The fairy lights gave the garden a magical, romantic feeling – the twinkling lights were an uplifting aspect of the otherwise oppressive celebration. Rose Weasley's Hogwarts graduation party was laced with her mother's expectations of the future: success. Thankfully the celebration was also for Albus and Scorpius, her cousin and boyfriend, or Rose would have been suffocated by the attention and presumption of having a life in Magical Law and rising high in the Ministry, like her mother.
"As you step out to the next important stage of life, I know you'll rise beyond all of our expectations," Hermione Granger-Weasley's voice called out with pride. "To Rose Weasley, on the precipice of success."
Sinking lower into her chair, Rose was barely able to glance up as the crowd echoed her name. Taking a long draw of champagne, Rose wished she could disappear into the evening rather than greet people as they congratulate her on the number of N.E.W.T.s she procured and the many opportunities her future held. Of course there were many family members at the party but there were also a large crowd of Ministry officials who wanted to stay in her mother's good graces.
Putting on the mask she wore when conversing with all but her closest friends and family, Rose greeted the queue of well-wishers and politely accepted their tokens of congratulations. There were only a handful of the Ministry crowd Rose knew well enough to say more than a few perfunctory words. By the time the throng of people died out, she was more than ready to be gone. That was until her cousin's handsome husband, Teddy Lupin, came up to her.
"So, you made it," he commented in a low voice.
Despite the benign nature of his words, Rose felt a blush creep up her cheeks. Teddy was the first boy she fancied but the only crush she never shared with her friends. He was Victoire's – that much had been true since Rose could remember.
"I thought they would never leave me alone," Rose managed in a hopefully casual voice.
"Nah, everyone wants a chance with the pretty Rose Weasley," he returned nonchalantly.
Teddy was often complimentary to Rose which she dismissed as kindness, generosity, and a generally friendly nature. She never counted it as flirtation. That was until he placed a light kiss on her cheek.
"Teddy," she said quietly. It was hard for Rose to do what she knew she should do: push him away, be loyal to her cousin, and hold him at arm length in the future. Instead she followed as Teddy took her hand and lead the new graduate to a dark, secluded area of the garden.
"You're very beautiful, Rose Weasley," Teddy murmured as his deft fingers pushed back a strand of loose hair from Rose's freckled face. "Such a beautiful woman," he went on before kissing her other cheek.
This was exactly what Rose imagined in her most furtive of fantasies. Teddy, the handsome, mature, off limits man she desired coming to her full of yearning romance. A small thread of decency tugged at Rose as she said, "What about Victoire? And Scorpius?" An even smaller voice in her head ask 'what about my self-respect?' But that voice was easily silenced by the excited churning in her stomach.
"Neither of them are here between us unless you want them to be," Teddy assured Rose. "Besides, Vic hasn't so much as touched me for months."
"Oh," was all Rose managed. The same couldn't be said for Scorpius who had been in her bed just that afternoon before they had to get ready for the party. He was an affectionate, loving boyfriend. Rose knew they'd probably end up married one day. While the thought made her happy and content, she couldn't shake the idea of Teddy's interest in her.
Leaning in for a kiss full on the lips, Teddy pushed all thoughts and scruples from Rose's mind. His tongue gently explored her mouth while his hand caressed Rose's face. Tentatively, as is worried that too much boldness would cause this fantasy to disappear, Rose reached around Teddy's slender frame and pulled his body flush to hers. It was several minutes before they broke apart, both startled by a nearby sound.
"I, uh…" Rose wasn't sure what to say after snogging her cousin's husband. Teddy, however, seemed to know the right things to say in this situation.
"We're going to be caught if we keep going here," he whispered with his lips pressed to Rose's brow. "Can you meet me later?"
The question caught her by surprise but words left her mouth without thinking, "Of course I can. Where?"
"I'll write down the address," Teddy said, motioning for Rose to follow him. They meandered through the crowd, Rose unable to make eye contact with anyone as if her sins were written on her flushed cheeks. Grabbing a quill and scrap of parchment from a table by the entryway, Teddy scribbled an address and time. He pressed the paper into Rose's hand before turning heel and walking back outside to the party.
Rose had just tucked the scandalous paper into the clutch she wore on her wrist when Scorpius came inside. "There you are," he smiled as he took Rose's hand in his. "Been hiding out?"
"Yeah," Rose replied quietly. "I, uh, wasn't feeling well."
Scorpius scrutinized Rose's face for a moment before saying, "You look flushed. Should you head home and call it a night? People are starting to leave so no one will mind."
"I should go lie down," Rose agreed, thankful for the excuse to leave early. She was unsure whether she would meet Teddy at the address he gave her but… she didn't want to close that door just yet.
Placing a kiss on his girlfriend's cheek, Scorpius bade Rose goodnight. "Will you come by tomorrow evening for dinner?" he asked before returning to the party. "It'd be just the two of us," he added with a mischievous grin.
"I'd love to," Rose replied without real thought. It would be out of character to turn down the chance to spend an evening alone with Scorpius.
Once he was out of sight, Rose turned on the spot and left the party with a crack. It was a few minutes before the teen opened her bedroom door and flung herself onto the plush bed she loved. Fishing out the tiny scrap of parchment, Rose read the unfamiliar address. Conflict stirred in her as she tried to decide whether to meet Teddy as promised or stay home and pretend to be ill.
A rush of adrenaline hit Rose as she decided to go for it – she didn't want to let Teddy down, not after promising to go. Wanting to wear something sexy, she rummaged through her closet for a suitable skirt and top. By the time she found an outfit that was slinky but not too desperate, the sound of the rest of her family returning home could be heard downstairs. Footsteps on the stairs told Rose she was about to be visited so she dashed in bed and under the covers.
"Rosie," came Hermione's voice. "May I come in?"
"Yeah, Mum," Rose called in a fake sleepy tone.
Hermione entered Rose's room and sat on the edge of her daughter's bed, as she'd done many times before. "You haven't even washed your makeup off," she noticed. "You must be feeling ill."
The truth was she had just reapplied it but Rose wasn't going to tell her mother that. "Must have had too much to drink," Rose lied again.
An understanding smile formed on Hermione's face. "You get some rest, Rosie. Next week you start your internship; it's just the first step to your-"
"Successful life at the Ministry," Rose intoned dryly.
"Well, it is," Hermione said haughtily. "We can talk about it more in the morning, sweetheart. Goodnight."
Once her mother left and Rose heard her footsteps go up to the next floor, she pushed the covers off of herself. Hesitation tied her to the bed but the weight of her mother's words and aspirations caused Rose to spring out of bed, grabbing the parchment from her table and disappearing into the night. She knew it was a mistake but it felt like one she needed to make before settling into her prescribed future in the Ministry.