Chapter 6- Regretting curiosity

Ruby was surprised when Scorpius had decided to do some of the night shifts with her; it wasn't that she didn't think he was competent enough but it was more that she thought he would have more of a social life than she'd had during her first year.

"Hey Weasley, good night last night?" He asked as he walked into their office at the start of the shift and put his bag on the floor.

"Yeah it was lovely thanks, did you do anything exciting?" She asked, looking up from her knitting, Grandma had taught her one summer and she found it a useful way to keep herself awake during the night shifts.

"Went out for a drink with my mate, Hamish. What did you do? Out with your boyfriend?"

"No, it was my Aunt Minnie's birthday so we had a big dinner."

"Who's Minnie?" He asked and Ruby realised that he was mentally working his way through what he knew of the Weasley family.

"Oh, she's not technically my aunt. She's my godmother, Professor Minerva McGonagall."

"Oh, yeah my dad's spoke about her a few times. She's close to your mom isn't she?"

"Yeah, they're really close. What does Hamish do?" She asked, turning over the knitting pattern for the gloves she was trying to make and reading it quickly.

"He's training to be an Auror, his supervisor is Ted Lupin, he said that you two are close?"

"Yeah, he's practically my brother, is he a good supervisor?" She asked, slightly intrigued by how people outside the family viewed Teddy.

"Hamish seems to like him and he's hard to please…" There was a knock at the door and Scorpius look over, Ruby ignored it, her knitting was getting too tight.

"Can I help you?" She heard Scorpius ask.

"I'm looking for my girlfriend, Ruby Weasley." Ruby looked up and saw Henry walk into the office, looking like a Greek god. He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt which showed off his toned arms and his black hair seemed to have some kind of potion in it that made it sparkle.

"Henry! Hello, I didn't know you were coming in." Ruby said, putting her knitting on the table and walking over to him. He pulled her into a kiss which seemed to last slightly longer than was strictly appropriate. Ruby pulled back feeling slightly dazed.

"Umm…Henry, this is Scorpius Malfoy, he's the first year."

"So I've heard." Henry said, giving Scorpius a look that appeared to be more of a glare.

"Scorpius, this is…"

"Henry Chang, banker with Gringotts and Ruby's boyfriend." He said, holding out his hand, Scorpius took it and they had a brief and awkward handshake.

"What are you doing here Henry? I've only just started I can't take a break yet." She said, honestly.

"That's okay I just wanted to let you know that I've booked a table for Wednesday lunch."

"But I said I'd cook," Ruby said, disappointed that again he seemed to want to take the lead.

"After a night shift, I'm not that mean, Ruby. I've booked a table at Turner's in Hogsmeade."

"There's really no need…"

"I insist. I'll see you then." He then pulled Ruby in for another passionate kiss and then pulled back.

"I love you."

"Yeah…you too." Ruby said awkwardly. Henry threw one last hostile look at Scorpius and then left the office.

"Lovely, just what I wanted to see so soon after eating." Scorpius said quietly as Ruby retook her seat.

"What's got your wand in a knot?" She asked, although she had to admit Henry had been quite rude.

"Nothing, just unprofessional that's all."

"I didn't know he was going to come." She replied, picking her up knitting.

After half an hour of awkward silence Hl. Kyle walked in.

"Ahh, patient for you two, come along." They followed him out of the office and into a room with a witch with a large head wound.

"I'll leave you to it, come and check with me before you discharge Miss Weasley." Hl Kyle said before leaving the room. Ruby felt quite pleased as she walked up to the bed.

"Good evening Madam…Parsons," she greeted, checking the paperwork on the bed, "I'm trainee Healer Weasley and this is Mr Malfoy. Could you tell us what happened please?"

"Oh, hello dears. So silly really. I was fixing the tiles on the chicken shed, my husband came out and told me to get down, said he'd do it. Well I'm a feminist dear, so I told him to bugger off and that I was perfectly capable of fixing the tiles myself, then I lost my footing and slipped, ironic really!" Ruby smiled sympathetically.

"Like rain on your wedding day." She said, smiling.

"Exactly," Madam Parsons said.

"It's a free ride when you've already paid," Scorpius added, looking up at Ruby.

"Quite."

"It's the good advice you just didn't take," Ruby continued.

"Precisely!"

"It's like meeting the girl of your dreams, and then meeting her stunning boyfriend." Scorpius continued and Ruby looked up at him, confused that he was changing the words. Madam Parsons interrupted.

"Well, not quite that far dear, anyway I twisted my ankle and banged my head on the spade."

"Did your husband bring you in Madam Parsons?" Ruby asked, thinking back to the task at hand.

"Yes but I've made him stay in the waiting room, gloating bugger!"

