A/N:

Heya guys!

I'm having a busy time at the moment but it was so good to hear you guys understand that!

You lot really are amazing, and it makes me so happy that you keep reading each week.

Thanks as always, to: Timothyblack0412, HarryPotterHogger11 and Diya Anya K for all the Follows/Faves, glad you're liking it! xx

Again, thanks to you super-amazing lot who reviewed:

Ella~ Glad you loved it! And you'll just have to wait and see! (But hopefully soon(ishhh))

Blue Eyelashes~ Thank you so so much! Really, your review made me smile, really helped to hear that. Glad you liked it and as for Logan we'll see...

Guest(1)~ Thank you, I will!

HarryPotterHogger11~ Hello there, I like the new name, your wait is over!

Plucie~ Thank you to you too for the understanding! Glad you still like it.

Guest(2)~ No problem! I think I probably misread it a little anyway, thanks for the understanding. And I'm glad you like it!

As a warning, its a shitty title, because this chap is mostly dialogue but it felt necessary, so yeah, nothing really dramatic happens but hope you enjoy it all the same!

Oh and because you're so great you get a little clue at the end of this chap!

Love Cookie xx

Chapter 23- Term's Over

"Heyaaaa Roxy" Liv called a little too innocently from her spot in an armchair.
Rox came further into the common room and wormed her way into the armchair with Liv, sliding her legs under her best friend's so they were facing each other. The common room was a little trashed but other than that mostly empty. It was a Sunday so everyone was probably hung-over from the party, just sleeping in till breakfast or both; most likely both. Rox had heard Liv get up early that morning so had followed her down. It was good to know Liv wasn't hung-over either.
"Heyaaa Livvy" Rox then answered in the same way.
"Soo, last night..."
"What about last night Liv?" Rox laughed.
"Oh stop it and tell me where you disappeared to!"
"I'm surprised you noticed Miss PDA" Rox raised a brow.
"Don't change the subject, we'll discuss my abnormal behaviour after we discuss where you and your pretty boy went off to!"
"We just went for a walk" Rox shrugged.
Live raised her brows at Roxanne.
"We did!"
"Okay fine. Where did you walk to?"
"Around the castle for a bit. Then we ended up sitting and talking in the astronomy classroom" Rox smiled with the memory.
"Aww" Liv got distracted by the cute mental image of her best friend sitting and talking in an empty classroom alone together with the starlight coming in... she shook her head. "But really Rox I don't believe you just talked. You broke into a classroom for Merlin's sake!"
"We didn't break in, he unlocked the door. It's different" she laughed, "and we did talk a lot, we're not like you and Lorcan, kissing all the time!"
"Rox you were in a classroom alone together! Tell me you kissed at least once?"
"Yes Liv"
"Okay good. Was it on the mouth?"
"Yes Liv"
"For more than five seconds?"
"Yes Liv" she laughed.
"Movement?"
"Yes Liv"
"Tongues?"
"Ye- actually no"
"Rox why not? Trust me it's so good!" She laughed and Rox cringed a bit. "Well actually, I was kinda freaked out the first time Lorcan tried it. It was all weird. But seriously, I'm surprised."
"Really Liv, why are you surprised? This is me we're talking about" Rox laughed a little sadly, her the newbie.
"Yeah exactly, it's you. You're so good at everything and you're usually up for pretty much anything" Liv laughed and Rox slapped her a little playfully.
"You know what I'm like." She spoke quieter even though no one was around.
"I only had my first kiss the other week! It's scary, I don't know how to do anything. Plus I don't really like kissing him in front of everyone. People stare."
"People only stare because you're such a hot couple!"
"Oh shutup" she complained with a small smile.
Liv laughed, "but really Rox. You shouldn't feel so insecure. Like you said he's really sweet and he seems like a nice guy. He won't make fun of you for being new to everything."
Rox shook her head. Liv didn't get it. She'd had her first kiss a couple years back, it had actually been Hugo at a Weasley-Potter-Wood game of truth or dare but since then Liv had actually been in a couple relationships. Granted, they were short but at least she'd had some early experience. Enough to know what she was doing and feel comfortable doing it.
"It's not that he'll make fun of me... Well, it's not just that. It's like, what if I'm not... Any good at it? Like what if I'm shit and he dumps me because he's not having enough fun or something?"
"Oh Roxy, come here." Liv held her arms out and Rox shuffled closer in the armchair till they were all cuddled up.
"I'm sure you are an amazing kisser, I'd give you a go if I were that way inclined." Rox laughed, "and even if you're not- which I highly doubt, Miss Perfect- he won't dump you. He'd keep kissing you until you became amazing at it, because he'd be crazy not to and because you're a great girl. And also, he did stick around for so long, without even dating you, so I'm sure a few shaky kisses here and there won't put him off. So just stop worrying, and be a little more confident"

