Disclaimer: I own nothing, as per usual! Jo Rowling is the brilliant mind behind the Wizarding World!


Mischief Managed

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Suck It and See

Saturday so far has been crazy. I had never seen my family so dedicated to do something for someone else, and doing it together, like a team.

Nana Molly and Grandpa Arthur would be so proud, because we're hardly ever at total peace and cooperating to each other, someone is always bickering, making our traditional family meetings chaotic.

But this time we don't want to mess up a situation that's already way too delicate.

We told Lily our plan and she got surprisingly excited. I still have to talk to Lily, but she's been acting so mature for her age and so not-Lily. Don't get me wrong, Lily isn't a spoiled little brat, but being the youngest daughter with two older brothers, she knows ways to manipulate everyone around her to make things how she wants. Not intentionally, she's just used to it.

But I don't blame her, being the youngest I would have my tricks to make things my own way as well. Not entirely her fault.

Anyway, it's really good to see how she's improving. Not everybody overcomes a rough time of our life with such grace like Lily is doing, to put your energy into personal growth is a very rational and mature reaction, even more if you consider how young Lily still is.

But that's exactly the point, sometimes we need bad moments to happen with us so we can really grow and develop as human beings. Life is not easy, and that's it.

Back to reality, during the whole day I have been trying to distract Dom and keep in touch with the rest of my family so we could be sure everything was going well.

After getting the beverages with Fred, and I don't know how they get so much of them so easily, James disappeared, probably putting his plan to have his first night with Violet in action.

I suggested him to wait until after Dom's birthday party, but he seemed so desperate that didn't even give me attention. He sounded nervous and insecure, and I had never seen James like this. He lost his virginity when he was in Fourth Year to a Seventh Year girl, so experience isn't the problem that is really bothering him.

'I've shagged many times before' he told me this afternoon when he left the Room of Requirement when I went there to check on everybody, 'But I've never made love', he whispered tense.

I should say that I am happy that James finally found someone he loves to have such an intimate and special moment, but my instinct just stopped me from doing so. Something doesn't sound right. I don't trust Violet, her relationship with James is extremely problematic, and I'm really afraid he may get hurt. I know, how ironic, James Potter, Hogwarts' womanizer, the official manwhore, being hurt by a girl? And such a 'flower' like Violet?

As I've said before, she's too perfect to be that perfect. I don't trust her, never really liked her. She bothers me, and I bet the feeling is mutual.

As much as James has been a prat to girls in the past, I don't think anyone deserves to be hurt… Unless if this someone's last name is Malfoy.

But I better not think about him getting hurt on purpose…

"Merlin" Lucy complained, her arms carrying what seemed to be a heavy box "You're always unaware of this world"

"Sorry, uncle Percy" I rolled my eyes at her, giggling when she did the same as me.

"Since you have muggle grandparents, could you please help me?" she asked me frustrated.

"What's this?" I peeked the box, noticing that there was an Xbox and a DVD player.

"Muggle stuff" she replied to me, taking me out of where would be the dance floor.

"I can't take long, Ella is in our dormitory with Dom but I need to keep an eye on her myself" I informed Lucy, helping her take all of the 'muggle stuff' out of the box.

"Fine" Lucy said, trying to understand how to manage the equipment.

"Where did you get these?" I asked her impressed "I mean, electricity doesn't work in Hogwarts…"

"Grandpa Arthur, who else?" she asked me like if it is the most obvious thing in the world.

Actually, I felt really stupid for not thinking about my grandpa Arthur. He's fascinated with muggle stuff and always try to adapt them to the Wizarding World.

"Apparently, these are Hugo's old stuff that he gave to grandpa so he could try to fix it" Lucy explained to me "Not only he fixed…" she placed the Xbox and the DVD player above a large table "... as it works without electri-something"

"Electricity" I corrected her.

Lucy grimaced, she hates that she just can't get some muggle words, because Lucy loves the muggle world as much as grandpa Arthur, that's their bond. She pressed the On button, and the Xbox started to work.

"Wow" I said impressed "Grandpa nails"

"Totally, right?" she said rhetorically, making me chuckle at her impressed reaction.

A TV appeared above my head, Lucy levitating it and placing above the table beside the DVD player and the Xbox. Soon, the TV was on as well, connected with the Xbox.

"So, what's your idea?" I asked her curiously.

"Hugo showed me this 'Just Dance' game, I thought it would be a cool idea" Lucy showed me the DVDs.

"Oh yeah" I agreed "We used to play at lot when we spent vacation at my grandparents' house in muggle London"

"Are you insane?" she retorted "I would play every day if I had one of these"

I giggled at her reaction. Lucy is just phenomenal, such a personality.

"Also, I always wanted a karaoke party" she showed me the other DVDs she got "But these are just muggle songs"

"Actually I think everybody is gonna love muggle songs" I told her, reading the track list.

Just British muggle artists, but all of them were very good. Mum says that my grandparents still have some friends at their house to a 'karaoke party', that's when Lucy got fascinated about it.

"Hugo showed me a few already" Lucy said, placing everything where she wanted.

Right after everything seemed to be in their right place, Lucy decided that she wanted a table on the opposite side of the 'Just Dance' table just for the karaoke, almost making Roxy insane. They had to change everything and enlarge the Room so now there were three areas, not separated, but with enough space for each of them.

"Next time remind me to not let her take care of decoration, please" Roxy muttered to me, earning a pissed glance of Lucy.

She hears everything, it's impossible to whisper something beside Lucy and not want her to know.

Before I could say anything, Albus appeared with Molly and someone else, all of them with loads of boxes probably full of food.

