A/N: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I do appreciate it! To know that you are enjoying this as much as I am. This next chapter is different than the rest, and if it doesn't feel right, I will remove it. But let's give it a chance, ok? It's another long one. Be kind.
Disc.: The original character creation belongs to someone else.
Third Year
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Lily, Happy Birthday to you," the family sung the familiar song, loudly and off key. Lily was center of the attention, a giant cake with thirteen candle sat before her.
"Make a wish, Lily," Ginny encouraged. "Blow out your candle." Lily closed her eyes tight and repeated over and over 'I wish I looked more grown up' before she took a deep breath and blew out all of her candle.
"I can't believe it," Harry murmured kissing the top of Lily's head. "My baby is thirteen."
"I can't believe James made prefect," Ron mumbled. Hermione elbowed him sharply in the side. Ron yelped and scowled at him. "What? Rose makes sense, but James?"
"Cake anyone?" Hermione asked loudly as she pushed ahead with a stack of plates.
Later that night, after the family had returned home, Lily stared at the ceiling that night, absent-mindedly stroking Asher's body with her fingers. He purred and walked across her body, nuzzling against her neck. Lily looked down at her dark silhouette, covered by the thin bed sheet. She still had a rather petite frame, still looked rather boyish. She had hoped cutting her hair to chin length would make her look older, but found it just increased her boyish look. She was lucky if she could call her breast size "A", especially compared to Rose. Even Kate had gotten her breasts, most noticeable during last years' Slytherin Ball where they nearly spilled out the top of her gown.
"Asher, I will never have that problem," Lily complained. Kate masked her pride in her breasts by complaining to Lily that they hurt her back and all the guys wanted to look at them. Asher purred loudly and put his slender paw on Lily's mouth. She laughed, knowing he wanted her to shut up and go to sleep. After all, she was heading back to Hogwarts in the morning.
Lily was quite on the car ride, Asher's basket in her lap. Albus and James were on either side of her, arguing about whether or not James could take points away from Albus for stuff done over the summer. Ginny turned around, holding out a piece of paper to Lily. Lily looked at it, grinning. It was her permission slip to go to Hogsmead. She had nearly forgotten that she would be able to go to Hogsmead this year.
"Now, remember," Ginny warned. "I do not want to get any bad notes home."
"Yes ma'am," they said. Lily glanced around.
"Dad said that he would try to be here, Lily, but you know things have gotten really busy at work," Ginny sighed. "I was only able to get away because I promised to pull a double."
"Do you miss Quidditch?" James asked suddenly. Ginny sighed.
"Sometimes, I really do. Working in at the Ministry isn't nearly as fun," Ginny said. She kissed the tops of their heads. "Don't miss the train. I wish I could stay to see you off. James, please make sure that Lily gets settle before you head off to do prefect duties."
"Will do, Mum," James said. Ginny nodded, kissing them all one more time before leaving the three on the platform. Lily held Asher's basket in her arms while James put her trunk on the train, finding an empty Slytherin compartment.
"Thanks James," Lily said. James shivered as the two exited the train and stood on the platform.
"I feel so dirty for having gone in there," James said shivering. Lily hit him on the shoulder. "Hey, you can't hit me. I'm a prefect."
"I can still torment you," Lily laughed. "Prefect status doesn't scare me."
"Good to know, Lils. Maybe you won't continue to run off on me," Scorpius said coming up beside her. "I made prefect."
"Congrats, Malfoy," Lily said crossing her arms slightly. Lily was slightly stand-offish, a complete change of personality from the moments before Scorpius came up and interrupted.
"How's Asher? How was your birthday?" Scorpius asked as he ignored James.
"Both good," Lily said without elaborating. She looked and saw Shale and Kate. "If you don't mind, I see Shale and Kate. I want to show them the compartment. Catch you later, James."
