Chapter 16- Christmas Revelations

When Ruby arrived at the Burrow, forty-five minutes later, she tried to calm her worked up heart, it had been an amazing night but she had to be aloof. For all her family should know she had just had a nap.

She walked towards the table and was relieved to see that they had started without her.

"Hi guys, sorry I'm late, one of those days!" She said, sitting down in between her Aunt Ginny and Albus. They all greeted her warmly and her grandmother passed her a plate. She was starving, she piled her plate high and tried to tune into the conversation but found it difficult to listen when her own head was so interesting.

Her Aunt nudged her lightly in the ribs and she looked at her in confusion.

"Harry was talking to you." She said, indicating to her husband across the table and then returning to her meat pie with enthusiasm.

"Sorry, Uncle Harry, what did you say?" She asked, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"I was asking how Malfoy was."

"Malfoy? Umm… how would I know? He doesn't work in the holidays, he's only a first year." She took a large bite of a potato and found it to be hotter than the surface of the sun, she gagged but knew she couldn't spit it out without being disgusting, and rude. She chewed it lightly for a couple of moments and then swallowed it quickly, before grabbing her drink and downing the entire glass.

The entire table was looking at her, half-amused, half-concerned.

"Are you alright dear? The potatoes are hot." Her grandmother said. Albus burst into giggles next to her and she kicked him.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"So you didn't see Scorpius today?" Her mother asked, looking intrigued.

"Nope." Ruby said, keeping her eyes down.

Then, to her utter horror, Uncle Ron pulled out a Daily Prophet and started to read.

"Mrs Narcissa Malfoy, 67 from Wiltshire, had a heart attack today and was rushed to St. Mungo's for treatment. She was escorted by her husband, Lucius, son, Draco of Malfoy Apothecaries, and grandson Scorpius, trainee Healer at the hospital. Draco Malfoy told reporters that his mother was now resting comfortably after having been treated by Healer Kyle, and his intern Ruby Weasley. "The entire family is incredibly grateful for the excellent treatment my mother received and we are particularly thankful to Miss Weasley who successfully resuscitated my mother when she stopped breathing." The Malfoy family wish to have their privacy respected at this difficult time. Privacy respected, bollocks I bet they went to the bloody papers!" Ron put the paper back under his chair and looked back up at the family.

"So, how is Scorpius, Ruby?" Her mother asked again.

"Oh…I thought you meant how was he…. with healing…studying and stuff." Ruby spluttered, turning red and looking at the food and not her mother.

"Will Narcissa be alright?" Asked Granddad.

"She should be, Kyle put her in an induced coma after she started breathing again, they'll wake her up in a few days."

"So, Scorpius is…?" Uncle Harry asked, looking amused.

"Fine, I mean shaken up of course but he's fine." The family looked at her for another moment and she thought she might combust under the intensity of the gaze from her father when Hugo spoke up, ensuring he would get a larger than normal Christmas present when she had chance to go and buy him something else.

"So Vic, are you all ready for the wedding then?" He asked, glancing briefly at Ruby before looking at Victoire who entered a speech about her wedding which lasted for a good ten minutes.

As the pudding's appeared Aunt Ginny nudged Ruby again.

"Yes?" She asked.

"You might," Ginny kept her voice low and Ruby leant in to her to listen, "want to go to the bathroom, mom has some bruise cream in the cabinet under the sink."

"Why?" Ruby asked, thinking that her Aunt was injured.

"Just have a look in the mirror, trust me on this Rubes." Mortified Ruby excused herself and nearly ran up to the bathroom. She had a small collection of love bites on the left side of her neck, thanking Merlin that she hadn't sat next to Lily, or her parents, she grabbed the bruise cream and rubbed it in. The marks vanished instantly and she returned to the table where her mother had swapped seats with Aunt Ginny.

"I sensed you would have cinnamon Ruby, prefer not to have it anywhere near me!" Her Aunt said and Ruby smiled and went to sit next to her mother.

