"Are you trying to guilt me into going running with you?" Scorpius opened the door of his flat to let Dominique in. "You know I hate jogging."

"We could go hiking?" Dominique slipped past him to get a glass of water. "We haven't been hiking in ages. Before it gets too cold?"

"It's never too cold for you, Nic," Scorpius closed the door and shook his head. "Want some eggs?"

"Thought we could go grab a bite somewhere, actually," Dominique took a sip of water. "You don't have to go into the office for a bit, right?"

Scorpius put his arm around her shoulders, "You can just ask me how I am, love." Dominique stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed. "I'm a bit sore, and itching to get back into the field," Scorpius shrugged and nudged her slightly before letting his arm slip from her shoulders so he could lean against the counter and meet her eyes. "But I'm okay."

Dominique nodded, her light blue eyes probing his face, "And Rose was your Healer, eh? How was," her face fell slightly. "How are you?" She swallowed, "I mean, not just because it was her, but because, you know, she's important."

"Am I not important?" Scorpius put a hand to his chest. "I'd say I'm -"

"You must have been worse off than you're telling us," Dominique hissed, her blue eyes flashing. "And I bloody well know you can't tell us, but I want to know you're truly okay, and you're not -"

"I'm fine," Scorpius squeezed her arm, his voice low. "I promise you I'm perfectly okay. No lasting damage." He flashed her a small smile, "Your cousin must be a great Healer because this scar is already smaller and less grotesque than my last several hexes."

Dominique's lips twitched, "Don't let her hear you say that. She's so close to having as big a head as bloody James and -"

"Oh, morning, Dom," Albus rubbed his hand through his messy black hair as he padded into the kitchen. "Trying to get Scorpius to exercise? I've been telling him -"

"Thank you," Scorpius interrupted him. "Dommy and I are going for breakfast. Do you -"

"Nah, I'm okay," Albus opened the fridge to rummage through it. "I'm actually going to go workout for a bit before practice." He pulled out the carton of eggs. "I'll see you tonight, Score?"

"Yessir," Scorpius nodded. "7pm sharp." He grabbed his jacket, "I won't be late."

"You better not be!" Albus called out after him as Scorpius and Dominique left the flat.

"Dinner with Catriona tonight?" Dominique smiled wickedly, "You're going to tell me all the details after, won't you?"

Scorpius rolled his eyes, "You've met her too."

"Yea, but I haven't talked to her that much," Dominique was still smiling. "Oh, I can't wait to know -"

"You can hear from Rose too," Scorpius interrupted her. "She'll be there as well."

Dominique looked even more excited, "Oooh, I can compare feedback!" She clapped her hands, "This is exciting."

Scorpius let her continue on about how excited she was for Albus and how eager she was to learn more about Catriona, knowing full well that she wouldn't stop talking until she had tired herself of the subject, probably by the time they sat down to eat. He and Dominique were nearly as close friends as he and Albus were and that was only because he and Albus had their years in Slytherin and nothing could compare to sharing a dormitory.

He was also fully aware that more than one member of the Weasley-Potter clan was devastated that Dominique and Scorpius had never (and would never) date. He knew Grandmum Weasley had even been so bold as to say something directly to Dominique - thankfully once he was no longer her teammate - and James had (drunkenly) told him once that he wished Scorpius would date Dominique (and Scorpius rather thought Lily too) because he knew Scorpius was a "good sort". He knew it came from a place of true concern for Dominique, especially after the incident.

But being someone's teammate, on a professional level no less, was not an ideal way to begin a romance. And Scorpius and Dominique were more suited to be best mates than lovers. They were practically siblings in that sense, except unlike the actual siblings he saw interact, they rarely fought.

"I mean, you work with her, do you think she's good enough for our lil' Albie?" Dominique's tinkling and teasing voice floated to him and he rolled his eyes good naturedly.

"Would I have introduced the pair if I had even a shred of doubt?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Lily will fight you on that, ya know," Dominique laughed again. "It was her -"

"Oi!" Scorpius yelled. "I was the one who -" he growled when Dominique laughed louder this time. "You bloody -"

"Call me a name and I'll tell your father," Dominique warned him with a wink.

"I'm a grown man, Nic, you know I'm not -"

"Ah, yes, a grown man," she reached out to touch his face but he caught her wrist. "Are we trying to grow a beard?"

He dropped her hand and he scratched the hairs that were growing there, "Started at hospital, thought I'd let it grow to see what happens." He shrugged and winked at her, "I look rather rugged, don't you think?"

"I'll write to Uncle Charlie, see if he's got any open positions on the Reserve, shall I?" She threw her head back to laugh, "I'm sure you'll do splendidly living in a tent -"

"Oi, you know I love -" Scorpius protested but stopped when Dominique laughed even louder and he scratched his chin again as they approached the small French cafe. "You're a bit more chipper than usual, aren't you? What's going on with you, eh?"

"What?" Dominique pushed the door of the cafe open with a wink, "Can't a gal be glad to see her mate out of hospital?"

