A/N:

SO SORRY!

I know I begin a lot of theses with apologies, which probably isn't brilliant but there's not much i can do, things just seem to come up whenever I try to sit down and write some of this. Anyway, it's here now. Still, sorry for the wait.

Big thank you's to everyone who's still with me, despite my poor updating schedule. It means a lot.

Special thanks as always to those who've followed/favourited:

Lady Eleanor Boleyn (who did both); Voletta 97 (who also did both); Tera101 and to Lou467

Those emails I get keep me going, so thanks guys.

I also noticed a review from Plucie for Chapter 11 today and I don't think I mentioned it in the last A/N (not sure why I didn't see it :s) but thanks again Plucie! Glad you're liking it. We also have more assertive Rox moments to come so stay tuned and keep letting me know what you think!

Thanks again to you all for still reading, let me know what you think.

Love Cookie xx

P.S: This Chapter doesn't have a lot of dialogue/action but I wanted to share it, a few parts will be important later too, so sorry if it's not that interesting this time round. It will get better.

Chapter 13 – Read The Note First

Hey Scor!" Roxanne called the brunette as he made his was to breakfast. He paused and turned not noticing where she was initially as she made her way through the crowd, squeezing past people to get to him, she was so close when she twisted sideways to get between a couple of people, tripped over one's foot and stumbled forward, landing with her hands splayed out against Scorp's solid chest. She straightened, mildly embarrassed at falling over so early in the day. His hands had moved automatically to catch her and rested on her waist, while hers still remained unremoved from his chest.
He smirked down at her, "I didn't think I was your type Rox"
"What?" She responded, her confusion distracting her from the fact that she remained in the middle of the hallway held in what looked like an intimate moment.
"You just fell for me didn't you?"
She laughed, getting the joke, "You wish Malfoy" returning his smirk.
He looked down at her, as she laughed and Roxanne looked up, the looks were meant as fleeting but when their eyes caught each other they both found it hard to let go. Her hazel brown staring into his pale grey-blue. They stood there like that, half embracing for little over five seconds, held in a bubble oblivious to the world around them as they both held their gaze, neither wanted to be the first to look away. Neither knew why. The inexplicable pull to the other's eyes seemed mutual and once Roxanne blinked the moment was gone. Scorpius cleared his throat and stepped back dropping his hands as Rox did the same. He was suddenly conscious that people might have been watching their interaction. Something Florence had said last night came to mind. Something she'd said about his face when he put the necklace on Roxanne. Surely, his face hadn't been anything special when he put the necklace around her neck? Surely he didn't have a special look for Roxanne? She was just a good friend, one of his best friends. That was all. The look was simply one of care, yes he cared about her. He probably looked at Liv in a similar way. It was just Florence being a jealous bitch, nothing more.

