A/N: As no one has read chapter nine, I will have to assume that everyone loved it and hated Taryn the slimy git of a boy that poor Lily is dating. What a… never mind. Thanks for reading and reviewing (which I know you will do once you read). On to chapter ten. Oh, having completed chapter ten, it is much shorter (the shortest so far) but I think I make up for it in the end wink.

Disc.: Borrowed for my own devices.

A Solitary Breath

Lily sat at the table in the library, by the window with the sun peeking through as she hunched over huge book, pour all of her soul and being into her Transfiguration essay. She knew that she was being watched from a distance. She could feel it. Lily bit the back of her quill, writing and scratching out things she had written. She glared at the paper and generally ignored the other people at her table who were being a little loud and a lot rowdy. Madame Pince was certain to kick them out at that rate.

"Guys, come on," Lily pleaded with them half heartedly. "I want to get this finished."

"We have two weeks," Kate protested.

"You should still be celebrating, Lily," Shale said. "You annihilated those Gryffindors yesterday."

"I know," Lily said grinning. "I was there, after all."

"Come celebrate with us," Kate begged. "How often do we get to boast that we sent the Gryffindor team to the hospital after one short match with us?"

"Hopefully more often," Shale said. Lily looked up at them and half grinned.

"I didn't mean to hit James upside the head with the bludger," Lily said.

"We know, we know," Shale said shaking his head. "Sweet, loving Lily never intended to hurt her big brother. But the fact of the matter, you did."

"You know they're going to make it hell for us next go round," Lily said.

"Yeah, but you won't play them again until the spring, so no worries," Kate said. "You won't change your mind?"

"No, I like to be ahead on my papers," Lily said. Kate and Shale rolled their eyes and left Lily alone at the table. She was thankful because they had made it nearly impossible to work on her paper, the way they insisted on chattering about the match the day before.

She had done well, and she had done exactly like she said she would. She didn't go easy on her brother and cousin, nor did she target them any more than any other player. The Gryffindor team assumed she would go easy and James kept getting the ball. That was their mistake and Lily had sent James out of the game at the end, straight to the hospital. She had forgone the after party, to celebrate the Slytherin win, and instead went to visit her brother. The rest of the Gryffindor team glared at her, even Hugo, but James understood. It wasn't personal, it was Quidditch.

"What are you so lost into thought with that you didn't hear me?" Scorpius asked touching Lily's arm. She jumped. Her face was red with embarrassment.

"Just reliving the glory of the game," Lily admitted. Scorpius grinned and took the seat next to her.

"That was a hell of a game. I have to say I'm proud of you," Scorpius said. Lily blushed.

"I'm just one player," Lily reminded him. "The win was all of us working together, well that and West keeping the Quaffle in his hands for a change."

"Too true," Scorpius said laughing.

"Where's Darla?" Lily wondered aloud. Scorpius made a face.

"Why do you always ask about her?" Scorpius asked. Lily blushed.

"It's really more for me than for you," Lily said. Scorpius looked at her but said nothing more. He had a feeling that neither of them would like the answers to the questions that they had for each other, especially since nothing could ever come of it.

"She's with her sister," Scorpius said. "Her Great Aunt Somebody or the other died of Dragon Pox."

"Oh, how awful," Lily shaking her head, "you'll give her my apologies?"

"Yes, of course," Scorpius said quietly.

"Wow, Dragon Pox," Lily murmured as she bit her bottom lip in thought. "I didn't think it was really that fatal."

"I don't know," Scorpius said shrugging. "I don't know how old the aunt was. Maybe age has something to do with it."

"I'm really sorry, Score," Lily said as she placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Why are you apologizing to me?" Scorpius asked uncertainly, a confused smile on his face. Lily looked at him sympathetically.

"You've lost a part of your future family," Lily said.

"Lils, I didn't know the lady and Darla and I aren't married yet," Scorpius said. He breathed. "Or ever if I could convince my grandfather."

"Good luck with that," Lily said. "Lucius isn't one that gets swayed easily."

"You're telling me," Scorpius said. "If my grandmother and father would let him, he'd have me marked with that antiquated dark mark on my next birthday."

"No, really," Lily said.

"Yeah," Scorpius said. Lily removed her hand from his shoulder slowly. "Hey, he's not going to. It's illegal now, you know, to brand groups. Plus I don't want him marring my forearm."

"Hmm," Lily said as she pushed back his sleeve. She ran her finger along the skin. "It is a nice forearm." Scorpius shivered and laughed, brushing her touch from him.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Scorpius said. Lily looked at her paper.

"I really should work on this essay," Lily said. She looked at him, a pleading look in his eyes.

