Chapter 2
"Hey mum!" Fred and George chorused stepping off the train and into the sea of students and parents. Mrs Weasley hugged both of them and started asking them about their school year. Fred threw a quick glance at Lily as she walked towards her dad. He noticed his mum throwing spiteful looks at Mr Scott.
Ron and Ginny got off the bus along with Harry, who was staying at the Burrow with the Weasleys', and Hermione. Mr and Mrs Weasley were hugging all of them and asking them all about their year so far. Ron started telling them about the ball, leaving out the part about Fred and Lily, and about all the months leading up to it.
Fred looked at Lily once more as she was leaving. She looked back and he mouthed "I love you" to her. She smiled and mouthed it back, making him blush profusely. She turned back to her father and Fred watched her leave.
They left not long after. They used Floo network to get back to the Burrow. Fred and George carted everyone's stuff to their rooms. When they were done, Fred and George sat on George's bed.
"When are you gonna tell mum?" George queried.
"Tomorrow night," Fred told him, semi-enthusiastically.
"Good luck Freddie," he gave Fred a pat on the back and bounded out of the room. Fred followed slowly. Ginny was sitting on one of the couches downstairs.
"George went outside," she told Fred when he slouched down the last step.
"Oh, okay," Fred said taking a seat near Ginny.
"You're worried, I can tell," she said.
"You're too good at reading people for your own good," he said with a grin.
"What are you worried about?" Fred didn't answer, "Lily," Ginny concluded.
"I'm more worried about mum's reaction,"
"Yeah, I saw the way she looked at Lily's dad. She clearly doesn't like him,"
"Exactly,"
"Don't be worried, Lily's great, mum will come around if she doesn't at first," Ginny smiled reassuringly at her big brother.
"Thanks Gin," he smiled.
Ginny was right, Lily's great, it'll be fine.
"Whiskey!" Lily's father called and a whimpering house elf with big violet eyes came hurriedly.
"Y-yes m-m-master?" the house elf stuttered.
"Get Lily's bags!" Mr Scott ordered. The elf ran to get Lily's trunks and carried them difficulty up the stairs, then he then ran back down to get her owl.
Whiskey was Lily's house elf. Her parents had one too, Echo, who was doing the washing at the moment.
Lily sat in her room for a while, before Whisky came in with Hex in her large golden cage that was nearly twice the elves size. Lily took the giant cage from the elf's unsteady hands. She placed it in the corner of her room, as the elf backed away from her.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked the scared elf.
"Don't hurt me Miss Lily! Whiskey is sorry!"
"Sorry for what?"
"Whiskey is sorry he is too weak to carry the cage! Whiskey is sorry you had to do it!"
"Whiskey, it's alright,"
"Miss Lily is not mad?"
"No, I'm not," Lily smiled and so did Whiskey. Whiskey left the room and Lily began to write Fred and George a letter.
When she was done, Hex took it in her mouth and flew out the window. She made her way down the stairs and into the living room.
"Lily," her mother said in a soft voice, she patted the seat next to her, "sit with me,"
"Hello mother," Lily took a seat.
"How was the ball?" she smiled. Lily forgot that her mother thought she'd gone with Brady.
"It was good," she smiled.
"What did you do? Was the band good? Was Brady nice?"
"Um, we danced and the music was good, there was some slow songs and some faster ones, and Fre-" she stopped abruptly clasping a hand over her mouth. Her mother eyed her curiously. Then after clearing her throat, Lily continued.
"Brady," she corrected, "was a perfect gentleman,"
"It sounds lovely," she smiled, but it wasn't genuine. It looked as if she knew something she didn't want to and was trying to be happy about it.
Lily stopped paying attention and started thinking about the night of the ball. So much had changed that night. She saw the darker side of Fred, but he was just protecting her from the dark side of Brady. He was stronger than she was, he was bigger than she was, and he was a lot more intimidating. She was scared of him, but she would never admit it to anyone, especially not Fred.
She didn't know why, but she didn't like Fred seeing her vulnerable. He only knew the strong, independent Lily Scott. The one who would always have a witty remark, or a handy spell to repulse any unwanted attention.
The night of the ball, she was scared. When Fred saw her that night, she was weak. She let her defences down for just a second and she ended up in a compromising situation. If Fred hadn't turned up, she didn't like to think of what could've happened to her.
"I think Whiskey and Echo have finished making dinner," her mother said bringing her back to the present.
"Oh, okay," she said.
Lily, her mother and father took their seats at the large mahogany table. The table was set out with golden-rimmed plates and gold cutlery. There were also golden goblets in front of each person.
Echo came out and poured Butterbeer into the goblet while Whiskey came and served the food.
Lily barely ate, just picked at her pasta.
"Lily," her father said, "is everything alright?"
"Oh, yeah, fine," she smiled assuring him and then took a bite of pasta.
She went back to her room after dinner. Echo cleaned the table and her parents went into the living room. Whiskey was standing in Lily's room, waiting for her.
"Hey Whiskey," she said to the violet-eyed house elf.
"H-hello Miss Lily," Whiskey said looking at the floor.
"How are you?" Lily asked.
"Whiskey is g-good Miss Lily. How y-you is feeling?"
"Me? I'm great. I have a gorgeous, beautiful, loving boyfriend who I'm very much in love with. I have a caring family who loves me. I have friends who stand by me. I have you," she smiled and pinched Whiskey's cheek. He blushed. Lily got into her bed, leaving the window open slightly in case Hex came back.
"Goodnight Miss Lily," Whiskey said, about to turn out the lights, before adding, "Miss Lily?"
"Yes?"
"You are v-v-very h-happy and n-nicer than usual right now. If you do not mind Whiskey saying, Miss Lily should be in love more often,"