Planning a Weasley Wedding
"But I don't understand how it happened," Ron Weasley said, later that same night, pacing at the very end of his king-sized bed, talking to Hermione whom was curled onto the left side of the bed, her head in a book. "My daughter and Malfoy's son," Hermione appeared uninterested, but by the obvious roll of her eyes it was clear she had been listening to her husband rant for far too long.
"We should have seen this coming," Ron continued, still pacing in a pair of tracksuit bottoms. "Why didn't we know- the letters- the way she defended him, how could we have not seen it before?" He paused with a thoughtful expression, stopping completely, Hermione looked as though she was about to relax but when her husband gave a sharp turn, so that he was pacing vertically instead of horizontally, her eyes flicked up before she gave a heavy sigh.
"I mean this is little Rosie, she used to tell me everything," Ron said. "And I should have known that she was keeping secrets from us."
"Ron for Merlin's sake lie down," Hermione snapped, looking annoyed, herself.
"They're friends," Ron said his voice clearly disbelieving, ignoring his wife's request. "And I gave them my blessing Hermione my blessing, what was I thinking?"
"That you loved her, perhaps," She muttered quietly her eyes never leaving the words of her page.
"What kind of a father lets her daughter be best friends with a boy anyway," Hermione rubbed her temples slightly and mumbled,
"My dad. Let me be friends with you and Harry..." Unnoticed by Ron he continued.
"And he has blonde hair, blonde hair- you never trust a bloke with blonde hair." Hermione slammed her book shut, clearly annoyed that she hadn't got any reading done; she then placed it onto the bedside cabinet and switched of the light that sat just above the bed.
"Ron, please, I'm tired," She huffed, lying down as she watched her husband climb into the spot next to her, after peeling of the duvet cover and wrapping it around his legs, as he sat.
"They've been sneaking out at midnight, getting up to all sorts-"
"Ron," She warned, closing her eyes again, but the sound of his voice again caused her eyelids to fling open.
"I mean how do we know that friendship is all that they're keeping from us, if they can lie for seven years what's to say they're not lying now?" Ron then gasped at another thought his face panic stricken as his blood ran cold. "What if they get married? I don't think I could stand Malfoy as an in law- Merlin imagine the Christmases!"
"Calm down Ron, they're only friends," Hermione said feeling an obligation to step up for her daughter, whom was not there to stand up for herself.
"Yes but how do we know that- how can you really tell," Ron questioned, accusingly. "They could be having secret rendezvous with each other as a couple. Think about it- the lake, the moonlight, the stars- it all seems rather romantic for just friends."
"It's Scotland- it's more like a murky, dirty bit of water and a foggy sky."
"Nice food a cosy blanket, maybe a picnic-"
"Rain, mud and a giant squid- yeah I can see why that would be romantic."
"But I won't let it happen," Ron replied, clearly not even reregistering what was being said. "I will not let it happen"
"Come on Ron, you remember being that age- you can only be friends with a member of the opposite sex you know, it doesn't always have to be more to it."
"Members of the opposite sex can't just be friends." Ron protested switching the light back on.
"Of course they can, look at me, you and Harry,"
"And by the looks of how that turned out, we're married so that only reinforces my point," Hermione rolled her eyes forcefully.
"And what about Harry and I?" She asked, switching the light of and lying back down.
"And what about you and me?" He turned the light back on and looked at Hermione Square in the face. Hermione could tell, just by the brief glimpse of his eyes that a small flicker of panic danced in them.
"Scorpius and Rose are nothing like you and me, ok? They're just good friends," Hermione paused but when Ron still looked unconvinced she continued to speak. "Scorpius is not Draco, though he's a Malfoy he's not his father- he's his own person and you have to remember that,"
"He's a Malfoy, Hermione all Malfoy's go bad,"
"It doesn't matter if he's a Malfoy, Sirius Black was a Black but he broke the chain of evil in his family. One Malfoy has to change or be better because if they didn't then there would be no hope for this world. And that person is Scorpius,"
"But how can you be so sure- he look is like Draco he walks like Draco he talks like him- how do you know that deep down he's not like him as well?" Ron was still looking at Hermione puzzled. Eager for her reply yet not wanting to hear it.
"Because," Hermione answered, looking at Ron with such a softness that his worries almost faded away. "He may have Draco's voice but he sounds like you. He may look like Draco but when you look at his eyes they're warm and not cold like Draco's. He may walk like Draco but his movements are gentler. He's Draco's son and they seem identical physically but he's not the same person."
"I just want what's best for her," Ron admitted lying his head on the pillow, the first sign of rest he was ever going to get for a while.
"This is best for her," Hermione tried, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, whilst smiling in an encouraging way that reminded Ron of Rose. "Scorpius is just like you, so don't give him a hard time and Rose is sensible like me, she's not going to turn around and announce pregnancy or marriage anytime soon."
"Pregnancy? I didn't even think about that- what if she's pregnant?" Ron sat up so quickly that Hermione's arm was knocked backwards with such a force that she had almost fallen of the bed. It was only when she regained her balance when she decided to retaliate.
"They're secret best friends Ron, not star-crossed lovers."
"But you just said that Scorpius was like me and Rose like you- which means that you want them to get married and have babies."
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione laughed. "I said they were like us not that they were going to end up like us. Sometimes, Ronald, I wonder what you hear when I speak because you never seem to understand what it is I'm trying to say."
"But Malfoy and my daughter,"
"Goodnight Ron," Hermione lay back down whilst Ron stayed in his current position still looking as worried as he had done when he was pacing.
"She lied to us,"
"Night Ron," She turned over in her bed and shut her eyes gracefully.
"How can you sleep when all this is going on?" Ron questioned; Hermione sat up abruptly and gave Ron a glare to say that she had, had enough.
"Look, Ron, It's like this," She started. "Rose and Scorpius are friends. They have been for seven years, and nothing we say or do is likely to stop that. You gave her your blessing because you want her to be happy and you love her. Are you telling me that you want to wake her up now at 4am and brake her heart by telling her that you want to take your blessing back?" Hermione finished as Ron whimpered under her gaze.
"No of course not, they can be friends it's just-"
"So what have we been talking about for the last three or four hours then?"