"You look well, Ruby. The spell didn't knock you out this time then?" She asked.

"It wasn't for as long, I had a nap for a couple of hours though. Kyle said it will get better with practice."

"It must have been strange, being with the Malfoys?"

"Yeah, Lucius was horrible, disarmed me when I went to use the spell."

"Really?" Uncle Harry asked from across the table, thankfully not everyone was listening in.

"Yeah, he was really unreasonable but Kyle was on a break so I told him it was me or nothing. Scorpius hasn't got the power for the spell yet. Anyway Scorpius yelled at his grandfather, and his father did too, and then gave me back my wand and I did the spell."

"How long was she not breathing for?"

"Twenty minutes, when the spell broke I collapsed and Scorpius's father caught me, uber-embarassing." Ruby replied as she piled her plate with waffles and dripped the chocolate sauce over. Albus passed her the cinnamon sprinkles and she completed her favourite food in the whole world before turning to her mother.

"Mrs Malfoy thought I was you, she was on potions though."

"Did she? What did she say?" Her mother asked, looking interested.

"She asked if you were well, I said you were. Then she said you were brave and that I should be proud of you, and I said that I was."

"She saved my life, Narcissa Malfoy." Her mother said simply, taking a bite of treacle tart.

"Yes, Mr Malfoy shouted that at his father, he said that as she saved your life I wasn't likely to try and kill her. When did she save your life, mom?" She asked, quietly. It was always in hushed conversations that war topics were discussed in the Weasley family.

"Well, it was Draco as well I suppose. After I jumped, and woke up, they found me on the shore of the lake. Draco stayed with me and Narcissa went to get help, and then later she returned the blanket to me. I doubt I would have got through the next year without that blanket." She said, looking distant. Ruby reached and held her hand and her mother smiled at her.

"So, any other patients today?" She asked, shaking her head slightly to focus.

"Yes actually, someone who said that you used to steal her socks when you were at Hogwarts." Ruby said smiling. Her mother grinned and then laughed, bringing the rest of the table into the discussion.

"Lavender Brown! Really, is she okay?" Her smiled faded slightly as she realised that Lavender had been in hospital.

"Lavender Brown, what?" Harry asked, grinning as well and then looking at Ron.

"She was in St. Mungo's today, she said to say hello by the way, she's married now to Rowan, I think, Dawson."

"Was she hurt?" Aunt Hermione asked. Uncle Ron had turned red but also looked mildly concerned.

"Her mother-in-law gave her a cursed-jinxed-hat from WWW for Christmas." Her father roared with laughter.

"Which hat was it?" Ron asked, also looking amused.

"The one that is supposed to make you tanned."

"What was the curse?" Harry asked. Ruby smiled before answering.

"It turned her into a man and she couldn't take it off." The entire table exploded in laughter.

"That's hilarious! She used to date Ron!" Ginny said, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Really dad, when?" Hugo asked eagerly.

"Sixth year, before…"

"Before he realised your mother was a girl." Harry finished.

"I knew she was a girl!" Ron said, looking at Harry "I just didn't think I was good enough for her."

"Too right." Ginny said.

"And she thought Hermione was in love with Harry." Eliza said smiling. All the Weasley grandchildren stared at Hermione in complete shock, they never knew that!

"I wasn't, Ron was just a paranoid, self-conscious, blind, prat." Hermione said firmly.

"Was?" Muttered her father and the table starting laughing again.

"Was Lavender okay though?" Hermione asked, looking at Ruby.

"Yeah, she said that her mother-in-law didn't like her, but I removed the curse. You might want to increase the security charms on it if a, probably old woman, can undo them. She probably would have sued if you didn't know her. Oh and she said to tell you congratulations Aunt Ginny." She added, looking across at her Aunt who was devouring an enormous pile of ice-cream.

"Mom, did you or dad ever date anyone else?" Annabel asked.

