Disclaimer: None of this story is mine and I'm making no profit from it.

A/N: Sorry it took two weeks! I had exams and they were brutal and the teachers were all mean and stuff and yeah. But here you go! There a thousand extra words this week because I was late so here you go!

Chapter 6

Malfoy wasn't in our room when I woke up. 'Good,' I thought to myself. 'Maybe he's finally learnt how to be a decent human being.' I changed slowly, taking my time and enjoying having a room to myself.

I headed out to the Common room in good spirit. Eager to see him asleep on the couch, head lolling over the edge and covered by nothing but a thin sheet. Getting a taste of his own medicine for a change.

But he wasn't there either.

Odd. Malfoy wasn't one to wake up early... especially not on a Sunday. Well, maybe the sofa had been too uncomfortable for a lie in. I know it sounds like I was desperately searching for him, but- well... I suppose I was looking for him. I'm not sure why. Spite, perhaps. I wanted to know that he'd at least slept badly. That would be some sort of retribution.

He wasn't in the Great Hall.

I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed. But only because that meant he had probably spent last night with some girl. In a comfortable bed. He wasn't paying for being a dick at all, he was just going about his life. Having a pretty great time too, by the looks of it.

Nana Molly always used to tell us that mean people would get what was coming to them. Well, I hoped what was coming to Malfoy hurried itself up because I was starting to think she was wrong.

I clucked my tongue in annoyance as I took my place on the Gryffindor table. Well, at least there was one thing I could rely on to cheer me up- Hogwarts' food.

"What's wrong?" Al asked from across from me. I jumped, not having noticed him as I sat down.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my eyes flicking to his usual spot on the Slytherin table.

"Scorp isn't here, so I thought I'd sit with my family." He flung and arm around Dom, who was the only other one of us who'd arrived at breakfast yet.

"Yeah, okay," Dom rolled her eyes, teasingly. "We all know why you're really here, Al." She raised her eyebrows pointedly towards the entrance to the great hall, where Alice had just walked in.

Al went slightly red and grinned, but didn't do anything to disparage Dom. So she turned back to her cereal, "Where's Malfoy anyway?" She asked, ignoring the look Al gave her for not referring to his best friend by his first name.

"His grandma was rushed to St Mungo's. They think it's serious so the whole family has gone to visit her just in case... you know."

Oh.

That's all I could think. Oh.

It was as if someone had taken all my anger towards Malfoy and twisted it upside down. "When was this?" I asked, my voice surprisingly small.

"Yesterday, an hour or two before lunch." He replied, shrugging. "Why?" I didn't look up, not wanting to meet his confused gaze.

I just shook my head, knowing my voice would give away the guilt and unease that was already furrowing my brow and twisting my stomach into knots.

So, he had known, when he walked in on me and Lorcan. In fact, he'd probably just found out. Oh, Merlin and-

Still, he shouldn't have said what he said. But people do mean things sometimes when they're upset, I knew that. I knew it extremely well.

No. I would not condone his behaviour. He was hypocritical and snobbish. Yes, a sad thing was happening to him currently, but that didn't make him a better person. I tried to force my guilt back down into some place where I could ignore that it even existed. But it wouldn't go.

I pushed my plate away, no longer hungry. I wasn't sure why this affected me so much. I hadn't really done anything to him yesterday, but responded to his hypocrisy.

Yet suddenly, I felt terrible. Perhaps it was because it was his Grandma. If anything ever happened to Nana Molly, well, I would be inconsolable.

I got up to leave, earning a few puzzled glances from my present family, before walking swiftly out of the hall.

"Rose!" I turned on the staircase to see Al practically sprinting towards me. "Rose, wait."

I raised an eyebrow as he eventually got to me, ready to deny and lie my way out of this situation. But as soon as his eyes met mine I averted my gaze. I couldn't deceive Al. I could never. And even if I managed to force false words out of my mouth, he would see right through me.

"Why did you leave?" He asked, "Because of Scorp?" I nodded, keeping stare fixed stubbornly on one of the many stone statues adorning the entrance hall's walls. One of them was missing an arm... that was strange.

"What happened?" He continued, clearly choosing to ignore my reluctance to talk.