"I'm just worried about her; I don't want her to forget our family." Ron said finally and it was then when Hermione's eyes softened because it was then and only then did she find the true root of the problem.
"She won't- she never will," Ron snorted as if to say he doubted it.
"You used to spend every summer and Christmas with the Weasley's," He reasoned. Hermione said nothing for a moment but thought carefully of what to say.
"That was different. My parents weren't magic they didn't understand but you should. You and Harry needed me, we had a quest or mission or whatever. I needed to be here because I needed to help you two not because I forgot about my family." Ron still looked unconvinced so Hermione decided to carry on talking. "Rose won't be with the Malfoy's all the time- besides the fact that she is obviously crazy about her family, especially her father, I'm sure Draco would never allow it. He may have agreed to friends but a Christmas with a Weasley might tip him over the edge. Nothing, nobody, especially a boy is ever going to take your little girl away from you, and you have to try to remember that."
Hermione said the last sentence with enough force that she wasn't shouting. She put a particular emphasis on it because she knew that it was what he had meant; though he didn't say it. She had known him long enough to know the real reason behind this rant. It was the same reason he didn't want Rose to date or go to Hogwarts every year. It wasn't because Scorpius was a Malfoy or even because Scorpius wasn't to be trusted, it was because he was a boy. He was worried that she'd fall in love and be taken away from him.
"Can we just go to sleep and talk about this in the morning," Hermione said finally, in an un-natural child-like voice. Ron smirked and nodded, while kissing her forehead. When he drew back he smiled his lop-sided smile that Hermione understood to mean 'thanks' and once they had bidden each other goodnight, they layback down and fell asleep.
Scorpius woke up and couldn't believe his eyes. He knew he was in his own bed at Malfoy Manor but it felt like an alternative reality. He turned over and saw his favourite picture of Rose by his bed and remembered yesterday. He smiled, breathing deeply to enjoy the feeling of being awake and hopeful.
As he inhaled his nose detected the smell of his mother cooking breakfast. He didn't know how he knew the smell of his mothers cooking differed from the house-elves but he didn't care. He leapt out of bed only pausing to grab his dressing gown as he ran to breakfast. He was excited: Not only because, as he raced down the old staircase, he was closer to his presents and some food. But excited because he could finally be truthful with his mother.
Then his tummy clenched, and he slowed down as he reached the kitchen door, his mother would want answers. She'd read stuff into it! He inhaled the sweet smell of a cooking farm yard again before entering. His mother was by the stove and without looking up greeted him with a cheerful,
"Morning Skip, Skipper, Skippy... Which do you prefer?"
"Still Scorpius mum" he grumped sitting down.
"Oh don't be like that!" She said turning round, directing some bacon from the grill to an awaiting serving dish. "Is it an owl? Is it a broom? My little Skipperman!!!" She smiled. Scorpius couldn't help but make a face at this. His mum had always been somewhat optimistic, bouncing around with her favourite apron acting as if nothing had happened.
Scorpius looked up to see the friendly toothy smile that he had grown to know over the years. She had a petit face with only a few freckles that decorated the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were a soft mahogany and her body was thin and short. Her robes were blue and hung to the ground. She held not one similarity to her son and even though she had blonde hair it was a different blonde to that of Scorpius's.
"Mum... I'm a wizard not the last son of a destroyed planet that wears his underwear over tights..!" he said with an unrepressed smile.
"My son... Displaying a smile - who knew with a 7th year Hogwartian, it was possible?" she asked placing her hand over her heart dramatically. "So you told your dad about Rose what about your secret love of muggle comic's?" She asked noting the way his eyes lit up at the name of his best-friend.
"Mum, I don't think dad ever has to know about the comics," He replied, sitting at the breakfast bar, as his mother placed a plate directly in front him, before grabbing a glass and pouring her son some Pumpkin juice.
"Well you might be surprised at how well your dad will take the comic news in light of the fact that you've been best-friends with the brilliant, beautiful and brainy Rose Weasley!" she said grabbing her coffee and flicking her wand to start the eggs.
"Has he still not recovered from being hugged by a Weasley, yet?"
"Give the boy a coconut!" she smiled. "Once he got home and tried to get ready for bed he couldn't decide what to do. He took an hour long shower, forgetting his PJ's, and then he came out and remembered that he hadn't washed his hair. Then came out having used my very expensive and girly smelling shampoo!" then she sighed. "All joking aside. It's not like him and he's worried about you."
"He didn't get to sleep for ages thinking that you're going to run off and become a Weasley... Rejecting not only the family name but him because of things he did in the past. He doesn't want to lose you, love." she said absentmindedly putting the finished eggs on another warmed platter.
"He's not going to loose me," Scorpius said forcefully. "I love my family, it's just I gained a friend, that's all. We're friends it's not like we're going to elope, get married and have kids; just midnight meetings by a murky lake. Besides that's stupid if being friends with Min was going to make me forget about him then it would have happened a long time ago."
"Min..!" she exclaimed. "Is still the daughter of the woman your father had to watch being tortured by his Aunt... Don't you see Scorpius he's feeling insecure and ashamed for what he did? He doesn't want to loose you over a youthful mistake. And he was in shock that you've been lying so much to us and that she lied to her parents too. It's difficult for us to believe what you say about your friendship until we see it a bit more" she smiled patiently wanting to convey how much she loved him and didn't want her husband and sons relationship to suffer due to this revelation.
"Yeah well," Scorpius said exhaling heavily. "I guess I can understand that but I don't want my relationship with Rose to be ruined because dad doesn't like it, ok?"
"I'm not worried about your and Roses relationship Hun. That seems stronger than even you thought. I'm worried about your and your dad's relationship. It could easily fall apart if Malfoy pride and whatever gets in the way. So just promise me you'll be gentle when dealing with him. Show him you love him that it's ok for him to ease himself into knowing about this. And above else that even though you have this friendship you still need him."
"Ok I promise," Scorpius said finally; he knew that his mother was right and he' do it more for her than anyone else.
Serena Malfoy smiled at her son and looked at the clock. "Any who... We still have time before your father's in the dining room and these things have to be in there so..." Skip took a gulp of pumpkin juice. "Tell me about Rose... Has she always been so beautiful?" the coy smile evaporated from Serena's lips when her son started to choke.
