Aria: Surprise! Thank you for the long wait.

Chapter 23 - Glitter, Tears and Closets

- 1st March 2022 -

Narrator's POV:

"Actually I think I'll go." Rose said suddenly.

"Really? Why the change of heart?" Al said with a surprised tone.

"No reason," Rose held her head high and only looked down at the fried eggs she was cutting. Perfect plan. A plan to show that she decides what she wants to do and she didn't need anyone else's interference. The rush of new found determination was empowering.

Mya and Fie both gave Rose a look of surprise. Mutually the three decided to discuss Rose's seemingly spontaneous change of mind and the conversation ploughed on.

"Well looks like we're all going then," Mya cheerfully commented to keep the situation from turning to an awkward silence.

"Who's all going where?" they heard a voice ask behind them.

Lily was passing by with Hugo on their way to somewhere. Lunch no doubt. Is lunch still not over yet? Rose mentally face-palmed herself back to reality as her mind started wandering. "Hey Lil, Hugo, how are you two going?" Al greeted.

"Fine," Lily said in a strained way. She looked tired: like she hadn't slept well in days.

"I've been alright too," Hugo added. Rose looked at Hugo and realized that it had been a while since she'd seen him. She made a mental note to talk with Hugo soon. No wonder her mind has so much clutter, with all these mental notes. Rose chuckled internally.

"That's great," Rose said smiling at the two.

"Lil, why don't you sit here and eat breakfast, Al, Scorpius and I have to go somewhere. I'll be back as soon as possible." Hugo was pretty obvious to Al and Scorpius that it was their cue to leave with him.

"Yeah we should be going," Al looked as though he had remembered something. He kissed Mya on her cheek and hopped up. "We'll be back soon."

"Yeah," Scorpius mumbled as he got up and followed Al and Hugo.

Fie turned to Lily, "Hey there Lil, is everything really ok?"

"Mostly..." Lily stated stiffly. As if she had been frozen and as a result all her muscles were tense.

"Is that prick Mark bothering you still?" Fie inquired with a gentle tone.

"No, but I have been having nightmares about, the other day."

"Aww Lil, I'm sorry to hear that," Rose said looking at Lily with a sympathetic smile.

"Yeah, maybe try having some warm milk with honey before going to bed, that's what my mum told me to have when I had nightmares," Mya smiled but at the mention of her mother she slightly frowned. Rose blinked and she was smiling again.

"Anyhow, how about some pancakes with maple syrup and ice-cream for breakfast?" Fie offered.

"Sure," Lily sighed. The meal appeared in front of her and she slowly nibbled on the pancakes.

Rose turned to Mya and asked, "Are you ok? You haven't really talked much about your home before. I mean all I know is that your parents don't get along and that you have brothers." Mya's family are Muggles but occasionally they have one person who has magical abilities.

Mya hesitated then replied, "Well my parents are divorced and live separately obviously, and one of my brothers lives at each place." She opened her mouth to add more but she decided against it.

"I see, I'm sorry I can't really relate to you. My parents fight but they're still together," Rose said.

"That's ok," Mya offered a smile.

- In the Room of Requirement -

"I have thought of the most awesome idea for a school wide prank!" Fred exclaimed.

This caught everyone's attention. Sure, whole school pranks have happened before but Fred seemed to be particularly proud of his idea.

"It's a pretty awesome idea," Louis confirmed nodding his head. Al and Scorpius both gave looks of skepticism.

"Ok so..." Fred stated.

- Back in the Great Hall -

"The boys are taking a while, aren't they?" Mya asked.

"I didn't notice," Rose stated. In truth, she had been wondering what was taking them so long.

Abruptly Rose heard the screech of owls. Mail time. Rose was normally too late to breakfast for the Mail deliveries. It was a good change. she felt a smile growing on her face.

Rose then saw the family owl, Sherbet, that Hermione bought for the family to use. Rose did have her own owl, Cat, but she found that they didn't like each other very much. Maybe it was birds in general. Rose had never been too fond of birds, they scared her. Sherbet dropped some letters to her and flew off again. There were letters addressed to Hugo and Rose. I'll give Hugo his when he comes back, she thought.

Rose opened up the first letter:

Dear Rosie,

How have you been? I hope everything is well and that Dom and James aren't creating hell for the family. On the note of James, how is being a Prefect?

I do have some important news to tell you. (The actual reason for this letter).

I'M GETTING MARRIED! Teddy proposed yesterday and I would like you to be a bride's maid for me. We'll have a dress sizing over the summer break. I can't wait to see you again!

Lots of Love from,

Vic :)

Wow, Teddy finally proposed. Took him long enough. They've been dating since their fifth year and seem to be very happy together.

"Rose? Rose?" Mya snapped Rose out of my daze.

"What? Oh sorry, I was just thinking," Rose replied.

"What's the letter about?" Fie inquired looking at my opened letter from across the table.

"Vic is getting married. Teddy finally proposed and she wants me to be a brides maid," Rose explained with excitement building up.