He looked down at her again. This time avoiding intense, direct eye contact.
"Nice hair Rox" he laughed, acknowledging her now deep red, almost auburn hair, he smiled at her nerve. She wasn't one to back out of a dare either. She looked put out at his laugh. She didn't want red hair but it was the best she could make out of a bad dare.
"Thanks, it clashes I know, but that's not what I wanted to ask you about. What happened after we left?"
Scor looked around him, spotting the twins walking towards them. Luckily, they hadn't seen them yet.
"Not here" he answered.
Scorpius turned and made his way through the crowd, not even having to signal for Rox to follow him. As he made his way down the staircase, Rox pulled at his robe directing him instead. She had a better place to go. They ended up in the kitchens, the house elves not even the slightest bit put out by them during the breakfast rush. Their simple request for toast had been muddled and a smaller portioned version of the full breakfast display sat in front of them.
"So tell me" Rox began picking up her originally requested toast.
"What do you think?" Scorpius responded not wanting to directly betray the twins' confidence.
"Well, Lorc obviously likes Liv and I'm guessing Ly guessed, bugged him and now he's going to avoid it?" Scorpius nodded, his mouth full of fruit.
He swallowed, "Ly's convinced Liv likes him too, he's not wrong, of course but Lorcan wouldn't believe a word. I really wanted to tell him Rox" Scorpius' face bared his emotions, Roxanne could see the conflicted feelings held in his eyes, which in the morning light looked more grey than blue.
"I know, but she'd kill you. Anyway, she refuses to believe he likes her too. I tried to convince her but she's got it in her head that it's Arianna or Scarlett he was talking about" Roxanne sighed, exasperated from the long talk with Liv the night before.
"What do we do? You promised to help him notice her and he's done your job for you. But neither of them will believe the other likes them. The more you try to convince them, the more they'll disbelieve it"
"They're just so stubborn. Ugh! I don't know. Will Ly try to get involved?"
"No, I think after last night he's been put off. I've never seen Lorc get so pissed at him. He'll leave him alone for now, I think."
"Then maybe we should too." Roxanne paused, "I mean… If they won't listen to the closest people they have then maybe we should let them work it out themselves?"
Scorpius paused too, his grey looking eyes shining as he thought over her suggestion. "Hmm, I think you're right Rox"
"Ah, I'll never get tired of hearing that" she teased with a smile. Wanting to be rid of the serious talk.
"Don't get cocky Weasley" he grinned just as teasingly.
"I'll try not to Malfoy, after all, you still owe me a present"
They finished their breakfast in amicable silence, filling it periodically with small mundane talk about their lessons and plans for the day.~

That evening, Roxanne came back to the dorm to find parcels addressed to her sitting on the edge of her bed with her best friend. She knew the parcels were from Dom and maybe some other family and she knew, just by Liv's face, that she wanted to find out what was in them. She clambered onto the bed, transfigured her robes to PJs, and drew the curtains around her and her best friend. She silenced and sealed the four poster bed; conjured her favourite little flame in a jar, a spell her aunt Hermione had taught her, and suspended it mid-air. The bed seemed cosier with the glow, she was reminded of the blanket fortresses she and Liv would build as children. Having magical parents to make sure they didn't fall had always helped.
"Open your presents!" Liv burst out with excitement the moment Roxanne looked settled.
Roxanne picked up the hastily wrapped red box knowing it was probably from her Uncle Charlie. He was terrible at wrapping. As she peered closer, she saw the box had holes. Maybe he'd gotten her a pygmy puff? No, nothing in the box moved. She opened it to find a small pale grey egg. It looked a lot like a fossil, small enough to sit in the palm of her hand. She noticed the box had heating spells on it and withdrew her fingertip quickly from the egg's surface as it was hot to touch. What had Uncle Charlie given her? She picked up the note that accompanied the box.
Hey Squirt,

Hope you had a good one. Sorry it's late but Dom offered to send it all with hers so I thought that'd be better. You're probably wondering what that is in there. Don't touch it, just yet. Unless you have, in which case... Sorry it's hot. Oops.
So, what did Uncle Charlie get his favourite niece for her birthday? A DRAGON! Well, not an actual dragon, that'd be illegal. But that little thing there is a' Parva Draco' (Small dragon). They're a sort of species that wizards created for fun, (like Muggles and their 'toy' breeds) there's not many of them and no one's really sure how they're made but that little guy (or girl) was left on our doorstep a couple weeks back. Ask Fleur or Harry, they've seen them before. It should be close to hatching soon. Keep it warm till it hatches then you'll have to feed it raw chicken or lamb whenever it's hungry. You'll know when. Trust me. The Parvas usually behave like smaller versions of their breed. Your egg is an Antipodean Opaleye's. It's a beauty. Gentle too. (Wouldn't have sent you a Horntail, honest) It will hatch about the size of your hand and will reach the length of your forearm eventually but that's about as big as it'll get. There's a book in the box that should clear everything else up. It's not specific to Parvas but just remember they're miniatures. So the same rules apply, just scaled down.
Don't tell your mum just yet, I'm in England and don't fancy the abuse. Your Dad knows, of course. He approves.
Good Luck and Happy Birthday!
Love Uncle Charlie
Oh and well done with the early OWLs, I take all the credit of course.

