The countdown began, but neither of them noticed.

Ten, nine, eight.

She lowered her hand, ignoring the party behind her, focussing only on the man in front of her. "You- love me?" she repeated, hesitantly.

Seven, six.

Scorpius had a bizarre feeling that she had to answer him before the countdown ended, or the magic, the connection would be gone. Until midnight, like Cinderella. "I love you Lily." He said again.

Five, four.

Lily was having difficulty forming words and coherent thoughts. The feelings broke lose from the dam that she had built and they were flooding through her.

Three, two.

Suddenly he didn't need her to say anything. He could see it in her eyes, the surprising rush of emotions, the unexpected burst of love that seemed to have exploded out of his heart, mirrored in her intense gaze.

One.

The thinking stopped with the sound of the gong signalling a new year, a new life- if she could grab it fast enough and hold onto him tight enough. She wanted him, and she wanted him forever. She threw her arms around him, pulling him close, dizzy and determined.

"I love you too." She breathed into his ear. He wrapped his arms around her waist and, slowly, gently, with none of the urgency of before, kissed her. He didn't need urgency, he didn't need to convince her anymore. He had the rest of his life to kiss her like that.

Around them, people were shouting the numbers and laughing, but their voices sounded far away, as though they were underwater, Lily and Scorpius in their own little bubble. And neither would ever let the bubble pop.

A/N Hello! Wow, never thought I'd get round to typing this up- hope you enjoyed it! I just want to thank those who reviewed and also thanks to Lilyre for setting the challenge that would finally allow me to pin down an idea thats been fluttering around in my head for ages! Please review and let me know what you thought!! TheRugMaster xXx