A/N: Thank you for the reviews. I am without internet at home, which gave me plenty of time to write today. So much so, I wrote… chapter 15, 16, and 17… so, without further ado… here is chapter 15… I'll head back here in a few days to post the next chapter and to read/respond to reviews… the faster you review, the faster I release insert evil laugh… don't worry if you don't like this chapter… they do get a little more interesting… very much more so… more evil laughter… thanks to all of you who read and review. Cookies and juice boxes for all. (PS, I didn't proof this one because I didn't think to and I am short on time, so excuse the errors).

Disc.: I am only borrowing for my own devices.

Melody

It was warmer, already, the snow having started to melt. Tiny springs of new grass had started to emerge through the shallow patches of slushy snow. It was staying lighter longer, the air no longer biting cold and bitter. Flecks of color had started to appear in the trees as flowers budded and leaves sprung forth. The slightly warmer air, though while still cool, had the students bubbling with excitement for the day they'd be able to toss aside their coats and winter gear. They wanted nothing more than to be able to sprint through the school grounds. They had been cooped up inside for far too long and they were feeling a bit of cabin fever.

"Where are you off to?" Shale asked as he looked up from his book. Kate glanced up, frowning, as Lily tucked her chair back under the table.

"Hopefully not that secret boyfriend that's having you missing class and ditching your friends," Kate grumbled. Lily shot her a look but turned back to Shale.

"Quidditch practice," Lily said quietly. "Flint still wants me practicing, even if I'm banned from playing. He wants to make sure that I can make the team next year."

"How's the replacement beater working?" Kate asked as Lily straightened her papers and tucked them in her notebook.

"Griffon? I guess he's ok," Lily said shrugging in a noncommittal way. "He's no Flint, for sure, but he's a fair beater."

"We'll see you back in the common room before we all leave for Hogsmead?" Kate asked. Lily forced a smile and nodded.

"Sure," Lily said as she slung the straps to her back pack over her shoulder. "I'll try to be there."

"Remember, this is the last one before we all floo home for Easter," Shale called loudly. Madame Pince scowled at him from her circulation desk. Lily waved, not turning back to look at him. She headed out of the school and down to the pitch, her backpack still in hand. She tugged on the back band of her under amour, the matching set of under Quidditch wear. She found it restricting, just slightly, and quite annoying that she still was suiting up as if they'd let her play. She was thankful for Flint, who understood she was not cleared to play but continued to insist she practice. She used it as a time to heal and strengthen herself.

"Hey, Lily," Damon said as she walked in the locker room. She grinned.

"Hey, Damon," she said as she passed him. She went to her locker, opening the door. Her equipment was laying neatly inside and she hung her back pack up on the hook. She took her jacket off, mindful that her hand trembled slightly. She hung it up, loosening her tie and removed it.

"So, the weather's pretty terrific today," Damon said as he leaned against the locker next to her. She grinned at him slightly as she removed her shirt.

"Yeah, it really is," Lily said as she pulled on her Quidditch robes. She caught a flicker of something in his face. "What?"

"Nothing," he lied as he smiled.

"There's a variable wind south, south west," Lily said ignoring him. "Sun's not too bright, which is good."

"Yeah," he said. Lily jerked off her skirt and pulled on her Quidditch pants before sitting down and fastening her protective gear. She held out her wrists to him, wordless, and Damon began to fasten the Velcro.

"Thanks," Lily said. "I never can manage to get them tight enough for comfort."

"So, are you going to Hogsmead after practice?" Damon asked uncomfortably. Lily pursed her lips together for a second.

"If you're asking if I'll meet up with Scorpius, then the answer is no, sorry," Lily said. Damon's eyes went a little wide and he shook his head.

"No, actually, and please don't laugh, I was wondering if you would like to hang out," Damon said with his face slightly flushed.

"Hang out?" Lily asked as she pulled her shoes on.

"Yeah," Damon said scratching the back of his head and looking away nervously.

"You mean with you?" Lily asked skeptically. Damon's eyes flicked to her and he blushed slightly.

"Well, yeah," he said as he smiled slightly.

"Like a date?" Lily asked as she stood and pulled her hair up in a rubber band, it had finally grown to shoulder length and she was able to tie it back.

"Well," Damon said as he flushed a little redder. He saw that Lily was starting to pull back slightly from the prospect of a date with him. "I mean, we could if you wanted to, be just as friends."

"No, um," Lily said grinning at his sudden shyness. "Yeah."

"Yeah?" Damon asked confused.