"Watch out, Weasel" a voice called me out before a levitating box could hit my face.

I almost squinted if the voice wasn't Malfoy's.

Did he really just dare talk to me after everything he has done?

I eyed him pissed off, not daring to say anything about it in front of my family.

Instead, I opted for our usual dynamic.

"What is he doing here, Albus?" I questioned my cousin, my tone of voice clearly mad.

Albus gulped when I talked to him, his eyes wide in fear. Poor boy, I'm such a bad cousin. It's not like he knows what his best friend did to me, anyway…

"Sod off, Weasel" Malfoy interrupted Albus before he could say anything "I'm helping"

"Clearly" I retorted "But it's a family thing here…"

"Always the 'family' excuse" he rolled his eyes.

I complained quietly, cursing under my breath as Roxy kept looking between the two of us as the others got back to their duties.

"Really" Roxy approached Malfoy and I "You two better not ruin tonight, Dom already had a rough week"

"Sure" Malfoy said simply, like if it was not his fault.

"Don't play dumb with me, Scorpius" Roxy warned him "You're being a bloody asshole to Rosie…" she said before I could stop her.

Malfoy looked surprised to her, not expecting anyone to know about… us…

"But she also has a short temper" Roxy's gaze shut me before I could complain "You should solve whatever problems you two have because this sexual tension will soon explode"

And she left us there, mouth agape, eyes wide with surprise.

Malfoy seemed dumbfounded, I could see him processing the new information, and that's when I decided to take a look on him.

His hair was tousled as usual, the long sleeves of his shirts rolled to his elbows, purple marks under his grey eyes, he seemed thinner as well.

But why? I just don't get it… I mean, Dom was looking like this, Lily as well, and even me, but since this week distracted me from my own problems I got back to sleeping and eating properly. What I mean is that we just look like this when we're not feeling well, when something or someone is pissing us off or when you're feeling guilty.

As far as I know Malfoy has just been snogging a random chick, what is he bad about? Being an asshole? I sincerely don't think he cares…

"What are you staring at?" he asked aggressively to me, his defensive tone clear in his annoying voice.

Why should I know him so well?

"I'm trying to abstract your presence so I don't punch you in your face" I muttered, my tone firm and I was so proud of myself for being tough with him.

"Why would you do it?" he asked, his tone amused.

Seriously? Someone is bipolar, I just can't cope with his humour oscillation.

I rolled my eyes at his question, how can someone be so blunt? Or worse, cynical.

I could reply to him in so many different ways, I could simply and totally ignore his presence by just walking away without even glancing to him a second time, or I could just display how pleased I am for his presence with a grimace and leave him there as well, perhaps I could roll my eyes and show how irate with him I am, I also could mock him so he could know again how much I despise him.

But then what Lucy told me last week after noticing how sad I was hit me strongly: 'Whatever is bothering you, Rosie, remember, what life wants from us is courage, you can fix it, you always know what to do'.

I've been thinking for quite a long time now that I have a bunch of things to tell Malfoy because I won't let him simply walk away from me like nothing ever happened and as if I am nothing, it's disrespectful and rude and I won't be treated like this.

It's tough for me to say it but getting away this week from my own problems helped me to finally build the courage inside of me to finally sort my things out with the jerk.

I need this and he also does, so I can finally move on in peace with myself.

'...what life wants from us is courage', I remembered again Lucy's words.

How can a twelve year old be so wise? She's also a weirdo, but every Weasley, and Potter, is a weirdo as well.

Courage, I'm a Gryffindor, I have to honour who I am and what I believe.

Merlin, I overthink way too much.

'But not overthinking it's what got you trapped in the prat's arms' my consciousness (oh hey, long time no see) reminded me bitterly.

"I'm done, Malfoy" I notified him, my voice serious as I looked into his eyes without hesitation before turning around so I could get out of the Room of Requirement.

"What do you mean?" he asked me almost desperate, but with his voice still under control.

Funny how I still could read him even when he thought his walls were up, I learned how to do it, and as tough as it is, it's not a total mystery to me anymore.

"You should rethink what you have done is the past weeks" I said, being straightforward, turning my body to face him again.

And for the first time, I noticed how intimidated he was by me. Is he feeling insecure? But why?

Where I found my guts to talk to him like this, I don't know. I've been so sensible this past week that I didn't think that I would be able to talk to him so rationally, I thought it would take me a longer time.

But perhaps the fact that he still needs to listen to me so I can put some reasoning in his empty head may have a huge influence in how I am being able to keep up with the whole situation.

I noticed how his eyes were trying to read me, surprise clear about my words.

"Then we can have a proper conversation instead of keep acting like nothing ever happened" I said firmly, my eyes never averting from his.

Before he could say anything I walked calmly out of the Room, until I was out of his sight, then I ran like crazy to the Gryffindor Tower, feeling relieved to finally being brave enough to say what I wanted to since Malfoy acted like a pig.

I beamed with the sudden feeling of not having a giant burden to bear. Finally I acted like a proper Gryffindor, it was about time.

But then, considering that he really does rethink about his shit, and he really comes to talk to me, what will I do? Will he apologise? Why do I expect him to do so? Should I?

Malfoy gives me headache even when he barely says anything, I'm already tired of him and that's the first time we properly talked after he totally screwed up everything we had, whatever it is.

"Why are you looking so alive for the first time in forever?" Dom asked me when I entered our bedroom, my cheeks red after running for so long.

"Alive?" I asked confused.

"Yeah, you've been a zombie since Halloween" she mocked me before I threw a pillow straight to her face.

"Says the queen of zombies" I retorted, making her chuckle.

