- but not the last chapter. Don't own Harry Potter
The good weather seemed to be teasing Rose, who spent most of her time with Noir, avoiding Albus, and Alice, who had arrived only a few days earlier, recruited by Albus, no doubt. They tried to get her to talk, tried to convince her that she'd be fine. She wouldn't, though.
She was hiding out in Noir's stable, yet again, grooming him. Many a time, recently, she'd cry her heart out into his mane. It made her feel better, somehow. He was always there for her, the gentle giant that would never let her down.
"Are you okay?"
Rose did not turn to face Alice, but she knew that her friend would have her elbows propped on the stable door, watching her.
"Did you think the answer would have changed?" Rose asked in answer, dragging the body brush against the curry comb with unnecessary force.
"No," Alice admitted. "But I wanted to talk to you."
"I'm listening," said Rose. "What?"
"We're having a party for Teddy and Victoire's wedding anniversary, and since it's your birthday too …"
"I'm not crashing their anniversary," Rose answered flatly. "Can't we just have the normal thing with Al the next day?"
"No," said Alice, just as flatly.
Rose sighed, now combing Noir's mane. "Fine."
"Good."
Rose could hear the satisfied smile in Alice's voice. Footsteps echoed around the stable block, telling Rose that her friend had left.
Rose was glad, in the end, that she had agreed to sharing a party with Teddy and Victoire. Dominique flew back in from France for the double occasion, and she had agreed to stay for a few weeks.
Rose collected her presents, thanked her family, and snuck off over to the paddock, which was empty.
"Come to drag me back to the party?" Rose raised her eyebrows, when Alice and Albus came up to her.
"No," said Albus.
"Toasts are boring," Alice explained.
They stayed there; leaning against the fence, until darkness had fallen, and the lamps that had been floating overhead had been lit.
When they crossed the garden to sit on the stone wall, Rose was stopped. The other two, in the semi-darkness, didn't notice.
"Meet me in the stable block at half eleven," Victoire hissed.
"Okay," Rose replied, confused, and then went back to the other two.
"I'll be back in a minute," Rose murmured to the others, when half eleven came around.
She proceeded to the barn, looking around for Victoire. She was leaning against the door of Noir's stable, stroking the handsome horse.
"Happy birthday," she said, as Rose stood next to her.
"Thanks. Happy anniversary."
"I want you to have him," murmured Victoire unexpectedly.
"What? Noir? I couldn't!"
Victoire smiled at her. "I don't need him anymore; he needs someone who'll take care of him properly."
"You do –" Rose protested.
"I don't have any time for him anymore," said Victoire sadly. "And I know you love him, and vice-versa. Take him."
"Are you sure?" Rose asked, baffled.
"Positive."
And with a mysterious smile, Victoire left.
Rose drew back the bolt on the stable door, and slid in, closing it again. Noir nuzzled her shoulder, perhaps knowing, as she stroked his neck.
"A minute, huh?"
Rose looked around to see Alice and Albus leaning against the stable door, elbows propped on it, with identical knowing smirks on their faces.
"Victoire gave him to me," Rose explained. "I'm allowed to be happy."
Albus nodded. "Well, if you'd been outside, you'd have known that something else happened."
"Which, incidentally, also involves a black horse," Alice chipped in.
"And would most undoubtedly make you even happier," Albus concluded.
Still smirking knowingly, they stood back to let Rose unbolt the stable door and demand to know what it was that they were talking about.
"See for yourself," Alice said, directing Rose to the garden.
Everybody had gone inside, it seemed, save for Rose, Alice and Albus. The lanterns were burning themselves out, and in the dim light, Rose could see that there was a horse, tethered to the paddock fence. A figure stood next to the oak tee.
Rose moved closer, wondering who stood under the shade of the tree, though the way that her stomach had performed a perfect somersault told her enough in itself.
When she reached her friend, she hugged him with absolutely no hesitation.
"I thought you were meant to be in America," she said, after releasing him.
"Didn't really like it there," said Scorpius airily. "My roommate was a little cut up, but he understood. Gave me his guitar and everything; he taught me how to play it. Mum arranged a portkey for me, and," he raised his arms and let them fall again, "here I am."
"Why are you really here?" Rose asked, eyes narrowing just that little bit.
Silence.
And then he kissed her, ever so gently.
"… does that answer your question?"
"A thousand times over."
"Finally!"
"I'm going to kill you, Alice!" Rose shouted, without any conviction.
All four of them burst out laughing.
"Come on," Alice said, from the doorway.
"Once sec," Rose called back. She applied a little lipgloss, and came to meet her friend. They were both wearing comfortable jeans, and shirts. It was a lovely summer evening, and they were having a bonfire (a miniature one, anyway) in the garden.
They went outside, and joined the circle surrounding the bonfire. James and Fred were cooking sausages for them. Rose was a little wary about accepting one, but it transpired that there was nothing to worry about, and they were normal.
They chatted, and laughed, and Lily sang segments of well-known songs that they joined in, Scorpius even getting his new guitar and strumming notes for them.
The summer had only just begun, and they had so much ahead of them. Another crazy year. The horses watched interestedly from the paddock close by, and Lily moved over to stroke their noses. Rose, though she hadn't forgotten (she couldn't have), was hit again by the realisation that Noir was hers. She couldn't wait to ride him out. Maybe she could get her friends to go with her.
The light was dying, and most of them had gone in, but there was still a fair crowd outside; Rose, Scorpius, Alice, Albus, Lily, Roxanne, Lorcan, Lucy, Lysander, Fred and James. They sat in a closer circle around what was left of the fire, eating marshmallows. Scorpius was messing around with the guitar. He started to strum the acoustic version of a song they all knew, despite how old it was, and Fred and James started to beatbox to it (something they were actually very good at). Without realising it, all the rest of them started to sing along.
A place to crash
I got you
No need to ask
I got you
Just get on the phone
I got you
Come and pick you up if I have to
What's weird about it
Is we're right at the end
Ain't mad about it
Just figured it out in my head
I'm proud to say
"I got you"
They let Lily take up the chorus, providing backing for her.
Go ahead and say goodbye
I'll be alright
Go ahead and make me cry
I'll be alright
And when you need a place
To run to
For better or worse
I got you
They rejoined Lily for the next verse.
Ain't falling apart
Or bitter
Let's be bigger than that
And remember
That pulling out don't mean you're all alone
We'll both survive it
No drama
No need for a show
Just wanna say
"I got you"
Go ahead and say goodbye
I'll be alright
Go ahead and make me cry
I'll be alright
And when you need a place
To run to
For better or worse
I got you
Go ahead and say goodbye
I'll be alright
Go ahead and make me cry
I'll be alright
And when you need a place
To run to
For better or worse
I got you
All of the girls sang.
Cuz this is love and life
And nothing we can both control
And if it don't feel right
You're not losing me by letting me know
They all sang together.
Go ahead and say goodbye
I'll be alright
Go ahead and make me cry
I'll be alright
And when you need a place
To run to
For better or worse
I got you
Go ahead and say goodbye
I'll be alright
Go ahead and make me cry
I'll be alright
And when you need a place
To run to
For better or worse
I got you
A place to crash
I got you
No need to ask
Got you
They smiled around at each other, having heard the conviction in their voices. No matter what; they'd be there for each other.
Forever and always.
Thank you to everyone who's read, reviewed and favourited. It's the first multi-chapter story I've had the patience and determination to finish.
I think I'll always have happy endings in stories. I'm like that.
Song is I Got You by Leona Lewis. Lyrics are from Echo's album cover, so they should be accurate.