"I'd love to hang out with you," Lily said grinning. She leaned forward slightly. "If I manage to survive Quidditch practice."

"You're doing fine," Damon said quickly, reassuring her. "Your aim's been a bit off but you're doing fine."

"You're too kind," Lily groaned as she slammed her locker. She didn't even register the fact that Scorpius had been but five feet away as she walked out of the locker room with Damon. Scorpius closed his eyes for a second, his fist clenched. When he agreed to Damon asking Lily out, he never in a million years assumed she'd agree.

"Stupid," Scorpius berated himself as he slammed his own locker and stormed out of the locker room. He headed across the pitch to see Lily actually laughing and it felt as if someone had tore him apart, but not in a bad way. He hadn't seen her smile or laugh, aside from a fleeting, forced smiled, since January. He realized he missed it. He missed her.

"Ok," Flint said as he paced back and forth. Lily looked at Flint, a smile playing on her lips as he spoke. "Next Tuesday is our second game against Gryffindor. We want to make sure that we don't to give away any more points that ultimately have to be surrendered. I want hard formation, alright?"

"Ok," the team replied. Flint blew his whistle, sending them into the air.

"Potter, Malfoy," Flint called. Scorpius felt his frown deepen when Flint said their names so closely together. Lily was very graceful at the way she pulled to a stop in front of Flint. Scorpius stopped next to her.

"Yeah?" Scorpius said dully. Lily and Flint both shot him a look.

"I want you two to work together today," Flint said. "I want Lily to get a bit more work out in the defense of an actually chaser, to make her ready for Tuesday's game."

"Wait, what?" Scorpius asked. He looked at Flint. "She's not supposed to play for the rest of the season. Doctor's orders."

"Let me worry about that," Flint said as he flew off. Scorpius looked at Lily, taking her arm in his hand.

"Lily, what are you doing? Did you agree to this?" Scorpius asked. Lily looked down at his hand on her arm and pulled away.

"Look, I've seen a specialist who thinks I'm ready," Lily said. "I've already sat out the Hufflepuff game, which we lost. Griffon is a joke. He's terrible. I have to play otherwise Ravenclaw or Gryffindor could end up ruining our lead."

"But Lily," Scorpius said. Lily shook her head.

"FLINT!" Lily yelled shrilly over the pitch. Flint headed back over to her.

"Yes, Potter?" he said with an almost exasperated tone to his voice.

"Pair me up with someone else," Lily told him. She wasn't asking. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I think you'd be best to practice covering Scorpius," Flint said in a no-nonsense way. Lily crossed her arms and Flint flew very close to her, blocking her from the view of Scorpius and the rest of the pitch. He spoke to her, his words undetectable even with Scorpius trying to hear them.

"FINE!" Lily snapped. She took the bat from her left hand, her normal hand, and moved it to her right hand. She glared at Flint, who was chuckling as he flew off.

"You could hurt yourself," Scorpius said to her. She shot him a dirty look.

"Go do your job, Malfoy, and let me do mine," she said as she waited. Scorpius could see that he wasn't going to win this one and he joined in the game, Lily covering him. Flint made a point of hitting the bludgers as hard as he could at Scorpius, assuring that Lily had to not only hit them away, but to aim for other players. Scorpius was uncertain by the two of them, their almost violent exchange of bludgers, the sound of ball and bat cracking over the pitch while the others continued to score. It was hard not to see the heat between the two of them, the pure hatred that seemed to unite ball and bat over and over again, no matter where they were.

Scorpius had to admit, even right handedly, Lily was good. All the practices and one on one that she had been participating in seemed to have done her game wonders. Still, he wondered why she was using her right hand instead of her much more dominant left. The game continued until the snitch was captured and they were released. Lily knocked one back at Flint for good measure, though much softer, and the captain caught and crated the ball.

"Lily," Flint called as Lily started to walk towards the locker room with the others. She turned back and joined Flint. Scorpius hesitated. "She'll be along to talk strategy in a bit, Malfoy."

Scorpius headed into the locker room, pulling his gear off and shoving it in his locker rather roughly. He jerked his uniform off, shoving it in the laundry cart adding his pants. He glanced up, near the door it swung open and Lily plowed right into him. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and he could smell her, his stomach clenching painfully. She smelled like that damn love potion. He swore and jerked away from her, his body felt as if it was on fire from the close proximity of their bodies. She exhaled in a shaky breath and moved away from him, without even so much as a word of apology.

