A/N: This is actually my second attempt at this chapter. This occasionally happens. I will get X many pages into a chapter and realize it's not working… so I scrap it, add it to the notes page and possible pick it apart later. Let's see if we can cause a little drama here… enjoy. Oh, and I was being stalked by a completely new story, so I had to take a break and write the poor thing down. It's not HP, but I still added it to my site here. I figured a few of you might be like me and like both series (HP and Twilight). Anyways… thanks for the reviews. And I've not even STARTED on chapter 23... just so you know... :)

Disc.: I created nothing more than the plot and some random characters, the rest are borrowed.

Straightened

She watched him from the corner of her eye as she ate her breakfast. She knew she should be focusing on the match that afternoon. She was still having issues with Hill, but they seemed to have faded slightly. She smiled. Everything eventually worked itself out. At least she hoped so. She was counting on the cosmos to balance out the crap she had been put through. She heard her name and she turned her head.

"Feeling good about today's game?" Shale asked her as he slipped into the seat next to her. She nodded.

"I always feel good about Quidditch," she replied brightly. She continued to eat her breakfast, looking at Scorpius more directly. He wasn't looking at her, but she could tell he was distracted. Worried. She had seen that look on his face that first time they saw each other, shortly after his Gran had brought her back early. Everyone carried that look on their face, to her horror.

Lily had looked up from where she was sitting with James and Albus in the waiting room part of the critical curse unit at St. Mungo's. Scorpius and his father approached hurriedly. She had pulled her hands from her face, not crying but nearly there, and he was standing there with that gut-wrenching, horror struck face. She knew she could have been more embarrassed about the way she found herself that morning but instead she was grateful for those moments of peace.

The calm before the storm.

"How are you?" Scorpius whispered as he embraced her.

"I'm… hanging in there," Lily mumbled. She reluctantly let him separate from her. He and James hugged, and that struck Lily as odd, even in these times. She sat back in her chair, and buried her face in her hands, holding her tears in. Her dad looked awful, like he was being slowly tortured and Lily knew that if she started to cry, and she very well felt like it, it would kill him. She had to be strong for him.

"How's mom?" James asked, causing Lily to jerk up.

"She's… alive," Harry said awkwardly. His tone was dull, tortured, and his eyes bright with unshed tears.

"Can we see her?" Lily asked quickly drawing from this need to verify that her mother was indeed alive.

"She's… she doesn't look well," Harry said after a few minutes of deliberation with his internal voice. Apparently gentle honesty had won out.

"Please, Daddy," Lily said as her lips quivered. Harry cringed and nodded.

"One at a time," Harry sighed. He looked at his three kids.

"Go ahead first," James said nodding once at Lily, since she was already on her feet. She followed Harry through many locked doors until they came to a door. The fluorescent lights flickered randomly overhead and Harry stopped, looking at Lily.

"I can't explain to you what happened, Lily," Harry said in a whisper. "It's just part of the job, unfortunately."

"The accident?" Lily asked nervously. Harry shook his head.

"No, the job. Your mum and I, as well as a lot of people in our lines of work and departments, aren't allowed to speak of the jobs we do," Harry said quickly, his voice faint. He took a deep breath and looked at his youngest daughter. "I can't tell you what happened to your mother, what caused this. Even if I wanted to."

"What… even if you wanted to?" Lily asked. She frowned. "Why wouldn't you want to tell me?"

"You'll see," Harry said. "I don't even really want you to see, to be honest, but she's your mother and you deserve to see what's happened, I suppose."

Lily watched as her father punched a five digit code on a small key pad. Lily thought this was curious that he didn't use his wand, but remembered she didn't have hers on her, either. She had checked in with security before heading to the critical curse unit, as had everyone else. He held the door open and Lily walked in first, the room dark without windows. The furniture was bolted down. Ginny was laying on the bed, thick straps restraining her. Lily glanced at her father, to find that look of worry on her father's face.

"Mum," Lily asked quietly as she brushed her fingers against Ginny's cool skin. Ginny looked at Lily, her eyes wide. "Mum it's me, Lily."

Ginny opened her mouth slowly, her face slowly morphed from peaceful to one full of great agony and screamed. Lily stepped back as Ginny thrashed about, her eyes darting to her father with great horror. Harry slid over to Ginny's side, his hands locking to hold her down.

"What's wrong with her?" Lily asked panicked.

"Part of the side effects," Harry yelled over Ginny's shrieks. Lily shrunk back against the wall, trembling as she listened to the horrible screams. Lily tried to look away from her mother's face but her gaze was fixed on the woman's twisted and tortured face. Lily held her breath, forcing her hands over her ears as she tried to block out her mother's shrieks and screams. Muffled but not blocked out, Lily fought against her tears and clenched her eyes closed.