Liv had been reading the letter with Roxanne over her shoulder, "You're Uncle is so cool" she murmured, dazed.
"I know" Rox responded, also stunned into silence, she had been given a mini dragon! She placed a protective bubble around the box with the egg and suspended it. Just in case it hatched during the night. Roxanne looked back to the pile in front of her. There were quite a lot of other parcels on the bed, one from Dom no doubt. She left the most Dom-looking parcel till last, instead picking up a pale blue rectangular box. She looked at the note and recognised Victoire's elegant style. She opened the box to find a hair accessory; it was a small, lavender coloured flower, that she supposed slid into her hair. The comb part was metallic, probably goblin silver, knowing Vic. It was beautiful, but a slightly strange gift, it wasn't the sort of thing Rox would wear and Vic would know that. Liv noticed another note, taped to the inside of the box lid.
Hey Ro,

Ted here. Vic's glaring at me now for my gross abuse of the paper with my handwriting but I know you can read it. The hair thingy, don't ask me what it's called, is for you to wear… to our wedding! Yep, she finally said yes. (Insert smug Ted face) It won't be till next year some time though, we're thinking summer. We want you to be a bridesmaid Rox. You, Dom and Lil. Dom and Louis know and of course I told Harry and Ginny, but we haven't told anyone else yet. The longer we leave it, the less time Grams will have to plan and the smaller it stays. Yes, it's probably wishful thinking but we can try at least. It's a bit of a cheat to give you part of your outfit as a present I know, but we thought you'd like to know. Dom probably wouldn't have been able to keep it from you anyway.
I'll make it up to you on the present front though.
Happy Birthday, hope you had a good one Ro.
See you at Christmas! Love Ted and Vic x

The next parcel was just as neatly wrapped. Probably her aunt Fleur, Roxanne assumed correctly. Victoire was like her mother in many ways.
Happy Birthday Roxanne,

We hope you had a good day, and that Dominique has managed to send this before the week is over. If she hasn't, sorry it's late.
Fleur originally got you a handbag but then Charlie got a bit excited about his gift so I've made some adjustments. The lining is an insulator and fireproof so you shouldn't feel anything from the outside. The zip's been reinforced so it should keep most things secured in there as long as it's fully closed. It's also been extended, undetectably of course, so if you ever feel like keeping something that just so happens to produce fire, needs securing and more space than the average handbag in there, not that I'm condoning anything but, feel free.
Hope it's useful to you and that you like it.
Love Bill and Fleur xxx
So, her Uncle Bill had basically fashioned her a dragon carry case. She was glad her Aunt Fleur had been the one to pick out the bag though, because he had terrible taste when it came to anything remotely feminine. She added some heating charms to the bag and levitated the egg out of the box and into the bag. It was probably safer hatching in the bag her Uncle Bill had fixed up than her protective bubble. Especially as she doubted it would have worked against a dragon, even a Parva. She made sure the zip was fully closed and placed the bag at the foot of her bed. "Five parcels left Rox" .
Liv had picked up the parcels and started to shake them slightly and feel them, attempting to guess their contents. She looked like a child at Christmas.
"Hm, I don't usually get this many presents at once. Mum and Dad usually bring them when I see them at Hogsmead. It's not even an important birthday"
"Maybe your family was more organised this year?" Liv provided, not really paying attention.
"It was Dom. They mentioned Dom offering to send them, bet you she bugged them all about it."
"I'd do something if Dom was the one bugging me. She can be quite scary"
Rox laughed, imagining Dominique bullying her aunts and uncles into getting her presents ready for sending earlier than usual. But why? Unless, her parents were going to be too busy for the Hogsmead weekend? But they made sure never to plan anything for those dates. And there weren't any Harpies matches coming up so she wondered why the change in tradition.
Liv noted Rox's contemplating face, "I don't know why it's different this year Rox, but enjoy it." She passed her a simple brown papered parcel. It wasn't hard to guess what it contained. Roxanne ripped the paper of the rectangular shape and picked up the note before touching the book. Magic was a strange thing and with her family, she should have learnt to always read the notes first by now. It was from her Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron.
Roxanne smiled; she knew her Aunt Hermione loved to buy her books. Mostly because her own daughter appreciated them so little. After the age of twelve, known as Rose's bitch transformation year, Rose didn't see the point in books or much studying. She had realised she was smart and decided that minimal effort would be enough. Even at a young age, Roxanne knew that that had hurt her Aunt Hermione so whenever she asked her what she wanted, Roxanne would always tell her to choose her a book. Her Aunt Hermione didn't disappoint this time either. Her note was flowing and beautiful yet short and to the point, none of her Uncle Ron's influence.
Happy Birthday Roxanne,

