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It was tradition for all the children to sleep over at the Burrow whenever there was a gathering. Tonight, even after James's scary episode, was no different. Ginny Potter instructed the boys to prepare the rooms; the girls and the boys were to sleep in separately of course. James was to sleep in George and Fred Weasley's old room alone. The boys were to sleep in Charlie Weasley's old room whereas the girls were to sleep in Ginny's old room. There was always however, a split room (Percy Weasley's old room) where the ones who didn't value sleep sat around to play Exploding Snap, Wizard's Chess, 'Would You Rather?' or the recently popular Truth or Dare.
Ginny knew that the rooms that were prepared were rarely used but she couldn't just pretend to forget about preparing them. The children would eventually fall asleep in Percy's room (except for maybe a few) but she couldn't imagine how shocked Seamus would be if he realized his daughter fell asleep on James nearly every time she was over. James and Elaine wouldn't realize their positions until they woke up the next morning, pretending it didn't happen. Ginny chuckled to herself.
"Ginny?" Hermione asks, "Have you checked on James yet?"
"I'm heading upstairs right now," Ginny says, "I'll check on the rest of the children while I'm at it."
She smiles as she receives a nod of appreciation from nearly every adult in the living room.
She passed Percy's room first; everyone was accounted for except Elaine. Heading towards her twin brothers' old room, she stood outside for a moment. Slowly, she turned her head to peek inside the room.
Elaine had fallen asleep with her head beside James's arm. She was sitting beside the bed, her hand on his. Ginny walked towards the two of them and reached for the potion beside his bed, careful not to wake the sleeping girl.
"James, honey wake up," she says softly, "After you drink this you can go back to sleep."
James rouses and grins sloppily, "Hey Mum."
"Careful," Ginny says, gesturing to Elaine.
James laughs quietly, "How long has she been here?"
"Can't be sure," Ginny says, smiling, "Take care of her James, will you?"
"Don't worry Mum," James says, "She's a deep sleeper."
"Oh, you know what I mean," Ginny says, waving him off, "Goodnight darling."
"Hey Mum?" James says, before she walks out the door, "Can you help me with something?"
"Sure sweetheart, what do you need?" Ginny says.
"Elaine looks...uncomfortable," James says, nervously, "Can you maybe, help her onto the bed?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Ginny says, a playful gleam in her eyes.
James felt his body heat up as Ginny supported Elaine onto the space beside him, her arm brushing against his in the process. He looks up at the ceiling, hoping to reduce the tension as Elaine turns to face him, her body snuggling closer.
"Sleep tight darling," she says, closing the door behind her.
James lifts his arm hesitantly, allowing her to press her body closer to his. Her arm snakes around his waist and James lets his arm drop. He wills his heart to slow, incase she felt his uneasiness. She inhales. He exhales. She opens her eyes. He closes his. Nothing in his life felt better than this. Not even the game of Truth or Dare they were playing one floor down.
Hugo, Lily, Lucy, and Roxanne were sitting in a corner playing Exploding Snaps.
"No fair," Lily huffs, "Why can't we play with them?"
"Because we're too young that's why," Hugo says, rolling his eyes.
"What could they possibly be doing that we can't be part of anyway?" Lucy asks.
The four of them turn around just in time to see Albus pull his pants down.
"Oh for the love of Godric," Roxanne says, covering her eyes, "What are they doing?"
"For Merlin's sake Al, pull your pants back up!" Lily yells.
"Turn around Lily!" the older children shout together.
"Never mind them," Hugo says, patting Lily on the back, "Where are Victoire and Teddy?"
They look at each other in silence, each of them having their own thoughts as to where Victoire and Teddy were and what they were doing. All of their similar thoughts led to the bedroom. Roxanne visibly shudders and Lucy shakes her head.
They play a few more rounds until Hugo suggests the four of them go up to the boys' empty room after Albus announces, "I should go without pants more often."
Everybody laughed. Albus's dare required him to go without pants for the remainder of the game.
"Thank goodness," Lysander says awhile later with a cookie in his mouth, "I was beginning to think we couldn't get some actual truths and dares out with the little ones around."
"It's about to get good," Louis says, turning off the lights.
"You're kidding," Fred says, "Turn the lights back on!"
"It's more fun this way," Albus says excitedly, waving his wand to turn on the lamp beside him, "Everyone grab a partner!"
Albus and Candace partner up, leaving Fred with Louis, Molly with Dominique and Lysander with Lorcan. All of them turn to look at the two left.
