Chapter 20-Forwards and Backwards
On New Year's Eve Ruby left her flat at mid-day and walked to Kings Cross Station to meet Scorpius. She was nervous about having her first 'official' date with him but she was also really excited. She wore a pair of jeans and her new Weasley jumper, she saw him waiting for her with the ticket machines. He was also wearing jeans and a dark blue coat, he looked completely at ease in the muggle setting and her heart fluttered at the mere sight of him. She walked over quickly and he didn't notice her until she was a few feet away.
"Hi." He said, walking to meet her.
"Hi, Happy Birthday!" She grinned. He pulled her into a hug but they didn't kiss.
"Thanks, ready for lunch?" He asked and she nodded. He took her hand and they walked a few blocks to a steakhouse. He had booked the table under his name and they were seated at the back of the restaurant completely away from the windows and the few other customers. The waiter brought them menus and they viewed them in silence.
"Good menu, do you come here a lot?" She asked, looking at him.
"I've only come a couple of times but I remembered that the waffles were particularly good." He grinned and Ruby smiled.
"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked, holding a pad of paper.
"Yes, you go first." Scorpius said.
"I'll start with the calamari, then the 8oz sirloin, rare with fries."
"And you sir?"
"The mushrooms to start, then the 12oz rump, rare with fries."
"And to drink?"
"Bottle of red suite you?" Scorpius asked and Ruby nodded. The waiter left and Scorpius held her hand across the table.
"So, have you had a good birthday so far?"
"Yes actually, my father Floo-called from France and they've brought me a small flat to move in to."
"Really? That's great! Where is it?"
"Kensington, they said I can still stay at home while I've got exams and stuff but that it's mine. I was so surprised."
"I bet you were, when do you think you'll move in?"
"Probably after my January exams, no point cooking and cleaning till I have to. They said they'd get me a house-elf but I don't agree with them."
"Really?" Ruby asked, surprised.
"Yeah, my mother is the same. They're enslaved and brain-washed. I know your Aunt did loads of work to improve their living conditions and stuff but I still wouldn't want any."
"You are full of surprises, Scorpius Malfoy." She said, smiling.
"And don't you forget it."
"Talking of surprises, I've got your birthday present."
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to", she pulled out a parcel from her bag and passed it to him. He opened it and pulled out the lime-green Quidditch jersey with his name on the back and grinned at her.
"How did you…?"
"I asked Albus, he helped me get it, don't worry he won't tell anyone. He's got a new girlfriend and I convinced him to ask her out so I'm his favourite cousin at the moment."
"Thanks, I love it."
"I was also kind of hoping I might be able to steal your old one?"
"I thought it clashed with your hair."
"It does, but I only plan on you seeing me in it."
"In that case it's yours."
The ate their meals and then Ruby devoured a portion of Waffles while Scorpius drank his 'Cocoa with marshmallows' and then they walked to Oxford Street and bought a few things in the shops. They then walked to Hyde Park and drank takeaway tea sat on one of the benches.
"So, good birthday so far?" She asked again as he put his arm around her and she leaned into him.
"The best, I wish it could be like this all the time."
"I know, it will be, one day."
"So you really will tell everyone about me?" He asked, pulling away and looking at her.
"Of course I will, I just want to wait until your placements over and… I'm sure my Dad won't kill you. Are you worried about your parents?"
"My mom won't mind, my Dad will be shocked but I think he already suspects. My grandfather… I don't care what he thinks but I care what he says, and I'm not sure about my grandmamma, I'll wait till she's stronger."
"It will be okay you know?" Ruby asked and Scorpius nodded.
"Oh I know it will." He said, sounding supremely confident. Ruby looked at him carefully.
"How can you be so sure?" She asked, smiling.
"Because I love you." Ruby smiled and then laughed.
"Seriously, you're laughing at me! How mean?"
"I'm not laughing at you, I'm just laughing because I'm happy. I love you too Scorpius."
"Really, you don't have to say it just…" Ruby put her fingers to his mouth to stop him talking.
"I've known since Boxing Day morning, and my Mom knew since the Ball. She wants to meet you, properly."
"Really?"
"Yes, I still need to figure out about my Dad but I do love you Scorpius and I wish I could kiss you at midnight in front of the entire Three Broomsticks."
"You can kiss me now, and we still have seven hours till midnight, come back to mine, my parents are away." Ruby kissed him and then they finished their tea and disapparated to Bath.
Ruby returned to her flat at nine and fed and played with Pox for a few minutes before changing into more party-like clothes and disapparating to the Three Broomsticks. She landed in the alleyway where Alice was wrapped so tightly around Hamish that it was hard to see whose hands were whose.
"Seriously guys! I could have been anyone!" Ruby said and they broke apart.
"Oh, hi Rubes, sorry I was just saying hello." Alice said, pulling Hamish into the pub. Ruby followed and was soon inundated by her entire family. She greeted them all and then sat down next to her Aunt Ginny who was looking exhausted.
"Are you alright, Aunt Ginny?" She asked, looking at her.