"Mum!" Scorpius warned, still recovering from choking on his pumpkin Juice.
"What?" She said innocently putting both her hands in the air. "What did I say?"
"It's not what you said, it's what you implied." Scorpius told her, a disgruntled look on his face.
"And WHAT did I imply other than that best-friend of yours is not bad looking?" she said trying to sound innocent. "Just asked whether she was always so lovely because some people who start out looking like a model don't develop their personality... I was... enquiring as to her personality NOT, my sweet, whether you have noticed she's eye candy. If you infer by my question something else... maybe you should examine your own feeling on the matter." Her eyes sparkled with mirth and motherly love and she could tell that Skip was fighting against smiling.
"Well good, as long as we're clear." Scorpius replied, looking at his mother dead in the eye; they glimmered with a mischievous glint, a glint that he knew only too well. The one when she would trick his father into watching muggle soaps. The one she had when she had just won a debate or was hatching a secret plan to get his dad to buy her flowers- it was one that he loved to see usually but at this moment he didn't like. "And she has a great personality if you must know. She's funny and kind and smart. I wouldn't have been friends with her if she was as stupid as a troll, would I?"
"My question wasn't whether she was as stupid as a troll it was whether she was always as pretty! And seeing as you're not giving me a straight answer I'll not assume whether she has always been one of those hateful always gorgeous and heart of gold types - however I will assume from the lack of answer that you have indeed noticed." she reasoned. Skip opened his mouth then closed it again. "That's what I thought. Why deny she's beautiful when it's so obvious?"
"I know what you're thinking, mum, and don't go getting any stupid ideas," He said simply, caring his plate, along with his glass into the dinning room, as they waited for Draco to return.
"Moi, stupid idea! I'm your mother! I was a Slytherin that the Sorting Hat nearly put in Ravenclaw..." she sighed with mock shock. "I'm the one who 'suggested' to Santa what presents you get so you better be hoping that I don't have stupid ideas or I'll contact Santa right now and get him to take your presents back!"
"Mum, I'm seventeen- I don't believe in Santa anymore!"
"You don't believe in Santa! Well, I'll have to take back some presents... Maybe there's still time to send them up to Hogwarts for the children who don't have anything..." she said looking towards the families Christmas tree. Then she turned round and looked at her son.
"Do what you want with the presents," Scorpius smiled, before a thought struck him. "Rose,"
"What about her, sweaty?"
"I forgot to give her, her present yesterday,"
"I beg your pardon?" Serena stopped arranging the dishes.
"Her Christmas present, I bought it last weekend and I've forgotten to give it to her," Scorpius answered looking somewhat panic stricken. "Christmas is tomorrow,"
"Calm down, darling, you'll just have to send it over to her,"
"But I want to see her open it, it's our tradition,"
"Give it to her when you're back at school then," She suggested, whipping her hands on her apron."
"You don't understand she needs it before New Year."
"Why?" she said slowly after a minute. "I have an idea about how you can do it but I need to know why before I tell you the how..." Skips expression changed.
"Because she needs it for her cousins wedding," Scorpius said bluntly, clearly trying to old back as much information as he could. He had been secret friends with Rose long enough for it to feel suddenly strange exposing this information to his mother.
"And that's New Years is it? What did you get her?"
"Nothing Special," He said, looking at the ground as if he was momentarily fascinated by his shoes.
"Indulge me... You getting what you want, with your father happy about it, will take SERIOUS work given how he was last night... Come on love, tell me, think of it as an early Christmas present" she pouted.
"It's just some dress robes she's been going on about for months, her parents won't get it for her- her mum reckons that she can get a dress just as good for quarter the price but her hearts are set on those ones." He admitted, unable to look at his mother, for he knew what was coming next.
"Well if I'd put money on what you'd gotten her never, in a million years would I guess that sweetie... How nice of you! So how did you have enough money to buy her the robes that her parents wouldn't! Do we give you too much pocket money? Have you sold an organ or started a protection racket?"
"I won the money; if it puts your mind to rest she should have won the money, anyway."
Just across from them, they heard one of the portraits cough in a ladylike fashion; meaning that the master of the house was on his way down.
"You really like her don't you?" she asked as she gave the table a sweeping look and magically removed the plates cover.
"Course I do mum. She's my best friend. I'm hardly going to hate someone I'm best friends with..." then he saw the unasked response on his mothers features "But mum... we're JUST good friends K?"
She nodded and he went down the table to his 'proper' seat.
"Just good friends huh? Where have I heard that before?" she said low enough that Skip could hear while Draco, who had just entered the room couldn't. "Morning Draco darling... How was your shower?" Serena said pouring her husband's drink. Draco coughed, displaying his embarrassment to only his wife, who knew him so well.
"Fine. The situation is well under control..." he smiled slyly, making Serena go weak at the knees. Draco smiled wider, that he still had that effect on his wife. She handed him his drink and gave him a slow lingering kiss. Scorpius coughed, to remind his parents he was there.
"Ewwww gross, how do you expect me to hold down my breakfast now after seeing that?" Scorpius said looking disgusted.
"By showing the manners you were brought up with and respecting your parents I expect" Draco said breathlessly as his wife slipped away before squeezing his hand softly with the promise of later. There was a brief silence in which nobody said anything. Only half a minute had passed before Scorpius decided to put his mother's advice into practice.
"We still going to go to the Three Witch Theme Park boxing day, dad, it is our tradition, don't want to miss it because of a little snow, do we?" Scorpius said casually, taking a bite out of his bacon.
"You still want to go?" Draco said surprised. "I didn't think you'd want to... You being of age now and all." Draco said as he plated his food.
"So? It's a family tradition, just because I'm of age, doesn't mean I'm going to completely forget about you guys," Scorpius said, laughing. "No sorry dad, you'll have to try harder to get rid of me or else put up with me for a long time yet." Draco looked shocked but smiled nether the less. It had been a worry of his that Scorpius would grow up and gradually slip away from the family.
"The Three Witch Theme Park on boxing day it is then," Draco stated rather happily staring over at his son before taking another bite of his breakfast. "So what do you two want," Draco continued looking between his wife and son. He had known them only too well to know that when they looked at him like that, they wanted something but were too afraid to ask.