"We argued... sort of," I replied, weighing up in my brain whether our interaction the day before could be classified as an argument. I had been over so quickly.

"And, now you feel bad... because his grandma's in hospital?" I frowned, it sounded shallow when he said it like that. But, well, he was right.

I nodded again.

"Well, you could come to the hospital with me. I'm going to visit them later, take some food. You could come." He suggested. My eyes snapped back to his, I felt the panic rising in them.

"Are you crazy? Meet his parents in such a- such a fragile situation and- Oh Merlin. I could never, they..." I trailed off, feeling my heart-rate quicken with the very idea.

"You don't want to meet his parents?" He asked, frowning.

"Of course not! He's probably told them horrible things about me!" I shoved my hands in my pockets and rubbed my wand between my fingers for something to do. "They probably hate me, it would probably only upset them further to see me I-"

"Rose," he put his hands on my shoulders and called me back to earth. "Calm down, he hasn't told them anything bad about you. Let's just go, ok? I'll be there and you'll feel less guilty afterwards, won't you?"

"No really, I can't-"

"Stop being so stubborn! Be the bigger man, make the first move, who know. It could lead to friendship, at least."

Eventually, after running every possible way I could get out of this situation through my head, I nodded. A grin of satisfaction spread across his face and he stepped back. "Great." He decided, already walking off, away from me. "Well, I'm going to go get some food from the kitchens, meet me back here in 20 minutes. Don't be late!"

I stood, almost not believing what I had just let myself be talked into. Meeting Malfoy's parents for the first time as they visited his very ill grandmother. Merlin, what would they think of me? Should I even care? Dad had always told me Draco Malfoy was a terrible person, but Uncle Harry and Albus seemed to disagree.

I paused, thinking for a moment longer, before breaking off into an almost run towards my dormitory. Despite myself, I was not prepared to meet the Malfoy's looking like I did currently.

When I finally got back to the dorm I dug through my trunk, searching desperately for something slightly more presentable. I changed hurriedly, before casting an anti-frizzing spell over my untameable curls. It wouldn't last long, so usually, I wouldn't bother. But today was different.

I was back in the entrance hall twenty-five minutes later, slightly out of breath and flushed from running. Al was already there. When he caught sight of me he tutted audibly and looked pointedly at his watch.

"Sorry," I began, between breaths. "But, to be fair, I'm not that late-"

"No time!" He interrupted, already pulling me over to the fireplace. I looked up, bemused, to notice the excitement in his bright green eyes.

I shook my head, sort of loving the way Al loved Malfoy, even if I could never understand why. "You saw him yesterday, you know," I told him, hiding the grin I was suppressing at his elation. "You're acting like you're about to meet your long lost brother."

"That's not why I'm excited." He told me, vaguely, before pressing some floo powder into my hand and practically pushing me into the fireplace. I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"St. Mungos," I stated, firmly, there was a seconds delay, before the fire flared up around me, and some unseen force was pulling me through chimney after chimney at what must have practically been the speed of bloody sound.

Seconds later, I was stumbling out into St Mungo's reception, panting and slightly dishevelled, reminding myself exactly why I hated travelling by floo powder. I breathed in deeply, catching my own reflection in a window.

Well, so much for trying to make my hair look presentable. For Merlin's sake, I couldn't wait until we were taught how to apparate.

Al stumbled in just moments after me and grinned at my flustered state. I rolled my eyes at him, annoyed that he looked utterly composed. I mean, sure, his hair was a mess. But his hair was always a mess.

"Let's go," he told me, beginning to walk towards the front desk. The lady told us where Narcissa was and we set off straight away. I followed my cousin the whole way, through corridors and past full rooms and one man who was rushed past us on a stretcher with enormous ears where his feet should have been.

Eventually, we rounded a corner... and there it was. The heart ward, at the end of the corridor. That was where the lady had told us to go.

I stopped short, my heart suddenly racing. I had never met the Malfoys before. I had heard some horrible things. Most of it was from silly Gryffindor girls who wore their hair in pigtails and spoke more nonsense than Professor Trelawney.

I didn't believe a word they said about the Malfoys, they hadn't been in the war.

