I woke up in Scorpius' arms, after a late night and early morning of eating sweets, playing my favourite game in the world, wizard's chess, and just talking. I should've been cold. The windows were still open and his sheets were stiff and paper-like. With his arm thrown over me and his chest to my back, I was blissfully warm. It was early, the sun was just breaking the clouds in the distance. It was nice to look at the orange haze. Scorpius was still asleep. I didn't feel bitchy enough to wake him.
I watched him sleep for a while because I was feeling creepy. He snored lightly. I know it's a bit cliché to say but he looked more innocent when he slept, like a blank slate. His mouth hung open and his limbs were completely relaxed.
I was half-hoping he'd start mumbling my name in his sleep. Mom said dad did that when he was super tired. There was something romantic about it. I blinked back the thoughts of my parents and the guilt building in my chest. There'd be plenty of time to think about them next week. I had to focus on what little now we had.
Andrew hooted from the opened window. There was a mouse clutched in his talons- dead, hopefully, but ew. Another owl perched next to him one I didn't recognise with a letter tied to his leg.
"Hey, there." I murmured gently, crawling off the bed trying not to wake Scorpius.
I open the envelope. It was packed full of parchment. I unfolded the letter that stood out the most, written on purple parchment.
Hiya Rose!
Abby here! Don't be alarmed I'm using Kenny's owl. Kenny says what's up in French. We've recently become obsessed with languages, not a joke. We have also raided the local muggle cake shop. We bought a christening and a birthday cake. Mum keeps asking where you are (rolling eyes here) because she thinks having a boy as a friend is weird. Anyway, there's all doors open policy in place. They're trying to embarrass me with their backwards ways. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you? (Winky face).
Don't do anything I would do if I had a 'soul mate' or 'lover.' I wonder if your parents are getting a shiver up their spines every time he touches you?- Okay! Off topic, this was only supposed to be a short but sweet letter. Titanic's about to come on tv and Kenny doesn't know who Kate Winslet or Leo D. is. When I said draw me like your French girls to him his reply was 'I don't know anyone from Beauxbatons.'
Kenny has just yelled at me. The health insurance ad is over. It's starting. OMG you have the same name and more extreme hair of Kate in Titanic, just realised that. ANYWAY ENCLOSED IS THE LETTERS YOUR MOTHER- YES, LETTERS PLURAL- SENT YOU, ME AND US. Reply to them. Google maps have informed me Malfoy manor or the muggle village nearby Riverheights (pestered Scorpius before you left. Safety first! Aren't I a good friend?) in Wiltshire is SIX EFFING HOURS FROM LONDON SO SEND, SEND, SEND.
SEND ME NEWS ALSO…
LOT'S OF FRIEND ZONE LOVE,
ABBY AND Kenny.
P.S Say reassuring things to Kenny's owl. He's still traumatised. Longford sending Bubbles to China should be punished with a life sentence in Azkaban. Long journeys make him nervous so watch the carpet!
I threw the owl a treat from the jar sitting on Scorpius' desk. Andrew snapped his beak viciously beside Bubbles waiting for his own. Andrew's mouse was now lying in his cage. Ew. I threw a treat to him, Abby's letter and the small novel my mom wrote me in my other hand. The glimpse of the first letter was reassuring. It wasn't dad's writing. He always managed to say the wrong thing. Mum just got me, even in letters.
I snuggled back down beside Scorpius getting warm again.
"Hey you," Scorpius groaned half asleep. His voice was a couple of octaves too low. He threw his arm over my chest bringing me closer to him.
I giggled. Scorpius' eyes were still closed.
"You're cold," he remarked his head resting on my shoulder.
"Abby sent me a letter," I told him.
"That's nice," Scorpius mumbled unbothered. He was going back to sleep I could feel his breathing deepening.
"And Andrew's back. He brought you a mouse."
Scorpius nodded, "That's nice." He repeated.
"Mom sent me a letter," I said. I flipped through the pages of parchment. "Or letters."
"That not so nice." He said with a yawn.
"Read them out to me?"
Scorpius opened his eyes. He sighed, "Only 'cause you're my girlfriend."
"Yay," I cheered passing him the letters.
"I was having such a good dream."
"About me?"
"How did you guess?" He smiled wolfishly. "It was so hot, you and your red bra-"
"And your green underpants," I poked him in the arm. He poked me back.
"My dream world isn't that nice," he admitted sitting up. "We were in the Library and you were lecturing me about books. And merlin, you wouldn't shut up."
"Yeah, 'cause books are boss, Scorpie, honestly." I shook my head and handed him the letters. He pulled me on top of him with a sweep of his arm.
"Right, Rosie." He started, shuffling the letters. He began reading the letter in an impersonation of my mother. His voice was too high and shrilly. I couldn't stop laughing.
"Read it in your normal voice," I said wiping my eyes. "You sound like a two hundred year old witch."
"Thank you." He laughed. "Alright then, Dear Rosie, I know all about you and your inappropriate relationship. The end."
"What a lovely letter. So to the point."
Scorpius twisted one of my curls around his finger. Magically he didn't get his whole arm tangled. My hair tie had fallen out. My hair or 'it' was knotty and at full bushiness but I didn't care.
"Dear Rosie," he cleared his throat shaking the sleepiness from his voice. "Any news from Abby's house-?"
"For merlin's sake, it's dad," I grumbled into Scorpius' chest.
"You should invite her over here. Abby's great fun. You're mom's busy at work, she only comes out of that office of hers to make dinner. Hugo and me are mostly down in the Burrow. Granny and Grandad are asking after you. Hugo almost got hit by a car Grandad's trying to bewitch. Just like the old days- without Hugo getting run over. New sweets came into the store. George is trying to triple his stock and double the quality-"
"How much longer does this go on for?" I yawned into his chest. He kissed the top of my head.
"Another paragraph," he answered.
"Anything interesting?"
"Order of the phoenix secrets and an I love you."
"Great, I already knew all that. Go to the next one, dad isn't a letter person."
The sound of rustling parchment came again. Scorpius cleared his throat, "Dear Rose, You're usually quick to respond to my letters- Oh, skipped ahead on that one." He pulled out the another letter. "Dear Rose, I hope you're having a good time at Abby's. Remember to wear your sun protection potion if you go outside or even sit by a window. You are not to come back burnt. I put an extra bottle in your bag just in case-" Scorpius laughed. "I didn't see any sun potion yesterday." His hand were suddenly around my ribs. I swatted him away.
"Get on with it,"
Scorpius cleared his throat again, "Send a letter back immediately when you get this. I want to know you're safe and sound. And not in bed with Scorpius Malfoy."
That was it. I forgot about my parents and common sense. I kissed his smirking lips. He pulled me closer. There was no time for family stuff. I had the rest of my life to think about that but now all I wanted to think about was Scorpius without any interruptions.