"LILY! JUST GO!" Harry shouted at her over his shoulder. He looked to see her still standing there and released Ginny, who immediately began thrashing about violently as if she was trying to escape from her skin. He grabbed Lily by the shoulders and guided her out the door. Once the door was shut, silence surrounded Lily. Harry looked through the small plate glass window.

"Lily, honey, are you ok?" Harry asked alarmed. Lily looked up at him in horror.

"How long until… how long…" Lily couldn't form a sentence, the echo of her mother's screams ringing in her ears.

"They don't know," Harry said. "They don't know how long until it becomes overbearing… no overwhelming… to her and she… goes…"

"Goes? Is there no hope?" Lily begged. Harry looked at his youngest hopelessly and worried.

"They think the end will come quickly for her," Harry said barely louder than a whisper. He looked at the way the tears threatened to spill from her wide eyes, but she took a few gulps of breath and closed her eyes a moment, fighting it.

She would cry, she knew it, but her father needed her to be strong since he was struggling. She could see that. Lily was like her mother, strong, and Harry was not, not this way after already losing so many people in his life. He looked like he was falling apart at the seams. She threw her arms around him quickly, her voice calmer than he had ever heard it before.

"Daddy, no matter what, everything will be ok," Lily said quietly to him. Lily bit back the sob that threatened to escape. "I'll take care of whatever needs to be done."

James had to have already seen Ginny, Lily decided, as had Albus. They had a worried, almost apologetic look on their faces as they saw Lily return. By then, they would have already passed the information along to Mr. Malfoy and Scorpius. Harry had debated not having Hermione call, but she had convinced him that Lily had a right to see her mother and to know as much as she was allowed to know. They thought that Ginny's time left would be painfully short. Lily had tears in her eyes, still unshed, as she ran into Scorpius' arms. He patted her back, comforting her, and Lily held on to her tears. She swore she'd never cry in front of them. Her mother needed her to be strong. Lily would have to take her mother's place and care for the house and the family.

"I want a clean game out there," Professor Wood demanded as he blew his whistle. Lily took the skies quickly, rising like a cork in a bottle of soda, circling her team's three chasers, her team's keep, and occasionally knocking a bludger away from the seeker. She didn't focus on Hill or the score, only keeping the team safe. It seemed as quickly as it had started, it was over. Slytherin had won by fifty. Lily barely acknowledged the end of the game until Damon threw his arm over her shoulder cheering.

"You were like a machine out there, Lily," he shouted loudly over the cheers. "I swear, I think you might have cracked one of the bludgers."

"Better the bludger than your face," Lily laughed, snapping out of her Quidditch induced trance. She grinned at him. "That little dip roll thing you did to snatch the Quaffle was fantastic."

"You like that, eh?" Damon laughed as Scorpius came up to them. He turned to Scorpius. "Lily liked the West Roll, Scorpius."

"Sounds like a sandwich," Scorpius said smirking. "Is that what you've decided to name it?"

"It's a cute name," Lily laughed. Damon pretended to pout.

"It's not meant to be cute," he said. They all laughed. Lily landed gracefully on the ground, immediately swallowed by a set of arms.

"Shale!" she said surprised.

"You were awesome out there!" He cheered loudly. He released her and laughed.

"Thanks," she said grinning.

"I swear, you were in the zone," Shale said. "That was awesome! Helluva win!"

"What can I say?" Lily said blushing under his praise.

"I'm so glad you decided to stick with the team this year," Shale said hugging her one last time. "Whew, girl, you are stinky and sweaty. Hit the showers so we can celebrate."

"I don't stink," Lily frowned, sniffing her arms. She laughed.

"Well, no," he admitted grinning. "I'll see you back at the common room."

"See you then," Lily said as she followed Scorpius into the locker room. The noise in there was deafening, even though there were only seven players in the room. Lily hugged and was hugged by several players at once, the excitement of their win contagious. She threw her arms around Scorpius' neck without thought, kissing his cheek.

"We did do pretty awesome," Scorpius said, chuckling as Lily tried to pull away. His arms had wrapped instinctively around her. She laughed not really trying too hard to pull away.

"I'm glad I decided to grace your team, Captain, with my presence," Lily teased as she squeezed him again. He laughed and released her, letting skip off to the showers. As the only girl on the team this year, she had more than enough hot water and laughed when the boys' complained that they had run out, their voices carrying over the sounds of the shower.

Lily buttoned her jeans just as someone called out into the shower room.

