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Now on to the chapter!

Chapter 22

December 21st Saturday

~oOo~

The Hogwarts Express pulled away from the station with a hiss of steam and the clanking of pistons. Rose closed her eyes and leaned back against her chair, taking in the rocking of the train as it picked up speed and went around the first bend in their long journey home.

Rose was exhausted. After the fireworks, she and Scorpius proceeded up to the common room where all of Gryffindor Tower had gathered for a raging after party. It had been a night filled with laughter and revelry. The perfect opportunity to say goodbyes to friends before they left for the holidays. Rose hadn't even been aware of the time all that night and it wasn't until a few students pointed out the sunrise breaking over the horizon that the party broke up and everyone went up to their rooms to pack.

This meant Rose had not slept at all last night, which didn't help her overworking mind. She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened between her and Scorpius while they watched the fireworks. The Yule Ball had been perfect, even romantic, and what he had said was beautiful and romantic as well. But what did it mean in the light of day?

Last night Rose had tried not the think about it. She had used the party as a distraction, partying harder than anyone there, but that didn't stop what Scorpius had said from being real. The words he had spoken, so soft, ran around her head in a seemingly never-ending loop.

I love you.

How could that be? All this time she thought they had hated each other, it turns out he liked her all along. Rose just couldn't understand that. How could he have gone through so many years of school with her and never said anything, or acted on his feelings? She couldn't believe that he had never given himself away, that he had hidden it so well.

And after liking her for so long did he mean it when he said he didn't care if she didn't love him back? Could he really be happy with just a friendship? He obviously believed it when he said it, no one could mistake the feeling of love that had radiated from him, but what if later he changed his mind? Would he become distant with her for turning him down?

But she hadn't turned him down. Not really. All she had said was that she wasn't ready and that she needed time to think about it. Did that mean that one day she would be ready? Did she ever want to be ready for more? For something greater than friendship with Scorpius?

She wasn't sure.

Those worried thoughts plagued Rose through packing, causing her to accidentally properl objects across the room when she had been trying to levitate them into her trunk. The entire morning, and even now on the train she kept looking at Scorpius, waiting for the moment when things would be awkward between them. Waiting for feelings of hurt or pain to surface. She waited in vain. Scorpius was his normal carefree self. And when Rose took his offered hand to assist her into the carriage, it didn't feel awkward or strange. Things were good, and Rose had no idea how.

Her only thought was that maybe, just maybe Scorpius was relieved. That he had this secret for so long and now that it was finally out it was like a weight had been lifted. He no longer had to pretend or hold back his emotions.

Rose could feel them, swirling between them, light and happy.

In love.

The train moved steadily on, winding through forests and meadows, passing towns and villages. Rose sat with her head pressed against the cold glass of the window and watched the scenery pass her by. Her anxious thoughts turned to the next big worry on her mind, the Potter boys.

From what both Rose and Scorpius had witnessed at the ball, Rose could tell that there was something going on between James and Albus. Al was angry at James about something and was avoiding him all night. James however seemed confused over Al's avoidant behaviour. It was like a one-sided argument where James didn't know what they were fighting about.

And if Rose wasn't mistaken, there was also something going on between James and Will. She had detected some strange tension between the two at the ball, which was odd because they had been friends for a very long time. James had seemed sad, but when Will was in the area he became even more withdrawn and avoidant.

Rose wanted so badly to talk to either Al or James about it and help them fix the problem. She had never seen them fight quite like this before. The anger in Albus's face had been something that should never be directed at a brother.

But to find out the truth she would have to be sneaky about it. Neither one would tell her the truth if she asked them straight out. No, she would have to be smart. Maybe she would rope Scorpius into helping. Between the two of them, they could figure this puzzle out.

Rose turned to look at Scorpius. He was sitting on the floor playing exploding snap with their friends. She looked at him just in time to watch a card explode in Scorpius's face.

"You wanna play?"

Scorpius leaned towards Rose with a smirk and a small amount of soot on his face from the cards.

She reached over and brushed a bit off his cheek, "now why would I play when you're doing such a good job at it yourself?"

"Come on, it'll be fun," he replied his eyes crinkling in mirth.

Rose chuckled lightly, "I like my eyebrows the way they are thank you."

With a shrug and an "it's your loss" thrown over his shoulder, Scorpius went back to playing.

The rest of the train ride went by slowly but smoothly.

When the trolley witch came by, Rose suddenly remembered a promise she had made. Digging quickly through her luggage, she pulled out a black velvet bag. Ten minutes later the bag was bursting full of different arrays of candy and sweets.

