Scorpius wanted nothing more than to sleep-in that Saturday morning after dinner with Albus, Catriona, and Rose, but he woke up with the sun and after a lot of tossing and turning, gave up and made tea. He sipped his tea, glad that Albus had walked Catriona home to her flat: dinner wasn't awkward, but he wasn't quite ready to see his coworker in his best mate's shirt and in his flat that early in the morning on a weekend. He knew he should go into the office that day and catch up on more paperwork, but he also knew the paperwork would still be there tomorrow or Monday. He felt restless and antsy, despite the early hour, and felt the sudden urge to be outside in nature.
He summoned parchment and a Muggle pen and wrote quick owls to James, Lily, and Dominique that he'd meet them later (he was really hoping George or Grandmum Weasley or Harry would have a BBQ on this brisk but sunny day) and went to change into his boots so he could go on a walk somewhere along the coast. It was early enough that no one would notice he was gone and it gave him time to be alone and to think.
To think about anything other than Rose bloody Weasley.
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"Isn't it a bit early for alcohol, Doctor Weasley?" Roxanne teased as they sat down at Rose's kitchen table.
"You don't have to have any," Rose rolled her eyes as she withheld the bottle of fizz from her younger cousin. "I thought you'd like a mimosa, but -"
"Oh, pour us the bloody fizz, won't you?" Lily pouted. "Godric knows I could do with a morning buzz."
"We'll get back to that in a minute you bloody alcoholic. But first, bless the Muggle that thought of mimosas as a morning drink," Dominique sat back in her chair. "I'm glad you've finally invited us over, Rose."
"I've been -"
"Busy," Roxanne nodded seriously.
"Settling in," Lily added.
"But don't you have other mates you wanted to invite over?" Dominique looked around the kitchen.
"Just your cousins?" Roxanne asked.
"Bit embarrassing, that," Lily shrugged.
"You lot exclusively hang out together," Rose fumed before she could stop herself; she took a deep breath when she realized they were teasing her. "Take a bloody sip of these before I throttle the lot of you, eh?"
"Cheers!"
"Chin chin!"
"Skol!"
"Slainte!" Dominique finished as they all clinked their glasses and took a sip.
They all glanced at Rose who shrugged, "The juice is for color, not for taste."
"I think the doctor may be the alcoholic," Lily said out of the corner of her mouth and ducked when Rose swatted at her.
"Now tell us where your other friends are, will you?"
"Yea, what about your school mates?" Roxanne tucked a loose box braid behind her shoulder. "And where are your braids I thought you had -"
Rose shook her head, "Wanted a change. And you know only Thomasin is in the city right now -"
"She the one dating Fred?" Lily asked.
"No one from Healer training?" Dominique interrupted.
"No one you're working with now?"
"What about Thomasin?"
Rose took a long sip of her mimosa as she let her three cousins talk before she cleared her throat. "Thomasin has gone on a few dates with Fred I think -"
"Wouldn't call them dates," Roxanne muttered into her glass.
"But she burst into St. Mungo's trying to harass Malfoy and I -"
"She did?"
"When?"
"He was barely there -"
Rose let them talk over one another again before she cleared her throat. "She came before visiting hours right when he got there," she explained. "And I won't have any patients in hospital being harassed. It's not good for their -"
"Recovery, sure," Dominique nodded. "I remember when Scorpius was injured -"
"Constantly having to kick out the Prophet," Lily's face contorted slightly. "It was bloody nonsense -"
"You should have been there, Rosie, give them your Head's glare -"
"Oh, you were good at that, weren't you?" Lily remembered fondly.
"Not as good as me, I reckon," Dominique sat up straighter. "Kids cowarded in front of me -"
"Boys," Roxanne corrected her. "Only boys."
"We knew you were a big softie -"
"But Rosie, Merlin, she was -"
"Kill you with a look, I reckon," Lily nodded.
"Are you quite finished?" Rose arched an eyebrow. "I forgot how exhausting you lot can be."
"You missed us terribly," Roxanne pulled Rose to her and hugged her roughly; Rose shoved her playfully and took another sip of her mimosa.
"Are you lot hungry?" Rose asked.
"You haven't," Dominique frowned.
"You didn't cook," Lily looked around the kitchen worriedly.
