Chapter Two

I woke up the next morning because of the shaft of sunlight shining through the gap in my curtains. It was quite dim, meaning it was probably only about eight in the morning, if that. Cursing my body clock, which was used to getting up at un-godly hours in the morning, I rolled over and attempted to get back to sleep. It was then that my ears tuned into the birds singing their heads off, an odd change from owls hooting. I groaned and jammed my pillow over my head.

What does one have to do around here to get a lie-in in the morning?

I must have drifted off to into a light sleep after that, because the next thing I knew, someone was knocking on my door. I noted that the sun was shining only a little brighter, but that wasn't a brilliant indication of the time of day here. Maybe it was time I found a clock for my room rather than having to get up and go down to the ground floor to find out the time, meaning there was be no hope of getting back to sleep.

My visitor knocked again, this time a little louder.

'Whaddaya want?' I grumbled, my voice muffled by my pillow.

'To know if you're planning on eating breakfast at any point today, or even getting out of bed.' It was Albus.

I lay in bed and pondered for a few moments. Breakfast could wait, if eating it meant removing myself from the state of comfort I was in.

'I'm thinking about it.' I replied.

'Whatever you say, Lils.'

The footsteps died away and I re-closed my eyes. It was probably asking too much of fate to allow me more sleep now, but it was worth a try. What I thought must have been barely five minutes later, I heard the doorbell ring. I heard the distant rush of air and other outside noises as the front door was opened, and re-closed. I raised my head from my pillow in an attempt to distinguish the voices in the hallway, but they were beyond recognition.

Great. Well, that settles it. I'm not going downstairs in my pyjamas if we've got visitors. That's going way too far.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the peeling paint on the white, blotchy ceiling. The voice downstairs laughed, and I heard another set of footsteps make their way steadily up the stairs. I groaned. If that was Mum coming to get me, there was no way that I'd be able to stay in bed. She seemed to think that mornings shouldn't be wasted as that is technically wasting a huge amount of your life. The footsteps got gradually closer and I cringed, eyes closed, waiting for the dreaded knock. Finally it came. Two quiet, but firm taps.

'Please, Go away.'

'Oh, okay. Sorry Lily.' The footsteps immediately began to retreat.

My eyelids flew open. I knew that voice. I knew it just as I loved it and it was also the one that I was least expecting. No longer caring about my state of apparel, I threw myself out of my bed. I would have been prepared to bet that my hair was sticking out into many wild directions, but that was the last thing on my mind. I grabbed my dressing gown from the hook on the door of my room and pulled it on, before stumbling out into the landing.

Standing halfway down the corridor, dressed in a long navy blue travelling cloak with his back facing me was a young man in his mid-twenties. Droplets of water clung to most of his body and were slowly dripping off onto the floor. He turned to face me with a quizzical expression on his face, and although his hair and some of his features were different to the last time I saw them I still knew exactly who it was.

'Teddy!' I squealed.

He smiled, probably because of how ridiculous I looked. That didn't bother me though because it was just so brilliant to see him again. Despite there being almost ten years between our ages, Teddy Lupin was most definitely my best friend. I ran up to him in a flourish and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. He seemed a little surprised by my actions, but he raised a hand and gently patted my back anyway. He was just as wet as he looked, but I didn't care in the slightest.

'Hey my little Lilyflower. How's it going?'

I smiled at his use of my special pet name. Nobody else ever called me 'Lilyflower', besides him.

'Wonderful.' My face was buried in his chest, so my voice sounded a bit muffled. 'How's Victoire?'

I felt his body relax, and almost soften slightly at the mention of his girlfriend's, and my eldest cousin's name.

'Good. She's good.'

After one more squeeze, I released Teddy and stood back to take a look at him.

'Your hair's gotten lighter, and longer. And less sticky-out at the front.'

He gave a quiet chuckle and ran his hand through the wet and messy, hay-coloured mop in his head that had previously been plastered to his face. Despite being a metamorphagus, Teddy had been quite consistent with his appearance since he'd reached adulthood. The novelty of being able to look however you wanted had obviously started to wear off. I preferred his natural look anyway, which was quite similar to how it was at that moment.

'Yours is longer too. But still as fiery as ever.'

I replied with a grin and began to make my way down the stairs. Maybe getting out of bed wasn't so bad after all.

'So Teddy,' I said, stopping so suddenly that he almost walked into me. 'What brings you over here so early in the morning?'

'Early?' I heard his voice come from behind me. 'Lily, it's gone midday. I'm here for lunch.'

I blushed and turned on the step to see him smiling at me in an amused manner. Again. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, but he just pointed to the large grandfather clock on the bottom landing. Sure enough, it was nearing half-past twelve. Had I really been in bed that long? That was bad even for my standards.

We entered the sitting room, to find all the members of my family already assembled in various items of furniture.

'See Mum,' Albus stage-whispered. 'I told you that sending Teddy up there would have her up without a second thought.'

'I think we'll have to employ you Ted. Twenty galleons per morning and you'll be rich in no time,' Dad added.