Sitting back down in her seat, Rose neatly tied the bag closed and shoved it into her coat pocket.

Rose noticed her friends giving her a few weird looks when she looked up. "What?" she asked.

Scorpius was smirking at her, "you stocking up for winter or is that going to feed a small village?"

Rose rolled her eyes and lightly kicked his foot with her own, "they are not for me."

He frowned, "who are they for then?"

"You'll see."

It started snowing as the train chugged along and soon the flakes were coming down fast. The game of exploding snap finished, and Scorpius returned to Rose's side. After talking for a bit the group fell silent, everyone feeling the night of no sleep catching up to them.

Rose found her eyes drifting shut of their own accord. The rocking of the train and the warmth of the car cradled her exhausted body. Before she knew it, she was cuddled up into Scorpius's side, eyes closed and her breathing evening out as she drifted to sleep.

~oOo~

When Rose awoke it was to the sound of screaking breaks and the puffing of steam. Lifting her head drowsily from the comfortable position she had been lying in she turned her head to see that they were now pulling into Kings Cross station.

Faces and people blurred by the window as the train slowed to a stop.

"Sleep well?"

Rose looked around and found that Scorpius had been the comfortable pillow she had been using to sleep on. "Yeah, really well actually. Sorry for falling asleep on you."

Scorpius shrugged his shoulders before lifting his arms above his head and stretching. Rose pointedly ignored the sliver of exposed skin where his shirt rose up. Opting instead to look around the cabin at her friends. Everyone was standing at this point, grabbing their things from the overhead. Rose got up to follow suit.

It was a tedious process, getting off the train only to step onto a more crowded platform. The small group moved slowly along the corridor behind the bustling students. They were squished and shoved, but they managed to make it out in one piece with all their stuff.

Once on the platform though, Rose knew it was time for them all to part ways and go and find their waiting families.

Rose turned to her friends and smiled sadly. "I'm going to miss you guys."

The girls all came together in a large group hug, with Ashley and Grace being on either side of Rose.

They did this every year, but it always seemed strange to Rose to leave her friends. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like to be doing this for the last time and knowing that she wouldn't be seeing the girls again in two weeks.

"Well, I will see you ladies after the break. Or before if I can convince my parents to let me go anywhere." Mary said, grinning at them all. "This year was fun girls. Let's make next year even better."

"Only you would have prepared a speech," Lizzy said earning an eye roll from Mary.

Rose chimed in before everyone left, "don't forget that you are all invited to Christmas Eve dinner if you don't have anywhere else to go. Just let me know ahead of time so Grandma knows how many to cook for."

The girls all agreed to owl if they would be coming, and with one last hug, the group dispersed with cries of farewell, well wishes and happy holidays in search of their families.

Rose turned and looked for Scorpius in the crowd, finding him a little ways off with some of the Gremlins. Moving through the crowd, Rose came to a stop next to him as he finished saying goodbye to Katy and Annabell, the former of which had her hand grasped in Louis's hand.

Rose watched the three walk off together, both girls laughing at something Louis said.

This left only one Gremlin left, Will.

"I'll see you in a bit then mate. Have a good trip home." Scorpius leaned over and hugged the boy, clapping him good-naturedly on the back.

"Thanks, man. Have a good Christmas and New Years. I might end up seeing you guys before school starts again, Albus invited me over a few weeks ago for Christmas Eve dinner and I might be able to make it. We'll, see."

Scorpius smiled, "Great. If you can, definitely come. It's always a blast at the Weasley's for Christmas."

Will nodded, smiling. Then he turned his attention on Rose and the girl shifted a little awkwardly. Not really knowing what to do, Rose held out a hand for Will to shake.

The boy laughed and his blue eyes sparkled. "Rose I have known you for six years. Don't you think I can get a little more than a handshake?"

Rose felt herself smile and in the next moment, she was getting a one-sided hug from the blonde boy.

"And besides, your Scorpius's girl. You're part of the family. An honourary Gremlin."

Rose just laughed and shook her head, "Will the Gremlins would no faster let the Headmistress join the Gremlins then me. I have foiled far too many of your plans to ever be allowed in that group."

Will smiled that sweet cheeky smile of his, "Maybe that's what makes you perfect for the Gremlins, you keep us on our toes. Make us better. We have to think harder not to get caught."

"Rose! Scorpius! I found them, come on!"

