Chapter Three : What's a family dinner without some drama!

It had been a week since she moved and Lily was already missing her parents. Maybe she moved out too soon, she would think every time she set out to do some work in her home and it would not turn out the way she wanted. Burnt food, dirty clothes and unorganized cupboard among other things reminded her of how easy life was at home.

On top of all this was her auror training who's difficulty level was increasing day by day. When after her return from France she'd expressed her desire to become an auror to her parents, they'd sat her down and had a good chat about it, asking if she was sure and she'd confidently said that it was the only career she wanted for herself. But now she was beginning to doubt her skills too. Body aches and fatigue became a common routine and she did nothing when she returned home but sleep. Which is why weekend proved to be a breather for her as her grandmother, Ginny's mom had invited the family over for dinner. Now Lily was looking forward to some good food and her grandma's warm hugs of course.

Lily picked up some flowers on her way to the Mansion. Now the old Weasley couple lived in a house their children had constructed for them, it was called the 'Mansion'. Only it was the most humble structure ever with no mounting structures just family pictures all around inside the house. A garden who was taken care of by Mr. Weasley himself. Let's just say, after years of hardship and living in poverty, taking care of seven children, the couple was now living with peace.

'Grandma! Grandpa! I'm home.' Lily called out.

Soon after Molly Weasley emerged from the kitchen and embraced her youngest grandchild. 'Oh Lily I missed you so much.'

'I missed you too, Grandma.' Lily hugged her even more tighter.

'Am I not getting any hugs today?' Arthur Weasley too emerged from the kitchen. Lilly glanced at him and hurried to give him a hug too.

'Grandpa were you cooking?' She asked in surprise after she noticed him wearing the apron.

He straighten up and cleared his throat. 'Well, I lost a bet I made with Molly. So now I have to cook the dinner today.'

'What did you bet on?' Lily asked narrowing her eyes.

'Me.' Came a voice from behind and all of them turned to find Ron Weasley coming in from the backyard door along with his wife Hermione Granger .

Lily hugged both of them and then asked curiously, 'You guys bet on uncle Ron?'

'We wanted to know how would he react when he sees him, will he sigh or scoff. I said he'll do the former and Molly said he will do the latter. And my son did exactly as her mother assumed he would, making me a chef today.' Arthur Weasley explained but it made Lily more confused.

'Hold on. I don't understand. Who did uncle Ron see exactly?'

Ron scoffed again. 'Who else? You brother's best friend.' Hermione shook her head at her husband's childish behavior.

'But James's bestfriend if Fred. Why would you scoff at him.' Lily asked.

'Not James, I'm talking about Albus.' Ron said.

'Albus...' Lily was thinking when it struck her. Albus's best friend....'Scorpius.' She said in a low voice but her uncle heard it.

'Who else? I don't even understand why Albus and Rose our friends with a Malfoy. Not that there is any dearth of people to be friends with.'

'Ron..' Came a warning from Hermione.

'C'mon Hermione. You know Malfoy's cannot be trusted.'

'Ron, cut the boy some slack. You know he's not bad. I mead look at him.' And then Hermione pointed out the window, where to Lily's horror Scorpius Malfoy was actually sitting with Albus and Rose in their grandmother's garden. She gulped.

'Why don't you go and meet everyone else. Ron will never stop at this.' Molly suggested her granddaughter. And Lily nodded and taking deep breaths went for the backyard's door.

Her Uncles Percy, Bill and George were already there sitting with their wives conversing as if they hadn't talked in years. She greeted them all with a smile and got a much more enthusiastic response form them. Then she moved to the group consisting of her cousins and siblings. She noticed Scorpius wasn't the only friend invited. James's other best friend Katie Wood, Oliver Wood's daughter was also invited, along with Amelia Longbottom, Neville Longbottom's daughter, who was Hugo's girlfriend. Lily was sure her other cousins would've also invited their girlfriends or boyfriends but since this was a family dinner only family or family friends were allowed. Not that their grandparents would've mind but uncle Ron definitely wood, especially if he saw who his daughter was dating.

Scorpius was neither family nor family friend but since he was Albus's and Rose friend, Majority of the old generation in the Weasley-potter clan tolerated his presence. But for Lily today it was unbearable especially after the silent treatment the boy had given her the two times they'd met, during the training and when shifting to the new house.

To avoid being caught about her feelings she sat away from where Scorpius was sitting and joined in the conversation about.... Quidditch. She sighed, why did her family had nothing else to talk. On all the family gatherings there was always a discussion on the sport James, Fred and Dominique being extra enthusiastic about it since they were part of professional quidditch teams.