Rox nodded.
"I wanna hear it"
"Okay"
"Not enough"
"I'll stop worrying and be a little more confident"
"Better, but we'll work on it. Next time I want to feel that you mean it" Liv smiled at her and Rox smiled back gratefully. The two then sat and discussed, as promised, Liv's abnormal behaviour.
For a girl who usually complained about PDA in other couples, she sure had some explaining to do. ~

"What are your plans for the holidays guys?" Arianna asked the now collected and all sobered up group.

Most people had stayed in and had a late breakfast then crawled back to the common room, in that time, Liv and Rox had been out for a fly, helped tidy the common room, been to the main library to take out their holiday work books before the last week rush, and had a good play with Iridis in the dorm.
"Staying home with the family, so probably round with Rox quite a bit"
Liv scrunched her nose up at Roxanne who just poked her tongue back out at her.
"We're home too right Lorc?" Ly turned to his brother.
"Yeah, Dad's away at the moment so I just hope he gets back for Christmas. Mum won't like it otherwise"
"Sounds like you lot will be round at The Burrow this Christmas too then?" Scarlett commented.
"Aren't we always? Mum loves it there." Ly laughed. "Will you be around at Rox's this year at all?" he asked Scarlett in return.
"Nah, that was just a one off because I was at my cousins and they live close, usually we stay home and they come to us, and obviously there's no Floo so it's me, them, the parents, Roan said he'll be back for a week or so and Ruby if she comes back from Uni, it will be good though. I think they miss having us all around." Scarlett was a Muggleborn with an older non-magical brother and sister so holidays for her were very Muggle.
"Scor. You jetting off anywhere this holiday?" She asked.
"Nope. Not as far as I know which is odd... Mum's in Milan for work at the moment and dad's with her for some reason. They get back the evening I do, so looks like a big family Christmas at home" he joked, the group knew it was hard being the only, only child of them all.
They all had quite big family Christmases where Scor usually just went away with his parents somewhere exotic for a few days and spent the rest of the holiday bored at home alone because his parents always went back to their work when they came home.
"What about you Ari?" he asked moving the focus off of himself.
"Me, mum and the pain are off to Ireland for a week" she rolled her eyes. "Which means annoying, spoilt little cousins for a week. I'll be getting a lot of reading done that's for sure"
"Aw baby, you should have said earlier. You could've stayed with us" Rox told her.
"Ugh. Next time I get wind of Ireland I definitely will. And you, what are your plans this Christmas?"
"Hmm... I wonder. Maybe for a change I'll be at the Burrow for the first week then when I finally go home home, I'll be spending the majority of my days at the Burrow? But that's a big maybe."
"Aw, nice to do something different" Ari laughed. They all knew Rox's holiday plans very well, they were a pretty certain fixture.
"Your holiday will be much better this year Rox"
"Why's that?"
"No Lily, and lots more of us all" Ly answered her.
"Not what I was going to say, but yeah, you're closer with Hugo and Lucy for a start; plus Freddie and yeah... No he's right, no Lily to make you go dress shopping?"
"That's a brilliant point; I am quite looking forward to being home with Freddie. But yeah, not hanging out with Lily might be nice- she obsesses over boxing day sales"
Ari, Scarlett and Liv looked off in different directions away from Rox whistling loudly.
"Well I know you guys do too but you're not as bad as her! I don't mind shopping with you guys, shopping with Lily is not fun"

"Oh don't worry, Roxy soon it will click with you and you'll have an epiphany. That 'don't mind' will be a love"

"I'll tell you what I do love doing with you guys thoug-"

"Eating?" Lorcan suggested.

"Yup."

"Predictable" Liv muttered with a smile.

Rox poked her tongue out at her friend but still stood up and stretched. She was hungry.
"Basically guys get off of your asses, The Weasley appetite has declared it dinner time" Scor announced.~

The final week of lessons passed quickly, Rox enjoyed the spirit and fun that filled the Halls with it. The weather brought a chill, and with it came the much anticipated snow. Professor must have felt the Christmas spirit too because on the Friday before they were due to leave Hogwarts, all lessons were cancelled and the majority of the castle engaged in snowball fights.