Looking over her shoulder Rose saw James standing a little ways off, eyes fixed on them, hand waving them over. Just over the tops of heads, Rose could see what must be her father's shock of red-grey hair between the crowd.

Rose frowned a little at the expression on James's face, studying it. Out of the corner of her eye, Rose saw Will raise a hand in greeting to James. The dark haired boy simply nodded his head, looking neither happy nor mad but rather resigned.

"Well, I'll let you two go now." Rose looked back at Will fully now, though she was still trying to see James out of the corner of her eye. "If I don't see you have a good holiday."

"You too man."

And with that Will disappeared into the crowd, but not, Rose noticed, before a final glance over his shoulder at what she knew was James.

~oOo~

The platform had started to clear and Rose got a clear sight of her parents. They were standing with Hugo in between them, Ron smiling and ruffling his hair while Hermione all but suffocated him in a hug. Rose grinned widely, feeling her heart start to race and reached for Scorpius's hand to practically drag him across the platform. She could feel her joy combine with Scorpius's mirth through the Bond. Rose dropped his hand just in time to surprise her dad by throwing her arms around him.

Her father let out a huff of surprise before his arms were wrapping around her and squeezing her tightly, "Rosie! It's so good to see you, princess." He hugged her for a moment longer before pulling back to look down at her with a wide grin.

Ron loosened his grip, allowing Rose to step back.

"You too dad." Rose said, her smile just as goofy as her dad's.

Hermione moved over to stand next to them, "Rose, darling, come here." Her mom opened her arms and beckoned Rose forward. Rose grinned wider and leaned in, giving her mum a hug as well. Hermione hugged her daughter close, seeming to melt into her arms. Her relief that Rose was doing better was almost tangible. Rose closed her eyes and breathed in the scent that was all her mothers. A comforting smell that never failed in making her feel like she was home.

Hermione pulled back after a long moment, her eyes shinning. "It doesn't hurt anymore? The Healer said that you two might still be sensitive to touch for a while."

"It does if we're in contact for too long but hugging is fine." Rose answered, taking a step back, her shoulder brushing against Scorpius who had held back a little ways, allowing the family to reunite in peace.

It was then that her parents seemed to finally notice the boy. Rose felt him tense a little beside her, unsure of how to react to their attention.

Ron's face tightened a little but his smile wasn't hostile. "Scorpius," He said and to Rose's surprise he held out a hand, "It's good to see you again."

Scorpius seemed to relax and he smiled a little as he shook Ron's extended hand. "Good to see you as well sir."

Ron chuckled at the sir. "You sound like one of my men, always with the sir. You can call me Ron."

Rose felt the relief that was going through Scorpius at her fathers calm welcome. "If it's all the same to you Mr Weasley I think I'll stick to formalities. My father wouldn't hear of me being so impolite."

"Suit yourself." Ron said with a shrug.

Hermione shook her head, "Don't pay him any mind Scorpius. Never been one for manners this one."

Ron chuckled and put his hand on Hermione's shoulder. Rose watched as Hermione's arms tensed up and she pulled away from Ron quickly.

The joy evaporated in an instant. Her parents were fighting again. She noted the uneasiness in her mother's eyes and the sadness that quickly crossed her father's face.

Awkwardly, Ron cleared his throat. "So we should probably get going."

Deciding to go along with her father's poor attempt to mask the unease Rose nodded. "Are we aparating?" Rose asked picking up her luggage.

"No," Hermione replied taking the luggage from her, "we took the car."

Translation? They wanted time to talk. Rose looked over at Hugo and they shared a look. Previous car rides meant their parents spent the whole time talking to them and at them. The siblings smiled.

During the walk to the car Rose found out they would be staying at the Burrow until after Christmas. Apparently dad and Uncle Harry were putting more hours in at the ministry so both them and the Potters would be staying at the Burrow from the start of the Holiday.

On one hand, it would give Rose greater opportunity to find out what was wrong with Al and James. On the other, Rose had a feeling that this might be a reason her parents were fighting.

As the old car started and her father pulled out of the station parking lot and out onto the road, his jovial voice sounded out updating everyone in the backseat the news of the family. Rose sat squished in between Hugo and Scorpius. Scorpius and Hugo kept the conversation going with Ron, updating him on the goings-on at Hogwarts. Rose took the opportunity to observe her mom who sat uncharacteristically quiet with a slight frown. If her dad was happily pretending that everything was ok, her mom was definitely not able to pretend this time. This was going to be a long holiday.

