It had been a long day, one that Lili was growing to get used to. Draco seemed to like finding things to pick on Harry about, and she was sick of calling him out on it. It wasn't like she would just let him do it, because she was his sister and he needed to be put in his place. Lili practically threw herself at one of the hammocks in the Hufflepuff common room.

"Well hello to you too," Cedric laughed, who was already chilling in the hammock.

"Draco is absolutely infuriating," Lili said, face buried in Cedric's chest. 

"So you keep saying."

"Why does he feel the need to pick up on every little thing that Potter does? Just leave him alone!"

"Sounds like you need a break. The Weasley twins and I are planning on going to the lakeshore before curfew tonight. Would you like to join us?"

Lili lifted her head and stared at Cedric, a huge grin on her face. "I would love that so very much."

--

"So this is what it feels like to be tall," Lili joked, getting a piggy back from Cedric.

"I will maintain the argument that you are just short. You're really light, by the way."

"Is that a good thing?" Lili could see the Weasley twins already at the lakeshore.

"It means that you're easy to carry around," Cedric laughed, letting Lili off his back when they arrived. She looked even smaller in one of his spare robes.

"I'm going to take that as a yes. What do you guys even do here anyway?"

"We normally just skip rocks and complain about teachers," Fred answered.

"Skip rocks? What's that?"

"You don't get out much, do you Malfoy?"

"I think you just answered your own question, Fred."

"Well I suppose we better teach you, huh?" George asked. Lili smiled at him.

--

"Sorry to put a damper on the night, boys, but it's getting late." Lili was leaning against one of the trees, and she was clearly yawning.

"Is little Lili getting tired?"

"Yes, Fred. That's exactly what I'm saying."

"I suppose it's getting close to curfew," Cedric pointed out. "We should head back to the dormitories." He walked over to Lili, letting her onto his back for another piggy back. "See you in class tomorrow, boys."

With that, the pair walked away. Lili could feel herself falling asleep as Cedric carried her, but she put off sleeping until she was actually in her bed. The pair reached the common room entrance, and she hopped off his back so that he could tap the barrels. When they were inside, Lili almost immediately walked to the girls' dormitories and to the first year's room.

--

Lili slid into the Hufflepuff table at breakfast, having slept in a tiny bit. Cedric grinned at her when she arrived, making her confused.

"What?"

"Your brother got detention!"

"Ha!" Lili laughed, almost instinctively. "Serves him right, to be honest. What did he do though?"

"He was out past curfew last night. Rumour has it he tried to catch Potter out. Granger and Ron have detention as well."

"Have you ever gotten detention?"

"Once, in my first year. Was doing exactly what we were doing last night: hanging out with the Weasley twins at the lakeshore. But we didn't make it back to the dormitories fast enough and were caught out by Filch. Always made sure that we got back in time after that. You don't want detention."

"What does detention involve?"

"You get to go into the Forest with Hagrid."

"I thought the Forest was forbidden?"

"It is, but that's been detention for a while. Not as bad as it was a long time ago though. They used to hang students by their thumbs in the dungeons."

"That sounds terrible!"

"Yeah, so the Forest is probably not as bad. At least you'd have Hagrid with you. Half-giant, that man is."

"So that's why he's so tall."

--

About a month later, all Hogwarts students were finishing their end of year exams. While Lili was happy to be finishing exams and her first year at Hogwarts, she wasn't ready to be going home. But there was still the end of year feast to look forward to. There wasn't really much to look forward to other than that, as the last Quidditch match of the year was already over and done with.

"Ready for the feast?" Cedric asked as he and Lili walked to the Great Hall.

"I suppose. I mean, we all know that Slytherin is winning House Cup this year. Draco's just gonna lord it over me for the next two months. And I have to go home to face my father again."

The two of them slid into the Hufflepuff table, right in time for Dumbledore to rise from the High Table.

"Another year gone! Now as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding, and the points stand this: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with 312. In third place, Hufflepuff, with 352. In second. Ravenclaw, with 426. And in first place, with 472 points...Slytherin House."

The Slytherin table erupted, and Lili could see Draco banging his goblet. "Yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore continued, and the hall went silent again. "However, recent events must be taken into account. I have a few last minute points to award."

"First, to Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool use of intellect when others were in grave peril...fifty points. Second, to Mr Ronald Weasley, for the best played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years...fifty points. Third, to Mr Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House...sixty points."

"They've tied Slytherin, Ced."

"And finally...it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but even more to stand up to our friends. I therefore award 10 points to...Mr Neville Longbottom." The room roared and the hourglasses shifted to accommodate the new points. "Assuming my calculations are correct, I believe a change of decoration is in order."

Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the silver and green banners above the students' heads changed to the red and gold of Gryffindor.

--

The train sat on the tracks at Hogwarts station, and Lili was saying goodbye to Cedric for the next two months.

"Promise you'll write?"

"Of course I will, Lil. As long as you do too."

"It'll be my only joy." She gave him a huge hug, squeezing him tight. "Okay, I better get to the carriage Draco is in. Bye!"