'Oh very funny.' I wandered over to the armchair in the corner and slumped as far into it as I could. Dragging some poor person into our house every morning just to wake me up would soon lose its effect. It had only worked that morning because they had the element of surprise.

'Teddy dear, you can sit down you know rather than standing in the doorway,' Mum said, taking his cloak from him and ushering him with more than necessary force towards the large sofa 'And Lily, go and get dressed before lunch.'

Teddy, despite being a grown man of twenty-six, obeyed my mother and took a seat next to Albus, who was yet again engrossed in the Daily Prophet. I really did wonder what he saw in that newspaper.

After lunch, Teddy regretfully informed us that he had to be getting on his way, much to the disappointment of Albus and myself. Being in Hogwarts for most of the year, we only got to see him during the holidays. Even then, he was often too busy with his training to spend much time with us. At first I had been quite surprised when he announced his intentions to become a healer, but then after consideration it actually made quite a lot of sense. Having lost both of his parents in the war, it was only natural that Teddy would want to dedicate his time to saving the lives of others.

'Don't worry.' He assured us as he exited through the front door. 'I promise I'll try to see you again before you go back to school. Besides, you no doubt will forget me in the next couple of weeks, what with all the excitement'

I stared at him with a puzzled expression, and noticed that Albus looked just as confused. Teddy just shared an annoyingly knowing look with my parents before turning back to us and adding;

'Lets just say that you will rather busy.'

Then he was gone. How come everyone seemed to be hiding something from us? I looked to James, but he was pointedly avoiding my gaze. With a scowl, I returned to the kitchen and helped my mum with the dishes. As much as I liked the size of Grimmauld Place, London would not have been my first choice of a place to live. There was very little to do in such a large city. As a rule we tended to stay away from the muggles, and the lack of space for such things as Quidditch could be frustrating. Albus did enjoy walks around muggle London though, and sometimes I would join him. I also appreciated that this house had been a gift from Harry's dead Godfather Sirius Black, and inhabiting a house that is left for you is much simpler than finding and buying your own.

By mid-afternoon, I found myself in one of the less occupied rooms of our house, staring out of the window as the rain splattered against it. It wasn't often that I left myself to my thoughts like this, but now I was back home, away from the hustle and bustle of Hogwarts it seemed like a good idea. I sighed as my mind wandered in the direction towards Scorpius, a path that it had taken to following rather often. What would Albus do if he found out? Would he be annoyed, or would he be amused that his sister had developed feelings for his best friend? And what about Scorpius himself? Would he be disgusted?

It's hardly as if I'm the only girl in the school pining after him…

It was true. I'd seen even first-year girls making eyes at him in the corridors, the Great Hall and just about anywhere they could. Maybe I was lucky to have a connection with him through Albus, what with him being a year above me and in Slytherin. Otherwise I would never have a hope in hell. But then again, it was hardly likely that he'd ever go for me anyway.

'Lily.'

A gave a start as Albus called my name. I had been so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn't heard him come in. I wondered how long he'd been standing there watching me, and pleaded to God that he hadn't mastered Legilimency. I watched as he wandered further into the room and sat down in a chair opposite me.

'So. What brings you in here?' I asked, after a moment of silence. He shrugged.

'Just bored, that's all. There's nothing to do around here. Why can't they just open Hogwarts all year round?'

'Because then people like you who love Hogwarts so much that they can scarcely bear leaving it, wouldn't see their parents for a full seven years of their lives, and that is not a good thing.'

'No, I guess you're right.'

We continued to sit in silence for a few minutes, as the sound of the rain on the window gradually decreased until it was completely gone. I heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway next door and then the door slamming a moment later. Maybe I could make a start on some homework or something. I rose from my chair and made to leave, but when I reached the doorway I remembered something. I turned back to look at my brother.

'Al?'

'Mhmm.'

'I'm stuck with ideas for presents. Dad's birthday is only a couple of weeks away and Mum's is soon after that and you know how bad I am with this sort of thing so I was wondering if you could possibly help me out?' It all came out in a rush.

Albus gave a quiet chuckle before leaning back in his chair. His forehead creased as he thought for a moment.

'How about a dinner out somewhere, at a nice restaurant in Diagon Alley? That way it can be a joint present and they can enjoy it together. Although, nowhere too soppy or romantic. They wouldn't appreciate that. Just somewhere nice.'

I stared at him in disbelief. How on earth did he manage to come up with things like this on the spot? Albus saw my expression, and misinterpreted it.

'Well, if you don't think it's a good idea then-'

'No! Al, it's fantastic. I was just surprised at how brilliant an idea it was. That's all.'

He grinned at me, and I grinned back before hurrying up to my room. Then all I had to do was find a way to get to Diagon Alley and reserve places for my parents, without them finding out. Unless… I stopped on the stairs and pondered for a second.

Uncle George! Yes! All I need to do I contact him at his shop and he can get it done with no trouble whatsoever. Then all I have to do is send him some money to pay for it.