"Oh please tell us you didn't cook," Roxanne stood up, putting her hand to her chest in a display of dramatic concern.
"For someone who is so good at Potions," Lily muttered.
"So she says," Dominique mimicked her muttering. "We never actually saw -"
"Oi," Rose huffed. "I was very good at Potions, I'll have you know!"
"Have to be to be a Healer, don't you?" Roxanne nodded. "Merlin but you don't make Potions for -"
"I didn't cook," Rose sighed loudly. "I bought things from a cafe, alright? Pastries and things, a quiche." She waved her wand and the oven turned on. "Will you bloody sod off now?"
Lily giggled, "You're too bloody easy."
"I see why James and Fred enjoy teasing you so much," Roxanne winked at her. "So bloody fun."
Rose rolled her eyes and took another sip of her mimosa before pouring herself some more fizz. "Drink up, ladies, I've got more of this."
"And when we finish the fizz?" Lily asked.
"Godric, it's 10am, Lils," Dominique's eyes widened. "Are you okay?"
"It's my only day off this weekend," Lily griped. "Let me have a bit of fun, yea?"
There was a tapping at the kitchen window and Rose stood to open it, surprised when two owls flew in right after another and dropped an envelope in front of both Dominique and Lily before flying away again. They looked at each other and at the envelope, "Scorpius?" Dominique asked.
"Looks like," Lily nodded and opened the small letter.
"He know you were both here?" Rose asked in a voice she hoped was light and airy.
"Don't think so," Dominique shrugged as her blue eyes scanned the letter before laughing. "He said he's busy this morning but can meet up later if we want. He knows we want to hear about Catriona." Dominique looked up at Rose, "Tell us how dinner was, won't you, Rosie? Then we can compare to what Scorpius -"
"Oh, actually," Lily interrupted. "He said since it's a nice day -"
"Bit cold, actually -"
"He hopes someone would have a grill out later today," Lily's eyes lit up as she looked at her cousins. "We haven't had one in ages. That would be fun, wouldn't it?"
"Dad's been itching to get outside, actually," Roxanne said excitedly. "I reckon he'd have one tonight."
"You got a paper and quill, Rose?" Lily asked. "Let's write to Uncle George, yea?"
"And then I want to hear about the dinner," Dominique pointed at Rose. "Don't think you've gotten out of this yet."
Rose rolled her eyes and waved her wand to summon paper and pen. "No, of course not."
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"Don't you want to go home before we go to your dad's?" Rose asked her cousins as she cleaned up the kitchen. "We've been drinking for hours -"
"If I go home," Lily ran a hand through her long, dark red hair. "I'll take a nap and never come out again."
"We need to pick up some food and drinks anyway," Roxanne was looking over the owl she had just let into the kitchen. "Not sure why he won't Floo, Merlin," she grumbled. "Sounds like the whole family is coming over, and he'll need some beer and -"
"I want more bubbly," Dominique interrupted. "Just a bit more," she pleaded with Rose.
"We had a bottle apiece," Rose rolled her eyes and looked down at her outfit. "I feel very underdressed."
"It's a grill out," Roxanne laughed. "Not a bloody dance."
"You know Grandmum will say -"
"We'll get her liquored up," Dominique's grin was too big. "She'll love a mimosa."
"Fruit and bubbles?" Lily's smile matched Dominique's, "She won't be able to resist!"
Rose groaned as Roxanne shoved her to her bedroom, "Go put on some mascara and lipstick, and some shoes -"
"Maybe a jacket?"
"And we'll go to the store."
"A Muggle store?" Lily clapped her hands. "I bloody love a Muggle store."
"I want sausages." Rose heard Roxanne say as she turned the light on in her bathroom.
"That's the first time I've ever heard you say that," Rose called out to fits of giggles.
"Oooooh, Rose with a good slam!" Dominique laughed.
Rose looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. There went her plans of staying in, getting take-away, putting on a Muggle film, and going to sleep early; knowing her cousins, they'd probably make her stay at Uncle George and Aunt Angelina's past her chosen bedtime. She smoothed down some of her hair and used her wand to adjust her topknot slightly so no hair was out of place, rolling her eyes at herself when she caught herself thinking that her hair needed to be perfect - because her mother was so unconcerned with her own hair when she was growing up, Rose went in the completely opposite direction and took great pride in her hair. Rose needed Roxanne to do her hair again soon, that was always soothing to her, and since she was back, she liked spending time with her, talking about things that Lily and Dominique wouldn't understand, a special friendship she was missing while in Sweden.
