"Aren't you excited Lily?"

I looked to my left to see Hugo smiling widely at me as my aunt, uncle, and Rose were half hanging their heads out of the window that showcased the starry night sky. We are on our way to the Yule Ball in an Abraxen drawn blue carriage. Abraxen are a breed of winged horses that are gigantic and extremely powerful. They are bred by the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy and are on loan for the night to the champions of the Tri-Wizard tournament. I guess they don't want any of the champions arriving dusty or splinched. Outside of the fact that we are flying through the air at rapid speed it feels like a cripplingly slow ride. The awkward half smiles of my surrogate family only cease to remind me of the horrendousness of this morning, otherwise known as Christmas day.

We flooed to Grandma Molly's late last night and proceeded to have our normal Christmas Eve festivities. But, with all the drama currently surrounding me in particular, it seemed like that endeavor was doomed from the start. As soon as we arrived I was met with an angry Dominique who yelled at me in rapid French before being pulled away by a simmering Victorie who proclaimed that I "wasn't worth it". Then after laughing about it with Hugo, I was confronted by an angry Rose who felt that I was once again being selfish by not acknowledging Vic's feelings, just like I had done to "poor dear Frank". I didn't even bother to dignify that with a response and instead dragged Roxy and Hugo into the kitchen to sneak into the spiked eggnog. While that in itself was bad enough, the final straw was the next morning.

As everyone opened their gifts filled with happiness and joy, I sat off to the side collecting the wrapping paper and trying not to be in anyone's way. Just then a familiar black and silver falcon came flying through the window, dropping two fairly small packages and swooping right back out again. Everyone stopped to look at me, knowing the green wrapping and silver ribbons could only be for the one Slytherin in the family. I opened them as fast as possible, hoping if I was quick about it no one would make a fuss. The first package was a picture of Scorpius and me. It was from the day we went ice skating. The pure joy on our faces as we held hands and spun in circles brought tears to my eyes, and left me wondering how he had taken the picture to begin with. As much as I loved the first gift the second one stole the very breath from my lungs. It was a green velvet ring box and nestled inside was a ring consisting of 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding a 12 carat oval emerald set in white gold in the shape of two snakes. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and as I slid the ring on my right ring finger, where it fit perfectly, I was met with roars of disapproval from everyone around me, but especially my dad and brothers. Before I knew it, I was apparating with my aunt Hermione back home with the rest of her family. And that is how I ruined Christmas.

So, as I sat in this beautiful horse drawn carriage, looking at Scorpius' ring on my finger, the last thing I was feeling was excited.

I didn't bother responding to Hugo's question; I sent him a smile/grimace instead.

"Don't be that way! This is a once in a life time opportunity. Don't let your blimey brothers ruin it," Hugo said patting me on the back much to roughly.

I sniffed back a teary hiccup and nodded my head still not responding. At this point there really wasn't much left to say. I looked out the window to see my first love, Hogwarts. Durmstrang's ballroom wasn't big enough to house all three schools so we were having it here instead. As the carriage came to a landing in front of the school all I could hear were clicks and shouts; in other words chaos.

"Are you ready Lily?" My Aunt asked, concern glistening in her brown eyes.

I took a breath and mustered up a smile, "As ready as I'll ever be."

One by one everyone filed out of the carriage to walk the black carpet, take pictures, and answer questions from the volerie, the wizarding equivalent to muggle paparazzi. As I went to step out of the carriage last, I was intercepted by an unwelcome face.

"Hello Frank."

"Lily, please let me talk to you," he pleaded stepping into the carriage and closing the door behind him.

"There is nothing to talk about. Now open the door and let me out before I point this wand at your John Thomas with a stinging jinx."

"Wait! Please I just want to talk to you for two seconds and then if you never want to see me again, I will disappear forever."

I leaned back against my seat thinking it over, "You have 2 minutes."

"Okay, look, I just wanted to say I am truly sorry. There is no excuse for my behavior but I would at least like the chance to explain myself."

"…ok," I said waiting for his grand explanation.

He blew out a breath and carried on, "So, I know to you I just looked like a barmy wizard of his trolley. But Lily, I have been in love with you my whole life. You are everything I could want in a girl. You are smart, brave and beautiful. I felt like the luckiest bloke in the world to have you as my girl. Then in the blink of an eye you were gone. You were off at Durmstrang and I was so proud of you; my brave girl. But then there were all these rumors about you and Malfoy. I brushed them off. Then there were pictures! And that was hard to deny but I tried. I wanted to get past it so terribly bad. But seeing you two together was it for me. I couldn't deny it anymore. And if it were just him wanting you, I could let it go, but it was the way you looked at him too. The way you touched him; blushed for him, I just couldn't take it. It brought out the worst in me."

I looked at him in shock not sure what to say, "Frank there is nothing between Malfoy and I. And even if there had been it doesn't give you the right to act the way you did."

He raked his hands through his black curls in frustration, "I know, I know and this is me apologizing to you for that. I have never felt so angry in my life. I didn't know I could even feel that much about anything, but you bring that out of me. You are so perfect and I screwed it up."