Now that's a sound that warms my heart.

"But I have my reasons" suddenly she was sad again, her eyes lost somewhere else.

"Me too" I muttered, laying beside her on her bed.

"What kind of problems Rose Granger-Weasley may have?" Dom asked rhetorically "Your life is perfect"

I chuckled for a long time after Dom said this, she really has no idea.

"Indeed I can complain" I told her, resting my head on my palm "We're all very privileged"

"Rosie" Dom turned to me, her eyes serious "You're stunning, inside and out, you have giant heart and unique personality, you're a very strong and independent girl, you don't get attached to assholes, your parents and family are very proud of you and do I still have to point out how you're a genius?"

"Woah" I said baffled "What are all these compliments?" I asked, blushing slightly.

I'm not used to them.

But Dom is wrong, I got attached to the ultimate asshole of Hogwarts.

"The truth" she replied simply "That's how I see you, just like everybody else"

"I wish" I said sincerely, sometimes I feel quite out of place and a heartless selfish bitch.

I don't know, I'm such a weirdo.

"Stop with the self-deprecating" she warned me, rolling her eyes.

I remained silent, I don't know if I should bother her with my problems. She already has so much. At the same time, I want her to be a part of my life as much as she is to me, I don't like keeping secrets from her since she doesn't do that.

"What's up with you?" she asked me, aware that something was wrong.

"You already have too much on…" I tried to say, but she interrupted me.

"Rosie" she said, her expression serious and the most serene I have seen recently "You're always by my side, I want to be by yours as well"

"I know, Dom" I told her "I just don't want to bother you, not right now when you're going through so much already"

"Please, I mean it" Dom retorted "You never bother me, just during Christmas, you're a pain in the ass on Christmas' Eve"

I pushed her, almost making her fall from her bed.

"Sod off, Dom"

"Seriously" she looked to me, a stern look on her face "I need to know my life is not the only one that sucks"

I rolled my eyes, that's so Dominique, she always manages to make fun even in the serious and tense situations.

"Fine" I gave up, Ella and Roxy already know about Malfoy and I, it's time to tell Dom.

"Please don't tell me you're pregnant!" she almost begged me.

"What?" I almost choked "I'm a virgin!"

"Thank you, Merlin" she sighed relieved "You're way too young to be a mum"

"Let's focus" I complained, not even daring to think about me getting pregnant at fifteen.

Almost sixteen, I may add.

"Spit it out, then" Dom said exasperated "You're making me nervous"

"Promise me you won't freak out?" I asked uncertain.

Why I am feeling like this I don't even know. I'm just nervous to reveal my secret.

I've kept it for quite a long time considering how Hogwarts' students love to gossip and how my own family doesn't understand the concept of 'privacy'.

"I can't promise anything" she blurted out sincerely "I'm under an unstable state of mind"

"I'vebeensnoggingMalfoyforthepasttwomonths" I almost threw up while confessing my sins.

Dom's eyes got wide, her mouth agape.

I stared desperately to her, waiting for a reaction.

But nothing came.

It's even worse than if she scolded me for being so bloody stupid.

"Say something, for Merlin's beard" I almost begged, feeling my palms getting sweat with tension.

Then she beamed broadly, her eyes glittering with excitement.

I was not expecting it, for sure.

"But wait" her face fell "Isn't he going out with that French girl?"

"Yeah" I replied quietly, looking to my hands sadly.

I hate to remember how he messed up things, we were doing so well.

"Damn it" she suddenly exclaimed, standing up quickly "I'm going to murder that jerk!"

Dom walked towards the door, but before she could open it I stopped her.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked her desperate.

"That's why you've been so upset" she said without waiting any reply for me, just stating a fact "Now it makes sense"

"Can we please get back to your bed?" I tried to sound calm but I couldn't let her get out of our bedroom.

"Don't cry for that prat" Dom ignored me, embracing me tightly as I finally felt some tears in my eyes.

I have been avoiding my own problems during the whole week, but now that I'm talking about it again it seems like all the disappointment came back, hitting me hard as Dom comforted me.

She sat on her bed, leading me to lay on her lap, her fingers caressing my long and ginger hair.

"I'm trying" I confessed.

We stayed like this for long, and if there's something that I adore about my family, is that silence never feels uncomfortable.

I think it just shows how much we're connected as family and friends.

"You like him" Dom affirmed without hesitating.

"I do" I replied, also without hesitating.

"Indeed" she muttered "This year everybody is insane"

I chuckled with her, if there's something our whole family agrees is about it.

"Both of us crying over boys" Dom said "Who could have imagined it would happen?" she asked rhetorically.

"I just feel a mess" I muttered, sitting in front of her and drying my face.

"You look like one" she smirked to me, making me beam at her foolishness.

"You too" I mocked her.

"I know how it feels, Rosie" Dom said after a short time of a comfortable silence "But look here we are, alive and well"

"As much as possible" I added playfully.

"All I know is that Malfoy is even more dumb that I always thought he was" she muttered "I'm not being biased, but you're the most amazing girl he could have found here in Hogwarts" Dom embraced me "He'll sooner or later realise how he did a huge mistake"

"He doesn't know I like him though" I told her "I tried to, but that's when I found out he had snogged Arabella"

"Such a cool name" Dom confessed to me.

"I know, I can't hate her" I said "It's his fault, she actually was very polite when asked if we were a couple"

"What?" Dom asked me shocked "This girl has no boundaries"

"She's like Effie" I said.

"Effie is worse" Dom said "She's going out with your little brother!"