"You've got a denim jacket, don't you?" Roxanne was at the door of the bathroom. "I think that'd look great with that top.
"I'm wearing jeans," Rose's eyes widened at her cousin. "Denim on denim?"
"It's very in right now," Roxanne quirked an eyebrow. "I wore it the other day -"
"You can famously pull off anything, Roxy," Rose rolled her eyes and put on her favorite blood red lipstick carefully. "I don't think I -"
"You most definitely can," Roxanne smirked. "That thin black sweater, dark jeans, and a light-wash denim jacket?"
"And what shoes should I wear, controller of my outfit?"
"Whatever you want," Roxanne shrugged and walked out of the bathroom.
"Next you'll force me into wearing patterns," Rose called after her.
"If you've got -"
"No," Rose shouted. "You're wearing enough patterns for the rest of us, thanks."
Roxanne had an eclectic fashion style that Rose was wary to admit she was envious of, but she wasn't wrong that Roxanne could pull off anything she wanted: the girl was bloody confident. Rose pressed her lips together and sighed. Sometimes she wore purple lipstick, but she couldn't wear black lipstick like Roxanne could, she couldn't wear Hawaiian shirts and make it look effortless like Roxanne could.
"Actually," Roxanne came back. "Wear this shirt," she handed her a shirt Rose had forgotten was in her closet. "Isn't this Uncle Ron's?"
"Yea," Rose frowned, tilting her head slightly. "I don't know why I have that, actually. I think I borrowed it once when James and Fred hosed me down -"
"That was bloody hilarious," Lily bounded into the bedroom. "Absolutely wicked."
"That was ages ago," Dominique was there now too. "You bring it all the way to Sweden and back?"
"Guess so," Rose shrugged before frowning at Roxanne. "This is a weird shirt to wear to a grill out -"
"Not with jeans and a denim jacket!" Roxanne shoved the shirt into her hands. "A loose fitting, striped, short sleeve button down?" She grinned wickedly, "You'll look smashing."
"You have boots you can wear?" Lily asked from her closet.
"Sneakers even," Dominique asked. "I know you have a pair of skater shoes -"
"I never wear those for a reason," Rose's voice was muffled as she tugged her sweater over her head. "They are ridiculous -"
"Oi, I gave you those," Roxanne pouted. "I think they're brilliant!"
"They're high tops -"
"Barely," Lily laughed as she pulled the black shoes out from the back of the closet. "Slip them on, come on!"
"You're trying to get me to look like an older Roxanne," Rose frowned.
"You'll never be as wild as Roxanne," Dominique laughed. "You look like Rose."
"We're just helping the real Rose out of her boring wardrobe -"
"Oi!" Rose's eyes flashed. "Don't you -"
"We're kidding, we're kidding, it's the bubbles talking, now come on!" Lily giggled.
"Look at you," Dominique put a hand to her heart. "You look brilliant."
"Absolutely smashing," Roxanne agreed with a wink. "I told you so."
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Rose was big enough to admit the outfit Roxanne had forced upon her was comfortable, but not big enough to admit to her cousins that she felt bloody confident in it. It wasn't the sexiest outfit someone could wear, but Rose felt a certain confidence wearing double denim - why wasn't she wearing this distressed denim jacket all the time? - and a man's shirt. She was surprised at how much she liked wearing her dad's shirt, and she was even more surprised it fit her so well considering Ron was tall and thin and Rose was, well, less tall and less thin. The faded pink stripes on the worn button down wear a fun contrast to her lipstick and when Rose went to pay at the store for more fizz, some beers, and a bottle of Macallan 12, she felt the young cashier's eyes on her for longer than she liked. She glared up at him and he blinked, scared at being caught. Rose turned her head to Dominique and smirked. Yes, she liked how she looked and felt in this outfit, and so did others apparently.
"Scottish whisky?" Lily scrunched up her nose, "At a grill out?"