"No, never. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry did though." Eliza answered.

"Why didn't you though?" Annabel asked, always curious about romance. Her father answered.

"Because once your mother set eyes on me, every other man was ugly in comparison." Eliza smiled.

"Or maybe it was because you knew you'd never pass your Transfiguration NEWT without me?"

"Perhaps." He grinned, Annabel did not seem satisfied.

"So you never went on a date with another guy, like ever?" She pressed.

"Nope, I did get asked out in sixth year though. Harry and Ron nearly hexed him."

"Who was it?" Ruby asked.

"Ernie Macmillan, he…"

"Chaser for Puddlemore, that's so cool!" Immy said, suddenly excited by the conversation.

"Is he? I was going to say he was a Hufflepuff but I was already in love with your father and every other man paled in comparison to his devilishly handsome looks and flawless personality."

"Did you ever go out with anyone else, dad?" Annabel asked. Ruby decided that she had been reading far too many romance novels and made a mental note to check if her mother had given her the talk yet.

"Nope, it took me a year to pluck up the courage to ask Eliza out, I asked pretty much every girl I knew for advice so they all knew I was a lost cause. George got lucky that year though, the girls thought he would be just as romantic, their mistake!"

"A year?" Eliza said, amused.

"Well, forgive me for wanting to pick the right words to ask out a girl who I knew wouldn't reply."

"If you recall I did reply."

"You did?" Harry asked, looking shocked, "this was fourth year, right? Before the Ball." Eliza and Fred ignored him, their eyes on each other.

"I'm not sure you can count 'ugh' as a yes, if anything it sounds more like a no to me." Fred said, smirking.

"Perhaps it was and I was just too embarrassed to tell you." Ruby snorted at her mother's words.

"Sounds about right, always thought Eliza was too good for you." Ron said.

"When did you first say, I love you to each other?" Annabel asked, sighing slightly, Immy rolled her eyes.

"Umm…" Her mother said, clearly thinking very hard. Ruby looked to her father who also seemed unsure.

"I can't remember, can you?" He said.

"No, not a clue." Eliza replied, smiling.

"How can you not remember, isn't it like the most important day of your entire lives?" Lily asked, also looking dreamy.

"Was the most important day when you go married then?" Annabel asked, looking concerned that her parents had forgotten such vital parts of their lives.

"Maybe, I dunno. It was probably when Teddy came to live with us, and when you were all born." Answered Eliza thoughtfully. "Not that the wedding day wasn't special though."

"Well, what do you use when you cast a Patronus?" Ruby asked, trying to help. Both her parents blushed deeply.

"Ewww! Seriously guys it's a mealtime!" Teddy said from next to Lily.

"You asked." Her father said, looking at his wife and then his children with humour.

"Daddy, when did you first tell Mummy that you loved her?" Lily asked, looking at her father and clearly expecting his life to be more romantic than her Aunt and Uncle's.

"When I went to see Teddy for the first time." Harry said promptly. Ginny smiled and Teddy blushed.

"Aww, that's soooo cute!" Annabel said, finally looking satisfied.

"Actually before we clear the plates, I have an announcement to make." Uncle Charlie said as his mother stood up, she sat down again and looked at him expectantly.

"Yes, dear?" She asked, looking excited.

"I've been seeing Katie Bell, since September, I love her, she's pregnant, and we're getting married, in January." A loud silence followed this barrage of information, Charlie lifted up his Butterbeer and took a sip of it calmly, waiting for the news to sink in.

"Finally Charlie!" Uncle Bill said, clapping his brother on the back in affection and congratulations.

"I'm proud of you son." Granddad said, his voice thick with emotion.

"You're…you're…getting married? Did you hear that Arthur? Our Charlie is finally getting married, he's going to have a baby?" Grandma said, her eyes tearing up.

"I heard, Molly dear."

