Chapter 31
Hermione is setting up in bed when Belle gets home. George is next to her playing with her rings and talking to her. They look up and smile when Belle walks in. "How was your day, Darling?"
"Uncle Fred was very nice to me. I spent most of the day on cashier. Uncle Harry and James came in to help. Then, Rick came in. He followed me until I hailed a taxi, trying to convince me to come back to him." She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.
"Alright, go get ready for your date. Go have a good time, you deserve it." Hermione tells her sternly. Belle nods, kisses them both and goes to take a shower.
She comes in later, clad in a towel, holding up two dresses. "Mum, which one?" One dress is a black strapless knee-length dress. The other one, is navy blue, scoop neck, with a flouncy skirt and short sleeves. George has a lost look on his face. Hermione thinks each over.
"I'd go with the blue one and not for the same reasons your father would like it. The blue one is fun, flirty and still fancy enough to go to any restaurant. The black one is fancy, but might be too fancy if he takes you somewhere more casual."
Belle thanks her and goes to get ready. She forces her curls into a twist and applies some subtle makeup. Hermione sends George in with her mother's sapphire earrings. Paired with her own silver openwork necklace, that her parents gave her on her thirteenth birthday. She stops by to show her parents and walks downstairs holding her shoes. She says goodnight to her godmother who complements her on how beautiful she is becoming and waits on the couch.
There is a polite knock on the door, right on time. Belle slips on her shoes and answers the front door. Standing there is Scorpius dressed in dark jeans, a deep blue silk button down, with an open collar and suede sneakers. His blonde shaggy on top hair is messily styled, kinda like Uncle Harry's. Belle is impressed.
"Evening Isabelle, you look incredible tonight. This is for you." Scorpius holds out a bouquet of vivid magenta and bright white peonies. Scorpius smiles sheepishly. "I must tell you that these came from my grandmother's gardens, but she was the one that told me to go out and get them." He admits worried that she would be offended that he didn't buy them.
"These beautiful flowers came from the famous Malfoy Gardens? Oh, thank you so much." She smiles, jumps into his arms and kisses his cheek.
"You are welcome. I really didn't think flowers would make you this happy, but I am glad it did." He tells her, happy that something so small would get such a reaction.
"Please come in. I just want to place these in some water." Isabelle steps back and allows him to come in. Scorpius walks in and politely follows her to the kitchen. Belle takes a vase down and arranges the flowers, while he walks around the house. He's been to James' and Auntie Andi's, but even both those houses were large. This is a small, cozy home. He likes it.
When Scorpius comes back from wandering, he sees Belle smiling, but leaking a few tears. He rushes over.
"Belle, whatsoever is the matter?" He asks. Did I do something wrong?
Belle laughs and dries her tears. Scorpius steps up and kisses them away. "No Scorpius, nothing's wrong. I've never been given flowers before, other than from my father." She beams.
"You deserve flowers everyday, Belle. I can't promise them everyday, but you deserve them all the same." Scorpius wraps his arms around her. Belle rests her head against his chest.
After a moment of hugging, Belle pulls away. "What are your plans for tonight?" She smiles at him, wondering what he was thinking.
"Well, I planned that we stay "out here". I've been raised in the bubble so to speak. So, I took some money out and figured we would start with dinner, somewhere and then see what these moving stories are about." He shrugs.
Belle is shocked. "Alright, that was the second thing tonight that is different from my past." Scorp smirks at this.
"I'm not trying to sweep you off your feet. Being raised the way I've been, there is many things that I have not experienced." He reaches out and clasps her hands in his, bringing them up to his lips and kisses them. "You are still raw from that jerk. Just the two things tonight; the flowers and going out in the non-magical world; that isn't right. Did you always meet him? Has he ever stepped a foot in this house?"
"No, he never has been here. He never wanted anything to do with this side of my life." Belle shrugs. "Aside from not taking him back, which I haven't, there isn't much I can do at this point." Scorpius opens the door for her and holds her hand to the car.
"Has he tried other than the other day?" He asks, as he joins her inside the Rolls Royce Phantom. Scorpius drapes his arm over her shoulders, lightly rubbing her upper arm with his thumb, but not going further.