Ronald suggested we get you something different this year but when your parents told us about the early OWLs I thought a book would be best again. It's a new in so no one else will have it yet, hope it helps.
Love Aunt Hermione and your Uncle Ronald x

The book was on Advanced Charms and as Hermione had said, it was new in. Probably why she didn't recognise it. Roxanne loved it when Hermione sent her new books from the store she owned. It made her feel special, as if she had discovered something wonderful before anyone else. The book was beautiful, special edition by the looks of it. It was hardback and the covering was gold, it shimmered slightly under the firelight. She placed the book next to the bag at the foot of her bed. She would look at it in detail later. It was the sort of book that deserved her full attention.
The next parcel was also book shaped, though this confused her as no one else usually bought her books unless she specifically asked for them. She hadn't asked.
She read the writing on the tag. It instructed her to read the note inside first. She would have anyway but this made her wary of the object, she tore away the paper carefully and picked up the parchment laid on top of the book. The writing on the tag had been her Aunt Ginny's, this was her Uncle Harry's. It was messy and scrawly but she could read it, in fact Teddy's writing must have evolved from this. They were uncannily similar.
Dear Roxanne,

I know we don't usually give you something as 'Hermione-ish' as a book, but... This isn't an ordinary book. Your brother and James found it a couple years ago in the Room of Requirement with nothing but a few scorch marks. I had hid it there many years before, and I assumed it had been destroyed. I think you know what book this is. I'm giving it to you because it helped me so much in my Potions OWL and I know it could help you. You probably won't need as much help as I did back then but nevertheless, I thought you might like it. The book must have had all manner of protections because I can't remove any of the writing in it either.
I want you to promise me Roxanne, never to use the spells written in there. Never. I've told you what one of them did to Draco and I don't want to hear of anyone using them again. I could have killed him that night. I'm trusting you on this. I'm trusting you because I know you'll appreciate it and won't take it for granted. But mostly because I'm almost one hundred percent sure you won't use the spells. You're not angry like I was or like your cousins can be sometimes. I trust that you'll look after it too.
Other than that, enjoy the book Roxy and good luck with your studies.
We'll see you at Christmas sweetheart.
Love your Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny x

Wow, Harry had sent her Snape's old potions book. Harry was trusting her with a piece of his past. With something that belonged to a man he had spent years hating only to find out he had been looking out for him all along. A man he'd named his son after. Roxanne had tears welling up in her eyes. They threatened to spill over, this was such a big part of her Uncle Harry's life that he was trusting her with.
Wiping her tears from her eyes and smiling, Roxanne reached out for her next present. It again was a book. This one from her Uncle Percy.
Happy Birthday Roxanne,

I hope you enjoyed your day and that you enjoy your present. Remember, it's never too early to think ahead.
Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey

She looked at the book. 'Career choices for the witch of today' she laughed, showing the cover to Liv who was reading Uncle Harry's letter with shimmering eyes too. It was such an Uncle Percy present to give. An envelope dropped from the book. She opened it.

