Your hands they move like waves over me

Beneath the moon tonight, we're the sea

-Iron and Wine

Scorpius watched the clock tick by anxiously on Friday afternoon. He had spent the morning doing mountains of paperwork that had accumulated over the past two days. He had a nagging feeling something was a little off with the centaurs and the reservation but had no idea what it was. He and Al walked out together at 5:00 and agreed to meet at 7:30 at the Harry's where the family was going to portkey to France. Scorpius went home, changed into jeans and a golf shirt, and slipped on some Wallabees. He packed his bag and ate a quick meal in the kitchen. He was too quick. It was only 6:15.

"Rooosseeee! Rooossseee!" Rose looked up from her quilted duffle bag. She knew that voice. She walked downstairs and looked into the fireplace, Scorpius' head was sticking was sticking out.

"Rose, how's it going, sweet cheeks?" Fire Scorpius wagged his eyebrows.

"Well I was trying to get ready for the beach, until I was so rudely interrupted." She made a move to walk away.

"Wait! I'm already packed, can I come over?"

"I'll see you in an hour."

"Rose, pleeeaasee, I could help you pack."

"I'm perfectly capable of packing on my own thanks."
"O come on, I want an hour alone with you before your rabid family members get a hold of us"

Rose looked at him intently. She needed to slow things down. Her indulgence on Wednesday was quite the opposite of helping Scorpius turn over a new leaf. After all, he didn't know her as well as he used to, she didn't want to seem easy.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Scorpius." Her tone wiped the carefree expression off his face.

"Why not? I thought that everything was going so well.'

"I just think that it wouldn't be wise to continue at the pace we are." Now he looked down right upset.

"Well, I'll see you in an hour then." He ended the call. Shit. Rose racked her brain for a way she could have placated him. She knew it would be worse to have him over and then draw the line once things picked up. Exasperated, she walked back upstairs, finished her packing and headed to Harry's early.

"Uncle Harry? Aunt Ginny?" No one was in the living room or kitchen. No one was even down stairs, except their Scottish deerhound, Beedle. The shaggy blue-grey dog looked at her for a moment and continued his business, sleeping on the sofa.

"Hello? Is anyone home?" As she walked up the stairs she heard whispers and a thud.

"Rosie!" Uncle Harry popped out of his room, glasses askew and shirtless.

"O," Rose averted her eyes, "Sorry, I thought I'd come early and talk shop before we got too caught up in our vacation." Harry looked back into his bedroom, then to Rose.

"Ya, of course, give me a second?"

"I'll be downstairs." Rose heard murmers, and Aunt Ginny talking very rapidly. Rose cringed at her decision to come early as she sat on the divan downstairs. Uncle Harry came downstairs. He offered her a drink, made himself one and sat down.

"So, what did you want to talk about, pigeon?"

"Well, I was wondering, how closely is the DMC monitored?"

"Honestly, Rose, and don't take this the wrong way, the DMC isn't a very high priority for my administration. I get a two minute briefing about their biggest cases in the morning, and that's about it."

"Well of course, I understand completely. There's a lot on your plate."

"Ya, about eighty percent of the time I don't have any idea why I accepted the position." He smiled ruefully.

"You're a great minister, Uncle Harry. Anyway, I was wondering for legislation like this centaur reservation to get initiated, is there anything besides a final decision by the Wizengamot required to pass it?"

"Not for a lot of DMC things, no. We put a little too much trust in organizations like yours to call foul play." He looked sheepish at that.

"With your permission, I'd like to look into this legislation more closely. Obviously your administration has nothing to do with it. Seeing as it goes against one of your main tenants for government, I think it's suspicious."

"You're more like your mother every day. By all means, Rosie darling, any clearance you need, let me know. I trust you. Be sure not to tell folks you have the clearance though, it'll look like nepotism."

"No, I'll be very discreet, as always."

"Well then," he clapped his thigh, "I've had quite enough work for one week, let's go get sandy!"

Aunt Ginny joined them and they played cards until the gang started pouring in. Bill and Fleur were there first, Fleur was glowing with excitement.

"Eet iz going to be so nize to go 'ome! And Biarritz zeez time of year c'est tres belle!" Teddy and Vicky showed up, then Rose's parents. Hugo brought some girl along, most likely a groupie he picked up after a quidditch match. George and Angelina showed up, followed by Fred and Gideon. Apparently Percy couldn't make it, but his girls came. Charlie showed up with a rather large surfboard. Al, Cecilia and Lily all happened to arrive at the same time; Rose moved over the join them. Scorpius ended up being the last to show, barely making it on time to catch the portkey, which was a giant bed sheet that everyone could reach.

Once they arrived in Biarritz, they checked into their hotel, basically renting out an entire floor, and got changed to go out. This was probably the last time the whole group would be able to go to a bar together before more little ones showed up, they wanted to take full advantage. Rose was getting ready with Cecilia and Lily, she thought she was going to die the way they were pulling her hair with combs and poking and prodding her with makeup brushes.

Everyone had agreed to meet in the lobby. When the elevator opened and Rose stepped out, Scorpius was standing in front of her. She didn't collide with him this time. He looked sharp in chinos and a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, but Rose doubted if he looked bad in anything. His expression, on the other hand, was less pleasing. If she didn't know better she would think he looked composed and calm, but she could see the slightest frown across his forehead and something unnerving in his eyes. Did she really anger him earlier when she turned him down? If so, she wasn't so sure he had changed after all, she wasn't his booty call. Doubt crept up from the shadows of her mind like a looming fog on the horizon. But just like that, the countenance was gone and replaced by the smiling, charming Scorpius of her adolescence. Ceci went straight to Albus's side and Scorpius took Lily on one arm, Rose on the other.