"I'll leave you two alone," Scorpius's mother departed from the room, giving Scorpius an encouraging smile as she left. Once the two men were alone, Draco looked at his son for a long time. It was clear that there was some tension in the atmosphere, carried on from yesterday's events. Scorpius was fiddling with some bacon with his fork; his head was resting on his hand as he stared determinedly down at his full English breakfast.
"Am I a bad father?" Draco said finally, his tone though confident sounded a little vulnerable as well.
"What? No, off course you're not." Scorpius was shocked at Draco's question to say the least. His father had always seemed so strong; he never ever had doubts or insecurities about his parenting skills until now.
"Look," Draco began. "I know I'm not the best dad in the world. I might not listen to you at times, we argue a lot, I spend most of the time in the living room wallowing in self pity but we have good times don't we?"
"Yeah, off course we do. And you are a good dad. I wouldn't swap you for anyone. We've been through so much together. If it wasn't for you- I could have ended up in some foster home now, mum didn't want me and she left. You were the only one I had until I was five. You took care of the both of us the best way you could, you made sure I had somewhere to live, some clothes, you read me the bedtime stories. You were there when I needed you. No one else was there for me. Not my birth mum, not Grandpa or Grandma, only you- and if that doesn't make you the best dad in the world, then I don't know what will."
"So you won't run of with Weasley and get married with multiple kids and forget about your old man?" Draco said, smiling slightly at Scorpius's speech.
"It's Rose, dad. And I don't think we'll be getting married!"
"You sure about that?"
"She seems so like her mother and I remember..." There was a pause and Draco slipped into a youthful memory "Well I remember... err... She and Weasley were friends and they seemed to easily fall for each other."
"That's true," Scorpius nodded. "But if we do fall in love and marry, I promise I won't forget about our family. I quite like it here- free food! And besides I quite like my old man." Scorpius grinned, as did Draco. They sat in silence for a few moments and it wasn't until Draco noticed his wife looking through the crack in the door that he said,
"Go on then, go and see Rose for whatever reason you need to, just be back for dinner- we don't want the Weasley's feeling as though they have to feed you as well- as long as I can thrash you at Quidditch when you get home."
"Thanks dad, I owe you one and I'll thrash you- you have to take it easy on that broom, wouldn't want to hurt your back, you know, with your old age and all," Scorpius said slyly, before running out of the room quickly.
"Oi get back here," But Scorpius didn't listen. It was then when Serena Malfoy decided to walk into the room. She went straight up to him and then kissed him on the cheek. "What was that for?"
"For being perfect," She said casually, before following Scorpius to the front door.
*
"Rose," Hermione, yelled, from the downstairs banister. "Scorpius is here," Ron Weasley sat on the armchair in the living room, only to stand at the sudden presence of Hermione, Scorpius and his mother. The fireplace was blazing, the flickering flames warming every inch of the room.
When Rose hadn't come down Hermione called for her again. This time, however, instead of the blissfully happy Rose that her parents had been used to, since yesterday's event, the sounds of muffled arguing could be distinctly heard. After several minutes, two pairs of feet ran down the stairs loudly.
"HUGO WEASLEY, YOU GIVE ME IT BACK THIS INSTANT," Rose Weasley screamed, in a shrill high-pitched tone. Only a second had passed and Hugo Weasley came running into the living room, a broad gin stretched across his face, with a brown leather bound book clutched into his rather large hands.
"September the 1st," Hugo read, after opening the book rapidly, with a glistening spark of amusement filling every inch of his hazel eyes.
"GIVE IT BACK," Rose said hurrying in, holding a wand to his face threateningly.
"I don't understand, I do so much for him. If only he could look at me like the human being I am and not a prize to be won," Hugo bellowed, laughing hysterically. Neither seemed to notice Scorpius's presence or his mothers. "Aww, poor Rosie having trouble in the boy department,"
"Hugo, I'm warning you," She said through gritted teeth, her ears burning red at the very tips.
"Let's have a look at another, shall we? Ah look, two days after Halloween," Hugo said smugly, his grin broadening still.
"Give that back or I'll hex you so bad that not even Harry Potter could save you,"
"Last night I had a dream about Scorpius, and I can't seem to get it out of my head, his face his eyes…" Hugo ignored. All it took was for Rose to notice Scorpius in the corner of the room for her mind to start racing. "Probably shouldn't read the rest out, gets a bit intimate,"
"YOU'RE DEAD!" Hugo didn't get a chance to read anymore because at that moment Rose made an attempt to leap onto Hugo, only Ron managed to catch her in mid air. Her arms and legs were struggling to try and get free and the leather bound book that Hugo had once held had flown into Hermione's hand and was given back to it's owner.
"What the in the name of Merlin are you two playing at?" Hermione said rather sternly, Ron's arm was still holding Roses waste, while his free arm hung by his side. Hugo was looking at the floor, shamefully like he always had done whenever Hermione was about to tell him off. "You were playing chess quite happily half an hour ago and now you're at each others throats."
"He stole my Diary, and wouldn't stop reading it- it's my private property!" Rose yelled, from her father's grip, still dangling in the air.
"Yeah, only because she hexed me and started teasing me about Carrie," Hugo said defensively.
"I HEXED HIM BECAUSE HE MADE FUN OF WHAT I LOOKED LIKE!"
"ONLY BECAUSE SHE CHEATED IN WIZARDS CHESS!"
"JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A SORE LOOSER, DOESN'T' MEAN YOU SHOULD TAKE IT OUT ON ME,"
"I DIDN'T LOOSE, YOU CHEATED,"
"BOTH OF YOU, ENOUGH," Hermione shouted, both of them stopped bickering immediately, and their gazes flickered over to their angry mother instantly. "Hugo, you know that you shouldn't read other people's diaries, there could be something really secret in there," Hermione said calmly and diplomatically.
"What like, other secret best friends we don't know about," Hugo snorted, folding his arms matter-of-factly as Ron released a now calmer Rose.
"It doesn't matter, that's Rose's property and you wouldn't like it if someone broadcasted your most inner thoughts and feelings to a room full of people."