"Don't remind me!" I begged her this time, hiding my face on her pillow "It's gross"

"More disturbing just the fact that you admitted that you, Rose Weasley, like Scorpius bloody Malfoy" Dom said sincerely.

"I know' I told her "I feel quite pathetic actually"

"You're the queen of self deprecation"

"That's the best way to deal with the rough times" I muttered, my voice muffled by the pillow.

"What are you gonna do?" Dom asked me worried.

Suddenly I felt that for the first time she forgot about her own problems, and although I don't like to talk about my own, it's time for her to get distracted.

I'm glad I can help her, even if it's not the best for me.

That's what family is for after all.

"I kind of finally got my guts sorted and told him off" I said "I basically notified him that we are going to talk and for him to rethink all the shit he has done in the past weeks"

"Woah" Dom praised me satisfied "That's my Rosie!"

"I just hope I don't regret it" I admitted, insecure if I did the right thing.

"You're Rose bloody Weasley" Dom rolled her eyes to me "You always make the right decisions"

"Dominique" I scolded her "You overestimate me"

"No, Rosie" she muttered, pushing me out of her bed so I fell on mine beside hers "You underestimate yourself way too much"

I rolled my eyes at her for expelling me from her bed.

"Let's take a nap" I suggested, indeed I'm feeling exhausted this week and that's the best way to waste some time until I have to take her to the Room of Requirement.

"That's why we are cousins" Dom said giggling "You just read my mind"

I chuckled, getting under my duvet.

"Rosie" she called me before I closed the curtains with a spell.

"Yeah, Dom?"

"I'm always here for you, ginger" she said tenderly.

I beamed to her, feeling really safe for having her support as well.

"We have each other's backs" I guaranteed to her.

She got under her duvet as well and I closed the duvets.

Emma and Effie were somewhere else but they know how I'm trying to keep Dom distracted so they won't wake us up.

Effie is probably snogging my little brother but seriously, I already had enough to worry about.

Hugo can take care of himself and Effie… Well, Effie is insane, they will be fine.

"And Rosie?" Dom called me again before I could finally sleep.

"Hm?" I asked her sleepily.

"Kick Malfoy's ass"

I chuckled at her choice of words, promising myself I would totally do it, even if I had to literally do it.


I woke up before Dom, noticing how Effie and Emma left our bedroom silently ready for the party, Effie always displaying a unique sense of style while Emma is more casual. I love both their styles, I love any style that expresses the person's personality, that's true style.

I wish I had mine, I don't know if I do.

I've always been more into jeans, baggy shirts, sweaters, combat boots and sneakers, and during summer I look like a hippie just like Ella, because her long skirts, her long dresses and top cropped just won my heart through the years.

Lucy told me I'm still figuring out my personality and that I'm doing great, she told me that when she was ten so I better believe her.

I decided to took a long shower and let Dom sleep a bit more before I opted for my usual boots with a shirt long enough to be a dress, I need to look like we're just going to dinner after all, and since that's how I usually dress, Dom won't find it suspicious.

I already had a plan and I hope it works, everybody is putting so much effort into this surprise, I can't ruin in.

But no pressure, right?!

"Dom" I tried to wake her up "Let's go, it's dinner time"

"I'm fine" she replied sleepy.

Merlin, Weasleys are terrible so to wake up…

"Dom…" I almost begged "I'm hungry"

"You always are" she muttered annoyed.

"But if you don't feed me I'll keep pissing you off" I informed her mischievously.

She ignored me, covering her head with her pillow.

"Dommmmmmmm" I approached her, almost yelling in her ear as I tried to pull away her pillow.

Nothing yet.

Merlin, she's even worse than me, I pity Ella right now, she always has the tough task to wake me up.

"Dom" I tried my weakest and saddest voice "I also want to show you something before dinner…"

My tone of voice caught her attention as she looked me from under the pillow, just opening one eye and staring at me suspiciously.

"What?" she asked cautiously.

"Another thing I've been hiding from you…" I tried to sound as mysterious as possible so she could get so curious about it that it would defeat her stubbornness.

"What kind of thing?" she questioned me.

"Merlin, Dom!" I became impatient, rolling my eyes "Something that helped me to cope with my sadness that I want to show you so it can help you as well"

I hope it works because I ran out of ideas.

She blinked, trying to identify anything suspicious.

Why is she being such a Sherlock?

Perhaps because disappointments make you more cautious about everything in your life, people, dreams and expectations, reality.

I understand her, seems like we grow so much after being disappointed by someone we like, or worse, love.

Also, we become more sceptical towards life, which is positive for making us more prepared to deal with obstacles, but is negative as well, considering how some adults don't even have dreams anymore.

Life is so ambiguous, it drives me insane.

And I already am way too insane for my taste.

"Fine, Satan" she gave up, stretching her body tiredly.

"Hey" I complained, she won't call me like this when she finds out about her surprise.

But at least she agreed to come with me and she has no idea about it.

"Let's go" she called me, already on the door.

"Are you sure you want to go like this?" I asked her, trying not to sound too insulting and also not to give any clues that actually we're going not only to a party, but to her surprise birthday party.

"What's wrong?" she retorted pissed off.

"Well…" I looked to her still in her baggy and old pyjamas, her hair a mess "When was the last time you took a shower?"

She looked horrified to me, insulted for my question.

"Fuck off, Rosie" Dom complained, rolling her eyes.

"I'll wait just five minutes" I warned her, watching as she gave up and entered the bathroom.

I decided to choose her clothes, since Dom has just been wearing pyjamas for the last week and I don't trust her fashion sense anymore.

She would probably kill me, but if I choose one of her short and glamorous dresses she'll get suspicious, so I ended up picking black tight pants, combat boots (every girl in our family love them) and a simple grey shirt.