"Lily, damn it, I'm coming in," Scorpius said angrily. "And I'm bringing Damon. Someone used up all the hot water on our side and we need hot water." Lily quickly jerked a shirt on over her head as the stepped into view.

"Not much warning, eh?" Lily laughed as she pulled her socks and shoes on.

"You'll live," Scorpius said crankily as he turned the water on. Damon smiled apologetically at Lily.

"Hill used up the last of the hot water on our side," he said. Lily laughed and tossed her dirty clothes in the hamper.

"Enjoy the hot water," Lily laughed as she walked out of the showers. Hill was at his locker, his back to her.

"Good game, Potter," he said turning to face her. "I was surprised, honestly, but I shouldn't have been. You've been training hard and you have great skill."

"Gee… thanks, Hill," Lily said uncertainly. The sixth year boy laughed and stood, slamming his locker.

"See you at the party," he said as he exited. Lily shook her head and straightened up her locker as Damon and Scorpius came out of the showers, towels around their waists. Lily felt her face get really red and Damon laughed.

"I'm decent enough," he said as his hand loosely held the towel. He threatened to drop his hand and Lily laughed, covering her eyes.

"I don't need to see that," Lily laughed.

"Knock it off, Damon," Scorpius growled at him. Lily blushed harder as she peeked between her fingers, suddenly curious. Scorpius was looking at her, his expression unreadable.

"I… I'll catch you two later," Lily said as she quickly shut her locker.

"The celebratory party," Scorpius said. Lily nodded quickly, a smile on her face and heat in her cheeks. She was careful to keep her eyes on his face. He laughed and she bolted out of the locker room.

The Slytherin room was a lot more festive than Lily remembered her first victory party being. Before it was constrained and uptight, this go-round the party was much more relaxed. Lily was immediately embraced by all of her fellow fifth years, kisses passed along the cheeks and cheers. Lily and Kate hung around each other, talking with Nina and Callie about things that were boring to the boys. Even Shale, who seemed pretty determined to hang all over Lily for the better part of the party made himself scarce as the girls grabbed a few drink and snacks and found a nice little nook in the common room.

"So, Lily," Kate said smirking, her voice rather low compared to the way she normally talked. The three others leaned forward. "Have you decided what you're going to do about your boy-crush?"

"No," Lily said rolling her eyes.

"You shouldn't lead Shale on," Nina said crossing her arms. Lily looked at her apologetically. She knew that Nina had a thing for Shale.

"I promise, I'm not trying to," Lily said. "I really only want to be friends with him."

"Well, I don't think the feeling is mutual," Nina mumbled. Lily bit her bottom lip, but knew that she couldn't deny it. Shale had seemed to become a little more interested in her this year. Granted they were prefects together, so that might not have helped thing.

"I'll figure a way out of this," Lily said as she crossed her own arms, leaning back and surveying the room. Her eyes fell on Shale, standing by Zane. He glanced over at her and tapped his watch, causing Lily to roll her eyes and push off of the arms of the chair.

"Happy patrolling," Nina grumbled.

"I'll talk you up," Lily said quickly. "Until I figure out how to make my point clear."

"Good luck with that," Kate said rolling her eyes. "It took me the better part of the Spring to get it through to him that I was done with him."

"Don't be unkind," Callie said shaking her head. "You can't blame him for wanting to hang on to you. You guys were so cute. Who would have guessed you'd flitter from boy to boy every time the wind changes direction."

"It was not that often," Kate said. She looked at Lily meaningfully. "Have you talked to your brother yet?"

"Not yet," Lily said. "But I will."

"You'd better," Kate said. Lily stuck her tongue out at Kate and headed through the throngs of people milling about, congratulating her for the awesome playing during the game. She nearly slipped by Scorpius, who didn't seem so happy.

"Bailing already?" He asked her sourly as he leaned forward, his mouth near her ear so she could hear him over the music that played near by. She held up her wrist, touching the dial.

"Patrolling with Zabini," Lily said loudly.

"You want me to take it for you?" Scorpius asked as he looked up at the impatiently waiting Shale. Lily shook her head and leaned in, standing on her tiptoes.

"I've got it. Plus you look like hell," she said in his ear. "Have you been sleeping?"

"Meh, some," he joked tiredly.

"You need to try more," she told him as she brushed her lips across his cheek without a second thought. He looked at her in slight amusement.

"Yeah, that'll help, Lils," he laughed. She blushed, shrugging and trotted off to join Shale. The two of them left the party for patrol.

"So… you and Scorpius?" Shale asked slightly miffed. Lily shook her head slightly.

"No, not yet," she said quietly.