Lily jerked her locker open, ignoring the others as she pulled off her gear and throwing it in her locker wordlessly. Damon approached her and she put a hand up to stop him from saying anything. She jerked her uniform off, leaving it hanging on her locker door and grabbed her shower bag. She brushed past him wordlessly and headed into the girl's shower. Damon looked at Scorpius confused. Scorpius shrugged and shook his head.

Scorpius took his time in the shower, being the last guy out of the shower. He dressed and headed back to his locker. He stopped as he saw Lily sitting on the bench, partially dressed. Her back was to him. He frowned and took his own seat, his back to her. They finished up in silence, not even looking at each other. Damon reentered the locker room nodding once at Scorpius in greeting.

"Hey, Lily," Damon said. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Lily said though she sounded like she was being dragged off to do something she didn't really want to do.

"Do you want to come?" Damon asked Scorpius. Lily and Scorpius both looked at him like he'd lost his mind.

"Me?" Scorpius asked.

"Yeah," Damon said as he slipped his arm around Lily's shoulders to keep her from bolting, which she looked like she was about to do for a second. She laughed as she pulled away and jerked her tee shirt on over her head.

"How many tee shirts are you going to wear?" Scorpius asked suddenly. Lily and Damon looked at him as if he was a bit crazy.

"I only have the one tee shirt on," Lily said frowning. "The other one is practically underwear. No, actually, it is underwear; it's an undershirt. We don't all fall out of bed fully dressed and ready for the day."

"Yeah, right," Damon snorted as he shook with laughter and walked away. "I'll be outside."

"Be right there," Scorpius and Lily both said at the same time. They looked at each other, heat rising to Lily's cheeks. She pulled her jacket on, gathering up her uniform.

"Scorpius," Lily said as she looked up to see him starting to walk away. He stopped, hesitating with his hand on the door. He turned to look at her.

"Yeah?" He said. She took a deep breath and gestured for him to return to her and her locker. Scorpius walked cautiously back towards her, standing with the bench between them. He was less than a foot away, his hair still damp. He could smell his shampoo and the scent of her, warm and intoxicating. It took everything in him to not try and kiss her right there.

"I think you should take this back," Lily said as she reached back into her locker and pulled out his scarf. "It's just easier if I don't have any memories of us from that time."

"I don't want it," he said coldly. She held it out to him, a dejected look on her face.

"Well, I want mine back," she said firmly. He looked at her face, her bottom lip pinned between her teeth as she looked at him. She was trembling slightly, though he wasn't sure if it was fear or emotion, or if she had been fooling Flint into thinking she was better when she really wasn't.

"Tough," Scorpius said coolly.

"Tough?" she said smirking. He was disarmed by the way she seemed to be fighting a smile. He realized he wanted to see her smile again, at him. It had been months and he realized he really missed it. Everything else was just details.

"Yeah, tough," Scorpius said as he moved around the side of the bench to stand next to her, causing her to turn and look at him, her locker to her side now. "Maybe I don't want mine back, and maybe I don't want to give yours back either. I stole it fair and square from you, Lily."

"I knew it!" She said poking him in the chest with her finger. "I knew you stole it from me."

"In my defense, you left it on my bed," Scorpius said. He cheered internally. This was the closest thing to a real conversation that they have had since the night he broke the locket. He cringed internally at that memory.

"You told me Ash took it," Lily said. Scorpius grinned.

"Maybe she did, maybe she didn't," Scorpius said. Lily laughed in spite of herself. Scorpius loved the way it sounded. It left too quickly.

"I wish you'd take it," Lily said sobering slightly.

"What will you give me if I take it?" Scorpius asked. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and she put her hands on her hips.

"So, to get you to take something from me, I have to give you something?" Lily asked shaking her head. Scorpius grinned and took the initiative.

"Nothing big, just some time," he said.

"Time?" Lily asked as confusion entered her eyes. He nodded once.

"A date, you and me," he said. Lily stepped back, the scarf in her hand.

"You know, I'll pass," she mumbled and shoved the item into her locker. She closed the locker door, not looking at him.

"Is it really that bad?" Scorpius said frowning at her. She looked at him.

"To go on a date with you? Yeah, it is," she said simply and she bolted out of the locker room before he could say anything at all. He slowly followed, disappointed. He had thought that things were going well enough until that. Damon and Lily were standing there, waiting and Scorpius dared to look at her. She didn't look any different, nor did any indication of their previous conversation play on her face. She was listening as Damon talked to her about Quidditch.