"Yeah well I'm not stupid enough to write them in a book!" Hugo answered back. "Not my fault if she wants to write about her dirty dream with Malfoy in a book, just lying open on her bedroom table, for the world to see."
"It wasn't a dirty dream and you shouldn't have been in my bedroom in the first place," Rose replied, her face reddening, and Ron holding her shoulders and removing her wand so that he knew she wouldn't attack him again.
"This book begs to differ and I wouldn't have been in your room if you hadn't hexed me,"
"Well I wouldn't have hexed you if you had kept your bloody big trap-"
"ROSE WEASLEY, LANGUAGE," Hermione warned, pointing a finger, before sending an apologetic smile over to Scorpius's mother. "Hugo no Wii4 for the rest of the holiday," She told him, because she knew even if he was a Wizard, he had a huge interest in Muggle gadgets.
"What but that's not fair," He whined, his red hair falling into his eyes, casting a shadow that made his eyes look wider.
"Yes it is young man, and don't give me that look- next time I'll get the naked baby photos out and tell stories to all your friends so you know how it feels to be humiliated!" Hermione then turned to Rose. "And Rose, I'm afraid, I'll have to confiscate your wand," Hugo smirked.
"What, why, what did I do?" Rose said in the same voice Hugo had used merely moments before.
"You can not hex you brother, how many more times do I have to tell you?"
"But-"
"If you have a problem with Hugo you tell me or your father and we'll sort it out, do not take matters into your own hands." Hermione said, stressing her point, by pronouncing every letter determinedly.
"But I need my wand," Rose argued, helplessly waving her arms around as if it would magically change her mothers mind.
"This is not up for debate young lady, muggles live without wands every day, I'm sure you'll survive two weeks," Hermione retaliated. "Hugo room, and Rose incase you have not notice we have company so I suggest you apologise for your entrance and then greet them." Hugo left the room straight away muttering under his breath. Just as he was half way up the stairs Hermione spoke again. "AND DON'T YOU DARE EVEN THINK ABOUT TURNING ON THAT COMPUTER, YOU'RE STILL GROUNDED FROM THE OTHER DAY, REMEMBER?" A loud groan was audible before the light footsteps and the slamming door had dissolved into silence.
"Sorry about that," Hermione smiled, turning to Serena Malfoy, apologetically.
"No, no don't worry, brings back fond memories," She insisted. "I have two brothers and both of them were a lot worse- luckily I was the only one that could do magic out of the three of us, so they soon stopped,"
"It wasn't a dirty dream, Scorpius, I swear," Were the first words that left Rose's lips as she turned to a now smirking Scorpius, who was looking too arrogant for her liking.
"Yeah, sure Rosie, whatever you say," Scorpius laughed, sitting on the seat next to Ron.
"Don't call me Rosie and it wasn't!"
"I believe you," Sarcasm dripped from his every word. "Don't worry, Weasley, I know I'm too damn sexy but fear not our friendship will be left unmarked,"
"Stop being a jerk," Rose said disgustedly, just about to storm of when she felt a warm hand slide around her waste and pulled her back, so that she was sitting on Scorpius's lap, receiving a threatening glare from Ron's direction.
"Joking Min, Merlin you need to learn to not be so uptight." Scorpius stated, as he felt Rose still wriggling in his firm grip, which hadn't loosened yet.
"I am not uptight," Rose said acidly, turning to look directly into his grey eyes that seemed to burn into hers, something that usually happened, yet she couldn't explain why.
"If you weren't uptight then that would have been a dirty dream,"
"Actually it was," Rose snapped, in her usual know-all-tone she had got from Hermione Granger herself.
"It wasn't,"
"What if it was, how would you know?"
"Min, I know that it wasn't a dirty dream because that's the night you woke up screaming and crying," Scorpius said in an equally know-it-all tone that annoyed Rose to no end. "And if it was a dirty dream then I must have either been really awful or you were immensely traumatised, either way, I don't come off as a very good guy,"
"Would someone please just explain this dream to me before I do something I'll regret?" Ron butted in, deciding this conversation about his daughter having dirty dreams about the boy she was sitting on was all getting a little uncomfortable to say the very least.
"It was nothing," Rose said, waving her hand as if to dismiss the conversation. Ron glanced at his wife pleadingly for her to do something other than watch her daughter sitting on a boy with amusement.
"Hey Rose," Rose turned her head sharply to look at Scorpius but when she did so she noticed just how close they were. Their lips seemed to be a mere centre metre apart and when she felt her heart flop and she began to feel slightly sick, she leapt of his lap and shuffled to her left so that she was closer to Ron. Ron looked relieved and slipped his arm over his daughters shoulder. "Do you know what day it is today?" Scorpius continued, looking a bit confused and Rose's sudden movement.
"Christmas eve," Rose suggested, still feeling a little uncomfortable with Scorpius's presence. What's wrong with me? She thought, I've never felt uncomfortable around Scorpius before…
"And what normally happens on Christmas Eve?"
"Everyone looks forward to Christmas?" She questioned, unsure with what Scorpius meant.
"Let me rephrase," Scorpius said, smiling madly at her now. "What do we normally do on Christmas Eve?" Rose's face lit up instantly, she moved from her fathers embrace back towards skip dancing with pure joy, and she threw her arms around his shoulders. Of course, how could she forget? Christmas Eve was the day they'd meet up in Diagon Alley and exchange Christmas presents.
"Gimmi, gimmi, give it here," Rose demanded, suddenly sounding like a small child. She was, in this respect, like her father Ron. Hermione shot Ron a look to notice that he was now trying to hide is displeasure at Scorpius having so much power over his daughter. Hermione smiled and noted to herself that she'd have to remind him of what she was like with him at that age. Then again... Hermione thought with a bittersweet smile maybe pointing that out wouldn't be the best idea!
"Not until you give me mine,"
"Who's to say I've given you one?" Rose said very matter-of-factly absently sticking her nose in the air and crossing her arms.
"Well then, I guess you'll just have to wait for your present then, won't you?" Scorpius said slyly, as he stood up and turned to his mother winking enjoying the look of horror on his best friends face. His mother's mouth went dry. Scorpius was really so much like his father that Serena thought it best not to mention this to her husband.