"Oh Charlie! And to Katie as well, how wonderful!" She stood up and ran around the table to embrace her son, Charlie's eyes seemed to be fixed on Fred's, waiting.

"She always was the Weasley that got away, good job you've finally scooped her up." Her father said, picking up his glass and toasting his brother who grinned.

After the meal the younger generation stayed outside and started setting up the tents. Albus insisted on setting up the Potter tents the muggle way so Granddad stayed behind to watch. Ruby merely pointed her wand at the blue tent that she would share with Teddy, Annabel and Immy and it set itself up instantly.

Teddy created a bonfire some distance away and then came to stand near Ruby.

"Safety charms, d'you reckon?" He asked, indicating at the fire.

"Nah, they're all at least fifteen now, should know to stay away from fire. You lot, there's no safety charm so don't get burnt; I'm off-duty!" Ruby yelled the final part and her cousins and siblings all made noises of having heard her warning.

Teddy conjured some log benches around the fire and they both sat down, watching the chaos.

"Just think, this time next year you might have to stay in the house with a little…"

"Stop right there, Weasley!" Teddy laughed, looking at her. "You're as bad as Grandma Molly!"

"You are thirty now, Teddy, you getting married, you can shag all you want, accidents happen."

"It's a good thing we waited though, if we already had a baby then the new Weasley and Potter babies would practically be aunts/uncles before they were even born."

"It's more common in the magical world, I was explaining it to Aunt Petunia the other week; witches can easily have babies into their sixties- we live longer so things slow down slower."

"Why were you explaining it to Aunt Petunia?"

"She asked if I thought mom might have anymore." Teddy laughed.

"What did you say?"

"I said not a cat-in-hell's chance. Dad wouldn't let her now, not after the twins birth." Teddy nodded; Eliza had nearly died having the twins and she had spent a year on potions before she was fully recovered.

"Aunt Petunia wondered if they wanted to get a boy then, a George?"

"Yeah, I said that mom doesn't really like naming people after dead people like Uncle Harry. I reckon if they have a boy it will be a George, I think when they had Al they probably would have named him George if they'd known mom would just have girls."

"Probably, Charlie is probably more likely to name a boy George though I reckon."

"Care to make it interesting?" Ruby asked.

"Alright, and I'll let the obvious that we are turning into Aunt Eliza and Uncle Fred slide, ten galleons that Katie has a boy and names him George."

"Done, and ten galleons that Ginny has a boy and names him George, especially if they give her the pain potion again like they did with Al. I know Severus Snape was a hero and all but Dad still says he was a complete twat." They shook on it.

"Have you delivered a baby yet, Ruby?" Hugo asked, appearing as if from nowhere and making Ruby jump.

"Merlin, Hugo! You scared me, you move like a bloody Lethifold!" Teddy laughed but he had also jumped too.

"Sorry, have you though?"

"No, I've watched a delivery though, it's disgusting." Ruby replied, passing Hugo a butterbeer from the crate next to her.

"Why? You haven't got a girl pregnant have you Hugo?" Teddy asked, good-naturedly. Hugo blushed as he answered.

"Course not, just wondering, I was thinking of going into Healing." Hugo answered and Ruby smiled at him.

"Great, I'll tell you what, in the summer when I've qualified you can come and shadow me for a week, see what you think of it?"

"Really? Can you do that?"

"Sure, I shadowed Penny." Hugo looked delighted and Ruby realised that she didn't need to get him another Christmas present now.

"Don't you want to be an Auror?" Teddy asked as James joined them and Ruby also threw him a Butterbeer.

"Yeah Hugo, being an Auror's bloody amazing!"

"I'm going to be an Auror." Annabel said, joining them.

Within minutes the rest of the younger generation joined them and they started talking about the merits of different career choices. After ten minutes Ruby was asleep.

When she opened her eyes she was being carried into the tent by Teddy.

"Thanks, Teddy." She muttered as he placed her on the camp bed.