"Not everyone wants beer and fizz," Rose laughed. "And it's a nice gift for Uncle George too."
"Oh, we're bringing gifts now?" Dominique rolled her eyes, "Bloody hell you're such a suck up, you're -"
"Oi!" Rose pushed the door of the shop open and back out to the Muggle street. "That's -"
"You're really on edge more than usual," Roxanne shoved Rose playfully. "You know we're teasing -"
"You know we're not serious," Dominique frowned and slung an arm around Rose's shoulders. "Are you okay?" Her voice was low.
"Yes, I'm fine," Rose sighed. "Just easily worked up, you know." She felt Dominique's gaze on her, but kept her eyes ahead of her. Dominique would let it go eventually.
"Something's off with you," Dominique's voice was still low so Roxanne and Lily didn't overhear. "I'll figure it out even if you don't tell me."
"There's nothing," Rose tried again, but saw the determined look on Dominique's face and fell silent as they walked down the Muggle block. It was a long way to her Uncle George and Aunt Angelina's house if they couldn't Apparate (thanks to all those mimosas) and Rose didn't like the idea of Dominique asking her hundreds of probing questions as they walked so she turned to her cousin's walking behind her. "Let's Floo, shall we? Then we can have some more mimosas."
Roxanne and Lily cheered and Dominique narrowed her eyes; she knew exactly what Rose was doing.
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"Merlin's hat," George shook his head at his daughter and Lily after they stumbled through the Floo giggling. "Barely 3pm and you're already three sheets to the wind." He tutted at them, "Who allowed -"
"My fault," Rose dusted the soot off herself. "Mimosas," she explained.
"We finally saw Rose's flat," Lily told her uncle.
"And we didn't realize how much we liked mimosas," Roxanne added.
George's eyes lit up, "Bubbly and orange juice?"
"How do you -"
"Just for color," Roxanne and Lily repeated together as though they were in school. "Not for taste."
George clapped his hands together, "I like the sound of that." He eyed Rose mischievously, "How many of those can you make? I reckon Grandmum and your mum -"
"I'll show you how," Rose raised her hand to stop him. "But you know very well I ain't making mum one of these."
George laughed and slung an arm around her shoulders, "Fair enough, poppet. Come in, come in, let's see if I've got any champs hidden away somewhere -"
"Oi, don't call it that, Uncle George!" Dominique pouted from behind them, "That's so crass!"
"Always tryna be extra French," Lily rolled her eyes playfully as she followed them all into the kitchen. "Auntie Angelina," she cooed and hugged her aunt. "You look absolutely gorg -"
"Quit sucking up to me mum," Roxanne rolled her eyes as she set a case of beer down on the counter.
"Just because I'm being nice to yer mum doesn't mean I'm sucking up," Lily stuck her tongue out at her cousin.
"They always like this when they day-drink?" Angelina arched an eyebrow at Rose who shrugged and gave her aunt a quick hug.
"Been a while since I've seen it," Rose admitted.
"She's too busy," Dominique hugged Angelina too. "Saving lives and all that."
"Says the girl who has Quidditch every weekend," Rose rolled her eyes and turned back to her aunt. "What can we help with?"
"I'd love a drink," Angelina admitted, her voice low. "George is setting up one too many fireworks and I don't love it."
"It isn't a holiday or a birthday," Rose wracked her brain.
"Of course she knows everyone's bloody birthday," Dominique teased and shoved her slightly. "I'd love a drink too."
"Rosie, here's some champagne, that better, Dommy?" George said as he carried two bottles back into the kitchen.
"Godric, how old are those?" Angelina's scrunched up her face slightly.
"They were rather dusty," George admitted.
"There's been secret alcohol here all along?" Lily looked affronted.
"I thought for sure you lot would have found all of it," George shrugged and winked at his wife. "Must have hid these really good."
"So good you forgot we had them," Angelina rolled her eyes at her husband, a hand on her hip. "I think I'll stick to something else, thanks."
"Rubbish!" George grinned.
"I brought whisky, actually," Rose pulled the bottle out of her bag. "As a thanks for hosting us -"
"Now, Lils, darling, this is how you suck up," Angelina took the bottle from Rose and went to the cabinet to pull two glasses out.