They treated Madam Parsons quickly and then Scorpius fetched Kyle and he signed the discharge papers. Ruby sat back down at her desk and picked up her knitting. What the hell was happening between her and Scorpius Malfoy? She couldn't deny that she thought he was attractive but… she was dating Henry. Not that you want to, came a small, truthful voice in her head. She did like Henry, she really did but…he's more interested in you, and your name, came the voice again and Ruby threw down the knitting.

"What's up, Weasley?" Scorpius asked from his desk.

"Nothing, just thinking." She said, moving over to the kettle and turning it on.

"You do that a lot, don't you?"

"What, make tea?"

"No, think." Ruby looked over at him, surprised that he had noticed.

"Yes, it's a family trait. My mother is worse when she's working on a project she can go days without speaking to anyone, weeks if we'd let her." She said turning back to the kettle.

"What's she like? Your mom?" He asked. Ruby finished making the tea and then carried a cup over to Scorpius's desk and held her own cup, leaning on the side of his desk.

"She's great, really clever."

"I know she's clever, Weasley! She cured lycanthropy and figured out how to return lost souls! I meant what's she like as a person?"

"She's quiet but she's got a great sense of humour, always comes up with ideas for dad's shop. She's really good at listening and giving advice as well, why?"

"My father was asking about her. He said he hasn't seen her for a while."

"She works a lot, she's working on a new project at the moment, and it's something to go with the hospital because she comes in quite a few times."

"It must be hard for her, not telling you about her projects?"

"No, I think she likes it. Surely you know how shy she is?"

"Yeah, my dad told me. She talks more now though doesn't she?"

"Yes but it's still hard for her, it takes a while before she talks to people. She's only just started talking to Henry and we've been seeing each other for nearly a year."

"Does she like him?"

"I think so, she's hard to read sometimes. What are your parents like?" Ruby asked, walking back over to her desk.

"My mom's quite chatty, always gossiping and trying to set me up with daughters of her friends."

"Are you single then?" She asked, realising that she had no idea.

"Yeah, not for want of trying on mother's part though."

"What about your dad?"

"He's quite quiet. Apparently he used to be different before the war but…"

"I think it changed everyone," Ruby said.

"Yeah, anyway he's usually busy with the business but always tries to get home for meal times, he's really family focussed."

"Sounds like my dad, he hates it when I miss a Sunday meal at my grandparents. Have you got any brothers or sisters?"

"No, mom had trouble getting pregnant with me and dad didn't want her to go through the difficulties again. You've got two sisters right?"

"Yes, Immy and Annabel, they're fifteen…"

"Beaters on the Gryffindor team right?"

"Yeah, did you play?"

"Seeker and Quidditch captain."

"Like my Uncle Harry."

"And my dad, they really seemed to hate each other at school."

"Well, the war changed things I suppose."

"Perhaps not enough," Malfoy muttered but quiet enough that Ruby could pretend she hadn't heard, which she did.

When Ruby returned to her flat after the Tuesday night shift Alice was just getting ready to go to work.

"Hey, good shift?" She asked, shoving a piece of toast into her mouth.

"Yeah it was alright thanks, knackered though. Have a nice day."

"Thanks, oh you've got a letter, I think it's from Immy. See you later." Alice disapparated and Ruby walked over to the table and opened the letter.

Dear Ruby,

What's this I hear about you and Scorpius Malfoy getting pissed together?! Seriously Rubes, what is wrong with you? Henry is like, the hottest guy in the whole world, get drunk with him!

Anyway this term is going well, OWL year is tough though, we've only had time for 4 pranks and it's already October! I'm behind in everything, except Quidditch training of course and let's face it that's the most important. I'm going to ask Lucy if she can see if I can train with her in the holidays, try and get noticed by the coaches. Do you think mom would flip?

She can't really go too mad can she? I mean Teddy's an Auror and Annabel wants to do that as well and they're much more dangerous than Quidditch. Even you could get stabbed by some psycho patient. Quidditch is really quite tame.

Auntie Luna's kids have arrived this year, they are beyond bizarre. Lorcan is a Ravenclaw and Lysander's in Slytherin. They just walk around in a daze, like when mom was at the end of the Dementor project, remember?

Eww Annabel is snogging a sixth year in the corner, I'm going to throw up!

Love you loads,

Immy

Xxx

Ruby smiled and scanned through the letter again, she wasn't at all surprised that news of her night out with Scorpius had reached Hogwarts, news in the Weasley family spread like wild-fire, especially when it involved relationships. Ruby also wasn't surprised that Immy wanted to train in professional Quidditch but she was worried that she wouldn't be as good without Annabel as her beating partner.

Ruby yawned and dragged herself to her bed, she set her alarm for mid-day, giving her enough time to change into a nice outfit for lunch and then went straight to sleep.

