Before Things Change, Harry Potter Year 6

25. The Seer Overheard

Lilly's POV
Harry and Ginny were the talk of the school in the few weeks that followed...
Meanwhile Neville and I didn't talk except for when we had to in classes, which was rare. I kept my distance and when he tried to talk to me I walked away.
One night Ginny was talking to Harry saying, "You'd think people had better things to gossip about. Three dementors attacks in a weeks, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff tattooed across your chest."
We all roared with laughter. Harry asked, "What did you tell her?"
"I told her it's a Hungarian Horntail, much more macho."
"Thanks and what did you tell her Ron's got?"
"A Pygmy Puff, but I didn't say where."
Hermione and I rolled around laughing and Ron scowled saying "Watch it! Just because I've given my permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it-"
"Your permission!" scoffed Ginny, "Since when did you give me permission to do anything? Anyway, you said yourself you'd rather it was Harry than Michael or Dean."
"Yeah, I would and just as long as you don't start snogging each other in public-"
"You filthy hypocrite! What about you and Lavender, thrashing around like a pair of eels all over the place?"
I muttered, "Way to kill the good mood, Ron..."
I went back to my book and then Neville came up asking, "Lilly, please, can we talk?"
I said, "No. I actually have rounds to do."
Neville said, "Come on, Lilly, we both know that isn't true."
I rolled my eyes saying, "Whatever. I have things to do and either way, I'm too clingy right?"
I stood up and he grabbed my arm saying, "Please?"
I rolled my eyes saying, "Then, will you leave me alone?"
He nodded, we walked through the portrait, and he led me to an empty corridor. He said, "I'm sorry for everything, I don't know what to say except I'm so sorry and I want to make this all up to you..."
I leaned against the wall, folding my arms asking, "How?"
He cautiously put his hands on my waist saying, "Trusting you with all my heart, not questioning what you do and why you do it. Just trusting you and relaxing and not having a go at you..."
I asked, "Why? Why all of the distrust, why do you hate me being around Draco, why all of this?"
He sighed, turning away and running his hands through his hair.
"Well?"
He said, "Lilly, I've lost my parents, I've lost my grandparents, and I've never really felt like I've had a grandmother proud of me. You are the only one who has thought I was brilliant, brave, and amazing. I am so scared of losing you. I know Malfoy can give you everything you deserve and could want. You could suddenly want him and that scares me. A lot. I can't lose you. I haven't been in my right mind and I'm sorry for everything..."
I said, "Draco can give me expensive stuff, but do you want to know what he doesn't offer me?"
He turned to me, I put my arms around his neck, and pressed our foreheads together. He snaked his arms around my waist and I said, "He can't give me the love, dedication, and compassion you can give me. You give me more than he could ever give me..."
He said, "I'm so sorry for being the biggest git in the world."
I said, "I'm sorry for being too clingy."
He shook his head saying, "You're not clingy, I enjoy every moment your with me..."
I said, "Before things change, I want to spend all of the time I can with you..."
He said, "What's going to change, Lilly?"
I shook my head slightly saying, "Spoilers..."
He leaned down and our lips met. I slightly pulled at his hair as our lips met and he pressed me closer to him as if I would disappear if he didn't hold me close. He pressed me against the wall as our lips moved in sync which made it harder to breath, but I loved it. After a few minutes one of my hands went down his chest and pushed him slightly back saying, "Let's go back before curfew starts."
He nodded taking my hand, kissing the back saying, "I love you, Lilly,"
I smiled pressing a small kiss to his lips saying, "I love you, Neville..."
We walked back hand in hand. Hermione and Ginny smiled at us as we sat on a couch next to them.
Ginny said, "Seems you two made up." I giggled nodding. She smiled.
As June came, Harry and Ginny didn't get as much time as they wanted together. Ginny had O.W.L. Exams coming up and she had to study. One night, Hermione went up to Harry talking about the Half-Blood Prince. She found an old newspaper with a girl who's last name was Prince.
Harry still thought it was a bloke and Hermione said, "The truth is that you don't think a girl would have been clever enough."
Harry was taken back and said, "How can I have hung round with you or Lilly for five years and not think girls are clever?"
She was mad... She said "Lilly, come on, tell us what's going on with this Half-Blood Prince?"
I shook my head saying, "Not yet, things are supposed to unfold with time."
She narrowed her eyes at me and said, "Why won't you tell us anything, your becoming useless!"
I stood up abruptly saying, "That's it! I'm sick and tired of you calling me that Hermione! I make sure things are told at the appropriate time, not too early and not too late! I thought you of all people would understand the complexity of time. Stop calling me useless because you know I'm not." She roller her eyes and scoffed, "When have you ever been help to us?"
I said, "Who helped you through one of the rooms to get the Sorcerer's Stone? Who sent Fawkes to get Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart out of the Chamber of Secrets? Who helped Sirius escape from the Dementor's kiss? Who helped Harry with his tasks? Who saved you, Hermione, from being killed at the Ministry? Who made sure Harry kept that book to not only benefit him with Slughorn, but also saved Ron's life?! Who Hermione, who?!"
She said, "I've done just as much as you have!"
I said, "Then I'm not as useless as you've thought, huh?"
She rolled her eyes and continued to look who was the Half-Blood Prince. I threw my book at the wall, denting it. I sat down, fixed the wall, and summoned my book. Neville put an arm around me, frustrated I asked, "Tea?" He nodded and we went to the Kitchen and had some tea...
Harry and Ron were talking about how the Prince did same him and that now Harry has detention with Snape, for like every Saturday.

I went to see Dumbledore and I talked to him about the future for a bit. He said, "You ultimately know what is going to happen Lilly, yet you are telling me... Why?"
I said, "I wanted to say my last words." He motioned for me to continue and I took a deep breath saying, "Thank you... for everything. You took me into the school when I was less than one years old. You've let me experience the school at age three and you've inspired me to make a difference and help people. After all we've been though, Headmaster, thank you. I will forever be greatful and will never forget you..."
He smiled and said, "Thank you, Lilly. You've grown into quite the young woman and I've had the great honor of seeing you blossom."
I smiled asking, "Any last advice, Headmaster?"
He said, "Help will always be given at Hogwarts to people who ask for it..." I felt a few tears fall before I hugged Professor Dumbledore for the last time saying, "I love you, Professor. Thank you..." He patted my head and I walked out of the office...
On that same night, Harry got a note from Jimmy and Dumbledore wanted to see him.
He met Professor Trelawney on the way. She went into the Room of Requirement and ultimately got forced out of it. She eventually revealed that Snape heard the prophecy about Harry and Snape told Voldemort. Harry talked to Dumbledore about it and Dumbledore still said Snape was still trustworthy. He asked Harry to get his Invisibility Cloak and Harry sprinted to us and eventually came back to us. He told us to keep an eye on Snape and Malfoy. He handed Ron socks which contained Felix Felicis. He ran off to Dumbledore and while Hermione, Ron, and Neville watched the Map, I watched Harry, making sure he was alright. I saw Professor Dumbledore and him make a journey to Hogsmeade and eventually Apparate to a place in the middle of the ocean on a rock.
I looked to the future and gasped... No...
Neville took my hand and I said, "I hope you all aren't rusty with your Defence Against the Dark Arts. We've got a battle tonight..." They looked at me apprehensively, but nodded.

Thanks for reading! Vote please! :)
-Lilly :)