"Morning, Weasley." Scorpius smirked.
Rose groaned and turned over, feeling a pain in her lower back "Ouch."
"What's up?" He asked making no effort to move.
"My back hurts."
"That's what comes from having sex on the floor...and table, and shower..."
"Alright calm down." She muttered, pulling herself out of bed and walking to the mirror. She examined the feint green bruises above her knickers and Scorpius bit his lip in an attempt to stop laughter.
"Scorpius!" She muttered, astonishment creeping into her voice.
He climbed out of bed, wearing nothing but pyjama bottoms and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Sorry."
She smiled, turning to wrap her arms around his neck "Apparently, you were very good last night."
He winked "I'm always very good...it was just more noticeable last night because I've been deprived of it for so long."
"So I'm not going to wake up black and blue every morning then?" She smirked.
He raised an eyebrow "Every morning? You're not that lucky, love."
She hit him lightly on the shoulder and he grinned, picking her up and dropping her onto the bed, where he kissed her with as much enthusiasm as he had the previous night.
X
When Scorpius and Rose made it down for breakfast, everybody in the Great Hall was staring. It may have been the fact they were holding hands, or the way they kissed before they went to their separate tables, or it may have been, simply, how blissfully happy each of them looked.
Rose sat down and Albus rolled his eyes.
"What?"
"Why is your love life so perfect?"
"Jealous?"
"Slightly."
She chuckled "Any girl would be lucky to have you, Al."
"Obviously."
"They would." She turned to a group of girls on the Ravenclaw table "Oi! Ladies! Would any of you go out with my-"
"Rose!" Albus hissed, as Lysander Lovegood doubled over laughing "Sorry, ignore her."
"Well I think that you could get anybody in this school and you just chose not to. They obviously all fancy you...although I don't really understand it."
He stuck his middle finger up at her and said nothing.
Lily laughed, dropping into the seat opposite them "Morning...how's Scorpius?"
"Very well thanks, will you pass me the bacon, please?"
"Yeah..." She passed the silver tray across the table and smiled as Lorcan sat down.
"You okay Rose?" He asked "You look quite...uncomfortable."
Rose blinked "I'm fine."
"Oh, so he wasn't too rough with you last night then?"
Albus choked on his orange juice and Lily laughed as Rose kicked him under the table.
"Sorry, couldn't help it."
"You're a little rat, Lorcan."
He grinned "Oh I know."
Albus shook his head "You are a disgusting human being. She's my cousin."
"She's not mine."
Lily shook her head in amusement and Albus rolled his eyes "I'll never approve of your choice in men."
"Well it's lucky I don't care then."
"You care what James thinks."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do, when you were going out with Belby and James kick-dropped him at the station you cared!
Lily took a deep breath "I cared because he had concussion."
Albus shrugged "Whatever."
"Don't whatever me, Albus or I'll jinx you into next month."
"Really?" He cocked an eyebrow and she pulled out her wand, blasting him off his chair before he could even move to protect him.
He groaned from the floor and Lily smiled sweetly "Told you."
"Lily!" Neville's voice echoed through the hall "What on earth are you doing?"
"Well Albus irritated me, you see." She stated, jumping across the table and landing lightly beside him.
"Right, well, erm...could you accompany him to the hospital wing?"
She frowned "Why? He's fine," She kicked him and he groaned again "See?"
"Albus, do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?"
Al sat up and rubbed his head whilst giving his sister a dirty look. She shrugged.
"Albus?"
"No." He stood up "No, I'm fine."
Lily winked "Shouldn't be rude to your little sister."
"I can't believe you just got away with that." He grumbled "You're evil."
She laughed and clapped him on the back "Grow a pair Albus."
This time, he was quicker. He pulled his wand out and pointed it at her as she dodged a jinx and sent one back. The Great Hall watched for a few minutes as the children of one of the greatest wizards known to man duelled each other, both with amused looks on their faces, knowing that they weren't particularly challenging each other despite the fact they were performing magic that some people in the room would never even dream of being able to do.
Neville coughed loudly and they both dropped their wands, smiling.
"Sorry." Albus grinned, not taking his eyes from his little sister, who winked.
"Yeah, Sorry about that everyone." She smirked, before picking up her bag and walking out of the room, slipping her wand into her back pocket.
"Merlin, she's so..." Lorcan stared after her.
Albus looked at him dangerously "I really don't think you should finish that sentence while I'm still here."
Lorcan winked and stood up "Fair enough, I'll go and finish it somewhere else."
Rose smiled "Exhale."
He shoved her shoulder and smirked "Shut up."
X
New Years Eve rolled around fairly quickly, so it wasn't long before Rose found herself leaning against the balcony railing that joined her and Scorpius' bedrooms. The night was clear and crisp, the grounds still covered with snow.
"Did you not want to spend tonight with your family?"
She turned to see him looking at her curiously, his brow furrowed.
"I see my family every day...I live with them here and when I'm at home they're at my house every hour of every day. I love them but...I also value space."
He smiled "You're not even drunk."
She laughed "I know...odd, isn't it?"
"Rose?" He asked, looking nervous.
"Yup?"
"You're not pregnant or anything, are you?"
Rose looked at him for a minute and then burst out laughing, doubling over and trying to breathe.
"I'm being serious!" He said, although he was smiling slightly.
She choked on the cold air and he walked up and slapped her on the back, waiting patiently for her to catch her breath.
"Oh, Scorpius...that is the funniest thing I've ever heard you say."
He raised an eyebrow "Well that's not fair, I'm a funny guy."
She grinned "I know...you thought I was pregnant. Can you imagine?"
"I'm actually trying really hard not to."
She chuckled and leant forwards towards his chest, where she rested her cheek and looked out over the grounds, the lake shimmering in the moonlight and the vast mountain range. Somehow, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head, she knew the clocks had ticked midnight. It may have been the fact fireworks of every colour and shape illuminated the sky, set off by three figures that Rose could just about make out by the boathouse. She recognised the Fireworks as ones from Weasley Wizard Wheezes and knew that many fireworks would have been incredibly expensive, if you didn't personally know the owner. Therefore, it wasn't hard for her to recognise the three figures as Lorcan, Lysander and Lily.
"Scorpius?" Rose said softly.
"Yeah?"
She paused for a minute "I love you."
He quickly remembered that it'd been a whole year since the first time he'd ever told her that and just as suddenly, he realised they hadn't actually said it yet, since they'd gotten back together.
He looked down at her and smiled, knowing that they'd come a full circle and it was about time he said it back "I love you too, Rose Weasley...more than you can possibly imagine."
"Thank Merlin for that." She grinned, and he was surprised that she could remember this much of a conversation that took place twelve months previously.
"Happy New Year, beautiful." He played along, and she laughed softly, wrapping her arms around him tightly.
He'd got her back. Somehow, he'd got her trust again and he was going to do everything n his power to keep it. As usual, Lily Luna Potter had been absolutely, one hundred percent, correct.
X
Few days early, but Happy New Year!