Lily skipped off to see Shale, who had grown just as much as Kate had grown, both looking well fit to their third year bodies. Next to them, Lily felt a momentary flash of jealousy as she sized up just a bit taller than the first years. Kate, of course, looked very womanly and curvy already. Lily snapped out of it as Shale threw his arms around Lily in a bone crushing hug.
"You two changed so much over the summer," Lily exclaimed as she lead them towards the train and into the compartment they had chosen.
"You too," Kate said winking. Lily looked down and shrugged.
"Ah, well, petite runs in my family," Lily said. "Somewhere." The other two laughed and loaded their trunks.
"There's nothing wrong with being smaller," Kate said. "I swear I don't fit into tops properly anymore and my back always aches at night."
"Mhmm," Lily murmured noncommittally as she kept her jealousy at bay.
Lily sat in the compartment, listening to Kate and Shale talk of their adventures over the summer. Lily nodded politely and thought of her own summer. It had been the dullest and most exciting summer ever. She had worked two days a week at her uncle's shop in the stock room. She had been happy not to have had to spend the entire summer following after the older kids or holed up in the recreation room at home, playing video games or watching movies.
"I have a boyfriend," Lily blurted out. Shale and Kate were mid sentence but stopped and looked at her with their mouths hanging open.
"A boy friend or a boyfriend?" Kate asked.
"A boyfriend," Lily said.
"Spill it, girly," Shale teased. Lily laughed and settled back. She pulled out a picture from her bag. She hesitated, gazing at the framed picture, before handing it to Shale. Kate leaned over to look at it.
"His name is Taryn Hurley," Lily said. "He goes to Durmstrang. He's a Quidditch player and is in his fifth year this year."
"And he's your boyfriend?" Kate asked. "He's so cute."
"Hey," Shale complained. Kate stuck her tongue out at him. He looked at the picture. "How'd you meet him?"
"His father came into town and I met him through our parents," Lily said grinning. She took the picture back as the compartment door slid open and Scorpius stood in the door way.
"What have we here?" He asked as he intercepted the picture. He held it in his hand.
"Give that back," Lily demanded.
"Mind yourself, Lils. I'm a prefect," Scorpius said crossing his arms. He looked at Shale and Kate. "Scram." Kate and Shale scrambled out of the compartment and Lily crossed her arms as he sat down across from her.
"Your being a prefect doesn't scare me, Malfoy," she said crossly.
"Look, you spent the better part of last year avoiding me like the plague," Scorpius said. "You actually ran away from me at the ball last year and sent back my Christmas gift."
"Ok," Lily said disinterested. "Can I have my picture back?"
"Isn't that cute," Scorpius said in a condescending way as he looked at it. "This is the boyfriend, is it?"
"Yes, my boyfriend," Lily said lowering her voice and leaning forward. "Just as you have Darla to keep you warm at night, Taryn did a damn good job bringing out the best in me."
Scorpius looked at her uncertainly, holding the picture. For a second, he looked hurt but he masked that look and released the picture. He stood as a frown on his face. Lily averted her eyes, looking at the picture of the boy from Durmstrang before she stowed it away in her bag above the seat. She knocked the top off of Asher's basket and he leaped out.
"Why are you so mad at me, Lily?" Scorpius asked.
"I'm not," Lily lied.
"I know you better than that," Scorpius said. "Ever since the end of first year, you've been distant and then you avoided me all year last year. What's the deal? What did I do?"
"What did you do?" Lily taunted angrily.
"Yeah, what did I do?" Scorpius said. Lily sat back down, glancing out the window. Scorpius moved toward her. Asher raked his claw across Scorpius' cheek. "What did you do; train him to attack?"
"No," Lily said as she stroked the cat.
"He's more of a demon than Ash," Scorpius said as he touched his cheek.
"Asher's not a demon," Lily snapped as she scooped him up in her arms. "You scared him, that's all. I think you're done talking and you should go."
"You didn't answer my question," Scorpius said. The door slid open and Darla Goyle stood there, her hands on her hips.
"That's where you ran off to," she cooed. "Lily did Scorpius tell you that his grandfather took us on a cruise?"
