Chapter 25 ~ Forgive and Forget

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Despite the restored friendship with Albus, and the new strength in it, Lily couldn't help but lament about her loss of Vlad. He was the only person she could talk freely with, tell of her time before the muggle and wizarding world, and not have to guard her tongue when she was talking. Albus, of course, never understood Lily's relationship with Malfoy. He was a Slytherin, she was a Griffindoor, that was enough of an excuse for him to object to their friendship, and whatever else was going on. Once more, he was a Malfoy, and though their fathers may have became allies after the wizarding war, he loathed Draco Malfoy's son, as Vlad loathed Harry Potter's. 

While Lily regretted the loss of her companion, Vlad was also missing her. He loved Lily, it was the true fact. Maybe a seventeen-year-old doesn't know what love is, but he definately felt for her, very deeply. And after five months of silence, he was beginning to crack. Yes, she shouldn't have danced with the damned Albus Potter, but a month or so after Christmas, his anger began to wear off. He started to re-think the scene he'd come in to at the Yule Ball. Yes, Albus must have asked her, he was lying. And he was probably drunk, too.

So, after the second task, he wanted to make it up to her. Trouble is, after two and a half months of flat ignoring her, he didn't know where to begin. And then there was his friends to consider. They hated Lily, giving Vlad a hard time for him accompanying her to the Ball. God, he was such a mess.

But finally, in the middle of May, there came a chance for him to apologise.

He was on the seventh floor, returning from the astronomy tower, when he passed the carved door, the golden carved waterfall almost falling, the birds and flowers carved into the honey-brown wood, the sound of falling water echoing behind it. He smiled. 

Opening the door, his eyes fell upon the sight Albus had marvelled at when he had entered it. Vlad, however, shutting the door, did not pause to stare with wonder at his surroundings. No, he turned all his feelings onto Lily, who was now standing, staring at him with a defiant expression.

''What are you doing here?''

He sighed and moved to sit down on a rock, gesturing at the space beside him. Lily looked at it and slowly sat down. 

''Look, Lily, I came to apologise. I've been putting it off for weeks now, but I know I was wrong to be cold to you, and to continue to act like that towards you from when I realized I'd made a mistake.'' He watched her carefully as he said this. ''Me and Albus'll always be enemies, I'm sorry to admit, he hates me and I hate him. But I've been missing you Lily, you seem like the only person who I can talk to about heart-to-heart matters.''

She was now smiling, and gave him a hug. ''I feel the same Vlad.'' She drew out of the embrace. ''You're the only one here who's knows me for who I really am. If you weren't here I don't know what I'd do.'' 

There was that moment of silence, when Vlad finally realized, that, in her own words, Lily was telling him what he'd wanted to hear ever since first knowing her. He took her hand, met her eyes with his, and followed the actions with a kiss.