Sorry about the present Rox. Percy thought you'd love it and I didn't have the heart to correct him. This is to make up for it, see you at Christmas.
Love Aunty Audrey x

She tipped the envelope and a card holding a pair of small round earrings fell out. The card titled them as mood earrings with a colour-to-emotion conversion key on the back. Roxanne took out her usual plain muggle studs and slipped her magical ones in. She'd have to remember to thank her Aunt separately.
Two parcels left. One, 'Dom-looking' present. And another, she'd run out of uncles and aunts to get gifts from. Grandma Molly never sent presents by owl and neither would her muggle Grandma, for obvious reasons. She wondered who it was from. She picked the box up and shook it; it was light and didn't rattle. Olivia smiled knowingly.
She opened the card stuck to the box.
Happy Birthday Hun,
Hope that daughter of mine didn't spoil this, we wanted to surprise you. Well done on the OWL thing, you'll do brilliantly. We know you will.
Good Luck with it all and hope you had a great birthday!
Love 'Aunty' Katie and 'Uncle' Oliver x

Roxanne smiled at the note from Liv's parents. They were like her family and she had grown up calling them aunt and uncle. Sitting on the bed with her best friend and a pile of presents, some from people who weren't directly related to her, Roxanne realised how lucky she was, not for the gifts, but for the fact that so many people had bothered. That so many people loved her. Even if her cousins and brother didn't remember her or her birthday, she was lucky to have plenty of other family and extended family who did. She reached for the present and opened it.
Her hands held the emerald material against the deep blue; one colour in each hand. Katie had gotten her the new season Harpies Jersey and Oliver had gotten her the new season Puddlemere one, they were always competing for support amongst people they knew. She loved Puddlemere but the Harpies were always her favourite. Oliver knew that but wouldn't stop trying. Rox laid the shirt out flipping it over; it had Weasley on the back of it, across her shoulders. Of course with her mum as a player, the shirts could be bought like this without being made to order but Roxanne felt proud knowing it actually applied to her. She gasped. Under the name were the signatures of the entire team written in gold, of course it wasn't as big of a deal for her as it might be for another student as two signatures were family, one 'family' and all the others women she'd known since childhood. But the fact that Katie had stopped every member of the team at some point specifically for this touched her. The Puddlemere shirt was also signed, probably because Oliver hadn't wanted to be outdone by his wife; it'd only have put him behind in competition for her support. Oliver had won this one though, the team's seeker had drawn a golden snitch next to his name and it zoomed around the shirt, having been bewitched.
"Your parents are amazing, Liv"
"I know, I swear I better get signed jerseys for my birthday or there'll be trouble"
"I'll make sure to warn them" Rox laughed folding the jerseys and placing them on her pile.
"Last one" Liv picked up the present still grinning and handed it to Rox.
Roxanne could tell it was from Dom because it was the smallest. Dom always added undetectable extension charms to her boxes for fun, she liked the idea that Rox could pull lots of larger presents out of a small box. Also the box was black, another key Dom feature, she didn't think the colour of a box meant anything. Ever the rebel.
Rox lifted the lid and reached her hand inside. She felt around the base of the box and pulled put the first item she laid hands on. The glass was cool against her fingertips. A bottle of Firewhiskey. Clearly, Dom had decided fifteen was old enough to drink. She reached in again this time touching a soft material, she pulled put a pair of Quidditch gloves, they were cut off at the finger tips so she could grip her broom but still catch the snitch easily. Good Quidditch gloves cost a lot and these were dragon hide too, they must have cost her a fortune! Rox slipped them onto her hands and they felt immediately amazing. With the gloves on, Roxanne felt powerful and strong, like she could catch a million snitches. She tipped the box upside down on the bed, allowing the rest of the gifts to tumble out. She had a bag full of WWW products, no doubt for pranking, earrings for her current lobe piercings as well as a thicker bar. Roxanne only had three lobe piercings on each ear, so six in total, four of which Dom had done for her. She had wanted a one higher up on her ear for the longest time but had never gotten one. The bar was for a piercing Roxanne didn't even have yet. Surely Dom would know that? Unless like the Firewhiskey and the products, Dom meant the present as an "it's about time" to do it gift. Either way Roxanne would have use for it soon enough, Scorpius was taking her to get the piercing in two weeks' time. She couldn't wait.

