I Love You, Lily (A Scorily Fanfiction) -COMPLETED-

Chapter 5: Tension (Lily's POV)

I hurried along the path through the copse, hoping that Malfoy wouldn't catch up to me. I really didn't want to have to talk to him. 

Of course, I had no such luck. Just as I reached the end of the tiny woods, Malfoy caught up to me. Why had he never learned to leave me alone?

"So," he started as we walked up the half-mile stone path that led to my house, "the Triwizard Tournament is really happening?"

"Yes," I snapped.

He seemed unabashed. "But where did you hear about it?" Nosy.

"That's privileged information," I said crisply. I sped up, hoping to outdistance him, but of course he sped up with me.

"Lily," he asked, "why have you always hated me?"

"I told you that last year! When I was a tiny little first year, insecure and nervous about acceptance, you yelled out 'MUDBLOOD' as I went to sit down next to you and Al! But I have other reasons. You know I have. Do you think I could even consider favorable feelings towards a git who broke my cousin's heart?"

He stopped still. "What?"

"You heard me! You knew Rose fancied you all through third and fourth year, and you led her on and then dumped her for that little twit Sally Parkinson! How could I forget/ And you've done the same thing to every other girl you've ever fancied! Sometimes I think that you don't fancy anyone, just enjoy hurting people!"

Malfoy was silent. Good. I'd given him something to think about. I wasn't positive, but I was fairly certain that no reasonable thoughts would ever enter that handsome skull of his.

"Lily," he said finally, "does Rose still fancy me?"

I scowled at him. "Of course not, you dolt! She thinks you're not worth it any longer. Maybe if you cleaned up your act..."

He shrugged. "What you say isn't completely true, you know. There's one girl that I've always fancied, that I'd never treat horribly. What would you say if you knew that the only reason I never keep a girlfriend is because it's her I want so desperately?"

I stared at him disbelievingly. "That's a lie."

"It's not," he told me. "I'll swear an Unbreakable Vow that it is if you like."

I shook my head. "I still wouldn't believe you. I don't trust you."

He sighed, and apparently decided to change the subject, though for my part I would have been perfectly happy if he'd merely ended the conversation. "So," he started, "I'm going to enter the Triwizard Tournament."

I snorted. "You'll never get chosen."

He looked at me for a minute, and then a small smile began to creep onto his face. "I'll make you a wager," he said finally.

I eyed him suspiciously. "What's the wager?"

"If I get into the Triwizard Tournament, I get to kiss you. If I don't, I'll give you fifty Galleons."

My eyes widened. "You're pulling my leg," I said in disbelief.

He shook his head. "I'm not." And then came something even more surprising. "If I win the Triwizard Tournament, then you have to spend a day at Hogsmeade with me. And if I lose, you get fifty Galleons."

My eyes narrowed. "Why so many 'romantic opportunities', Malfoy?"

"Well," he said, completely calm, "for one thing, you're the prettiest and most talented Gryffindor that Hogwarts has ever seen. And for another," he added, grinning again, "it's the one thing that will annoy you most."

I scowled. But thinking of the newest, best broom that had just come out, the Silverbolt 3000, and the money that I needed to buy one, my hesitations faded. He'd never get in. I'd said it myself. It was fifty free Galleons. Was I really going to pass that up? "Fine," I said finally, "it's a deal. Both are deals."

He held out his hand. "Shake?"

I took it, eying him suspiciously. His grip was firm. After a moment I yanked my hand away. "It's on, then," I told him. And not caring how it would look, I sprinted up along the path that led to my house, hoping that Malfoy would have the sense not to try and keep up with me.

Fortunately, he did have that sense.

And I was deeply grateful.