I know it's been forever since I've updated, after exams and school it will be so much easier to find time to write. Hope you like this! Review, review, review! :)
Chapter 7 – Hogsmeade
"Lily, Lily, it's time to get up, big day ahead of us." Kenda sat bouncing on the edge of Lily's bed yelling at her softly, until she was annoyed that Lily wasn't waking up. "Lily get your arse out of bed!" Kenda yelled in Lily's ear making her want to hit her.
"What in merlin's name is going on?" Lily rubbed her eyes and gave a little yawn.
"Time to get up!" Kenda gave her a big smile. Lily had told them the night before and Kenda seemed really thrilled about it to the point of annoyance. Lily gave a helpless look at Ivy and she just gave a chuckle. Lily then looked over at Raven who was practically running out of the room with a furious look on her face.
"She's just grumpy, ignore her." Kenda grinned pulling Lily out of bed, "Now, what are you going to wear?"
Kenda spent the next hour prepping Lily, making sure her curls were just the right amount of bouncy and her mascara was the exact colour of black that brought out her brown dull eyes. She dressed her in a black long sleeve knee length dress with black tights, tan riding boots and an emerald scarf. Ivy meanwhile sat there laughing as she pull on her Gryffindor hat and scarf. As they were walking out of the door Lily lend over to whisper to Ivy.
"This is entirely your fault you know?" Lily mumbled.
"Hardly," Ivy chuckled under her breath.
"So is,"
"Just breathe, everything will be fine." Ivy gave her a reassuring squeezed on the shoulder.
"You realize you're next." Lily laughed and caught up to Kenda, leaving Ivy looking horrified.
"Take that back Potter." Ivy whispered harshly.
"Nope, can't." Lily grinned back at her as Kenda pulled her down to breakfast.
"Lils, I don't see why you're not more excited?" Kenda prattled along excitedly, "It's all so romantic, I mean with the notes. Oh and the rose! So adorable, don't you think?" Ivy just gave her a weary look. "Oh what do you know, you haven't a romantic bone in your body. Lily thinks it's romantic or she wouldn't be doing it." She huffed.
"Uh… well… yes." Lily sighed, it wasn't that she didn't like romantic things, it's was just that she liked simple, nothing overly over the top; which Zenith was turning out to be.
"Rest my case." Kenda grinned at Lily who gave a weary smile as they walked into the Great Hall.
"Edward and I are plenty romantic, when we want to be." Ivy huffed.
"Alright," Kenda hummed to herself as they sat down.
"Hey, has anyone seen Raven today?" Lily asked trying to distract them but she was generally concerned. She hadn't seen her since she stormed out this morning. Ivy and Kenda just look at each other and shook their heads.
"Hey baby sister. How much do you love me?" James interrupted as he sat down throwing his arm over her. Ivy and Kenda just laughed.
"What do you want Jamie?" Lily laughed as she ate some toast.
"Lily. Lils." He dramatically sighed, "I'm offended; I am hurt that you would think you're bigger, eldest, strikingly handsome, charismatic…"
"Get on with it." Lily rolled her eyes at her bigger, eldest brother.
"Witty brother would only want something from his kind and thoughtful baby sister." He bat his eyelashes and flashed a very Potter grin at her.
"Fine, fine Jamie, I love you a lot now what does my eldest, big-headed, troublemaking brother want from me." She giggled and he made a dramatic hurt face at her.
"We need you to distract, oh about half the Professors." He grinned.
"You don't have to Lils," Albus said as he sat down beside Owen who had squeezed himself beside Kenda who was now a pink shade.
"Al, do you want in or not." James hissed at him.
"Come on Lils, you have to do it!" Albus almost pleaded with her. It must have been something big they were planning she thought; James almost never let Albus in on his, Louis and Fred's pranks, especially the earlier ones.
"Sorry boys, loved too but I have a date." Lily grinned at them and James face turned a red shade as Albus almost chocked on his pumpkin juice.
"You have a date! You're a baby Lily, who it is! That Osterly guy isn't it?" James was turning redder by the minute.
