bed tonight, if you'd like?" Scorpius asked suggestively, winking at her as they left the library together.

"Why do I subject myself to this? You're absolutely insufferable."