The three sat some time later in the Three Broomsticks, drinking butter beer and talking. Scorpius found her interesting and spent a good amount of time watching her over the rim of his glass. She wasn't sitting as close to Damon as she had Taryn that time they'd all come out together. She kept her hands to herself, too, but it looked almost as if she struggled to keep them busy. She hadn't ever been one to touch people randomly, but she seemed to struggle with some sort of inside want. She kept alternating between touching her collar and the small stack of napkins on the table. She had shredded two paper napkins into very small confetti by the time that Damon left to use the loo.

"Are you nervous about being with Damon?" Scorpius asked. Lily looked up at him as if he had shouted the question instead of simply speaking it.

"Merlin, no. Why?" Lily asked.

"You've torn up those napkins as if they did some sort of great injustice to you," he told her. She glanced down at the napkins and blushed as she swept them into her hand. She emptied them into a new napkin, balling it up to keep them from escaping. The two of them sat in awkward silence for a bit before Scorpius cleared his throat. Lily looked up at him. "So, you and Damon are on a date?"

"No," Lily said frowning. "Not that it is any of your business. We're just hanging out."

"Do you want to date him, Lils?" Scorpius asked. Lily looked up from her hands, a smirk on her face.

"I'm… sort of already seeing someone," Lily said hesitantly. Scorpius couldn't hide the surprise in his face.

"You are?" he asked. Lily nodded. "Is it someone I know?"

"Yeah, sort of. You know of him," she said quietly. Scorpius couldn't hide the hurt on his face so he stood.

"I'm… I think I'm going to go use the bathroom," Scorpius mumbled. Lily nodded as her fingers touched her collar again as he walked towards the bathroom.

Scorpius was surprised to find Damon reading a magazine, sitting on the counter of the restroom. He groaned internally. Chalk it up to Damon to try and get them back together. He looked up at Scorpius, frowning at the scowl that seemed to be plastered on his face.

"Is it not going well?" Damon asked. Scorpius crossed his arms.

"Did you know she was dating someone already?" Scorpius asked. Damon twitched slightly.

"I had heard… rumors… but I don't think it's serious," Damon said.

"What makes you think she'd choose me over this other bloke?" Scorpius demanded. Damon shrugged.

"You guys are good for each other," Damon said. "I figured you guys needed a fighting chance."

"But she's dating someone," Scorpius said. Damon nodded.

"How great could this guy possibly be if no one knows who it is," Damon challenged. "So far all we have are these rumors whispered that she's seeing someone. No one knows where they started nor have anyone actually ever seen her out with anyone. She doesn't seem to have time to actually date, so I figure it was possible that the rumors are just rumors."

"She doesn't want to date me," Scorpius said. "She and I, like she said, don't mix."

"You two are so blind," Damon snorted as he flipped the page. "She's still crazy about you and the number of times she comes up in your speech, either you are crazy about her or you really love talking about flowers."

"I don't talk about her," Scorpius said blushing.

"I didn't want to say anything," Damon said as his cheeks turned a little pink. "However, I think this is one of those times I have to break the code of not speaking about guy issues. You kind of talk in your sleep. Not very loud, usually, but enough that I have heard."

"I don't talk in my sleep," Scorpius retorted as his face turned bright red.

"Um, ok," Damon said. He looked away.

"What do I talk about?" Scorpius sighed.

"Her," Damon said. He closed his magazine and jumped up off the counter and stood next to him. "Look, you and I are best friends, and you have to know that I would never go against you, but you do talk, and going by what you talk about, you are still crazy in love with Lily Potter. If it wasn't for you, I'd date her myself, so I know you have to be insane to not want to do everything in your power to get her back."

"Well, she doesn't want me back," Scorpius said crossing his arms.

"I doubt that," Damon said shaking his head. "Well, she may not be aware of it yet. Speaking of, we've been gone so long we'd better get back."

Scorpius and Damon exited the restroom and their eyes landed on Lily at the same time. Flint was standing in front of her, talking to her. She was still, listening as he talked. Neither Scorpius nor Damon could hear what was being said and they started walking towards the two of them. Lily glanced over at Scorpius for a second before her mouth moved to say something to Flint. He stopped talking and looked at the two of them.

"Wonder what's up?" Damon wondered aloud as they walked closer to the table.

"Damon, I hate to do this," Lily said quietly as she stood. "I'm going to have to cut our date short. Flint needs me."

"Flint?" Damon asked frowning.

"I want to make sure we can get in a bit more one on one practice," Flint said as he stood there. His words were casual but there was an undercurrent to the way he spoke them. Damon and Scorpius looked at each other for a moment.

"Oh, ok," Damon said smiling. "Do you want us to come along and help?"

"No!" Flint and Lily both said at once, a little loud. The other two were startled by their response. Flint went back to looking cool.

