Hey everyone! Thank-you so much for all the reviews/favourites and everything for the last chapter! Hope you like this next one.. and Look up the song! :)
For all my friends, but especially Cupcake! I love you. Xx
More to come soon.
X & Y
I dive in at the deep end,
You become my best friend,
I want to love you but I don't know if I can.
I Know something is broken,
And I'm trying to fix it,
Trying to repair it,
Anyway I can
She smiled at him apprehensively and he nodded, and she rapped on the door quickly before he changed his mind.
The door swung open to reveal the Weasley household buzzing as usual – her mother was standing in the doorway, holding it open by leaning on it while she held too many bottles of drink in her arms – one bottle teetering ominously.
Rose stood smiling at her Mum, who hadn't quite spotted her yet, as she was too busy trying to hold the bottles.
When she finally looked up, a surprised kind of frown appeared on her forehead. "Rose – you're here? I thought you were upstairs? Didn't - didn't..." she paused looking over her shoulder as she bellowed, "Ronald! Didn't you send Hugo up to find Rose - ?"
"Actually, I left early this morning to go get my, er, friend." Rose smiled as she said the last word, looking at Malfoy who was behind her, and stepped aside.
"Rosie's got a boyfriend, Rosie's got a boyfriend!" chorused Roses' youngest cousin, Lucy, who happened to be passing by the doorway. The noise, though annoying, served to conceal the gasps coming from a few family members.
Rose cleared her throat stepping inside as Malfoy followed, looking extremely out of place. Rose's Aunty Ginny took a few of the bottles off Rose's Mum so that she could let go of the door without it slamming. Rose watched a few more of her family members gather, all gazing at Malfoy with wonder and interest. She avoided eye contact with her father as she spoke.
"Everyone, this is Scorpius..." she said, greeted by a momentary silence.
Then once again, it was her mother that spoke.
"Well, welcome in Scorpius! Come on everyone, he's not an alien. Get the boy a drink – sorry, I should say man.!"
"I wouldn't," said James frowning, as Grandma Molly rushed over to Malfoy with a glass filled with Butterbeer – which he thanked her for as Rose mouthed an apology to him about her cousin.
"I'll just have a word with you James," said her Uncle Harry seriously – holding out his hand to shake Malfoy's and gesturing for James to come with him.
Rose smiled.
"Well, Come in then Scorpius – Rose, I think a few introductions are necessary!"
II.
"He's so fine Ro!" said Dominique as they sat on the couches in the corner of the living room. Rose looked around nervously – they weren't too far away from everyone else. She bet that if someone were listening – say either her cousin Fred, or Uncle George, in the following room - they would've been able to understand every word.
"Domi!" she hissed worriedly. "Don't say that kind of thing at a Christmas event."
"That Malfoy is well fit - " joined in another voice as Rose looked up frowning, making sure that no-one else was in the room.
"Not you too Molly…"
"Did I hear you talking about the blonde? I bet he's abilicious underneath that shirt of his…"
Rose stared off into the distance slightly, not recognising the third voice that had joined them till she looked up.
"Rose?"
"Shut up Louis! Plus, I don't think he swings that way,"
"How do you know?" Louis questioned, eyebrows raised, "He's mysterious… independent… oh, and an outcast almost…"
"Ehem," came the all too familiar voice as Rose put her head in her hands.
"Oh, uh, Malfoy. Let's go and look at the garden," she suggested hurriedly, thrusting her Mug at Dominique as she stood up.
"Uhm, sure yeah."
"So…" he said as she lead them out the door away from her Uncle Percy's rambling about Ministry policies, to the other end of the garden. "I just talked to your cousin…Teddy?" he checked.
"Not technically my relation, but yeah." She smiled; relieved he wasn't talking about, and possibly hadn't heard, Louis's comment.
"He seems nice," he stated as they stopped to watch a garden gnome.
"He is."
Malfoy swirled his mug of hot chocolate thoughtfully.
"Its different to what I thought"
"What is?" she asked gazing up at him, noting now their perfect height difference.
"Meeting your family," he said as if it were obvious. "Now everything's complicated."
"Why?" she asked, feeling like an annoying toddler – continuously asking questions.
He clutched his mug tighter – looking into it again as if it would hold the answer.
"It's a lot more serious..." he said before smiling. "like… I might have to tell people we're friends… and then there'll be expectations to live up to... like being nice, and laughing... making lame jokes."
"Your jokes are always lame," she said flatly, making him smile.
"Keep that up and you'll be saying goodbye to the friendship," he said raising his eyebrows.
"What friendship?" she asked shrugging.
"I see what you did there, Weasley. I see what you did," he said nodding and grinning.
III.
