Okay, so it's a little over two weeks. My apologies. I've had a surprising amount of work considering it's the end of the school year :(
First off, the thanks:
ElizabetaPB~ Thanks for the follow and hopefully you're still hooked and have kept reading to this point! Tell me if you have! :D
Ella~ Heyya, glad you've got an official account now (forgive me for not writing the username out)! I agree, poor Scor but good to know you're a Scorpianne shipper all the same. Hope you keep liking it, enjoy the chapter! :)
Also, thanks to Beauty Spot88 for the follow :)
Okay, so get reading guys, it's a nice long chapter to make up for the slight delay. Enjoy!
Cookie xx
Chapter 21- Quidditch, Mistletoe and Telling Freddie
Rox rushed into the Ravenclaw changing room as fast as she could. She was late.
When she reached the girls section, Liv and Callie were just strapping their pads on. She still had that stupid grin on her face so when Liv asked where she had been, she didn't even have to answer her.
"No! Really?!" Rox nodded her head enthusiastically as she ran to her locker to get her kit.
"What have I missed?" Callie asked with a smile as both girls squealed with happiness.
"Rox and L-"
"Sh!" Rox tapped Liv and pointed towards the door. They couldn't have Lysander getting annoyed before practice.
Liv continued in a whisper, "Rox and Logan are official"
"Oh Roxy, well done! He's like the best looking guy in my year." she called across softly. "But why are we whispering?" she whispered back.
As Liv explained the Lysander situation, Rox did her best to dress as quickly as possible.
The girls exited the changing room and Ly shouted at them from the pitch. The boys were in the air warming up.
"Get a move on ladies! This isn't the ball. Ten laps NOW!"
"How 'bout you shut it, Cap!" Callie called back earning a wolf-whistle from Scor who had been flying past and a glare from Ly.
"Extra two for you, Jones!"
The girls kicked off and did their laps Callie taking her extras in her stride, admitting they were 'worth it'. They joined the boys on the grass as they gathered around Lysander. Callie leaned forwards and whispered to Rox, "I'd tell him after the practice if I were you"
"Way ahead of you" she responded with a grin.
The practice was tough and tiring but Rox enjoyed the release and the feel of the cool night air on her skin. She performed better than she usually did, putting as much effort as possible into each drill they faced.
"Nice dive, Weasley!"
"Malfoy, closer to your broom!" Ly shouted at Scorpius as he hurtled to the ground, practising dives he insisted they all do. Scorpius pulled himself closer and exited the dive moments later.
He flew back up to the goalposts where Ly hovered with the team waiting for the next drill.
"Why did you pull out so quickly, Scorpius?" he questioned disappointedly.
Callie snorted and Ly glared at her in response.
"Sorry, Cap" she muttered, holding her laughter back.
He rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Scor.
"You have got to go in as deep as you can"
This time both Callie and Rox snorted, along with Liv who giggled, Lorcan smirked and Oliver, their newest member tried not to react. He was still a little intimidated by Ly.
Ly ignored them. "With all due respect, Cap. I'm not a seeker. Chasers don't need to dive as far down, the quaffle is never dropped that close to the floor so it's just not necessary" Scorpius said with a straight face.
Ly sighed. He was right; Quidditch was about using players that were the best at their position, not players that were average at everything.
"Fine. But I won't say you're right, we do drills and we should make sure that we put our all into the drills so if I tell you to go down you should go down-" he was interrupted by a fit of giggles from Liv, Callie and Rox. Lorcan and Oliver couldn't help but laugh with them. Roxanne noticed the corners of Scorpius' mouth twitch up as he fought the urge to laugh with them all.
"Sorry. But. It. Was. Too. Much." Callie responded through her sniggers.
"Ugh. Right that's it, everyone get ready. We're going to practice a skill that will benefit you all." He grinned at them, "Lorc, you're with me, the rest of you, don't get hit, GO!" he pointed his wand at the ball chest below and the bludger shot out, he summoned the two beaters bats and the team scattered.
It was dark and it seemed Ly was still punishing them for their earlier disobedience and filthy minds.
