Chapter 25- Limits

They arrived at work together, Kyle knew they were dating so they didn't feel the need to be secretive. Scorpius moved straight over to the kettle to make the tea and Ruby sat at her desk feeling very strange to be back.

"Ah, Welcome back Miss Weasley." Said Kyle walking into the office carrying his briefcase.

"Thanks sir, it's great to be back."

"Well we've certainly missed you, haven't we Mr Malfoy?"

"Yes sir, do you want Coffee?"

"Please, now we're putting you on low risk cases just for the week."

"There's really no need…"

"I'm not negotiating on this. And tomorrow you need to go to the Ministry to be briefed on your project."

"What time?"

"Nine, they said you can come in after the meeting but if it's after lunch then don't bother."

"Okay, sir." Ruby replied, she was excited to finally find out what her mother had been working on.

A knock on the door disturbed the office and Kyle turned back to open it.

"Oh, hello Mr Weasley, what can I do for you?" Kyle asked, Ruby wondered if it was her father checking up on her.

"Sorry to bother you Hl Kyle, I just wanted a quick word with Ruby." It was Uncle Ron.

"Yes of course, I suppose it can only be expected that we may get visits from your family this week, Miss Weasley. Take your Uncle to the staff canteen, could you get me a pastry while you're there, the wife's put me on a diet." Ruby nodded and she walked to the door, she doubted very much that Ron was here to check up on her, more likely to interrogate her about Scorpius.

Ruby walked to the canteen in silence and her Uncle followed her trying to make conversation. As soon as they reached the canteen Ron sat down and Ruby got two cups of tea and a pastry for Kyle (the low fat option, lest his wife find out) and then sat opposite her Uncle.

"Alright then, say what you came to say." She said.

"Listen Ruby, I don't think you realise the implications of this thing with Scorpius…"

"It's not a 'thing', it's a relationship, he's my boyfriend."

"Yeah, whatever, look you're putting your mother in an impossible…"

"Don't give me that crap, Uncle Ron, this has got nothing to do with Mom, she likes Scorpius! She knew I was in love with him before I knew, she can even talk to him!"

"She's…she's spoken to him?"

"Yes, she likes him."

"It's also difficult for Hermione…"

"I know what happened in Malfoy Manor, Teddy told me." Her Uncle paled slightly.

"Ruby, the Malfoy's are bad news. They're bad people!"

"Scorpius isn't, Uncle Ron, please, don't make this more difficult than it already is!"

"Oh, so you can see that it's difficult then, you're not too blinded by…love. Ruby, nothing good can come of this." He indicated back to the office where Scorpius was.

"No, Uncle Ron, nothing good can come of this." She indicated between herself and Ron. "Don't make me choose."

"Ruby, family comes first!"

"Exactly, I'm your family, no one else seems to mind. This isn't about the family, it's about you and your own prejudice. Don't make me choose!" Ruby stood up and walked out of the canteen leaving her Uncle sat there alone.

She was still angry by the time she reached the office and she was glad that Kyle wasn't in there.

"Rubes?" Scorpius asked as she sat down on her desk and wiped away and errant tear that did not have her permission to be sliding down her face.

"I'm fine."

"Clearly, don't be angry, these things take me. That's what my Mom said."

"Really?" Ruby asked, looking up at him.

"Yep, they want to meet you, she's sent an owl, are you free on Thursday for dinner?"

"Yes, that would be nice."

"Good, you've got a letter as well." Ruby looked at the envelope on her desk and recognised James' writing.

Rubes,

Can you do dinner tomorrow night? Please! I won't mention Malfoy, Potters-honour!

James

P.S. Please Ruby, I don't think I can do this on my own.

Ruby smiled and scribbled a reply to her cousin and then pulled out her revision notes, she only had a few weeks left till her exam and her shaky memory meant that every moment counted.

The first couple of cases were so boring that by lunch time Ruby's mood had become nothing short of grumpy.

"I'm off to class, I'll see you later." Scorpius said, picking up his bag. Ruby just glared at him. "Hey, it's not my fault, and don't do that lip sucking thing it's really hot." Ruby almost smiled and Scorpius did.