"You're -"

"Bonjour, deux cafés, deux pain au chocolat, un madelaine," Dominique said in her perfect French that always made Scorpius roll his eyes. "S'il vous plaît," Dominique added with a smile. "Merci."

"Merci," Scorpius mimicked her as he handed the cashier the Muggle money. "He's not even French, you know."

Dominique shrugged and winked at Scorpius, "Good to practice. I'm hoping to go see Aunt Gabrielle during my break." Her face lit up, "Oh, you should come!"

"Won't that irritate your boyfriend?" Scorpius asked in a quiet voice.

"Reggie isn't my," Dominique's eyes widened as she sat down in the chair heavily. "Bollocks."

"I bloody knew it," Scorpius said triumphantly. "You're acting so bloody chipper because you're bloody slee-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy," Dominique's clear blue eyes blazed and Scorpius shut his mouth quickly. "That's none of your business." She sat back in her chair, "Not until it's happened at least."

Scorpius raised a blonde eyebrow at her as the cashier set their coffees and pastries on the table. "Dates?"

"Three," Dominique shrugged and took a sip of her coffee.

"That's a big deal," Scorpius said as lightly as he could manage; he wanted to ask Dominique a hundred questions. She never went on more than two dates with someone, and she very rarely didn't want to tell Scorpius about her sexual escapades, although he rather she didn't.

"It's not a big deal," she argued. "It's just a few dates."

"And you haven't slept with him," Scorpius pointed out. "Yet," he added with a tilt of his head.

"He's not a Muggle," Dominique's voice was very quiet and she broke a piece of her au pain chocolate off to eat it.

Both of Scorpius's eyebrows very nearly got lost in his hair, "Sorry. He's a wizard?" His voice was low as this was a Muggle establishment. Dominique had only dated (and slept with) Muggle men since the incident, for good reason: it was easier for her to slip away and never be seen from again. And, Scorpius rather imagined, it was easier to Oblivate the ones who ran the risk of being clingy. Dominique had never told him as such, but he knew she was very handy with charms.

"Yes," she hissed. "He's just visiting England for a few weeks before he goes back to Australia," she grumbled. "It's nothing serious."

"And yet you aren't sleeping with him," Scorpius pointed out with a smirk.

"It's just a bit of fun," Dominique argued.

"Sticking your toes back in the Wizarding pool," Scorpius suggested.

"It's not -"

Scorpius put a hand over hers, "It is a big deal," he argued. "And I'm proud of you."

Dominique opened her mouth to argue, but her light blue eyes met his dark grey ones and she sighed, "Don't tell anyone?"

"My lips are sealed," he nodded. "They always are."

"Thanks, Pius."

Scorpius stuck his tongue out at her, "You really had to ruin a touching moment, didn't you?"

Dominique smirked playfully, "I'm a Weasley after all."

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Flashback Post-Hogwarts

"I wish she had come back for the trial," Albus whispered roughly to Scorpius. "Dominique needs -"

"I know," Scorpius whispered back. "I'm sure she wanted to be here, but time off -"

"Don't defend her," Albus grumbled and squirmed slightly on the uncomfortable bench. "She doesn't deserve it."

Scorpius kept his mouth shut tightly as he glanced around the cavernous room as they waited for the trial to begin. Where the bloody hell was Dominique? He had offered to sit with her but she had kindly declined and Scorpius wondered if she was suddenly worried about how it would look if they sat together: the man who poorly defended her from the insane criminal on trial. He tried not to stare at the man in his chair, chains around his ankles and wrists, but Scorpius could feel his cold eyes on him. He tried not to shiver.

The large door opened and the entire room turned to see Dominique, her head held high, her long pale-strawberry blonde hair behind her shoulders, walking purposefully into the room with her parents a step behind her. Bill Weasley was tall and imposing with that deep scar running across his face and any hint of humor missing from his mouth and eye; Fleur Delacour-Weasley looked absolutely stunning in her robes, her long silvery-white hair glistening and moving as though it had been charmed to flutter behind her shoulders with an invisible wind machine.

The entire atmosphere of the room shifted when they entered and sat in the front row, waiting for the trial to begin. Scorpius clasped his hands together in his lap, uncomfortable on the bench and in this room. His father had offered to come support him, but Scorpius knew these rooms were very tough for his father to be in, even years after the many trials after the War. Draco had nodded grimly and told Scorpius he'd wait for his son in the Atrium after the trial to take him out "for a pint or cuppa, whichever you feel you'll need" and for that Scorpius was grateful. Harry had told Scorpius that he may not even be called upon to give testimony, depending on how Marcus Barnaby acted in front of the Wizenmagot and if Dominique and her coach's testimonies were enough.

"You refused to go on a date with him, Ms. Weasley," the wizard defending Barnaby said. "And you're saying that is what caused Mr. Barnaby to make an attempt on your life during a Quidditch match."

"Yes," Dominique answered cooly. "And because I was a better player than him."

The wizard ignored her statement and continued, "You were known for dating Quidditch players, were you not, Ms. Weasley?"

Scorpius felt Albus's hand on his wrist.