Roxanne had been hovering in the same spot for a while now. She was behind the goalposts, but didn't know where the rest of the team were. She assumed, like her, that they were all flying around or just hovering in the dark, none of them daring to light the pitch and alert Lorc or Ly to their presence. She was hoping the gold hoops would shield her a little. She heard movement, a little knock against the metal of another hoop.
"Hello?" she whispered in the starlit night.
"Rox?" a familiar voice called back.
"Where are you?" she asked.
There was a few seconds silence.
"Right here" he replied from right next to her, chuckling lightly when she gasped.
In the dark and quiet evening, just their whispers seemed to fill the air with noise, so they were silent, looking over the pitch and at the lights of the castle in the distance, watching and listening for a speeding bludger.
"Hey, Scor?" Rox asked, deciding they were safe for now.
"Yeah?" he scanned the pitch, hearing shouts from the opposite end and coming to the same conclusion as Rox.
"I need some advice and well… You always seem to know how to deal with people. You're great at reading them"
"Go on" he prompted.
"Well, Logan asked me out, and I said yes"~
"Oh" he choked out. He knew it was coming and he knew he should act more supportive but it was all he could manage as his heart plummeted further than he would dive.
She missed it, he had been so quiet, "So, how do I tell Ly?"
"Uh, Well. He won't like it, but you're just going to have to tell him there's nothing he can do. You like him and I- I mean he- can't do anything to change that. I'm sure he'll get over it eventually; it just might take him some time. Tell him you loved practice and break it to him gently. Just don't snog him in front of us okay?" he smiled at her sadly, but it was dark so couldn't have seen. Thankfully she didn't notice his slip up either. He had been trying to comfort himself aloud too.
"Thanks, Scor. You really are amazing, you know that?"
He hummed in agreement. Obviously not enough…
"And don't worry about the snogging, I only had my first kiss today. I don't think I'll be at your level any time soon" she laughed, referencing the amount of times Scorpius had taken part in PDA around their group.
He cringed at the memories and cursed himself for wasting time with girls like them when he had such an amazing person so close to him. Not that she would have wanted him…
Then he realised she had just admitted to having her first kiss today and he was shocked.
"You've never kissed anyone before today?"
"Yeah, go ahead, laugh"
"I wouldn't laugh at you Rox. Not for that. I'm just, surprised is all"
"Why? You know I've never had a boyfriend"
"Well you're a beautiful girl, I guess I just assumed someone had realised it and that maybe you had kissed them. Though I don't know why, I know how picky you are about you're food. I'd imagine you're even worse with boys"
She giggled and he could practically imagine the blush he had created on her soft cheeks. He wished he could see it now.
"Yep. Not at all like you, man whore" she teased and he laughed, hovering closer he nudged her sideways.
She returned the nudge but he was ready for it and barely moved so they just ended up hovering closer, he could hear her breathing.
"You know, you could just pretend that I could move you" she sighed in mock frustration.
"I can't let you have your way all the time"
He looked towards her as she huffed and folded her arms, he could just about make out her silhouette and her face. Her eyes were easiest to pinpoint, shining in the moonlight, and looking back at his.
"Scor" she muttered softly, "You do have pretty eyes" she giggled.
"Thanks, Rox." he laughed, nudging her a little more, being brave he spoke again, "And I did mean it, yours are too. In fact, they're beautiful"
"Thanks, Scor" she nudged him back bashfully.
They heard shouts from the opposite end of the pitch again so stayed put. Eventually, after hearing nothing for a long time they descended and found the locker rooms empty. ~
"Wanna bet they went back ages ago and left us out here to freeze?" he asked as he walked into the changing rooms, stripping off his jersey and dropping it in the wash basket.
"No wonder you're freezing, Scor" she answered gesturing to his bare chest but averting her eyes at the same time.
How do I always end up alone with him topless?
She dumped her jersey into the basket, but she had a long sleeve under it.
"Heating charms are quicker and way more comfortable than extra layers. Also, there's less drag. It's only logical. You should try it" he winked, it had always been easy to flirt with her and he found himself doing it automatically, but it almost felt wrong now that he had actual feelings for her.