"Wow awesome, did she say when it'll be?" Mya asked.

"No, but apparently there's a dress fitting over summer break, so that'll be cool." Rose grinned.

"Yeah I got a letter about it too," Lily said holding up her letter.

"What's all the commotion about?" Al seemed to appear out of nowhere along with Scorpius and Hugo.

"Read your letter." Lily passed Al his letter and I did the same for Hugo's mail.

"Oh and there's a letter here for you too Scorp," Lily handed Scorpius a letter.

They all opened their letters and Hugo and Al had the same reaction. A mixture of shock and annoyance. On the other hand, Scorpius was surprised. She wondered what he's surprised at. Then again why am I pondering his surprise? Rose felt a little flutter as her mind started flooding with imagined scenarios which he would use that expression.

"Wow," Al said. Rose looked up at Al with mild intensity. A nice distraction from thinking about a git.

"Yeah, wow but at the same time, weddings can be a pain," Hugo said.

"Hugo, your cousin is getting married and you shouldn't complain," Rose scolded Hugo.

"Ok mum," Hugo rolled his eyes.

Rose just shook her head. She caught someone looking at her in her peripheral. She turned to see Scorpius glancing away and pretending to be interested in a different conversation. Suddenly she remembered the pendant necklace she received from Scorpius and smiled at the happy memory. It's been two weeks but she was starting to notice that things weren't the same without Scorpius there. There was a kind of empty space where he would usually be or expect to be found. She was tired of avoiding him but wasn't sure what to say. She hadn't forgiven him for hurting her but she...missed him.

"Oh Merlin, look at the time we better hustle if we want to get to class on time," Mya commented.

Mya had Herbology, Fie had Care of Magical Creatures and Rose had Muggle Studies.

"Yeah, best be off then," Rose added getting up.

- In Muggle Studies -

"Today we'll be continuing to look at technologies that the muggles have invented to serve a purpose. In particular Apple iPhone products, they started with just the simple iPhone back in 2007 and now they are up to the iPhone 17. This progression has a trend of..." Professor Winks was an enthusiastic teacher who had explained that he was from a family of muggles and that he was so amazed by coming to Hogwarts he wanted to teach here after he had graduated (which was back in 2017).

Today's a Tuesday so tomorrow I have Quidditch practice, Thursday I have prefect patrol with Scorpius and on Friday is the party. Wait...I don't have anything to wear to this party. Rose mentally face-palmed, freaking out about the fact that she didn't have a dress to wear to this party. Well, not one that would bring the 'wow factor'. Hogsmeade was an option but it wouldn't be convenient, with all the studying she would have to do because of OWL exams. She could ask Mya and Fie but Fie was a bit more well endowed on top and Mya was a bit taller than her. The rest of her female cousins aren't her size either. Crap. Looks like Hogsmeade it is, but how to get down there to get it is the question.

- Empty classroom -

James hauled the last bucket onto a table nearby. "That's the last of it." The legs of the table were uneven and the weight of the bucket perpetrated the table rocking slightly.

Fred smirked and replied, "Good, it'll be ready for when the mission begins."

- After Classes -

Rose was in their dorm room with Mya and Fie as the three puzzled over Rose's problem.

"Well, why don't we start with trying on some of our dresses?" Fie suggested already walking to her trunk. She pulled out a shimmering green dress. It had a strap over one shoulder and smooth fabric from just under the bust down. It was knee length on Fie but it looked like it might fit, so she tried it on. Turned out she was right and it was too roomy in the bust and slightly too long.

"Hmmm, what about this one?" Mya said holding up a light blue dress that was layered. It was just above Mya's knee; It might fit, she thought. She tried it on and it fit mostly but the layers didn't really compliment her figure.

Rose sighed and said, "Thanks guys, but something about them doesn't suit me. I might go to Hogsmeade in my spare period on Thursday."

"We could fake being sick and come with you?" Mya suggested.

"Mya, you can't do that you'd get found out, besides it would be to obvious if you both came." Rose sighed.

"Rose, I'm curious, why did you change your mind?" Fie inquired.

Rose's thoughts froze for a second and she was drawing a mental-blank.

"Ummm, it was kinda on impulse," Rose laughed half heartedly, "I just thought that I would show that git that I can fun anytime I chose to, and that I don't care what he does." Why does what he thinks matter again? Rose gave an inward nervous laugh and let the thought drift far away on a fast tide of thought.

"That's right girl power! Whoop!" Mya enthusiastically pumped her fist up in the air, almost hitting her hand on the curtain bar of the bed.

Fie and Rose laughed at Mya's antics.

"Are you sure you didn't hide some sweets from Honaydukes under your bed?" Rose said in her posh voice, which caused another laughing fit.

- 2nd March 2022 -

Rose, Mya and Fie were heading down to the Great Hall when they heard lots of voices echoing down the corridor.

"I wonder what's going on," Mya said.

"Let's go find out," Rose replied.

