Chapter 8 for Tempest! Read and... review please! Hope you'll enjoy!

Dear Oswald,

It is me who must thank you. I had a fantastic night and you took my mind off so many problems. I didn't know that well up until the ball too. I never pictured you like this when Lilith first talked to me about you. I guess it was a night full of surprises for both of us!

I'll see you at the party then!

Lily

P.S. Please address the letter to Albus next time or my family will start asking too many questions!

She secured the letter with her owl, Hedwig, and watched her fly away toward the sun, as white as the snow on the ground.

She had finally taken a decision which was what took her so long to write back to Oswald. The party would be tomorrow. Lily figured out she'd go and stay, no matter what. She preferred knowing what Scorpius was up to rather than just sitting there wondering. Everything was set up. She had found the perfect dress too. Fleur, as a Christmas gift, had given her this lilac, tulle netting dress. It was rather short but it showed her long legs and looked perfect on her body. This was the right occasion to finally wear it. She looked at the mirror and wondered what Scor would think of her outfit. Albus was writing and looked up with a strange look on his face. " Why do you enjoy looking at your reflection so much?"

" Well, it definitely keeps my hair from looking as messy as yours."

" But you do have a taste for guys with messy hair."

" Not funny, Al."

" Anyway, it's really short."

" And what do you ca-"

" But it looks great on you."

" Thanks." she took her wand and magically changed back to her clothes.

" Come here, Lils. Have a look at what I found this morning. It's a photo of mum, in her first year."

" Oh, she did look cute and... tiny."

" I'm not showing you this because it's cute and nice. Look carefully."

" The diary."

" Yes. She liked to keep it close," he smirked.

" She evidently did. I told you she was obsessed with and attracted by Tom!"

" How romantic..." she glared at her brother.

OoO

Lily woke up. The sun penetrated through the windows. She yawned and suddenly remembered. January 1st. Oh my god! The mere thought made her shiver. She'd see Scorpius again and in someway, she felt, it would be different. Everything would probably change.

But I'll see Os too. She grimaced. His letter had been a sort of cure to her sadness but surely not to her doubts.

" Lils, breakfast is ready down there. Come on down." said a tired Albus.

" Yeah."

She ate even less than usual. The butterflies in her stomach were throwing a wild party and she really wasn't hungry.

" Lily, I know we'll probably eat a lot at the Malfoy's tonight but you should really get something down your stomach..."

" Your father's right, Lily. Eat something." added her mother. She rolled her eyes and got some toasts.

" And stop the eye rolling gym," scolded her father.

" Yeah, whatever..." Albus patted her on the shoulder. Her father believed that since he was Harry Potter and he had defeated Voldemort, married the love of his life, had a big, fantastic family, then everyone was alright. What he didn't get was that two of his kids were NOT alright. Albus and Lily were restless souls. They flirted with danger. They liked to venture out in the darkness and discover the secrets it was hiding. They wanted more than what everyday life could offer. For Lily though, this reckless attitude was taking her now to unknown territory. Which made her even jumpier and unhappier.

" Lily do you want help with dressing or hair making?" asked her mum. " We could help each other." The idea of spending some quality time with her mother was alluring.

" Yeah, good idea. Come on, let's go!" she winked.

After a thorough make up session the two looked perfect. They were two peas in a pod in the mirror's eye. Lily was more beautiful though. Her eyes were brighter, her skin smoother. The hair, she inherited from the Weasleys and it was exactly the same shade of ginger.

" So... tell me about little Scorpius... is he like his father? Me and your dad were always very curious about him."

" Umm," she tried to find the right words. " I don't know him. Just meet him every once in a while in the corridors. I guess he's a brilliant student, at least that's what I've heard..." she lied.

"Mmh... Sounds like he isn't that friendly."

" I really have no idea... you should ask Al, you know?"

" If only he talked more to me. Your brother isn't exactly someone who spills out things just like that..."

Well, depends on who he's speaking to...

" I know..." Just then her father came in.

" Look at my two lovely ladies! You look great!" He kissed Lily on the forehead and his mother on the cheek. Lily smiled and brightened up. A rare

moment in which she actually feel that she did belong.

OoO

The Potters apparated right out of the gates of Malfoy manor. It was impressive and kind of scary.

" How can they live inside this place? It's so intimidating..." Lily whispered to Albus.

" Family tradition. I don't like it either. Too big for my tastes..."

" Well, you are going to have a family one day... Maybe a big one. Then you'll need a manor just like this," she joked.

" I highly doubt that. I still have to find a woman who can match me," he winked.

" Don't overestimate yourself," she grumbled rolling her eyes.

She looked around. The garden was huge. Full of fountains, statues, flowers and...were they albino peacocks? There was even a hedge labyrinth. She briefly wondered what it would be like to spend an entire childhood in this place. Or spending there your whole life. Just like Draco. Maybe you would go nutters.

Just as if reading her thoughts, Rose creeped up and said: " Isn't this place magnificent? Such a style... for a Slytherin family. Extraordinary!" Lily shook her head. Same, old Rose.

They reached the main entrance. A house elf let them in. Not really legal to still own house elves nowadays. Lily tried to breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Maybe she should have stayed home. Albus wrapped a soothing arm around her shoulders. " It's going to be fine..."