Hey guys-
Last chapter was difficult, and I apologize to those who felt uncomfortable while reading MANHOOD. It was to spotlight the root of the problem; it's what formed who he is in the book.
Everything will start making sense.

And for those who always dreamt of Lucille and Lorenzo-.

Without further adieu, I present to you...

1 5  D A Y S | VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

lucille granger

15 days. 15 days and I was still hurting.

I weaved sweaters with Mrs. Weasley.

Planted with Hermoine.

Played quidditch with Ron and George.

Lit things on fire with Harry.

Sketch pretty things on parchment with Ginny.

Anything. I did anything to forget.

I did anything to rid the bitterness in my throat.

But it stayed.

It lingered.

Like fire whiskey.

I slept.

Woke up.

Ate.

Slept.

Woke up.

Ate.

Slept.

"It's the gingerbread men," a hoarse voice crept up the stairs.

An annoying smirk grew across my face as I turned over to see George and Ron with ridiculous hats on.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Get up! Get up! Get up!" Ron chanted, as him and George jumped around the room.

"Oi! Don't make me get up there and hit the both of you's!" Mrs. Weasley shouted from below.

George and Ron's eyes widened as they looked at each other

They settled down and sat on the black futon, facing me.

I sat up and yawned, stretching my back.

"What's the agenda today, Weasleys," I beamed.

"You mean your agenda?" George raised his eyebrows.

"You have a visitor downstairs," Ron teased, "And he brought an unnecessary amount of potted flowers."

Who in the bloody hell could that be?

"It's best if you hurry before Hermoine makes him leave," George jeered.

Immediately, I ran down the many stairs.

After what felt like 58 stories, I finally reached the dining room.

There I saw Lorenzo sharing a cup of tea with Hermoine, Harry, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley.

"Enzo," I breathed.

He looked up from the chair and smiled a cheeky smile.

Without hesitation, I ran towards him as he got up from his chair.

I opened my arms and wrapped them around his body.

I couldn't help myself.

His arms hugged around me tightly.

"What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed, as we pulled away from the hug. I looked around the dining room and noticed that there were small pots of flowers scattered around. "And what's with all the flowers?"

"I came to see you, of course," he tucked my hair behind my ear, "And Hermoine told me that you're into planting now, so I figured I'd bring back some more,"

I looked at Hermoine as she smiled.

"We've been sending Owls back and forth about you," Hermoine added, "He just wants to check up on you and stuff."

I looked back at Enzo as he looked down at me with a smile.

"Charming, really," I playfully slapped his chest as we both took a seat next to each other. "How're you doing? How is everything?"

"Uh, things are going good, yeah," He stammered, "The manor feels empty without you-."

"Enzo," I said.

"Sorry."

Silence.

"Enough about me," Lorenzo blurted, "Tell me what you've been doing these past few days."

I went ahead and told him all the fun things I've been doing; the knitting, planting, playing games, drawing, anything to distract myself.

I also told him that the days were long.

And that though I did all these fun things, it still couldn't fade away the pain.

It relieved it, yes.

But it didn't fade.

"It takes time, Luce," he assured me, "But you'll get there."

I nodded, biting my lip nervously.

"Did anybody tell you that Malfoy's a git?" Harry interrupted.

"I did," Ron said as he raised his hand.

Harry and Ron high-fived with Hermoine in between them as she rolled her eyes.

"Malfoys are no good anyway!" Mrs. Weasley blurted, "You'll always be safe here, Lucille. Always remember that."

I gave her a smile.

They all sipped their tea.

Silence.

George cleared his throat.

Ron sneezed.

"So, Lorenzo," Harry blurted, "You and Malfoy-. Are you two best friends?"

"Cousins, actually."

"Ah."

They all sipped their tea.

"What was it like growing up with Malfoy?" Ron queried.

"Competitive."

"Ah."

Tea was sipped.

"Y'know you're really um-. You're really good-looking," Ginny commented. Everyone turned their heads to Ginny- especially Harry. "What! Am I lying?"

Lorenzo chuckled, "Thank you, Ginny-."

"Alright, Enzo it was um-. It was nice meeting you, but Ginny and I have to head to the muggle world to um-. Run errands," Harry spoke frantically, as he got up. "Come, Ginny."

"Alright, alright," Ginny responded, as she got up.

With that, they immediately left the burrow.

And so everyone sipped their tea.

***

Soon, the moon arose.

"I think it's best if I go to sleep now-." Mrs Weasley beamed.

"Oh, come on Mrs. Weasley! I brought two fire whiskeys and we're barely working on the first one!" Lorenzo exclaimed, holding up the 2nd bottle.

"Come on, Mum. Just take one shot. One shot is all you need-." Ron slurred, as Hermoine giggled.

"It's only right if you do," Hermoine added.

