Chapter 27
Dominique Weasley opened the door to her flat, after being rudely awoken in the early hours of the morning, to find none other than Scorpius Malfoy at her door.
"Scorp, what are you doing here?"
"Please, I just need to talk to someone," he replied.
"So, you came here?" she questioned. "All the way to France?" He simply nodded as his gaze dropped to the floor. Dominique wiped the sleep from her eyes and look at her friend more closely. She had never seen him like this; he looked unsure, broken and desperate. She could see that he was right; he did need to talk to someone.
"Well, you're lucky Jacob had to work the night shift," she said, opening the door more and stepping aside. "Come in." He smiled weakly as he crossed her threshold.
"So, he's already moved in?" Scorpius asked, as he sat down at the head of the wooden dinning table.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Dominique asked as she joined him.
"No, it's just fast is all."
"Oh please, you sound like my sister," Dom said in irritation. "Anyway, you're here to talk about what's bothering you, not my love life."
"Yeah, but your love life is easier."
"Only because you made yours very hard for yourself," Dominique said knowingly. Scorpius sighed. She was right; he had been horrible to Rose and now he couldn't do anything about his feelings because he had dug him self such a deep hole to begin with. He wasn't even certain what his feelings for her were, just that he had never felt this way before.
"I don't know what to do," he stated.
"Well, you could start with explaining what happened tonight and the night of Vic's wedding." And he did. He explained everything; everything that had happened between the start of the holidays to why he was in France tonight. It was the first time that anyone other than Rose and he knew what had really happened.
"Scorpius, I don't know what to tell you," Dom started after digesting all he had to say. "I think both you and Rose need to find out more about yourselves before even thinking about each other again. Maybe Rose is right, you just need sometime."
"It's Rose, of course she's right," Scorpius muttered, with a small smile. Dom giggled at his love-struck expression, causing Scorpius to blush ever so slightly.
"Look, you need to move on with your life, find out who you want to be and who you really are," she said as she placed a hand on his forearm, before giving it a comforting squeeze.
"I know but…how?"
"You go out and have fun, but you respect women," Dom replied strongly. "You work; you do whatever makes you as happy as you can be without Rose." Scorpius just nodded. "Then you fight for her." Scorpius looked up at Dominique with a shocked expression written across his face.
"Fight for her?"
"Yes Scorpius, when you're ready, you have to fight for her love."
"Who do I fight?" Scorpius asked, confused.
"Arghh, Men!"
Christmas Holidays
Scorpius knocked on the front door. It opened to reveal the beautiful redhead he had missed the last couple of months. Rose stood there in jeans, Ugg boots and her Weasley sweater. He couldn't tell whether she was happy to see him, but he took comfort in the fact that she did not frown or show any disdain when she saw him. However, she did look unsure, nervous and uncomfortable.
"Hello Rose,"
"Malfoy," she replied with a nod.
"I know the rules but I just wanted to see Hugo and-"
"No don't be silly, come in," Rose said as she stepped to the side to let him in. "Hugo's in the kitchen."
"Thanks," Scorpius said as he walked into the Weasley home. Rose simply nodded at him as she walked passed him to resume her spot in front of the fire. As Scorpius continued on towards the kitchen he looked back at Rose. She lay on her stomach, resting on her elbows so she could read the book that lay on the carpet in front of her. Her wavy red hair was tied up in a messy bun but the locks that escaped framed her faced. He smiled as he saw her bite her lip slightly as she concentrated on what she was reading; it was too cute.
"Hey man," Hugo had noticed him as he neared the kitchen. "What are you doing here?" Tearing his eyes away from Rose, Scorpius replied.
"Just checking in with the new ladies' man at Hogwarts," he said as he wrapped an arm around Hugo, leading him back into the kitchen. "Hey, did you get taller?"
"Yeah, Rose hates it," the younger boy answered with a grin.
"Where are your Mum and Dad?"
"Oh, something came up at work but hopefully they will be back by the time we go to the Burrow," Hugo replied as he got a drink from the fridge, before sitting back down at the table in front of a freshly made sandwich. Scorpius sat across from him.
"So, how is Hogwarts?"
"Good," Hugo replied as he took a bite of his sandwich.
"How's the studying?"
"Good," Hugo mumbled with a mouthful of food.
"And Ella?"
Hugo continued chewing, but there was no denying the redness that had risen in the younger boys cheeks at Scorpius' question. Scorpius smirked, as the redhead bought his time. When Hugo finally swallowed he answered, still red faced and clearly nervous but Scorpius could see some anger in his eyes.
"She's fine."
"Only fine?"
"She and Thomas are probably more then fine, but I don't really want to know," Hugo spat bitterly, before taking another rough bite of his sandwich.
"Oh, who's Thomas?"
"Some 'brilliant' Ravenclaw," Hugo said, sounding slightly sarcastic on the brilliant part and rolling his eyes.
"Ouch," Scorpius mumbled quietly, but Hugo heard him.
"Yeah, you can say that again," Hugo nearly shouted, slamming his sandwich back down on his plate. "Everywhere I turn they're together, holding hands, laughing, kissing; it's just sickening." Scorpius nodded. Hugo rested his head in his hands, before rubbing his face in an attempt to shake his emotions.
"Look Hugo, if ever there was any advice of mine to actually listen to, this would be it," Scorpius said catching Hugo's attention. The boy looked up at Scorpius as though he was waiting for a miracle. "Patience," he said simply. "Patience and then, having the courage to fight for her, is the key." Hugo just looked at Scorpius, as though he had spoken another language.
"Hugo, if what you feel for her is strong, then waiting a bit longer to spend the rest of your life with her is small price to pay," Scorpius said smiling at the young man that he considered a brother.