After only three and a half hours sleep the very last thing Ruby wanted to do was to go to one of the snobbiest and most expensive restaurants in Hogsmeade. She had offered to cook so that she could dress casually and have a relaxing time with her boyfriend, but again he changed the plans.

She dressed in a black linen dress and put a light blue cardigan over it, Henry arrived exactly on time and apparated them both into Hogsmeade.

"Table for two, Weasley?" He said as the waitress came towards them.

"Of course sir, madam, please come this way." They sat by the window and Ruby sighed, Henry must have noticed.

"Are you alright Ruby?" He asked, as a waiter passed them menus.

"Just tired, only got a few hours' sleep."

"Oh well, we'll eat and then go for a walk in the village, it will wake you up." He said, looking down the menu.

"No, I think I'll just head back to bed, I've got to be back at the hospital at six, and I might be able to get another couple of hours."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, you can come though."

"To watch you sleep?" He asked with an infuriatingly smug expression on his face, the waiter came over and he glanced back at his menu. "I'll start with the fishcakes, then the veal, and then the waffles." Ruby looked back at her menu quickly, changing her mind because she knew that he thought she would just say the same.

"I'll start with the pate, then the salmon and….the cheesecake please." She said, passing the menu to the waiter.

"Change of taste?" Henry asked, taking a sip of the wine.

"Just fancied something different. I had waffles at Aunt Minnie's birthday dinner." She had also had pate but he wasn't to know that.

"So, how was work last night?"

"Fine, thank you. Hl Kyle let me and Scorpius treat a few patients alone." She said, smiling with pride.

"I was surprised you didn't mention you were working with Malfoy?" He asked.

"It didn't come up, why?" She asked.

"Just thought it was something you might have mentioned. Anything else you've neglected to tell me?" He asked. She looked at him and felt sure that the Weasley gossip train had reached him at some point, probably via James. She hoped that he hadn't mentioned the 'bed situation'.

"Are you talking about the night out?" She asked, sipping her wine.

"Yes, James told me. Why did you go and get drunk with Malfoy?"

"Not that it's anything to do with you but its standard practice for Healing students to take each other out after a horrible day."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

"Because you're not a Healing student."

"So I wouldn't understand?"

"Are you jealous?" She asked, annoyed, at least this explained his overly cool attitude to Malfoy last night.

"Why would I be jealous of that Death…?"

"Hey, don't be an ass!" She interrupted because she knew that whatever he was going to say she did not want to hear. "We went out, got drunk, and went home. That was it, you do it with James every week and I don't care!"

"Starter's madam, sir," the waiter said and Ruby was grateful for the interruption. They ate the starters in silence and as soon as the plates were cleared Henry reached over to hold her hand.

"You're right, Ruby, I'm sorry. Let's forget about it. You look really beautiful."

"Thanks, yes that would be nice. How's work?"

"Great, I made a quarter of a mill yesterday." He said dropping her hand and looking supremely smug.

They made harmless chit chat for the rest of the meal and by the time they left the restaurant Henry seemed happy enough to put his hand around her back as they walked.

"I'll see you soon then, I was thinking we could celebrate our anniversary on the weekend of the ball?"

"But that's my birthday as well." Ruby said.

"Exactly, it's perfect! I'll book a nice hotel for after the ball and then on the Sunday we can spend the day together, we'll go somewhere nice, a surprise."

"I hate surprises," Ruby said truthfully. "And Alistair will be home that weekend as well." She also didn't want to miss a Burrow lunch but she thought too much negativity in one go might be unwise, especially as it was still clear he was annoyed about Scorpius.

"Well we can spend the Sunday evening at your flat, still have a birthday party?"

"Okay, we'll talk about it later. Thanks for lunch. I'm just going to pop into the shop and see if dad's there before I go home. I'll see you next week."

"Okay, bye!" Henry said and then he disapparated.

Ruby walked to her father's shop and went in, she loved visiting the shops, it was always so colourful and absolute chaos. She walked up to the counter and saw her Uncle Ron talking to a customer.

"…only four Galleons, excuse me for a moment, he's in the back Ruby." Ruby walked around the counter and knocked on the office door.

"Yeah?"

"Hi Dad." She said, opening the door and poking her head around.

"Rubes! What are you doing here? I thought you were on nights?" Her father said, jumping up from his desk and giving her a quick hug.

"I am but Henry wanted to have lunch so we went to Turners…"

"I thought you hated Turners?"

"I do, he booked it. I wanted to cook a meal at home but he'd already booked it. Anyway just wanted to pop in and say hello, I'm knackered."

"Do you want to have a kip here? I'll wake you up before I go home." Ruby was about to say no but they she decided that it wouldn't do any harm.

"Thanks dad, can you wake me up at five?"

