A/N: Hooray for Friday updates! I'll be back on February 29th with chapter 29. (Because I'm sort of geeking out over posting on leap year, and how the numbers work out with this story, but I'm weird that way...)
"Are you ready?" Ellie raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yes?" Al nodded.
"Then perhaps we should stop standing on the pavement and go knock on the door?"
"Right," Al nodded again.
Originally, Al had not been all that nervous to bring El to meet the Ron Weasley clan. But that was before Rose had called him that morning to let him know she had a new boyfriend who would be joining them, and who that boyfriend was.
They'd known Scorpius alright while in school. They didn't necessarily run in the same circles, but Al thought him a good bloke from the moment Scorpius stood up to some older kids picking on a group of first years, being only a first-year himself. So it isn't like Al disapproves of Rose and Scorpius dating, he's just not sure what to expect. He hasn't seen the man in years, he has no good point of reference.
To put it simply, Scorpius is an unknown entity in Al's perfectly measured procedure, and now, who knows what the results will be?
"Come on," Ellie rolled her eyes and pulled him forward. "I'm sure your cousin's boyfriend is a lovely man."
Al followed, part of his brain agreeing with her, the other part panicking in protest.
"Right."
Hermione opened the door as they triggered the wards and waved them inside.
"Come in, come in, it's getting cold out."
"Isn't it lovely," Ellie slipped her jacket from her arms.
Hermione chuckled, "I suppose it can be."
"Aunt Hermione, this is Ellie," Al took El's jacket, "Ellie this is my Aunt Hermione."
"I'm so glad to finally meet you!" Hermione waved their jackets out of Al's hands and into the cupboard.
"Al!"
Al turned just in time to catch Rose mid-air as she flung herself at him.
"Hey, Rosie," Al set her down and turned to Ellie.
"Ellie, this is my cousin Rose, Rose this is my girlfriend, Ellie."
Rose threw herself at El, who laughed as she wrapped her arms around Rose's middle.
"Rosie," Hermione chided, "Let the poor woman breathe."
"It's fine, really," Ellie grinned as Rose pulled back. "I love hugs!"
"Well then you'll love, Rose," Hugo stuck his head out into the entryway and rolled his eyes. "Rose will hug anyone."
"That's Hugo," Rose stuck her tongue out at her brother. "The baby of the family."
"Rose, stop it," Hermione chided as she gave the three of them a nudge towards the sitting room. "You're adults now, so act like it."
"Adults with Weasley siblings for our examples," Hugo grinned before ducking behind his book to avoid Hermione's death glare.
"He's got a point, love," Ron chuckled and came in from the kitchen. "Ginny, my brothers, and I still end up bickering like children from time to time."
He held out his hand to El. "It's nice to finally meet you, Ellie. I'm Ron, Al's uncle."
"Thank you all for having me," Ellie shook his hand and Al scanned trying to figure out where Scorpius was hiding.
"He's not here yet," Rose eyed him.
Al tried to look calm, "Oh?"
"I've known you since we were born, Al." Rose rolled her eyes. "I know what you're doing."
"I'm just reminiscing about how this place hasn't changed much." Al avoided his cousin's gaze.
"How about we turn on the wireless and have a drink while we wait for Scorpius to make it." Ron waved his wand at the radio and quiet music filled the air. "I've got some hot wassail on the stove as well if you're of a mind."
"Really?" Ellie's smile beamed. "My aunt only makes it at Christmas time. I love wassail!"
Ron grinned. "I've always said it makes no sense to save the best things for once a year. Follow me, Ellie, and we'll fill you a mug."
Ellie gave an excited squeak and Al chuckled as he kissed her cheek before pushing her towards Ron and the kitchen.
"Why didn't you say that you disapproved of Scorpius?" Rose pulled on his arm once Ellie had disappeared into the kitchen.
"Because I don't," Al blinked at her.
"Then why are you freaking out?"
"Rose, Al is fine," Hermione cut in.
"No," Hugo called from his book, "Al's definitely freaking out. He's doing that thing where he looks at everything then stops and zones out with that panicked look in his eyes and then repeats it over and over."
"See!" Rose pointed at Hugo. "He knows too!"
"Rose," Hermione's voice was firmer, but Al was peeved now and let Rose have it.
"No, they're right. And I'm panicked because you took a safe, predictable scenario and then last minute threw in a wild card!"
"Scorpius isn't a wild card!" Rose shot back.
"He is for Al," Hugo turned the page of his book.
"You knew him in school!" Rose protested.
"I knew of him and we left Hogwarts years ago! So excuse me for being nervous that I brought the girlfriend that I kept from the family for over a year to meet you on the same day that you spring someone I can't calculate on me."