"That's lovely," Lily said sarcastically as she glared at the two of them. "I really think I will go visit my brothers."
"Yuck, Gryffindors," Darla said. "How do you even manage to survive that all summer?"
"If you'll excuse me," Lily said pushing through the two of them, Asher still in her arms.
"I heard she had to work all summer," Darla whispered to Scorpius so that Lily could hear. "Imagine a pauper Slytherin."
"Excuse me?" Lily snapped as she turned around. "Did you say something?"
"Oh, no, not at all," Darla said quickly. She forced a smile. "See you in the dorm room."
Lily made a face as she turned and stalked out of the car. She found an empty compartment and slipped into it undetected. She pulled the shade down on the window and rested her head on her arm, curled up on the seat. She knew she'd be safe falling asleep if she willed it. Asher might actually have turned out more demonic than Ash. She closed her eyes, thinking back to the end of first year.
Things were going wonderfully between Scorpius and Lily; their friendship was coming along nicely. When they weren't busy, they'd hang out and talk out on the school grounds. Lily, though knowing that Scorpius insisted that they could only be friends, had fallen harder for him. Still she stayed persistent, eager to change his mind about her.
"Hey, Lily," he said as he took a seat next to her out by the big tree by the lake. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing much," she said as she continued to link daisies. Asher was swatting at the flowers as she secured them.
"Daisy chain?" he smirked. She playfully pushed him away and continued to link.
"So you know, I think your rule that I'm too young for you is stupid," she said suddenly. She had been working up to that moment for weeks, uncertain as to how Scorpius would take it. He looked at her uncomfortably.
"Lils, you know I like you, right? You must know that I do," he said. Lily laughed and nodded.
"Don't worry about it, Score," Lily said quickly. She kissed him on the mouth quickly and crowned him with the daisies. "I won't always be seen as too young by you. I can wait."
"Lils, wait," Scorpius said as she scooped Asher up. "I wanted to talk to you a bit more."
"Can't," she called waving and laughing. "I'm to meet with Professor Perkins at his request."
Lily groaned as she heard the announcement for pending arrival to Hogwarts. She pushed her way down the corridor with Asher in her arms, slipping into the compartment undetected. She stowed Asher back in his basket and pulled out her school robes, putting them on over her school uniform. She was smoothing her robes with her hands as Shale and Kate re-entered to dress. Kate was talking the whole time, but Lily wasn't really paying attention. She nodded politely as the train rolled to a stop. Lily watched the small first years were shuttled off towards the lake to ride the little boats
She climbed into the first carriage she came to and was thrilled that that a bunch of second years had decided to climb in without looking. They looked at her nervously but said nothing. The ride to the castle was quiet and for once, Lily felt like she could breathe. She said nothing to the second year students, and they said nothing at all. Lily didn't care that she made them nervous. As a third year, it was her duty to make them nervous.
Lily made sure she sat on the same side of the table as Scorpius so that she wouldn't have to look at him while she ate and be tempted to throw a potato with the fixings at his perfectly shaped head. There were so many people between them that she was actually able to relax and enjoy her meal. She knew that she'd have to face him, she just wasn't ready to, and avoiding him had worked thus far. She knew she could leisurely walk back to the common room after dinner since HE would be steering the ten newest Slytherins down into the belly of the school. She grinned and loosened up a bit, actually listening to Shale and Kate talk about their summer, forcing Darla's loud voice from her mind as she nodded and smiled.
At the end of dinner, the Great Hall emptied quickly of the students and Lily stood, ready to head to bed. She was quite full, quite warm, and she knew that Asher was probably wailing to get out of his basket to hunt mice. She felt a hand on her shoulder as she started to walk away. Turning, she suppressed her surprise to see the head of her house standing there. He loomed over her, not looking very pleased to be talking to her.
"Miss Potter, may I have a word with you?" He asked. His tone was bored sounding and Lily remembered her father mentioning that Professor Perkins reminded him of his own potions teacher, Professor Snape.
