A/N: I know this chapter is a lot shorter than others I've written but I tried to get this out as soon as I could. I have a good reason though for the long wait. My sister just recently had twins! A little boy and girl; they were preemies but now they're both home :) Anyway, so there's been a lot of excitement around here. I now have three nephews and three nieces, so it's all even. Well enough of my blather, here's the new chapter of The Legend Continues.
Ch. 10- Christmas
It was past midnight when Rose looked around her; Carinna and Adysen were asleep on one of the bigger lounges while Stefan and Al were fast asleep in front of the fireplace. Scorpius had left outside to the balcony as Rose watched the dim firelight sleepily. She stood up slowly and made her way to the huge bed and sank onto it; she knew she wouldn't sleep properly on the floor or lounges, no matter how plushy or comfortable they might be.
She placed her glasses on the bedside table and snuggled under the velvet duvet, burying her head into a red silk pillow. Sleep immediately overcame her; she didn't notice when Scorpius climbed into bed on the opposite of her, his back to her.
)
Scorpius stood on the balcony, the cold wind biting at his bare chest. He leaned against the rail and gazed up at the nearly full moon. He shook his head as his mind was assaulted by the memory of Rose's lips on his.
No, he thought. I don't fancy bloody Weasley, that's disgusting. It's just she's a girl and I'm a guy, only natural to like what happened.
Scorpius turned and walked back into his room, closing the French door to the freezing night air. He looked at the two girls huddled on one of the larger black lounges. He laughed silently at the way Al was curled around a black pillow, the tip of a worn teddy trapped under his wide arm. Stefan was lying on his stomach in front of the fire, snoring softly. Scorpius' eyes searched the room but didn't see Rose anywhere. He made his way to the ensuite bathroom but saw it was empty.
She must've gone to sleep in Ads' room, good riddance. No one likes having a weasel around.
He walked to his bed and sighed to himself as he sat on the edge, removing his silken pajama bottoms. He crawled under the covers in just his boxers and fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
)
Rose sighed as she rolled over and felt a warm weight wrap around her waist. Scorpius moved closer to the middle of the bed, unknowingly pulling Rose tighter against his chest.
'What. The. Bloody. Hell?'
Rose opened her eyes blearily and peered up at an upset looking Al hovering over her. She saw Adysen and Carinna standing behind him, their mouths open in shock and Stefan standing a few feet away, avoiding eye contact.
'What's going on Al?' Rose asked, covering her face with a pillow against the light.
'What the hell are you doing in bed with Malfoy?' Al questioned, his tone deadly quiet.
'What?!' Rose shrieked, sitting upright and Scorpius' arm fell off her waist. She noticed how close they were to each other and pushed him away, off the bed. He fell and awoke with a grunt.
'What the hell is going on?' he asked angrily, looking up at the towering figures above him.
Scorpius took in the sight of a bushy-haired, red-faced Rose sitting in his bed and a pissed Al glaring at him. Adysen looked uncomfortable, as did Carinna and Stefan.
'Well, is anyone gonna tell me why I was thrown off my freaking bed at eight in the morning?' Scorpius repeated.
'Why were you in bed with my freaking cousin?' Al said, stalking towards him with a furious expression.
'I wasn't in bed with bloody Weasley!' Scorpius cried indignantly.
'Uhh, you kind of were, mate. Cuddling her to be exact,' Stefan replied, shuffling his feet.
Scorpius' jaw dropped in horror and Rose slowly got out of the bed and put on her glasses.
'I'm just going to go…away,' she whispered. She ran from the room, Carinna following her.
'Merlin, this is an interesting Christmas, eh?' Carinna chuckled nervously.
Al shot a glare at her before stomping out of the room too. Scorpius stood and brushed off the seat of his silver boxers. Stefan sauntered out of the room and Scorpius moved closer to Adysen.
'I wasn't really cuddling her, was I?' he whispered. Adysen nodded her head and Scorpius groaned.
'I'm going to have to burn these sheets! And they're 5,000 count imported Indian silk!'
'Cheer up, Scorp,' Ads said, patting him on the shoulder. 'It's Christmas!'
'What a way to start a Christmas morning,' Scorpius muttered sardonically.
)
Rose sat on the floor of Stefan's room, trying to hide her ashamed self from her friends. She could hear Adysen and Carinna calling her name but she didn't answer.
What the bloody hell was I doing sleeping in bed with Malfoy?! I'm bleeding thirteen! So is he! Damn that ferret!
'Rose?' a soft voice called gently. Rose looked up as Stefan sat beside her.
'How did you know where I was?' she whispered.
Stefan chuckled lightly, 'Well, it is my room.'
'Oh yeah.'
'Are you alright, Rosebud?' he asked tentatively.
Rose shrugged, 'I don't really know, Steff. I mean, I was in bed, with Malfoy!'
Stefan grimaced slightly, 'Yeah, I saw that.'
Rose put her head in her hands and Stefan looked concerned. 'Do you fancy him, Rose?'
Rose looked up at him, he hardly ever called her Rose. She sighed and shook her head.
