Hellloo my lovelies!
Hope you all liked the last chap and appreciate how quick this update is!
Thanks as always to you all for sticking with me and this fic that I never thought would get this long. (31 chapters!)
Special thanks out to:
abitoflightreading, RainbowTiger123, escapingrealityy and latteoholic for the fave and follows.
And to my lovely reviewers:
Mint. Life~ Hello again! Smiled like a fool at your review! Thank you so much! Hope you like this chap too :)
Plucie~ Haha, glad you were feeling the awkwardness! And yes she is, but we still love her.
Chapter 31- Fatherly Advice, Firewhiskey and Fireworks
Draco almost snorted into his wine glass. Of course Grang- No, Weasley, was talking to his house elves. Probably asking them if he ever hit them with hot or heavy objects or something equally violent. She couldn't even come to one party and switch off from work.
Ever, the defender of the helpless. He thought sarcastically. But then he thought about how much that woman had done for their world and couldn't blame her. She really had done some admirable things; it probably wasn't in her nature to separate herself from work.
Merlin knew it was something he struggled with too. His own son had told him so.
Draco thought about going over and telling her that, yes he did treat his elves well. Yes they could leave at any moment, yes they had holiday, yes they had pay, but apparently, by the look of confusion on Weasley's face, Duffy was telling her all of that. She probably didn't expect any of that from him, from Malfoy. Draco smiled, he liked that there was one more person in the room who was having their views about him changed.
Hermione stood after what seemed to be a thorough interview but when Duffy walked away, and she followed, Draco became suspicious.
He'd seen her legislations on Elfish living conditions; there was only one place she would ask Duffy to take her. He nearly dropped his glass. Surely, The-Brightest-Witch-Of-Her-Age wasn't that stupid.
The pair left the Ballroom and entered the foyer.
Draco took a deep breath and scanned the room. ~
"Mrs Weasley"
Angelina turned, her left eyebrow shooting sky high when she identified the source of the sound as none other than the host himself.
"Yes?"
"Hope you're enjoying the party, really sorry to bother you, et cetera but you need to come with me now"
"What, why?"
"I'll explain on the way, please. Just- follow me"
Angelina rolled her eyes, excused herself from some of the Arrows' players she was talking to, placed her glass on the table and stood, smoothing down her ball gown and followed Draco from the room.
"Your sister-in-law was talking to one of my Elves" he told her once they were out of the Ballroom.
"Ginny?"
"She was talking to an Elf-" Draco repeated.
"Hermione then" Angelina smirked.
"Yes. So I watched her interview my elf-"
"Scared they'd spill anything?" Angelina quipped. Frankly, she knew she was being a little childish but when you hadn't spoken to someone in years and the last conversation you had with them wasn't particularly friendly, it was hard to be adult.
"No, for Merlin's sake. I don't abuse my elves" he told her, "So, anyway, then she followed it from the room"
"Maybe she needed directions to the bathroom?"
"No, I told all the elves to show the guests to the guest bathrooms. They walked in the opposite direction. I think Granger-"
"Weasley" she corrected, a little unnecessarily. Oh well, Hermione would appreciate the distinction.
"I think Weasley asked to see where the elves live. You know, sleeping arrangements and the like-"
"Why is that my problem Malfoy?" she cut in, bored of following him down this hallway that didn't look like it had an ending. Plus these heels weren't made for walking at this speed.
"Because of where they live. We gave them the Old Hall and cellars as quarters. Those rooms haven't been used since the War. "
Angelina's hand flew to her mouth and she stopped, "Where Hermi-"
"Where Hermione was tortured by my Aunt, yes." He said gravely, with a wince and hint of disgust.
Angelina nodded, continuing her walking with an increased sense of urgency. "I did try to find Ginny, then I thought about Weaslebee himself but-" Draco began to explain.
"But Ron lacks sensitivity and would probably hex you before you could tell him a thing"
"Precisely. Now hurry, I don't know if they would have apparated there or not" he sounded worried. Which made it seem like he knew; they had apparated there.
"Can't you apparate us?"
"I can't take you, along. Guest apparition is warded against this evening. Even side-along."
"So, go get to her and I'll catch you up" she told him simply.
"What?"
"Well someone needs to be there as soon as possible, I'm only slowing you down. Tell me how to get there and I'll be right behind you" her 'captain voice' as Roxanne referred to it was making an appearance.
He sighed and cast a patronus, telling her to simply follow it before he cracked out of sight. She was left to the well-lit passage and a silvery timber wolf to follow.~
Hermione's breathing was coming thick and fast. She felt as if the room was spinning, the cold stone tiles seeming to move from underneath her; all of a sudden she was surrounded by cackles, the maniacal laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange. She fell to her knees and heard her wand clatter to the floor. Her whole body was burning; she could feel the cruciatus curse tear its way through her again. She cradled her left arm to her, her scar felt as though it was being traced over with that damned knife as if the word 'mudblood' was being carved into her again and again. Her head was spinning too now. This room, she could feel the Dark Magic here, it was black and dense in the air, burning her airways, her vision faltered, her ears rang with that horrible laughter and her own sobs, a crack resounded through the air and she thought it must be the sound of her skull on the stone. Because what else could happen here? What else but this pain?