"I'm fine with my clothes thanks" she laughed and moved into the female section, grabbing her clothes from earlier and just pulling on her jeans over her Quidditch leggings.
"Speaking of your clothes, when will I get mine back?" he called into her as she put her equipment away.
"You won't!" she called back, realising she probably didn't even need to shout, "Scor I shrunk them to look girly and now they look like my clothes. So they will stay my clothes."
"That was my favourite T-shirt!"
"Don't lie. I haven't seen you wear that for ages. It must've been too small for you now"
"You pay attention to what I wear now, do you?" she heard his response.
"Oh shut up Scor." She shut her locker door, "You decent?" she asked.
"What's your definition of decent?" he called back quickly and she rolled her eyes exiting anyway.
"Roxanne Weasley! I could have been naked!"
"Yes and I'd probably be standing here with the same expression on my face" she said looking purposely bored and unimpressed.
"You mean that expression of absolute awe?" he asked, grabbing his bag and swinging it over his fully clothed shoulder.
"Because let me tell you," he continued as he strode over and slung an arm around her, steering them out onto the dark pitch. "I am an absolute, God"
"Funny, I did wonder what it was Florence loved about you. Because your personality is terrible" she responded with a smirk.
"Ooh" he muttered, clutching his heart as they neared the castle. "That would hurt so much more if you hadn't told me how amazing I was a little while ago. But besides, no girl has been lucky enough to witness how amazing I am yet" he said the last part silently, as if admitting something for the first time.
She stopped suddenly and he looked back at her, "What's wrong?"
"You mean you haven't-" she began.
"Guess, I'm not the only one who makes assumptions, huh?" he said with a raised eyebrow, "No I haven't, yet. Maybe I am a little more picky than you think, Roxy" he sounded hurt Roxanne regretted it instantly.~
They were silent for a while before she spoke. She stared up at him.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to assume that about you"
"No it's fine Rox. I did the same thing right?" he said, slinging his arm back over her and continuing their walk reassuring her he was fine.
"You can pay be back by finding me a nice girl" he muttered.
"So you are serious about a proper relationship?" again she sounded surprised and Scor wished he hadn't been such a dog so far.
"Yeah. I'd like to, I guess. I'm just scared." Why was he telling her this?
"Why?" she followed.
"Well, I guess I'm worried I'll get in too deep. I've never been the one who cares the most. I guess I don't want to get hurt." He felt so exposed and vulnerable yet he didn't regret telling her anything, "Merlin, I'm such a girl" he moaned trying to lighten the mood.
"Hey! We're not all like that." She laughed, adding "But I understand. I only just agreed to go out with Logan and I'm scared shitless already, Scor. I've got a million questions running through my mind."
"Tell me"
"Tell you what?"
"What it is you're thinking" he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well I'm just scared I guess. I mean…What if he realises he doesn't like me? What if he never did? What if he dates me and realises it won't work? What if he doesn't want me?" She paused, her voice had started off level and slow but became shaky, she sniffed suddenly overcome with worry and her insecurities.
"What if he wants someone more…experienced?"
"Hey, hey, hey" he stopped to face her; they were halfway up the spiral staircase that led to the Ravenclaw tower. He crooked a forefinger under her chin and made her look at him; he wiped a single tear with his thumb.
"You are an amazing girl Roxanne Weasley. And if Logan, or anyone for that matter expects more from you than you are willing, and ready to give, then they don't deserve you. Don't ever let a guy make you feel pressured to do something you don't want to do, because guys like that, aren't even worth your time. And if Logan is a guy like that, then he's an asshole, and Lorcan, Ly, and I will be dealing with him accordingly. Oh, and maybe I'll let your brother and cousins chip in" He smirked at her softly and she gave him a watery smile.
"Thanks Scor"
"Anytime, Roxy. Anytime." She wiped her tears and put her arm around his back while he had his over her shoulders. They walked up the stairs together and Scor revelled in the warmth that she made him feel while he could, desperately ignoring the crushing sadness that overtook him at the mention of Logan.~
Like his sister, Fred's favourite time of year was also Christmas. It wasn't because of all the love; cheer; family time; and goodwill to all kinda vibe. Sure that was fun, but Christmas was Fred's favourite time of year because it presented excellent pranking potential.