'No, I do not. I could never like that ferret, you know that Steff,' she said, trying to ease the tension that had unknowingly crept onto the two Slytherins. Stefan looked doubtful for a moment then grinned.
'So, Stefan, who do you fancy?' Rose asked, turning the attention away from her. Stefan blushed lightly but before he answered the door burst open and Adysen stood in the doorway.
'There you are! I'd wondered where you'd gotten off to!' she shouted.
Rose winced and stood up from the carpeted floor, 'Sorry, Ads. I needed to think about some things.'
'What things?' Adysen asked suspiciously.
'Well, one, was your whole sleeping-with-your-cousin thing, but let's not worry about that! It's Christmas!' Rose said, running from the room.
Adysen and Stefan followed her and caught sight of her turning the corner and flying down the stairs. They stopped in the sitting room where the rest of the teens were sitting around a large ornately decorated tree, Draco and Astoria seated on a lounge. Rose and Scorpius sitting away from each other, avoiding any eye contact.
'Alright, everyone is here now,' Draco announced. 'Scorpius, please hand out the gifts.'
Scorpius passed out all the presents, several being rather lumpy yet soft. He nearly threw all of Rose's gifts at her but she didn't seem to notice. After all the gifts were passed out, they were soon rid of all wrapping paper. Scorpius grinned broadly at the new broom, the PhoenixFeather 17, that his parents had given him, noticing Adysen had received one also. Rose smiled knowing that it was her Uncles Harry, Bill and Charlie who had helped design that particular broom.
Al sat next to him ogling it with wide eyes as he chattered happily to anyone who would listen.
'My dad told me it was going to be super-fast, that it out flies the Firebolt tenfold! Freddie and James are always talking about how they're going to have to save up for one cause Dad and Uncle George won't buy it for them. They say that when it takes off, even the wizard god, Merlin, himself can't keep up!' he exclaimed happily.
Rose groaned, 'Oh, Al, don't listen to anything James and Freddie say!'
Scorpius placed it beside him next to the growing pile of sweets Adysen, Al, and even Stefan and Carinna had given him. He picked up the last lumpy package and removed the red paper. A silver sweater slid into his lap, tiny Quaffles and goal posts sewn along the hem and neckline. He looked around and saw that Al, Rose, Adysen, Stefan, and Carinna also had jumpers. Scorpius noticed that Rose and Al had already put theirs on.
'Who sent us jumpers?' Scorpius asked, holding his out to his mother to examine.
'Our grandmum makes them for everyone every Christmas,' Rose answered timidly.
'She normally makes one for every family member, plus the Longbottoms, the Scamanders, and Andromeda. She never makes the same one either. Now, I suppose, she decided to make a Weasley sweater for each of you,' Al said, grinning.
'But that must be at least forty different jumpers!' Adysen exclaimed, pulling her own jade green jumper over her blonde head. Al shrugged.
'Grandmum loves to do things for others. I guess she realizes you all are our best mates and wants you to feel welcome,' Rose explained, fingering the hem of her ocean blue jumper.
Scorpius took his jumper from his mother and looked at Al's red one, Stefan's grey and Carinna's purple one as they put them on. He hesitantly slid an arm through before pulling it on. Rose smirked slightly at Scorpius before turning back to her own pile of presents she was given. Her parents had given her a set of books on famous Healers throughout Wizarding history-they insisted she became one- while her cousins and friends had given her candy from Honeydukes.
'That is very kind of your grandmother,' Astoria said kindly. 'They look rather comfortable and well knitted.'
Al nodded, his mouth full of chocolate frogs. Rose shook her head and laughed at her cousin.
'Yes, my dad and uncles say she's been doing it since they were kids. Even Uncle Harry said he got them before he properly met Grandmum,' Rose continued, facing Astoria.
'Mrs. Weasley sure sounds like a wonderful woman,' Draco said, smiling. Scorpius gawked.
Hadn't Grandfather always used to say the Weasleys were a waste of magical blood? Yet, here's Father, saying they're wonderful. Scorpius thought confusedly.
'Well, you all feel free to enjoy anything around the Manor,' Astoria said, rising from her seat. 'We have some business to attend to before the ball tonight.'
Draco stood also, 'The Parkinsons, well Pansy, will be arriving around six thirty as will the Goyles, Montagues, and your parents, Stefan. As will Theodore Nott and his son. The ball will formally begin at seven, so please it will be best if you all be down in the ballroom by fifteen past six.'
The teenagers nodded and they elder Malfoys left the room. Scorpius groaned.
'I forgot all about the bloody ball!'
'How could you forget? We have one every damn year,' Adysen said patronizingly.
'Bloody hell, at least you all are here to suffer with us,' Scorpius muttered.
'Let's go try out your new broom, Ads,' Carinna said, pulling on her hand. Adysen nodded picked up her broom and dragged Rose along out of two French doors that led to the Malfoys' vast property. The three boys followed along with Scorpius' new broom. Scorpius watched as Adysen flew swiftly, making sharp turns in split-second intervals. He mounted his own broom and immediately shot into the air. The Phoenixfeather seemed to operate at his mere thoughts, it was so fast. He took hairpin turns and nose dives before landing and handing the broom to Al to ride. It was the best broom any of them had ever ridden.