Draco apparated into the Ball room just in time to see Hermione sway, she was about to pass out. He had barely enough time to take in her cowering form, the way she held her arm across her chest, the way she cried out as if she were being tortured again. He had barely enough time to recognise all of this, to recognise things he had been through himself before he reached her and caught her body in his arms.
He sat on the floor, with her head in his lap, he wasn't sure she'd appreciate him lifting her, but at the same time he didn't think she'd want to wake up in here. He looked around, there was still no sign of his patronus or of the Weasley woman. Hermione wasn't responsive, but Draco could see her breathing so he wasn't too worried. Nothing physically was harming her, it was all in her head, but Draco knew not to underestimate the damage one's own mind could do.
He stood, carefully putting his arms around her and carrying her bridal style out of the Old Hall. He placed her carefully on a sofa in one of the 'living rooms' of the Manor. Balancing the need to get away from the Hall with the distaste she'd have if she woke up while he was carrying her carefully. He summoned her wand and placed it on a table within reaching distance, not too near in case she lashed out with a curse the moment she woke. Imagine the stories, Brightest-Witch-Of-Her-Age Finally Kills School Nemesis; he couldn't see the world being too heartbroken. Still, he rather liked being alive.
He sent a second patronus, telling Angelina the situation in a blunt sentence, she would need to follow the new one, to arrive where they were now.~
Draco walked into the downstairs library, surprised to find it occupied. Guests didn't tend to explore the Manor until eleven at least, he expected this place to be full of Hogwarts-age witches and wizards past midnight, they usually separated off from their embarrassingly drunken parents by then, escaping the intoxicated political rants they had no interest in.
Instead the room was occupied by a lone young figure; he sat in the window seat staring out into the dark. Their eyes met in his reflection and Draco raised a blonde brow.
"Any reason why my son is drinking, alone in the library, when he has friends here this year?"
"I needed this." He said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass and taking a drink.
"I did tell the bartenders not to serve those under age"
"It's not from the bar" he replied and Draco shook his head, walking to the section in the bookshelf that held one of his stashes of Firewhiskey. A not so secret stash apparently. He stroked the spine of one of the black volumes and the door to the cabinet swung open. He took out a glass and the bottle.
"How much have you had?"
"Not much" Scorpius replied, so Draco topped his son's glass up, before pouring the liquid into his own.
Scorpius looked a little surprised, but he shrugged and took a sip.
"So, you fancy telling me why you're away from the party and drinking in here?"
"I could ask the same of you" his son replied cooly.
"Granger must've been convinced that we were violating House Elf rights or something. She had a long conversation with Duffy then managed to convince her to take her to the Old Hall" Draco took a long drink.
"Shit. Is she okay?" Scor's eyes widened and he sat upright.
"Yeah, she's with your friend's mum now. I lifted the wards in the room. They can leave if they like"
"You just left them there?"
"I told Johnson to send me a patronus if they needed me. But honestly son, I don't think Granger appreciated me being there. I doubt it'd help much with the flashbacks"
"She had flashbacks?"
He nodded, "When I found her… she was screaming, and crying, and then she passed out"
"Merlin I have to tel-"
"No, sit. Really, she didn't want any of the family to know. As I left I could hear her arguing with Weasley, she wanted to come back to the party."
"Wow"
"Yeah. So, I've shared. Looks like it's your turn"
"Seems silly in comparison" he shrugged. "I just needed a drink. Too many couples"
"Funny that. You're normally the one off with some Ministry official's daughter. You usually have a little queue of them waiting for a dance. What's changed?" He smirked.
"I'm surprised you noticed" he muttered. Draco winced a little. ~
"I keep tabs on it, usually just to steer your mother away, you're still her little boy. Not sure she likes the idea of you trading saliva all evening"
Scorpius rolled his eyes, not embarrassed in the slightest for some reason. His dad seemed okay with it all so he didn't bother to blush. Not that he ever blushed.
"Had a messy breakup. Decided to keep things simple for a bit" it was half true. Breakups that ended with your ex hanging upside down because of your female friend with whom you'd been accused of having an affair, did count as messy.
"Simple would be the Beauxbatons girls who you won't have to see at school." his dad suggested and Scor laughed.
"Are you encouraging your son to whore around with French witches?" he asked.
Draco laughed now, "Of course not. Simply pointing out that if you really wanted to you'd find a way to keep things simple and still swap saliva"
"Maybe I don't want to?" he said simply.
"There it is. Why?"
"Is it so absurd not to?"
"No, of course not. But then you'd be with your friends, not drinking here alone"
Scor said nothing.
"It's her isn't it?" his dad asked.
"Who?"
"The Weasley girl, your friend. You like her don't you?"
He shrugged. He was beginning to realise that his dad had talent for reading him.
"Came in here to drink because you couldn't stand watching her dance with her boyfriend?"
Fuck it. His dad could read him like a book.
"Nah went outside for that. Came in here because I almost got stuck on the other side of a hedge to them"
"Almost got stuck?"
"Well, if mum complains about some asshole burning a door through her hedges away from the fountain, that'd be me"
"So, what are you going to do?"