"Yes, sir," Lily said though she didn't like the idea of being held back from her bed a moment long er than needed.
"As you know, your friend Kate Rosier did not do too well last year in potions and barely scraped by with a passing grade," he said quietly.
"Right," Lily said.
"I want you to tutor Miss Rosier," Professor Perkins said. "I've already cleared it with both your parents."
"I… ok, yeah," Lily said nodding hesitantly. "It wouldn't look good on our house if she flunked out of potions, as a Slytherin or as a student whose head of house is the potion master."
"Exactly," he said. Lily smiled and for the first time ever, he nearly smiled. Lily was terrified, though she glanced behind her quickly to see the Great Hall was void of people.
"Well, sir, I should be heading along," Lily said. "Have a good evening."
"You too, Miss Potter," he said. Lily headed out of the now silent Great Hall to find the castle was silent. It was creepy how silent it was. Lily walked down the grand staircase to the dungeon level. She walked up to the portrait of the snotty woman.
"Password?" the portrait asked with her haughtiness that Lily couldn't stand. Lily hesitated. She didn't know the password.
"I-I don't know the password," Lily said honestly. The portrait smirked.
"No password, no entry," she said simply.
"Come on, you know I belong on the other side of your frame," Lily said. The portrait smirked again.
"Slytherin rules, school rules," she said. "For your safety, of course."
"Damn," Lily breathed as she sat down by the portrait, her ankles crossed in front of her. She crossed her arms and hoped that someone would be by soon. She closed her eyes momentarily as she heard footsteps coming her way, knowing already who it was. She didn't try to suppress the groan as Scorpius turned the corner and came into view.
"So, this is where you are," he said as he stood above her. He held out his hand, offering to help her up. She stood without it.
"I don't know what the password is," Lily said simply. Scorpius leaned towards her and she leaned away.
"I have to whisper it to you," he said frowning.
"Why? We're alone," she said. Suddenly her cheeks went bright red. "Go ahead, whisper it quickly." Scorpius leaned in, his mouth near her ear.
"You can't avoid me forever," he whispered. She pulled away scowling.
"Just tell me the password so I can free Asher and go to bed," Lily said frowning.
"That is the password," he said. "I got to choose the password and I figured that maybe if you hear that phrase enough, you'll finally understand that it's true."
Scorpius turned away and the picture portal opened, him stepping inside before it slammed closed behind him. The snotty lady in the portrait smirked.
"Password?" She inquired. Lily sighed.
"You can't avoid me forever," she said rather dejectedly. The portrait swung open and allowed Lily entrance to the common room. Asher was there, waiting to greet her with a loving purr.
"I let him out," Kate apologized as Lily walked in, carrying him. "He sounded like the devil was coming out of him."
"No worries," Lily said. "Did he scratch?"
"Yeah," Kate said holding up her arm.
"Asher, that's a naughty boy," Lily said as she placed the cat on the bed and began disrobing. A knock came to the door and the girls scrambled to pull their robes on before Darla headed off to answer it.
"You girls want to play some games?" Tavis asked. The girls agreed and promised to meet them in a few minutes. Four of the third year girls headed out into the common room. Lily chose to keep her distance and instead climbed into her bed, Asher joining her. She closed her eyes, unable to block out the memory of when her heart shattered into a million pieces.
He had told her that she was too young, that a first year and a third year had no business being more than friends and she had believed him because she thought he'd never lie to her. She didn't mind that they could only be friends because she enjoyed being his friend. If she could only ever be his friend, she could live with that, or so she told herself. She loved the way he made her feel special, the way he'd squeeze her hand under the table and the way he always listened when she went on and on about everything.
He laughed at her jokes and occasionally would steal a hug from her when they'd part. Lily knew she wasn't his girlfriend, just a girl who was just a friend, but she liked to pretend. In her heart, she knew she could win him over, though she'd never be so bold to say it aloud. She only pretended no one was around, late at night, thinking of every moment that they shared together.
