Chapter Eight : What is worse than a lover's quarrel?

'Uncle Ron, you're also here?' Lily said in surprise as she entered Harry's office.

'Thought I should ask you myself how's the training going.' Ron said all smiles at his youngest niece.

'Well what to say, it's tough but I enjoy it.'

'You do?' He raised a brow and she nodded. 'Good to hear that.'

'So why did you want to meet me?' Lily turned to Harry who rested his hands on the table.

'James said you went to the party yesterday...'

'No you too. Dad, I'm nineteen and I.....'

'Have all the right to have as much fun as you want and your brother shouldn't stop you.' She stared at him. 'I told James already. Lily, I might be protective but I'm not ancient. All of my kids are equal, if James and Albus can go to party so can you.'

'Wow, I was expecting that from mom but thanks Dad.' Lily said in surprise.

'It seems your mom is good at this than I am, I need to up my game.' All of them laughed lightly.

'By the way, did you talk to Ted? Are he and Vic okay again?' She asked knowing well that Harry would know if it's about Teddy.

'I've talked to him. Hopefully they'll sort out their differences soon.'

'I hope so too. I want Ted to start taking our classes again.'

'Why? His assistant isn't doing a good job?' Ron asked.

Lily knew all her uncle wanted was to find one small reason to transfer Scorpius out of the Auror headquarters, so she made sure to praise him a little extra. 'Absolutely not. He's great. I think he's the best assistant Ted could ask for. I mean look how he had to take charge under the circumstances and he took classes instead of Ted. I think he's really good.'

'Looks like he impressed you.' Harry examined his daughter's face carefully and remarked.

'Uh.....He did. Not just me but he impressed everyone.' Lily covered it up.

'Looks like I'll have to give him a promotion.' Harry said.

'Sure, let's invite all the Malfoy's here and give them promotion.' Rom said sarcastically.

'Ron.' Harry warned his friend.

'Forget him. How was the party Lily? Enjoyed it?' Ron turned to lily and said.

'Yes. It was great, though a bit crowded. James invited everyone, even the loosing team.'

'Falcons were there too?' Ron asked in surprise.

Just then Lily's phone buzzed, she took it out and opened the message she'd received. 'Meet me at St. Mungo's.' It was from Rose so she immediately replied, 'Sure be there soon. Anything urgent?'

'That's unexpected of James. Why would he invite Falcons to his team's winning party?' Ron asked Lily who was still looking at her phone's screen, waiting for an answer from rose.

'Because Rose asked him to.' Lily said that without realizing who she was replying to.

'Rose?' Ron and Harry asked in unison. That's when she realized she'd said that out aloud.

Cursing herself mentally she uttered some made up excuse. 'Um, she suggested...he should do it out of...goodwill.'

'Goodwill?' Harry was confused.

'Since when do Rose give suggestions to James?' Ron said looking at Lily suspiciously. 'Lily, be honest, is there something that I should know?'

'Uncle Ron, there's nothing. You think if there was something I would not tell you?' And then she gave him the puppy eyes which always work on her family members.

'Okay if you say so.' Ron wasn't satisfied but he didn't wanted to push Lily.

'So if all the questioning is done, can I go and attend my class. I'm getting late.' Lily said as she wanted to run away before anymore controversial questions were thrown at her.

'Sure. I'll see you at dinner then.' Harry said.

'Dinner?' Lily asked.

'Your mom didn't tell you? We're having a family dinner tonight. She said she sent a text tot he three of you.'

Lily looked at her phone and sighed. 'She did. I didn't see it. But don't worry I'll be there.'

'Good. See you tonight.'

'See you. By uncle Ron.'

'Bye Lily.'

And she exited the cabin. She would've moved to her class but she herd her uncle Ron take Scorpius's name so she stopped and put her ear to the door.

'Will you really promote Scorpius?' Ron asked.

'Yes. He's good in his job.' Harry said.

'He's a Malfoy.'

'That doesn't matter. If he's good, he's good. I can't discriminate against him.'

'Keep that attitude and soon it will matter that he's a Malfoy.'

'Ron..'

'I know everyone thinks I'm wrong about the boy but I don't have a good feeling about this.'

'Ron things have changed. Malfoy's are not what they were during Voldemort's time. And as for Scorpius, I know the boy, he's been coming to my house ever since he was a child. He's a good kid.'

'This blind faith of yours in him is going to get you in trouble someday.'

'No it won't. I trust him.'

'Let's just hope you're right.' Ron didn't sound convinced but he was not going to argue with his best friend over this.

Lily who was listening to all this felt bad that her uncle didn't like Scorpius. She wanted everyone in her family to like him. Should she go inside and talk to him? She thought. 'Don't.' Someone said from behind her and caught off guard she bumped into his chest.

She turned to look who it was and her face changed when she saw him. Before she could say anything, he took her hand and led her into and empty storage room at the end of the corridor.

'Scorpius, why did you bring me here?' She asked.

'Just what were you about to do?' He asked in return.

'I...I wanted to talk to uncle Ron.'

'And defend me.' That was when lily realized, he had heard everything.

'He's wrong about you.'

'How do you know that?'

'Because I know you. You're a nice guy and...'

'I'm far from nice. Your uncle Ron is right about me.'

Lily touched Scorpius's face lightly with her palms and said, 'You need to stop being so harsh on yourself.'

'I did what I shouldn't have. Then why shouldn't I believe all those people who say I'm the bad guy.' This alarmed Lily.

'Did something happen? You were fine yesterday.'

'Lily, you're my best friend's....'

'Not again!' Lily withdrew her hands. 'Just when I think we're progressing in our relationship, you put us back to the beginning.'

'Maybe it should've been like that. Maybe there shouldn't have been a beginning for us to progress somewhere.'

'What is this about? Are you upset about what uncle Ron said?'

'It's not just about him.'

'Then what is it?'

Scorpius wanted to tell her about his conversation with Albus and that her brother knew about their relationship but decide not to for he didn't wanted them to fight over him.

'It's me. I don't think our relationship will go somewhere.'

'What about last night? What about our kiss?'

'It was a mistake.'

'You're lying.'

'No I'm not.'

Angry with him always pushing her away, Lily grabbed his collar and pulled him in for a kiss. Her lips attacked his as if she was on her last life in a video game, she either could fight with all she had or let everything slip out of her hand, which she wasn't ready for.

Scorpius tried, tried all he could to resist but just like last night, he couldn't, so he lost to her. He grabbed her hair and deepened the kiss. In that moment Lily knew she'd won so she smiled into their kiss and Scorpius felt it.

'You're a vixen.' He said commenting on her tactic.

'As much as I hate to argue, I love it when you always give in to me.' She looked at him with a winning smile and he resumed their kiss. Pushing her back to the end of the room, he didn't mind putting his hands on the dirty wall as he trapped her in between the wall and him. His mouth moved from her lips to her jawline, then her neck and landed on his favorite shoulders. But this time she was wearing formals so her shoulders were covered. His urgent hands reached the front of her blouse and pulled the lace to loosen the front. Pulling the collar along with the strap of her inner down from the side, he kissed her shoulder.

'I was so scared when you said it was a mistake. But if this is how our arguments turn out to be, I'm ready to have a lover's quarrel with you every now and then. ' Lily said as Scorpius continued to mark the skin on her shoulder.

Even though lost in the act, at the back of his head Scorpius knew that something worse than lover's quarrel awaits for Lily and that he won't be able to do something about it for now he'd lost all his will to be away from her.