"I guess I'll finish this, then go back in like I imagine you will"
"I mean about the girl"
"Roxanne" he corrected.
"Roxanne" Draco repeated.
"I'm not going to do a thing. She's two years younger, taken, not interested, and far too good for me. It'll pass"
Draco smiled knowingly.
"What?" Scorpius wasn't sure what that look on his face meant.
"Just that only one of those things is a fact. The rest- are all open to discussion, interpretation and change. Don't rule anything out"
"Trust me dad, if you knew her-"
"Fine. I don't know her, but you trust me, sometimes the unexpected happens. She seems like the sort of girl who doesn't always do what's expected"
"She is but, not li-"
"Okay, I get it, nothing's going to happen. You're going to slowly get over it. Don't repeat yourself, son. But when I'm right, and things change, come speak to me. I've enjoyed our chat"
"That it then, you're fatherly advice for the year?" Scorpius half-joked, though there was an edge to his tone that meant his question it didn't fully dance on the joke side of the fence. Draco chuckled and looked at his watch.
"Well, you didn't seem to ask for my advice, and it's a New Year in just under two hours. I'd say that's a good time for a restart, wouldn't you?"
Scorpius nodded, understanding, the talk they'd had earlier that holiday, all the improved interactions between them so far, it needed to not stop when he went back to school. They'd progressed but they needed to forget some of the awkwardness and tension that still hung around, Scorpius knew he needed to stop resenting him when he was clearly trying. Next year, in well, less than two hours they could officially wipe the slate clean.
"I'd be inclined to agree, dad"
"Well then, cheers" they clinked their glasses, finished their whiskey and stood. Leaving the library, they entered the Ballroom together and then separated with slight smiles. ~
It didn't take long for Scorpius to find Lysander. Rather, for Lysander to find him. Pretty much after two seconds of scanning the Hall, Ly had embraced him.
"Thank fuck. Scor where have you been? Lor and Liv are off somewhere doing Merlin knows what, Rox is much too near to Williams for my sanity and-"
"I did tell you to bring a date" Scorpius grinned at him.
"Yeah, well I thought that you'd be around at least, seeing as you're uncharacteristically off girls for the moment"
"Yeah, well I'm around now." he ignored the girl comment, "Who have you been hanging out with?"
"Albus and his girlfriend. Nice girl, by the way. Great couple. But… third-wheeling isn't great. So, you'd better stay around"
"Don't worry, Ly. I'll be here for you to snog at midnight" he assured.
"Mate, if we only have each other to snog at midnight then I really need a drink"
"Bar won't serve you?" he laughed.
"Nah. ID or just the punch on the table apparently"
"You think the punch on the table's non-alcoholic?"
"Yeah. I mean why have a bar with an age restriction otherwise?"
"It might have started non-alcoholic, but the Weasleys are here. I doubt it is now"
"I should have thought of that" he grumbled. "Let's go then"~
Sitting at the table with most-probably-spiked punch in hand, Scor and Ly sat talking for a good half an hour. They were having a debate about whether they'd rather lose their left hand or right leg. Scorpius being a chaser, opted to keep his hands and lose his leg. Lysander, being a right handed beater went for clinging to his broom with the legs he still had and losing the left hand.
Lysander was again trying to win Scor over, "Just think though, how off balance you'd be-"
when they were interrupted by a sort of familiar voice.
"Mind if I join you guys?" the girl asked, gesturing to the table they occupied.
Scor shrugged, a little confused but Ly didn't think about why it was odd she was interacting with them, let alone sitting down he launched into a speech about why it'd be better to lose an arm than a leg and asked her for her opinion.
"Well… Quidditch would be near impossible without both arms. But then, how do you stay on a broom with one leg?"
"Oh, you get half a stump." Scor said as if it were obvious.
She laughed a little, "Well, in that case. I'd have to get rid of my leg. I like my arms way too much" she said, stretching them in front of her and rotating her wrists.
Her cleavage strained a little against the not-so-modest cut of her green dress, Scor had to admit that it was impressive.
He was still thinking about Roxanne, of course but that didn't mean he wasn't still a guy.
The trio carried on talking, Scorpius finding it oddly easy to talk to her, despite the fact that they'd not really had any proper interaction since those few months in first year. Despite the fact that he knew she wasn't very nice to Roxanne, and that she'd made it very clear she didn't like her. Though, Lysander's ridiculous 'would you rather' scenarios did make it easier for them all to laugh along together.
"Professor McGonagall for a night or Madame Pomfrey?" Ly asked them both, with a chuckle.
They winced. "McGonagall" she answered, just as he said "Pomfrey"
Both she and Ly looked at him like he was mad. They'd had Pomfrey shout at them more times than they could count. He felt the need to explain his hypothetical choice.
"I feel like McGonagall would look for flaws, you know?" he cleared his throat, "'Really Mr Malfoy, if you only applied yourself, you could do so much better'" he imitated. Ly howled with laughter that would have turned heads were the room not so full of music and laughter and chatter already.
She chuckled too, "And what flaws would she be pointing out Malfoy? Word is there aren't too many" she smirked.
He smirked back at her to hide his shock and confusion, was she flirting with him?
