Disclaimer:

Me: Gemma… Corn… points at "corn"

Gemma: lol…

ummm... yeah... there shall be alot more of these corn jokes... Proof: I am too unimaginative to have written Harry Potter... fanfiction... now that I can do...

Thirteen.

Lily sat down at the Slytherin table, just like every other day, of every other year. As usual, most people ignored her and some glanced wearily her way occasionally. She rolled her eyes and pulled out her Charms Essay, deciding that she may as well get a head start on it. She knew she would look like a nerd, but also knew that nobody would talk to her either way. After all, a Potter in Slytherin was just not done. Especially one with the blood of three predominantly Gryffindor Families. After almost two years of having to put up with the same behavior, Lily was used to having no friends at school. A sudden burst of laughter caught her attention and she looked up to see three Ravenclaw boys enter the hall. She smiled wryly to herself and watched bitterly as her fourth year brother and his friends sat at their own table for breakfast. She watched them scrutinizing for a few minutes before her gaze then flickered to her relatives situated all through out the hall. No one made a move, No one gave her pale face even a tiny glance, or a smile, or a friendly wave or mouthed message to show that they knew she was there. She could feel the sting in her eyes and stood quickly, hurriedly shoving her incomplete essay and quill into her satchel and striding as fast as she could with out running from the room; crying in front of her house would do her no good. It would show them her weakness and vulnerability. Lily didn't want them to have something to hold over her. She ran into one of the little used hallways near the dungeons and tried to dry her eyes, calming her rapid breath that was coming in short, hot bursts.

So what? So what if they ignored her? So what if no-one remembered? So what if they didn't even care? So what if even her parents had forgotten today? She was strong. She didn't need them. She was fine being alone. She was used to it by now.

Lily stood from where she had collapsed and walked the lonely trail towards her first class, Transfiguration, mentally preparing herself for the long day ahead of her.

Lily somehow managed to get through all of her classes okay. She kept her head down and only spoke when a teacher asked her a question. She avoided the great hall at lunch and dinner, instead seeking solace in the School Library during its emptiest hours. All was well and good until ten o'clock, when Lily could no longer deny the pangs of hunger her stomach was giving off. She silently slipped out of the dungeon common room, not that anybody would miss her anyways. She had almost completed the familiar circuit to the Kitchens in almost absolute darkness, when a figure stepped out from behind a tapestry, a wand brandished in his hand.

'Lily?' she heard the familiar voice of her brother's best friend.

'What Malfoy?' she questioned haughtily, putting on the usual tough Slytherin act.

'Scorpius.' Lily was confused, and it was evident that her façade had slipped when he continued. 'Please, call me Scorpius.' He offered to her a dazzling smile, which she hesitantly returned. 'So, what are you doing out so late on a school night?' he asked, coming closer to Lily.

'Kitchens.' She replied dully, blushing when her stomach confirmed her statement. Scorpius grinned and offered his arm in a gentlemanly way.

'May I escort the young madam?' Lily scruitinized the blonde through suspicious eyes, before hesitantly slipping her own arm into his, resting her long nailed hand atop of his rough, Quidditch player's one. The unlikely duo set back off down the deserted corridor in a semi-comfortable silence. Lily couldn't help but realize just how close they were standing and just how well muscled Scorpius was. They reached the portrait to the kitchens and Lily was quick to untangle her arm and reach for the pear. Scorpius grabbed her hand swiftly and Lily looked at him wide eyed and confused. He grinned his insanely adoreable grin at her.

'Happy Birthday, Lily.'

'Wha-?' Scorpius lightly brushed his fingers across the fruit and the hole opened silently.

'Surprise!' Her family yelled as they all jumped out at her. Lily smiled, slightly teary, at them all as they lead her to a table decorated in honour of the occasion.

In all that time, the now thirteen year old Lily, never let go of Scorpius Malfoy's hand.