I sighed heavily and put my hand over his,"You didn't screw anything up Frank. I am not perfect and I am definitely not brave. The way you see me is unhealthy and unrealistic. I could never live up to the version of me you have in your head. Even If it hadn't happened this way, it still would have happened eventually. I love you Frank, but not in the way you deserve. I hope we don't have to leave our friendship behind because our relationship didn't work."

He smiled at me in his sweet way that reminded me of the Frank I grew up with, "I don't want to be your friend Lillian; but if that is all I can get, than it's damn sure better than nothing."

I smiled widely squeezed his hand tightly in my own, "The love you are looking for might be closer than you think. But I can promise you that it isn't me. Now, I hope this isn't overstepping our new friend code, but I do still need a date to the ball."

"It would be my honor," he said opening the door and stepping out.

He gave me his hand to help me step out and I felt like we had entered another world. We were surrounded by so many flashing lights I was beginning to see spots in front of my eyes.

"By the way Lily, you look absolutely smashing." Frank said looking at me with unconcealed lust that made me chuckle nervously.

I did look very different tonight and I hoped it would be received well by everyone. I wore a Zuhair Murad sheer tulle black lace appliqué dress. It has one long sleeve and a thick strap on the sleeveless side holding up the asymmetrical collar that exposed my left collarbone. The dress is an A-line evening gown that is form fitting and split half way up one thigh. It was beaded making it shimmer slightly whenever I walked. My black strappy sandals laced up to my exposed knee and made me look almost six feet tall. My makeup was kept light except for my eyes which were covered in smoky black eye makeup. My hair hung over one shoulder and was curled like a muggle pin up girl in controlled and swooped waves. I felt…sexy.

"Lily! Over here!"

"Lily smile for the camera!"

"We heard your boyfriend was abusive can we have a statement Lily?!"

"Is this new look in retaliation against your parents Lily?!"

The volerie were vicious and vile with their questioning and I couldn't believe that any one was allowed to talk to someone in such a manner. It still astounded me that people truly felt that celebrity status meant harassment and ridicule was somehow acceptable. As the daughter of Harry Potter I had been on the receiving end of this from the time I was born. It never gets easier. After all, I am merely a girl, and my feelings get hurt the same as any others.

"Are you okay Lily?" Frank asked looking very concerned.

I smiled lightly at him, "Yes. Thank you. All the same, let's hurry up and get inside."

We were ushered into the school by my Uncle Ron who looked wearily at Frank. Inside my aunt and cousins were standing with their arms and legs spread as they got checked for dark magic by security. Rose turned to look at us with an angry scowl on her face; which was sad seeing as she had looked so pretty in her curled up do and lightly made up face. I shook my head at her sadly that a boy could so easily come between us and stood to get checked over as well.

Security ran a wand over my front, back, and sides before checking my purse. They also had to check my wand that was in the sheath Hugo got me for Christmas secured to my thigh that wasn't exposed. Finally we were walking into Hogwarts ballroom where we had to let everyone else go so that we could be officially announced.

"INTRODUCING FRANK LONGBOTTOM WITH GIRLFRIEND AND TRIWIZARD CHAMPION LILY POTTER!"

I huffed angrily at being announced as Frank's girlfriend but sauntered in holding onto Franks arm to steady myself. The room looked beautiful. It was decked out in shimmering white and silver decorations and snow shimmered down from the ceiling. It was a winter wonderland.

As we walked I got stares and whispers from every one we passed. I clung tighter to Frank in my nervousness causing his sleeve to have a permanent wrinkle. I was the last champion to arrive, so we were quickly shown to our spot on the ballroom floor to begin the first dance. I looked around quickly at the other champions before the dance began. Des was with a pinchy boney blond girl who looked like she had one some grand prize. Niko looked nervous as he chatted lightly with a Latina brunette who looked bored out of her mind. To my disappointment Jack wasn't present on the dance floor at all. And to my great surprise Malfoy was standing with Amelie chatting lightly. His date must still be sick and Merlin knows she never had one to begin with. How embarrassing to have to be paired with another champion because you didn't have a date. I snickered lightly to myself and then the dance began.

We danced along as everyone watched. Frank was clumsy and awkward in his movements but I was glad he was here with me. As the dance ended and everyone clapped more people began to move onto the dance floor. I watched as Amelie quickly made her way off the dance floor. I left as well to go the lavatory. On the way, I ran into so many of my friends from Hogwarts. Anna and Eve looked so different I felt as though they were having lives that I was no longer a part of. After Eve had her talk with Anna about wanting to be different from her twin, Anna had begun to grow her hair out and now had a longish bob as opposed to Eves cropped pixie. In an effort to be even more different from her sister Eve had streaked her bang with pink, gold, and blue. It was so nice to talk to them again just to giggle and be girls.

I used the washroom and quickly made my exit to get back to the festivities. I passed many empty classrooms where I could see students doing inappropriate things I hoped to forget. I glanced at a half opened door as I passed by to see Amelie arguing with someone I couldn't see. I doubled back and peeked into the room hoping to see who she was talking to.