But that didn't mean they weren't formidable figures. Wealthy beyond imagination and both high-ranking in the Ministry. I was less worried about their part in supporting Voldemort and more about whether or not they were warm people.

Would they be happy to see me, or at least act like it? Would they turn their noses up at me? What if they didn't react at all?

I suppose it was a cruel twist on the famous, 'meeting your boyfriend's parents for the first time', nerves.

Al swung around, confusion dancing over his face when he saw me standing still in the middle of the hallway. I must have looked pale or something, because the confusion was quickly replaced by concern.

"What's wrong?" My cousin asked, walking back towards me.

I shook my head, waving away his concern. "Nerves," I explained simply.

Al cocked his head to the side, amusement playing on his lips, his eyes were already a light and teasing. "You're nervous to meet Scorp's parents?" He asked, not even bothering to conceal the grin that now spread proudly over his face.

I rolled my eyes, pushing past him in mock annoyance, causing him to chuckle. He fell easily into step beside me. "You don't have to be nervous." He told me, "Astoria really is very nice. Draco's a bit sullen, but he's not a monster."

"But what if they hate me," I retorted.

"And since when do you care what they think? I thought you hated the Malfoys."

"I hate Malfoy Junior," I replied, "I've never even met his parents."

He tutted. "Really, you have to say Malfoy Junior? he does have a first name you know, Weasley." He added emphasis on his pointed use of my last name.

"Yes, I'm aware, Potter. But I'll never use it." I grinned at him as he reached forward to open the door to the heart ward waiting room.

As soon as the door opened, a chill settled over me. The grin slipped off my face, being replaced by a sombre look. I'm not sure what it was, the mood in the air, I suppose. Death hung over the ward, as grim as that sounds. It felt wrong to smile in a place like this.

I might not have noticed them if Al hadn't started walking towards the far corner of the room. I'm not sure what I was expecting. For them to be standing right in the middle of the room in a spotlight with paid dancers twirling about them?

But I was still shocked when my eyes eventually found them. They were sitting in the corner of the room- Draco wasn't there, but Malfoy and Astoria were. They just seemed so... small. And I don't mean physically. They were both right next to each other, taking up a total of two chairs in the corner. Beside them was a door, supposedly leading to Narcissa's room. Perhaps Draco was in there.

Malfoy and his mum were slumped in their seats, no extravagant clothes or hairstyles or anything.

For some reason, it really wasn't what I had imagined.

As we walked closer, I noticed that they both had bloodshot eyes. I doubt either of them had slept a wink the night before.

Astoria noticed us first, rising from her chair and hugged Al as he greeted her. "My dears," she began, he voice sounded frail and hoarse. I tried my best at a smile despite the grim setting as she moved onto embrace me next, "how lovely of you to visit." She smelled of faded vanilla and... something that smelled oddly like elderflower.

"It was no problem," I replied as Al clapped Malfoy on the back. "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs Malfoy." I hated how stiff and awkward I sounded, I was never good at meeting new people. Let alone when it was my despised fiancee's mother.

"Oh, call me Astoria dear." She told me, swatting away my formalities with a graceful wave of her hand. "Besides, it might get a confusing calling me Mrs Malfoy, since that'll be your name soon too."

The silence fell thick between the four of us, I could feel the blood drain from my face. Risking a quick glance at Malfoy, I saw that his gaze was fixed on somewhere in the distance, his jaw tight.

"Oh," Astoria spoke softly, putting a hand on my arm. "I'm sorry dear, I don't think before I speak. It's been a long night, you see." I smiled at her genuine apology.

"That's okay, Mrs Ma- Astoria," I reassured her.

"Besides," she continued, as the tension left the room. "You might keep your name, mightn't you?" She spoke with interest, "that's what you mother did, dear, didn't she?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Hermione Granger... I can't wait to meet her," her eyes lit up with something very similar to wonder. "She's a bit of a legend among my generation you see. And your dad, of course."

"Yeah, he's a bit underwhelming in real life though," Al joked, earning him an amused look. "I mean, he supports the Chudley Cannons, the man's a lunatic!"

I shoved him playfully, "Hey! I support the Chudley Cannons." My voice was filled with mock offence.