Mrs. Weasley glanced at all of us for a long time.

"Fine."

"There's the spirit, mum!" Lorenzo chimed, as he poured Mrs. Weasley a shot.

There's no way she's going to take it!

"Don't even hesitate, Molly Weasley. You can't go to bed unless you take the whole shot of whiskey," George jeered.

"Oh, you think I can't? I was young before, too!" She bragged, as Lorenzo handed her the shot.

"You were?!" George sarcastically marked.

She scoffed as she poured the shot down her throat. She closed her eyes and scrunched her face as Ron and Lorenzo cheered her on.

"Bloody hell, that burns!" Mrs. Weasley yelped, as she slammed the glass onto the table.

"I knew you had it in you, Mrs. Weasley!" I chanted.

We all shard a laugh until it simmered down.

"I'm off to bed now," she said as she climbed up the stairs, "All of you behave!" She shook her finger.

"Yes, Mum!" We all said in unison.

"And Lorenzo," Mrs. Weasley said, "It was a pleasure meeting you."

"A pleasure as well," Lorenzo responded, raising a shot glass.

She smiled before she ascended the stairs.

"I think my mum wants to marry you," Ron snickered, as he poured himself a shot.

"Oh, bloody hell that's awful," George groaned, as he covered his eyes with his hand out of embarrassment.

The night consisted of laughter and talking. For the first time in a couple weeks, I actually felt pretty good. This warm burrow was nothing compared to the empty and cold manor. This burrow was always full, never empty.

Lorenzo really got along with my friends-. Scratch that, my family.

Mrs. Weasley really thought he was a nice boy.

Of course she does.

He is.

As the night progressed, Lorenzo would eye me down for a few seconds, with his red flustered face and blood-rushed lips anytime I would speak.

Like he was truly listening.

Hermoine seemed to really love him, too.

Ron and George got along with Enzo easily; like they've known each other for years.

Lorenzo always knew how to light up a room.

He surely knew how to light up my world.

The night got better when Harry and Ginny came back.

We all bonded over tea and whiskey in a rhythmic pattern. This went on for hours.

Harry soon fell in love with Lorenzo; he pretended Ginny wasn't even right next to him!

"Y'know," Harry hiccuped, "When I was-. When I was a seeker-. I obliterated you Slytherins in a heart beat-."

"A heart that beats for me, Potter?" Lorenzo teased.

"Al-. Always," Harry raised a shot glass in the air and took a shot.

Ginny giggled at this gesture.

Hermoine's head rested on the table.

"My world is spinning," Hermoine flatly said. "It's spinning and I'm totally going to regret this tomorrow."

"Tea, Hermoine. Drink some tea," Ron suggested.

"I should say the same thing to you, too, Ron. Look at you! You're pinker than ever," George pointed to his face as he cackled.

"Your body reacts the same to alcohol, too. You're pinker than me!" Ron snapped.

"Wait, let me see," I said, as I glanced at both of them back to back. They were both the same fucking pink shade! "I really don't see the difference-."

"Bullshit, Luce. Who's the pinkest-."

"What is that even going to prove, Ron." Hermoine mumbled to the table.

"I don't even know where this conversation is going," Lorenzo breathed, as he hiccuped as well.

"Y'know what! I want to dance! Yeah! I want to get up on this table-. A-and I want to dance! Can we dance? Can we dance on this table?" Harry slurred, as he got up from his chair and started climbing on the table.

"Okay-Harry-No.-Harry,no. Come down-Harry-," Ginny tried grabbing onto Harry, but he wouldn't budge. He just kept on climbing the the table as we watched him.

"Watch me d-. Watch me dance," Harry mumbled, as he started dancing.

At this point, we were all laughing at his idiocy.

"Harry-. There's no music-." Ron commented.

"There's music in my head, Ron. Don't r-ruin my mood," He snapped, as he continued dancing on the table.

"Harry-. Harry, get down from there," Ginny tugged on his hand, "Let's go-. I think I should get you to bed-."

Harry huffed and soon got tired. He grabbed Ginny's hand as she helped him down.

"I'm OFF TO BED!" Harry shouted. "I'm OFF!! TO BED!!"

"Shut your mouth, Harry! My mum is sleeping!" Ron snapped.

"Never give him fire whiskey again," Lorenzo whispered to me, as I laughed.

Ginny and Harry soon left the dining room, leaving the four of us left in the dining room.

****

I walked up the stairs, trying my best not to topple over, but Lorenzo quickly grabbed ahold of my waist.

"Whew, fuck. Thank you, Enzo," I muttered, as I held onto the railing.

"You're more than welcome to crash on the futon in Luce's room, Enzo," Ron mumbled, as he carried Hermoine bridal style; she's knocked out cold.