Aside from individual birthdays and maybe Valentine's, it was the only time people would voluntarily open anything you gave them, so long as it has a pretty bow. Magic.
Fred was never one to write home. His mum wrote to him often and he would reply dutifully, but he never initiated letters. On rare occasions, Fred would receive letters from his Dad, they would usually be sent without the knowledge of his mother and would be asking Fred's opinion about a new product he was designing, even more rarely, his Dad would send Fred a parcel with WWW samples for him to use. Today was one of those very rare occasions. George often used Fred as a marketer, what better advertising than right inside the school?
At breakfast that morning, Fred had received a parcel wrapped in brightly coloured, flashing paper. Of course it attracted a lot of attention from students nearby but Fred supposed that was the point. Throughout the day he had been itching to see what it contained. Now, sat on one of the sofas in the common room, he and Elliott crowded round the box.
Slowly, he undid the paper and lifted the lid- anything could happen with one of these.
Revealing what was inside, there was a collective sigh of disappointment, the boys had been hoping for fireworks or stink-bombs or something more… destructive than, Mistletoe?
Fred took off the card and read it Elliott peering over his shoulders,
"Don't sigh just yet. It's brilliant, I promise.
Okay, so when the Christmas decorations go up, these'll work like a charm. It's Stuck-in-the-Mud Mistletoe. You levitate it into the air and that's that. Once it's up there, it's not coming down. (You eventually have to burn it…) Now, it will float around and at random points throughout the day, the berries change colour. When they're white; it's safe, works exactly like normal mistletoe, ie. Does nothing. If the berries go green, and you step under, you're stuck until someone comes along and kisses you. A peck on the cheek will do. If the berries are red; again, stuck and you have to be kissed, but there has to be some meaning there. Both parties have to enjoy the kiss, both people have to want it. Great right?!
Now, I'm nothing if not responsible so there are a few fail safes. It won't trap anyone under the age of fifteen and if the person really doesn't want to kiss anyone, they can just wait for a while and it just floats by. 1 minute under for every year they've lived. So that's fifteen minimum and just goes up! Now that that's sorted, do what you will with it…
Oh and look out too, just because you put it up, doesn't mean it won't trap you. I was stuck under some Red berries for quite a while – Merlin, doesn't it suck to get old?
Say hello to the boys for me.
Don't get caught,
Love Dad"
Once they had all finished, they grinned. What was better than something that hovered over people's heads and trapped them there? Add awkward Christmas kisses and it would be one of their most entertaining pranks yet!
"As Head Boy, I don't believe I can condone this kind of behaviour…" Elliott began.
"But, as your Dad said, once they're up, there's nothing I can do. So go on, let a few up"
Fred grinned, levitating a couple branches of Mistletoe into their common room and watched their path, they hovered for a while, berries white but moved slowly across the room, flashing green and red.
"How long do you reckon before people work out the colours?" Elliott wondered.
"A week tops, word spreads fast in this castle" Fred replied, burning his Dad's note with his wand. No evidence, no crime.~
After her potions lesson, which she spent supressing giggles at the corny pick-up lines Logan kept making appear on her parchment, Roxanne trailed off into the Great Hall. It was lunch and she was starving. As it was their first day as an official couple Logan had wanted to walk her here but she had said she wanted to drop off her morning's books at her dorm on the way so she had told him to go on. In truth, she wasn't ready to walk into the Hall on his arm quite yet. People would know they were dating and she wasn't ready for that.
She was sat at the table but couldn't see her boyfriend around, instead she looked up; the Scottish winter was starting to show, the ceiling of the Hall was swirls of white and grey, it looked like a snow storm was coming. At this, Roxanne groaned as she slipped into a seat next to Scorpius, she let her head fall against the wood and she heard him chuckle.
"What's wrong now?"
She lifted her head and looked him in the eye, then she looked upwards his eyes following hers – comprehension filling his features.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh. It's hard enough flying in that, let alone seeing a tiny golden ball"
Ravenclaw had a match against Hufflepuff on Saturday and if the weather was anything like it was now, it would be terrible.