"Yeah just bloody shattered, I doubt I'll make it to midnight. If I fall asleep just leave me." She said smiling. Ruby laughed and nodded.
"Did you have a nice time with Amber?" Her father asked from across the table.
"She couldn't make it, I went anyway." She said, she couldn't keep lying to her father.
"That's a shame, Minerva would have made space for you."
"It's fine, anyway how are you Dad?" She asked and the conversation moved onto safer ground.
By five to twelve the pub was fit to bursting and Ruby had only briefly glimpsed Scorpius. She was currently sat next to Hugo who was very quiet.
"You alright, Hugo?" She asked.
"Yeah just… I really wanted to tell them before I went back to Hogwarts." He said, looking annoyed with himself.
"You don't go back till Monday, tell you what I'll come round tomorrow and I'll be with you when you tell them, moral support."
"Really? You don't mind?" Hugo asked, looking relieved.
"Of course I don't, We're having a birthday lunch at Aunt Petunia's and then I'll come round okay?"
"Thanks Ruby, now go and find Scorpius and take him outside so you can kiss him at midnight, it's important." He said, keeping his voice low. Ruby was going to argue but then she saw him watching her so she stood up and pushed her way through the crowds as discreetly as possible. She left the pub and waited in the alleyway across the street, they could still hear the sounds from the pub.
Scorpius came out and ran over to her, they ducked behind some storage bins and listened for the countdown.
"Thought we weren't doing this?" Scorpius said as countdown started. Ten.
"Hugo convinced me it's important." She replied. Four.
"Well thank him for me." Cheers erupted from the pub and they kissed passionately, Ruby pulled back and smiled at him.
"Happy New Year, Scorpius."
"Happy New Year, Rubes."
The following evening Ruby apparated to Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron's large converted barn in Yorkshire and knocked on the door. Hugo opened it, looking almost green with nerves.
"Thought you weren't coming." He said as she stepped into the large open plan living area.
"I promised I would, just got a bit held up at the party."
"Everything alright?"
"Yeah, Aunt Petunia just got a bit emotional." Hugo nodded but didn't question her further, she pulled off her coat and Hugo hung it on the coat stand.
"You sure you want to do this?" She asked, checking for cold feet.
"Yeah, they're in the kitchen, come on." Ruby followed Hugo into the kitchen and found her Aunt and Uncle sat at the table playing chess.
"Hi Ruby, didn't know you were coming round." Uncle Ron said, standing up and giving her a hug.
"I asked her to come, I need to tell you guys something." Hugo said quietly, sitting at the table and not looking at his parents.
"Shall we start with tea?" Ruby suggested and Hermione immediately set about making drinks, a few minutes later they all sat at the table and Hermione leaned over and took Hugo's hand.
"Are you alright, Hugo? I know something's been bothering you, we both noticed. You're not ill are you?" She asked casting a worried glance at her husband and then Ruby who shook her head to reassure her Aunt.
"No, I'm not ill. I'm…" Hugo hesitated and Ruby squeezed his shoulder.
"Come on son, you can tell us anything, can't you?" Uncle Ron asked, looking unsure of how to react in such a situation.
"Hugo, just tell them." Ruby said quietly and Hugo nodded and looked up at his father.
"I'm… I'm gay, I'm sorry Dad." Aunt Hermione immediately relaxed and Uncle Ron also smiled in relief.
"Hugo, come on now, you don't need to apologise for that. It's who you are, we don't mind, do we Mione?"
"Of course not, oh Hugo, how long have you been worrying about this?" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"About…about a year."
"Son, you should have told us, we were worried about you. We thought you were being bullied, we even asked Charlie to keep an eye on you."
"You really don't mind?" He asked, looking hopeful.
"Of course not, come here and give me a hug." Hugo moved around to his mother and embraced her, after a few seconds he started to cry in relief and Ruby smiled at the scene.
"Thanks for coming Ruby that was very good of you." Uncle Ron said, hugging her quickly before joining his wife and son at the other end of the table. Hugo poked his head up and looked at her.
"Yeah, thanks Rubes, I don't know what I would have done without you." He said.
"It was nothing, you just needed to find a bit of Gryffindor amongst all that Hufflepuff. I'll shove off..."
"No Ruby, stay for dinner I insist." Aunt Hermione said, standing up and wiping her tears away.
"Are you sure?" Ruby asked, not wanting to intrude.
"Absolutely, Ron's making Shepherds' Pie."
"Really?" Ruby asked; it was her favourite dinner.
"I might have requested it, as a thank you." Hugo said smiling.
"Well, in that case I'll have to stay." Ruby said, and Ron laughed before moving over to the oven.
"Just like your mother, Rubes." Ruby smiled and laughed. "She's probably kill Fred for Shepherds' Pie, especially Mom's!"
January was passing quickly and to Ruby's delight and relief she found that she and Scorpius were able to maintain a good working relationship and no one seemed to suspect that there was something going on between them.
On the twenty seventh of January Ruby walked into the office for her shift and found Scorpius looking annoyed.
"Morning Malfoy, you alright?" She asked, dropping her bag at her desk and then moving to the kettle.