"Are you sure? I don't want to feel like I'm intruding-"

"Just shut up and stay the night," Ron spat, "I'll see you all tomorrow morning." Ron walked into his room as we continued our way up.

"Hostile when he's drunk, I see," Lorenzo laughed.

"Clearly," I remarked.

As we reached the very top, we were both out of breath.

"And you walk up and down everyday?" Lorenzo panted.

"Yup," I responded, as I kicked off my shoes and removed my sweater. I plopped onto the bed and huffed.

Lorenzo laid on the futon across me and burped.

"Gross," I muttered.

"Shut up, you like it," he snapped.

"Never in a million years, Enzo," I laughed.

I was feeling rather euphoric. I haven't felt this way in such a long time.

"Thanks for stopping by," I said softly.

"Of course, Lucille," he responded, as he turned his head towards me, "I missed you, y'know."

I smiled. "I missed you, too."

Silence.

"I wish you brought Luna, though," I said.

He huffed. "She moved out the manor last week."

"What the hell? Why?"

"She couldn't stand being the only girl in the manor besides mumsy. It's alright, though. I visit her."

"That's good."

Silence.

"Lorenzo?"

"Hm?"

I gulped, staring at the ceiling as the moon shone into the room.

"Are you friends with me out of pity?"

"No, Luce," he responded immediately, "I love you more than you know, truly."

Silence.

"I had fun today," I blurted.

"I did, too."

"They really like you, y'know," I stated, "My friends-. Family."

"I'm glad they do," He chuckled.

Silence.

Fuck, my hair was still tied.

I hate sleeping with my hair tied.

I sat up and tried untying my hair tie, but it unfortunately got into a bloody fucking knot.

"Fuck!" I muttered, struggling to remove my hair tie.

"Are you alright?" Lorenzo questioned.

"No, my hair's in a fucking knot," I seethed, as irritation grew.

"Here, let me help you," Lorenzo immediately got up from the futon, "Stop trying to yank it off, you're going to damage your hair."

Lorenzo grabbed my wrists and set them down as I huffed.

"I swear, Lorenzo Berkshire, if you pull out my hair I will-."

"What? You'll what?" He teased, "Relax, Luce. I would never."

I sat patiently, waiting for him to untangle the mess on my head.

"There you go," he mumbled, as he handed me the hair tie.

My brown locks fell to my face as he chuckled, pushing the hair away from my face.

"Thank you," I mumbled, looking up at him.

Through the dark, his hazel brown eyes managed to glisten in the night. I never truly saw Lorenzo so up close, and him being so close made me realize a lot of things about him.

His cupid's bow is defined as ever.

Pink lips.

Button nose.

His eyes were so piercing; it surely made his presence go unnoticed.

And so we stared into each other's eyes.

He looked down at me, with his lips parted.

"Your..eyes," Lorenzo whispered, "They're really green."

A soft giggle escaped my lips. "My mum picked them," I joked.

That didn't make him laugh, no.

Instead, his warm hands gently cupped my cheek, as he ran his thumb against my lips gently.

At such a sudden reaction, my stomach fluttered and my heart palpitated.

What was going on?

Why did I feel this way?

"Did she, now?" He cooed, as he brushed his thumb against my bottom lip as it plumped back to its position.

"Um-. Yes," I stammered, as my hands started clamming.

"Did she also pick your lips?" Lorenzo's soft voice spoke.

My throat tightened.

"I-. I think so," I responded lowly.

Lorenzo suddenly dove to my face, pressing his blood-rushed lips against mine.

But it wasn't aggressive.

It was more of a gentle approach.

Our lips moved together like a buoy in the middle of the Atlantic, swaying against the waves, crashing against its strong current.

He placed his warm hand behind my neck, pulling me closer to his lips.

But suddenly, he pulled away, panting.

"Fuck-. Fuck. I'm-. I'm so sorry, Luce," He stammered, as he walked away and paced back and forth, running his fingers through his loose wavy hair.

"Lorenzo-." I said, "Lorenzo-. It's okay," I assured him.

"N-no. It's not-. You're drunk, a-and I'm drunk-. I shouldn't have done that-."

"Lorenzo," I said, "It's okay."

Lorenzo stopped his tracks and stood there with his arms crossed; worrisome was plastered on his face. His eyes never moved off me, and I couldn't help but look at him back.

"Ah, fuck this," He stammered, as he immediately pulled his shirt off, throwing it onto the ground.

Lorenzo came towards me, as his lips met with mine once more.

There was so much passion; so much heat.

He was warm; his body was warm.

His tongue slipped into my mouth, as our tongues accompanied one another.

Lorenzo climbed on top of me, not breaking our hot kiss, as my hands traveled around his toned body.

Everything felt right.

Everything was leading up to this moment.

This moment with Lorenzo.

It didn't feel meaningless at all.

This was long overdue, you see.