"Scorpius Malfoy, you give me that present this instant," She ordered, sounding like her mother again but when Scorpius made no move she sighed in frustration and sure enough a small gift flew into the room and into Rose's hand. Rose held it up and gently shook it so the bow made an enticing noise. Scorpius turned and stood there with his hand out. Rose smiled as her eyebrow rose and her eyes read 'Really?' A minute later Scorpius smiled as larger present appeared in his hands.
He felt his heart melt at the happy sparkle in Rose's eyes. They exchanged them before looking up at each other nervously.
"Who's going to open first?" Scorpius asked rhetorically. Rose, present in hand whirled round like she was dancing with her gift. She danced it to the sofa then plopped down and eyed it like a demented three year old on too much sugar placing both of her legs onto the sofa and moving so that she was facing him.
"It's my turn," Scorpius said in immediate protest, enjoying their Christmas banter.
"No it's not and besides what ever happened to girls first," She stated in a way that Scorpius couldn't reply without sounding sexist.
"You used that on me last year, you can't use that card twice- it's not my fault I was born with a... wizard, with a Y chromy thing!"
"Don't be so melodramatic."
"Min, melodrama is not my department. YOU went first last year and the year before and then the year before that," He trying to keep a sober face. When on the inside he just wanted to see her open her present - but he knew that her getting her own way to open the present first was just something they did.
"In which case its tradition," She pointed out smartly. "Come on, please Skip," She put on her puppy dog eyes that never failed to win Scorpius over, she pouted her lips and closed her hands together, in a way that made her seem not a day older than five.
"Fine go on," He said giving in, his eyes soft as he looked away to avoid the happiness in her expression, for he couldn't trust himself to look. "But next year it'll be me," He added but he and Rose both new that Rose would always open her present first, even until their dying day.
Rose squeak made her mother and father look at her with fresh eyes. Sometimes Rose was so grown up and yet somehow she could always remain their girly princess who had insisted on having irrational pink days.
Carefully Rose leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, whispered a thank you that made Scorpius's heart miss a beat, before she turned her attention to the gift in her lap. Scorpius absentmindedly looked adoringly at her until Ron pointedly cleared his throat. First the lap, then the kiss, now this loved up gaze... Ron decided he better have words with his young Romeo.
Scorpius watched as Roses hand reached for the gold ribbon. She unlaced it and placed it by her side. She realised that the box wasn't wrapped in paper but in a fine maroon silk that she could use as a scarf later. She placed the silk around her neck and opened the box carefully. Her breath hicked at what she saw another layer of silk. This time it was green with metallic, silver ribbon. A smile crept onto her face, in realising what Scorpius had done; the idea that it had been wrapped in more than one layer made her more curious to know what was inside. Rose lifted this new box old of the old to see Scorpius's smirk. She undid this new ribbon and placed it with the first. Then she put the silk on top on the ribbon.
"Hey that Slytherin green is expensive show it the same respect you show the Gryffindor red... which was less expensive."
"Ok, ok, sorry," Rose said playfully, wrapping the silk around her neck, stroking it mockingly before sticking her tongue out at him. Skip nodded with approval. Rose looked down at the tissue papered package that was now in her lap. She removed it and was speechless.
She saw yet another box but this one was a shop box with simple gold lettering. Scorpius gulped as he saw the shock melt away to excitement. Slowly she got up and took the box with her.
"What did you get her? What was that? What's going on?" Ron said pointing his wand at Scorpius.
"I got her something she wanted I didn't think she would leave." He said biting his lip. Then there was a pop and Rose appeared in front of them beaming. Instead of wearing jeans and a t-shirt she was dressed in a set of white dress robes they looked white as she twirled around and around giggling and beaming. Then she stopped and ran at Skip in his arms. He swung her round and round. Lost in a moment of bliss.
When they stopped moving and hugging the adults noticed that he dress robes weren't white but cream with intricate gold detailing. They had a cow neckline and were cut to an A line which suited her figure beautifully.
"You REALLY like them?" Skip asked gazing down at her.
"Like them?" Rose said disbelievingly, the smile growing wider still. "Skip, I love them- I've wanted them for months! How did you know? How the hell did you afford them?"
"The bet"
"What bet?" Ron interrupted impatiently; he hated suddenly being in the dark, he used to be the one Rose told everything to.
"The Halloween bet, dad." Rose flickered, her gaze towards her now standing father and then looked towards Scorpius again. "How did you know which ones I wanted?"
"Min, you kidding me," Scorpius smirked. "You've had your eye on them for ages, every time I see you in Hogsmeade; you're staring at them through the window,"
"They are beautiful," Hermione commented, staring at her daughter's dress, in shock. "Hang on, aren't those the robes we didn't get you because they were too expensive?"
"Yes they are which is why I bought them for her. I knew you wouldn't, she couldn't because I won so I got them... well what else could I get you?"
"Won them? Rose what does he mean about winning them?" Ron asked sitting down next to his wife.
"He won the money to buy the dress robes by winning the Exploding snap tournament," Rose stated. "Daddy, aren't they beautiful and you can turn them inside out and they turn blue," She lifted the corner of her dress and flipped it over and sure enough Ron saw the deep blue underneath that matched the colour of her eyes.
"Thought the blue would go better with your eyes. And before you say anything I don't need paying back for these." Skip was smiling but Rose backed away.
"Come on, Skip," Rose said getting slightly agitated now. "You can't expect me to just take these; they must have cost you an absolute fortune the last time I looked, they were six hundred and fifty two galleons- Then there was the silk- I'd feel to guilty."
"Rose don't you dare start pricing up my presents to you. You always do that and I hate it! I bought you these because you're my friend and I had the money so didn't care what the cost was. I've been awful to you recently as well so don't even start thinking about 'paying me back'. There presents and apart from the joy of seeing you the queen of Gryffindor wearing Slytherin green. I don't need anything!!!"
"Let me think, what could I give you?" Rose said blatantly ignoring Scorpius's comment, while he rolled his eyes, feeling some what annoyed. It was only Rose that could make his feelings change so abruptly. "Oh, I know, you can be my date for the wedding," Not noticing the look of dread on Scorpius's face she continued. "You're my best friend and I haven't found anyone yet, it'd be perfect,"
"No Rose... That would be too weird." he said looking away shaking his head.