'Hey, Rose!' Carinna called into the air at the redheaded blur. 'Isn't that your family owl?'
Rose dismounted next to Carinna and Al as a black owl landed on her shoulder.
'Hello, Wulferic, what have you got there?' she said as she removed a scroll from his sharp talons. The owl took flight as soon as he was free from the message. 'Well, goodbye to you too!'
Rose unrolled the parchment and noticed Lily's hastily scrawled penmanship.
Dear Rosie and Al, if you're there,
Guess what?! Teddy proposed to Vic last night! It was so romantic, Rosie, if only you'd been there to see! He did it at midnight while all of us were drinking hot chocolate with Grandmum and Grandpa. They went for a walk and 'Dromeda, Dad, and Uncle Bill told us Teddy had asked their permission if he could ask Vic. So, literally, ALL OF US, even James, Freddie and Louis, ran to the windows and we saw Teddy kneeling down on one knee under that birch tree by the broom shed. Then, obviously, Vic said yes cause she jumped into his arms and he spun her in circles. They started walking back to the house so we all sat down and when they came in it was quiet. Then Teddy was all like, 'You guys already know, don't you?' Then, all the grownups laughed and I asked how did he know and he said, 'It was quiet-' and Vic said, 'The Burrow's never quiet.'
Oh, Rosie, it was totes romantic! If only you and Al had been here. I can't wait till I get married! Hopefully, the guy will be that sweet! I wish I could marry someone who's been my best friend forever but that would be weird cause Hugo is my best friend. Eww, that's like incest. Speaking of marriage and best friends, how's that gorgeous Stefan Zabini? Well, Vic and Teddy want to get married at the end of next June, so all of us can be there.
Freddie, James, and Louis got in trouble again cause they put a Wet-Start firework in Molly's treacle tart during dinner last night. It was totes hilarious, Lucy and her both got covered in fudge. Mum, Aunty Fleur and Aunty Angelina weren't too happy. But, Aunty Angelina seemed mad already and Uncle George was kind of angry at her too. Dom is being a little annoying, saying she misses her "Boyfriend", ugh, gag me. Roxy doesn't say much as usual unless Dom tells her too. I heard Dad and Uncle Bill talking with Mum and your dad about some kind of new research and experimenting that Teddy is doing; see if you can get him to tell you what it is, yea? I miss you, Rosie. Tell Stefan I say hi, please. Well see you guys back at school!
Love,
Lily Luna
'OH MY MERLIN! ALBUS!' Rose screamed jumping up and down and waving the letter above her head.
'What is it, Rose?' Al asked panicked as he landed next to her, everyone else running towards them. 'Is someone hurt? In St. Mungo's?!'
She shook her head, 'No! No, nothing like that.'
Al let out a breath of relief, 'Well, what is it?'
'Teddy and Vic are getting married!' she cried happily.
'Bloody hell! That's brilliant!' Al said hugging her. He took the letter and read it while Rose did a happy dance with Carinna and Adysen. 'WHOA!'
Rose looked at Al, 'What?'
'Did she just call Stefan gorgeous?' he bellowed.
Rose laughed, 'Oh yeah, Lily's got this idea that Steff and I are gonna get married one day. Hilarious, isn't it, Steff?' she elbowed him lightly in the side, playfully.
He blushed, 'Yeah, crazy.'
Rose grinned, 'Besides, my darling baby cousin has the hots for you, Stefan. She said to tell you hi too.'
Stefan's head snapped up and looked at Rose, 'W-What?'
'Yes, what did you say?' Al demanded.
Rose nodded, 'Yup, your little sister, our Lily Luna, fancies the pants off of one Stefan Rabastan Zabini.'
Adysen laughed before shoving Al softly, 'Better watch out, Al. Stefan's gonna steal your baby sister away from you guys.'
'Over my dead, petrified body,' Al muttered.
The girls walked off talking about Teddy and Victoire's upcoming wedding. Scorpius and the guys followed them and they all sat under one of the many oak trees that were beside a clear pond. He sat beside Adysen and laid his head in her lap.
'Ads, I don't want to get ready for that dumb old ball,' he whined.
She looked down at him and flicked his ear, 'Too bad, Scorp. Everyone else had to deal with it too. Get over it.'
Scorpius sighed loudly and threw an arm over his eyes. Rose looked at him briefly before looking down at her watch.
'It's already four, should we start getting ready?' she asked Adysen.
'The party starts at six, what do you need two hours to get ready for?' Scorpius asked staring at Rose.
She shrugged and Adysen stood up, unceremoniously dropping Scorpius' head onto the grass.
'Bloody ouch! Warn me next time!' he cried, rubbing his head.
Adysen smiled sweetly, 'Well next time keep that Quaffle-sized rock off my lap.'
'Whatever,' Scorpius muttered as Al and Stefan laughed.
'Come on, girls. We need to start getting ready,' Adysen ordered, Rose and Carinna rising from the ground and following her through the French doors.
The three boys watched as they walked away before looking at each other and shook their heads. As one, they looked to the sky and said, 'Women!'