"James!" Shockingly it was Katie who came to Lily's defense, "Lily is hardly a baby, you should know better. You go around flirting with everything that has a pulse! That's very hypocritical of you." Her cheeks turned a slight red with angry and embarrassment and gave him a dark stare, leaving James to look a bit ashamed of himself and speechless that rarely happened. Fred, Louis, Hugo and Rose were trying to keep they're laughter to themselves as they had never seen sweet little Katie yell at James before. It was clear to everyone except Katie and James that they both fancied each other, which made it all the more entertaining for the Potter-Weasley's.
"James is right though, you can't date Osterly!" Albus huffed as he looked around nervously to see if anyone was going to yell at him too.
"I don't know when you two are going to get this through your head; you can't control what I do." Lily said sternly giving them both a stare that could rival their mother.
"I.. I'm just saying be careful is all." Albus stuttered looking down at his eggs and James stayed quiet sneaking looks at Katie as he ate.
"Fine, I will. Have fun with your prank boys." Lily said as her, Ivy and Kenda went to leave, pulling Hugo with them.
"Have fun Lily!" Katie yelled cheerfully after them and everyone but James and Albus burst into laughter.
"Like I said before Lils, flirting with the enemy." Hugo chuckled rather annoyed that they took him from his food.
"Whatever Hugo, have you seen Raven today?" Lily asked annoyed and Hugo looked at puzzled.
"Can't say I have, to tell the truth I haven't seen her around lately."
"No you're right; I haven't seen much of her either." Ivy said looking around for Edward as they walked to meet everyone at the front.
"She has been acting a bit odd lately." Kenda input.
"You don't think she's avoiding us do you?" Lily asked them nervously.
"Don't think so." Hugo stated.
"Why though, it's not like we did anything?" Ivy argued.
"Maybe she's meeting someone in secret!" Kenda said dreamingly and they all stopped to stare at her. "What? You never know. She's always been so secretive." Kenda said defensively.
"Ivy!" Edward yelled waving her over and she gave them a sorry look.
"Go its fine." Hugo said, "I'll just be with romantic over here." He chuckled at Kenda and she gave him an annoyed look.
"One day I might have a date too." Kenda mumbled.
"I need to start hanging out with guys more often." Hugo chuckled as he saw Zenith walking over to them.
"You ready to go?" He flashed a charming smile at Lily, which caused her to giggle.
"Yeah, see you guys later!" Lily waved to them as he took her hand.
"You look pretty." He said with his charming smile.
"Oh um, thanks." Lily said with a nervous chuckle. "You look nice too." He was wearing a pair of black jeans, a blue v-neck and a brown leather jacket.
"Why thank you." He chuckled. "So, I have the perfect place to go too. I think you'll really like it, most people do." He gave her hand a squeeze. He did make her feel at ease with the way he filled the silence with words.
"Oh I'm sure." Lily smiled brightly as they walked to Hogsmeade. Zenith kept the conversation going about a number of things from what he and his friends were doing. Zenith lead her into Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and Lily almost groaned with dismal but quickly plastered a small smile on her face as he looked at her with his sparkling blue eyes. Lily wasn't too fond of the frilly pink shop as most of it was people snogging. Lily and her friends had come to the shop a couple times to spy on James and his many girls, other than that she much preferred the Three Broomsticks. They were greeted by the annoying little tickling bell and an older snout lady with a shiny grey bun; Madam Puddifoot.
"Welcome, welcome, Mr. Osterly – always a pleasure!" She kissed him on the cheek with a huge smile and showed them to a table with little lace napkins.
"Mr. Osterly?" Lily whispered under her breath to him with her eyebrow raised and he just chuckled.
"Oh, Potter," she eyed her with a false smile, "Nice to see you too, dear." Lily gave her an overly fake smile and Madam Puddifoot face turned slightly red as she went back to talking to Zenith only.
"So my dear, what will it be?" She put on a genuine smile for Zenith and Lily fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Two peppermint teas, thank you." He said ordering for her, it's not that she didn't like peppermint tea but she found it slightly irritating that he thought she couldn't order for herself but with that Madam Puddifoot was babbling again.