"How would that be weird?" Rose asked, her eyes were sparkling again because of her fantastic idea. "It would be fun, all you'd have to do is walk me down the isle because I'm a bridesmaid and every other bridesmaid and groomsmen are getting there dates to walk them down,"
'W-walk you down the i-i-isle' Skip stuttered both thrilled and horrified by the thought. "I don't think that would be fun. Remember there are few people who know we're friends..."
"So, it'll be a brilliant way to tell everyone," But upon seeing the horrified look on Scorpius's face she stopped. "Oh- well, if I'm that bad to be seen with, I could always invite Joseph,"
"NO!!!" Skip said louder than he expected. Everyone turned to look at him and Hermione was suddenly reminded of Ron asking her to dance at Bill and Fleur's wedding so she wouldn't dance with Krum. "You convinced me Min...I'll do it... OK?"
"Yes!" She said triumphantly. "This is going to be so much fun, we can dance and everything!" Rose looked positively delighted with the idea of being able to go out with Scorpius in public. Rose launched herself into Scorpius's arms again and he began to sway them. Then he dipped her. She giggled and he beamed as there noses touched.
"Are you sure you and your new robes really ready for my level on the dance floor?" Rose let her head fall back at the thought. Scorpius was suddenly looking at her bare neck... he wanted to kiss it so much. Then he heard Ron cough and dropped Rose - he forgot that the parents were there.
"SO..." Ron said pointedly. "What did Rose get you 'Skippy'?'
Scorpius's gaze dropped to the floor. Relived that he had been interrupted, before he really did do something he'd regret. He moved to the sofa and picked up the rectangular pastel, as he sat down Rose sat in front, the train of her dress robes spread across the sofa. She looked up at him expectedly, her eyes wide with anticipation.
The package that now lay in Skips lap was simply wrapped. It was wrapped in post office paper. But instead of being brown it was Slytherin green. The paper was covered in all kinds of sliver doodles that Rose had animated. Carefully he opened the package and saw a book. It looked like any other album.
"Gee thanks Rose!" he said playfully.
"You don't know what it is, do you?" Rose said sighing heavily.
"An album?" Rose let her laughter fill every inch of the room; she looked at Scorpius directly in the eye before smiling down at the green and silver album in his hands.
"Yes but do you know what it's of?" Scorpius eyed it carefully. "Open it," Rose ordered nicely.
Scorpius didn't say anything but slowly opened it to the first page. To his shock he saw his eleven-year-old self looking at a smaller Rose Weasley at Platform nine and three quarters on his first day, next to it he saw himself helping her up in the corridor when she had been crying. As he flipped through it he noticed that it was a collection of photographs of their friendship. It went through every year they shared at Hogwarts showing everything from the Halloween kiss to their argument to them making up. He felt his throat closing as he stared at the album gob smacked.
"I know it's not much, it didn't cost me anything either," Rose said guilty, feeling ashamed that her present was nothing compared with what he had given her. He put the album aside and scooped her up. He twirled her round again repeating over and over: thank you. He couldn't believe she'd done this for him. This must have taken her months to sort out and organise. She'd put letters and jokes in as well as the photo's. On some of the pages she'd drawn on the rest of the photo's scene. Work like this took a long time and it didn't escape his notice that this meant that she's been doing this when he's been so unkind to her.
"Not much, not much, Rose this must have taken you ages!" Scorpius said all in a rush. "Thanks so much, it's perfect," He said quietly.
"No problem," Rose felt herself blush, she wasn't sure what initiated it, and she rarely blushed in Scorpius's presences, what's wrong with me today? He put her back down and flicked through it again he smiled when he saw particularly happy memory of him and Rose looking up at the clouds to see what shapes they looked like, in their third year. He remembered it so clearly because it had been the day he had almost convinced her to go flying with him. It was then with bubbling excitement that a thought struck him.
"Let's go flying,"
"Flying, why?" Rose said looking a little bit scared. She had always wanted to be able to fly, for as long as she could remember she had loved Quidditch more so than any other Weasley member, but whenever she got onto a broom she'd end up falling of and ever since she broke her leg on her tenth birthday, she rarely tried to fly at all.
"Because it's something I've always wanted to do with you." He said, looking down at her, aware that all eyes were on them.
"Do we have to, you know I can't fly to save my life," She said helplessly.
"Well you won't be flying to save your life you'll be flying to make me happy. You know you'll love it when you get up there." he coaxed.
"I can't fly on my own, I'll end up falling of the broom," She said unsure why she was feeling guilty for turning him down.
"That's because you over think things... You can fly with me. I'll let you be in control and you won't fall off."
"Alright then," Rose caved, but upon looking at Scorpius's triumphant gaze she added, "But only this once, we're not making a habit of it,"
"Off Course not," Scorpius smirked, before reaching for her wrist and dragging her towards the garden. "Bye everyone by the way... We won't be long!" And he took them outside until he stopped and turned to Rose.
"Minnie"
"Yes Skip"
"Where are the brooms?"
Rose didn't say anything but simply walked of to a near by wooden shed. When she opened it she disappeared inside and a moment later she came back holding a Firebolt 370 in her hands.
"Here," Rose said handing it to him absently. "We should use this one,"
"Whose is this?" Scorpius asked, his breath hitching. The Firebolt 370 really was a stunning broom, even her couldn't have afforded this, he had the Firebolt 360 instead.
"Mine," Rose said smiling. "Dad bought it for me when I wanted to try out for the team this year but then I decided not to,"
"I thought you told me you couldn't fly?"
"Why do you think I didn't try out in the end," Rose laughed but it was then when Scorpius climbed onto the broom and held out his had so that she could get on in front of him.
"Are you ready Miss Weasley?"
"As I ever will be," She muttered so that he couldn't hear her. She took a shaky breath before grabbing onto his hand and climbing on in front of him. He then folded his arms so that they went across her body and rested his hand onto the broom. She was surprised that she felt her body stiffen at the touch.
"Rose you have to relax we won't be able to fly with you so tense." Scorpius whispered in her ear making her feel tingly all over. He moved his hands so that they covered hers.
"Now point the nose up and kick off..." he said trying to ignore how good her hair smelt.