"Huh, would you look at that?" Albus says.
Lysander gapes at his brother and the pair, "Maybe we can switch partners. I can go with Scorpius..."
"It's fine," Albus interrupts, "Leave it."
Rose eyes Scorpius warily and glares at Albus. Albus shrugs, his eyes twinkling.
"Let's do partner truth or dares!" Lysander says, looking at Albus, who nods, "Lorcan and I will go first."
"Fred and Louis," the twins say together, "Truth or Dare?"
"Truth!" Louis says. Fred groans before coughing, "Wimp."
"I'd like to keep my pants on thank you very much," Louis says, his eyes switching between Albus and Fred. Albus grins self-consciously.
"If you weren't sorted into the house that you belong in, which house would you want to be in?" Lorcan asks.
"Well kids," Louis clears his throat, continuing with a low voice, "Back in my Hogwarts days, I was sorted into Gryffindor."
"Like basically everyone," Molly adds.
"But if I was not," Louis continues, "I would want to be in Hufflepuff."
Candace high-fives Louis loudly, "Right on."
Fred groans, "Really Louis? I would choose Slytherin."
Scorpius smirks at Fred, "Excellent choice."
"Okay we choose next right?" Fred asks, turning to Louis. He nods.
They scan the crowd, landing on Molly and Dominique, "Ladies, truth or dare?"
"Truth," Molly and Dominique say together.
"First time you had sex?" Fred says immediately before Louis could open his mouth. Louis grins at Fred before looking at his sister innocently.
Dominique glances at Louis, eyes wide, before looking at Fred again, "Really Fred?"
"No regrets," Fred sang, sipping his Butterbeer.
"Sixth year," Molly blurts out at the same time as Dominique.
"To who?" Lysander and Lorcan ask simultaneously.
Albus's eyes widen, "Are all of you guys secretly twins?"
Lorcan looks at Lysander, "Secretly indeed. I knew we looked nothing alike."
"Bloody hell," Rose says.
"None of your business," Molly snaps at the twins, "You asked one question and you get one answer."
"Aha!" Louis laughs loudly.
"Louis?" Dominique says worriedly, "Louis talk to me, buddy."
"Oh Dominique, dear sister," Louis says, "I was wondering if you'd tell the truth. It is a truth or dare game after all."
"How did you know?" she says, exasperated, "I only told Molly."
"Which means you told the world, naturally," Scorpius speaks up.
Molly looks flustered as she mutters under her breath, "I'm gonna kill Roxanne."
"Don't touch my baby sis," Fred says threateningly, "She wouldn't have told a soul if I didn't force it out of her."
"Why did you care so much about Dominique's sex life anyway?" Lysander says, "I mean really Fred, you had to force it out of your fourteen year old sister?"
"I made connections," Fred says, "It was Peter Zabini's older brother."
"How would Peter have known?" Molly asks.
"I think maybe he walked in on them," Candace adds.
"Guys," Lorcan says uncomfortably, "What is even happening?"
"Okay," Dominique says, forcing her way past the recent conversation, "Truth or Dare lovebirds?"
"You mean us?" Albus asks, looking at Candace enticingly.
"Who else?" Molly continues, "Now stop giving each other eye sex and choose."
"Dare," Candace says softly as Albus protests.
"We dare you to say something you absolutely cannot stand about each other," Molly says, "Since all you seem to do is gush."
"Really?" Candace says, "I hate that you're breathtakingly attractive, Albus Severus."
"I want to die," Fred says, gagging at Louis.
Albus catches on, "I hate that you look sexy no matter what you're doing."
"Okay now that that's over," Louis takes a deep breath before looking at Albus and Candace, "Please pick a pair to ask."
"My best friends," Albus says, breaking a deep kiss with Candace, "What's it gonna be, Truth or Dare?"
"Truth," Rose says at the same time that Scorpius says, "Dare."
"Typical," Molly says, whispering, "They never agree on anything!"
"We're right here," Rose says.
"Thank you, Molly for that insightful comment," Scorpius continues.
"Truth or Dare?" Albus asks again.
Rose looks at Scorpius, who shrugs at her. Trying her best not to be bothered, she sighs, "Dare it is."
"Merlin," Dominique stares intently between Rose and Scorpius, "This is going to be interesting."
"Hmm," Candace says, thinking hard, "Got anything baby?"
Albus looks at his two best friends, his lips curling into a smile, "Scorpius, I dare you to kiss Rose…in three places."