"And with that I'd like to propose a toast – to the ones we've lost, to the family and friends here today – and to new beginnings, new friends and forgiveness," said Rose's Uncle Bill, holding up his glass as everyone clinked their glasses together.
"He's talking to me, right?" asked Malfoy in Rose's ear, making her jump a bit.
"What?" she said in disbelief. "You haven't done anything wrong!" she insisted.
"Not yet, I haven't"
She smiled nervously.
"Ohh shit – it's the chosen son," he said as Albus made his way to their end of the table. Past all the other 'kids' – near the end.
"Be nice." She whispered to Malfoy, frowning at him.
"Seriously? That guy tried to take us out last week!"
"Rosie?" asked Albus as Malfoy looked away.
"Al!" Rose beamed.
"Did I miss something here?" asked Malfoy despite himself as Albus shifted on his feet awkwardly.
"Er, Malfoy… just wanted to say you aren't as bad as I thought. And seeing as it's Christmas, maybe we could put all our differences aside?"
Malfoy stared at him open-mouthed for a second, glancing between him and Rose.
"Are you fucki-" but he stopped midway intercepting Rose's glare, and realising that her family might have possibly heard.
"I mean, that sounds nice..." he said unconvincingly.
Albus nodded awkwardly and sat opposite the two of them.
"So, what are you doing for New Years?" he questioned, loading his plate with food. Malfoy raised his eyebrow at this and turned to Rose, who seemed to find it entirely normal behaviour.
"Actually, Malfoy is going to introduce me to his family," said Rose confidently.
"He is?" asked Albus, surprised.
"I am?" frowned Malfoy.
"Yup. They'll be back from Paris then – right, Malfoy?"
"Yes? But I didn't say you could - "
"Weasley women, eh?' interjected Albus through a mouthful of potato. "Can't get past them… or cross them…or tell them what to do at all…"
Rose watched Malfoy's lip twitch slightly. "Great advice, Potter. Are you the smart brother? Could explain a lot?" he gestured to James who was flinging peas at Lily.
"Are you insulting my family?" asked Albus as Rose grinned to herself.
"No – ah – clearly I like your family. Obviously," said Malfoy catching Rose's eye then immediately looking at his plate.
Her cheeks flushed red slightly and she avoided Dominique's eye from a few seats down.
IV.
"Well its very nice to meet you, Rose," said Astoria Malfoy, shaking Rose's hand and ushering her inside.
Rose took her shoes off and followed Astoria Malfoy through the house – into the dining room where she saw Malfoy's father – Draco, sitting at the table reading a newspaper.
"Draco, dear, it's Rose – Scorpius' friend?" said Astoria and Draco's head snapped up, his eyes widening a bit in surprise.
"But you're a Weasley," he said frowning.
Rose looked at Astoria who looked appalled at her husband.
"Draco!"
"I'm sorry, Rose?"
Rose nodded.
"I just was a bit surprised, that's all."
"And what the hell's going on down here?" came a very familiar voice to Rose, she looked to the doorway to see Malfoy leaning against it – glaring at his parents.
She smiled.
"Rose is here."
"Yes I can see that, Mother."
"Don't speak to her like that," said Draco firmly, "Scorpius is a problem child."
"I am not a child, Father." said Malfoy, crossing his arms.
"I'm awfully sorry about this, Rose. Would you like a tea or something?" Astoria whispered to her as Draco and Malfoy continued to argue.
"Er, yes please," said Rose, sitting down at the table and picking up the tail end of the conversation – Malfoy's Dad was speaking.
" - Are you on drugs, Scorpius?"
"What?" asked Malfoy who was now opposite his Father leaning on the table.
"I just don't know with you," said Draco – sounding resigned.
"Here you go Rose," Said Astoria, placing a cup of tea in front of her.
"Sit down Scorpius," she said sitting next to Draco as Malfoy sat next to Rose – smiling at her rolling his eyes.
"So, how was your Christmas, Rose?"
"It was great thanks," said Rose, taking a sip of her tea. "How was yours, Mr and Mrs Malfoy?"
"Oh, lovely!" said Astoria. "Though it would've been nice to see Scorpius."
"We'd given up on him until recently," said Draco. "Scorpius is ashamed of his family."
"Calm down Draco," said Astoria nervously, smiling sadly at Rose.
"If he would just have some confidence in himself… Not everyone hates him, right Rose?"
Rose nodded, slightly bewildered, whilst Malfoy hit the table angrily "I should be confident like you, dad? You were a fucking death eater!"
"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy," said Draco incredibly calmly – though Rose noted his fists were grasped tightly. Astoria reached across the table and squeezed his arm briefly – and Rose watched Malfoy's face.
It was blank. He looked remote – unattached.
Astoria once again smiled awkwardly, "Ehm, so, how long have you and Scorpius been dating?"