A knock disturbed them, Scorpius turned to the door and looked surprised.

"Weasley, what are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too, Malfoy. Ruby here?" Rosie stuck her head in the office and Scorpius moved so Rosie could see Ruby's desk.

"Free for lunch? Just been dealing with a Floo collision." She asked.

"There you go, Ruby, Weasley's here to cheer you up." Said Scorpius, pulling off his robes.

"You know my name, Malfoy."

"And you know mine, Weasley. See you later Rubes, I'll pick up dinner." Scorpius left the office and then stuck his head back in. "Good catching up as always, Weasley."

"Sod off, Malfoy." Rosie said, with laughter in her eyes.

"Love you too." Scorpius left and Ruby laughed.

Ruby stood up and grabbed her wand and bag before leaving the office with her cousin.

"So, I take it that's an act that you two do?" Ruby asked, it felt weird to think that Rosie had probably spent more time with Scorpius than she had.

"Oh, not at the start, we genuinely did hate each other."

"What happened then?"

"We got too competitive and it just became funny." Rosie smiled and they entered the canteen together, several people looked in Ruby's direction but she tried to ignore it. They collected their lunch and sat at a table in the corner.

"What's he like in bed?" Rosie asked, biting into her tuna sandwich.

"Rosie!" Ruby gasped, not quite believing that her cousin had asked her.

"Come on Rubes, I'll tell you what Jake is like."

"I'm not sure I want to know. Why do you care?"

"Just intrigued, Lauren Baxter was…" Rosie looked around to check they weren't being overheard, "…quite the slut before she dated Malfoy, I think she cheated on him to be honest. I can imagine she taught him a few things." Rosie raised her eyebrows and Ruby sighed.

"Fine, he's bloody amazing. Happy now?"

"Yes, Jake is very…creative."

"Okay Rosie, I really don't want to know anymore!"

"Fine, did Auntie Eliza and Uncle Fred like him?"

"Yeah, they really did I think. Mom even spoke to him, like proper speech not one-word answers."

"Really? Wow that must have sold it to Uncle Fred."

"Shame it won't work on your Dad, I already had him here this morning."

"Seriously? He's so…stuck in the past sometimes, drives Mom up the wall. He'll come around, I'll work on him, I can always get him on my side."

"Thanks Rosie." They ate in silence for a few moments and then Rosie looked around the canteen.

"Do people here know?"

"Not really, Kyle and Penny do, they had to knock Scorpius out with a calming draught when I got…stabbed, just to keep him quiet." Ruby didn't know why she had hesitated.

"But his family know?"

"Yep, and so does ours so I imagine it will be out soon, as soon as Lily finds out." Rosie laughed.

"True, by the way, Mom and Dad told me about Hugo."

"Really?" Ruby asked, waiting for Rosie to say it, just in case.

"Yeah, thanks for going with him to tell them. I always suspected but…it still feels a bit weird. I hope it goes smoother with the press than it did with Ali."

"I think Skeeter's still a bit scared of your Mom so it might be better, he's still under-age anyway."

"I just…I wish he'd told me." Rosie put down her sandwich, Ruby could hear the frustration and slight jealously in her voice.

"He didn't just come out with it, he caught me and Scorpius snogging and I asked him to keep in quiet, he said he knew about secrets and… I think he was desperate to tell someone."

"Bless him, no wonder he was so stressed and quiet at Christmas."

"Have you parents told anyone else, in the family I mean?"

"I don't think so, I think they're waiting for Hugo to do it."

"Teddy and Mom already know something's been bothering him, and that means Grandma knows…" Ruby tailed off, wondering who else in the family had noticed the change in Hugo.

"Anyway, do you want to double-date at some point?"

"Sure, not this week though. I'm having dinner with James tomorrow and I'm meeting Scorpius's parents on Thursday."

"Scary, have you met them before?"

"His Dad, not his Mom though. Have you?"

"Yeah a couple of times, graduation and Kings Cross and stuff. His Mom's alright, she reminds me a bit of your Aunt Petunia."

By the time Ruby returned to the office she was feeling marginally better but an afternoon of boring cases soon changed that.