Rose looks at Albus in horror, "What!"
"Don't worry cousin dearest," Albus smirks wickedly, "Your dare will come soon."
"I think this will do," Rose retorts, "I'm getting you back for this Albus Severus Potter!"
Trying desperately to think of anyone else, she turns to look at Scorpius, her heart skipping. In the background, she hears giggles and whispers. Tuning them out, she wills herself to remain calm and attack this rationally. Three places could be any three places. There are tame places, like the back of her hand, but nearly any place can be taken differently. A shoulder kiss isn't always an innocent shoulder kiss, nor is any other kiss really. The faster this gets done, the faster they can move on, which is exactly what she can hope for at this point.
"Hi," he says, hesitantly.
"Hi," she says back, breathless from nothing at all.
He steps closer to her, making her heart explode. He's never been this close, never deliberately talked to her, and never made her feel this way before. This was a situation of many firsts, first touch, first kiss, and first…heart attack?
He grabs her forearm, his hand sliding towards her hand as his thumb strokes her hand, his other fingers tickling the inside of her wrists. She stares at him closely, his hair falling into his eyes. She resists the urge to push it back. He was there, in front of her, looking at her with those handsome grey eyes. Her eyes close as his lips graze the back of her hand. Her skin was tingling all over. He drops her hand to stand upright, nearly half a head taller than her. He looks down at her; she looks down at the floor. Using two of his fingers he gently lifts her head up to look at him. Then, he kisses her nose swiftly. Rose didn't even have time to process what was happening. Finally he kisses her forehead and sits back down.
"I don't know about you guys but this is a poor way to end the night," Louis says, yawning, "Got to give it to Al to make things sappy."
"Yeah I'm pretty beat," Fred continues, gathering nods of agreement from Molly and Dominique.
"Too bad we didn't get asked huh?" Lorcan nudges Lysander, who was half asleep.
"Get comfy my friends," Albus says, "Unless you want to go back to your rooms."
Rose gets up to leave but Dominique pulls her down.
"Let me go Dom," she says, "I'm tired."
"Sleep here," Dominique says, "No one else is leaving."
"But our room is empty," Rose protests.
Molly and Louis look at Rose, their eyebrows raised. Fred exchanges a glance with Lorcan, who subtly gestures to Scorpius. Scorpius stares at Rose and Dominique attentively.
"Fine," Rose says, "I'll stay."
In the next few minutes, blankets were taken from drawers, mattresses were enlarged, and pajamas were put on. Rose runs her hand through her tangled hair and walks out towards the bathroom, followed by Molly, Candace, and Dominique.
"Wish we could have done more partner dares tonight," Dominique says, rubbing her eyes, "But I could pass out right now."
Molly spits into the sink and turns around, "It's hard to ask you guys anything, Candace."
Candace laughs enchantingly, "In my opinion, Rose and Scorpius are hard to ask."
Rose continues brushing her hair (or trying to anyway), "Al seems to be doing fine."
"If I'm not wrong, Al is on to something," Dominique encourages, "Talk to him Rose! I mean sure it was really lame to watch Scorpius do his dare, but I'm sure it didn't feel like nothing."
"Talk to who?" Rose asks, setting down the brush.
"Scorpius, who else?" Molly says.
"What? No!" Rose cries, "I can't – We can't possibly…"
"Why not?" Candace shrugs, "There's nothing wrong with the bloke."
"He's Scorpius Malfoy!" Rose says tersely, "Why would I associate myself with him?"
"And you're Rose Weasley," Dominique says, "Or Granger-Weasley if you prefer."
"I refuse," Rose says, her hands moving in a cutting motion in front of her, "There's absolutely no way."
"Whatever you say Rose," Molly says, flipping her red hair over her shoulder, "There's no harm talking to him is there?"
"We haven't talked before! Not directly anyway," Rose trails, "We always talk through Albus."
"And he hates it," Candace continues, "He really does. He acts like everything is fine, but he would really appreciate it if he wasn't in the middle."
"Just talk to him Rose," Molly says, putting her hands on Rose's shoulders, "You can do it."
"Why?" Rose says, unconvinced.
"Do it for Albus," Candace says. Dominique nods in agreement.
They walk back to the room where the boys were conversing about Quidditch. Rose walks in last, with a loose t-shirt and shorts on. Scorpius looks up from his spot on the mattress, sensing her presence.
"Fuck," he says, quietly to himself.
Longest chapter so far! Thanks for reading.
