Heir Of Gryffindor
Chapter 16 - It All Goes Wrong

Finally the morning came, thought Lily after endlessly trying to get to sleep with no success, wondering if Draco had had the chance to read the letters or not. He hadn't mentioned it to her, but perhaps he was waiting so he could read them in a more private setting.

Getting up, she went through her closet - today was a very special day after all - her first Hogsmeade trip since she was young and wanted to look her best. So, she pulled a long, flowing dress in a deep forest green that contrasted with her lighter green eyes. Slipping the dress on, she slipped into black flats. Finding a brush, she brushed her hair out before looking at the mirror she had hung in the dorm with a sticking spell.

Hermione woke up when Lily was finished getting ready, trying to decide to put her hair up or leave it down. "What about halfway up?" she suggested sleepily, rubbing her eyes. Lily turned to her and felt her face heat. "You think so?" she asked and tried it. Then she nodded. That was perfect. "Thanks Hermione." she said and Hermione smiled. Her jealousy over her had pretty much evaporated. She got up to get ready herself. "Ugh, wearing my hair like this is such a pain. . . " complained Hermione.

Lily chuckled. "Its better if you have help." she said and pulled her wand from her purse she had taken from her closet. It was just big enough for her wand and her change purse. "Please?" asked Hermione and Lily cast the spell over sections of her hair, straightening it out, her wand hand moving slowly. "Is there anything you'd like to add? A cute ribbon maybe?" she asked and Hermione thought a moment. "What about a topsy tail?" she asked. Lily brightened. "Yes! In fact, did you know the topsy tail was known as a love knot in the old days?" she asked. "No I didn't. That's interesting." said Hermione. Lily finished her hair with a pretty red ribbon placed on the hairbow. "That looks nice." said Hermione, having gotten up to look in the mirror.

"Thanks! I have a few haircare books, so yeah. I've learned a bit. I'm nowhere near hairdressers though." she said. "I'm going to go on down and eat." she said and Hermione nodded, saying that she would be down in a few minutes. Lily went down to eat, getting a bowl of oatmeal with peaches in it - the last of the season she supposed, and she was glad because the peach oatmeal was her favorite, but it was also sad because it was probably the last she would be able to get for a while.

Finishing up with her meal, Professor McGonagall announced that the group going to Hogsmeade would need to be lined up shortly. Hermione Granger came down the stairs in a lovely red dress robes, matching shoes sparkling softly in the low lighting. Ron was already at the table and halfway to eating a bite of food, dropped his fork when he saw her.

Tess came down with Ginny, who had become quick friends. She was wearing pale pink dress robes and white heels. Tess was wearing a sparkling black dress she had borrowed from Ginny and Harry saw a few guys from all the houses eyeing her. Perhaps the next time they had a gathering, Tess would have her a partner to dance with. Hopefully it would be with a trustworthy person, he thought.

Ron wore his regular house robes as he didn't have any nice dress robes. The red ones he'd had from the yule ball he burned for future generations he decided, though he decided not to let Hermione know. Which was probably wise, thought Harry, dressed in his old dress robes, which matched his cloak perfectly. And then Harry spotted Draco. Similar to his own, Draco had dress robes as well, but his was lined with silver, making his white-blonde hair stand out even more. "Take a picture Potter, it'll last longer." he said cheekily and the Slytherins oohed.

He was about to get angry when he remembered - they had to act like they still hated each other instead of being indifferent. "You wish Malfoy." he said, smirking back. Draco was beginning to get into it but McGonagall stopped them to line up. Lily joined Draco in line, slipping through the numerous people. Ginny had found Harry and they walked out, Ron seeking out Hermione in the crowd of people.

After what seemed forever, they were finally at Hogsmeade. "Where to first, Lily?" asked Draco and she shrugged. "I haven't been here since I was five probably. So my memories aren't very good. So, surprise me!" she said, giggling and he offered his arm. Lily took it gracefully and he lead her to Honeydukes where she was distracted by all the sweets. Even the gross sweets seemed to interest her as she went aisle by aisle. She was definately fun to be with, thought Draco, remembering his idea. He would need to have a little alone time for it though. Maybe he could suggest the girls go get a butterbeer. Or perhaps visit Zonkos.

Hermione and Ron were walking past him when he realized this was the perfect time as ever and tapped Hermione's shoulder. Hermione whipped around at Draco's touch. "Oh, yeah?" she asked and Draco muttered that he needed to go somewhere for a moment alone to get a gift. Hermione grinned and nodded. "I'll keep Lily distracted." she said, going up to the register where Lily was and talking to her as Draco slipped out.

~*~-~*~

It was growing chillier, Draco thought as he made his way past the sillier shops like zonkos towards the Owl Post, which had some other, more refined shops there, such as Madam Puddifoot's tea shop, and it so happened to have a jewelry place. Walking inside, heat warmed his slightly cooled skin, making the paleness fade a bit.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. What can I do to help you?" asked a middle aged man, his black hair shining under the small spotlights which highlighted the jewelry, giving him a halo effect. "I'm looking for a ring." he said and the man became all charm, showing him all the display cases that had rings. They had every shape imagineable it seemed to Draco, and it took him a while to find the one that he had wanted.