Rox noted Hogwarts snowball fights were infinitely better than those she'd seen in films. The Professors joined in and their Head Boy relished the chance to get involved and organised an inter-house snowball fight on the Quidditch pitch. The four corners had their snow magically coloured and soon multicoloured snow was flying in all directions.

Madame Pomfrey begrudgingly set up base in the nearby changing rooms; topping up heating charms as students needed to keep the frostbite away. Rox was perfectly capable of doing her own but she and Freddie visited the matron to thank her periodically. She ended up shooing the two away but they brought a smile to her face more than once.

Rox, Liv, Ari, Scarlett, and Callie joined forces for some House betrayal as they then proceeded to attack the boys. Lorcan, Lysander, Scorpius and their dormmates, Toby and Zach were on the recieving end of a conveniently collapsing snow fort, covering them in Royal Blue coldness. When they emerged, the five girls pelted them with pre-prepared snowballs until they ran out of ammo. At which point they ran off in different directions. ~

Scor was freezing. Lorcan was freezing. They were both running off to avenge their freezing bodies. They had neglected to top up their heating charms, knowing the extra time would only give Liv and Rox enough time to run and hide. They'd lose them in the crowd if they waited. So, with snowballs hovering behind them as they ran, they followed the trailing cloaks as they blazed across the pitch.~

"Liv! we need to spilt!" Rox shouted to her friend running next to her.

"Lorcan and Scor are following us both!" she added, looking behind her again and laughing with the adrenaline as the two slightly peeved looking boys chased after them.

"Okay, you go snakes, I go badgers?" Liv replied as they neared the side of the pitch that contained the Slytherin and Hufflepuff coloured corners.

They both veered off in opposite directions.

Then two things happened at once, Scorpius received a stray yellow snowball in the face; and Rox ran into a stray Slytherin. ~

Recovering, with Lorcan by his side laughing, Scor huffed.

"Which way did they go?"

"I missed them, towards the Hufflepuffs I think?"

"How did you miss them?"

"Too busy laughing at you mate" Lorcan answered as Scor wiped the yellow snow from his scarf, it turning green as it mixed with the blue that was still on him.

Scor rolled his eyes, "Thought you wanted revenge"

"Alright, let's go then"

Lorcan ran ahead towards the snowfort the Hufflepuffs had erected and held his wand tightly, ready to send his blue snowballs flying when he saw Rox. ~

Rox had found herself running into a very familiar slytherin.
Logan was laughing and engaged in a very fierce snowball fight from behind a snow wall slightly away from the main fort with his friends. They were advancing and Logan quickly pulled both himself and Rox behind the wall of green snow when he realised who had run into him.

"Hey" she breathed with a smile.

"Hey to you too" he smiled back and kissed her. Pulling away to pelt green snow at his friends.

"I'm on my own here" he told her, "fancy giving me a hand?"

She laughed as he was hit with some weird coloured snow in the face. Unfortunately it seemed Elliott had forgotten red, yellow and blue make a brownish colour when mixed.

"Sure thing. Who are you hitting?"

He guided her until she was in front of him and peeking out from behind the wall that sheltered them so long as they stayed low. He pointed to two Slytherins and a Ravenclaw that were advancing and had started pelting snow once they'd seen them both peek out.

"Any rules?" she asked.

"You get snow down your clothes and you're out. Last one standing wins" he explained wrapping his coat around himself a little tighter.

"Any particular reason its three on one?"

"I'm the main threat" he told her cockily.

"Sure you are" she replied ruffling his hair with her snowy gloves and then collecting snow from around him, jumping up and pelting the single ball straight at his friend's shoulder.

"Good shot" he told her, laughing and taking a few shots and hits of his own.

Five minutes later and the three boys were closing in. They were using their wands to cast shields when snowballs came their way and lowering them for an attack.

Rox and Logan sat with their backs against the wall, breathing heavily.

"I have an idea" she told him, then explaining her plan.

Logan's friends advanced, confused at why instead of jumping up to attack he and whoever the girl who had joined him was, had started to build a bigger wall.

They got closer until they were crouching behind their friend's defence, waiting until he popped up, so they could attack. The entire pitch was loud but one managed to make out a female voice count down from five.

"Get ready boys" he whispered, they were about to pop up.

