His change of plans affected more than the guest list. The barbeque was off. Rose didn't understand at first why he would invite colleagues to his home for dinner, but not schoolmates. He massaged her back while he explained that colleagues would view the penthouse as an extension of his position at Malfoy Enterprises. The reminder of his unattainable wealth and privilege would ease tension in the workplace. Former schoolmates, on the other hand, would not respond as equably to the implication that he was top tier and they were not.

Rose lifted her head off the pillow to slant a doubting look over her shoulder. "But playing host at a club won't make anyone jealous."

"Only the other patrons," he said. Scorpius traced her spine with his fingertips. "The dining room at Lumos Duo is surrounded by a curtain of fairy strings to ensure that everyone in the club below catches glimpses of your party."

Her lips curved. "Because every Slytherin wants to be the centre of attention."

"Volvo!" The spell flipped Rose onto her back. The lace of her bra rasped against his skin as he pinned her to the mattress.

She said, "I wondered if you would ever pay me back for using that spell on you."

"One good turn deserves another?" The memory of the things he'd wanted to do to Rose that day in her childhood bed distracted him from his train of thought. He kissed her deeply and then feathered kisses across her cheeks to her ear. "I'm more selective."

Rose's fingers sifted through his hair. "About what?"

"Attention." He nipped at her earlobe. "Yours is all I need."

The smile she gave him was so heart-wrenchingly sweet, he jerked in surprise when Rose pinched his bum. "Is that a challenge?" she asked. The gleam in her eye was wicked. "You know how Gryffindors respond to challenges."

He knew how Rose Weasley responded: with bold passion. Scorpius rolled onto his side to unfasten his waistband clasp before she used a vanishing spell on his favourite trousers.

.

Later, when they were cuddled together in the dark with arms and legs entwined, Rose asked, "Does your company own Lumos Duo? Is that how you know so much about the club?"

"Not exactly," Scorpius replied. "Malfoy Enterprises owns the building and our tenants run the club."

"Did I hear a sneer in your voice when you said 'tenants'?" Rose asked. He heard the smile in her tone when she said, "Let me guess. They're former Hufflepuffs."

"No such thing," he said. "Hufflepuff is a life sentence."

Her unseen fingers danced across his ribs. "Tell me."

She knew all his ticklish spots. He gave in. "The Boot brothers, or as Hugh Travers, Head of Property, calls them, 'Terry and Barry.' "

"Definitely a sneer." Soft lips grazed the corner of his mouth. "I feel your lip curling. Is it because the Boots are Ravenclaw stereotypes, clever and smug?"

"No." During their Seventh Year, Terry Boot had asked Rose to go with him to Hogsmeade to make another girl jealous. Rose didn't get her feelings hurt, so Boot's poor taste in women didn't bother Scorpius either. His disdain was for the brother. "Barry Boot played for the Kenmare Kestrels until they bought out his contract last season. The Kestrels' manager stated that it was a wages cap issue, but Quidditch Illustrated reported that sexual harassment charges were filed against Boot by a succession of team physiotherapists…who all retracted their allegations."

"They were paid off?"

Scorpius said, "Avoiding bad publicity is worth more than Galleons."

"Incalesco." Rose's wandless spell kindled the illumination orbs on the bedside tables to a candle's glow. "You think Terry's brother will harass women at the club."

Or worse. "He's created the perfect hunting ground."

Rose's eyes searched his face. After a few moments, she asked, "What position did he play for the Kestrels?"

"Beater."

"Like Uncle George." Rose smirked. "Once, when he knocked Aunt Angelina off her broom during a family Quidditch match, she threatened to use a Curvo charm to put a kink in his bat—and we all knew she wasn't talking about sports equipment." Rose's mouth thinned. "Don't worry, if he tries anything with me, I'll do more than tell him to get bent."

"I'm not worried." Scorpius cast a spell to douse the light and said, "We'll practice the spell tomorrow."

.

He handwrote the invitations on Malfoy crest stationery. Not practical for large events, but for intimate gatherings, as Grandmother Narcissa always said, it made people feel special. Nathaniel Nott, Guy Willoughby, Orna Bletchley and her friend Magaera Vane—invited to even out the numbers—owled their acceptances the same afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Goyle didn't respond until the day before, and it was Marianne's handwriting expressing how much they looked forward to seeing everyone.

"Clever," Rose said when he showed her the note. "If Millicent finds out, Edgar can say his wife accepted, so he had to go."

Slytherin etiquette was more stringent than most. Deaths or hospitalisation were the only acceptable reasons to upset a host's arrangements. "More likely, Guy told his sister about the party and she went home and searched the rubbish bins."

Rose laughed. "And risk chipping her nail varnish? I can't imagine that."

Neither could Scorpius. Marianne probably used an Accio charm.

.

Saturday night, he looked over his wardrobe and chose a long-sleeved button down grey shirt and darker grey jeans.

"I thought you'd wear black," Rose said.

"Not this time." Lumos Duo had black lights, which transformed black fabric into unattractive shades of brown. Her Persian blue mini dress, however, would look amazing under any light. Scorpius traced the edge of the round neckline. "The way you cover up makes me wonder what's underneath."

"I'll show you later." Rose gave him a saucy once-over. "Right now you need to cover up. I don't want to spend all my time in the club hexing."

.

They Apparated to the west end of Diagon Alley. Lumos Duo was located in a narrow building that had once housed a junk shop. Fairies buzzed around the club logo glittering above the door. To the left of the queue, a group of witches and wizards stood chatting. Only one of them wore traditional robes. Edgar.

"I'm so glad he came," Rose whispered.

"If he didn't show, he'd never be invited be invited to a Slytherin party again," Scorpius said. Some breaches in etiquette were unforgivable.

"I'm still glad," Rose said.

Scorpius reached for her hand and held it tight. "So am I."

.

.

Author Note: Life happens, but if I can't update on Friday, I'll do it as soon as I can. Special thanks to everyone who reviewed and told me they were happy to see this story continue. I heart you alleaf, arrrgghimapiratenow, D, duckgirl07, Ellinell, em, emmack, fynnsmom, gracie, Guest, lalalove-Rae, Missdagane, Needle In A Haystack, Nocturna Mae, PencilCase, Rose of the West, scribbleeexx, SGed, smiley786, Stromsten, sunburnesd, and WithLove01.