"Oh good choice, one of my personal favorites." She said smiling brightly at him. Lily decided to tune them out as she looked around the room at all the couples; most were snogging like Scorpius and Maive, which seemed to rub her the wrong way as she drew her eyes from them. They had clearly made up from their latest argument. Others though seemed to be having actual conversations like Sapphire Barns – a gorgeous, black haired and blue eyed Ravenclaw fifth year; one of James' exes whom he was on good terms with and one that Lily partially liked and still talked too as well, was sitting with her new boyfriend, Ivan Aubrey – a tall, dirty blonde sixth year seeker for the Ravenclaws. Lily was really happy for her, she was such a sweet girl and they looked quite blissful.
"Lily?" Zenith reached over and tapped her pulling her out of her trace.
"Oh, yes? Sorry, didn't realize you were done you're conversation with her." She smirked and raised her eyebrow at him.
"Oh yes, well, I know her quite well…" He trailed off and changed the subject. "So, how do you like the place?" He smiled at her with hope and she didn't have the heart to let him down.
"Oh it's, uh, lovely." She gave him a sweet smile as Madam Puddifoot placed the peppermint tea down without a look at Lily and hurried off. Lily took the tea so she wouldn't have to continue talking about the ghastly place.
"Good, I thought you'd like it." She smiled at her triumphantly and she gave him a weary smile. He didn't seem to know her very well at all.
"Yes, well." She took a big sip of her tea and thankfully Zenith started talking.
"I have a question for you." He smiled at her and Lily thought she knew exactly want he wanted to ask her.
"Go on then." She smiled widely at him.
"So I have a Quidditch practice tomorrow, I was wondering if you would sit and watch, maybe give me some tips?" He asked her as he took her hands.
"You want me to sit in on a Ravenclaw practice?" She asked slowly trying to hide her disappointment.
"Yeah, like a good luck charm?" He smiled at her sweetly.
"What would me being your good luck charm entail?" She asked innocently.
"Well, you would be there to wish me luck, and maybe…" He trailed off leaning over the table and placing his lips to hers. Lily smiled against his lips, she thought they were soft against hers, it was nice. He moved back and smiled at her.
"And maybe what Zenith?" She gave him a charming smile.
"Maybe, I would get to call you my girlfriend?" He asked sweetly.
"I think that could be arranged." She lend in and gave him a small kiss and smiled at him. Everything that had annoyed her about today had evaporated. It was something she liked about Zenith, regardless of what happened; he somehow made it go away.
"Hey Lils, I'm going to have to be telling James what you've been doing today?" Sapphire teased her as she walked up holding hands with Ivan.
"I think that's completely unnecessary." She giggled at her also remembering this morning as Zenith bumped his fist with Ivan, Lily made a mental note that they were on the same Quidditch team and it wasn't strange.
"Oh how rude of me!" Sapphire laughed at herself. "Lily, this is Ivan! Ivan, this is Lily!" She said with her bubbly personality. Ivan shook Lily hand and gave her a small smile. He was quite reserved and quiet Lily figured, which was perfect for Sapphire.
"Very nice to meet you." Lily smiled at him. "Oh, um, Zenith, Sapphire and you know Ivan."
"Zenith," Sapphire nodded with a tense smile and Lily was sure she squeezed Ivan's hand.
"Oh! I'll let you get back and don't worry my lips are sealed!" She giggled.
"Better be, my brother might blow a blood vessel just yet." She laughed with her.
"Oh if you only knew Lily, that's what big brothers' are for! Come on Ivan, we must let them go back to their date. See you around Lils!"
"See you!" Lily grinned at them both as they both waved and walked out with those tickling bells ringing behind them.
"Sapphire?" He asked questionably.
"One of my brothers' exes', one of my favourites." She smiled to herself. "Do you know her?"
"Well yes, she's a Ravenclaw and well Ivan's girlfriend; he's my seeker and all." He chuckled but Lily seemed to sense something more, the way Sapphire has just nodded it was odd for her. "Yes well, we must be going back soon." He throw 3 gallons on the table and gave Madam Puddifoot gave him a smile as he took Lily's hand and lead her out. Lily gave one last look to the pink shop and they cozy couples, knowing that she had been one of them just a few seconds ago.
They immersed into the busy crowded street as Zenith tried to shout things over the noise.
"So about that Quidditch practice?" Zenith asked her with a smile as he weaved her in and out of the crowd.