"You know… if you're lonely or scared or something, I'm here for you," he said quietly as he took her hand. She pulled her hand out of his.

"You know, Nina in my dorm is really into…" Lily started talking. Shale listened, his hands by his side as he listened.

"Lily," Shale said as he stopped her.

"Yes, Shale," Lily said looking at him in surprise.

"I don't like Nina," he said shaking his head. "She's not my type."

"Why not? She's cute, smart, funny…" Lily started in again.

"Well, because I like you," Shale mumbled. His cheeks were pink. Lily looked at him, her eyebrows raised. He looked at her. "Say something."

"You know I don't like you like that, Shale," Lily said sympathetically as she shoved her hands into her pockets. He grinned half hearted.

"I know," he said. "You made that kind of clear first year… but then third year… there, for a moment I thought that maybe things had changed. Then you went away for the summer holiday, and that thing with your mom, and hell Lily, why not?"

"Shale," Lily said in shock by his sudden anger.

"Look, Lily, how come it can't be my turn?" he asked her. The anger was immediately replaced with an almost desperate begging. Lily was taken aback.

"I don't know," Lily said.

"It's stupid Malfoy, isn't it?" he asked angrily. "It's not fair. He could have had you at any point for the last five years. If he wanted you, don't you think he'd already have said something?"

"That's unkind, Shale," Lily said looking rather hurt.

"I know, but think about it," Shale said quickly. "Don't you think he'd have acted already if he wanted to be with you? What guy wouldn't have snatched you up already?"

"I… I don't know," Lily said defeated.

"So you are waiting around for him," Shale confirmed quietly.

"Yeah," she said.

"You know that's stupid, right? Guys only want what they can't have," Shale said. Lily made a noise of disgust and a face.

"Does that apply to you, as well?" She asked.

"No," Shale said. "I wasn't lying when I said that I like you. I do. I have since… for a while."

"This is uncomfortable," Lily mumbled. Shale laughed.

"I think you and I should try," he said taking her hand again. "You never know, maybe he'll realize you what he wants when you're no longer an option."

"I'm not using you to get Scorpius," Lily said disgusted as she pulled her hand free.

"I don't mind," Shale said.

"I do," Lily snapped.

"Damn, are you acting kind of bitchy at the moment," Shale said crossing his arms. Lily looked at him furiously. He immediately regretted his choice of words, softening his glare. "Look, I didn't mean it that way, Lily. I just think you're wasting your time on someone who has had more than his share of opportunity, and still he threw them away."

"Maybe he just hasn't realized it," Lily said hopefully through her clenched teeth. Shale shook his head.

"He knows what he wants, all guys usually do," Shale said. "He's gone next year. His time is up. Then what? Will you wait until you head off to university? Will you follow him?"

"I haven't thought that far," Lily said.

"You need to know, people like Malfoy don't stay single or faithful very long," Shale said bitterly. "I know for a fact that his grandfather had several extramarital affairs throughout his marriage."

"What does his grandfather's unfaithfulness have to do with anything?" Lily asked. Shale shrugged.

"Do you really want to be associated with the grandson, raised with those kinds of morals?" Shale asked as he stepped closer to her.

"Please," Lily smirked. "What Lucius Malfoy is capable of, was capable of, has no bearing on me."

"Think it over," Shale said bitterly. "I would make you happy."

"Shale, I like having you as a friend," Lily said finally. "But that is all we will ever be. Why don't you try to date Nina? I bet you and she would have a great time."

"You're a pain in the arse, you know?" Shale laughed after a second. "I'm not quite giving up on you yet, but tell me again about Nina. I know she's your dorm mate, but what is she like? Please tell me she more sane than Kate. Kate was… just… weird."

"Nina's a good girl," Lily started and the two of them finished up their patrolling together. Shale yawned a few times on their way back.

"Aren't you tired?" he asked. Lily nodded.

"But I won't go to sleep for a while longer," Lily said.

"The nightmares?" he asked. She shrugged, not really sure what to call them.

"They're manageable," she said.

"What helps?" he asked. Lily looked at Shale uncertainly.

"Eh," Lily said as she quickly looked away. He shrugged.

"Don't tell me then," he replied. "But I can't offer my help, as your friend, if you don't open up to me."

"I want to," Lily promised. She shoved her hands back into her pockets. "It's just hard to."

"You know I won't laugh," Shale promised.

"I know," she sighed. She followed him into the common room.

"Well, my dorm door is always open, should you need me," he offered. He nodded at her once and walked away. Lily sighed and turned around, heading back out of the common room. She took off down the hall way, heading up to the seventh floor. Easily, she found the room of requirement. It was waiting for her, like it had every night since school started. She glanced around, loving its familiarity.