"There." he said, selecting the one with a band made of both gold and silver intertwining with each other, and the pendant on it was a heart of silver with a heart shaped diamond. "Put it on the Malfoy accounts." he said, and the man nodded, tallying the cost and putting it down in his books. He then slipped the ring into an ornate box of magically unbreakable glass and gift wrapped it. "Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. It was a pleasure doing business." he said and smiled warmly. Draco nodded and left, putting it in his coat.

He was heading back to find Lily when his least favorite person appeared out of a store behind him. Pansy had the front of her hair clipped up with a slytherin snake charm, the eyes made of emeralds. "Oh, Draco!" she cried, running to catch up with him. She caught his arm but he glared down at her. "What is it you want this time Pansy? I'm not in the mood to deal with you." he said, frowning.

"Aww come on. What did I do that was so wrong?" she asked and he snarled, causing her to jump. "Lets see Parkinson," he said, letting his arm drop, making hers slip, then placing it on his hip irritatedly. "You damned near slept with every Slytherin guy you could get your hands on and then even tried with a Gryffindor - don't think I don't know about you trying to sleep with Finnagin!"

Pansy looked hurt. "Dracy, I didn't! I know those other boys are saying that stuff about me, but honestly, I did nothing of the sort!" she said, pouting. "They were asking ME to sleep with them - but I said no! Because I was with you!"

"Then answer me this Parkinson - how did each and everyone of them know you had a mole on your back? You don't show that with robes sweetheart." he said bitterly. Ron, Hermione, Tess, Ginny and Lily came out right as Pansy threw herself on him, kissing him deeply.

Lily didn't notice the tears that was falling as she was running away from the scene. She didn't see Draco shove Pansy off, nor did she see her slap him and accuse him of caring more about Gryffindor than Slytherin. And she never saw Draco smirk and say that there was one thing she would never have again - his heart - and that he was in love with someone else.

All she saw were the two kissing, and her dreams shattered around her tears as she ran up to the shrieking shack, breaking the fence with a blast of magic that was untamed, and hid inside the house. Barely having enough strength, she slid into the kitchen and sobbed there. Suddenly, a soft meow let itself be known and Lily looked up, her face tear streaked as she looked at a cat who had came scampering after, probably looking for food or water. And then Lily noticed it was chilly. She pulled out her wand, wiping her tears for a moment, shut the door she left opened with her wand, then recited a heating spell that warmed the rooms.

That done, she held out her hand towards the kitten. "Here kitty kitty." she said, her voice wavering. The cat came up, sniffing her hand before rubbing up against her. "Is it alright if I pick you up?" she asked, doing so, expecting a clawing, but the cat only purred and Lily held her close, her tears beginning to finally dry up as she nuzzled the cat, stroking the warm fur with her hand. With a tired smile, Lily looked at the kitty. "You have a funny glasses pattern - which means your probably very smart. Hmm, I think I'll name you Artemis, after my favorite Greek Goddess." she said. Shortly Lily fell asleep and the cat squeezed herself out of her arms carefully as to not wake her.

McGonagall had witnessed everything, from Pansy's trying to flirt with Draco, trying to get him to believe her, but Draco hadn't wanted anything to do with her. And then that terrible moment when she kissed him and Lily had saw that. So, in her new role as spy for Dumbledore, the professor transformed, trying to act like cats she had saw before. She was able to sooth Lily into a deep slumber, and once that was done, (using Lily's wand) transformed back in order to use her magic to put a blanket over Lily, summoning one from thin air, like she had done drinks and sandwiches in Harry's second year.

She was quite famished she thought, and summoned food and drinks once more, sandwiches with hot cocoa, which she ate fast, not wanting to be found out so soon. Then there was a shuffling of feet outside. She quickly vanished the food and drink and turned back into a cat, choosing to snuggle onto Lily's lap to make herself convincing.

~*~-~*~

Draco came in first, a headache in play. Why did Pansy have to ruin the moment he had planned for him and Lily? He was planning on reactivating the betrothal in Madam Puddifoot's tea house. And then she had to come along and wreck everything! He went into her room to see if she was there, searching all the rooms, but not finding her until he stumbled upon her in the kitchen. His brows raised when he saw the cat. She mewed at him and went back to snuggling up with Lily, who was fast asleep, tear streaks cutting into her snow-white skin.

"Damn it. Oh well, maybe its better this way." he said, reaching down to scoop Lily up into his arms to carry her to bed. "She put a warming spell. That's good. Its getting close to Halloween after all." he muttered to himself, carefully walking up the stairs with her and the cat. "Where did you come from anyways, cat? Ah well, at least she had company and I'm grateful for that." he said quietly, wondering how to explain to her when she woke up.

He laid her gently down in the bed that was hers and then sat down in the rocking chair she had, complete with pads she had sewn herself. He sighed and lit a fire in the fireplace to keep the room nice and toasty before he started to leave. Then he grinned, summoning a quill, ink and parchment from his stores and left a letter there with her own. And on top, he left the ring box. Now it was up to her, he thought, his cloak rustling as he left, closing the door gently behind him and the cat.