"Seriously?" she asked annoyed.

"You woke up moody, uh?" I teased her "I told you you had to be quick"

Soon she'll be nice again.

"I didn't wake up" she complained grimacing to me "I'm in zombie mode to be supportive to whatever you have to show me"

"Sure" I rolled my eyes.

As we left the Gryffindor Tower and walked to the Room of Requirement, Dom kept complaining through the whole way.

"It's cold, I'm hungry now, I only have you" she kept babbling.

"Hey" I protested "I'm an awesome company"

"You're quite annoying" she said but smirked to me.

"Also" now her tone of voice was serious "I miss Stan, and mum and dad, and Vic…"

"You're such a crying baby" I mocked her "We both know it's a cruel world"

"Suddenly you became so poetic…" she pointed out impressed.

"I've always been" I replied.

Dom chuckled, not believing me.

At least she's been beaming more lately, she's been very miserable since Heather's revelation to the whole bloody school.

"But Lucy has been inspiring me" I admitted, remembering for the second time in the day what she told me last week when she noticed how sad I was.

"Of course she is" Dom mocked me.

We finally arrived in front of a blank wall.

Dom looked between me and the wall.

"What are we doing in front of the Room of Requirement?" she asked me confused.

At least she's not suspicious anymore, I don't have any more ideas.

"What helped me to get through my problems is inside" I simply said as a giant door appeared in front of us.

I hope the bastards don't make any noise or I'll punch each one of them in their faces.

"Rosie?" Dom asked me uncertain.

"Open it, Dom" I told her encouragingly.

She pushed the door slowly and I ushered her inside.

Suddenly, the dark room turned its lights on, revealing a bunch of people.

Before Dom could say anything everybody yelled "SURPRISEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

"What the bloody hell?" she yelled confused, her eyes wide looking between me and all of our family and friends.

"Surprise!" I yelled to her, opening my arms for a hug "Happy Birthday, weirdo! I love you!"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, ROSIE!" she yelled, her eyes full of tears, a broad and genuine beam on her gorgeous face.

Finally a hint of life on her expression, I missed her so much.

"I hope you like it!" I said, pushing her forward.

Suddenly everybody approached us cheerfully, engulfing Dom with tight embraces and kisses on her cheek.

This affection is much welcome.

I noticed how the room was packed, our whole family, friends, roommates, Teddy and a stunning blonde beside him.

"VIC!" Dom yelled elated, embracing her older sister, my oldest cousin, after such a long time apart.

"Now even I am surprised" I told Roxy.

"Teddy surprised everybody" she replied to me happily.

Vic is such an amazing woman, I miss her so much as well.

But before I could also embrace her, Dom interrupted all the conversations and called for everybody's attention.

"I just wanted to say a few words" she said firmly "First of all, I want to publicly apologise to my cousin Lily"

I looked around and noticed how now everybody was surprised.

Only Dominique Weasley would surprise those who just surprised her with a surprise birthday party.

Lily was standing confused but seemed really touched by Dom's actions and words.

"I didn't act properly with you, I was selfish and disrespectful" Dom said sincerely, never looking to the ground, just to Lily "I tried to stop seeing him, but he wouldn't stop insisting, and that's when I fell for Stan"

I noticed how he just had arrived, he was just behind Dom but probably noticed it was an important moment before he could interrupt her.

Also, nobody gave him much attention, everybody was focused on Dom and Lily.

"It doesn't justify my actions, I hope one day you can forgive me" Dom said firmly, her voice never hesitating.

Merlin, women in our family are so bloody strong, I adore it.

"But unfortunately I had to learn in the most difficult way how betraying someone you love is never worth it, and I wouldn't do it ever again" she continued, her blue eyes never leaving Lily's brown ones "So I'm deeply and truly sorry I hurt you, Lils, I love you and it kills me inside that I left you so disappointed"

The whole room was silent, just waiting for Lily's reaction.

"Of course I forgive you" she muttered, her voice also firm "Everybody commits mistakes, and I know you're being sincere"

They hugged tightly, tears streaming down both their faces.

Merlin, even I had tears in my eyes, a few had already escaped.

It's so nice to see my family united again, a boy can never ruin what we have.

"Group hug!" Lucy yelled, making all the Weasleys, Potter and close friends burst into laughter.

Typical Weasley behaviour, a tradition in our family.

Our parents started it, when we were little we used to fight with each other so much that to make peace our parents used to make us apologise and 'group hug'. It stuck, even though we are not children anymore.

I could see Fred, Roxy, Molly, Hugo, Louis, Victoire, Teddy, Albus, Alice, Matteo, Liam, Amelie, Lucy, Ella, Jack, Lysander.

But where the bloody hell is James?

I hadn't listened to his loud voice and now I noticed how he's not in our family group hug. And James never loses one.

Also, I noticed grey eyes staring directly to me, his expression mysterious, but I could notice a hint of frustration in his arched eyebrows, like if he couldn't understand something that seemed so obvious.

It isn't obvious that I unfortunately like him…

Actually, although I indeed developed these feelings inside of me, what he did left me so disappointed that I'm focusing in the healing process rather in keeping what I feel.

It's better to be rational when we get upset, but not necessarily easier.

I averted his gaze, turning my attention back to my cousins.

"Also" Dom continued, her eyes full of tears "I wanted to thank everybody who plotted this surprise, I always wanted to have one and it couldn't have happened in a better time"

"It was Rose's genius idea" Lucy shouted nonchalantly.

Dom looked tenderly to me.

Great, now everybody is looking to me, I hate being the centre of attention.