She had been looking forward to actually going home to her own bed and her own routine, but the Burrow was nice too. It would be filled to the brim with family. Grandma Molly would be there of course making sure everyone was stuffed full of food and shoving mugs of hot cocoa into empty hands. And hopefully with so many people around there wouldn't be time to worry excessively about her parents, the Potter boys, or of course her new feelings about Scorpius.

The sun was setting over the hills when they finally pulled up to the Burrow, the car tires making a crackling sound as they came to a stop on the frozen and icy earth.

"Feels good to be home," Ron said as he got out of the car, eyes upturned to the house. "Come on, let's get inside. It's freezing and your grandmother I'm sure is fretting over what took us so long."

As Rose climbed out of the car she could hear rambunctious laughter coming from inside. The Potters must have already arrived, or maybe other family members were staying the full holiday as well.

She turned to Scorpius who suddenly looked nervous. "You alright?"

He turned to her with a soft smile, "yeah, I'm good .Just a little nervous about all your family."

Rose chuckled, "what are you worried about? It's not like you haven't met them all before. Everyone here knows you already."

"Yeah, well things are a bit different now," he replied.

Rose looked away and nodded. Things were different now. They were bonded, a package deal, and it would be the first time her whole family saw that.

Suddenly Rose realized this was the first 'boyfriend' she had ever brought home and a slight feeling of panic grew inside her.

But before Rose could start to think about all that they were being shepherded into the front entrance where warmth, delicious smells, and family surrounded them in a comforting embrace.

They had all managed to remove their winter gear when Grandma Molly arrived to great them. "Where have you been? We expected you here hours ago!"

Ron gave his mother a hug, "we took the car. Wanted to spend some time with our children too."

"Well it's good to see you Ronald, and Hermione dear." She turned to give her a hug and kissed her cheek.

"You too Molly." Hermione said before the adults moved on into the living room.

This left Hugo, Rose, and Scorpius standing in the entrance way.

Hugo gave grandma a quick hug, "is there cookies in the kitchen?"

"Of course dear," Molly replied. "Save some for the others!" She called after him with a shake of her head as he scampered away to the kitchen.

Molly then turned to the pair that was left unsure how to approach them. Rose gave her an encouraging smile and opened her arms for a hug. Molly obliged happily.

"Oh Rose! I've been so worried about you. It is so good to see you well!"

"I'm happy to be here Grandma."

Molly pulled away, "Now let me get a good look at you." She scanned her up and down, "Rose you are as thin as a twig. Don't they feed you up at the school? Well, we'll just have to fix that while you're here."

"They feed me just fine Grandma," Rose replied with a laugh though she knew she had lost some weight in the weeks leading up to the collapse.

Molly shook her head and turned to Scorpius, "it's so good to have you here for the holidays as well Scorpius."

Rose watched as he smiled his charming smile, took ahold of Molly's hand, bowed and pressed a kiss to her hand. "Mrs. Weasley," he said straightening, his smile even more charming, "thank you so much for welcoming me in to your home and may I say you just keep getting more and more lovely every time I see you."

Molly chuckled heartily. "Oh now," she batted him away, "you just move along into the living room with the others you little charmer."

Rose shook her head, smirking as she fell instep next to Scorpius. "Really?" she asked, raising a brow.

He just smiled back.

The living room was packed with Potters and Grandpa Arthur sat in the corner. Victorie Lupin sat on the couch with the new baby in her lap. It seemed that she, Teddy and the kids were staying the full holiday as well.

Al saw them enter from where he was trying to lug two trunks up the stairs, "hey Scor! Be a mate and help me with the bags would you."

They started dragging the trunks upstairs leaving Rose to find a seat amongst her family.

Suddenly a small happy voice called out, "Rosie!"

She had just enough time to turn and spot the small bundle of blue heading her way before she was falling to her knees with a wide smile, arms out.

"Oof." The air was all but knocked out of her as the little boy crashed into her at full speed and her vision was obscured by bright blue hair.

"Remmy," Rose said fondly to her little cousin as she hugged him tightly.

Remus Ted Lupin stared back at her. Even in the few moments from when he had seen her he was already changing, his features were slowly changing to match Rose's and his green eyes turned bright blue.

"I like the hair," Rose said messing up the red and blue locks and making the boy laugh.

"I missed you," Remus said in his small voice, eyes staring up to him in wonder like he hadn't seen her in years.

Rose smiled, leaning forward to touch her nose to his in an Eskimo kiss. He giggled and his small hands reached up to hold her face.