Lily stuck her tongue out at Rose, "I prefer champs anyway."
Dominique groaned.
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Scorpius was confused when he arrived at George and Angelina's home: he was only 15 minutes late (from the time George himself had written him to come by), but everyone was already there with a drink (or in Fred's case, two) in hand. It wasn't a holiday or anyone's birthday, it was just a boring Saturday, the weather wasn't even that nice, and yet everyone was drinking and chatting away.
"Malfoy, m'boy!" George patted him on the back. "Lovely of you to join us, finally."
"It's 4:15, you told me 4," Scorpius rolled his eyes as a bottle of beer was put into his head by another redhead he didn't see.
"And you know that really means 3," George winked at him before guiding him up the garden path. "Now come along, we've got one mimosa left, just for you -"
"A mimosa?" Scorpius frowned. "Where on earth did you -"
"Rose made them, of course," George grinned. "Bloody delicious, they are." He waved up to Hugo who stood right outside the kitchen door, "Go and get that last glass of mimosa, won't you, Hugs?"
"Stop calling him that!" Rose and Ron yelled out in unison and Scorpius turned his head slightly to see them both look rather red-faced in irritation (or in Ron's case, maybe irritation and alcohol consumption). Scorpius did his best to turn his gaze away from Rose quickly before he could fully appreciate her outfit; he needed a few more of these blasted beers before he even wanted to think about looking at her.
"Oh, he loves it, don't you, Hugs?" George laughed as Hugo bounded back out of the house.
"It's not the worst nickname," Hugo shrugged, a huge grin on his face. "Here ya go, Scorp," Hugo's massive hands nearly engulfed the small flute of barely-orange champagne. "It's all right, not the best," his voice was very deep, something that surprised Scorpius every time the young Weasley spoke.
"Not the best drink you've ever had?" George cried in mock anger. "How dare you spout such lies in my home, Hugs!"
Hugo shrugged and shoved his hands in his pocket, "It really just tastes like bubbles to me, Uncle George."
George sighed and put his hand on his young nephew, "We really need to teach you more about alcohol, Hugs. We've got to expand your palate or you'll end up like your father -"
"Thanks, Uncle George," Rose shoved her way in between them. "I'll teach Hugo here, all about -"
"Oi," Ron's ears were red. "I know perfectly well what to drink and -"
"That's our cue," Rose grabbed her brother's arm and yanked him into the kitchen, leaving Scorpius there with her angry father and a laughing George, but Scorpius was well-versed in avoiding Weasley conflicts at these gatherings, and slipped away without either man noticing he was gone.
"Oh they saved you a mimosa, good," Dominique was at his side. "We worried for a minute there that grandmum was going to drink them all."
Scorpius rolled his eyes dramatically, "I could have brought more -"
"Now where's the fun in that, eh?" Dominique nudged him with her hip. "Go on, try it."
"I've had mimosas before, Nicola, darling," he said in a posh voice. "We have them all the time with mother's society friends, you see." Dominique shoved him again and he let out a loud laugh before taking a small sip. "Yea, it's all right," he shrugged. "More of an early-in-the-day drink, though, innit?"
"It's an all day drink," Lily said from his other side and he jumped slightly.
"It's our new favorite drink," Roxanne popped out from behind Lily.
"Merlin, how many of these have you two had?" Scorpius laughed at them.
"Loads," Lily nodded.
"Loads," Roxanne agreed.
"Well they won't be your favorite drink come tomorrow, that's for sure," Scorpius took another sip of his mimosa. "Was there no more orange juice? There's barely any -"
"Just for color, not for taste!" Lily and Roxanne said together before falling into a fit of giggles.
Scorpius shared a look with Dominique, "Please tell me they aren't drinking anymore tonight?"
"Not unless someone brings more fizz for them and grandmum, which I don't think anyone will do," Dominique sighed. "Now come on, finish your fizz, finish your beer, let's get you a whisky and talk about your double date -"
"It wasn't a double date and you know it," Scorpius sighed before downing the rest of his mimosa. "And I'd rather not have a whisky." Whisky had too many memories attached to it now.
"Tell me about you and Rose third and fourth wheeling then," Dominique rolled her clear blue eyes as she dragged Scorpius back up to the house. "And we'll get you something other than a whisky, okay?"