"I did say she'd look, didn't say she'd find any"
She snorted, and Ly laughed, but looked to Scor pointedly, widening his eyes in a sort of 'what the hell?' look.
Oh thank Merlin. So, Scorpius wasn't the only one who thought this was weird. Glad to not be alone in noticing her flirt with him, Scor shrugged slightly.
He'd seen this New Year's party do odd things to people over the years, never once had any of those effects lasted. Clearly, she was just in a good mood tonight and bored of any other company in the room and had chosen two vaguely familiar faces to sit with.
"Ooh, I've got one. Who would you rather duel? Slytherin or Hufflepuff"
"Slytherin" they both answered. That was an easy one.
Ly glared over at the table where Williams and Roxy were. Rox was seated very close to him, his arm draped around her and they were all laughing.
"Harder win but way more satisfying" Scor said. And Ly nodded in agreement.
The glare had been unintentional, but she caught it.
She turned and looked over, turning back to them, "You don't like him?"
Scor shrugged. He didn't fully trust her.
Ly was a little more open, "Not his biggest fans"
"Because he's dating her?"
"Well, I've never really liked him, opposition and all. But yeah, I just think she deserves better really."
"Hm" She nodded along. Not really agreeing.
Scor pulled her up on it, "You don't think so?"
"He's one of the hottest guys in his year; I think she's doing well. Not sure what he sees in her though"
"Wh-" Ly begun.
"No no, I don't mean like that. I'm sure she'd great to be friends with or whatever. I'm not insulting you guys… But to date?" she shrugged passively, "Maybe he's into that"
Scor wanted to protest, talk about all the reasons why she would be amazing to date, but that would be stupid, it would be putting his cards on the table for her to see, and he knew she wouldn't keep them to herself, instead he ignored that part of her statement.
"Into what exactly?" he asked.
"Younger girls? I guess he likes her innocence. Or the innocence she pretends to still have, if rumours are anything to go by" her tone was non-committal but something in her eyes said her comments were more deliberate, she meant them.
Scor's face hardened. "The rumours aren't true"
"Which ones?" she asked, quizzically.
"Why, what rumours are there?"
"You mean you don't know? Well, there was the time she slept with Lorcan." She paused looking at Ly, "that's not y-"
"No, I'm Lysander." He rolled his eyes, he'd become too used to the novelty of being around people who could tell the difference, "go on"
"Oh good, that might've been awkward. So, there was the rumour she slept with your brother. Then the whole thing about you cheating with her on Florence, right Scorpius?"
"We knew those, neither of which are true, by the way."
"Oh, I knew the second one couldn't be. Who would cheat on Florence?" she didn't have to add the 'with her' to the end of her question, it was implied.
"Anyway, so the rumour is that she and Connor got with each other during that game, and they've been hooking up on and off since then"
"Connor? The Hufflepuff Seeker?"
"They were both knocked out at the same time and people think what, they had a mad, half-time fling?" Ly protested, shaking his head.
She laughed, "Yeah, that's what I thought. But there's a theme emerging, and her relationship with Logan doesn't exactly break it"
"What's the theme? Lies?"
"Sex with good-looking Quidditch players." She looked directly at Scorpius.
"Well, we'll be happy to verify that none of those rumours are true"
"So, her and Logan, are they actually serious, or-"
"You'd have to ask her about that"
"So, you can speak for her past deeds but not her current relationship?"
"Well, I can say for certainty, I didn't have an affair with her. I think Ly and I know Lorcan well enough to know he's not been sleeping with her either. And the other rumour is just ridiculous. She was knocked off her broom"
"But you don't know for sure?"
"She's not that kinda girl" Scor said.
"You're that kinda guy though right?" she challenged.
"More rumours?" Lysander laughed, finding it hilarious. Seeing as Scor was, as far as he knew, still a virgin. All it took was one girlfriend to talk about how amazing he was in bed as a gloat, then every girl since then- afraid to admit they hadn't managed to successfully charm the pants off of Scorpius Malfoy- had only added to the gossip train. Scorpius was, allegedly an amazing lover, and he had never once even had to work at it.
"Oh, there's some about you too, Ly. I wouldn't get too excited"
Scorpius laughed at his friends face. He leaned forwards, "Go on then, tell me"
"Hm. Where to begin, Mr Malfoy. It seems you have quite the rep with the ladies"
Lysander rolled his eyes as his friend smirked cockily.
"Of course, anything particularly interesting?"
"Well, Miss Anderson was a little heartbroken. She told her friends you were using her as a way in for intel on the Hufflepuff's team plays"
Scorpius nearly spat his drink out. He remembered a brief stint with Rebecca Anderson, a Hufflepuff chaser last year. But the idea that it was to get info on their team?
Lysander laughed, "You're definitely making this up now! Hufflepuff have never been a threat!"
She shook her head, laughing with them. "Nope. Genuine rumour"
"Surely that's an oxymoron"
"Not all rumours are lies. I mean, the one about you taking Jessica Yeats to Madame Pu-"
"Okay, that one's true. It was a dark time in my life, let's not talk about that terrible place"
He told her quickly as Ly looked like he was about to burst out laughing again.
"What you actually took her there and flirted with a girl at another table?" Rose asked, a little shocked.