"Fine." He replied, not looking at her. She made the tea and put a cup on his desk before knocking on Kyle's door and giving him a coffee. Her boss thanked her and then she sat at her desk and pulled out one of her essays. She could tell Scorpius was upset but she didn't want to push him, especially as he was in the middle of an exam week.
"I didn't ask you to make me tea." He said, still keeping his eyes on his textbook.
"Fine, don't drink it then." Ruby replied, instantly feeling irritated with him. It was an unwritten rule that when any of them came into the office they made a round of drinks, Healers practically main-lined caffeine.
Kyle stood up and walked out of the office in search of patients and Ruby looked up at Scorpius.
"You going to tell me what's bothering you?" She asked, trying not to sound miffed.
"No, it's none of your business, Weasley." He snapped. She was about to retort when Kyle came back looking rather excited.
"Excellent stab wound for you both, come along!" They stood up and walked to the patient's room in silence.
He was a middle-aged man, about fifty, who was rather muscly and had a large knife sticking out of his left thigh, he appeared to be quite calm for such an injury. Kyle stood by the door and Ruby moved forwards.
"Good morning Mr Lincoln, I'm trainee Healer Weasley. Could you tell me what happened?" Usually she would introduce Scorpius but if he was going to be a moody prat then two could play at that game.
"Got stabbed, could someone get my wife please? I'd rather she was here." He asked calmly. Ruby could detect the pain but he hid it well.
"Just a moment, could you just wiggle my toes for me?" Ruby asked, the man did but winced and stopped quickly.
"Thank you." Ruby turned to Kyle, Scorpius was looking at the floor. "Pain potion F6 20ml in 5ml of T10 over 4 hours, muscle relaxant charm, and then surgery to remove the knife, sir." She said and Kyle nodded.
"Excellent, Mr Malfoy prepare the potions please." Scorpius walked over to the potion cupboard and Ruby watched him, wondering what was wrong. He opened the cupboard and turned to Kyle.
"There's no F6 sir."
"I really would like my wife here, not too good with blood." Lincoln said and Kyle nodded reassuringly.
"Of course Mr Lincoln, I'll fetch your wife and Mr Malfoy will go and get your potions, Ruby prepare the drip." Ruby nodded as the others left the room, she moved over to the cupboard, annoyed that Scorpius had not collected the other potion. She was just annoyed with him in general.
"You're Ruby Weasley then? Potter's daughter?" The man asked.
"That's right sir." She replied, measuring out the potion. Why did Scorpius have to be such a prat? Why couldn't he have just told her what was wrong with him? Ruby was so lost in her own head that she didn't hear Lincoln jump off the bed.
The next thing she knew was him grabbing her from behind and holding her throat, he put her wand on the counter and whispered in her ear.
"Tell your mother I say hi, she killed my son, only fair I repay the debt." Ruby tried to move but he was strong, she heard a squelching sound and he grunted in pain. He then stabbed Ruby in the neck, then the side and finally leg before dropping her on the floor and running out of the room.
The pain was unbearable and Ruby tried to scream but she couldn't, she managed to roll onto her back and put her right hand on her neck wound, trying to slow the bleeding but within seconds her fingers were wet and she was too weak to keep the pressure on.
Someone would find her, Kyle would come back with Lincoln's wife, or Scorpius would come back with the pain potion, someone would find her.
Ruby wished she hadn't been so annoyed with Scorpius, what if she died and the last time she had seen him they had both been angry.
Her vision started to fade slightly and Ruby wondered how long it would be before she passed out.
"Got the potion they… Ruby!" Suddenly Scorpius was there and he knelt down next to her looking horrified.
"Scorpius…" She whispered but it hurt so she stopped. He put his hand on her neck wound and then looked up at the door.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" He yelled before looking back at Ruby. "You… you're going to be fine… just hold on… HELP!"
"What's going…Merlin! Ruby!" It was Penny Shacklebolt and she ran and knelt next to Ruby, looking at her in horror.
"Ruby, look at me. Just keep looking at me, stay with me." She said firmly, waving her wand over Ruby's body, Ruby tried to keep her eyes open but she could feel herself slipping away.
Kyle arrived next and he swore loudly before talking fast to Penny. The next thing Ruby knew she was on a bed being wheeled to another room, Scorpius was holding onto her hand and running alongside the bed.
"Ruby, stay awake. Please stay awake. Everything's going to be okay, I'm sorry I was such a prick. I love you Ruby, just stay with me please!" He had tears running down his face and his robes were covered in her blood.
They arrived at one of the surgical rooms and then there was lots of people around her, injecting her and removing her robes. She tried to stay awake, tried to focus on Scorpius' face but the black spots of her vision joined up once more and everything went dark.
A/N So a blast from the past, any guesses how things are going to progress with our Romeo and Juliet now?
Next chapter;…
Thanks to mozie for beta-ing! I'm still looking for a new beta!
witchprincess33- Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks!
LUG-14- No Henry won't become an obsessed stalker, we won't see him for a while. We'll hear a bit more about the whole Dursley situation in a few chapters though.