"Don't mention it, you've been saving lives and falling in love today, I can imagine its tiring."

"It is. Wait…what?" Ruby opened her eyes and Teddy was sat next to the bed, smirking.

"Come on Rubes, I know you. It's Scorpius Malfoy isn't it?" Ruby was about to deny it when she realised that it was Teddy; she couldn't lie to him.

"I can't believe this has happened. What the hell am I going to do, Teddy?" She asked, rolling over and looking at him.

"Have you told anyone?"

"No, well Hugo knows because he caught us kissing on Uncle Charlie's birthday."

"Aunt Eliza suspects something is going on."

"I know, she's too bloody smart. Eugh!" Ruby exclaimed, putting her hands on her head.

"Ruby, if it's meant to be it's meant to be. Have you spoken to Scorpius about it?"

"No, we… today that's why I was late." Teddy laughed, knowing what she meant.

"So it's mutual, that's good."

"He's a Malfoy, Teddy"

"I know, but from what Al tells me he's a good guy."

"He is Teddy, he really is."

"He must be, I've never known you like this, not even with Henry. You're stuck in your own head so much I'm surprised you avoid walking into things."

"What do you think Dad's going to say?" That was her real fear, her mother would come around but her father?

"Listen Rubes, you have to understand. When Aunt Eliza was captured, she was taken to Malfoy Manor."

"Shit, really?" She asked.

"Yeah, Harry told me. She was tortured there before they took her to Azkaban. Draco, Narcissa and Lucius saw it happen."

"Did they torture her?"

"No, just Bellatrix Lestrange, the witch that killed my mom and that Grandma Molly killed."

"Mom said Narcissa saved her life though, after the battle."

"Yeah, that was because Eliza saved Draco when they were still at school. I'm not exactly sure what happened there but Harry said that Draco Malfoy owed Eliza. He was the one who told Aunt Minnie that Eliza had been captured."

"It's all such a fucking mess!" Ruby said, rubbing her head.

"I know, you know your mom will be okay with it. But Uncle Fred… I'm sure he'll come around eventually but it's going to take time. Uncle Ron too because Aunt Hermione was tortured at Malfoy Manor too."

"Merlin, no wonder Scorpius hates going there!"

"Just spend some time with him Rubes, make sure he's worth the fallout."

"He is Teddy, I know he is."

"Then he is. I'll support you whatever. Get some sleep you'll probably be saving more lives tomorrow."

"Or resolving family arguments that escalate into violence according to my boss."

"As long as it's not here, oh and before I go do you know what's going on with James?"

"He's fallen in love, don't tell him I told you though, he's a bit conflicted by it all." Teddy smiled.

"And Hugo?"

"Can't tell you about that, he kept my secret about Scorpius."

"Fair enough, look at us all growing up and falling in love."

"And making babies."

"Fuck off."

"Come on Teddy, it's Vic!"

"Alright, we probably will have a baby within a couple of years, I'm going to get her a cat first, just to keep her hormones at bay."

"Good idea! Night Teddy and thanks."

"Night Rubes, don't mention it you're my little sister and my third favourite person in the whole world."

"Third?"

"Yeah, Vic, Aunt Eliza, then you." Ruby grinned and then rolled over and went to sleep.

When Ruby woke on Christmas morning it was to the sounds of her father waking up the twins and then moving into the section of the tent that she shared with Teddy.

"Come on you two, it's nearly nine." He said, tugging on Teddy's sleeping back. Ruby sat up quickly.

"Bugger, is it really? I'm on-call from nine!" She made to stand up quickly but her feet got caught in the sleeping bag and she fell on Teddy hard.

"Fuck! Ruby you nearly broke my…!" He stopped suddenly and her father roared with laughter.

"Sorry Teddy, are you alright?"

"Yeah, just give me a minute." He squeaked rolling over and adopting the foetal position.

"Do you want me to send Vic in?" Her father asked with a grin.