"What no? I thought the rumour was that I took her there, period. Isn't that place like where all relationships go to die? That's why she dumped me, she said, she couldn't believe I would bring her, even though from what I recall, she asked to go"
Rose laughed, "No from what I heard, you brought her and spent all your time flirting with a girl at another table, that's why she dumped you"
"Okay, that's odd" Ly commented.
"This is why you shouldn't believe gossip" Scor said. Rose looked like she was in thought for a moment, then she smiled.
"What about the rumour you dumped Davies because she wouldn't do it in the Room of Requirement?"
"What the fuck, no. I'm not an asshole. Who does that?"
Rose shrugged, "Guys dump girls for not putting out all the time, nothing new"
"Well, I never have. Maria broke up with me."
Rose's eyebrows knitted together.
"Have you ever actually broken up with a girl?"
Ly huffed in frustration, "He is the absolute worst. It's like he thinks maybe it's immoral or something I don't know but every single fucking time he bottles it. His tactics usually involve ignoring her until she gets fed up enough to dump him"
"Really now?" Rose asked brow raised.
Bit personal, thanks Ly.
He shrugged taking another swig of his punch, he couldn't taste anything more than the fruit, but the warming in his throat told him it was most definitely spiked. That, and the Firewhiskey he'd had with his dad earlier was starting to kick in too.
He smiled back at her slightly, "worked for me so far"
"Yeah, except your last girlfriend ended up suspended from the ceiling during your break-up, no? Sounds like a winning formula"
"Florence made some bad decisions about who she accused" he smiled fondly, thinking of how unexpected Rox's reaction was. How uncharacteristic it was. "And judging by your rumours, really I'm giving girls what they want. Not once have I contradicted them when they make up lies about me dumping them"
"Though, maybe you should have done on that whole 'sex in the room of requirement or it's over' one, mate" Ly told him, with a chuckle.
"If I'd have known…"
"How do you know all of this?" Ly asked Rose.
She shrugged, looking at her nails. "It's all about who you know; let's just say, I have my sources…" she trailed off mysteriously.
He snorted, "You're not a high school cheerleader, Rose. Come off it"
Rose's eyebrows shot up, "Muggle chick flicks, Lysander, really?"
He almost blushed, "Movie time at the Burrow, sound familiar?"
Scorpius was confused, but he generally was when his friends made Muggle references, unless they were literature ones, Rox had seen to it that he understood a few more of those now.
She nodded, in acceptance, "Fair enough. You're right, it's just mostly my friends and the girls in my dorm. They love to gossip"
"Who are you're friends? You don't seem like that type of girl"
"I'm going to take that as a compliment. Though, for future reference, all types of girls love gossip. Unless you're my cousin Molly. She'd wholeheartedly disapprove. As for whom my friends are, you wouldn't know them. Actually you might know one, Zara? I think you two had a brief encounter in fifth. I'm to tell you you're an asshole by the way. "
"What, why? I don't remember any Zara" he looked to Ly for confirmation and he shook his head, he didn't either.
"It was at a Ravenclaw post-match party. Sam got us in, you never replied to her notes after it" she scoffed.
"You don't sound too sympathetic"
"She sends you random notes after one kiss at a party you were probably drunk at, signs them ZH and expects you to know who she is? I told her it was a bit presumptuous. Nevertheless, she hates you. Stopped speaking to Florence for the whole time you dated."
"You're friends with those girls?" Ly asked I surprise. They all knew which girls, Samantha Jones, and her friends, which included Florence and now apparently a girl called Zara.
"Not really. I chill with them from time to time, they tell me amusing stories. I'm not a massive fan of watching Sam and my cousin James molest each other either so I've been with them less and less. I actually spend most of my time with the other girls in my dorm, two you haven't dated, them and Lily."
"There's two you haven't dated? I'm ashamed, Scorpius Malfoy"
"My apologies, Scamander. If they were here I'd almost certainly woo them for your approval but alas, I can't."
Rose chuckled at their banter, "They might be here"
"Rose, if they were here, you wouldn't be sitting with us. Actually, why aren't you with Lily?" Ly asked.
"Lily was being dragged around by Ginny, gushing over Quidditch players. I got bored"
"Quidditch players?" Ly asked.
"Yeah. They're everywhere, Scamander, have you not even looked?"
"Where?"
"Well, the Bennett brothers are over by the bar at the moment" she pointed, across to the two well built, robed men who were chatting to a group of people. Rose used the name casually, like she followed Quidditch, or knew who the Bennett brothers were, sure, she understood the game and could play the game, but she wasn't a fanatic. Ly practically jumped out of his seat. He turned on his friend.
"Brian and Ben Bennett are here, in your 'house' and you didn't bother to inform me?!"
"They're here every year Ly, I thought you would have just noticed them" he shrugged.
"Who else is here?"
"I don't know"
"Who else?"
Ly lowered his voice making Scorpius laugh, he clearly didn't appreciate his casual attitude to who were Quidditch royalty.
"Well I pointed out Cowell when she came in with Zabini earlier"
"Meh. The cannons are having a good year but she's wasting her time with them, she should have transferred to the Arrows when she had the chance. Next?"
