Chapter Twelve: Happy Birthday Mr. Potter

When Saturday evening rolled around Rose was sick to her stomach with nerves, so nervous that someone in her family would catch on to what she was doing with Scorpius that she contemplated faking ill so she wouldn't have to go. But by the time her mother called her down to the fireplace, she had calmed her nerves enough to join. When they arrived, the Burrow was full of the normal bustle of a family gathering but with a bit of extra festiveness. Since her uncle had been treated horribly by his muggle family when he was a kid, their family now went to great lengths to make sure Harry knew he was loved. Her parents and Hugo immediately drifted off to greet others and Rose scanned the area for a sign that Scorpius was there. She wandered outside when she finally locked eyes with someone she had been waiting to see.

"Rosie!" Alice Longbottom exclaimed running over and embracing her lifelong best friend. Rose chuckled. Alice was the only person in the world who Rose let call her Rosie because she was the only one who meant it in a caring way, unlike her brother and cousins who only used it to tease.

"Hi Alice."

"Not a single owl all summer, Rose! I'm dying to hear all about it."

"Not much to tell really," Rose shrugged, and Alice gave her a knowing look. The pair grabbed a drink from a nearby display and took a seat on a bench in the garden.

"So how is healer training? Is it as intense as everyone says?" Rose asked, trying to distract from questions about her own life.

"It's exhausting. I hardly even have time to think about anything else. My mum has been going mad worrying about me. But I love it. And everyone says it gets easier after the first year, so I have that to look forward to. How is the shop?"

"It's been uneventful. I'm there nearly every day now, which of course drives my parents mad as well. But you know how I detest spending the summers sharing the house with Hugo." Alice laughed.

"So, what else do you have to say?" Rose stared at Alice unsure of what she knew. "Oh, c'mon Rose. I saw the Prophet. You and Malfoy?" Rose laughed nervously.

"We're just friends, honestly," Rose attempted to call off the inquisition, but she had never been able to lie to her best friend. "Okay, fine, but you can't tell anyone."

"Who would I even tell?" Rose took a deep breath and began to explain the entire story to Alice. How they had met by chance, had become friends, how she thought she had feelings for him but how Natalie Thomas messed them up, what they were doing now, and how at any moment she expected him to appear. Alice listened eagerly, sipping her wine and saving her commentary for when Rose had finished. When she did, Alice only had one thing to say.

"You are so daft Rosie." Rose scowled, not expecting this reaction. "He is clearly in love with you. And you are going to let Natalie Thomas ruin it? I mean, I know they have history, but she is a bit of a slag and they haven't been together for ages now. Why would he lie?"

"I dunno!" Rose defended herself even though a small part of her knew Alice was right. "It all just seems very suspicious. It's easier this way."

Easier for who?" Alice could see Rose was becoming quite bothered by her judgement of the situation, so she redirected. "So, he must be good in bed then? I mean he is quite fit."

Rose raised her eyebrows in agreement but before she could start adding more detail the loud sound of a new person arriving and being bombarded by her family distracted her. They both looked in the direction of the house and sure enough, she saw Scorpius. Rose immediately became flustered as she watched him field questions from everyone about the World Cup. Alice scoffed and they both knew Rose's behavior was evidence enough that Alice was right. Rose instantly changed the subject back to Alice so that when Scorpius finally made his escape and found them in the garden, he would have no idea they were talking about him.

"I swear I'll never be able to remember all of the names," Scorpius skipped the hello and Rose and Alice both laughed.

"Scorpius this is Alice, I dunno if you remember her from school, she was in-"

"Hufflepuff. How could I forget Professor Longbottom's daughter?"

"How could I forget the man whose face is constantly plastered on every page of the Prophet?" The three of them laughed. "And you'll never learn them all. I've been coming to this since I was born, and I still get them confused."

"Did my Aunt Ginny corner you into a scathing interview yet?" Rose asked.

"I'm trying to avoid it. Actually, I think the team's press would be quite miffed if I said anything without their approval."

"Well best of luck. Ginny can be quite persistent," Rose advised.

"I'll be right back," Alice said suddenly. "Need the loo," she winked at Rose and headed off towards the house leaving Rose and Scorpius alone.