"Did you bring it?"

Rose was not surprised by the question. Knowing it would make him smile, Rose quickly looked about as though to make sure no one was watching them. She noticed more than one relative with fond smiles.

Remus too looked about, his small face turning this way and that before turning back to Rose.

Rose motioned him closer and the boy took a step forward. Reaching into her pocket, she sneakily puled out the black bag full of candy from the train.

The small boy's eyes lit up at the sight on the bag fit to burst and let out a little giggle.

"Don't tell your mom," Rose said in a low voice with a grin before discreetly placing the bag into his outstretched hands.

"I won't." He whispered back, "Thank you, Rosie."

"You're welcome."

With a laugh, Remus ran off to examine his prize. Rose sighed with a smile before looking over at the couch, getting up when Vic motioned her to come sit next to her.

"He'll be up all night now," Vic halfheartedly chastised while giving Rose a one-armed hug.

Rose gave her a sheepish smile, "Sorry," before her eyes landed on the bundle in her cousin's arms. "Is this her?" Rose asked, her voice tinted in a bit of awe.

Vic smiled proudly as she nodded, "yes, it is. Rose, I'd like to introduce you to Dora Fleur Lupin."

Rose felt her heart melt a little as she leaned forward to look at the sleeping face of her newest cousin. It was a very cute baby Rose decided as the child yawned in her sleep.

"Oh Vic, she's beautiful." Rose murmured, reaching out to gently touch her little hand.

"Yes, she is," Vic said fondly.

Rose pulled back a little, her eyes moving to Vic's face, "but how are you doing? Getting any sleep?"

Vic smiled, "she's a really good baby, doesn't fuss a lot. She's been much easier than Remus when it comes to sleeping. Sweet thing just lays there with her big eyes and just watches the mobile above the crib until she falls back asleep. It's been wonderful not to be awoken by crying every two minutes."

Rose nodded, her eyes falling back down to the peaceful sleeping baby.

She could feel Vic's eyes on her, studying her as Rose pointedly looked anywhere but her face. She knew what was coming.

"How are you?"

The question seemed more pointed than it should have been. Like Vic knew that Rose would give some half-hearted answer until she was directly asked about Scorpius.

But she didn't feel like avoiding anyone right now. "I'm good."

At Vic's skeptical look Rose smiled, "really Vic. I'm alright."

"Things are going okay? Getting easier to handle?"

Rose nodded slowly, "yes and no. On one hand, it has calmed down and it's becoming normal to be around him all the time. But on the other, things between everyone have been strained and odd, but it's okay for now. I'm happy."

Vic seemed to study Rose for a moment, "you guys haven't killed each other yet. That's more than I expected, but you sound like you don't mind being bonded to Scorpius."

Rose kept her eyes fixed on the baby, "he's not as bad as I thought he was. Actually," Rose looked up just as Scorpius descended the stairs with Al, "he's been pretty great."

There was a soft chuckle to her right and Rose looked over at Vic to find her smiling knowingly at her.

"What?" Rose asked.

Vic shook her head, "nothing. I'm just glad you worked it out. I was worried that you might not."

Rose shrugged, "honestly? So was I, but once I put all my crap aside it turned out that I was being unfair. We worked things out after that."

Just then, there was a loud crash from the kitchen and Rose heard some rather colourful cursing that she had not expected her Grandmother to use.

Vic sighed, "I should get in there to help her out. It's too much to do herself." Vic looked down at the baby in her arms for a moment before looking back up at Rose, "actually would you mind holding Dora for a little while? It would be a big help."

Rose smiled, "of course, I'd love to spend time with my cousin."

"Thanks," Vic said as she gently transferred the small sleeping bundle into Rose's arms.

"No problem, besides she's too adorable to say no to."

Vic smiled as though she knew exactly what she was talking about, but before she turned to leave her face became serious. "I'm glad you're alright Rose. I don't know what we would do if something happened to you."

Rose looked up at her cousin's beautiful face, "you'll never have to find out."

Vic nodded and a second later her smirk was back and her eyes drifted over to Scorpius. "He's coming over," Vic said. Rose looked over to Scorpius who was smiling at her, already eyeing the baby in her arms.

She felt Vic move up beside her and whisper in her ear, "by the way, you've managed to snag yourself one hell of a hot boyfriend.

"Vic!" Rose said loudly, feeling a blush rising to her cheeks and turning in time to see Vic laugh, wink once, then turn and walk through the kitchen