All of a sudden, the wall was pushed towards them, and it collapsed on top of them; snow going down their shirts in the process.~

"It worked!" Rox shouted, jumping up as Logan's friends recovered brushing snow off of themselves.

"You're amazing" Logan told her, laughing as his friends still recovered.

"I do try" she laughed, hugging him and going into kiss him herself. They stood there until Logan's friends cleared their throats. She'd been so caught up being 'confident' that she'd forgotten they were there. She blushed but he laughed and pulled her closer, to his side with an arm around his waist.

"I'm going to assume this is the genius girl you've been talking about?" one of the boys asked. Roxanne rolled her eyes at Logan. She'd told him, she wasn't a genius. he squeezed her closer and whispered a sorry.

"You said she was pretty but wow, I didn't believe you for a sec" another told Logan. He stepped forwards and held out his hand, "I'm Josh by the way, feel free to stare, and if you develop feelings for me I'll totally understand" Rox shook his hand and laughed.

"Hope you're understanding when I don't" she responded and he grinned.

"She puts Josh in his place, I like her already" the third boy told his friend.~

The afternoon passed quickly and soon the last day of term became the last night of term. That fact along with a brilliant day of snow followed by hot chocolate distribution and warm fires meant spirits were higher than usual. The tables were laden with Christmassy food and the Hall smelled divine to Roxanne. She was sitting next to Logan and actually not minding the company he kept as they ate. He had admitted he didn't hang out with stereotypical Slytherins in one of their first few conversations and he hadn't been lying. His friends were lovely, and true to their word earlier, they seemed to like Roxanne. Now she got thinking about it, Roxanne wondered if any Slytherins were 'stereotypical' anymore and what that even meant now because out of all the ones she knew personally: Logan, Violet, Jasper, Josh, and Noah; the latter two being Logan's friends, none of them seemed horrible or unpleasant to talk to. The only Slytherin she disliked was Erin, and Rox had never assumed her personality was a House trait. More of a standard grudge-against-the-world type of thing.

The only drawback that Roxanne found to the night was that she had to choose who to sit with, her friends or her boyfriend?

She didn't want to make Logan abandon his friends for her and she knew he wouldn't get a very nice reception from the other three boys in her life so she didn't even bother to ask him over.

She hadn't wanted to choose for herself but Liv had made the decision for her, pushing her towards the snakes. It made sense, she supposed, after all Roxanne would probably see her friends over the Christmas Break. She would see Liv for definite, the Scamanders usually dropped by at some point, or considering their plans a few points this year, so she would probably see the twins too.
Scorpius though? She wasn't sure. He said he wouldn't be going away this year, so maybe he would have more time free, she knew whenever he was home he spent a lot of his time bored there.
Maybe she could suggest the group all meet up for a day? She might be able to get away for that long… Though it was unlikely, holiday time was family time. That meant a whole bunch of Weasley's. She never understood why he wouldn't come over to her house or the Burrow when Ly, Lorcan and Liv did. That way, they could all meet up over the break but he always seemed to have some sort of excuse. She shook the thought from her mind, Scorpius was one of the kindest and most honest people she knew normally, but if there was something he didn't want to share; you would never know. And it seemed the mystery of his holidays would remain that way.

"So, I was thinking… over the holidays, we should meet up"

She looked over to Logan and returned his smile. "I'd like that"

"Good. Because there's this event, and my parents drag me to it every New Year, forcing me to bring along some random date, who I spend the evening ignoring, but well… I'd love it if you would come instead. Be my date this year?"

Her smile widened, but she realised saying yes would mean meeting his parents, he saw her hesitation.

"It's fine Roxy. My parents can be a bit… difficult at times but as long as I attend a few things over the year; behave like a good little Slytherin at them and get good enough grades they stay out of my business. They won't object to me bringing you, and if they do, I don't care. I'm bringing you anyway" he grinned and it was infectious.

"Funny, I thought I was being asked to this...erm-" she teased, then realising she had no idea what the event was.

"Ball." He finished.

"A New Year's Ball? I assume it's formal?"

"Yep. Big event in the Slytherin world. Right guys?" He asked his friends rolling his eyes.

"The annual Ball, most old wizarding families are invited, granted, not everyone's a Slytherin, but the majority are, so it's got the reputation now" Levi continued for him.
"Where is it? Who puts it on?" she asked Logan's friend from Ravenclaw who had also joined them for dinner, she assumed he was part of the group of non-slytherins who attended, that or he came from a family of Slytherins before his sorting.
"I'm surprised you don't know already. It's at Malfoy Manor, your friend's parents are the ones who host it" Logan answered.