"Um, well I think Fox came with the Bennetts. Um, I think Chapman and Hamilton are still dating, if so then they're probably here. They were last year. Stone and Gardner maybe"
"You. Are. An. Asshole. I've been in the same building as Jake Fox, the Bennett brothers, Casey Chapman, Grant Hamilton, Andrew Gardner, and Seth Stone for the past few hours and you didn't even bother to tell me?!"
"Slipped my mind?" he smiled sheepishly.
He stood. "How do I approach a national Quidditch star?"
"Go have a chat with Ginny, she'll introduce you, I'm sure"
"You could always ask Liv's dad. But he might mistake you for Lorcan so maybe not" Scorpius teased.
"Right, Ginny" he repeated to himself, shaking his arms out, the way he did before a match. Scor smiled to himself, Ly was nervous. He gave Rose a thanks and shot one last glare at Scor before leaving them to the table alone.~
"Mind if I cut in?" a voice asked from the side of Rox. It was Freddie, she laughed at the face Logan pulled her behind his back as he obligingly stepped away. He glanced at his watch.
"Meet me at midnight?"
"Where?" she asked, already feeling as though she knew the answer.
"Same place we were before" he told her, not adding into the sentence what they were doing where they were before. She was grateful, as Fred was being unusually patient.
She nodded with a slight blush and Logan turned away. Her brother bowed a little and she giggled at him, stepping towards his talk frame.
"So, how's your night been so far little sis?" he asked, as they danced.
"Absolutely brilliant" she grinned back, "despite this dancing malarkey, it's been wonderful. You?"
"But you're a fantastic dancer" he told her, as he spun her around, "And it's been good. Have to say I'm a little disappointed."
"Why?"
"Elliott ran into Quinn"
"Uh-oh"
"Exactly what I thought. But she didn't even argue with him. She completely ruined my second hope for hexes and a fight by being so-"
"Civilised?" Rox laughed.
"Precisely" he grinned. "El, James and I had to spike the punch of course. James got caught by Teddy so now he's in for blackmail"
"He should have been more careful then shouldn't he?" Rox laughed.
"Yeah, well he missed out on being caught at Halloween, so it happened now instead"
She giggled, "I'm not sure that's how it works. Just because you've been caught once doesn't mean you won't be again. You should know, what with all those detentions"
"Hey, I've served a record low of only five detentions last month"
"Only because they couldn't prove the mistletoe was yours" she pointed out.
"Exactly, so I wasn't caught"
"But they knew. Wouldn't it be better if they didn't?"
"What could possibly feel better than pulling off a prank and knowing they didn't have any evidence?"
"Pulling off a prank, knowing they had no evidence and them thinking it was someone else entirely" she smiled slyly.
He narrowed his eyes at her, "You'd better not be speaking from experience. I know I've been blamed for things that weren't me in the past…"
She shook her head, "No, no experience. Just a thought is all."
"Hm, I was going to say I might have to abandon you and find another person to dance with"
"Piss off then mate, I reckon it's my turn to have a dance with Roxy" James said from beside her, he was twirling Lily around and she giggled, and slapped her brother's arm in protest. The sibling pairs danced closer and in a swift movement the girls laughed together as their brothers swung them to their cousins.
"How's it going Roxy?" James asked her, as they danced away from Lily and Freddie.
"Great thanks, James. Heard Teddy caught you spiking the punch"
"Bet Freddie didn't tell you he got caught trying to make the fairy lights flash gold and red" Roxanne laughed.
"Who by?"
"Aunty Katie. Who else?"
"At least it wasn't your mum."
"There is that. But she wants a favour"
"It'll be involving Elliott. She'll probably make Freddie make him write home every week or something"
"That or she'll make Fred tell her all his secrets"
"Speaking of secrets. This boyfriend of yours is new to me. Funny that."
She blushed, "No idea what you're talking about James. He's not new to me"
"Well, that's good. I got that you told Fred, but when did you tell your dad? I thought it might have been a bigger issue at the Burrow"
"I didn't really. It sorta came out to my mum, and some aunties. But I forgot to tell dad. Then when I realised I'd actually be coming here with him I asked mum how best to tell him. Bear in mind that was late last night. She told me not to worry and that she'd tell him"
James whistled, "How is it you get away with things like this?"
"Oh, believe me; I don't think I've gotten away with it. I just think dad might wait until tomorrow to really flip. I haven't seen him this evening"
"You'd better hope he's hungover then"
"Finger's crossed" she laughed.~
Why had no one bothered to tell her there would be fireworks at midnight? When the Malfoys announced it she was in the bathroom. Not thinking much of it she took her time washing her hands and fixing her hair, and sneakily topping up her lipstick, that, she wouldn't admit to. So when she re-entered the ballroom, the dancefloor was practically empty, the band had gone and now only a few instruments were playing themselves softly, the music was quiet and a handful of couples swayed slowly.
Lorcan and Liv were among them, she rolled her eyes. Why did they have to be so cute?
"Where did everyone go?"
"Fireworks are being let off in the gardens, they went to watch"
"Why haven't you guys?"