"Yeah, he showed up at Dad and Uncle Fred's shop earlier, while I was working. For some reason, he thought I would fall at his feet when he pleaded. He left and came back as I was leaving for the night. He followed me through the Alley, out to the muggle exit of the Leaky, all the while trying to convince me. He then said the wrong thing. He's going to Robert Finnegan's party tonight. "I hope to see you there. You always enjoyed going." I never enjoyed his friend's parties. They are the people who ridiculed me since childhood. On top of that, he would leave me by myself within minutes of arriving. I started leaving after he wandered off. He never knew. God knows what he was doing behind my back."
Scorpius pulls her closer. "Isabelle, as I said earlier, that guy is a jerk. I'm assuming that hanging with your friends was too much to ask."
"Boy, was it. We went to James' party once. I guess we were too boring, no fireworks, alcohol and the like. You would think us children of the "Heroes" would be more exciting. Rick's called James a dick ever since, though not to his face. He knows that like Uncle Harry, James isn't aware that he "runs" the school. Both of Rick's parents have been trying to better their status with my mother, your and James' fathers. They don't like to acknowledge that Auntie Luna was a big part of the war, as they picked on her in school. As matter of fact, most of the school did, besides Mum, Dad and my uncles and Auntie Ginny. Auntie Luna and her have been good friends since childhood."
"It's a good thing that we share friends. James and I would play together when I went to my great Aunt's. The same with Teddy. We are now getting together more often. I thought the reason Teddy started turning was because he somehow found his mate while at school." Scorpius whispers to her.
The car pulls up to the French restaurant. The driver opens the door and Scorpius steps out, holding his hand out for her.
"Thank you, Scorpius." Belle whispers. She looks around. Her mother had told her about the former Catholic abbey that was restored as a restaurant in Midtown.
Oh my God! He's taking me to a new restaurant! She gushes internally. They walk in hand and hand. Scorpius steps up to the host desk. "Malfoy."
"Yes sir, please follow me to your table." They walk through the room to a table in the far corner. It was a bit more elevated than the others. Scorpius holds out her chair and pushes her in, gently.
"Again, thank you Scorpius. My mother had just told me about this place earlier this week. It's amazing." Belle looks around the room and back to him, smiling.
Scorpius returns with a smirk. "My pleasure really. The last time I went on a date, it was a disaster. My first tip off should have been that my mother set it up. The girl only spoke to complain about everything she found wrong with me and to inquire after "my" income. I told her that I've made a few galleons here and there tutoring."
Belle nods as she drinks some water, then starts laughing. "Oh! I get it. The old "Your family's money is yours." argument, right?" Scorpius nods. "She was disgusted when I told her that the "Malfoy" fortune was not "mine" and would not be such until my father passed. I paid the bill for dinner and took her home. I caught hell from the Greengrass side the next day. That girl was supposedly "my new wife" according to Grandmother and Mother. I blew up at them all.
They were outraged that I was standing up to them. Aunt Daphne told me that I needed to follow orders. That was when I told her that I was not going to be told who to marry. I went to the authorities soon after. I reminded her that my mother may be the spare to her, but I was heir to the Malfoy family and through Grandma Cissa, a member to the Black family. She returned that Lucius was Voldemort's crony. I told her even though he definitely chose wrong, at least he wasn't a coward and stood up for his beliefs unlike her father. Then I reminded her that she may be the heir and all, but she wasn't in charge of the family yet. It was painful that continuing the cold atmosphere was more important that their nephew, grandson and son." He shakes his head, still upset over it.
Belle reaches out to hold his hand in empathy. Scorpius smirks and picks her hand up to kiss it. "Thank you, Isabelle." He shrugs.
The waiter comes with their meals. Both exchange looks over the table. When they finish, Scorpius pays and pulls out Belle's chair. He takes her hand in his and leads her to the car. They travel to the local mall, for the movie theater.