"It's just painful," Hugo replied.
"Yes it is, but I'm hoping it will be worth it," Scorpius said honestly. Hugo looked questionably at Scorpius. He was about to ask him who he was waiting for when the sound of his parents' voices interrupted them. Scorpius and Hugo stood and walked out into the lounge room to watch; Ron and Hermione's arguments were still quite entertaining.
"Ron, how many times am I going to say it," Mrs Weasley said to her husband firmly. "I am not going to a quidditch game for our wedding anniversary!"
"Hermione, it's not just a quidditch game," Mr Weasley argued. "It's the all-stars Chudley Cannons quidditch game!"
"Aww Dad, you got tickets to the all-stars game?" Hugo asked gleefully, not hiding his appreciation from his mother.
"Yeah and they're the best seats in the stadium," Ron answered, matching his son's broad smile, before turning back to his wife. "But your mother doesn't want to go."
"Excuse me if I would rather do something else on my wedding anniversary," Hermione said, giving her husband a suggestive look to match her tone.
"Mum please," Rose said, standing up with her book in hand and an expression torn between disgust and humor. "At least wait until we leave the room for that kind of talk," Rose said as she began to make her way to the stairs. "Or until we don't have guests," she added nodding towards Scorpius, her lips curved into a smirk. Hermione blushed from the embarrassment, when she noticed Scorpius standing by her son.
"Oh, Scorpius I didn't realize you were there," Hermione addressed the blonde. "I am so sorry you had to hear that."
"Sorry, he had to hear it?" Hugo butted in, pointing to Scorpius who was holding back his laughter. "What about me?" Rose laughed at her brother, drawing Scorpius' attention; his eyes followed her as she made her way up the stairs. "I don't want to hear that kind of thing either!" Hugo finished.
After Ron and Hermione had agreed to discuss the anniversary matter later, they all had settled down for lunch. All five of them sat around the table, Rose and Scorpius as quiet as the others had ever seen them. "So, Scorpius what brings you by today anyway?" Mrs Weasley asked wanting to break the silence. Only Ron and Hugo's eating could be heard.
"I just wanted to see Hue," Scorpius said as he ruffled the younger boy's hair. "See how he was going at Hogwarts. And…" as Scorpius' paused, everyone looked up expectantly. He took a deep breath before continuing. "And to thank you, for all you have done for me before I say goodbye," Hermione and Ron looked at each other confused and then back at Scorpius, unsure of what was happening.
"Goodbye?" to everyone's surprise it was Rose that questioned him.
"Yeah, I am going on a trip," Scorpius explained. "Well, it's more of an exploration," Scorpius added, with a smile.
"Exploration?" Ron asked clearly confused.
"Self-Exploration or enlightenment," Scorpius clarified. "I just have to figure out some stuff."
Subconsciously, he looked over to Rose. He saw the realisation of why he was doing this hit her.
"Where are you going?" Hugo asked.
"Everywhere and anywhere," Scorpius replied lightly.
"How long will you be gone?" Rose asked, again surprising everyone by not covering up her dislike of the idea.
"As long as it takes," Scorpius answered seriously. "However, Dom is convinced she will be getting married to Jacob within a year or two and said I had to be back by then to be her maid of honour. I just told her that if she wanted me to come back at all, she would have to come up with a much manlier title," he added humorously, causing the whole table to chuckle with him at his small joke; all but Rose.
The best she could mange was a smile. Despite what she said and against her will, she felt horrible. The thought of Scorpius not being around at all was awful. Sure with her rules she didn't intend on seeing him, but she thought it would be like it had been the last couple of months. She would always hear about him, what he was doing, what his opinion was from Albus, Alison, her father, her mother or even when her brother would write. Not to even start on Teddy and Vic and Dom or pretty much the rest of her family.
"So, when do you leave?" Hermione asked, bringing Rose out of her thoughts. "Do we have enough time to throw a going away party?"
"At the start of the New Year, but no parties; there is really no need." Scorpius said humbly. "You already have Christmas and New Year's at the Potters." There was a long silence, before Hermione broke it again.
"Okay, well just know that if you need anything we are just an Owl away," Mrs Weasley smiled at Scorpius.
"Well, I'm going to have to find someone else to talk quidditch with," Ron sighed.
"And I'm going to need find someone else to ask for advice on girls," Hugo added. "I can't ask Dad; he's rubbish."
"Hey!" Ron exclaimed, as Scorpius and his wife laughed.
"Hue," Scorpius turned to Hugo. "If you need advice for anything or you just want to talk, then it's like your mum said I'm just an Owl away." Hugo smiled at his friend.
"Thanks."
"No worries," he replied, ruffling Hugo's hair again. Scorpius turned back to the table.
"Look, I better get going, but thank you for lunch," he said standing up from the table. "I will see you guys at the Potter's for New Years."
"What about Christmas?" Ron asked.
"I got some stuff to sort out before I leave, plus that's family time."
"Exactly," Ron replied. Scorpius had never felt more welcome in his life. He smiled brightly at Ron, but caught sight of Rose with her gaze steady on her plate.
"Thank you, but I think it's only fair," Scorpius said before walking out of the kitchen and out of the Weasley home.
So...what do you think? Thanks for everyone's patience, I finally got it out. Okay, Scorpius is going away for a bit :( but I will skip until he and Rose meet again. Like I say skip the boring bits. They will be a lot of changes in both of their lives, and they will have new trouble and problems to face. However, first up... New Year's!
I would like to give a shout out to VintageSun for an truely inspiring and wonderful review. Thank you :)
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