"Rox" he said, grabbing her attention as she glared at the mock-sky. "You'll be fine. You're a much better seeker than Connor is"
Lysander slipped into the seat across from her, joining their conversation, "He's right. You are. The Puffs don't stand a chance!"
"Anyway, we've practiced in worse than this" Scorpius added, narrowing his eyes at Ly in the process.
"Exactly. Aren't you glad I had you all out last week end?"
"If you remember correctly, last week end, we all froze our arses off in the dark for no reason!"
"Now, Roxanne. That's unfair, it's quite obvious your arse is still intact… otherwise where would all that food go?" he ducked, a food-based projectile just missing him, "And secondly, as Captain of a childish team I was well within my rights to discipline you all. Oh and also you're the seeker. If the game is going on too long and we're freezing… it will probably fall to you to wrap it up for us"
She groaned again, "No pressure then, Cap?"
He grinned biting into his sandwich he managed to squeeze out a final syllable, "Nope" ~
Roxanne smiled when Liv walked into the Hall. Liv walked up the opposite side of the table and Ly moved over allowing Liv to be opposite her best friend.
"So where's the lover boy?" Scorpius teased and he winced when Liv's foot found his shin.
"He's in the Headmistress's office if you must know"
"What for?"
"I don't know. He just said he got a note telling him to come. He thinks it's a big prefect meeting."
"So he's not in trouble?" Ly questioned with a hint of disappointment.
"Of course not, Ly. That'd be you you're confusing him with" Roxanne answered for Liv, as her friend began to eat.
"I haven't had any detentions this month!" he protested.
"Ly, it's the first!"
"My comment is still valid"
"When was the last time you had a detention?" Liv asked, genuinely interested now.
"Uhm. Two weeks ago with Turner"
"Sleeping?" Rox questioned with a smile, he nodded almost proudly.
"I don't know how you manage to sleep through Ancient Runes and still be predicted O's" Liv complained, "I blink and I swear I'm like two weeks behind"
"What can I say? I'm a natural" he winked at her and then gasped suddenly.
Liv jumped a little, "What?" she asked quickly, worried at his sudden alarm.
"I just winked at my brother's girlfriend!" he cried dramatically.
Scorpius and Roxanne burst out laughing as Liv proceeded to hit him over the head.
"Speak of the devil" Roxanne muttered as Lorcan entered the Hall as if on cue. He walked up the side with Liv and his brother on while Ly ducked out of the way of Liv's hands.
Lorcan sat down chuckling and grasped Liv around the wrists stopping his brother from receiving further abuse and he turned her towards him and kissed her sweetly.
"Ugh" Lysander spat and the couple chuckled, with Liv winking at Ly for good measure.
"So, trouble maker, why were you called in?"
Lorcan laughed, "It was a prefect meeting. McGonagall was telling us not to patrol alone because apparently there are these bunches of mistletoe circling the school and they trap you under them."
They all laughed.
"I'm serious. Word is, some seventh years put them up. They have these berries that change from red to green to white and if you're under it and the berries aren't white you get stuck there for a while. According to McGonagall there are ways to get out more quickly but of course she wouldn't condone it" he smirked.
Roxanne laughed to herself and her friends turned to look at her a little confused, "I have three words and they all begin with W" she clarified.
"You think this is one of your Dad's products?" Liv asked.
"Yes. I remember seeing some designs over the summer. The colours mean different things and you can get out in different ways. He must have added in the time thing though, I don't remember that being an option." She chuckled.
"It's just like those circles of shame last year. Do you remember?"
"Yeah. Those became best sellers after Fred, James and El used them in their lessons."
"Oh I remember. Didn't they give you some? The ones you used in astronomy?" Liv asked again.
She bit her lip suppressing a laugh, "No, I stole those ones from Dad actually… Fred didn't know. I just used it around the same time and everyone assumed it was them"
Olivia laughed, "I remember Elliott complaining because he said that none of them went as far as the astronomy tower but McGonagall wouldn't believe them."