"Oh, I'll be there. I'm sure not how much help I can be though." Lily would always stay loyal to her team and her brothers.
"Surely Harry Potter, the youngest seeker and Ginny Potter, a once chaser for the Holyhead Harpies' daughter would know quite a bit about Quidditch." He chuckled at her and Lily felt somewhat irritated by his comment, it wasn't that she wasn't proud to call them her parents; she was quite proud actually, it was the fact that she didn't want to be labelled just by that fact.
"Never said I didn't know anything, I just stay loyal to my team." She said the irritation in her voice was clear and he stared at her with a shocked look. He started to say something and Lily knew she wouldn't like it, she knew she should of just kept her mouth shut for once but almost as if someone was watching, he didn't have to time to respond because someone had smashed into his shoulder. Lily thought it was slightly Zenith fault for not paying attention for where he was going but she would never voice that.
"Oi! Malfoy! What was that for?" Zenith let go of Lily's hand and turned to face Scorpius, who had Maive clutched to his arm. Lily was almost thankful to see him but the sight of Maive glaring at her with her almost black eyes made Lily's blood boil.
Scorpius ignored Zenith and spoke directly to Lily, "I've seemed to upset your prince." He smirked at her and Lily fumed. He knew how much that princess thing bothered her, he wasn't her prince.
"Snake," She hissed through her teeth and then mumbled under her breath, "Zenith, it's not a big deal, let's go."
"I was talking to you!" Zenith shouted at him, ignoring Lily's comment. Lily rolled her eyes, because she knew he wasn't provoking Lily, he was provoking Zenith.
"And I was clearly talking to Potter over here." Scorpius said simply and winked at Lily which caused Lily to glare back at him and her stomach to churn.
"Clearly you don't know your place Malfoy," Zenith growled at him and Lily tried to pull him away from the fight. Scorpius took a step forward so he was right in Zenith face. A little crowd was starting to form around all four of them and Lily was beginning to grow annoyed with all of it.
"Zenith, that's enough." Lily mumbled again and Zenith once again ignored her and shrugging her off.
"You really should listen to Potter, she's smart. I'm not worth risking your reputation over." Maive scoffed at the comment and Scorpius whispered something in her ear that made her give an awful giggle and made Lily's stomach churn.
"We'll settle this on the pitch." Zenith growled and grabbed Lily's hand as he stormed off.
"See you!" Scorpius gave an animated mocking wave to Zenith and Lily glanced back quickly, her eyes being meet by a pair of stormy grey eyes. She whipped her head back to look up at Zenith's angry face and then at the ground.
"I'm sorry." Zenith whispered and gave a little squeeze to her hand. "He just gets under my skin and the way he looks at you…" His right hand balled into an angry fist, "I just can't stand it." Lily shook her head and stared at him with shocked eyes.
"What are you talking about? We loathe each other." She said in a matter of fact tone.
"I know, but he's just …" He struggled to find the words that didn't seem to fit.
"It's been this way for the past 5 years; nothing's going to change that fact." She gave him a comforting smile and snuggled into his side as they walked back to the castle.
"Ok, so tomorrow?" He asked brightly.
"I'll be there tomorrow." She sighed but gave a bright smile.
"Bright and early!" He chuckled and she gave a nervous laugh back.
"Bright and early." She mumbled.
Lily woke up with a groan the next morning to be greeted by a gloomy dark sky. She was mentally kicking herself for agreeing to this as she unwillingly pulled the blankets out from her and swung her legs to the edge of the bed with another groan. She smoothed down her wild red curls and pulled on dark jeans, her purple pullover sweater that her Grandma had knit, put on a black winter hat and pulled on her combat boots. She took a glance outside to the ugly clouds and sighed walking out of the room towards the pitch. She bitterly cursed herself the entire way as she walked into the gloom. Zenith was waiting for her before she made it to the stands in his quidditch robes.
"Good morning you," He gave her a bright smile and kissed her on the nose which made Lily blush.
"Morning," She giggled, "bit chilly."
"Just a bit." He chuckled, and looked out to the pitch a bit awkwardly. "See you after then."
"Good luck," He kissed her nose again and she blushed.
