Chapter 27- Meet the parents, again.

Another morning of boring cases had Ruby, yet again, in a foul mood. To top it off Lauren came into the office, wearing a tiny pair of shorts and strappy T-shirt, to ask Scorpius questions about the class schedule, Ruby tried to remain cool.

"Here, there's the schedule this term." Scorpius said, copying the timetable and passing it to the blonde.

"Thanks Scorpi, what would I do without you?" At that moment Kyle came into the office and glance between the scowling Ruby, uncomfortable Scorpius and scantily-clad Lauren.

"Miss Baxter, I'm sure Penny has told you, when you are in the hospital you must be dressed professionally, you look like you are off to a party." He said briskly, Ruby tried to hide her smile.

"Oh, hello sir! I'm not on duty, I just wanted a word with Scorpi about our studies. I'm just off to the gym, I have a yoga class." Lauren said brightly.

"Well perhaps if you spent more time studying and less time in yoga then you wouldn't need to repeat your exams, off you go." Lauren's smile slipped and she turned back to Scorpius.

"Thanks Scorpi, I'll see you in class." She leant down and kissed him on the cheek and then walked out of the office.

Kyle looked between his interns briefly and the walked into his office, when he was at the door he turned back.

"Perhaps it's a good thing the placement is over next week, Miss Weasley there's a nosebleed waiting for you in room seven." He shut his office door and Ruby threw down her quill so hard it bounced right off the table.

Without looking at Scorpius she left the office and treated the old man with the recurring nosebleed. When she returned to the office she found Uncle Ron waiting for her with an uncomfortable Scorpius. Her tether had been well and truly reached.

"Uncle Ron, not today!" She said, walking around him and sitting at the desk. She saw Scorpius glance up at the clock and then stand and start gathering his things.

"Just wanted to know if you were free for dinner tonight?" Ron asked.

"No, sorry. I need to do some work, I've got plans all week and I need to make a start on Mom's project."

"You're working with Eliza?"

"Yep, didn't she tell you? It's my final year project."

"You should know better than assuming your mother tells us things, she likes to keep us guessing."

"She likes to keep you guessing, I bet Aunt Hermione knows."

"Sometimes I think those two have a twin bond to conspire against me, anyway you're not free?"

"No, sorry. Maybe next week."

"Okay, where were you, just now? Not treating anyone…" Ruby stood up quickly, grabbed her wand and stormed out of the room. She was not seven years old, she was an almost qualified healer!

Her Uncle didn't follow her and she found herself in the children's department. She poked her head around Penny and Amber's door and was pleased to find them both present.

"Afternoon, Ruby. You look… pissed off." Said Penny, glancing up from her work.

"I am not seven, right?" She asked the Healer, who looked slightly amused.

"No, I remember you when you were seven."

"I'm fully grown up and qualified witch?"

"You are."

"I have five NEWT's and ten OWL's?"

"You do, I think."

"I am four months away from being a qualified Healer?"

"You are."

"Then why am I only treating patients that even my Aunt Petunia would be able to deal with?" Ruby stomped her foot and she heard Amber attempt to conceal a snigger.

"Because, in spite of being a twenty one year old, fully qualified witch with ten OWL's and five NEWT's and being four months away from being a Healer. You. Nearly. Died!"

"But I didn't! I'm fine!" Penny stood up and walked over to her and held her at arm's length.

"Listen to me, Ruby. No one is saying that you aren't capable, but you need to ease yourself back into work, you look exhausted!" Penny conjured a mirror and Ruby looked at herself. She was pale and did look a bit tired, but not exhausted!

"I look fine, there's just been a lot going on with the paper's and the project and work… Uncle Ron… Mom and… exams!"

"Finally! You are just like your mother!" Said Penny as Ruby dissolved into hiccups and tears, she pulled Ruby into a hug and then they moved over to the sofa.

There was a knock on the door and Ruby felt Penny beckon someone over and the smell of coconuts arrived.

"Excellent, come on Amber, ward rounds. Ruby come and see me before you go home." Penny stood up and Scorpius sat down in her place and put his arm around the sobbing Ruby.

Ruby heard the office door close and felt Scorpius kiss the top of her head, he was whispering to her but she couldn't catch the words.

After ten minutes the sobs started to subside and were replaced by shame and embarrassment.

"I'm sorry… Scorpius." She sniffed, leaning back and wiping her face.

"S'alright, didn't like this shirt anyway." Ruby glanced at his damp shirt and laughed slightly.