I felt my cheeks reddening, just like my ears, a typical Weasley thing.

"Thank you, Rosie" Dom said happily.

"But all of us helped" Lucy complained.

"Merlin, shut up" Molly mocked her sister, making everybody laugh.

"Right" Dom chuckled, rolling her eyes "Thank you to all of my family and friends, I love all of you and couldn't be thankful enough…"

I always get quite emotional when people express their feelings so freely like this, family, friendship, love, such valuable things, the most important we have.

I'm so bloody lucky to have such amazing human beings around me.

"But especially to my family, my favourite bunch of weirdos, the most exquisite people I know, and also the most annoying…" Dom was saying when Lucy interrupted her.

Again. As usual.

"We know you love us" Lucy shouted.

"I think is past Lucy's bedtime" Louis mocked her, earning an annoyed glance from her.

"Shut up" Roxy complained.

"As I was saying…" Dom said, like if implying how she was right "Although we fight all the time and piss each other and I can't stand all of you most of the time, you guys are my greatest supporters and I appreciate that not only we are family, we're best friends"

Sounds of appreciation could be heard and I giggled with the reactions.

"Can we eat now?" I asked sincerely "I'm hungry"

Dom rolled her eyes but beamed to me.

"LET'S PARTY!" she exclaimed, and a loud and cheerful song started playing, other friends coming to congratulate her.

But Stan was the first to appear, making Dom squeal happily, embracing him tightly with emotion. They stayed like this for a time before she greeted other friends, but her eyes always finding Stan again, like if to make sure he wouldn't leave her again.

Oh, being in love and reciprocated…

I just need food. Food never disappointed me in the last years, never. And it gives you more pleasure than boys do.

I walked quickly to the table full of food, wondering whether I should get pumpkin pastries or pizza first, or both. What a dilemma, that's my family right now.

I looked around me, observing what my family was doing, I enjoy watching people, how they act spontaneously when they don't know they are being observed, everybody seems so careless, just enjoying the moment.

Lucy was already ruling the karaoke, a Durmstrang boy selecting a muggle song to sing; Effie and Roxy were playing a Just Dance as a crowd gathered around them to watch; my brother, Louis and their friends were on the dance floor with Liam and Jack; Ella and a group of girls from Beauxbatons and Lysander were on the puffs chatting, while Lily and Dom were talking and hugging all the time.

Amen everything is alright between them, after the party au need to talk to Lils.

I felt an odd sensation, the one a I get when someone is gazing at me, and just as I turned around I noticed who was making me uncomfortable, the one and only Scorpius Malfoy.

Albus was beside him talking about something at the bar, but he didn't seem to listen.

What a jerk, he's incapable of being decent even to his best friend.

I rolled my eyes pissed off, perhaps I should try the karaoke, but I think I need alcohol to really do it.

But Albus and Malfoy are at the bar, I want to avoid his presence as much as I can.

On the other hands Malfoy has been acting so strangely since we met earlier, perhaps a I could test him, since seeing him like this make me more comfortable and confident, I know, I'm kind of fucked up.

But when I noticed he's fragile it gives me strength.

Breath in, breath out, Rosie. You can do it.

I remembered once again Lucy's words, 'what life wants from us is courage'.

Before I could overthink, again, I just walked to the bar, placing beside Albus, who has Malfoy by his other side.

I could feel his glance over new but I ignored it, getting a fire whiskey because I need its effects to help me cope with the whole night and a weird Malfoy looking to me all the time.

If he's going to do it the whole night, then he will certainly see a happy and strong Rose, I won't let him know that he really hurt my feelings.

"What do you think, Rosie?" Albus asked me, completely unaware of the tension between me and Malfoy.

"About?" I retorted.

"I'm telling Scorpius he shouldn't be upset about Arabella because girls are complicated" Albus told me, worry clear in his face.

"I'm not upset about her" Malfoy protested rolling his eyes, clearly annoyed about Albus insisting otherwise.

What the bloody hell is going on? Trouble in paradise? Why aren't Malfoy and Arabella together like the past weeks and why is he upset?

But do I really wanna know?

"What about Arabella?" I asked Albus without trying to sound annoying, he has no idea about how much the subject upsets me, so I need to chill.

"We're not together" he said this time, looking directly to me, his tone of voice clearly pissed off and almost angry.

Why does he look so mad?

"Oh" I pretended to be sad "I'm so sorry, Malfoy" a grimace on my face.

He just looked to be gobsmacked, probably not expecting this reaction, then clearly annoyed again, probably realising how fake I'm being.

I can promise only one thing for myself tonight: I won't make it easy for Malfoy ever again.

"Rosie" Albus looked happily to me "You're being so nice recently"

I tried not to feel insulted by Albus' words, what does he mean? That usually I am not a nice person?

Sod off, Albus! You're annoying as hell.

I rolled my eyes instead.

But indeed, I know I'm not an easy person to deal with, and actually I'm not ashamed by it, I'm really proud of myself.

Perhaps not because of the best reasons, but I'm still too young to take myself so serious.

Although I feel like an old lady more than half of the time.

"Boys are much more complicated than girls, seriously" I said, looking to Albus and ignoring his presence.

"The hell we are" Albus disagreed vehemently "I still don't understand Ella and she's probably the most relaxed and apparently uncomplicated girl I ever met"

"Well, mate" Malfoy said, caution clear in his voice "Perhaps now you understand" he pointed his head to the far wall beside the dance floor, where Ella and one of the Beauxbatons' girls were snogging.

Well.

Even I am surprised.

Indeed, Ella never talked much about her feelings and she doesn't go out and snog, she's so chill about all of it.