"You only prove my point further," Al replied, grinning cheekily.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to Astoria, to see that she was watching our exchange with a twinkle in her eye. "Is there anything I can get for you Astoria?" I asked, desperate to make a good impression. "a newspaper or...?"

"Yes, come to think of it I've been itching to get my hands on today's Daily Prophet, you wouldn't mind fetching one would you dear? I'd go myself, but..."

I nodded, "Of course, anything else?"

"No dear, just a Prophet, that would be wonderful. There should be one in reception," I sighed a breath of relief internally, glad to be leaving this situation. Astoria was lovely, but that only slightly helped how uncomfortable I felt.

I turned to go, eager to get out and somewhere on my own, when she spoke again. "Scor, why don't you go with her?"

I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. So much for getting out of this uncomfortable situation. I turned back around, forcing a smile onto my face as I waited for Malfoy's reaction.

"Sure," he replied nonchalantly, shrugging. He was clearly making an effort to not upset his mother.

We walking together out of the room and back into the corridor. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

He didn't say a word to me, but I knew he could have done. Malfoy had always been charismatic and I don't think I'd never seen him look awkward in his life. Even now, as I snuck a glance at him, I could tell he was extremely unbothered by the situation.

I, however, was a different story. Making conversation had always been hard for me, let alone with someone utterly despised. Perhaps it shouldn't have bothered me that we weren't talking.

We walked in silence until I could bare it no longer. "You look tired." I blurted out, then squeezed my eyes shut in shame at my incompetence. You look tired? Really Rose? Merin, was that really the only thing I could come up with?

"Didn't sleep," he replied, making no effort towards conversation.

"Well, no. I suppose not," I continued. "Um-" I began, then caught myself, careful not to cross a line and get too involved. "So, how is she?"

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Glancing up, I caught sight of the worry lines forming on his forehead. "Not good," there was a note to his voice that I had never heard before.

I searched desperately for something to say back. Something comforting, perhaps? But I was no good at that. "I'm sorry," I replied eventually. Then, not wanting that to us to slip into silence once more, I scrambled for something else. "Does... does your grandma live with you?"

"Yeah," he replied. "It's her house technically, since Lucius is in Azkaban and all." I frowned, surprised.

I wasn't surprised that Lucius Malfoy was in Azkaban, that was common knowledge amongst the wizarding community. No, what shocked me more was that Malfoy called him Lucius. Instead of Grandpa, or Granddad. I suppose it made sense, from what I'd hear the most senior Malfoy wasn't an all-around lovable guy.

"Does he know? That your grandma is ill?" I asked, then chewed my lip when he didn't answer for a moment. Perhaps the question had been a little too prying.

"Yeah," he answered finally. "They're letting him come see her today- with guards. Of course."

My heart rate increased with a sense of fear that I knew was irrational. I'd probably be gone by the time Lucius Malfoy came anywhere near St. Mungoes. Even if I wasn't- he was surrounded by guards.

Besides, the rumours about him that I'd heard through classmates and corrupt newspaper articles were probably widely exaggerated and or even completely untrue.

That didn't slow my thumping heart though.

I scooped up a Daily Prophet once we reached reception, before turning to walk back when something stopped me in my tracks. In fact, someone.

"Alice?" I stepped towards my friend, noticing the way she had tried to turn away before I recognised her.

"Hey, Rose." She replied, forcing a smile.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, "is everything ok?"

"Yeah, fine. I'm here with my family."

"Is something wrong?"

"No," she replied, her eyes looking everywhere but directly into mine and her feet shifting nervously.

I almost wanted to stay and get the truth out of her, but I could tell she didn't want to tell me. If she ever wanted to, I would be there to listen. But today, I didn't push it. "Ok," I replied.

She turned to go, but seemed then to have a change of heart, turning around and coming a step or two closer to me. "We're just visiting my grandparents," she admitted in a lower voice than before, "but don't tell anyone, alright?"

"Of course," I nodded firmly, seemingly relaxing her somewhat. She moved her gaze to focus on something behind me. "Al told me he was gonna try and get you to visit Malfoy." She grinned, "how's it going?"

"Alright," I replied, "his mum's really nice."