When her shift finished Alice popped her head around the door.

"Finished, Rubes?" She asked,

"Yep, I'm out of here." Ruby replied, picking up her stuff.

"Good day?" Alice asked, linking arms with Ruby.

"Well, let's see. Uncle Ron came to tell me I'm putting the family in an impossible situation with Scorpius, I had the most boring cases known to Healing, and someone threw up on me!"

"Eww!" Alice said, letting go of Ruby's arm and almost pushing her away.

"I washed!"

"Oh, okay." Alice linked again, "Hamish is coming round tonight, he said Scorpius said he would pick up dinner."

"Yeah, he mentioned it, look at us, best friends with boyfriends who are best friends." Ruby said as they approached the Apparation point.

"I know, it's like fate!" Alice squealed before disapparating. Ruby snorted and the followed.

Ruby walked straight into her bedroom and threw her bag down, fed Pox, and then changed into her running shorts and vest top. She hadn't had chance to run since she'd been in hospital and she had really missed it.

When she walked back out into the living room Alice was drinking at cup of tea and watching a soap on the TV.

"I'm going for a run."

"I thought you were tired?"

"I am, that's why I'm going." Ruby replied, tying up her running shoes. When she looked up Alice had stood up and moved to the door and had a worried expression on her face.

"I don't think you should go."

"Why? They got Crayton, I'll be fine." Ruby replied, smiling at Alice's concern.

"I know they did but…"

"But what?"

"Rubes you nearly died, you had major surgery."

"I know, I remember." Ruby replied, rolling her eyes, she hated being fussed over.

"Look, Scorpius will be here in five minutes, just wait till then."

"Why?"

"Because I asked you to and we're best friends." Ruby sighed and sat down at the table.

When Scorpius and Hamish arrived Ruby felt sure they could tell that there was tension in the room. Alice opened the door and Scorpius came in first, his pale face flushed when he spotted Ruby.

"What…what are you wearing?" He asked, in a strangled voice.

"My running things, I'm going now." Ruby stood up.

"No! Look Ruby I really don't think you should be running! Scorpius back me up!" Said Alice, turning to Scorpius.

"I thought you were tired?" He said, struggling to keep his eyes on Ruby's face and not her exposed legs.

"She is, that's why she's going apparently." Said Alice. Hamish looked between the other three awkwardly.

"Rubes, you shouldn't be running, especially not on your own." Said Hamish, Ruby could feel her ears going red.

"I'm twenty-one, not five. Crayton has been captured and I want to go on a run!"

"Fine, I'm coming with you." Said Scorpius.

"You're not dressed for running." Ruby said, he waved his wand and transfigured his jeans into running shorts and then went into her room and emerged in the orange Quidditch shirt instead on his check shirt.

"Come on then." He said, Ruby threw one last dirty look at the three of them and then walked out of the flat, Scorpius trailing behind.

They didn't say anything as they walked down the stairs. They reached the foyer and Ruby stretched, Scorpius just watched her with a strange expression on his face. Ordinarily she would ask him what was wrong but she was annoyed so she remained quiet and then started to jog out of the building without even glancing back at him.

By the time Ruby and Scorpius reached the park Ruby's side was sore but she refused to slow down for it, or even show pain. She had a point to prove. They ran around the park four times and Ruby was about to head back to the flat when Scorpius tripped and landed spread-eagled on the floor.

"Fuck!" He muttered, turning over and holding his left ankle.

"Are you alright?" Ruby asked, she was still annoyed but she did love him as well.

"Probably just a sprain, can you heal it?" Ruby glanced around the park to check that no one was around and then knelt down, ignoring the stabbing pain in her side, and healed his ankle.

"Better?"

"Yeah, thanks Rubes. You look really hot in that outfit by the way." Ruby felt her iciness melt away and Scorpius smiled. He stood up and hopped on his ankle for a few moments to test the weight and then nodded.

"Ready to head back?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm hungry." Ruby started running but by the time they arrived back at the building her pace had slowed to a very slow jog and she knew Scorpius had noticed. To his credit he didn't say anything. They walked up the stairs in silence again and when they entered the flat Hamish and Alice were making out on the sofa.