"Damn it" Albus complained, fixing his glasses uncertain "I wasn't expecting it" he muttered sadly.

Poor Albus…

There's nothing I can say right now to help him, even I don't know what to think about it.

Don't get me wrong, I don't care who Ella snogs and which are her preferences, but if she's a lesbian, why she didn't feel comfortable enough to come and talk to me… I mean, we're best friends, we tell everything to each other, we trust each other the most… Have I talked as a friend? If she's as lesbian or not, it doesn't change anything for me, I just want her to be happy and feel comfortable with herself. I'll always support her.

I felt a bit uneasy, tomorrow I'll talk to her.

"Excuse me" Albus whispered quickly, leaving Malfoy and I with the beverages.

Great.

Alone with the devil.

"I didn't know he still was so much into her" I blurted out before I could restrain myself.

But since are just Malfoy and I here, with who else can I talk, after all?

Bullshit.

I'm just trying to fool myself, I missed talking to this prat.

Merlin, kill me.

I need to learn how to control myself, I can't keep doing it.

I'm certainly insane.

"He hadn't told me as well" Malfoy admitted, his voice full of hurt "I thought he was already over her"

So now both of us are hurt with our best friends for hiding something important about them from us.

Blimey, this night just gets better.

Sarcasm.

But I need to keep myself on track for Dom and Lily's sake, at least everything is kind of getting sorted out and in their places.

I could feel his grey and stormy eyes over me, but instead of avoiding them, I just pretended I hadn't noticed it.

It's not the same as avoiding, right?

Right.

We stayed in silence for a long time, tension really clear and evident, like if both of us wanted to say something, but we are incapable of doing so.

Also, I don't know why I just can't leave. I'm trying to say to my feet, move, come on. But nothing makes me walk away and go to the karaoke with Lucy or just sit in the puffs with some random students.

For me it's quite sad that from a great relationship, considering how we had been enemies for the past years, now we barely talk, nor feel comfortable enough to do so. Before it was so easy, it even surprised me how we were really able to keep a conversation, a proper one, between us. What had happened?

I found out about my feelings for him, he acted like a jerk. Perhaps it was better to end whatever we were early instead of getting too involved. I didn't get that much involved and his stupidity already hurt me more than I ever had gotten.

I hate feeling vulnerable and in two months he left me like this, that's not a good sign.

Perhaps I need to face our case like this, it's better for me that we're not so close anymore. Actually, not close at all.

"Hey, gorgeous" a boy appeared by my side, his thick accent making it evident he's from Durmstrang.

I got kind astonished. He's handsome, apparently older, a beard, way too much muscular, but still in great shape.

Why is he even talking to me, I'm wearing a large shirt as a dress, for Merlin's beard!

"Hello there" I simply said.

Because although I'm feeling great having a handsome boy talking to me while a grumpy Malfoy is nearby, boys never really affect me.

Why? Because I don't give a shit about what they think about me when they mean nothing to me.

That's why Malfoy is so dangerous to me, he challenges me all the bloody time.

"Are you alone?" he asked me curiously, eyeing Malfoy carefully.

Why is he looking carefully to Malfoy? Indeed, Malfoy is tall and muscular as well… oh, I had felt it before… Anyway, but this guy from Durmstrang is probably his double size, Malfoy should feel intimidated, not him.

"Totally" I said firmly and cheerfully.

I got another fire whiskey, already feeling its effect over me.

Merlin, soon I'll be way too giggly for my taste.

"Cool" he replied, winking at me flirty.

Merlin, is he serious?

I giggled, finding quite adorable how a guy of his size could still be cute.

I looked quickly to Malfoy, he wasn't looking to me, but I noticed how his fists were clenched, his jaw tense.

Why is he being so weird?

Oh, probably because Arabella dumped him. Although he insists he's not upset about her.

What a loser.

"Would you like to dance, gorgeous?" the guy asked me.

His new nickname for me making me giggle.

I noticed how Malfoy rolled his eyes at the guys' choice and my careless reaction.

Payback is a bitch.

"Sure" I agreed, following him to the dance floor.

Again, I felt his gaze over me, almost piercing me for being so intense.

I laughed, adoring the effect alcohol has over me, I could feel more relaxed, not even one muscle was tense, I was laughing more easily and not even a worry would come to my mind to annoy me. The beat of the loud music also making my pulse race as I felt the guys arms encircling around my waist.

Alright, I rather to dance more freely, but hey, I should enjoy it a bit.

I looked to the bar, his grey eyes looking directly to me,

Merlin, he doesn't even feel ashamed for being such a psycho?

Why is he acting like this?

"Are you sure you're alone, gorgeous?" he asked me, looking to an awful Malfoy at the bar.

"Yep" I replied, moving with the music "He's just a prat"

"He looks jealous" the boy muttered to me, like if making a confession or telling me a gossip.

I laughed, finding so funny how he was telling me this.

"Do you think?" I don't know if he's jealous.

I mean, why would he be? We're not even together, and when we were kind of 'together' he never appeared to be jealous.

"My ex-girlfriend is at least" the boy pointed to a girl on the corner, eyeing us furiously.

Wait a minute, tall, brunette, the tip of her hair pink…

"Did you date Arabella?" I asked him suspiciously.

"Yes, we broke up a few months ago" he replied to me, bringing my body closer to his.

"Stop it" I demanded in a bossy tone, making him stop to dance "Are you using me to make your ex jealous?" I asked annoyed.

"Would you like me to be sincere?" he asked nonchalantly.

I arched my right eyebrow to him sceptically, of course I do.

"No, you're indeed a gorgeous girl" he replied, eyeing me from head to toes.