"I'll tell Uncle Bill you said that." Ruby said, standing up and giving her father a hug.

"Don't, Eliza's terrified he'll hex Teddy when Vic gets pregnant."

"That might not be possible anymore." Teddy said, still in an unnaturally high voice.

"I'm going to run and have a shower, are you sure you're alright Teddy? I can be professional." Ruby hoped he would say no, and thankfully he did.

Ruby left the tent and ran into the house, hoping that no one was in the shower. She ran through the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas, very late!" She yelled, running up the stairs two at a time. Thankfully Aunt Hermione was just leaving the bathroom so Ruby grabbed some towels from the linen closet and jumped in front of her Uncle Charlie who was supposed to be next.

"Sorry Uncle Charlie, I'm on-call!" Charlie grumbled at her but did not object. She looked at herself in the mirror as she brushed her teeth and was mortified to discover that the love bites were back, she rubbed in some bruise cream hoping that no one in the kitchen, or her father, had noticed and then had a quick shower before changing into the tartan dress she had worn for Aunt Minnie's birthday.

When she returned to the kitchen fifteen minutes later Teddy was sat at the table drinking a cup of tea and still looking red and pained.

"Teddy, are you really okay?" She asked, sitting next to her mother.

"What happened?" Vic asked, sitting next to Teddy.

"Ruby tripped and I may now never be able to father children." Teddy said, looking at Victoire with a serious face. The rest of the table laughed but Grandma Molly ruffled Teddy's hair affectionately.

"You poor dear! Ruby you're just like your mother."

"I'm not that clumsy anymore!" Her mother protested but Fred sat next to her and snorted.

"You and Ruby spend so much time in your own heads it's amazing you don't walk into more things!" He said and Teddy nodded and then pointed at Ruby.

"That's exactly what I told her last night!"

"I wasn't distracted this morning I just tripped." Ruby protested.

The rest of the family woke up slowly so the group migrated to the outside seating area so that everyone could sit. Grandma had prepared a small breakfast for everyone except Ruby, who got waffles.

"I want waffles!" Protested James, sounding like a toddler.

"No, only Ruby gets a full breakfast, she might miss lunch." Molly said sternly, passing an apple to James.

"What if she doesn't?" Immy asked, also eyeing Ruby's waffle construction with hungry eyes.

"Then I'll have a smaller lunch." Ruby replied.

"Are you off tomorrow, Ruby?" Uncle Harry asked and Ruby nodded.

"Yep I've got four days off, what time are we going to Aunt Petunia's?" She asked, looking at her mother.

"In the evening, about seven. Aunt Minnie is going to pop over tonight."

"Is she? What time?" Ruby asked, perking up instantly.

"About six I think. She wants to bring your Christmas presents today, she's going to Prague tomorrow so she won't see us till the wedding."

Ruby was about to ask why her godmother was travelling to Prague when a familiar owl landed on the window sill; she tensed immediately.

"Whose owl is that?" Uncle Percy asked, moving towards it. Ruby exchanged a look with James who darted to the owl to get to it before Percy. He detached the small parcel and passed it to Ruby without comment. Ruby looked at the parcel, there was no note attached.

"Who is it from?" Lily asked. Ruby didn't reply but instead got up from the table and walked back into the kitchen. No one followed her and she wondered if James had told them who the present was from.

Taking a deep breath she opened the parcel and lifted out a pair of her lacy knickers that she must have left at Henry's house at some point. He could have returned them anytime, if never, but instead he chose Christmas morning. Tears of humiliation and anger came to Ruby's eyes and she pulled out her wand and ignited the red undergarment and watched it burn.

She was just about to return to the family when a letter came through the Floo and she picked it up and opened it.

Miss Weasley,

Please report to 's immediately.

Hl. Kyle,

P.S. Give my Christmas wishes to your family.

Ruby sighed and pulled on her work robes which were hanging by the door before returning to the outside kitchen.