"I told you," Hugo looked up from his book, "I told you to wait for next time."
"Al, if you're feeling uncomfortable, we can reschedule this." Hermione put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's always hard to have things sprung on you, especially when you're already nervous."
Al shoved his hand in his hair. "No, I want to be here. I want you all to get to know Ellie." He turned to Rose. "And I am happy for you, Rosie. Just, let me work through this alright. I'm learning not to try and treat life like an experiment with controllable variables, but it's taking time." He smiled, "And most all of El's patience."
It was Rose's turn to look panicked as she threw herself at him. "I'm sorry! I've been so nervous because Scorp and I have gotten so much crap because he's a Malfoy and I'm a Weasley and I just wanted you to be excited for me because so many people were wary at first and I just needed someone to love it and I wanted it to be you but I didn't think about how I'd changed plans on you last minute! And..."
"Breathe, Rose," Hugo put his book down and smiled at Al. "You going to be alright, mate?"
Al nodded as he disentangled himself from Rosie. "Yeah, I might still do some of my tics, but I'm not leaving." He smiled down at Rose, "I am happy for you. And I know someone who was happy for you the moment they found out you we dating and loves that you and Scorpius are together."
"You do?" Rose furrowed her brow.
"Ellie."
"Yes?" Ellie walked in, steaming cup of wassail clasped in her hands and a happy smile gracing her lips.
Al reached for her, "I was just telling Rose how you were excited to find out she has a new boyfriend."
"Oh!" Ellie nodded. "I love hearing about how people met and got together. My grandmother tells me stories all the time of how half of St. John's relationships started."
Al smirked, wondering how many of those stories were actually told to Naomi verbally.
"That sounds a right side better than the stories my grandmother told me." Scorpius walked into the room and Rose's whole face lit up like a bright white LED lightbulb as she ran to him.
"Scorp, you remember Al," Rosie wrapped her arms around Scorpius' middle.
"Of course, it's good to see you again. Rose tells me you're blurring the lines between the Wizarding World and the Muggles."
Al nodded and shook Scorpius' proffered hand. "We had a successful test run for the production of one of my product ideas this morning. But I've got a lot of help from Ellie, here. Ellie, this is Scorpius Malfoy, one of our old classmates. Scorpius, this is my girlfriend, Ellie Battiste."
"Nice to meet you," Ellie shifted her mug to shake his hand.
"Is that wassail?" Scorpius' eyes went wide.
"Dad made some," Rose nodded. "He doesn't see the point of only having it in December."
"I knew I liked your dad," Scorpius nodded to the room, "I'll be back in a moment."
The rest of the evening went much smoother than Al had originally anticipated. Everyone loved Ellie, and Ellie's lack of any history on the matter helped Al to see Scorpius through fresh eyes. He hadn't held any hard feelings for Scorpius, but Al realized that he had held a lot of pity for him. Having El there helped Al to see Scorpius without that pity, and that made it easier to get to know him.
As the evening drew to a close, Al went into the kitchen with Scorpius for one more mug of wassail.
"I'm really glad you were able to come tonight," Scorpius leant against the counter. "It's been really important to Rose."
"I'm glad I came. It was good to actually get to know you." Al filled his mug before setting it down to grab El's.
"Are you alright with Rose and me then?"
Al chuckled, "She'd kill me for trying to give that sort of permission."
Scorpius gripped the counter behind him. "Look Al, everyone at Hogwarts knew how you and your brothers handled the guys that broke Lily's heart. Honestly, I'm surprised anyone was willing to date her at all. But what I'm going for here is that you're not upset it's me Rose is choosing."
Al studied Scorpius for a moment. "As long as you're choosing each other, Scorp, I couldn't be happier."
Relief seemed to wash over Scorpius as his whole body relaxed and he smiled.
"Thanks, Al."
"Anytime, but can you be straight with me on one thing?" Al filled Ellie's mug and picked up his.
"Sure?"
"How long have you and Rosie actually been together?"
"Not long…" Scorpius looked down at his mug.
"This is definitely not a brand new relationship, Scorp."
Scorpius sighed, "What gave it away?"
Al chuckled, "You didn't knock when you came in today."
Crimson colored Scorpius' cheeks, "Yeah, Ron told me to stop knocking about three months ago."
"And…"
"And he told me to stop calling him Mr. Weasley and call him Ron for Merlin's sake about four months ago."
"And…"
Scorpius finally looked up, "And I got the courage to ask Rose out six months, two weeks, and five days ago."
Al tapped his mug against Scorpius'. "Cheers, mate. I'm happy for the both of you."
Scorpius grinned and pushed off the counter. "Thanks, Al."