"Enjoy your afternoon," he said. "There's no need for you to give up your afternoon for her. It's nothing I can't handle alone."

"It's easier to work one on one without an audience," Lily added casually as she picked up her drink. She finished it and started digging around her bag for some money. Flint was faster and tossed some up on the table.

"See you back at school," Flint said as he placed his hand on Lily's upper arm and lead her away. Damon and Scorpius watched them leave and then looked at each other.

"What in heck just happened there?" Damon demanded as they took their seats. Scorpius shrugged and looked at the door confused.

"I have no idea!" Scorpius said.

"We should follow them," Damon said as he fished out a few more coins to cover the rest.

"Follow them? Why?" Scorpius asked.

"Something's just not right," Damon said crossing his arms.

"I am not about to get in trouble for following Flint and Lily," Scorpius said, shaking his head. "They seemed pretty adamant that they do not want our help."

"And that doesn't strike you as odd?" Damon pressed.

"Well, yeah," Scorpius said. He shook his head. "I am going to regret this. Let's go."

Scorpius and Damon didn't know where to look, and it was by chance that they were on the lane that led to the Shrieking Shack. The two walked the path slowly as the heard music wafting down faintly from the house. The two looked at each other as they picked up the pace, slipping undetected between the barbed wire fence. They peaked in the murky, dusty windows, unable to see anything. Not seeing any way around it, they headed inside silently as they followed the music.

In the back of the house was a perfectly clean room, devoid of dust. They heard the slow music hit a sour note and a male whispered a swear word. Damon and Scorpius slipped toward the room, sneaking in the door. Flint was sitting with his back to the door at a giant piano that's cleanliness alone was enough to make it look out of place. Lily sat next to him. She had removed her jacket and sat in her jeans and tee shirt.

"I'm never going to get this," Flint said gruffly as he slammed his fists down on the piano. Lily placed her hand on his back, rubbing it gently.

"You're doing wonderful, Malvo. You've only been practicing for two months," Lily said. Flint grunted.

"You play," he said. "It always calms me down." She laughed and nodded as he slid off the bench. Scorpius and Damon backed up out of sight quickly but watched as Flint sat in a chair near the piano. He closed his eyes, tilting his head back.

"What do you want me to play?" Lily asked him quietly.

"Anything," he groaned. "Anything at all."

Lily placed her fingers on the keys, letting them dance along in a familiar pattern. Scorpius listened, trying to place where he had heard that song before. It seemed so familiar. He held his breath as her fingers danced along the keys. The song was familiar, but more ornate sounding on the piano. His mind removed the fancier tones and listened to the melody. It was the song from the music the locket played. He felt his chest contract painfully and he bolted out of the house. Damon was on his heels.

"Scorpius! Wait up man," Damon called.

"I can't," Scorpius shot back at him. "I know how to fix this."

"Someone was here," Lily murmured as she saw the shuffled footprints in the dust on the floor. Flint looked down.

"How can you be sure? Those could be our footprints," Flint said. Lily shook her head. She could smell the faint, fading scent of someone else in the hall, something painfully familiar.

"I just know," Lily said. She felt Flint's hand on her shoulder.

"Well, you know, I'm ok," Flint said as he looked at her. "I think the rumors are well placed enough to give people ideas."

"Yeah," Lily said nodding. She looked at him. "I guess there's only one more thing to do, right?"

"If you think you're ready for that," he said.

"It's going to be… resisted," she reminded him. He grinned at her.

"I leave here forever in a few months, Lily," Flint reminded her. "You are the one that still has four more years here."

"Yeah," Lily nodded. "But only two of them with Scorpius here, so I think I can manage."

"You know, he's not such a bad guy," Flint said nudging her shoulder with his. She growled at him, which caused him to laugh. "Ok, fine. We won't talk about him. You do realize that people are going to talk."

"Let them," Lily said.

"You are always going to have people questioning you," he told her.

"About Quidditch? I don't care," Lily said.

"You know, I'll only go along with this as long as it remains a ruse," Flint told her finally. "If either of us steps out of that, I will end it."

"I know," Lily said as she stepped away from him. "But like I said, I'm done with it all. Until I'm grown, at least."

"That, my dear, I doubt," Flint said as he took her hand and started leading her out of the shack. "So then we're settled."

"Yeah, we're settled," Lily said. She tilted her head back to look up at him.

"Four years is a big difference in age," Flint reminded her as he cupped her face. Lily half smiled at him.

"Until next week when it's five years," Lily laughed. He grinned and kissed her.