"Lily?" a voice inquired from behind her. She jumped startled to find Scorpius standing behind her. "Why… why does the room of requirement look like your bedroom?"

"It is my bedroom, sort of," Lily said. Her eyes narrowed. "Did you follow me?"

"I was curious where you were going in such a hurry after abandoning Shale in the common room," Scorpius said as he walked around, touching various things. He looked at her. "Do you mind me being here, touching these things?"

"It's not really my room," she said. He nodded, giving her a look. She sighed as he continued to look at her. "It's so I don't bother my roommates."

"Bother them?" Scorpius asked quietly.

"I whine, fuss, you know… the usual… in my sleep," Lily said.

"No wonder you look tired a lot," Scorpius teased lightly. He laughed. "I talk a lot in my sleep."

"I've… heard," Lily mumbled as her face turned a little pink in the dimly lit room.

"You heard?" He asked slightly bemused. "When?"

"Um… well, when we were on holiday," Lily said as she sat down on a chair. Scorpius looked at the chair, seeing it was familiar, just not one from her room.

"I talked then?" he asked warily. A slight stain crept across Lily's face and she nodded. "What about?"

"I can't be entirely sure," Lily mumbled as she looked towards a fire that had sprung up in one of the hearths, warming the room. He blushed harder, only barely imagining what kinds of things he'd talk about with Lily being so close that he could practically feel her.

"Does the room change this much when you're in here alone?" Scorpius asked distractedly as he pondered the things he could have probably talked about in his sleep.

"Not really," she said. "It's going to continue to change to suite our needs."

"Our needs?" he asked unable to hide his surprise.

"It'll self correct until it serves the needs of all people in the room," she said quietly. "The magic of the room."

"I'd guess these would be your pajamas, then?" Scorpius asked pointing to a neatly piled outfit. Lily looked at them and shook her head.

"Not mine," she said. He looked at them closer.

"Mine?"

"Apparently the room thinks you're staying with me or the house elves do… I'm not sure how it works," Lily murmured. He looked at her curiously.

"I'm staying?" he asked. She didn't reply, just kept her distance. He looked at her, suddenly very tired and warm. This room was much warmer than the dungeon. He yawned. "Would you mind very much if I stayed?"

"Not very much," Lily admitted hesitantly. She added with a small smile, "You, however, might not get much sleep with me acting up and out in my sleep. That's why it was recommended that I sleep here, so my dorm mates can get some sleep."

"I've woken my own dorm mates enough with my dreams," Scorpius said as he casually started to get dressed in the clothes. Lily averted her eyes and pulled on her pajamas, careful not to be too exposed.

"Well, you can't say that I didn't warn you," Lily said as the lights dimmed to darkness. The only light in the room was from the fireplace. She pulled back the familiar comforter and climbed underneath. She felt the bed shift next to her as he repeated the same action. "I'm not going to get you in trouble, am I?"

"You worry too much, Lily," he laughed quietly. She heard him take a deep breath. "So, is it night terrors or something?"

"No," Lily admitted in a whispered voice. "Just restlessness… I see my mum's face in that twisted and painful agony, like I saw on her face that first time I saw her after the accident. My dreams are just of me trying to help her and my failing. They not horrifying, just bothersome."

"Was it hard?" Scorpius asked hesitantly as his hand found hers.

"Taking care of her every moment I wasn't here? No. She's my mother. I owed her that much," Lily said quietly.

"Did you ever cry?" he wondered aloud.

"Between you and I?" she murmured sleepily. "Yeah, I did. But only when no one was around. My father and brothers needed me to be strong otherwise they'd have lost it, but with me being strong, they could be strong, too."

"No one ever expects you to be strong all the time, Lils," Scorpius said as her body fit against his. Her lips brushed against his upper arm as she spoke, sending thrilling little chills to the center of his being.

"It helped everyone involved to have me be strong," Lily said sleepily. She tilted her head back, trying to see his face in the glow of the fireplace.

"You know, I've still not found that page," Scorpius said. "The one you wrote on in my book."

"I figured as much," Lily murmured watching his face sleepily.

"You did?" he asked lightly. His nose was nearly touching hers as her eyes drooped slightly as they rested there, beside each other.

"Mhmm," Lily said as her eyes closed and didn't open. "You're still here."

"Of course I am," he breathed slightly confused. He listened as Lily's breath became deep and even. Her tenseness seemed to fade and she turned away from him, letting her whole body go limp with exhaustion. Scorpius rested his face against her neck and sleep quickly found him too.