"Oh. That's strange. He's never mentioned it. It's a tradition?"

"Yeah. My parents tell me it used to run before the war but after…Well the Malfoy name wasn't exactly the jewel in the Slytherin crown anymore. There was no Ball for a good few years, I mean there were other events that other families put on, but nothing as big. Then Malfoy sort of rebuilt the name, you know, like he somehow washed away all the dirt that it was dragged through. He restarted it... Of course, after hearing nothing for like, ten years, us nosey buggers all flocked in. It's been going for the last I dunno, fifteen years now? Gets bigger every year" Josh summarised.

"What's it like?" Rox asked, imagining the wonders of this huge event, and getting a little confused as to why Scor had never mentioned it.

"Brilliant" he responded just as Logan said, "Awful"

Rox laughed. And Josh grinned.

"It's great for him because he somehow manages to get off with about five girls before midnight each year, he literally spends the night whoring around" She laughed and Josh winked at her cheekily.

"And you? You don't run off snogging everyone you can find?" she looked to her boyfriend with a cheeky smile.

"He wishes" Josh laughed, "My mate Logan, gets stuck with some date his mummy picks for him and for some reason he spends the whole evening with her."

"I have to. Mum knows if I leave her side, or am anything less than a perfect Slytherin gentleman, then she is hell for the New Year."
"And you want to bring me?" she raised an eyebrow, not liking the sound of his mother.

"Well yeah, mother only picks my dates because I refuse to find one. I'll just tell her this year I have someone to bring and she should back off"

"Should?"

"He means he hopes." Josh confirmed. "Don't worry though, Logan's actually capable of shutting his mother up, he just doesn't like to"

"Yeah, I just start a scene and she hates that. No bad press in public, I just get hell for it at home"

"Um, I'm not so sure you've convinced me."
"Too bad. You're coming. And if my mum has a problem, then I'll take whatever she throws, it'll be worth it" he smiled kissing her forehead and Josh mimed puking into his plate.

"Egh. You better not be so soppy on New Year's"
"Don't act like I'll be seeing you for any longer than it takes for you to tell me the number of your latest victim"

Roxanne laughed, she was really looking forward to the holidays now.~

"So, your parents put on a massive wizarding New Year's Ball every year, and you didn't bother to tell us?" Liv summarised.

"Or invite us?" Ly added sounding offended.

"I thought you all knew" he looked confused at their challenge.

"If we knew, we would have mentioned it, Scor." Rox added softer than her friends, he had to have had a reason not to tell them. "At least once, in the past four years"

"Six Years" Ly added again with a pout.

"I dunno, I just assumed your parents told you not to say anything or whatever" he shrugged.

"Our parents? What's this got to do with them?"

"Yeah. I know you guys get sent invites every year. But none of your families have ever come. My mum always gets a polite decline and she always asks if I know why. And since none of you have ever mentioned it, I just assumed that none of your families wanted to come and that they probably just told you all to ignore it." He had that mask of his up again and Rox knew he had been hurt by their questioning.

"Oh Scor, no. I've never even heard of it, let alone seen an invite. If I'd known I would have come. I promise"
Liv frowned, and Ly looked a bit ashamed, probably because he's acted so offended at never being told.

"It's okay. It's actually kind of nice to know none of you knew" he shrugged again and his mask eased off a little.
"I'm confused though, why would none of our families have gone?" Liv asked.

"No idea. I mean, my Aunt Ginny occasionally works with your Mum and Uncle Harry with your Dad. My parents have never said anything bad when I've mentioned you either. They don't have any issues with your parents…" she trailed off and he shrugged with a sad smile.

"If there's one thing I've learned, it's that even if people say they don't hold grudges or don't judge based on names, they always treat me different when they know who my father is." He shared a look with Lorcan and Lysander looked down at his hands. Rox wondered what they knew, "I'm not saying your families are like that, but I understand why they've never come or mentioned it to any of you, no one wants to be around a family like mine when they're supposed to be celebrating."

"Scor. Don't say that. We would want to be around you. And there is nothing wrong with your family, it's not your fault who your granddad was or what he did. Nobody blames you or your dad for any of that" Liv answered him forcefully.