"I've got to go to work, Kyle says Merry Christmas." She said, picking up her cup of tea and downing it in one go.

"Do you know how long you'll be?" Her father asked and she shook her head.

"Shouldn't be later than six though, I'll send a Patronus if I'm held up." Her mother stood up and walked with her to the boundary of the Burrow.

"Are you alright Ruby? What did he send?"

"I'm fine, just something to piss me off. See you later mom." She kissed her mother's cheek and then disapparated with a pop.

The hospital was in complete chaos, dozens of family arguments and cursed presents kept Ruby busy from the very second she arrived at the hospital. The first chance she had to sit in the office wasn't until three o'clock and she was absolutely exhausted. She took the opportunity to make a cup of tea and then started on some paperwork.

After ten minutes there was a knock on the office door and she shouted at the person to come in, she couldn't be bothered to stand up. She looked up from her desk and was very surprised to see Draco Malfoy standing there.

"Mr Malfoy umm…Merry Christmas, what can I do for you?"

"Merry Christmas Miss Weasley, I was just wondering if you've seen Scorpius?"

"No, sorry, has something happened?" She asked, worried.

"Family Christmas's with my father are never particularly enjoyable but this year… with my mother it's been rather tense. My father and Scorpius had an altercation and Scorpius stormed off."

"Oh… I'm sorry to hear that. I haven't seen him but if I do I'll tell him that you're looking for him."

"I would appreciate that, please tell your family Merry Christmas."

"I will, and they were sorry to hear about Mrs Malfoy, thank you for the mention in the article, it wasn't necessary but thank you."

"Credit where credit is due Miss Weasley, I apologise for my father's behaviour, Azkaban… changed him."

"I think it does everyone sir." Ruby said thinking that Lucius Malfoy probably hadn't been changed that much by the prison.

"Yes, it does, anyway good day, Miss Weasley." Mr Malfoy was almost at the door when he stopped and turned back, "Scorpius is… very fond of you." Ruby blushed as she answered.

"We get on well sir, I'm sure he will be a wonderful healer." Mr Malfoy nodded.

"I hope… I hope that you do not judge Scorpius by the family name. He is much more like his mother."

"I try not to judge anyone, sir." Mr Malfoy nodded and then left the office without another word. Ruby waited until she was sure he had walked off before she relaxed.

She put her head in her hands and then sighed deeply.

"Get a grip Ruby, you are a brilliant healer, not a schoolgirl." She said firmly.

"Not sure I'd go as far as brilliant Weasley, but you're definitely not a schoolgirl." Came a familiar voice from the bed. Ruby jumped and looked over at it, Scorpius emerged from underneath the mass of blankets and looked at her.

"Malfoy! What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Didn't you hear my father? I stormed off." He said, sitting up and perching on the edge of the bed.

"How long have you been here?" She asked, quite perturbed that she had not realised he was there, her father would be disappointed in her complete lack of awareness of her surroundings.

"About an hour, you know you suck your lip in when you're concentrating?" Scorpius stood up and moved towards the kettle and started making tea.

"Have you been watching me?" She asked.

"Not in a pervy way, I woke just before my father came and I got distracted."

"Were you going to keep watching me?"

"No, I was about to announce myself when he came in. Merry Christmas by the way."

"Oh, Merry Christmas, rough day?" She asked, standing up and walking over to him. He looked exhausted, he had bags under his eyes and his eyes looked drained, she reached up and touched a slight bruise on his cheek, he breathed in at her touch.

"What happened? You look like crap." She said, for a moment she thought he wouldn't answer but then he turned back to the kettle and starting talking.

"My grandfather happened. This morning he started talking about blood status and…your family came up and I just lost it…things got heated and he tried to hex me, I dodged it and smashed into one of the pillars. I just got out of there, he's a fucking…" Scorpius stopped talking and he held onto the sideboard with shaking hands. Ruby put her hand on his back and tried to calm him.