"That's good. Well, I don't want to keep you from your fiancee," she winked, to which I responded by rolling my eyes.

"See you later Alice," I called as she turned and walked away.

"See you."

I turned back to Malfoy and we headed back to Al and Astoria, the Prophet tucked safely into my arm.

I hardly noticed that lack of conversation that passed between us on the way back. Instead, I was deep in thought- furrowed brow and everything.

Alice's grandparents. She'd never mentioned them before and- well and I'd always just assumed they had died before she was born. But no, they were alive and in St. Mungoes.

I didn't want to think about it too hard, or figure out what it meant, because it felt like I was snooping on a part of Alice's life that she didn't want me involved in. But, at the same time, I couldn't stop the way my brain ran over it again and again.

"Why was Longbottom here?" Malfoy asked eventually, his face and expression bored.

I jerked out of my thoughts, "I'm not sure." I replied, biting my tongue to stop myself from continuing with, 'and it's none of your business.' He didn't really deserve it, he was just making conversation. But something about the way he said her surname frayed on my nerves.

"She didn't look confused to see you here with me?"

"No, Al told her he'd try and convince me to come."

There were voices coming from within the room when we got back. Five or six voices I didn't recognise. I frowned, reaching for the handle in curiosity, but Malfoy practically slammed his hand into the door just as I tried to tug it open.

"Wha-" I began, but I felt silent when I turned to face him. His expression was grave, and he was looking at the door as if it would burst open at any moments and the hounds of hell would be on the other side.

"You should go." He told me, keeping his eyes fixed on the door as if he could somehow see through it.

I crossed my arms, stubbornly. "Why?" I asked, slightly perturbed, but mainly genuinely curious.

"My grandfather is in there."

I let my arms fall to my sides, a soft, "oh," escaping my lips. I stepped gingerly away from the door. "How do you know?"

"Those are his guards. The voices in there." He sighed, tugging a hand through his hair again. "He... I doubt he'd be happy to see you here."

"Right." I composed myself. "I'll be off then," I spoke as casually as I could. "Give this to your mum," I held out the newspaper for him to take.

He didn't say anything as he took it from me, his eyes already back on the door. He looked as if he'd rather fight a dragon than open it.

I opened my mouth to speak, then shut it again, rather foolishly. Before turning on heel and walking off back down the hall.

He wasn't in school most of the following week. I'm surprised I even noticed he was missing to be honest, with the way I threw myself into my studies. By the time Saturday came around and I stumbled- exhausted- down to breakfast I was surprised anyone I knew even remembered my name.

"And the cave-dweller appears!" Dom announced as I sat down at the table.

I rolled my eyes at her, reaching for the pumpkin juice as Alice sat down to my right.

"Oh, Rose, you're back." She noticed, "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"You saw me in every lesson this week," I retorted, exasperated. True, I had been skipping most meals and getting my own food from the house elves whenever I could ignore the growling in my stomach no more. But studying was important. N.E. were at the end of this year and I would not be unprepared.

"Yeah, but that doesn't count." She replied, matter-of-factly.

"Rose isn't the only one who's back," Lily added, nodding her head towards the Slytherin table as she shoved another spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

We followed her indication, to find a certain blonde haired Slytherin seated at his usual place next to Al. My stomach clenched and I bit my lip. He was back- that meant Narcissa was better or...

I shook my head, ridding myself of the thought. I couldn't assume the worst.

"Alright guys," Louis sidled up to the table with Lucy. "We should go," he announced.

She frowned, looking around at her family as they murmured in agreement and began to stand from the table. "Go?" I asked, "go where?"

Dom rolled at me, "it's a Hogsmeade weekend." She told me.

I shook my head and raised my eyebrows, urging her to explain further.

"Really, Rose?" She rolled her eyes, "we're meeting Vic today in the Three Broomsticks. I've only been talking about it all week."

The memory clicked in my brain. "Oh..." I sighed, my plans of relaxed study in the library flying out of the window. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn't eaten yet.

I grabbed a slice of toast, ramming it into my mouth as my cousins and brother began walking out of the hall.