It took about twenty minutes for everyone to get congregated, the five talked a little about the area to pass the time, Rose kept feeling Scorpius's eyes settle on her. She would occasionally glance in his direction, and only made eye contact when he addressed her directly. Once they were ready to go, Lily pulled Rose away from the pack.

"What's the deal with you two?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"What did you do to the poor guy? He's been staring at you all evening, and not in the undressing you with his eyes sort of way."

"It's nothing Lils, really."

"Rose, you can't ruin this perfectly romantic weekend. Tell me what happened and I can help you." Rose gave an exasperated sigh. Lily was never short on advice; she had a knack for that sort of thing.

"Alright, fine, but you can't breathe a word, Lily, on your honor." Lily's eyes lit up, she was bubbling over with enthusiasm.

"I swear, Rosie, now tell me!" She looked like a schoolgirl again.

"I slept with him." A squeal erupted from Lily's throat, she bobbed up and down a little

"Well what did you do to the poor guy afterwards?"

"Poor guy he certainly is not, he flooed this afternoon asking to come over before we left. I didn't want to keep rushing things so I told him not to come. I don't want him to think I'm like that."

"Did he say anything about sex?"

"No, he just said he wanted to get me alone before we were with the family, what else is that supposed to mean."

"What if he just wanted to speak with you privately? What did he say when you said no?"

"I'm sure if that was the case he could try to find time to get me alone here. He said he thought everything was going well."

"O Rosie, this is not good."

"What?"

"I don't think he was after a quick shag, if he was and you said no he wouldn't be looking at you like that."

"What do you mean? Looking at me how?"

"Imploringly. You have to be super sweet to him the rest of the weekend, promise me."

"He isn't a child. I don't need to coddle him."

"No but he is someone who doesn't know that much about substantial relationships. What if he thinks you're backing out? He's not used to women like us when it comes to dating."

"I guess so, maybe I should try and talk to him." Lily gave a mischievous grin.

"Don't underestimate the importance of body language."

At the bar, Rose sidled into the table and sat herself close against Scorpius. She just knew her uncles were going to never let them hear the end of it, but after Lily's insight she wasn't willing to risk her enjoyment and peace of mind. She could see him perk up at the gesture; maybe her younger cousin was right after all. He leaned back, put his arm on the back of her seat and whispered in her ear.

"You look gorgeous, France suits you." She smiled shyly.

"Does this mean you aren't getting cold feet about us?" She could see the worry in his eyes, but the rest of his face was completely normal. That Malfoy composure!

"No, I just didn't plan on tumbling into bed with you so fast. But we did, and I just don't think we should make it a habit."

"Dually noted, I don't either. You are almost too much to resist though." His roguish grin was back. "And in a bikini no less..."

"You should just go surfing, don't worry about my bikini or lack thereof."

"OY you two!" A sugar cube hit Scorpius's head, "Leave or join us, but all that pss pss isn't gonna fly here." Gideon goaded. The spell was broken. Scorpius got up to get them drinks. One drink turned to two, which turned to three, then four and so on. By the time 3 a.m. came around the guys started getting more than a little raucous, Hermione pulled the plug.

"Alright, well I think it's about time for these boys to go to bed." She picked up Ron, who had been getting increasingly grabby toward his wife since about midnight. All the guys groaned with disappointment, but everyone knew not to mess with her.

Rose convinced Scorpius to get up. He leaned heavily into her. His whispers had turned into full blown statements around one.

"Rose, put me to bed and by all means join me." She rolled her eyes.

"The only thing you're going to bed with is a bucket."

"O common now, love, I need you to take care of me."

"I've seen you worse off than this, you'll manage just fine. I'll tuck you in but that's it."

"You're an angel," he slurred. She somehow managed to get him back to the hotel, and into his room. She took his shoes and socks off, pulled down his pants, and took off his shirt.

"O you've changed your mind then? Come here, babe." He pulled her into his lap.

"No, you just shouldn't sleep in all your street clothes. Let me go and lie down."

"You aren't going anywhere." He tightened his hold on her.

"Scorpius, let me go please."

"Stay here tonight, your room is so far away."

"It's two doors down." She gave up the struggle, hoping he would loosen his grip. He didn't exactly, but after about three minutes his breath on her shoulder slowed and she could hear a gentle snore in the back of his throat. She gently placed his head on his pillow, turned his feet into the bed and pulled the covers over him. He looked so sweet when his mouth wasn't running, she thought to herself. Putting the ice bucket from the bathroom next to his bed, she slipped out and went to sleep herself.

Lily was up way too early the next morning. Rose could smell the suntan potion from her bed around nine.

"Lily," she groaned, "What time is it?"

"Time to go to the beach, cuz." She jumped on Rose's bed.

"Get off"

"Not until you put your suit on. Come on, we can have breakfast, fresh croissants!" Rose knew that resistance would be futile, so she grudgingly arose, stripped and covered herself head to foot in potion. She walked around the room naked trying to let it soak in, the Weasley complexion required religious adherence to such rituals if she was going to be anything but a lobster. After changing into her suit and grabbing her beach bag, she was pushed out the door by Lily. They made their way to pick up Ceci. The number of women snowballed the further down the hall they got. They got breakfast and ambled to the beach. The guys were already in the water. She laughed as Scorpius lost his balance and fell backwards off the surfboard. She cracked open her book. They spent the day in the sun, when afternoon came, they headed back to the hotel, and took a nap before dinner. As Rose was dressing for dinner, there was a knock on the door. She opened it; Scorpius stood in front of her holding a piece of parchment, his expression stopped her dead in her tracks.

"This letter is from Meiren. His sons never made it home."

A.N.- O no! What's going to happen to those poor boys? Stay tuned. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, although I won't have any idea if you did or didn't until you review! Thanks so much for reading. Xoxo Belle