"Come on, you two! I thought you were making dinner?" Said Scorpius, shielding his eyes in mock-disgust. Ruby walked into her bedroom before they replied and sat down on her bed. She lay back on the bed and waited for Scorpius to come in.

She must have fallen asleep because when she opened her eyes again it was dark outside the window and Scorpius was lying next to her, reading his workbook. Her side ached and she reached around to it and groaned.

"Realised you've got limits then?" Scorpius asked, not looking at her.

"Shut up. What time is it?"

"Nine, I was worried. You're blood pressure went up." Ruby sat herself up and turned to him, he did look concerned.

"I just…"

"Wanted to pretend you didn't get stabbed three times only two weeks ago?" Ruby sighed but didn't reply. Pox was curled up on Scorpius' lap and she reached over to stroke him.

"I'm sorry." She muttered, as quietly as she could whilst still being audible.

"Didn't catch that."

"I'm sorry, okay. I had a crap day and I just wanted something to be normal."

"Promise me you won't do it again."

"What, go for a run?"

"No, hurt yourself trying to prove a point to me. I love all of you Rubes, not just when you're 'normal'." He used air quotes for normal and his workbook fell onto Pox's head. Ruby picked it up and put it on her bedside table.

"Okay, I promise."

"You want a potion?" Ruby was planning to say no but the look on Scorpius' face told her that it was not an option.

"Yeah, I've got some F3 in the bathroom." Scorpius lifted Pox off his lap and returned moments later with a small beaker of the potion. Ruby swallowed it and Scorpius watched her face carefully, clearly checking to see if the potion was working.

"I'm alright now, honestly." Said Ruby, truthfully.

"Really?"

"Yes really. Can I get dinner now?"

"No."

"No? Why?"

"Because you look too hot in those tiny little shorts and I need to do something about it." Ruby looked at him for a moment and then burst out laughing, Scorpius did not even smile. "It's no laughing matter Ruby, do you have any idea how long I've been hard?" Ruby bite her bottom lip and shook her head.

Scorpius groaned and pushed Ruby back up the bed and moved Pox onto the floor.

"It's very difficult to run when…" Scorpius indicated to his trousers and Ruby smiled and reached up to kiss him.

"You've been very patient then."

"Very, now I'm going to make this quick and then we'll have dinner and then we'll apparate to my new flat and christen the bed sheets nice and slowly." Ruby nodded and then Scorpius's mouth was on hers.

His tongue entered her mouth and she could feel his hand working it's way to her bum under her shorts. She moaned and lifted her bum up so that he could remove her shorts which he did, very quickly. He then grabbed his wand and cast the charms before throwing his wand aside and gliding his hand under her vest and cupping her breast, she push her chest up into his hand and reached down to pull his trousers down.

When the trousers had reached his knees he pulled down his boxers and then moved his mouth onto her neck and sucked at the pulse point.

"You ready?" He asked, reaching down and feeling the wetness of her folds, he thrust his finger into her and she gasped and nodded. He removed his finger and entered her hard.

Ruby reached up and ran her hands over his back as he thrust into her again and again. She then ran her right hand down to his bum and squeezed his bum tightly, he seemed to like it so she squeezed tighter and he exploded into her and then collapsed onto her.

They lay there in silence for a few minutes and then Ruby's stomach rumbled. Scorpius laughed and sat up.

"I'll do your dinner, get changed I can't concentrate when you're in those shorts." Ruby smiled and stood up. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a yellow jumper from the wardrobe and then went into the bathroom to change and freshen up.

When she went back into the bedroom Pox was waiting for her and she bent down to pick him up. He was still small but he had grown quite a bit since Christmas, she carried him through to the living room and put him on the floor. Scorpius was plating up her food.

"Oh, by the way, your Mom stopped by when you were passed out…"

"I was asleep, you didn't tell her I'd passed out, did you?" She asked, very worried about her mother worrying.

"Of course I didn't, I just said you were having a nap. She said she'll pick you up here at nine tomorrow morning. She's got your clearance pass but she needs to sign you in."