Lorenzo pulled away from our kiss and tugged at the bottom of my shirt. He pulled it off me, as the cold air hit my warm skin.

Lorenzo placed warm, wet kisses on my neck, my shoulder, down to my chest, my breast, my stomach, and as he lowered down to my waist, he gently pulled off my black tights, leaving me in my bra and underwear.

His warm kisses trailed down to my thighs, as a soft moan escaped my lips

Goosebumps formed all around;I was completely on the edge.

Lorenzo took his time with me.

He kissed every square inch of my body, passionately and meaningful.

Lorenzo came back up in level with my face as his lips were parted, eager for more. His warm hands grabbed ahold of my thighs as he gently pried them apart.

Before Lorenzo even did anything, he stared into my eyes with passion and lust; and affection.

"Are you okay with what we're about to do, Lucille?"

I nodded yes, biting my lip.

"Lucille," he breathed, "I-. I need words. Do you feel safe right now? W-we can stop-."

"Yes, Lorenzo. Yes."

Lorenzo dove for a kiss once more, then pulled away again.

He tugged at my underwear, as I lifted my waist to help him remove them.

Lorenzo pulled down his sweatpants and took out his throbbing erection.

I dared not to look down, though I did it anyways.

And Merlin was it large.

I sucked my breath in, hoping this wouldn't be painful.

"Are you sure?" Lorenzo asked, as his eyes met with mine.

"Yes, I'm sure," I mumnbled.

And with that, Lorenzo aligned himself with my entrance and slowly slid his tip inside, as I let out a little gasp.

Lorenzo immediately covered my mouth, muffling any noise that would soon emit from my mouth.

He entered in his tip back and forth so that I could get used to his size.

Lorenzo was so gentle with me.

He didn't care about his pleasure.

He cared about my safety and comfort.

As I got accustom to it, he thrusted deeper, as I took it all in.

I moaned into his mouth as he pumped into me slowly.

My body was already shuddering out of pleasure.

The way he would slowly thrust, then speed up, then slow back down sent me into complete orbit.

Our eyes met once more, as Lorenzo continuously thrusted into me.

His hazel eyes melted into mine, and they softened.

His hand was still covering my mouth, and as he pressed harder onto my mouth, his thrusts soon became harder.

I groaned into his hand, struggling to not cum so fast.

This was different; this feeling was different.

Lorenzo quickly pulled out and grabbed my legs, putting it over his broad shoulders, as he thrusted back in.

Before I could even let out a moan, he immediately covered my mouth, making sure no one heard me.

"Now, you can't make noise, Lucille, or you'll wake the Weasleys," Lorenzo panted, as his thrusting became harder, "We don't want that, do we?"

I nodded my head no.

"Good girl, Lucille," Lorenzo muttered.

He look my right leg and placed it onto his other shoulder, making both my legs over one shoulder; and one shoulder only.

I wanted to moan; I wanted to let it all out, but he had more decency than I did.

My hands traveled to his muscular back, as I dug my nails into them unintentionally; it just felt so fucking good with the way he worked inside me.

My eyes soon started watering due to a high surge of pleasure.

Lorenzo soon thrusted deeper; the bucking of his hips increased.

At this point, my legs were shaking uncontrollably.

"You don't understand how badly I've been wanting to do this, Lucille," Lorenzo muttered under his breath. "How badly I've been wanting to make you feel...so good."

He uncovered my mouth as I let out delirious moans, though I immediately covered my own mouth.

I was coming. I was coming on his dick and I couldn't even tell him. I was speechless.

He reached a spot I couldn't reach myself-.

It was more complex than your regular g-spot.

And the angle I was being held at.

But he could tell I was already coming when my lips parted and nothing came out; he could tell the moment I had an aggressive shudder while I fucked him back by bucking my hips against his.

Soft groans and whimpers escaped his lips, as well.

"Fuck, I'm coming, Lucille," he muttered.

Lorenzo immediately pulled out and came onto his hand, panting and breathing for air.

He then looked at me and gleamed an exhausted smile, which made me smile, too.

Lorenzo looked gorgeous; messy curled hair, blood-rushed lips and a dampened face.

He picked up his shirt from the ground and wiped his hand.

"Fuck, I had nothing else to wipe it with," Lorenzo mumbled, following a soft chuckle.

"I'll steal a shirt from Ron tomorrow, it's alright," I responded.

Lorenzo came back onto the bed, pressing his warm body against mine.

He wrapped his arms around my small figure, holding me close.

Nothing but the sounds of our breathing.

Our heart beats.

"Lorenzo," I cooed.

"Hm?"

I gulped yet again.

"We can't mention this to anyone."

Silence.

"That's fine with me, Lucille," he responded lowly, "But for now, just let me hug you, okay?"

I softly giggled.

"That's fine with me, Lorenzo."

And so we slept.