October 9th, 2018

Lily lay curled in a ball on her bed, her legs tucked up in her arms. She'd been lying there all day. Her small, pale yellow room shone brightly in the late afternoon sun; the rain had broken just enough to let a beautiful sunset in through her blinds, though Lily looked without really seeing it. It was her eleventh birthday at last, and Hugo's too, but she didn't feel much like celebrating.

Someone knocked on the front door of the Potter house. She didn't know or care who it might be. All she cared about was how much she missed James and Al and Rosie, and how much she wished that she was at school with them. She reached over her head for a stuffed white owl that she'd had for as long as she could remember, and squeezed the toy tightly, feeling a few tears slide down her cheeks.

Downstairs, Ginny opened the door for Teddy, who, at twenty years old, looked strikingly like his father.

"Ted!" Ginny said, throwing her arms around him and laying a kiss on his cheek.

"Hi, Aunt Gin," he answered, a smile on his face. He looked around the empty living area. "Er…I haven't got the wrong day, have I?" He'd been invited to Lily and Hugo's joint birthday party with all the family.

Ginny laughed, wiping frosting from her hands to her apron. "No, no, you're right. I just—well, I asked you to come early."

"Early?" Teddy repeated.

"Listen," Ginny told him in a low voice, leading him into the kitchen. "Lily's been in a state ever since the boys left for school. She's been so down about missing her brothers, I'm not even sure she's remembered that it's her birthday. Now, you've always been her favorite. Can't you go up and talk to her? I'm sure she'd cheer up if you two had a chat."

"'Course I will," Teddy said.

"Oh, thank you so much." Ginny gave him another quick kiss on his cheek. "She's in her room. I'm going to go back in the kitchen. I'll let you both know when Harry gets here." She glanced at her clock. "Should be any minute…oh! Teddy!"

Teddy turned on his way out the door.

"Lily doesn't know that Harry's got permission to bring James, Al and the girls home, so don't ruin the surprise!"

He smiled and nodded before making his way up the stairs. When he got to the top, he knocked on the door of the little room with the sign that read, "Lily Luna Potter—please knock" in a curly, flowery script. Teddy smiled, imagining Lily's little face scrunched up in concentration as she made the sign. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Lily said. Teddy opened the door and saw Lily facing away from him on her bed, wrapped tightly around herself. He jumped up and landed softly on the bed next to her, causing her to fly a few inches in the air. Surprised, she shrieked.

"What—" Lily sat up and glared around at the one who had disturbed her. Then her expression cleared "Teddy!" she cried, leaping onto him.

"Oof, hey there Lil," Teddy said, giving the girl a squeeze. "Happy birthday, Pix." He had called Lily "Pixie" for years, but it had been readily shortened to Pix."

Lily's smile faded a little. "Thanks." She sat back and scooped up her toy owl again. "Why are you here so early? No one's supposed to be here till seven."

Teddy reached forward and stroked the toy's fluffy white head. "I lost track of time and forgot when I was supposed to be here. I thought I was running late."

Lily stared at him for a moment. "You're a terrible liar, Teddy Lupin."

Teddy laughed. "Am I?" Lily raised an eyebrow. "Oh, all right, you've caught me. Your mum wanted me here early so we could have a talk. I hear you've been missing Al and James."

Lily looked down. "It's not just that," she mumbled. "I miss them, I do, but…I just… I want to be at Hogwarts," she said plaintively, her big brown eyes wide and pleading.

"Sort of like being homesick for a place you've never been?" Ted asked. Lily nodded quickly. "Aw, Lily, I understand." Teddy pulled her in for a hug. "But you know what?"

"What?"

"You're going to be there so soon, and you know who'll be in your year?"

"Who?"

"Roxanne and Hugo," said Teddy, counting them off on his fingers. "Alice Longbottom, Lorcan Scamander…"

"I get it, I get it," Lily said. "I just…I've never wanted anything this badly, Ted. What if my letter doesn't ever come? What if—" she paused, aware that she was about to voice one of her most secret fears. "What if I'm a Squib?"

Teddy knew enough not to laugh out loud at her anxious face. "Oh, Lily! Is that what this is all about?"

Lily looked down. "Kind of."

"Lily, you've been showing magical aptitude since you were born!" Teddy said, giving the girl another hug.

Lily frowned. "What?"

"Well, you put me under a spell right away," Teddy told her. Lily swatted him. "But really, Pix, you come from one of the most magical families I've ever seen in my entire life. It's unbelievable! But you know what the best part about this family is?" he asked. Lily shook her head.

"Even if you were a Squib, they would always love you and always be on your side." Lily's eyes were full of tears. "But," Teddy said quickly, "you are most definitely not a Squib, so it's time to dry your eyes and—" there was a knock on the door downstairs, "—go to the party."

Lily smiled and threw herself onto Teddy again. "Thanks, Ted," she whispered. "I love you."

"Me too, Pix," Teddy told her, rubbing her back.

"Teddy, Lily!" Ginny's voice echoed up the stairs. "Ron and Hermione are here!"

Teddy stood up. "You clean up, I'll go downstairs, all right?" Lily nodded.

It was a long evening full of celebration over Lily and Hugo. All her uncles were there, as well as Gran and Pop, with whom she had a serious conversation on the sofa about what kind of wand would suit her best when she went shopping in Diagon Alley. She laughed and giggled as she played with her many cousins and was swept into the arms of each of her uncles and aunts. When Harry, James, Rose, Albus, and Victoire came tumbling out of the fireplace, Lily could barely contain her excitement.

After she had kissed Gran and Pop goodnight, she left them to chat with her parents in the living room, and ran upstairs to tackle her brothers. She paused on the steps, though, looking at the couch where her grandparents sat with Teddy. He didn't see Lily, but she smiled to herself before running the rest of the way up.

That was the first night she began to imagine what their wedding would be like.