"Of course not. They actually got caught laying one down outside the Slytherin common room. What did they expect?" Rox laughed shaking her head and going back to her lunch, her brother was so dense sometimes.
"Remind me again how your brother's Head Boy?" Scor addressed Liv.
"No idea, Scor. McGonagall likes him and he has this way of talking himself out of things. The only person who seems to see through it is Mum. Even then, he's quite good at sweet talking her. He's a charmer; maybe they thought the responsibility would get him to behave, but it's just given him power and he loves it"
"Could be worse" Roxanne added, through her food. "Could've been Fred"
"Oh must you hurt me so?" Fred cried from behind his sister. He squeezed in next to her, earning a few dirty looks from some Eagles.
"Hey Freddie" she grinned, hugging him.
"Yes, yes. I know. You love me" he rolled his eyes, hugging her back just as warmly. "Anyway, I came to tell you to watch out for the-"
"The mistletoe?"
"Yeah. Oh. How did you know? We only put it up yesterday…"
"McGonagall knows and she told the prefects" Lorcan supplied.
"Shit" he mumbled.
"Did she say who had put it up?" he turned, his interest in his sister's friend now.
"No. She assumed it was some seventh years though"
"Fred. She probably knows it's you, James and El anyway…" Liv told him.
"Yeah. Liv's right, McGonagall always assumes it's you three whenever something like this happens. Even if it wasn't you" Rox grinned to herself. She'd pulled a few minor pranks over the years which had either gone unpunished, or Freddie had gotten the blame.
"Not James actually, but yeah. I just didn't expect the professors to notice for at least another week."
"Well, they're not sure how it works and they haven't been able to get it down yet." Lorcan reassured.
"I find it hard to believe that they can't get it down at all" Scorpius added.
"Well… she did mention that they had spent a lot of money on the decorations this year and the only way to get rid of it might be to burn it. They don't really want to go round burning plants above student's heads…"
"Ah. Clever." Roxanne admired her Dad so much right now.
Fred breathed with relief, "Good. Well it's all up now so…"
"You won't get caught Freddie."
"I hope not, I can't afford a Quidditch ban this month"
Rox laughed, "Hm, maybe we should do our duty to the school Ly. What do you think? We do have a Gryffindor game after the holidays... it would be convenient if their Captain was banned"
"Oi, you" he complained, poking his sister in the side while her friends smiled.
"Anyway, I just came here to tell you about it but you already know. Stay away from it Roxy. If you get stuck, you wait fifteen minutes"
"Or what?" she laughed raising a brow.
"Or I tell Dad about your little boyfriend" he countered.
Liv gasped and Rox just narrowed her eyes, "You wouldn't…"
"Oh?" he said standing and ruffling her hair. He grinned, he had her this time.
"Stay away from the mistletoe then" he kissed her on the head and walked off.
Talk at the table resumed, and the boys fell into arguments about Quidditch and the coming weather.
Liv spoke to Rox from across the table, her voice quieter than usual, "How is he so okay with it?"
"What?"
"He referred to Logan as your boyfriend so casually"
She paused, "Well I haven't actually told him yet. He was just joking around. He doesn't know we're actually dating"
"Rox, you need to tell him. I've already heard about it in my lessons. I'm sure he'll hear soon"
"I know, I'll go tell him tonight"
Liv smiled "Good." ~
Rox came down into the common room having dropped off her books and cloak. She spotted Ly, Liv, Lorcan, Scorpius and Ari in their usual spot, Callie had joined the group and was talking to Ly. Probably about the game on Saturday. Her heart warmed at the sight of her friends and she sat down with them happily.
"Where've you been?"
"Library" she answered Liv, who was sitting in her usual position on the armchair with the addition of her boyfriend's lap under her.
"With?"
"How do you know I wasn't at the library alone?" Rox laughed.
"Because, you would have been in the Ravenclaw library" Arianna joined in.
"So, who were you with?"
"Liv, you know who I was with"
"Yeah, I know. I was just hoping you'd say it"
Roxanne rolled her eyes. "So, Rox why haven't you brought the boyfriend round to meet the family?" she gestured round the circle at the group with a laugh.