"Scor just found us, he said hold tight for a few minutes, we can go watch from the roof. You know the VIPs we are. I think he just went to find you actually. And Ly. " Lorcan informed her.
"I'm meant to be meeting Logan at midnight" she bit her lip, torn again.
Liv gave her a little smile, "So go get him and bring him along." She gave her a little push towards the large glass doors.
Rox nodded. "If you're not back in five we're leaving!" Lorcan called after her.
She slowly made her way through the crowd, muttering polite 'sorrys' and 'exusemes' as she slipped past, some of the most important and influential people in the Wizarding World.
Dom stopped her at one point, she was standing close to a tall handsome man Rox had never seen before.
"Gotta find Logan" she told her cousin quickly before slipping away, leaving them to their conversation.
She eventually made her way back to the bench they'd been at earlier, except she couldn't be sure because he wasn't at the bench, and really this garden probably had dozens of similar benches spotted throughout it. She sighed, would it be unreasonable to leave the spot and go back to her friends?
Would Logan be angry?
Surely it was better than counting down alone?
The hedge beside her rustled. Logan stepped out from a gap in the hedge wall.
She smiled, and his face lit up upon seeing her.
"Found you" she said.
He looked at his watch. "With two minutes to spare. Impressive"
Only two? They wouldn't be able to get back and up to the roof in time.
"Come, I want to show you something"
He held out his hand to her and she took one last look back at the manor, its lights shining brightly, before taking it and stepping through the gap in the hedge.
It was beautiful, she couldn't believe they hadn't noticed it before, they were standing in a small enclosed area with a large stone fountain in the centre. The rush of the water seemed to drown out the chatter from all the guests outside.
"That's odd" she said, noticing what looked like a misshapen doorway in another wall of their little space, it had scorch marks along its perimeter.
"Look, they're starting" Logan pointed up to the sky where the first few sparks of light were appearing over the top of the hedge.
"Should we go out? The view's probably better out there"
"The view is just fine from where I'm standing" he replied his eyes on her. He stepped close to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His cheek was warm against hers and she placed her hands over his, feeling elated. How perfect was this moment?
New Year's Eve and Roxanne was probably the prettiest she'd ever looked, in one of the prettiest places she'd ever been to, watching the fireworks with her pretty darn good-looking boyfriend.
All of a sudden, the sparks in the sky converged into the number 10. Rox grinned. The fireworks counted down. Logan whispered the numbers in her ear.
"9…8…7…6…5"
He took hold of her hands and spun her till she was facing him.
"3…" he brushed the edge of her smile with his thumb. "2…1"
"Happy New Year Roxanne" he told her softly before kissing her as much more impressive fireworks were let loose and the band began to play outside.~
"Roxy's not back yet" Olivia told Scorpius as he and Ly joined them. Rose was still trailing behind Scor and Olivia couldn't help but scowl. Rose had only raised a brow in response.
"She went to find Logan" Lorcan added.
"Shall we wait?" he asked them.
"Let's just go, mate. I don't really fancy starting the year off seeing that guy"
Scorpius shrugged. Olivia thought he probably agreed with Lysander. She was sad to not see Roxanne for the countdown but then again, they'd both be too busy snogging their respective boyfriends. She almost laughed at that. Who would have thought it?
She took Lorcan's hand and followed Scorpius from the room again. Rose was walking up front with him now, and he was telling her about the things they passed as he had for them all earlier.
Liv grabbed Ly's collar as he moved in front.
"What's that about?" Liv asked, gesturing to Rose and Scorpius wildly.
"No clue. She came and sat with us for a bit, we just chatted"
"Then what?"
"Then…oh, I don't know actually. I went off to get Ginny to introduce me to the Bennetts."
"The Bennetts- "Lorcan began.
"Oh, hush. I'll get my dad to get you an autograph" she told him quickly and he grinned.
"Carry on, Ly"
"I'm not sure, when I left they were talking. Then Scor came to find me just now she was still with him"
"What were you all talking about?" Liv asked. Feeling a little defensive of her friends, Rose had been nothing but horrible to Roxy and now she'd been spending New Year's eve chatting to her closest friends? She didn't like it.
"Nothing much. Just joking around, gossip, that sort of thing"
"Joking around, gossip. Rose doesn't joke. She moans and whines and bitches"
"Woah, Liv. It's okay. I get it. But she was nice, it's like this evening she was being real. I can't describe it but she was good to be around."
"And you left Scorpius to her?"
Lysander rolled his eyes, "So what, if he wants to get with her I'm not going to stop him."
"And all that talk about being off girls? What about that?"
"It's New Year, Liv. No one would have to know. It's not like he's going to date her"
And by no one, they all knew he meant Roxanne, despite her boyfriend, Lysander was still with Dom on this. But he didn't want Scorpius to mope either.
"And if he does? He's gotten together with girls he's known less"
"Then we deal with it like usual. He's had worse girlfriends"
"He's had worse looking girlfriends. Not sure he's ever dated someone so hostile"
"Florence was pretty hostile to Rox. Is she really worse?"
"Uh, firstly, look how that ended. Secondly, yes, she is"
"Well, maybe it's a New Year, New Rose, thing" he argued.
She turned to Lorcan, annoyed that Lysander didn't seem to be getting the enormity of this.