As Scorpius was lost to the whole idea, Isabelle taught him how it works. "First, we decide on the movie, we pay for the tickets. Then, we get refreshments, if we want them, again paying for them. When it's done, we go to the designated theater and sit down. There is usually a wait time as they try to get as many sales as they can before starting. There will be advertisements for other movies that are not out yet and then the movie starts. At that point, it's sit back and watch." She tells him, watching the wonderment grow in his eyes.
"Well my dear, which one do you want to see?" Scorpius was overwhelmed from the choices. Belle looks over the selection. "How about "The Wolverine"? Teddy isn't the only one that likes the "X-Men"."
He smiles down at her. "I will bow to your will, Belle." They step up to the window and he purchases two tickets to the movie. At the refreshment stand, Belle stands back and lets him choose what to buy. She offers only explanations as to what things are. Scorpius buys a large tub of popcorn with extra butter, two sodas (after asking which flavor she likes), a large nacho plate and one of every candy.
"Scorpius, we can't possibly eat all this." She laughs as they carry their loot to the theater and find seats in the back. The room is filled half way, which was impressive seeing as the movie had been out for two weeks now.
They have the nachos done by the time the previews start. Scorpius is already amazed by the movie experience.
When the movie starts, he feels Belle move closer. He moves his arm and allows her to snuggle on his shoulder. They share the popcorn, which he is going to rave about to his family and the candy.
Belle looks up as Logan kisses the dream Jean and sees Scorpius looking down at her. His blue-gray eyes staring into hers with tiny glances to her lips and back. They lick their lips at the same time and slowly move together. Scorpius' hand comes up and lightly cradles her face in his palm, as he gently deepens the kiss. He smiles down at her when they break apart.
"I've been dreaming of that every night since we met. That was beyond any dream, Isabelle." He whispers and kisses her hand before welcoming her back against his shoulder. She smiles and kisses his neck before settling down again. If it had been Rick, he would have been trying to undress her by now.
Stop thinking of that louse. You have a very good thing starting here, don't waste your chance with Scorpius by thinking and comparing everything to that snake in raven's feathers. She chastises herself and lays back against Scorpius' shoulder.
The movie ends and Scorp and Belle take their time cleaning the area around them. Done, they stow the leftover candy in Scorp's pockets and walk out of the theater hand in hand.
The ride back to the Weasley home seems shorter than their ride out. Scorpius walks his Isabelle to her door. "Thank you, Scorpius. This was the best date I have been on." Belle blushes.
"No. I must thank you for trying again and for agreeing to come with me." He kisses her knuckles. "Teddy, James and I are hanging out tomorrow, but if you write, I'll respond. This was the best night of my life, all because of you, Belle. Have a good night and day, my dear." His hand automatically reaches for a stray curl hanging next to her face.
Isabelle waits for the tug. It never comes. Scorpius gently wraps the curl behind her ear and softly glides his fingers down to her jawline. He steps closer and wraps his free arm around Belle's tiny waist, pulling her into his frame and slowly claims her lips irrevocably as his. His hand moves to cradle her head and the other holds her tight against him.
It was the most intimate kiss she had ever felt. Though she was pressed up against his every plane, Scorpius never tried to move them past what they were doing. Belle wraps her arms around his neck and starts dragging her nails against his scalp, to which he groans.
Scorpius breaks away, panting and wild eyed. "As much as I enjoyed that, you need your sleep, Sweetheart." He whispers. "Goodnight, Isabelle." Malfoy. He thinks as he watches her blush deeply and open her door. When he hears the locks engage, Scorpius walks back to the waiting car.
Isabelle smiles on the other side of the door. She is undoing her shoes when her father walks into the entryway with a glass of water.
"So how was the date?" He asks, trying and failing to sound uninterested.
"Daddy, it was amazing. Before you ask, he was a complete gentleman. He brought me flowers, took me to dinner in town and then to a movie. He even walked me to the door." All these are things that Rick never did. George also knew that the Corner boy has never seen their home.
George smiles largely, this was more like it. "Good. Glad to hear that you had a good time and that I don't have to mess the kid over. I am still deciding on Rick." He kisses her cheek and goes to bed happy.
Belle lays down in bed and falls asleep, smiling. She dreams the whole night of her new boyfriend.