"I-what?" responded Rose looking at all the members of the table bewildered. Astoria seemed less embarrassed, Draco interested and Malfoy – well Malfoy was being himself.
He stood up quickly, spluttering slightly and scraping his chair along the floor before storming upstairs.
"We aren't dating," said Rose quietly, contemplating the bizarreness of their situation.
"Did I just put my foot in it?" asked Astoria – concerned.
"Bloody well did!" came Malfoy's muffled voice from above.
"Hmm," said Draco, now leaning his chin on his hands, "but you seem to be close friends."
"Just friends – yes," she clarified.
"Well, I'm glad someone got through to him. It's just typical that it would be a Weasley." The corner of his mouth twitched and Rose saw a familiar sparkle in his eye.
"Draco!"
"I mean," he continued, ignoring Astoria who began to noisily clear the tea away. "No offence Rose, but you can understand my predicament."
"Yes – I get it. I do Mr Malfoy."
He cracked his knuckles. "He doesn't realise the sacrifices we made for him - for this family – he takes it all for granted and is his own worst enemy. It's ironic that your parents were my enemies, in a way… what do they think of your friendship?"
"A bit shocked at first I'd say… but Uncle Harry had always assured none of us to speak ill of you Mr Malfoy – I assure you."
Draco looked at her intently, before speaking softer. "What has Scorpius done to deserve someone like you as a friend? I can hardly imagine how he treats you if this is how we, as parents, are treated," he gestured as Astoria once again entered the room and sat down. Rose only noticed now how tired she looked when she wasn't smiling.
"Ohh, nothing special," said Rose, trying to be light-hearted. "I found him interesting, really. Always had."
"Well he's very lucky and undeserving Rose. I'm sorry for his language and attitude, I assure you – that was not our intention upon raising him."
"I can hear you, Father!"
Rose swallowed audibly.
She was involved now. She was so involved. She looked up to the ceiling briefly – half expecting there to be pictures drawn on it.
But there weren't. The pictures, the jokes, the charm - that was the side of Malfoy she liked. But she didn't like what he was doing to his family.
But she wouldn't have known that if she hadn't have pried into his life. Now she wanted to fix everything. To change him – and how he treated the world he lived in. She had been unintentionally doing it so far, she realised. Because of how much she cared about him.
And now as her feelings for him had intensified, so had her longing to break down the wall around him entirely. To show the world the Malfoy she knew.
"You best go check on him, Rose dear. I doubt he'd allow us through those doors anymore..." said Astoria sniffing. Rose looked up to see Draco patting her arm.
"Yes. Gone are the days where I was the hero, and all he wanted to be was like me…" said Draco not looking at anything in particular.
Rose took this as her cue to go, and edged out of the room as Draco and Astoria hugged.
"I think she'll be good for him," she heard Astoria whisper.
"I hate to say I actually like a Weasley."
"Draco!"
Rose couldn't help but smile to herself as she headed for his room.
V.
Knock knock knock
"Malfoy?"
"Go away."
"No."
"I'm not going to open the door."
"Do you know how many younger cousins I have? Do you know how many of my family members are annoying immature teenage boys? We can play this game all night – or you can open the bloody door, because I have what it takes to stay here forever – no doubt."
The door opened, and straight away she spied the mattress on floor – and clothes she wore… She looked at him, and for once had no idea what to say.
"Do people think we're dating?" she blurted out.
"Why would people think that?" he asked from his bed – as she once again felt a lump in her throat.
"I don't know," she snapped slightly then, calming down, suggested, "Your parents?"
"My parents are - "
"Lovely. I really liked them."
"My dad insulted your family," he said plainly.
"Yeah," she said sitting on the mattress she had slept on previously, "but so do you."
He smiled for the first time since she'd arrived.
"You really like it when people are mean to you, don't you?"
"Only..." she searched for the word, "...blonde people."
He rolled his eyes, and she smiled at him, collapsing back into the mattress. She liked what they had, a lot.
"You shouldn't be my friend."
She sighed irritated, believing they were past that. "So I've heard."
"No, I mean you deserve a really good friend. Not those crap ones you had before. And not some twat like me – someone who would do whatever for you, because you're important and special."
She smiled and sat up surprised.
"What if I've got one?"
"Well then, you'll need to introduce me... I could do with a good friend too actually... I've only got this crappy red head girl who won't stop yabbering-"
She grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at his head.
He had his faults, she knew. But she liked how things were now. Despite the attitude, swearing and general rudeness, she liked it.
She would have to take it step at a time, but she knew she could make a difference in his life before she had to accept the inevitable.
She could quite possibly like how things were too much.
You know what to do :)
This was the hardest chapter I had to write so please Review!
I.