Dom was the only person on the family who insisted on having her note read last. She hated the ideas that the note would spoil the surprise of the presents.
Hey Roxy,

Happy Birthday! Hope you had a good day yesterday. Bit disappointed I haven't had any letters yet, I don't know what's going on other than what your mum told everyone about the OWLs. Well done by the way, I always knew you were a true Eagle.
Anyway, my point is I need info Ro. I need to know what's going on with you so I can hex people accordingly. Or not, you know, I might not need to. That'd be okay too I guess. Maybe you're having a quiet time. Either way, I expect a long reply to this. I'm missing you Rox. Trainings going well, I'm top of my class of course but it's really tiring. I feel so disconnected from everything, like there's time to sleep eat and train but not much else. Aren't you glad I managed to fit in present time for you huh? And look, I even got everyone to send theirs early. Well almost. Grams wouldn't budge but that's okay because she pays you mostly in food. And your mum and dad said they wouldn't break their Hogsmead tradition for their presents, but they let me send everyone else's. Aren't I amazing? Also, that little brother of mine said his present was sort of combined with your parent's so... if it is what I think it is I am very jealous, even I haven't got one yet!
Hope you like what everyone's got you. Have to say, Uncle Charlie is brilliant. I'm so jealous. Anyway, I expect a reply with all the goss. You're not still talking to that good for nothing cousin are you? Have you and Malfoy realised you're madly in love yet? Hahahahahaa, I'd say I was joking but I'm not. And if not that, have you snogged anyone else yet? Any dirty little secrets? No? Fine. But Roxy baby, I'm dying here, I need to know!
Awaiting your reply,
Love Dom xxx

"What does she mean about you and Scor?"
"Dom's had this theory, since first year actually, that me and Scor were secretly love and we'd end up together before he left Hogwarts. She brings it up every time I hear from her, I don't even think she believes herself anymore, it's sort of tradition"
Roxanne laughed yet still felt a pain in her chest thinking about her cousin. She really did miss Dom. When Dom was around, it didn't matter that the rest of the family in Hogwarts ignored her, Dom was enough. But she wasn't anymore, and hadn't been for a while, and that made Roxanne a little sad. But she was enjoying her life now. Dom was training to be an Auror. Uncle Harry had offered her an accelerated place on the course because he'd known she was perfect for the role but Dominique had insisted she train from the beginning, she wanted the whole department to see what her Uncle Harry had before she qualified. She wanted to make a name for herself as Dominique Weasley not just Harry Potter's niece. And she would, Roxanne believed that her cousin would. More than anything, it was Dom who inspired her; sure she had great parents, aunts, uncles and family friends to look up to. But Dom knew what it was like to be a Weasley child and to want to be her own person, Dom was doing that, Roxanne hoped that one day she could too.

After her presents were all opened and discussed, Roxanne tried to broach the subject of Lorcan one last time but Liv brushed her off. Rox could see the shimmer in Liv's green eyes that told her there were tears forming, so to make up for it, she quickly embraced her friend before they could spill over and rubbed circles on her back. The girls stayed hugging for a while and resumed conversation about less emotional topics, eventually retiring to their separate beds.~

A/N:

Cool presents right?

And look, even Dom ships Scorpianne!

Anyway, sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes, as usual, I wanted to get it out there ASAP so might be a little rushed. Also sorry there wasn't any action but i had too much fun writing as her family! Let me know if you liked it and I can include letters every so often.

Part of the rush was me wanting to get this out before Christmas (and i have!) so Merry Christmas guys, this is my present to you all for being such great readers. I hope you have a lovely Christmas, and even if you don't celebrate it, enjoy your holidays! Also, early happy new year just incase I don't get the chance to update before then.

As always, tell me what you think, like or don't like so I can make it better!

Lots of Love, Hugs and Snowflake Kisses,

Cookie xx