It was just after Easter break, and Lily went searching for him. She had been so excited, having brought him a treat from her grandmother's kitchen. Lily held the palm sized white chocolate egg with the raspberry filling carefully in her hand, its cellophane crinkling as she went in search of him. She headed straight to the Slytherin common room. She saw him, in all his beauty and all his glory standing there with Darla. A wave of icy dread saturated her insides. Scorpius was kissing Darla. Scorpius was kissing a first year.
Lily swore quietly and buried her head under the pillow, much to Asher's displeasure. The cat walked the length of her body, kneading her back with his paw. She was glad he had more sense than to start clawing at her back. He mewed a few times before burrowing between the pillow and Lily's body. She sighed as his little head tucked against her throat and he began to purr. The warmth was soothing to her and Lily fell asleep before any of the other third year girls returned.
Lily was the first one up that morning, dressing in her school uniform before heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The Hall was fairly empty as much of the school had stayed up way too late goofing off and catching up. She smiled at the few Slytherins that were sitting at the table already.
"You're up early," Damon said as he gestured to the other side of the bench. Lily hesitated before sitting across from the fifth year boy. He grinned and started piling an insane amount of food on his plate.
"I wasn't in the partying mood last night," Lily said as she went a little more conservative and opted for only two slices of bacon and a scoop of eggs. "You're going to make yourself sick if you eat all that."
"Bulking up for Quidditch," he said with his mouth full. He swallowed, slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, I usually have better manners than that, than talking with my mouth full. I'm bulking up for Quidditch tryouts. They're being held on Saturday. Do you know Malvo Flint?"
"No," Lily replied.
"Oh, well he's our captain this year, a seventh year," Damon said. "You know how seventh years can be, so full of power because so many of them are already of age. Anyways, he wants to hold open tryouts for third thru seventh year students. You ought to tryout."
"Me?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I've seen you play during the pickup games," Damon said dismissively. Lily blushed slightly but didn't respond. "You have a hell of an arm on you. I think you'd make a right mean beater, even if you are on the smaller side."
"Gee, thanks," Lily replied. "I think."
"It's a compliment," Damon said. He leaned forward and pushed a few more piece of bacon on her plate. "Trust me, Lily. Eat the bacon and come to tryouts."
"I'll think about it," Lily said. She picked up the bacon and took a bite, nodding. Damon grinned at her but his smile faltered slightly as his eyes hit the door. Lily glanced over her shoulder to see Scorpius entering quickly, as if he was trying to escape someone. He glanced over his shoulder, frowning. He went back to the door and held it open for Darla to enter. Lily tensed up slightly but turned back to her breakfast.
"I can't stand that girl," Damon whispered as the two came closer. He averted his eyes, focusing on his plate as Scorpius took a seat next to Lily. Darla made a displeased sound.
"Darla, here's your plate," Scorpius said placing a plate on his other side. Lily cringed as she felt his arm brush hers as he had Darla sit on his left. Any other day, she would have excused herself to go somewhere, anywhere, else. Unfortunately, Lily had to stay put and wait for Professor Perkins to pass out the schedules. She was stuck sitting next to Scorpius. She contemplated just getting up and moving to another part of the long table, but she knew that she couldn't. Part of her hated herself because, despite it all, she'd kill to be Darla.
"Try outs are on Saturday," Scorpius told Damon.
"I know," Damon said nodding. "I was just telling Lily that she ought to try out. I think she'd make one hell of a beater."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Darla asked sweetly. Lily hated the way that Darla spoke; she always sounded like she was an idiot when she talked and she knew that it was just an act. When it was just the girls, she talked crude like anyone else. She had the worst swearing habit, though Lily did have to admire her for being able to keep such control of things.
"I think Lily can handle herself," Damon said laughing.
"So, you're thinking of trying out? Which position?" Scorpius asked. Lily silently sighed.
"I was thinking beater, since it's always been a great source of release for me," Lily said simply, flatly.