She stood there looking impossibly tall in her tailored white and black suit. I had never seen a witch come to a ball in pants and I have to admit a very small part of me was impressed. The person she was arguing with was an older male. He looked so much like her it could only be her father. His dark dress robes puddle around his feet from his hunched over stature. It was quite the task that he managed to look so furious while looking so unwell at the same time. He looked as though he might pass out any moment.

"Anata ga damasu!" He shouted at her in what I assume was Japanese.

"Do not talk to me that way father!" She shouted back. She was always so calm and calculated I was surprised her voice could get that loud. Whatever they were fighting about must have been serious.

"Anata wa kono kazoku o bujoku"

"Maybe I want to live for myself! I am sick of carrying this family!"

His hand whipped around quickly but it looked to me as though it was happening in slow motion as his hand connected to her cheek and her head snapped to the left like a doll. She turned around slowly with tears in her eyes and a big pink-red welt on half of her face.

"I am sorry father," she said quietly putting her head down in submission.

He looked as though that slap had taken all of his remaining energy as he replied icily, "Hoka ni nani mo iwanai. Anata wa watashi o unzari."

She crumbled to the floor as he began walking in haste towards the door. I jumped away from the door in panic and quickly made my way down the hall hoping I hadn't been seen. My head was throbbing with the weight of the scene I had just witnessed. What could be so bad that a father would slap his daughter, and she would be the one to apologize? I was mulling this over when I heard a familiar voice call my name.

"Mum?"

"Lily dear, don't look so surprised to see me," She said smiling as she gave me a big mum hug.

"Sorry, I just didn't know you were coming."

She fluffed the end of my hair, "Yes of course. I had to see my baby girl in her shining moment. You look lovely darling."

Her sad watery smile made me feel sad for reasons I wasn't sure, "Thank you mum."

She looked nervous then all of a sudden, "Also Lily I had to inform you about a new arrangement taking place when you go back to Durmstrang. Your father and I felt that with your magic…issues…we should have you practice with a teacher on controlling it."

I sucked in a breath feeling caught off guard that she would mention this here, "Mum stop it. I haven't had 'issues' with my magic in years. I cannot believe you would bring this up here, where anyone could hear!"

She looked truly apologetic then, "I know, I'm sorry but I had to let you know so you aren't caught off guard when you go back."

I sighed heavily looking around to make sure no one was listening in, "Who is the teacher?"

She smiled happily then, "He says he is a teacher of yours already. His name is Guru Besar I believe."

I nodded distractedly, "Yes, he is my Salveology professor."

"Great! So at least you're already acquainted. Now I have to go find your Uncle Ron. I will talk to you later. Have fun poppet!"

She shuffled off and I was left feeling a constricting feeling in my chest at the thought of anyone finding out about our conversation. As I was trying to keep myself from hyperventilating, a smooth voice floated to my eardrums from my right.

"Hello peach," Malfoy said looking more bashful than I had ever seen. He looked wicked handsome in his black suit, shirt, and tie.

"Hello Ice man, ready for that dance you promised me," I said feeling saucy.

"It would be my pleasure beautiful," he smirked taking my hand in his.

Malfoy was a master dancer. He moved like he was floating and in turn made me feel like my feet were levitating off the ground. He held me so close there was no space between and I began to feel things I didn't know I could feel.

"You look bloody gorgeous peach. I almost didn't recognize you. I thought you were going to come to the ball looking like a princess and instead you come looking like one of my naughty dreams." He said winking at me.

I laughed loudly, throwing back my head and smacking his shoulder, "don't be a perv, but I am glad you like it. Not to mention we match. We can be Slytherin's bad boy, bad girl coupled set."

He scowled then, "yeah I'm sure your boyfriend would love that."

I looked into his eyes then to make sure he understood me, "Me and Frank broke up. I am single."

He looked at me with a mix of shock, remorse, and pure want. I felt like time stopped as he leaned in close to me with a concentrated look on his face. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I got smell the mint on his breath. He leaned in and I pushed up and then-

"Ahem, excuse me?"

We jumped apart and turned to see a livid Amelie watching us with disdain written on her features.

"I would appreciate it, if you could keep your slaggy paws off my boyfriend," she said looking smug.

I couldn't comprehend what she was saying initially, but as she intertwined her hand with Scorpius' I knew exactly what she was saying to me.

"Scorpius," I said fighting back tears.

He looked gutted, "Well… we are sort of dating."

Amelie laughed viciously, "sort of? We spent the whole winter hols together. Listen Potter, he is trying to be polite, but I won't be. He isn't interested, so go away."

Scorpius went to say something when Flint came up beside him and put his hand on his shoulder silencing him. I looked around then realizing we had an audience. I backed away quickly trying to save the last bits of my pride before I turn and ran for it. I stood out on the balcony as real snow came flurrying down around me like a snow globe. How could this have happened? I felt like my heart was shattering and splintering every other organ in its wake. Rose's words from last week echoed in my ear. … I love you enough to hope you never have to know what this feels like. Maybe this was my karma. As I sunk down to the ground, getting my dress soaked in freezing cold snow, I thought I would give anything to never have to feel this way again.