"Ari, I've been going out with him for a day"
"Oh Roxy, honey he's been spending time with you regularly since October. You've basically been dating for a month now"
Rox laughed, shaking her head, "Nope, doesn't count. Liv and Lorc have been dating for nearly a month. Logan and I, haven't."
"Actually, it's officially a month tomorrow" Lorcan offered and Liv tilted her face upwards, kissing his chin softly. "Aw, Lorc, you remembered"
"Hardly an achievement" Ly muttered, rolling his eyes at Liv kissing his brother.
"Girls love it when you remember things" Scorpius laughed, "Even if it's only been a short amount of time. They're weird like that"
Liv rolled her eyes, "Well, you wouldn't know if it wasn't would you Scor? You've never been required to remember any relationship facts over a long period of time" she smirked at him and the group added a few, Ooo's for effect.
Scorpius laughed and addressed Lorcan, "Remind me not to take the piss with her around again."
"Sorry mate, I should have warned you, she puts me in my place more often now" Lorcan sighed and laughed when Liv elbowed him jokingly.
Rox stood, "As great as that was" she nodded at Liv who bowed her head, "I'm off to go see Fred. If I don't come back, assume he's encased me in a glass box or something"
"Good Luck, Roxy" Liv offered and Ari cheered the same sentiment.
She managed to get bye's from Scor and Lorcan but only received a grunt from Ly, who went sour-faced whenever Rox's relationship was mentioned.~
She had managed to reach the Gryffindor common room when she realised the step she intended to take towards the portrait hole hadn't happened. She willed her feet to move but they wouldn't. She was able to move her arms and bend her legs but her feet just seemed to refuse to lift. Looking up she was met with a green-berried bunch of mistletoe that seemed to be laughing down at her, if plants were capable of such emotion.
She heard voices come down the corridor and was met by Albus and Violet, holding hands walking towards the door.
"Little help?" she called as they neared.
Albus laughed at her, "Sorry Rox, we're cousins. That's kinda gross"
She narrowed her eyes in a glare, purposely not laughing.
"Are you not going to get someone to help me then?" she asked him pointing at the portrait of The Fat Lady who seemed amused at Roxanne's situation.
"Al, you're meant to be the helpful one" Violet laughed and dropped his hand. She walked over to Roxanne blocking her from Al's view and kissed her cheek quickly, Roxanne felt the charm lift and her feet obeyed her again.
Albus stood still, looking a little stunned.
"Thanks Vi" Rox said, hugging the Slytherin in greeting.
"Relax, Al. I won't steal her away, we're cousins after all" Rox teased, laughing at his face before it faded to normal when Violet told him to relax and that the green berries only needed a peck on the cheek to lift the spell.
"You want me to call him out?" Albus asked, returning to his usual helpful self when he held the door open for her but she didn't come in.
"Yes, thanks" she replied and he smiled before letting the door fall shut and walking inside.
Less than a minute later, Fred popped his body out of the door, hanging onto the frame he waved Rox inside.
"Kitchens?" she offered and he laughed, stepping out and walking over to her.~
Fred looked across at his little sister from the table in the Castle's Kitchens. On their walk there, Rox had talked to him about the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and their plays. He had been caught up in talking Quidditch that he'd taken too long to realise she was distracting him. She was avoiding something and from the way she stared intently at her glass as she swirled her cookie in her milk, she knew he knew she was avoiding something.
"Go on then"
"Only if you promise not to be angry"
"Roxy, when you make me promise not to be angry. It sort of tells me you're about to tell me something I'll be angry about"
"Not as dense as you look are you?" she teased.
"Don't change the subject" he warned, pleased with himself that he knew her well enough to spot her patterns of conversation and behaviour. He would have fallen for that bait a few months back. In fact, a few months back they wouldn't be here talking and she wouldn't be about to tell him anything going on in her life.
He was glad she was now, "I'll try not to be angry, but I think I know what you're about to say"
She sighed, "I'm dating him"
"Thought as much" he sighed deeply and loudly.
"How'd you know?" she looked curious.