"I don't know what you're insinuating, sir, but no. I was known for playing Quidditch. Not dating," Dominique's voice was clear and cold, ignoring the low murmurs of the crowd.

"You dated Mr. Malfoy, your teammate," the wizard said slyly. "And that is why he tried to get Mr. Barnaby -"

Dominique's cold, mirthless laughter stopped the man mid-sentence, "You must never have played Quidditch, sir. You don't date your teammates. That's a recipe for disaster."

"Nevertheless -"

"No," Dominique's gaze hardened and the man snapped his mouth shut. "I never dated Mr. Malfoy. Not only was he my teammate for nearly two years, but he's my cousin's best friend and has been for years." Her voice rang out across the room even though she wasn't shouting, "Mr. Barnaby was mad I wouldn't go out on a date with him and tried to kill me because of it and make it look like an accident. Mr. Malfoy saved me because we are best mates and teammates. His career was cut short because of this maniac." She wouldn't look at Barnaby. "The fact that you are trying to paint me as some sort of harlot is insulting and sexist. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Order!" The Chief Wizard shouted when Barnaby suddenly raged against his chains, a look of murder in his eyes.

"Bitch!" He spat at Dominique who didn't flinch. "You absolute bitch!"

"Take him away," the Chief Wizard shouted again as the crowd erupted around Scorpius, his ears ringing. "To Azkaban for attempted murder, endangering the public, and being in contempt of court." He waited until Barnaby was taken away, his yells silenced by Aurors, before he said, "This trial is over. Ms. Weasley, I apologize, on behalf of the entire Wizarding public for what you've had to endure here today and before the trial began. I will personally ensure that Mr. Barnaby's legal counsel never again defends a misogynist wizard."

"Bloody likely, that," Albus muttered to Scorpius as everyone stood up to watch the Wizenmagot leave the room.

Scorpius ignored his friend and watched Dominique walk out of the room in between her parents, her eyes meeting his for the briefest of seconds before she turned her attention to the aisle in front of her. He could talk to her later, in private, away from prying eyes. He was relieved that he wasn't asked to speak, unsure of how he would have reacted to the accusations thrown at Dominique or himself. He took a deep breath, nodded at whatever it was Albus said to him, and followed his best friend out of the room, ready for that pint with his father.

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"Aren't you supposed to be having dinner with Albus and Catriona?" Harry stood over Scorpius's desk. "Albus hates when people are late."

"It's not till 7," Scorpius looked up and shrugged. "I was rather hoping to finish as much paperwork as possible," he stretched out his fingers.

"You know Albus will be early," Harry ran a hand through his black hair. "Don't give him more of a reason to stress."

"He'll never learn to relax," Scorpius smirked. "You and I both know that."

"Not with James and Lily for siblings," Harry laughed. "How's he doing with," he hesitated. "With Catriona?" Scorpius could tell it was strange for Harry to call her by her first name but he didn't mention it. "Not sure when he'll want Gin and I to meet her in a non-work capacity."

Scorpius shrugged, "Since I've been out, I'm not sure."

"Meeting you and Rose is the first step to serious," Harry nodded. "Then I guess it's James and Lily?"

"Which means Fred and Roxanne," Scorpius nodded and leaned back in his chair. "And Nic since otherwise she'll feel left out."

"And then teammates and non-family members," Harry agreed. "Godric we won't meet her for ages." He glanced at Scorpius's Muggle wristwatch. "You better get going, it's Friday after all. Finish this paperwork later. There'll be more after the weekend."

"There's always more paperwork," Scorpius grumbled but stood up nonetheless. "And more strategy meetings?"

Harry sighed, "The Minister has some open windows, so it'll likely be a few working lunches next week before you get approved for duty. Still need to know for meetings."

Scorpius knew the "need to know" circle was slowly getting larger and larger, but he knew better than to say anything. He rather thought the fewer people who knew the better to take out this radical without alerting too many people, but he had to listen to his bosses. They were, after all, experienced with radicals.

"Tell Ms. Weasley I say hullo," Scorpius reached and grabbed his denim jacket. "And tell Lily and James I'll see them tomorrow. I assume they'll want a debrief."

Harry laughed and agreed as Scorpius left the office and headed to the lifts to exit out the Atrium. He reckoned there'd be some sort of large-gathering this weekend at the Burrow or the Potter's home, but he and Harry didn't talk much about family events at work. He still had enough time that he could walk to the Muggle restaurant and wouldn't need to bother Apparating to the alley around the corner. This was one of Albus's favorite restaurants and Scorpius had been there enough times that he knew exactly what he was going to order; he could be a few minutes late. And the walk would help clear his mind before he saw Rose again.

Before he'd have to talk to Rose again.

Before he'd have to pretend everything was fine between him and Rose.

He'd have to be on his best behavior - Albus would be able to tell that something was amiss. Although he had never guessed that the pair had slept together…

Yes, a brisk walk in the crisp London air would do him some good.

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A/N: Please review! :) I really like the Dominique/Scorpius friendship, what do you think?