They continued to the Great Hall and they saw a mob of students standing outside the Great Hall and the doors were closed. Mya spotted Al and caught his attention as we got closer.

"What's going on?" Mya shouted.

"Apparently the door won't open," Al replied.

Suddenly the doors open people rush and cram through the door but as soon as they step through the doorway, a ton of slime dropped on them followed by a massive glitter bomb that spread right out in the corridor. Rose covered her face as the glitter washed over them.

The end result of this disaster was everyone's clothes had slime or glitter or both. Out raged the students start shouting and arguing. Rose notices that she got the glitter in her hair again. Ugh, why me? She looked at the rest of their group and they were completely covered in sparkles. They all laughed at how funny they looked.

"That's one way to brighten the day." Fie said trying to shake the glitter out of her now silver hair due to the sparkles.

"It actually worked!" Off to the side, they saw James, Fred and Louis high-fiving each other.

"We should have known." Al shook his head.

"Yep." It did remind Rose of last Christmas when Scorpius and her found a glitter bomb. Scorpius looked strangely handsome covered in glitter. Rose chuckled and sighed.

The Headmistress showed up with other teachers and gave James and his gang 2 months of detention.

"Shall we eat while we're here?" Rose's stomach growled, she'd deal with the sparkle later.

"Sure," Mya followed Rose. "Where's Scorp, Al?"

"He's somewhere, unsparkled," Al laughed. Mya giggled and gave him a kiss.

- After classes -

Quidditch practice was a refreshing for Rose, who so far, had been covered in sparkles and then forgot to do homework. It wasn't like Rose to forget so she was let off with a warning.

"Rose! Focus!" James shouted. He was only allowed to do Quidditch still because we had a game on the weekend and he must have worked out a deal.

"Sorry!" Rose found the Quaffle and saved three shots.

"Rose come down here!" James shouted again.

Rose sighed and descended. Once she was on the ground James gave her a lecture.

"Get your head in the game Rose, we won't beat Hufflepuff scum like this."

James noticed that Rose wasn't listening and asked, "Is there something else wrong?"

Rose perked up. "No nothing at all."

James wasn't convinced but got back to practice. Rose didn't need the WBBC interfering in her business again.

"Go again!" James ordered.

- 3rd March 2022 -

Fie, Mya and Al found Scorpius lounging in the Library.

"Look it's a Hippogriff." Al pointed out the window and Scorpius almost feel out of the chair.

"Dude, next time you won't get off that easy," Scorpius threatened.

Al played the look of innocence. "Anyway, we think it's about time you go and talk to Rose."

"Why?" Scorpius replied in monotone.

"Because it's plainly obvious that you both miss each other," Mya stated sitting beside Scorpius.

Scorpius continued to read as Al and Fie also sat down.

"She'll come around, just continue to reach out," Fie offered.

"And whatever you do, don't mention Miss Cloves ok?" Mya stated sternly.

"Fine, I'll talk to her tonight on prefect patrol," Scorpius huffed.

- the Astronomy tower -

Lily stood alone at the edge of the tower looking over the railing. It was a long drop if you were to fall or jump. For a split second Lily contemplated jumping. Then she backed away fast from the rail and shook off the feeling. What was wrong with her? Is she a freak because she has no interest in boys? There's nothing attractive about them. They are annoying more than anything. And they're only after the Potter family prestige. Lily sat in the middle of the tower feeling the fresh breeze wash over her. Girls smell prettier and they understand other girls better.

There were scuffling and voices coming from the stairwell. It was either listen to every sound of the stupid couple exchange saliva, or interrupt them on her flying exit down the stair.

Lily chose the exit.

- Later that evening after Dinner -

Rose when to the office to sign in her patrol and waited for Scorpius. To say she was pissed off would be an understatement. Scorpius arrived and silently Rose started walking down the corridor with out waiting for him.

Scorpius caught up with Rose. "Rose, I would like to say something to you."

Rose didn't reply or react and kept walking. Scorpius pulled Rose gently to a stop.

"Rose, nothing happened I promise you."

"Sure because nothing happened as you had your hands all over that bitch. You just couldn't wait to get with her." All Rose could see was red and not all the words she said registered to her in the moment. She was an ax and Scorpius became the target. "How dare you say nothing happened when I saw with my own eyes it did."

"Rose, I never touched her like that," Scorpius was shocked.

"Oh so you did touch her then?" Rose exclaimed.

"No," Scorpius ran his fingers through his hair. It was not going as he expected.

Rose refused to hear Scorpius' words and let out her thoughts, "How did you not even consider that someone else close by liked you and you just needed to wait until she told you!" Rose ran off down the corridor and kept running until she found a broom closet and locked herself in.

How could she have been so stupid? Now Scorpius probably hated her for calling him a womanizer and a creep. And the thought of losing what she had left with Scorpius made her so incredibly sad the tears didn't seem to stop.

Scorpius leaned against the wall behind him as he tried to make sense of the conversation, or rather argument, that just unfurled. Did she like him or hate him?