Hogsmeade was swarming with Hogwarts students, but luckily most of them had flocked first to Honeydukes or Zonkos, or the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Hogsmeade branch.

We still had to squeeze our way through the Three Broomsticks and crowd around a far too small table in the corner of the room.

The bell that hung over the door jangled a few moments later as Dom and Hugo went to get butterbeer for us. We craned our necks, looking over the crowd to see if the new arrival was Vic.

Moments late, someone pushed through the crowd and was revealed, as if by a parting curtain of people, to be Molly.

"Mol!" Lucy jumped up, swinging her arms around her sister. We all rose, hugging awkwardly from over table and chairs because of the lack of space.

She sat down- an action that, when Dom and Hugo returned, meant Louis had to go fetch more chairs for them.

"Molly!" Dom exclaimed as she set the drinks on the table and stepped back to let us scrabble over them. "I didn't know you were coming?"

"Yeah," Molly nodded along with her words, "Vic told all of us to meet here."

"And by all, you mean...?" Lily chimed in.

"You guys, Fred, James, Roxanne and I. Oh, and I think Teddy and Aunt Fleur are coming too."

Dom looked around the table, wincing dramatically as she saw the problem. "We're gonna need a bigger table."

Half an hour later and everyone had arrived, including Al who had stayed behind at the castle when we'd first left for Hogsmeade.

Now, we were all squeezed into the ridiculously tight space, with no more chairs to steal from the surrounding tables as the pub had filled up with Hogwarts students too- tired of parading around sweet shops and joke shops.

Vic was seated on Teddy's lap, but I don't think either of them minded. Both of them were still gripped in the infatuation that I was told came with the early stages of marriage.

Of course, I thought bitterly, the early stages of my marriage would be slightly different.

Lucy was sitting on her sister's lap and Fred, James, Roxy and Lily were all in one precarious tower on top of one another.

I was half sitting on Al, too, but he didn't mind.

We had created quite a stir in the crowded pub. Not only would so may people squeezed into so little space have been an odd sight on its own, but withing our group were the 'famous' children of all the Golden Trio. Most of the older Hogwarts students had gotten used the seeing us all together, crowded around the Gryffindor table or the common room fire. But for the first and second years, this was probably the first time they had ever seen a few of my older cousins in the flesh.

A group of first years glanced over, directly at us, awestruck looks on their faces. I smiled warmly, but when they turned away I felt a blush crawl over my face. I hated this kind of attention. Around my parents I understood it. But what had I ever done to deserve their admiration?

On top of the whole Weasley/Potter thing going one, Fleur, Vic, Dom and Louis all in the same place would always attract attention.

Dom and her brother and sister were only an eighth veela and their magical 'alure'- as Dom called it- was hardly noticeable when around just one of them. But all together, and with Aunt Fleur who was a quarter veela, it really became the source of distraction for many eyes in the pub.

"So," Fleur began once we had all settled down and the teetering pile of cousins beside me had stopped wobbling. I snapped to attention at her voice, and noticed the signs of stress and frustration on her face that, honestly, I would have expected from the bride.

But Vic seemed to be in an almost euphoric state as she giggled at something Teddy said and then turned to whisper something in his ear.

"I will try not to keep you very long dears," the mother of the bride continued. "We just wanted to let you know that-"

"Wait," Vic put a hand on her mother's arms as she interrupted. "I want to say this bit."

Aunt Fleur nodded and all of our attentions turned to Vic. She looked around the table slowly. Deliberately making the tension build. I refrained from rolling my eyes in amusement. Vic had always been one for the theatrics.

"I," she shared a look with Teddy, before grinning widely back at us, "would like you all to be my bridesmaids!"

A cheer went up around the table. Probably for the fact that she had eventually told us, instead of for the actual news itself. I grinned to myself from my spot wedged between Al and James, a warm feeling spreading through me at the idea of being Vic's bridesmaid.

"Oh, goody!" Fred called out.

"What colour are our dresses?!" James chimed in, clapping his hands in excitement. An action that made the tower of people sitting on him wobble. Lily, who was seated treacherously at the top, squawked.

Vic shot them a light-hearted look and rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. "Not you. You boys will be Teddy's groomsmen."