"I don't think I can," She said stiffening still, Get a grip, she thought, it's only Scorpius.
"I'll do it then and you can go from there." He angled the broom and kicked up. The cold wind began to whistle around them so he placed his hand on his wand to warm them. At first they seemed to be moving smoothly but once Scorpius stopped helping Rose she began to wobble, again.
"You're not going to kill us you know"
"I know, but it's not my fault I can't fly," Rose said, defeated.
"Just relax Rose, you're over thinking it," Scorpius said. "This is not like in the class room, don't think, just do," His lips were so close to her ear that she felt like if he didn't kiss her she would surely die. An unspoken desire coursed through them.
Her mind went from fear of falling off the broom to the fear of the realities her mind was creating. They made the dreams her brother had read tame in comparison. Scorpius was suddenly aware of how smooth and soft her skin was next to his. The salty wind whipped around her making her hair blow into his face. He created a ribbon and tidied her hair up. A shiver ran up and down both of their spines and neither of them realised. He whispered into her ear.
"Go towards the hoops"
All logical thoughts seemed to have evaporated from her mind. She nodded and tried not to think about his body that had just moved closer to hers. Even though she knew that he was well defined. Suddenly they were at the hops.
"Now, ready to have some real fun," He murmured almost silently, his breath still tickling the nape of her neck, the breeze of the whistling wind flowing through her entire body like silk. It took all of her will power to tare her mind away from her thoughts and nod hesitantly.
It was then when Scorpius tightened his grip onto her hands and pointed the broom upwards so that they shot into the sky and above a few clouds. He whirled around and did a few backward flips, all the while hearing Rose's laughter echo around the outside air.
Excitement pumped through Rose's vein, never had she felt to free, so alive. Never had she flown like this before and when she looked down at the beautiful view of the cove and the glistening, urban sun behind a distant mountain, she felt her breathe being caught at the sight.
Scorpius continued to fly around along with her showing her everything he could, his ears ringing because of the sound of her blissful laughter. He then stopped completely before directing his broom downwards, and spiralling down with such as speed that Rose screamed. She had never felt such an adrenaline rush and she felt as though she could quite happily stay on this broom riding with Scorpius forever.
When they were a mere centre metre from the grass Scorpius gave a sharp upward turn so that they didn't crash and they both climbed of the broom, faces red from the coldness of the air, though they felt hot from the ride. And as Rose caught sight of her dad, she ran over to him, her mind still buzzing and her energy reaching its highest point, never had she felt so amazingly active.
"Dad," She shouted, blissfully as she stopped in front of her dad, her broom in her hand and Scorpius not far behind. "Dad did you see that, did you see me?"
"Yes I did you were brilliant," Ron laughed at how happy his daughter seemed. She usually acted like someone beyond her years; reading in the library and lecturing him and Hugo on their lack of contribution to the house work and yet today she seemed like she was when she was six. She had the same sparkle in her eyes and the same beaming grin that she had when he had first taken her on a broom ride.
His eyes then flickered towards the boy who was the cause of her happiness. He felt a small part of him sink as he realised she was growing up. That someday he wouldn't be the most important man in her life anymore. That she didn't need him as much as she used to.
"Merlin, I've never felt so alive!" She giggled and twirled on the spot. "Did you see when I did it on my own, dad? Did you see? I can fly, I never thought I could," She seemed nothing less than proud of herself.
"I always knew you could," Ron smiled down at her, She was still fairly short for her age, Hugo had managed to over take her as well as the rest of the family a long time ago.
"You have to teach me properly," She demanded her father, abruptly. "You have to show me how to do it without Scorpius behind me," She told him, even though she knew she liked it better with Scorpius behind her.
"Yeah, whenever you want, Princess," Ron beamed, tucking her hair around her ear in parental way.
"And Skip," She turned to him, still with as much energy as she had when she first come of the broom, her mind dizzy with the rush had felt while flying. "I would never have been able to do it if it wasn't for you,"
"Yes you could have done," Scorpius protested. "You just don't have enough confidence,"
"No, Skip you were amazing, thank you so much," She said kissing him on the cheek again, causing him to look dreamily at his excited best friend.
"Scorpius," They heard Serena call from inside the house, breaking Scorpius from his trance. He turned to see his mother along with Hermione looking through the photo album, his mother however stopped to look up at her son. "Could you come here for a moment please," Scorpius instantly made his way over to the French doors, leaving Rose with her father. They stood there silently for a moment, watching as Scorpius talked to the both mothers, pointing at a couple of pictures and then looking as though he was explaining them. When Hermione nodded at something he had said and smiled Rose turned to Ron.
"Will Uncle Harry, be back with the boys, Lily and Debby soon," Ron nodded at the question. "Teddy to?"
"Yeah, they decided that after a long day with picking wedding outfits for Teddy and Harry that they'd come back for tea together, Teddy wants to stop the night," Ron explained, still looking very thoughtful as though his mind was some where else.
"Look, dad," Ron looked down at Rose instantly, memories of her as a child flashing through his brain and the thoughts of her childhood ending filling his mind too. "I used to want to be alone when I was crying but every now and then I'd come to you and you'd make me feel safe and better. I never thought I could do that with anyone else, until I met Skip," Rose paused and looked long at hard at Ron's downhearted expression. "But I just want you to know that you are the most important person in my life and just because I need someone else now, just because I have another shoulder to cry on doesn't been your shoulder doesn't knock his of the top because it does."
"Friends come and go and so do boys," Rose continued. "But dads are forever,"
"Thanks," Ron said smiling his lop-sided smile and hugging Rose tightly, feeling more hopeful about the future.
"I hope you can accept Scorpius, and I don't mean just give your blessing because you have to but because you want to,"
"Rosie," Ron said hushing her rant in mid-momentum. "Anyone who can make you smile like you have done today and make your eyes sparkle like a five year old, its alright in by book," And with that Ron and Rose walked back to the house, watching Scorpius and the two women laughing at images in the scrapbook. But as Ron walked in, seeing Rose run to the table as well and turning the page to a particularly embarrassing picture of Scorpius, Ron smiled inwardly. Because even though he new his baby girl wasn't a baby anymore, he knew that they'd always have that unconditional bond and no boy, not even a Malfoy, could ever change that…