"What do you think?!"
"I think we're all getting a bit too ahead of ourselves" he said diplomatically. "I think we should just go enjoy the fireworks, and if anything… odd happens, we can deal with it as it does"
Olivia frowned and Lorcan kissed her cheek pulling her along. "Don't worry, Liv"
Lysander moved closer to his brother.
"That arse of yours is going to get massive splinters if you keep sitting on the fence"
"Shut up" he told him, but they both grinned identical grins.~
Scorpius pushed open the doors to the roof of the manor, well one section of the roof of the manor. The wind hit them like a speeding train.
"Just a little chilly, Malfoy" Rose told him from his right.
"Fucking freezing" Ly said, drifting towards the edge and peering over the ornate metal railings.
"Can't you do that barrier thing?" Lorcan asked.
He laughed, and passed them all. Touching his fingertips to the cold metal lightly. Again the same shield grew up and formed around them, barely visible.
Lorcan took out his wand and conjured a small two person sofa. He sat pulled Liv into his lap, peering past her hair to look at the fireworks in the sky, now only slightly above them.
She giggled and Scorpius turned away with a smile in time to see Ly throw a strop about gross couple-y stuff and loveseats. He marched to the other end of the rooftop and conjured himself a beanbag which he flopped into.
Scor turned to Rose, "Loveseat or beanbag?" she asked, as she twirled her wand.
He laughed, "Beanbags it is then" she conjured them, almost in the middle of the roof top, equidistant from Lorcan and Liv and Ly. The roof was big enough so that Scor could only just make out the faces of his friends when a firework lit up the sky, even then, it was only a silhouette.
He flopped into the beanbag next to Rose and she brought her legs up to her side. She had nice legs, he noticed, not quite as nice as Rox's was his second observation but he shook that from his mind. He wasn't supposed to be imagining anything of Rox's. Especially not her legs, wrapped around his waist maybe?
Stop.
"That barrier thing was cool. Shame though"
"Why?"
"Now, I can't complain that it's cold and get your jacket from you"
"You could always ask for my jacket"
You could always ask for my jacket? Really Malfoy?
Then it occurred to him as much as Rose had been flirting. He had been flirting back.
"Can I have you jacket?"
"No" he told her and she laughed.
"Damn, I bet that would have gotten me a decent price."
"Oh, you were planning to sell it?"
"Yeah, what else?"
"Um. Well you could have kept it as a souvenir"
"Uh huh. I could write, 'I came to Malfoy Manor and all I stole was this lousy jacket' across the back"
"Clever"
They were silent as they watched the numbers count down from ten. Once one had flashed across above them he turned.
"Happy New-"
Then all of a sudden she was kissing him. And he was kissing her back, and her lips were soft against his and Rose Weasley definitely knew what she was doing.
Everything was a little fuzzy, and his mind was slow. Too slow to be sober. Sober Scorpius would have realised earlier. Sober Scorpius would have thought of the fact they weren't sitting with Ly but they were alone together, and he would have thought of what people usually did at midnight and he would have realised that's what she intended to do.
But he wasn't and he hadn't realised and yet, he did nothing to stop it.
It must have been a mixture of the Firewhiskey, the punch and the fact that it felt like they were pretty much in the fireworks, explosions and colours going off around them but he kept kissing her. A small part of his mind screamed 'what about Roxanne?!' but that part of his mind was just as slow and groggy as the rest. So when another part remembered the giggles from earlier and that Roxanne was probably outside; with fireworks surrounding her kiss with her boyfriend, he decided to ignore the first part.
So he didn't pull away, in fact, Scorpius may have Rose Weasley a little harder. ~
A/N:
Okay so I did a thing. I also find it hilarious that as I had the idea for the thing I also had two reviews that mentioned it was nice to not see a Scorose fic. So, just to explain. I never meant for there to be much interaction between Scorpius and Rose at any point until recently. I came up with this halfway through writing the Ball and decided to go with it. You'll just have to wait and see whether or not it changes anything, I'm still deciding how much it's going to affect everyone!
Yes, it's still Scorpianne. I promise not to morph this into a Rox/Logan, Scor/Rose fic!
So, a lot went on, and there's loads to follow up on. I still don't know whether to have a bit of youths getting drunk after midnight in the Manor Library...
Thoughts would be much appreciated here.
It's tempting but I also really want to get back to Hogwarts. The number of characters are really starting to get to me. Damn Weasley breeding.
Also, quick note on the Hermione part of this. I just liked it. It's not particularly relevant but I love her character and couldn't help myself. Sorry if it got in the way of anything.
I hope you guys liked it enough to be patient with me. Having spent so much time on this recently I don't have anything written up for what comes next, it's gonna take a bit of time to write. I also know that I've got a hectic few months coming up so updating is going to be pretty scarce. I'll try to get another out before this time next month but no promises. Sorry.
Thanks for all sticking with me this long so far, and I hope you all keep with me for a bit longer!
And please, please, please drop me a review. They remind me about this fic and get me to slot in a bit of writing where I can. Also I love hearing from you all and what you think!
Soooooooo, stay patient and keep reviewing!
Lots and Lots of Love,
Cookie xxxxx