"Thanks!" He smiled and ran off into the pitch as Lily went to sit in the stands.
The wind blow and it sent a shiver through Lily as she sat down. She looked up at the cloudy and shivered again trying to ignore it; she looked down at the pitch to see them mounting their brooms. She felt someone tap her on the shoulder and she look up to see a pair of grey eyes smiling at her.
"What do you want?" Lily snarled at him, after yesterday she wasn't in the mood to even argue with him. Lately, he just seemed to be showing up more and more.
"Just enjoying the view." He chuckled and she thoroughly ignored him. "I heard that, that wanker is your boyfriend now." He smirked at her.
"I heard that floozy is still your girlfriend." She sneered at him without taking her eyes off the quaffle in Zenith's hands.
"Touché Potter." Scorpius smirked and took a sit beside her. Lily almost welcomed the warmth from his body being so close to hers. "So what are you are you doing out here on such a lovely morning?" he asked sarcastically looking up at the gloomy sky.
"I'm his good luck charm," Lily mumbled embarrassedly.
"Sorry Potter didn't quite hear that?" He chuckled, it was clear that he had heard here.
"I'm his good luck charm!" She growled at him and then calmed herself finishing her sentence, "Apparently."
"Well, never thought the proud little Potter would be a good luck charm, especially to that wanker." He said smugly with a small chuckle. Lily stared at him with a harden expression.
"What has he done to you Malfoy, why do you hate him so much?"
"He's going to hurt you." He said very detached.
"You don't know that." She gritted her teeth together.
"I do! I do know that!" He stood up suddenly and gave her a dark stare that caused Lily's blood to boil.
"How! How do you know that?" Lily yelled at him standing up to face him now. They stared at each other stubbornly for a couple seconds before Scorpius spoke.
"Everything isn't black and white. Open your eyes Potter." Lily gapped at him, not able to form sentences as he took off into the castle. Lily went back to watching the practice, but was quite lost in her thoughts – he thought he knew her, thought he could tell her what to do. He didn't know anything about her Lily thought. The nerve of that boy, he knew nothing. Although she got this feeling that there was something he wasn't telling her, something he was leaving out, something that would make everything fit into place but Lily couldn't figure out at all what it could be. He knew something.
She tried to focus on Zenith's practice, forcing thoughts of Scorpius and his words out of her head. They were good she thought – her brothers' were better. She felt a surge of pride for her team as well as her nosy brothers. She watched Sapphires' boyfriend, Ivan look for the snitch. Scorpius was a better seeker than him. She then felt guilty for thinking her boyfriend's team was lousy, not lousy she reminded herself, just not as nature as Gryffindor or Slytherin. She watched as Zenith blocked his rings, it wasn't the way Jamie did it – it would work but if he stayed more above he would have a better chance Lily thought. His chasers Robert Barns – a dark boy with curly brown hair and Zenith's best friend, Bai Young – a beautiful black haired 6th year girl, Cho Chang's daughter to be exact and Summer Bexley, a little brown haired mouse like 3rd year were all over the place, they needed to stay in form. His beaters, Abbey and Alden Birch, brother and sister 4th year twins were quite good. They seemed to have a good rhythm to them. Again she felt ashamed of comparing them, but this is what he had asked her to do but somehow she felt like it was the wrong thing to be thinking.
Finally, they started packing up and Lily made her way down to the pitch to meet Zenith who was all sweaty.
"What did you think?" Zenith grinned at her brightly.
"I thought you were good." She started and he egged her on. "Though, Ivan needs to focus a bit more, your chasers need to stay together more and the twins, Abbey and Alden they're real good." She thought she should end with a complement to ease his ego.
"Oh, well good, I'll point that out to them." He smiled; Lily guessed he thought she would think that they were amazing. "Err, what about me?" He smiled more confident now.
"You're real good, real good, may want to think about flying a bit higher, so you can come down faster." She picked her words very carefully and waited for his reaction.
"Yeah, thanks Sweetheart." He kissed her on the nose and she froze under it, it just felt forced and unnecessary. "I'm going to go change okay? How about I meet you in the hall, we'll have lunch." He gave her a charming smile.
"Sure, I'll see you then." She walked off, something was incredibly off about today.