"Thanks for coming," she said awkwardly. Scorpius was unsure if he should do anything more to greet her, knowing she must be nervous of being seen by her parents. But all he wanted to do was hold her hand. Before either of them could figure out what to do with themselves they heard her father, with the help of his wand, announce to the entire Burrow that they would be gathering for the cake and to exchange gifts. Rose knew it made her uncle uncomfortable that her grandmother still made him open the gifts in front of everyone, but she was a hard woman to bargain with, and it was usually entertaining. After they sang happy birthday Harry began opening gifts. Rose and Scorpius were sitting in the back of the tent that had been set up, on the same side of a table. At some point her hand had fallen to her side and she did not pull away when Scorpius put his next to her, their pinky fingers intertwining slightly, without anyone else noticing. Their attention was only called away when Harry opened an unmarked gift which turned out to be a customized Team England World Cup jersey with 'POTTER' on the back. Her whole family admired the jersey, as the design for this year's championship had not yet been released. Everyone looked around waiting for someone to claim the gift. Finally, Scorpius spoke up.

"Oh, erm, it's from me, Mr. Potter," he said sheepishly. "My parents also wanted me to extend an invitation to your family to join them in their box for any of the matches. I know you probably already have seats, but they insisted."

"Thank you, Scorpius, that is very kind of you," Harry said over the quiet whisper of her family baffled at the mention of his parents. Rose shifted in her seat, bothered by their judgement. Attention was taken off of him quickly as Harry moved on to another item. When the cake began to be passed around Scorpius whispered something in Rose's ear and they disappeared into the house.

"Scorpius," she hissed as he dragged her behind him. "They're going to notice."

"Friends do this sort of thing all the time," he retorted before suddenly pulling her into a broom closet and kissing her urgently. The kiss only lasted a brief moment before his mouth began to travel south and his head soon disappeared underneath her skirt.

"Scorpius, you have to," she began to protest before the pleasure of what he was doing overwhelmed her and she was powerless to stop him. Just as she was near finishing the door banged open. She gasped and knocked her knees together, squashing his head in the process.

"Oi! What in Merlin's name was that for?" He asked, pulling his head out of her skirt and rubbing the sides of it.

"FOR FUCKS SAKE!" Albus screamed in horror and both their heads turned to look at him. Albus had the most horrified look Rose had ever seen on a person and she and Scorpius both turned a deep shade of red. Scorpius darted to his feet and backed as far away from Rose as possible.

"Mate, I" Scorpius attempted to make some excuse and Rose closed her eyes in embarrassment.

"I don't want to know. That's my cousin! This is our grandmum's home! Have you no shame?"

"Albus, keep your voice down!" Rose pleaded.

"You are so full of shit Rose Minerva Granger Weasley!"

"Al, I'm begging you." He narrowed his eyes. "I'm never going to forgive you for this trauma, either of you." He shook his head. "And they're looking for you in the garden. It's time for a photo. The three of them hurried off to the garden in silence. Albus and Rose instantly joined the rest of the guests who were already in formation for a photo. Scorpius at first stayed to the side awkwardly before Harry beckoned him into the photo, claiming he was practically family at this point. Rose groaned internally. The photo was snapped, and the family began to disperse. Alice came to say goodbye to Rose, making her promise to keep her updated and not act so foolishly in the future without consulting her first. Rose helped her mum clean up while Ginny finally cornered Scorpius and forced him to answer some of her questions. As others began to head home Scorpius cornered Rose to say goodbye.

"Let's not talk about it," she said before he could say anything.

"I have to head out. I leave for France in the morning. I won't be able to see you until we're back."

"I know."

"My parents invited your parents as well. If you wanted to come. I know you hate Quidditch but-"

"I'll try."

"I probably won't play. But you know."

"Good luck either way. We're all rooting for you." She hugged him quickly and rather awkwardly, aware that many people were watching him. He appeared immediately after and she sighed deeply.

"You have a lot of explaining to do mate," Albus' stern voice pulled her from her thoughts and she unwillingly explained what had happened since the night in Kenmare. Thankfully her dad came to let her know that they were leaving, and she was able to make her escape from all the uncomfortableness at the Burrow. That night she had trouble sleeping. She was stuck processing everything that her conversation with Alice had revealed. She finally nodded off with the reassurance that she would not have to deal with her feelings until England was done with the World Cup Championship.

A/N: Hi readers! Sorry this took longer than usual. I started law school this week so that took a lot of my attention! But I have a lot of chapters pre-written so updates will still be as close to weekly as possible. As always, please please please leave a review with your thoughts & follow the story if you haven't already. Xx