"C'mon Lily," Scorpius said in a low whisper as he leaned in towards her. He whispered in her ear. "I won't bite."

"I think that you biting me is the least of my worries," Lily teased. She nodded and began to shove her stuff back in her bag.

"Did you write Taryn of your success?" Scorpius asked. Lily nodded as she stood.

"You know, I wish you weren't so much taller than me," Lily said changing the subject. "You're going to give me a crick in the neck from looking up at you."

"Awe, you look up to me?" Scorpius teased. He slouched down a bit. "Is this better?"

"Stop," Lily laughed as she hit his shoulder. "That's terrible for your posture."

"Whew, good, because it was so uncomfortable," Scorpius said as the two of them headed out of the library. Lily laughed and they headed toward the common room so that they could drop off Lily's bag. She grabbed her sweater and the two of them headed out onto the grounds.

"Feels like it's going to be a hard winter," Lily said as she pulled her sweater tighter around her. "Here we are on the cusp of October and the leaves are already changing and there is chill in the air."

"Better?" Scorpius asked as he put his arm around her.

"Y-yeah," Lily said. She could feel her heart racing and she knew it was wrong. Scorpius was Darla's boyfriend, Taryn was her own boyfriend, and yet she was strolling along the school grounds with Scorpius' arm around her.

"I wish things were different," Scorpius said quietly.

"Yeah," Lily said knowing exactly what he was talking about without him saying much more. They were fairly hidden from the school when Scorpius pulled her into his arms. Lily didn't resist, just rested her head on his chest, his arms wrapped around her. Lily could feel his heart pounding as fast as her own was. She looked up at him, his fingers touching her cheek.

"You know, I love you," Scorpius said quietly. "I hate that I do, because I can't be with you, but I love you."

"Scorpius," Lily protested. His fingers touched her mouth.

"Shh," he said. "Give me this moment, please. For this moment let's just pretended that nothing is standing in our way. There are no boyfriends, no girlfriends. Just let's pretend that it's just you and me."

"I want to," Lily said weakly. Scorpius nodded, biting his lip in anticipation. He leaned in, his lips parted slightly. Lily turned her head. "I just can't."

"I… I understand," Scorpius said after a few moments. He released her. "I'm sorry, Lily. I shouldn't have even suggested it."

"It's ok," Lily said. She looked up at the sky. "We should head back. It's nearly dinner time."

"Yeah," Scorpius said. He sounded disappointed.

"I'm sorry," Lily said looking up at him. She forced a smile. "You know I'd be more than happy to have you be my first real kiss, but I can't cheat on Taryn. Plus, you have Darla and this wouldn't be fair to either of them."

"You're right, Lils," Scorpius said kissing Lily's cheek. "Let's go to dinner."

Lily headed out to the locker room, ready to suit up for her game against Ravenclaw. She pushed through the door, glancing at Scorpius before she headed to her locker. She pulled her hair up into a tie before she pulled on her Slytherin green Quidditch robes. She strapped her safety gear on and grabbed her broom, waiting for the others. Flint barked commands to them and Lily smirked at him. He was rough around the edges, yes, but he wanted to win as much as the rest of them wanted to win.

Lily lined up, standing between Damon who was in front of her and Scorpius who was behind her. They were all close to each other, getting ready to be announced and to pile out of the locker room. She felt Scorpius lean forward, his body brushing against her back. She felt his breath on her ear.

"My first goal is for you," he whispered so that only she could hear. Before she could respond, they were ushered out of the locker room and out on to the pitch. The wind was harsh, biting. Lily's face felt raw and she wished that the game would end and she could get a piping hot cup of tea. Still, she forged on defending her team and doing her best to unseat her opponents and darkness descended on the pitch.

The Ravenclaw seeker caught the Snitch, ending the game. Ravenclaw won by ten points. Scorpius and Lily both groaned at the loss. Lily patted him on the shoulder. He sighed and smiled somewhat disappointed in their close loss. Lily didn't even have a chance to react when the Ravenclaw beater launched the bludger at her. It connected with the side of her face with a sickening crunch and Lily nearly passed out. Scorpius went to grab her, certain that Lily was going to fall. Lily regained her balanced and took off after the Ravenclaw beat. He was quick but Lily was quicker and she grabbed the back of his robes.

"Lily! Stop!" Scorpius yelled as Lily wailed into the boy, his arms up to protect him. Scorpius jerked her off the boy who she had pinned to the ground at this point.

"He knew that the game was over!" Lily cried. The fourth year beater was sobbing on the ground, his front two teeth missing and his face covered in blood. Professor Wood gave him a once over and sent the boy to Madame Pomphrey for repair.

"She'll grow your teeth back, son," Wood said. He turned and looked at Lily. "Let's see what we've got here."