Damn it, I feel quite exposed now, although I'm just wearing a large shirt.

But at the same time, although my self esteem doesn't rely on a handsome boy's opinion, I felt quite good that he recognises my beauty.

Because seriously, every girl is truly beautiful, we shouldn't follow a pattern to compare ourselves in a way to feel adequate or not. Beauty is much more about how you accept yourself and feel comfortable in your own skin. And although Malfoy being with Arabella did affect my self esteem, now this boy is just helping me put that awful feeling behind me.

"But if being with you, here, in this dance floor, dancing like this, is helping to make her feel a bit of how she made me feel, then it's a win-win situation" he told me, winking again.

This guy is way too flirty for my taste, but he seems cool.

Although the fact that he's Arabella's ex-boyfriend is quite unsettling.

"How is it a win-win situation if I'm not winning anything?" I questioned him.

"Gorgeous, you challenge me" he said impressed "I like it"

I burst into laughter, his sense of humour infecting me.

He seemed to think for a while, his arms wrapping around me again.

"Look, gorgeous" he said "The prat right there is fuming, whatever he did to you to be called like this he deserves getting jealous"

"You're way too persuasive" I admitted, giggling.

As fucked up as it might be, I'm really enjoying myself tonight, finally.

And although I would never use someone to make another jealous, nor would allow someone to use me like this as well, or would anything just to get revenges, I won't let a jerk like Malfoy stop me from doing whatever I want with whoever I want, just like the 'handsome Durmstrang guy' doesn't care about any of it either.

"But did you really have to be her ex-boyfriend?" I asked him dramatically.

"What's the matter?" he asked me confused, his arms still around me.

"Because he's a prat" I gestured to Malfoy "for snogging her in front of me" I tried to summarize what happened, although things weren't exactly like this.

"You're joking" the boy chuckled.

"Nop" I told him.

"How can a girl like you go out with Scorpius Malfoy?" he asked rhetorically.

Damn it, he's so enjoyable.

But not because he's been complimenting me all night, or how he despises Malfoy nor because he finds Arabella annoying.

I mean, of course it is.

Please, remind me to ask his name later.

"Like me?" I asked rhetorically this time, self-deprecation clear in my voice.

"Gorgeous" the boy reprimanded me, earning a grin from me "Come here"

And before I could be able to stop him, and then when it happened I thanked myself for actually not really stopping him, he snogged me deeply, his right hand holding my hair while his left arm was firmly around me.

Clearly, although his snog is really great, it doesn't make me feel like he does. And that's because there's no feeling involved. Even though when I snogged Malfoy I still hadn't realised that I already liked him, I could feel there was something more, I just couldn't see it, nor admit it.

But before I could properly react to the snog, I felt the boy being pulled away violently away from me, and then the scene I had the displeasure to witness shocked me.

Malfoy pushed the Durmstrang boy away from me, before punching him straight to his face, a loud thump being heard as the boy stumbled backwards, although he didn't fall to the ground.

I intervened before he could punch Malfoy back, not because he doesn't deserve it, but because I noticed how just the people around us realised what had happened and I don't want my family questioning why Malfoy punched a boy because he was snogging me. Also, I don't want to ruin Dom's night.

Pressing my hand on Malfoy's strong torso, his breath heavy, his fists clenched, his jaw tense, I pushed him away from the boy and the small crowd that gathered around us.

I kept walking pushing him as we distanced from the dance floor, I could feel my skin red, my blue eyes sternly looking to his stormy grey ones, my right eyebrow arched angrily.

I probably looked just like my mum when she's angry, because Malfoy had the same reaction my dad has when he leaves her fuming: he gulped.

"We are going to talk" I notified him, my tone firm and clearly annoyed "Now" I almost yelled as I kept pushing him to outside the Room of Requirement.

It's going to be a long night for me, and as usual, a stressful one with Malfoy.


Author's Note: Hello, folks!

I hope you enjoy Chapter 28, it's one of the longest I've ever written so please review to me after such hard work!

I know all of you are longing for more Scorose, but these moments apart have been necessary, soon you'll understand why!

Please don't forget to review, it really helps and means a lot to me!

Thank you to my reviewers from last Chapter:

Guest – Thank you so much for your review! I'm sorry for not being to update more frequently, I promise I'll try to improve it! About more Scorose interaction, don't miss the next chapters, I promise they'll make up for their previous time apart!

AhsokaAmidala34 – Thank you so much for your review and support through all the chapters! It means a lot to me! I also miss Scorpius and Rose but that's exactly what I wanted, for her to reflect about their relationship and to get back her independent attitude, love can be really tricky most of the time and it's never simple! I want my story to be as real as possible! Also, thank you for your compliment! I've been trying really hard to improve my writing and to have my efforts recognised by one of my readers means a lot to me!

pinkrose520 – Welcome, dear reader! Thank you so much for your review, I'm truly touched by your words, it means a lot to me! Also, thank you for being understandable about the break up, it's something I find really necessary to talk about! I try to not make Arabella sound like a mean girl of those stereotyped films, but since we only have Rose's point of view I actually wanted exactly to cause this reaction over my readers! I'm really glad about your review and I'm honoured that you love so much my writing and my story, it's all worth it because of readers like you!

Lilucy – Thank you so much for your review! It really helped and motivated me! Please, there's no need to apologise about your English, I'm honoured that you made such effort to communicate with me, it means a lot! Don't worry because I won't stop writing, I hope that you don't stop reviewing to me as well!

Amelie – Thank you so much, Amelie! I hope you enjoy Chapter 28!

Without further ado,

Binki