CHAPTER 14

Lily jumped ten feet into the air and off of Fred. Fred scrambled to put on his shirt. They both went bright red.

"I just wanted to see if you two wanted breakfast," she said awkwardly.

"We'll be right down mum," Fred said.

"Okay dearies. Uh Lily,"

"Yes Mrs. Weasley?" she said quickly.

"It's Molly sweet pea, and uh, you have something on your neck," she nodded knowingly and walked out. Lily ran to the mirror, really hoping it wasn't what she thought it might be. It was. Right on her collarbone was a big love bite. She gasped and cupped the red spot with her hand.

"Fred!" she said and he just laughed, "don't laugh, your mum saw that!"

"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful with the love bite placement next time," he said. She threw on a sweater to cover it up.

"Let's go," she said leaving the room, Fred close behind her. Everyone had eaten and was off doing their own thing by the time they got there. Well, except George who was waiting for them.

"Why hello there," George smiled at them.

"Hey mate," Fred said.

"Hi George," Lily murmured, her cheeks still pink with embarrassment.

"Where were you last night Fred?" he looked suspiciously at the other two.

"I was with Lily," Fred said proudly.

"Ah, I see," he looked over to Lily, "and why are you so red?"

Lily bit her lip and pulled down the neck of her sweater.

"Ooh, keep that away from mum," George winked.

"Too late, she pointed it out," Lily said, "actually, do you know where she is?"

"Out in the garden I think," George told her. Lily nodded in thanks and left Fred and George at the table.

She walked out of the Burrow and into the patchwork of fields and gardens. She saw a short, red haired woman and walked over to her.

"Mrs. Weasley? I-I mean, Molly?" she said nervously.

"Yes sweetie," she said nicely.

"I just wanted to say sorry, for before. I didn't mean to be rude, or disrespectful or anything," Lily fidgeted with her sweater as she spoke.

"Oh, no, its fine, really," Molly said.

"Really? I'd understand if you were mad or upset with me. I mean you walked in on me on top of your son, snogging him," she said.

"You make Fred happy, he loves you. You're basically part of the family now," Molly smiled.

"Thanks, Molly," Lily said with a smile. Part of the family. She liked that.

She walked back into the lounge room. Fred and George were in there laughing and holding their wands. Ginny and Hermione were scowling them. And Ron and Harry could just be heard shouting from Ron's room.

"What'd you do?" Lily asked semi-sternly, but Ron came marching down the stairs, wand clutched tightly in his hand. His face was red with embarrassment and fury. He pointed his wand at Fred and before she realized what she was doing, she snatched Fred's wand and pointed it at Ron then shouted "Rictumsempra!"

Ron doubled over on the floor in laughter. She hit him with the tickling charm.

"Oh! Sorry Ron! Finite Incantatem!" she said and Ron stopped laughing. She chucked Fred back his wand and apologized to Ron.

"Are you okay Ron?" she asked helping him off the floor.

"I'm fine," he snapped.

"Look I said I'm sorry," she said in frustration, "it was a reflex!"

"What? Attack the Gryffindor!" He raised his voice.

"No, protect my boyfriend!" she said in an equally loud voice.

"Of course it was," he said with disbelief.

"Ron, stop it," Harry said sternly.

"Merlin! Why is a bloody Slytherin staying with us anyway?" he didn't stop.

"Shut up Ron!" Fred and George said.

"She's probably just doing undercover work for her parents and the Malfoys!" he yelled.

"She doesn't have parents anymore Ronald!" Hermione whispered.

"Ron you are a git!" Ginny chimed in.

Something inside Lily snapped. She wasn't hurt. She was mad and she wanted to leave before she really did hurt Ron. She clenched her teeth and turned on her heel quickly out of the house.

She took off down a field, not paying attention to where she was going, or where she ended up. When she was in, what seemed like the middle, of a field she looked around and the Burrow looked tiny in the distance. She sat down on the dirt and put her head between her knees.

She didn't sob. She didn't cry. She didn't even tear up. She screamed.

She screamed and screamed and screamed. She needed to get her anger out. Half of her hoped they couldn't hear her and half of her didn't care.

"What!" she shouted when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Sorry mate," George said, "didn't mean to disturb you,"

"What do you want George?" she looked away from him, staring into the sky.

"I wanna know how you're going,'" he sat next to her.

"You can't guess?" she said sarcastically.

"I'd guess you're terrible," he said.

"You'd guess right. I'm always angry, or sad, or...empty. The only time I'm not is when I'm with you or Fred,"

"Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know. I mean you're like a brother to me George. I know you'll always care about me. And Fred, well he's Fred, you know? Well I guess you don't know considering you aren't in love with him. He just…I know he loves me. No matter what I say, or do, he loves me,"

"He does. Ignore Ronald – we do. He just has a short temper is all,"

"I know," she said shoving her hand on her sweater pocket, "What's this?" she said pulling out a piece of parchment.

She turned it around and there were three people glaring around at each other. One tall, empty man. A Beautiful woman in her mid-20's with a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Right in the middle, was a teenage girl, with the blackest hair and brightest green eyes you've ever seen.

Lily nearly dropped the photo in shock. She completely forgot about this photo. She put the Scott family photo in her pocket one day and left it there.

"You alright?" George said taking a look at what was in her hand, "c'mon, let's go back inside,"

Lily walked absent minded to the house. When she got inside everyone began talking, unaware that she wasn't really listening. Fred noticed her eyes beginning to shine with tears and threw his arms around her, telling everyone to be quiet. They left, to give Fred and Lily a minute alone.

She knew why she was crying. It wasn't because she missed them. It wasn't because they disowned her. It was because she had finally realized it was all real.

Lily showed him the photo.

"I found it in my pocket," she said, staring at the fire roaring in the fireplace.

"Do you miss your family?" he asked rubbing her shoulder in support.

She had a faraway look in her eye. One he'd never seen in her before.

"What family?" she said softly and threw the photo in the fireplace.