"But Liv, people still do. Nobody cares that he didn't have a choice and that he never actually went through with it, or that he bought Harry some time, or that my Grandma saved Harry's life. They just want to look at the bad parts, that he was a Death Eater. They don't care that he spent ten years of his life while his dad was in jail and his mum was under house arrest donating to charities and helping with the aftermath of the war. Nobody cares that he practically went bankrupt because he gave so much away, not wanting any of his father's money. Nobody cares that he rebuilt his family businesses from scratch and that he's tried to make amends. Nobody cares and he knows that; but he's never stopped trying to redeem himself even when he's done nothing wrong-"~

Scorpius was breathing a little deeper than usual. He had to stop, he could feel the tears threatening to well up behind his eyes. He closed them and clenched his fists. When he opened them again as met by sad eyes from his four closest friends. This was why he didn't like opening up; probably an inherited trait but he hated pity.

His friends knew him well enough though, thankfully. There was no pity in their eyes; just sadness and a little anger probably for the unforgiving world they lived in.

None of them offered their 'sorry's' or sadness to him verbally, and he was glad.

"And what about this year?"
"This year?"

"Do we get invites?"

"Yeah of course… My mum always sends them. Refusal or not; she doesn't want to seem like she's being rude" he chuckled a little.
"Then we're coming" Rox said straight away. The other three nodded with her.

"You're coming? But your families obviously decline for a reason… They obviously don't want to come, Rox"

"Well, I'm going with Logan, and if they want to come with me they can. But they won't stop me from going, I'm coming Scor. Like it or not"

"Me too. Lorcan's taking me" Liv grinned both at Scorpius and her boyfriend.

Lorcan smiled, "There you go. Liv's decided. We're coming"

"Ugh. I guess I have to find a date huh?"

Scorpius smiled, "Well you don't have to, but it's a Formal Ball so most people bring dates. I know some families still force their kids to bring particular people." He looked at Rox then, remembering how he would usually see Logan with a random girl Mrs Williams had picked out for him.

"Well then, I'd better find one. Because I'm not missing out on this mate." Ly grinned.

"Just make sure our invites don't get lost. 'Kay?" Rox smiled at him and he smiled back, grateful she and his friends would at least be there, even she was with another guy. ~

The train ride back was longer and happier than usual. Perhaps because the group knew they'd all be meeting up again before the holidays were over so there was that to look forward to. Scorpius was quizzed by them all on all manner of things relating to the Ball.

What kind of food…drinks…music would there be?

What did his house look like?

Were there fireworks?

Do people countdown?

Does everyone kiss?

And apparently the most important question that went on forever, what do you wear?

Roxanne had asked it in a passing manner but once Liv heard she launched into further questions.

Scorpius had never really paid that much attention to fashion, despite his mother's job so as for styles of dress? He couldn't really help her.

"I don't even know what a sweetheart neckline is, Liv!"
"Ugh. Why are you so useless? Okay, just tell me this, should I get a long dress or a short one?"

"I don't understand why you need to buy a new dress. Don't girls already have loads of them?" Liv rolled her eyes.

"Malfoy. This is a New Year's Formal Ball, where all the oldest and most prestigious families will be. Okay, so maybe half of them are stuck up twits but they will all look ah-mazing, and so I have to look amazing too"

"You already look amazing" Lorcan whispered to her and Scor rolled his eyes as she blushed profusely.

"Okay, fine. Um, oh I don't know. Some are long, some are short. I've never really paid much attention to what the dresses look like"

"Too busy paying attention to what the girls looked like in them?" Rox laughed and Scorpius felt a blush try to push its way on to his face. He held it back and winked at her instead.

Merlin, so now he even felt embarrassed to for her to know he'd paid attention to any other girl but her? It was stupid. She knew what he'd been like.

"If you guys are so determined to talk about this ball all the way back, can you at least think of someone for me to ask?" Ly interrupted bored of the conversation, it was much too frilly and girly to tolerate for much longer.

"Callie" Roxanne, Liv, Scor and Lorcan responded all at once. The grinned at each other.

"Okay… creepy. Why did you all just do that?"

"Because it's obvious you like her-" Rox began.
"-And that she likes you" Liv finished.

"She said that?" he perked up and Lorcan rolled his eyes.
Rox turned to Liv, "Well, not exactly. But it's obvious."
Ly shook his head, "No, not Callie. Who else can I ask?"

"Why not?" Liv protested.

"It wouldn't work. Just, someone else okay?"

