Chapter 9 - Unexpected invitation

~ Friday 31st October ~

Why did I agree to this again?

Cobwebs and Pumpkins everywhere as kids claw at the bowls of candy. While all the parents are either in denial or dreading putting their kids to bed. The rest of the adults think, thank Merlin it's not their child.

Standing the corner of the semi-crowded living room was my best idea of the afternoon. It's out of the thoroughfare. Esme walks over, looking both ways through the archway and couches.

"I wonder if Victorie really thought this through." Esme passes a glass of sparkling water to me.

"Thanks. I don't know what she is thinking half the time. She got excited and I guess Teddy couldn't say no." I took a sip. Most of Teddy and Victorie's friends had young kids already or they were single. Andrew from their Hogwarts year, leaning dejected against the wall staring at his full glass of juice. If you're going to look that miserable, why would you come to this kid-friendly-no-drinking party.

"Did Scorpius arrive already I haven't seen him?" Esme inquired. Somehow, I knew she had played a part in the past events of today.

"Rose good news! Since we've been working so hard, I convinced the leader of our research team to let us leave early today." She held back skipping with excitement.

"How on earth did you manage that when we still have so much to do?" I could feel the nagging sense of needing to finish this journal summary. Leaving it half-finished would nag at her all weekend if she left it.

"Rose you're a workhorse, you need to take a break too sometimes and that is coming from higher up too." Esme pulled her chair back and locked my work in the desk drawer. "Besides Lyra really misses you." Esme smiled down at her dumbstruck face with love and offer me a hand up. I gave in.

When we got to Mum and Dad's, all the stress related to work was forgotten. Lyra and Mum jump out from the couch covered with face paint and fake cobwebs, "Boo!"

I took a step back wearing an expression of mock surprise, "OH you scared me!" I chuckled and scooped Lyra up kissing her painted face. "Now I'm going to get changed and we'll hear some spooky stories from Grandpa."

"Ok," Her grin was wide and mischievous, it made you want to hear what her thoughts were.

When Lyra had gone back into the living room, Esme passed me an orange letter.

"What's this?"

"It's an invitation to Vic's baby shower."

"But I already have mine."

"I know that," Esme chuckled, "It's for a certain blonde, Vic didn't know where he lived but thought it would be nice to invite him."

I was shocked, there's probably no chance he'd even go to this. He'd have to deal with my entire family who either wanted to strangle him or force him to marry me, either way, it would be a hassle for him. "What makes her think that I, of all people, know where he is?"

"I guess maybe because," She started counting with her fingers as she listed off reasons, "You work with him, he's the father of your child, he is Al's best friend, He's a family friend or was before shit went down."

"Alright, alright, I get your point." Pouting a took a seat in the kitchen, "the problem is I don't know where he lives either, and even if I did ask, he'd probably say no."

"Why don't you try asking Al? I hear he had the day off today." Esme smirked and raised an eyebrow. She really wanted me to find Scorpius and invite him, defeating me at every excuse.

"I guess I can pop over to Al's quickly before dinner," I sighed as I approached the living room. "Mum I'm just going to pop to Al's for a bit, there's an errand I need to run."

Arriving in Al's fireplace to an empty house, I checked my watch. It was too early for Al to be out drinking at the pub. I wandered from room to room where he was likely to be, apart from his bedroom and bathroom. Disappointed with my search I poured myself a glass of water, sipping as I thought of the next possible place. The door to the kitchen swung open, with a half-naked Scorpius filling the space. The surprise forced me to spit the water out into the sink.

Coughing I choked out, "Scorpius, what in Merlin's socks are you doing?" He only had a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair was wet. He still is as hot and sexy as before if not more so.

"I could say the same for someone who breaks into other people's houses." He chuckled as he lingered by the door.

I physically shook my head hoping the fuzziness would leave. "It wasn't breaking into his house and you didn't answer my question."

He was smirking as he shook his head, after a pause he responded, "Well basically, Dad and I had a row, and I refuse to go back until I get to the bottom of what happened that day."

I knew exactly what day he meant. He had such a serious look on his face, but it was undermined by the bath towel situation. I cracked and started laughing for, seemingly, no reason, as he stared at me like I have lost the plot. "I'm sorry but you don't look serious in a bath towel."

He looked down at a fact he had forgotten. His cheeks turned pink. "I'll be right back." He closed the door behind him. Leaving a heavy silence.

I heard the door to the house creak open and ran to greet who I guessed would be AL. I was right.

"Al why is Scorpius in your house?"

"Hi it's nice to see you too," Al waved off sarcastically.

"That's not an answer." I huffed as I followed him into the living room. Scorpius emerged from another door, unfortunately dressed.

"It's because I'll be staying here until I sort things out."

"I see," My mind was too distracted to have a meaningful conversation, so I gave Scorpius the orange envelope. "It's an invite to Vic's baby shower, don't feel pressured to come."

I was walking to the fireplace before I heard his response. My heart was beating rapidly with hope and I wouldn't let that shatter so soon after having healed.

That evening after dinner, Mum told me she caught Lyra crying the bathroom, wishing I was there. My chest became tight, I am so often at work that I barely get time with her. The sick feeling my stomach made me realise I was ashamed to be a mother to such a beautiful girl as Lyra. A mother should be there for you, she should be able to take all your pain and loneliness away with her love. I couldn't hold back my tears as they poured down my cheeks and I swallowed my cries of pain so Lyra wouldn't hear. Mum held me just as a mother would. I was weak to take that warm comfort when I couldn't seem to give it myself.

"Sweet girl, nobody is perfect, you are doing a brilliant job, and she will eventually understand why you do what you do. It's ok to be overwhelmed." Mum stroked my hair as she always did since I was a kid.

That night, I was lying awake at some ridiculous hour of the night. My door creaked slowly open flooding the room with light. I sat up as Lyra walked closer to the bed. "What's up sweetie?"

"There were monsters in the cupboard," Lyra sniffled and rubbed her eyes.

"Aww sweetie, come here," I moved over patting the bed space next to me.

She ran and jumped onto the bed looking behind her making sure she wasn't followed. Lyra seemed to relax once we lay down and I stroked her hair. I whisper, "You don't have to worry, no one is going to hurt you. You probably just a bad dream. You are safe here in Nana's house. Let's get some sleep." I kissed her forehead and fell asleep.

"And that's how I ended up here."

Esme was trying to hide a grin, but I knew she had a part in what happened with Scorpius yesterday. But I let it slide because she usually has my best interest at heart.

"So you don't know if he's coming?"

I turned away from watching Lyra in the garden and leaned against the wall, "No, I don't."

James swaggers into the room with his girlfriend. Victorie practically makes a beeline for him.

"Thank you for coming!"

"How could I miss the chance to model another Weasley in my image," He replied flipping his hair. He was half joking, he had said the same thing when Lyra was born.

I gave James and Zoe a greeting hug, "How's Quidditch these days, sorry I don't go around more often." Both James and Zoe are on Quidditch teams and play competitively.

"No, it's fine we understand, we heard it's been a bit a rough time with a certain person showing up." He raised an eyebrow at me and I rolled my eyes. Weasleys' have no privacy.

There was a clutter of voices at the front door. I hear Teddy greet someone as James said, "Speak of the devil!"