"Brookes hit her with a bludger well after the call of the win," Scorpius said. Wood tilted Lily's face to get a better look at it. Her cheek was already dark purple, the front of her robes were covered in her own blood.

"Maybe you should go get checked out by Madame Pomphrey," Professor Wood said. "Faces aren't meant to stop bludgers."

"I'll be ok," Lily protested.

"Take Potter up there, Malfoy," Flint said. He turned to Lily. "Malfoy's going to stay with you to make sure you actually go and get honest treatment. Great left hook, by the way."

"I can't believe I hit him," Lily said as she walked back to the castle. She looked at her fist, scraped from hitting the boy's glasses and teeth.

"I can't believe we didn't get to him first," Scorpius said. Once inside the castle, he got a good at Lily's face. He turned her face to the torch and cringed. "Does it hurt?"

"Yeah," Lily said as her fingers touched the bruised cheek.

"I bet," he said. "I'm surprised you didn't cry, to be honest."

"I did, you just didn't see me," Lily admitted. "I have two older brothers and older cousins. I am the baby. You just don't let them see you cry."

"Awe," Scorpius said slinging his arm around her shoulders. "I wouldn't have made fun of you. Maybe brushed away your tears and… well… we'll just leave it at that."

"Yeah, probably for the best," Lily said smirking. The movements of her face made her cringe in pain. Still, they continued on to the hospital wing. Madame Pomphrey took one look at her and she shook her head.

"Sit here and change…" Madame Pomphrey said directing Lily to one of the hospital vestibules. Lily grinned at Scorpius.

"I don't think you want to stick around for the end part of this undressing," Lily said blushing. Scorpius' eyes got big and he stepped out from the area only returning when Madame Pomphrey gave him the go-ahead.

"So, I hope you don't mind," Lily said as Scorpius stood beside her bedside. "I volunteered you to sit with me while the skele-patch fixes the fractures in my skull. Apparently that Ravenclaw idiot cracked my head and now I'm not allowed to go to sleep until it's been six hours."

"I don't mind," Scorpius said sitting on the chair.

The Slytherin team came in and out, as well as Lily's brothers and cousin, to check to see how she was doing. After a while of the Gryffindors and the Slytherins glaring at each other over Lily, Madame Pomphrey sent them on their way. Lily frowned as she ate.

"Are you ok?" Scorpius asked as he looked up from the tray the school's house elves brought up.

"I think I must have bit my lip," Lily said touching her mouth. She pulled her fingers away from the inside of her lip, a pink tint on the very tips.

"Looks like it," Scorpius said. He took an ice cube out of the ice bucket and wrapped it in a napkin. "Hold this to your lip for a second or two. It should take the sting off of it."

"Thanks," Lily said after a few minutes. "That feels much better."

"Done here?" he asked taking her tray. He set them with the other trays slated to be cleared. Madame Pomphrey came in, dressed in her night gown and her hair up in rollers.

"Your temperature looks good and it's nearly been six hours," she said. "I think you'd be safe to sleep in your own bed tonight."

"Good," Lily said.

"Get dressed and I'll send you with a night pass," Madame Pomphrey said. Lily swayed a second as she climbed out of the bed, Scorpius grabbing her.

"Do you really think you're ready?" Scorpius asked.

"Don't be silly," Lily said. "It was just a momentary sway. I'll be ok."

The two of them walked down the empty corridors of the school, not talking. Lily looked at him hesitantly. He stopped; there was a questioning look in his eyes. They both blushed, a silent conversation happening between the two of them. Lily bit her bottom slightly and she stepped closer to him, hesitant in her actions. The movement was all he needed and Scorpius took her by the hand and practically dragged her up the stairs of the Astronomy tower. He threw the door open, not caring to be quiet.

The grounds lay before them, cast in a silvery moonlight on the crescent moon. Lily placed her hands on the rail, her head tilted up to look at the moon smiling at her among the millions of twinkling stars. The air was cool, not quite as bitter and biting as before. That might have had a little to do with Scorpius' arms wrapped around her. She looked at him, turning her back to the school ground.

"Tonight, let's just pretend," Scorpius urged her. Lily closed her eyes and did not speak. Instead, she tilted her head back, mouth slightly parted and welcoming to Scorpius. His mouth complied, closing the distance between them. He was gentle and slow, despite his urge kiss her so passionately that she'd never think of having a first real kiss with anyone ever again. He buried his fingers in her hair, their bodies pressed together. Lily didn't care that her heart was pound in her chest. She didn't care about her family, her friends, Darla, or Taryn. All she cared about at that very moment was the fact that she was tangled in Scorpius' arms, mouths interlocked, sharing a solitary breath.