"But you took her to the Halloween Ball"

"We went as friends because you two, were too thick to see that you liked each other. I needed a date and so did she. The end" he finalised.
"Well you need a date now" Roxanne responded with a raised brow.

"Did something happen at Halloween, or the house party even?" Scorpius asked with a smirk.

"No. Why would you think that?"

"Seeming a little defensive, bro" Lorcan explained.

"Just leave it guys. Who else?"

Liv and Rox sighed in frustration but went on to list off girls they knew of that Ly could take. Since they were two years younger though, it got difficult and Scorpius and Lorcan joined in, describing the girls to Liv and Rox for their approval.

"What about that Parkinson girl?" Lorcan suggested. His brother's face held no recognition.

"Violet?" Roxanne asked.

"Who's that?" Lysander asked.

"Oh yeah. I know her, she's there every year. I've spoken to her a few times. Really nice girl. Ly she's been in our classes before."

He shrugged, "She hot?" Ly asked.

Roxanne rolled her eyes and smacked him on the leg.

"Yes she is. But she's taken." She answered him.

"Wait, how do you know Violet? I didn't think she had friends in lower years."

"She's dating Albus"

"Albus has a girlfriend?" Liv asked.

"In Slytherin?" Lysander laughed. "Wow. We really lost touch with that one. Haven't spoken to him for ages…"

"Last July, beginning of the Summer when Mum went over to see Ginny" Lorcan answered, thinking back to the last time they had had a proper conversation with the younger Potter boy.

"Wow. I forget that you guys used to hang out with Al a lot. Anyway, I don't think he's introduced her to much of the family yet. He likes to keep things to himself."

"Hm, interesting. I wonder if she'll bring him this year"
"You might end up with more of us Potter-Weasley's than you bargained for Scor"

"Well, I definitely won't be so bored then"

"Nice to know you're looking forward to our company for entertainment."
"Why else do you think I hang out with you guys?" ~

Hauling her trunk off of the train, Rox scanned the faces of the crowd for her parents or members of her family. She spotted her Uncles Ron and Charlie, along with her Aunt Audrey and older cousin Victoire, there seemed to be another person in the group but they were obscured from her view by a station column.
She was eager to go over and see the members of her family on 'picking up duty' this year but she waited for her friends to clamber off the train. They all stood around in a circle as they waited for the group to be complete.

Scarlett and Lena had just left for the Muggle station outside to meet their respective families, who were often freaked by all the magic on the platform so stayed gradually further away as their daughters grew older. Roxanne watched them go, turning back to the remainder of the group she felt a tap on her shoulder and spun to face Logan.
"One more goodbye?"
She had gone to say goodbye to him on the train so that none of her family would see anything they shouldn't. He half smiled at her and she couldn't be angry at him for coming to see her again. She hugged him and they shared a short but sweet kiss and she couldn't help but smile afterwards, though she really hoped no one had noticed.
He smiled, "I'll owl you okay?"
"You'd better" she told him with mock serious-ness, holding his hands with hers between their bodies. He chuckled and kissed her on the lips softly one more time. She blushed.
"Bye bye gorgeous," he smiled at her, stroking her blushing cheek softly with the back of his hand.

She turned back to her friends and Ari smirked while Liv had wide eyes.
"What? You and Lorcan kiss way more than that" Rox defended.
"Yeah except I don't have my family watching when I do!"
"Shit! Did any of them see?" She asked, quickly looking behind her. Liv burst out laughing.
"No, you're good." Liv grinned and Rox slapped her friend playfully for her teasing.
"Oh, there's mum" Ly spoke with a smile and pointed over to where Roxanne's family stood.

As always, it was easy to pick Luna out of a crowd. She seemed to have this aura about her that pulled your eyes in, but even without that she was eye catching- her long light blonde hair stood out against her bright purple and yellow robes and she reflected sunlight off of her jewellery when she moved.