"Course, your mom's blankets here so you can use that if you want?"

"Really? Why is it here?" Ruby loved sleeping with her mom's Moonstone blanket but she only usually got it when she was ill or upset about something and her mother was worried.

"We slept here last night, working on a new product line."

"Great, thanks Dad."

Ruby kicked off her shoes and curled up on the sofa underneath the Moonstone blanket, she was blissfully asleep within seconds.

When Ruby arrived at work for her shift the office was empty, she sat down at her desk and pulled a textbook towards her to start researching for her first final year essay. She was halfway through the relevant chapter when Hl Kyle walked in.

"Good evening Miss Weasley, did you have a nice lunch?" He asked.

"Good evening sir, umm yes…" Kyle put the paper on her desk and she saw a picture of her and Henry taken from inside Turners.

"Turner's is a very exclusive place, your boyfriend certainly likes to treat you?"

"Yes he does," Ruby said, feeling her heart sink; she had to do something soon.

"Mr Malfoy won't be joining us this evening he's got a project due in…"

The door knocked and Kyle walked over to it.

"Arthur Weasley! How the devil are you?" He boomed, holding out his hand. Her grandfather shook it, smiling but Ruby noticed that the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Very well, very well thanks Robert. How are you?"

"Ticking along nicely thanks, what can I do for you? Are you here to steal my intern?" He said, still smiling.

"Just wanted a quick chat with her if she's not busy?"

"Not at all, Miss Weasley why don't you take your grandfather to the staff cafeteria, take your time we're not busy. I'll send you a memo if I need you.''

"Thanks Robert," her granddad said as Ruby stood up and walked over to him.

They left the office and Ruby led the way to the staff cafeteria.

"Is everything okay, Granddad?" She asked as she pushed open the door; it was predictably empty. No one was likely to take a break so early in the shift. They sat down at the table and Ruby looked across at him.

"Yes, nothing to worry about."

"Why am I not convinced? Tea or coffee?"

"Tea, please." Ruby collected the drinks and then sat down again.

"Is this about the letter?" She asked.

"Yes, I've spoken to my muggle contacts and it's not what we feared so don't panic."

"They're not letting him out them?" She asked, feeling relief washing over her, not just her mother but also for her Aunt Petunia and Uncle Harry. "Why were they writing to her then?" It was unlikely that Aunt Petunia knew of anyone else in prison, she didn't mix in those circles.

"He's dying."

"What? From what?" Ruby asked, wide eyed.

"Cancer, apparently he's not got long, couple of month's maybe. He wanted Petunia to go and visit him."

"Oh my…seriously? Why on earth would she visit him?" Ruby asked.

"She hasn't said she will yet. People work in mysterious ways Ruby, and when people are dying they can rethink their actions." He said softly and Ruby nodded, wondering if the man from the cauldron explosion had any regrets.

"Have you told anyone?"

"No, just you. So the question now is, do we tell your mother?" Her granddad asked, Ruby felt unsure and wished she'd never seen the letter.

"I don't know, what happens if she finds out somehow and we didn't tell her."

"The thought crossed my mind, I think I'm going to talk to Minerva. She always had a better insight on how to handle your mother but…" He hesitated, looking unsure.

"What?"

"The whole incident with the Dursleys… it nearly broke their relationship when it first came out, your mother ran off for three weeks."

"Really? When?"

"Sixth year, she transformed into a squirrel and ran into the forbidden forest when Minerva confronted her about it."

"I had no idea," Ruby said softly, as another piece of her mother's mysterious past was coloured in. Ruby wondered how much more she didn't know.

"It was better after the war, your Aunt Petunia found out what had happened and she took it to court and testified so your mother didn't have to. She knew that there was no way that Eliza would be able to take the stand."

"I wonder if she'll visit him." Ruby wondered out loud.

"No idea, I'll speak to Minerva, see what she thinks, keep quiet for now."

"Of course, thanks for finding out Granddad, I wasn't sure who to ask."

"I'm glad you asked me. You better get back to work, you've got lives to save!" He said, standing up.

"Well, I've got an essay to write at least." She said giving her granddad a hug.

"We're all so proud of you Ruby, so proud."

"Thanks, say hi to Grandma for me."

"Will do."

They parted ways and Ruby walked back to her office wondering if she had just opened a very large can of worms and just how far-reaching the implications would be.

A/N So Henry and Scorpius finally meet, and Ruby and Scorpius start almost-flirting! What do you think?

Next chapter; Ruby and Alice go shopping, Ruby takes Aunt Minnie out for her birthday treat and we meet Alistair Shacklebolt.

Thanks to mozie for beta-ing!

witchprincess33- Lol, I love that you read it in church!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks!

LUG-14- Would I let Vernon Dursley out of prison? No a chance, I'm killing him off!