"Usually beaters are a bit larger, muscular," Scorpius said. "Your size would be more fitting of a seeker or chaser."
"I'm trying out for beater," Lily said emotionless. She shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth and started to read the back of a cereal box, ending the conversation. She glanced up as Professor Perkins stopped behind her.
"Miss Potter, your schedules," he said. "I think I will need to add Miss Goyle to your services, seeing as how you didn't do as well as I expected Miss Goyle."
"I'm sorry professor," Darla said sweetly. "I will strive to do better. It was just womanly problem, you know?"
"Ah, well hopefully those problems will not keep you from classes," Professor Perkins said handing the schedule to Darla. He flipped through and pulled out two more schedules. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. West, remember this year is your O.W.L.s and I know you will do your very best."
"Yes sir," they said as they looked at their schedules.
"What electives are you taking?" Darla asked as she leaned across Scorpius, placing her hand on his thigh purposefully.
"Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," Lily said ignoring Darla's attempt to get a rise out of her.
"I'm surprised you didn't take Muggle Studies," Darla said with a cruel twist to her face. Lily laughed as she stood suddenly.
"You must forget," Lily said with a slight tone of sarcasm. "I am the anti-Slytherin. I'm practically raised like a muggle when I'm not here. See you in potions, Darla."
Lily could feel his eyes on her as she walked out of the Great Hall and it took all of her being to keep from sprinting out of there at a record speed. She stopped at the Gryffindor table, momentarily sitting to have her brothers take a look at her schedule.
"I was thinking," Lily said as she sat there, her back to the table as she stared at the back of Scorpius. "I think I am going to try out for the Slytherin team. I just want your thoughts on it, James."
"Well…" James trailed off as he thought about it. "I think you'd do very well, from the standpoint of playing and as your brother, I encourage you to do it. As your opponent, I have to say that when we are out on that pitch, we are no longer brother and sister, just rivals."
"Good to know you won't go easy on me," Lily laughed as she took back her schedule.
"What position?" James asked as he offered her a piece of bacon.
"I was thinking beater," Lily said. James nearly choked on his bacon.
"Look, Lily, beaters are these big bruits. You are just this tiny waif of a girl," he said. "Maybe you'd be better suited as a chaser like me, or even a keeper. Something that doesn't involve swinging a huge bat like a caveman and trying to knock a ball at people."
"I think I'd be good," Lily said pouting.
"I don't doubt that," James said. "I just think speed is your game, even with those guns of yours." He squeezed her upper arm.
"Hey, don't squeeze my arm," Lily laughed.
"Us playing over the summer is different than playing competitively," James said seriously. "You know I'll support you whatever you decide to do, but I want you to be safe. Chaser with good beater support or keeper is more of an ideal situation for you, sis."
"I'll keep that in mind, bro," Lily laughed at him. She stood. "Plus, you wouldn't be James if you took it easy on me."
"You make me out to being some evil big brother," James laughed as he waved her off. Lily left the Great Hall feeling happier having pretty much received James' blessing to try out for the Slytherin team. She headed back to the common room to gather the books she'd need for her first classes, Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures.
"Alright, Slytherins," Malvo Flint said as he entered the Quidditch pitch. He carried a clipboard as he paced back and forth in front of the large group of people. He checked names as he made eye contact with the players hoping to grab one of the coveted six spots on the team, Malvo was a beater. Malvo looked at Lily frowning. "How old are you?"
"I'm a third year," Lily said.
"Kind of runty, aren't you?" He asked.
"Possibly," Lily replied. He laughed and continued walking, marking on his clipboard. She glanced reflexively at Scorpius and Damon, both who were standing down from her. Scorpius was blank faced, hard to read. Damon grinned and gave her a thumb up. Lily grinned back at him and looked straight forward.