Scorpius forgot that Rose had dragged Hugo into the kitchen not long before and was therefore surprised to see they were still in the kitchen when Dominique dragged him through the door demanding he finish his beer. "Is it your fault they're all this drunk and mean?" Scorpius asked her with an arch of his eyebrow before he could stop himself. She was always doing this to him lately - and previously too, he had to admit - riling him up and making him say things he may have otherwise not.
Rose's dark blue eyes flashed and she opened her mouth to tell Scorpius off, but Hugo grinned widely, his bright brown eyes twinkling, "Rose finally invited them over to her flat."
"And she plied us with mimosa after mimosa so we wouldn't ask her too many questions about her personal life, Score, you know how she is," Dominique waved her hand behind her as she went in search of a glass and drink for him. Scorpius knew she was likely drunker than she seemed if she was saying something like that in front of more people than just him. His eyes darted to Rose, but she was staring at the ceiling and taking a deep breath.
"It's not my fault they can't hold their liquor," Rose muttered and turned to her brother. "Quit tattling on me, will ya?"
Hugo was still grinning, "But it's fun, innit?" He chuckled and turned to Scorpius, "What'd ya think of the mimosa?"
Scorpius returned the shrug, "I've had them before. I do prefer a bit more juice in mine." He finished his beer, his eyes landing on Rose for a long moment to fully take in her outfit - Merlin's beard how could she pull off bloody denim on denim? - before he turned to Dominique, "Do you need help, Nicola?"
"Oh, that's a fun one," Hugo laughed.
"Come on," Rose tugged on Hugo's shirt sleeve. "Let's go back outside and make sure dad hasn't throttled Uncle George, shall we?" Hugo sighed and followed his sister back outside.
"There's Scottish whisky that Rose brought, there's vodka, there's -" Dominique was listing off the bottles.
"Vodka's fine, come on," Scorpius grabbed the bottle, tapped the glass to make it ice cold, and poured some vodka in it. He raised his glass to clink to Dominique's bottle of beer and took a long swig before pouring more vodka in the glass.
Dominique raised an eyebrow at him, "You all right, there, partner?"
He knew there was real worry in her voice, but he managed to plaster a smile on his face, "Just don't want to be left behind." He winked at her, "Now, come, and I'll tell you about how annoyingly cute Albus and Catriona are."
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Scorpius was surprised, given everyone's varying levels of inebriation, that Albus was only teased for a moment about Catriona. Scorpius knew it was likely because everyone was relieved Albus dating someone that Scorpius and Rose already approved and Harry knew from work; no one wanted Albus to get his heartbroken again.
What Scorpius hadn't been expecting was getting teased mercilessly for spending his morning without any of them. "I have other friends, you know," Scorpius rolled his eyes at James.
"But you just said you weren't with any of them," Fred pointed out triumphantly.
"I had some errands and things to catch up on," Scorpius said and pointed his bottle of beer at Fred. "I was out of the country and then in hospital, if you remember," he arched a pale blonde eyebrow, his eyes darting to Rose who was staring into her glass of whisky. She really was nursing that thing…
"Well what errands did you -"
"Leave the poor bastard alone," Rose cut in sharply.
They all stopped to stare at her; she ignored them as she finished her whisky in one go. "Anyone else need a refill?" She shook her glass delicately before heading back up to the house.
Hugo broke the silence with an awkward laugh before mumbling that he needed to find his mum. Lily and Roxanne tilted their heads at Scorpius before walking away, James and Fred mumbling apologies at Scorpius who shook his head as they walked away. Dominique and Albus were all that remained next to him; Albus rubbed the back of his neck, "Were they going too -"
"No," Scorpius shook his head. "I think everyone's just had too much to drink."
"Did something happen between," Dominique started, her eyes darting to Albus. "Are you and Rose -"
"I'm not sure why she snapped," Scorpius admitted; that was true, he had no idea why she said that and walked away. They had a perfectly pleasant time yesterday, even if they barely spoke to each other and he felt uncomfortable sitting next to her all throughout dinner, worried that at any moment their legs may accidentally touch. He cleared his throat; he hated lying to his two best friends, but this wasn't really a lie. "It was all gentle teasing," he attempted a smile. "All in good fun."