"Okay, thanks. Was she alright?" Ruby sat down and Scorpius brought her food over and then passed her a pumpkin juice and grabbed a Butterbeer for himself.

"Yeah she was fine. She said your dad had been fretting about you though, I told her to tell him that Kyle won't let you out of his sight." Ruby smiled. "You really worry about your mom, don't you?"

"I… I try not to but… it's hard." Ruby took a bite of the pasta and Scorpius stroked her other hand.

"Does she talk about what happened, in the war?"

"Not much, I don't know the whole story. I get little nuggets every so often. Before I went to Hogwarts she sat me down and told me about Azkaban and the Triwizard tournament, and then when I was seventeen she told me about some other stuff." Ruby didn't elaborate and she trusted Scorpius not to press her about it.

"My dad always said she was amazing. Really brave."

"Does he talk about the war?"

"No, my grandfather does all the time. Mom told me about what happened to Dad and about Dumbledore and stuff. He still has nightmares sometimes but he's never spoken to me about it. I asked him about what he said at Christmas, about Grandmama saving your mom's life but he just walked off."

"I know what happened there."

"You do? Did your mom tell you?" Scorpius looked quite desperate and Ruby put down her fork and squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, I asked her on the day. She said that after she jumped it was Narcissa and your dad and Grandfather who found her, and that your dad stayed with her while Narcissa got help. Then Narcissa went back to the manor and brought the Moonstone blanket back to her, she said she wouldn't have lasted the first year after the war without it." Scorpius seemed relieved but didn't say anything, he just took a long gulp of his Butterbeer.

"It's going to be alright, you know? Us, we're going to be fine." Ruby said softly, Scorpius put his drink down and smiled slightly.

"I know we are, I nearly lost you once, no chance I'm losing you again."

When Ruby had finished eating Alice and Hamish emerged from Alice's bedroom, both looking rather windswept.

"Cheers for the silencing charm, mate." Said Scorpius, grinning.

"All for your benefit. Feel better Ruby?" Hamish asked, as Alice went to make tea.

"Yeah, fine thanks. I'm sorry Alice." Ruby said, looking at Alice. She stopped making the tea and walked over to Ruby.

"Don't do it again." She said, sternly.

"I've never seen you look more like your dad, Alice." Said Ruby, smiling.

"I meant it!" Alice said, stomping her foot.

"Okay, I promise, I already promised Scorpius anyway. No more pushing myself."

"Promise me too!" Said Hamish with an amused expression on his face.

"Shut up!" Ruby said, giving him a light shove.

The scene was interrupted by the arrival of the Evening Prophet. Alice paid the owl and then opened the paper and snorted before throwing it to Ruby.

"Front page news, Lily must have found out." Ruby opened the paper and groaned.

RUBY WEASLEY AND SCORPIUS MALFOY DATING! CONFIRMED BY BOTH FAMILIES, THE ROMEO AND JULIET OF THE WIZARDING WORLD!

Ruby didn't read the article but passed it to Scorpius who scanned it and then laughed.

"'Astoria Malfoy has confirmed that her son is dating Miss Weasley and told reporters that both families were delighted by the news'. Seriously mother, do you really expect people to believe that?"

"It's nice of her to try though." Said Ruby.

"Indeed, anyway let's head to the flat before half your family arrive to either shake my hand or beat me up." Ruby laughed and stood up.

"I won't stop though, not if I'm meeting mom here in the morning."

"Cool, I still want to show you the place though. See you soon, mate." He clapped Hamish on the back and then Alice gave him a small hug that seemed to surprise him.

"Can you put Pox back in my room before you go to bed? Just in case I'm back late." Ruby asked.

"Sure, see you tomorrow probably." Ruby hugged Alice and was pleased that the earlier argument seemed to be forgotten. She then held onto Scorpius arm and her flat dissolved around her.

A/N So they made the front page! Any thoughts or guesses about Eliza's project?

Next chapter; Ruby see's Scorpius' flat, Eliza has a favour to ask Ruby, we find out what the project is about and then we take a trip to Hogwarts.

I'm still looking for a new beta!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks.

girlwholived- Haley Potter- Thanks.

LUG-14- Thanks, I'm glad you liked the prank!