"Alright, let see what you have. West, beater, Malfoy, chaser, E. Goyle, chaser, D. Goyle, chaser, Potter, seeker, Bridges, keeper," Flint said. "Team up with me. Russo, keeper, Haughton, seeker, Wilson, Lacy, and O'Neil as chasers, and your two, whatever your names are, beaters. Alright, let's hit the skies."
Lily took to the skies fairly quick, using one of the school's newer brooms. She tied her hair back and started circling as Professor Wood released the balls to go into play. She flew higher than Haughton, a sixth year boy with a mean look about him. He sneered at her, thinking her foolish for being so high up. To Lily it just made more sense. She could see everything from up there, the wind whipping at her as she circled. She focused on her aspect, looking for the snitch, and ignored the others.
She made best of the situation, trying not to be disappointed that she couldn't be a beater. She was certain that she could have done a wonderful job as one, even if beaters did tend to be a bit thicker muscled than she. She could see the appeal to her being a seeker. She was small therefore had very small surface resistance when she flew. She hovered high above her teams' goal, her eyes scanning for the slightest glint of gold. She groaned aloud, seeing the Snitch behind the opposite goal and with Haughton halfway between her and it.
Lily knew she had to make a decision, to circle toward it and hope that Haughton didn't catch on or to fly full speed through the middle of game play. Lily could feel her heart racing as she made a snap decision and took off from her place above her side's goal and wove in and out of the other players, barely avoiding collision, with Haughton and Scorpius both. She brushed so closely to colliding with Scorpius; she could smell the scent of grass on him from where Malvo miss timed a bludger hit towards Malfoy and knocked him to the ground.
Lily caught the snitch, Haughton screaming foul. Professor Wood sided with Lily on the score but then berated Lily for her daredevil flying. He reminded Lily that she could have hurt herself or one of the other players flying like that. Malvo called the tryout over and sent everyone off to the locker room. Darla skipped along merrily, not having even broken a sweat.
"Did you see my baby get hit? I swear that Flint was trying to knock him off his broom," Darla said as she headed in to the shower. Lily rolled her eyes and headed into another stall. "Did you see it, Lily?"
"Mhmm," Lily replied as she flipped the hot water on and climbed under the spray. If she and Darla both made the team, she'd hated to think how much she'd have to hear Darla go on and on about Scorpius. She rested her head against the cool tile while the hot water poured over her. She closed her eyes.
Lily had been thoroughly crushed when Darla told Lily that she was dating Scorpius, which Lucius Malfoy had them betrothed in the age old tradition of ancient magical families of the Slytherin house. At first Lily hoped it was only a mistake. She had never heard of such absurdities, but upon researching it more in the library, she learned that it was an old custom not routinely spoke of outside Slytherin circles. Lily had been heartbroken. Scorpius' excuse that she was too young was a lie. He was going to marry Darla Goyle and have a bunch of babies with that pigheaded girl.
Lily had the summer to think about it, and the more she thought about it, the more it hurt. If he had been honest with her, upfront from the beginning, she wouldn't have let herself fall for him. Second year was spent pointedly avoiding him like the plague. Her only solace was Asher, the one she told all her secrets to. When Christmas came, she refused the gift Scorpius sent her and avoided him at the Slytherin Ball, not that it was hard, the way that Darla was hanging over him all night. Still, he stole away and found her alone. He tried talking to her and she ran away, to her parents and begged to go home.
"I just don't feel well," Lily lied when her parents asked her why she wanted to go home early. She and Scorpius made eye contact and he moved forward, toward her as she pulled her cloak on but Darla intercepted him and Lily felt like someone had just impaled her with an icicle, a nice thick, sharp barbed one, and decided to twist it. She went straight to bed that night and cried silently into Asher's warm fur.
Lily finished up and redressed in her school uniform. If she, Darla, and Scorpius were on the same team, she would deal with it. She decided that she wouldn't run from the situation anymore. This was, after all, how things were going to be until the end of time. She would just have to focus on the letters between Taryn and herself and ignore the feelings that she had for Scorpius. She'd bury them deep inside, like she buried everything else. She wouldn't run from him anymore.