"I'll go talk to her," Albus started but he sighed when Dominique and Scorpius looked at him. "You're right, bad idea."
"Just give her some space" Scorpius offered. "I think it's time for some desserts anyway, right?"
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Scorpius waited an appropriate amount of time - a full beer's worth - before he approached Rose who was sitting on a stump that also functioned as a chair, under some twinkling, moving lights, in the corner of the yard. "May I join you?" He asked her softly, keeping a safe distance from her.
She glanced up at him, her dark blue eyes hidden by the dim light twinkling above her, "No 'Petal'?" Her voice was soft but she nodded at another stump next to her.
Scorpius ran a hand through his hair and sat down hesitantly. "Didn't seem like you were much in the mood for a nickname you despise," he admitted sheepishly.
"Hasn't stopped you before," she blurted out before she could stop herself. She swallowed, "I don't despise it."
Scorpius tucked that piece of information away for later. "Do you want to talk about what happened earlier, or," Scorpius trailed off.
"They were harassing you," Rose shrugged and took a very small sip of her whisky. "Didn't seem fair."
"Hasn't stopped you before," Scorpius repeated her words back to her and was pleased to see she glared at him before rolling her eyes. He bit back a smile, "What's going on?" She didn't move to respond and took another sip of her drink. "I can stay here all night, Rose. I've got nowhere to be tomorrow."
"Because you finished your errands today?" She turned her face away from him and he noticed her foot bounce slightly against the ground, clearly irritated.
"I want to make sure you're okay," he assured her. "Didn't want to see you and Albus get into it if he checked on you."
"Thanks," Rose glanced at him quickly. "Save us all a bit of grief there." Scorpius swung his empty bottle of beer in between his legs, waiting for her to continue. "I'm okay."
He nodded and looked up at the twinkling lights, not wanting to ask his next question, but knowing he had to. "And," he cleared his throat slightly. "Are we okay?"
Scorpius could see out of the corner of his eye that Rose froze: her foot stopped bouncing, the glass in her hand didn't even shake as she held it next to the stump away from her body. He could tell she was trying to compose herself, to act as though nothing was wrong, "Of course, why -"
"You're lying," Scorpius sighed and put his head in one hand. "You're bloody lying," his voice was muffled by his hand.
"I'm not -"
"I didn't tell anyone, if that's what you're worried about," Scorpius talked over her. "Bloody hell, I've never told anyone, I'm never going to tell anyone." The words were spilling out of his mouth before he could stop them, his voice low, his eyes locked on her. But even as he saw her turn towards him, her blue eyes wild with anger, he didn't stop talking.
"You almost bloody died," she hissed at him, inches away from his face. She turned in a millisecond so that she was directly in his line of vision, her entire body invading his personal space. "You nearly died so many times," she continued, her eyes dark and wide. "No one else bloody knows because I can't tell them, because they can't know," her voice was strangled as she tried to get the words out. "I couldn't bear it, it was so close, and," her voice broke."I don't know what to do." She realized she was uncommonly close to him and pulled back, the truth of her words hitting her as she watched his face pale. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you, Scorpius, I'm," she stood up, her glass of whisky shaking. "I'm so sorry," she moaned. "You weren't supposed to know, it'll make you," she trailed off, her face contorting in irritation at herself. "I'm so sorry, I'm so -"
"Weasley, it's fine," Scorpius said calmly as he stood up.
He hadn't called her Weasley in ages.
"Scorpius, I'm -"
"I'm glad you told me," he nodded at her. His face was blank and that scared Rose. "It's good I know."
"Scorpius, I -"
"Goodnight, Weasley," Scorpius nodded at her and walked away before she could stop him.
Rose stood there, frozen, as she watched him walk back towards the party and make his goodbyes to everyone before walking to the gate of the yard and walking out into the dark field behind the house.
Albus turned to look up at the corner Rose was in and frowned at her.
What had she done now?
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A/N: A long one, eh?
I really wanted to get into the dynamic of the four girl Weasley-Potter cousins and the dynamics of the pairs within that group. I don't have sisters or cousins, but this is what I'm like with friends who I love - a lot of talking over each other, hyping up, and gentle teasing.
What do you all think? Please review! :)