Lily Potter and the Potions Professor

AN: Hi again. I hope everyone had a good Christmas. Thanks for all your reviews, it's great to hear what everyone thinks. :)

Chapter 32: Ultimatum

Lily passed Scorpius on her way out. He'd been waiting just outside the door.

"Thank you," said Lily brushing his arm with her hand.

He went straight back into the hospital and Lily noticed her parents waiting for her a short distance away. Her mother was holding her father's arm as though she had been stopping him from bursting into the hospital wing and finishing what he'd started.

How had her mother gotten here so quickly? Her father must have sent his Patronus with the message instead of an owl. Lily had been hoping that she would have a bit more time before they entered into their conversation but she knew her father too well; he wouldn't have been able to wait.

She went over to them and was grateful for the concerned yet kind smile that her mother offered. They let themselves into a vacant classroom and sat down.

"Well?" demanded Harry immediately. "What happened in there?"

"Harry!" said Ginny frowning at him. "Let Lily speak."

"Thanks Mum," said Lily smiling at her mother.

Harry looked a little ashamed of himself and remained silent.

"I guess you've filled Mum in on the details?" asked Lily looking at her father but not meeting his eyes.

"Yes," said Ginny gently answering for him.

"I'm sorry," said Lily looking between the two and it was true. She really was sorry for everything; for causing them so much pain and worry; for the rift that had been created between her and Rose; for the position that Albus had been put in; for missing the release of the squid with Hagrid.

"We don't blame you Lily," said Ginny looking at her daughter with concern. "He should've known better."

"He did know better," said Lily, outraged that her parents were prepared to make excuses for her and blame everything on Malfoy.

"Oh please," interjected Harry. "You're only fifteen. He's old enough to be your father for Merlin's sake. Don't tell me he's convinced you that this is your fault. I suppose he was an innocent bystander in the whole affair."

"He hasn't convinced me of any such thing," retorted Lily. "He didn't even try. He thinks he's in the wrong ."

"With good reason," said Harry. "He is in the wrong. He's a teacher, you're his student."

"Lily, your father's right," said Ginny calmly. "You're still very young. He's taken advantage of you and he shouldn't have done that."

Lily let out an exasperated sigh. They were both treating her like a little kid. She was just as much to blame as Malfoy. But why should there be any blame anyway; it wasn't a crime to love somebody.

"Look," said Harry unable to wait any longer. "I don't want to play the blame game here. I just want to know if this is all over."

Lily looked at him. She knew he was going to say this but she'd been hoping he wouldn't.

Ginny glanced at Harry and they exchanged a look full of meaning but Lily couldn't tell what it was they were both thinking.

"Lily," said Ginny reaching out and putting her hand on Lily's. "We need to know that this is the end of it. Just tell us that you aren't going to see...him, anymore and we'll agree to just forget the whole thing."

Harry looked very putout and Ginny shot him a reproachful look.

"Won't we Harry?" she said firmly.

"Yes," he said shortly and reluctantly.

"Just forget it?" said Lily infuriated. "Just forget it? I don't think that you get this. I love him."

"Lily!" roared Harry no longer able to control himself. "This is ridiculous. You don't love him."

She opened her mouth to retaliate but Ginny cut in.

"What your father means is that this can't go on," she spoke calmly but firmly. "You can't stay with him."

"Exactly," chimed in Harry. "Now can you give us your word that this is over?"

Lily looked at her parents. She knew that both had a point but she didn't want to accept it.

"Don't make me choose between you and him," Lily said tears suddenly glistening in her eyes.

"We're making you choose Lily," replied Harry. "Because you can't have both."

She closed her eyes; it was the only way to stop herself from crying. How could her own father be forcing her to choose? How could he give her this ultimatum?

"Make your decision Lily," Harry pressed as Ginny watched them both carefully.

This was it. Lily knew that it must come to this at some point. She'd known it all along but she'd let herself block it out and now here it was demanding that she face it. She suddenly felt exhausted as though for the first time she could feel the weight of everything that she'd been carrying on her shoulders this year. She couldn't do it anymore. Her mother was right, she was too young, too young to have this much pressure on her. She didn't know it but she'd made her decision before the conversation with her parents had even begun. She knew what she had to do and she knew that she had to do it now.

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