"You didn't correct me. At dinner, when I said I'd tell Dad about your little boyfriend, you didn't bother to complain that he wasn't your boyfriend. So I figured, either he was, or you thought he would be soon enough."
"And you're not angry?" she looked confused by his reaction, or lack of.
"Not yet. And not at you, no"
"Yet?" she raised an eyebrow.
Hs chose his words carefully, "Well, if he hurts you I'll be angry at him. Very angry"
"He won't hurt me. He's a good guy Freddie."
"I want to believe that, I do Roxy. But as a guy myself, I'm well aware of how they think; especially at that age. Rox, I'm sure he's great and all but you don't know him that well - he might not be who you think he is"
"Why can't you trust my judgement?"
He sighed, he'd been trying to not make it seem as though it was her decision he had a problem with, but she had taken it personally – like he thought she would.
"It's not you I mistrust Roxy, it's him. I know what guys think about at that age and it's not something I want any boy to think about involving my baby sister"
Roxanne blushed and he almost laughed. Who'd have thought it? Fred was the one approaching the 'talk' with Roxanne.
"Fred… I'm not…" she cleared her throat, practically scarlet, "Fred, I'm not going to be in that kind of relationship with him"
He visibly relaxed, part of him wondered if Logan actually was Roxanne's first boyfriend and if maybe by missing those school years with her, he'd missed times he should have offered brotherly advice, threats or protection.
"Glad to hear, but Roxy, guys assume things. A lot. If you don't intend to be in that sort of relationship, make sure he knows it. And if you do, well then…" he coughed, and she laughed at him, his face seemed to absorb some of her redness, "Erm. I think I'd rather not know, speak to Dom or something."
Okay, so maybe he wasn't the one to deliver 'the talk'.
"What I'm saying is, well I've realised there's no point me trying to tell you not to date him because you will anyway. Though if I had my way you'd be in a bubble, but whatever…Dad hasn't invented a permanent one of those yet. So, if you are going to date him, then I don't want him to take advantage of you. If you ever feel like things are moving too fast, or like he's pressuring you, into anything then you tell him. And if he can't accept that, and he can't respect how you feel then you dump him. Straight, no second chances, nothing. The moment a guy is like that to you, then you get as far away from him as possible, I don't care how 'dreamy' he is. Roxanne, I just don't want you hurt, and I will, unashamedly and very seriously hurt anyone who hurts you" he told her firmly.
"Funnily, enough, you're not the first person to tell me that. And anyway, I'm not an idiot. Mum taught me not to take shit from anyone years ago, if he's any of those things I'll only hang around long enough to curse him. Then you can give it a shot" he smiled at her endearingly, she was definitely their mother's daughter. He didn't need to worry about her apparently.
"Who beat me to it? Dom?"
"No, I haven't told Dom we're official yet. It was Scorpius, actually"
"Malfoy, huh?" he was thoughtful for a moment he seems to be there for her a lot, "Well, I can't fault his advice" Fred grinned, "I'm glad you told me, Roxy. Don't ever think you can't come to me to talk about something"
"I figured, as my big brother, you should probably hear it from me first. And I won't"
"You're a clever one, you are"
"Thanks Freddie" she smiled like she was grateful for more than the clever comment.
"For?"
"Being so understanding, I really thought you were going to blow and forbid me from seeing him or something"
"Nah, I'm not a complete idiot. That'd only make you more interested. Best I can do is threaten him later and just look out for you"
"I'll be fine Fred" she didn't even comment on his threat of a threat, she seemed to be allowing him the pleasure. She wasn't worried because she knew he wouldn't hurt him anyway. When did he get so soft? That sister of his had him wrapped round her little finger…
"I know" he smiled and stood, knocking back the remainder of his milk as if it were alcoholic. "C'mon, I'll walk you back" ~
A/N:
I wanted to get this one out there this morning so, sorry for any SPAG errors, I do try, to get rid of them before posting, but I'm sure loads slip past me.
Hope you all liked it, tell me if you did (and even if you didn't!)
As always thank you all for sticking with me!
I'll aim to put another chap up soonish (by the end of the month latest)
DFTR!
Love Cookie xx