Time went by and soon it was time for dinner, her parents had also arrived and so did Lily's uncle Charlie. Everyone sitting on the one big table set up in the garden, were eating and enjoying and talking with each other when Lily's cousin Victoire, Bill's eldest, began a conversation which blew things up.

'So I...' She began but when caught no one's attention she stood up. 'I want everyone's attention.'

'When do you not want attention.' James said teasingly for which he earned a glare from not only her cousin but also his parents. 'Not now James. I want to talk about something important.'

'What is it honey?' Fleur asked concerned.

'Nothing to worry about mom. I just.....I was thinking about it for a while and I thought when I'm so sure about it then why wait for the right time.' Everyone got curious except for Teddy, who was Victoire's boyfriend and Bill, her father. Both of them seemed nervous in anticipation of what she was about to do.

Taking a deep breadth, Victoire waved her wand and a small box appeared in her hand. She turned to Ted who was sitting next to her sweating, now knowing fully well what she was doing, and then opened the box. 'Ted, I've known you ever since we were children. I've always loved being center of attention, as James teased, and you've always given me attention. I've never had a friend except for you, and now I think I don't need any other friend except for you.' With every word that she was saying, Teddy's heart sank. Please don't say it, he thought, and just then she said it. 'So Teddy Remus Lupin, will you spend the rest of your life with me?' She teared up as she said the last line and so did her aunts and mother who heard her.

She took out the ring from the box and took Teddy's left hand. But just as she was about to slid the ring on his finger, the answer no one expected escaped from Teddy's lips. 'No.'

Now everyone's attention turned to the Lupin boy who was looking straight in Victoire's eyes. She blinked few times before asking, 'What?'

He shrugged his hand away from her and said, 'No. My answer is no. Vic, I can't marry you.' He then stood up and walked inside the house, leaving a distraught Victoire sitting there stunned.

The silence in the air was broken by the angry father, Bill. 'What the hell was that about?' Everyone looked at him and then at the person on whom his fury was directed to.

'What? How would I know?' Harry said as soon as he realized Bill had asked that question to him.

'If not you then who will know what goes around in you god-son's head.'

'Bill!' Ginny tried to calm her brother down but things were already out of hand. Bill clenched his hands and moved to go inside the house but was stopped by Harry.

'Let me talk to him first.' Harry said.

Bill shrugged Harry's hand away from his shoulders and said angrily, 'No. This is about my daughter, who is clearly hurt. I think it's high time Ted stops his irresponsible behavior and gives me a straight answer.'

'Bill please listen...' Harry tried to pursue him but this time Bill pushed him with force and Harry stumbled back but regained composure.

'I'm done waiting for him take a stand. If after dating Vic for years, he still doesn't wants to marry her then I think it's time that he leave her life for good.' What Bill said was not completely wrong and Harry knew it well. He himself had failed to understand why Teddy had not thought of getting married yet, especially when he loved Victoire so much. There was something bothersome in the whole situation and he was afraid Ted wasn't going to open up easily.

Bill went inside, Harry and Ginny following him. Fleur consoled her daughter who now crying profusely with Ron and Hermione by her side. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were taken inside to rest by other elders.

The kids were supposed to clean the dinner table but anticipation got to them and one by one they excused themselves to go inside and eavesdrop on the conversation going on between Teddy and Bill.

Now those left behind were only Lily and Scorpius. They worked around each other awkwardly. But right now Lily wasn't thinking about her crush, all her attention was on the heated argument taking place inside the house. Loud voices were heard and as she heard her father shouting, the glass in her head dropped on the ground and broke. She immediately bent down to pick it up, getting pricked by it in the process. 'Ouch!'

'Lily!' Scorpius came towards her and took her hand in his, examining her injury. 'Are you okay? Why did you pick it up like that? You should've used magic?'

Lily stared at him and for the first time in his eyes, she saw concern for herself. He was worried....about her.

'I'm fine.' She tried to pull her hand away but he didn't let it go. In fact he took out his wand and performed a spell and Lily felt better. The pain was gone. 'Thanks.' She murmured looking at the grass.

After a moment of silence they stood up and Scorpius cleaned the rest of the table for which lily thanked him and apologized that he had to see all that today.

'Don't worry about it. After all, what's a family dinner without some drama! I've seen plenty at my home too. So all's good. You don't have to be embarrassed about it.'

'Thanks again.' Lily appreciated how Scorpius comforted her. He wasn't as clod as he seemed at first. Maybe after this he'll open up more to her. The hope which was almost becoming extinct in her heart reignited after that dinner.