James grinned wickedly at the news and looked to Teddy, "does that mean I'm invited to the stag-do?" He asked. Teddy returned with an equally mischevious grin.

"Of course." He confirmed.

"But," Vic interrupted, evidently worried by the look on her husband's face. "Nothing too crazy, ok? Just... don't get too drunk or anything." She said, looking around at the boys at the table.

"Oh, no." James agreed, still grinning hugely.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Fred said, wearing an identical look.

Vic still looked dubious, but shrugged, "It's ok, you'd have Hugo and Louis with you. They're under the drinking age."

Hugo and Louis nodded sagely, as if they would never dream of breaking that law. I rolled my eyes internally.

"Anyway, we must continue with plans." Fleur began once more, "for the bridesmaids, there will be dress fitting next Saturday- we shall meet in that lovely little dress shop in Diagon Alley, you know the one? The dressed will be... well we haven't decided the colour yet, actually. You know, one colour that suits blondes and about five different shades of ginger is very hard to find..."

I zoned out, letting my mind wonder. I knew Dom would fill me in very extensively on the details over the next week. She was listening intently, no surprise there.

It wasn't very long, only ten minutes or so, before Vic, Teddy and Aunt Fleur stood up to leave. I dragged myself out of my daydreaming and stood to say my goodbyes.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you all." Fleur continued, as she hugged Louis. "There's a dinner at the Burrow tomorrow. McGonagall has already approved it, so you guys are allowed to come." I squeezed her tightly when it was my turn. "Oh, and Molly wants to meet all the new additions to our family, so, bring your fiancees, won't you."

My smile faltered as I leant across the table to hug Vic goodbye. Invite Malfoy? To have dinner with all of the Weasleys and the Potters.

Including my parents.

Oh, Merlin. Did I really have to?

We had been civil enough to one another in the hospital, it was true. But his grandma was ill. He'd probably just been too tired to be his normal, arrogant self.

I paced my room. Back and forth, back and forth, fighting an internal battle with myself as I waited for Malfoy to return.

I had to ask him to the family meal tomorrow. But, well, I really didn't want to. It would be awkward beyond awkward because it wasn't just me who didn't much like Malfoy. None of my family liked him much, besides Al and Nana Molly, of course.

The door handle turned and I threw myself into the chair at the desk in attempt to cover up the fact that I'd been waiting for him.

He walked in, striding quickly across the room and busying himself by rooting around through his bag.

I shut my eyes and let my courage build, breathing deeply. Come on Rose, just do it.

"We're having a family meal tomorrow." I began, practically mumbling so he wouldn't hear me. But of course, he did.

"That's nice," he replied. His tone mocking; clearly emphasising how little he cared.

"And..." I began again, reluctant to continue and unsure of how to phrase what I was about to say.

"And...?" He raised an eyebrow, "Come on Weasley, spit it out."

I would normally have scowled in return, but I hardly cared what he was saying since I had apparently forgotten how to form sentences.

I had to arrange the following words carefully in my head before I allowed myself to speak again. "And... my grandma wants you to come."

He frowned- seemingly speechless for a moment. Before he finally figured out how to respond. "Why?" Was his simplistic answer.

"Well, Aunt Fleur says that Nana says she wants to meet all of the people joining her family." I rushed to explain, suddenly slightly embarrassed for a reason I couldn't quite place. "You don't have to come- she's met you before so..."

It was true, in fact, in fourth year Malfoy had stayed at the burrow for a week during summer, Al had invited him- obviously. That week he'd had many meals with my family. So I wasn't quite sure why this time seemed like such a big deal to me.

"No," I continued when he didn't make any move to reply, "it was stupid you're right. If I were you I wouldn't want to come, I'll just tell them you're busy-"

"I'll come," he interrupted.

Now it was my turn to be speechless. I avoided eye contact with him, my eyes flirting around the room for something to occupy them as I searched for a reply. "Right." I settled, finally. I remained where I was for a moment, before eventually standing up and walking out.

A/N: Hope you liked it! I know, I know, it's ery slow. I'm sorry. At least you got some scene with Rose and Scorp, right? Leave a review! It really means a lot. Thanks and I'll try my best to be on time next week!