"Hey, there little one" Roxanne turned to the sound of a familiar voice across the circle.
From the other side of the platform, Melanie Wood had approached the group and was now hugging her sister from behind, arms around her shoulders.
"Mel! I thought you were busy with work?" Liv grinned and turned to hug her sister properly.
Melanie hugged Liv once more then moved to hug Roxanne. Rox grinned and returned the hug with just as much excitement.
"Roxy, your hair is wonderful!"
"Yeah, thanks to you. Miracle Mel!"
"Oh stop it" Mel smiled, letting go of the curl she had been examining. She stroked Rox's head once more then turned back to Olivia.
She stepped back from Rox and answered her actual sister.
"I am. But apparently mum and dad are busier. So, we're grabbing Elliott and you two can help me at the shop"
Liv rolled her eyes but she still had a massive smile on her face, "Some homecoming"
"You be careful Olivia, I might make you clean up the workroom"
"No! Please. I love you ever so much..."
Melanie laughed, "We'll see"
"I'm going to grab Elliott. See you outside in five?"
"Sure" Mel turned and walked through the crowd again.
"I guess that's my cue to leave" Liv said sadly.
"C'mere then" Ly stepped forwards with his arms open and she hugged him with a laugh. Ari and Scor were next. Then Rox stepped forwards and hugged Liv tightly to her.
"See you soon okay?"
"Yeah. See you soon Rox"

She let go of Liv and pushed her to her boyfriend. He held her close to him and she looked up at him with a smile. Rox tugged the group around so that they faced the opposite way to allow Liv and Lorcan some form of privacy. Ari spotted her parents so hugged Rox, Scor Ly and told them to give Lorcan a hug from her. She left to meet them.
A minute or so later, Liv shouted goodbye at the group and they turned back to wave her off.
Lorcan watched her go till she was way out of sight and turned back to them all.
"Mum's with your Uncle Ron now so we should probably save him soon"
Rox laughed, looking over at her Uncle Ron who was nodding along at Luna as she seemed to explain something to him. Her hands gestured wide and she had bright eyes as she spoke. "He's fine" the image made her smile.
Scorpius looked at the large clock on the platform. They had been there for fifteen minutes and the platform was clearer.
"I've got to go" he said to them.
"Who's picking you up?"
"Natalia" he told them and they nodded, recognising the name of his mother's PA.
"Oh. Well, if your parents aren't even home yet, you could come round to ours? We're going to the Burrow and Grams always makes more than enough food. She won't mind" Rox offered.
"No. Honestly it's okay. I wouldn't want to intrude, you spend some time with your family, it'll be nice to have some time to myself at home."

"ROXY!" She was called from the other side of the platform.
"Coming!" she responded before turning back to her friends and hugging the twins. Or rather, the twins hugged her, at the same time. Squishing her between them, she giggled and complained until they released her.

She hugged Scor, "You sure, you don't want to come?"
"Nah. It's fine. I'm sure she's already waiting out front..."
"Well, I'll see you at New Year's then I guess. Keep in touch, okay?"
"Yeah. See you Rox"
"Bye guys" she waved at the trio and ran over to her family. ~

"Want to come over to ours mate?"
"It's just us and mum. You know she won't mind... she likes you" Lorcan offered, skirting around the one they were all thinking about, Rolf Scamander.
"Maybe some other time. Like I said, I've got a car waiting" he said, sounding harsher than he had meant to.
"Okay. See you later then?" Lorcan asked hopefully.
"Sure" they departed in the most manly way possible- in nods and quick hand clasping. No hugs between men after all. ~

Before Scorpius stepped through the gateway to the muggle platform; he transfigured his trunk to a suitcase. Pocketing his wand he left platform 9 ¾ and walked outside. Even with his parents in Milan the family car was waiting- well one of them anyway. His mum had organised her PA to come and collect Scorpius so he wasn't surprised the car was there already, even though he had told Natalia the train would be arriving later than it did. He put his bag in the back seat and climbed in the front, not wanting to be driven around like he had a personal chauffeur.

"Good thing I was early looks like the train was ahead of schedule huh?"
"Yeah. Lucky" Scorpius looked out of the window, Natalia knew him. He didn't know why he bothered to try get away with it. He guessed he had just wanted to not walk out and climb into a car waiting for him like he was some sort of royalty.
"Tell you what, next time I'll park round the corner, okay?"
He smiled at her, "Thanks Nat" she smiled back and drove away. ~

A/N:

Okay, so hopefully you liked that, and as a head's up, the next chapter I've got lined up is Scor-centric, whoop whoop!

Like literally, I plan to have a whole chapter from his POV and I'm so excited for it!

I'm working with the title: "The Downsides of a Name, a Growing Surprise and a Heart to Heart" so yeah that's your little titbit to tide you over. Guesses are welcome!

Hope you're all as excited for it as I am, tell me what you think with this chap and even what you wanna find out about Scor in the next one (maybe I can fit bits in!)

I'll get it out once I'm finished, which hopefully wont be too far from now.

Lots of Love and have a nice week,

Cookie xxx