"It's okay, Scorpius, it will be okay." She whispered. He nodded but then she noticed a tear she reached up to brush it away and he moved away from her.

"I hate it Ruby! I hate the whole fucking thing!" He shouted, she was just about to respond when the office door opened and Kyle walked in.

"Oh, hello Mr Malfoy, what are you doing here?"

"Visiting his grandmother, sir." Ruby lied as Scorpius turned away to try and compose himself, Kyle did not look convinced but let it go, clearly seeing that Scorpius was not it a good place.

"Well, you can take off now Miss Weasley, I know what your grandmother's cooking is like! I'll finish up the paperwork tomorrow."

"Thank you sir." She said, smiling Kyle nodded and left the office with a worried look at Scorpius.

"Go on, get out of here." Scorpius said, his back still turned away from her. "Go back to your family, I'll be fine."

"They're not expecting me till later, let's go back to my flat, you shouldn't be alone." Scorpius turned quickly.

"I don't need sympathy, Weasley." He said coldly.

"Well I was planning to offer you Cocoa but if you…" Scorpius crossed the room quickly and stood in front of her, his eyes looking completely different.

"I'm sorry Ruby, I shouldn't have said that." He said, looking upset.

"Come on, let's get out of here." Scorpius nodded and they left the office together, they reached the apparition point and Ruby side-long apparated them into the flat.

Ruby hadn't even let go of Scorpius's hand before his mouth was on hers, kissing her and pushing her towards the bedroom. Part of her knew she should try and get Scorpius to talk about what had happened but the other part of her wanted him, and knew this was what he needed.

Scorpius shut the bedroom door behind them and pulled off Ruby's robes. She put her hands on his shirt and started undoing the buttons, he helped her with the last few and pulled off his shirt. He then pulled down the zip of Ruby's dress and helped her step out of it. She was wearing matching purple underwear and his eyes widened as he looked at her.

"Fuck Ruby, you're fucking incredible." He then pushed her back onto the bed and pulled off his trousers and socks and shoes, Ruby pulled off her boots and her socks and then looked up at him. The bruise on his face was darkening with time. He climbed back onto her and kissed her hard on the mouth, she opened her mouth and their tongues met.

She moved her hands to his boxers and pulled them down, he wriggled them down and then pulled down her knickers, she knew he needed her quickly and there would be little foreplay. She grabbed her wand and performed the necessary charms and while she did them he removed her bra and took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking and biting hard. She put her wand back on the table and she had barely moved back to him before he was inside her.

"Oh…Scorpius…" She groaned as he thrust into her hard. It was fast and hard and within a few minutes it was over and he rolled off her and lay flat on his back, Ruby looked at his face and saw that he was still upset. She rolled onto her side and put her hand on his chest, drawing circles with her finger.

"Talk to me, please." She said, leaning over to kiss his nipple, he looked over at her.

"I'm sorry Rubes, it shouldn't be like that. I should have…"

"Shh Scorpius, it was what you needed."

"But you didn't even…" Ruby leaned over and kissed him on the mouth.

"It wasn't about me today, it was about you." She whispered, he nodded and she snuggled into him, he put his arm around her and stroked her left breast softly.

"Merry Christmas Ruby." He whispered, kissing the top of her head lightly.

"Merry Christmas Scorpius." Ruby kissed his chest lightly.

A/N A nice long Christmas chapter for you, what did you think?

Next chapter; Ruby gets a very cute Christmas present from Aunt Minnie, and Ruby and Eliza go for a walk and have a heart-to-heart.

Thanks to mozie for beta-ing!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks, you'll have to wait for a while to find out everyone's reaction.

witchprincess33- Thanks, it did escalate quickly but they're both grown ups, have known each other for a few months, and the situation had been brewing for a few weeks. They'll talk soon as well!

Tiffany- I'm guessing you changed your name to Scorubesforlife?

LUG-14- Lol thanks!