"I dunno, grey always looks good on you."

"I'll bear that in mind. You okay?"

"Yeah, sorry. I'm not usually like this."

"Of course you're not. Kyle knows you're pissed off, he might even give you a broken bone this afternoon." Ruby snorted. Scorpius stood up and looked down at Ruby. "Right, that settles it."

"What?"

"This weekend, Saturday morning I'm taking you away."

"What? Where?"

"Dunno, surprise. I think you may have forgotten it but it's Valentine's Day on Monday, usually I don't care about all that crap but you need a break and it will make me look like a wonderful boyfriend if I whisk you away."

"You don't need…"

"Shut up, Weasley. I've got class, I'm studying tonight but pop round if you need me."

"Thanks, I've got loads of work to do as well, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll tell Baxter you send your best wishes." Ruby smiled.

"Yeah, tell her I hope she had a good yoga class." Scorpius leaned down and pulled Ruby to her feet.

"Don't be jealous, I love you."

"I love you too, see you tomorrow." Scorpius kissed Ruby and then walked to the door before turning back.

"Your Uncle said that he's sorry if he upset you. I told him he was just the straw that broke the Dragon's back." Ruby nodded and Scorpius left the office.

Ruby stayed in the office until Amber and Penny returned and then she went with Amber to the canteen.

"We so need another night out, Rubes! It's been months!" Amber said as they took their usual seats in the corner of the canteen, more than a few people watched Ruby. After all it was only Wednesday and her family had made headlines twice already.

"Definitely, maybe next week. How's it going with the kids?"

"Well, I've got news on that front. Hl Shacklebolt has been amazing and managed to make a deal with Hl Turner and they are letting me spend the morning in Paeds and the afternoon in Obstetrics, apparently Lucy Summers, the Obs intern is considering switching to Paeds so it's all working out."

"Great! Why does Summers want to switch?"

"Dunno, I don't know her that well, do you?"

"No, I think she was friendly with Josh though. Have you heard from him lately?" Their friend Josh was doing his final year in New York but Ruby had not heard from him since before Christmas.

"Umm… no." Amber looked uncomfortable.

"Amber?" The American sighed and put down her drink.

"Just don't tell him I told you, please?"

"What?"

"He's annoyed with you."

"Josh is annoyed with me, why?" Ruby was surprised, Josh and Ruby had been friends since they started Healer training, and had even been friendly in Hogwarts.

"I told him about you and Scorpius, he kinda flipped out. It was all I could do to convince him not to fly back here, he went ballistic!"

"When did you see him?"

"January, I flew home for my cousins wedding and we had lunch, I didn't think he'd care but… Merlin Rubes, he really flipped! He was going on about pride and families and blood status and principles, I've never seen him like that before!

"Bugger, I didn't think. His Dad was involved in the war, he's a Muggle-born and was in my Dad's year but I'm not sure what happened. I'll ask Dad before I owl him."

"I knew people your parents' age might freak out but I didn't think it would be such a big deal for our generation." Amber said.

"Amber, the Weasley's and the Malfoy's have been enemies for like, ever, Scorpius' parents and my parents and Aunt's and Uncle's are probably the first generation that ever had civil relations with each other, it's a bit of a leap between that and me and Scorpius. It's a shock for people."

"English people are flippin' crazy!"

"Coming from you, I'll take it as a compliment." Amber threw a tomato at Ruby and the rest of the lunch was far more pleasant.

Ruby spent the evening going through her mother's research and making a rough draft of what symptoms and signs to look for in the Longbottoms, she worked in her room for the first time since moving into the flat and she could tell that Alice was a bit miffed.

Thankfully her best friend was soon out for dinner with Hamish so Ruby had the flat to herself. The progress her mother had made so far was amazing but there was one problem that was niggling Ruby.

Her mother was convinced that the Longbottom's could be cured based on the single fact that she herself had recovered from the torture she endured. The problem was that there were cases of torture-based insanity from all over the Wizarding and Muggle world, Eliza Weasley was very much the exception and not the rule.

Another issue that Ruby had was that if the Longbottom's suffered then she would have to tell her mother and the project would be finished. Could Ruby destroy her mother's ambition like that? How much would the Longbottom's suffer before Ruby found the courage to approach her mother?

At eight o'clock Ruby knew what she had to do. She gathered up her research into a neat folder and picked up her wand and walked to the fireplace.

"McGonagall Manor!"

She arrived smoothly in the entrance hall of her god-mother's house and was rather surprised to hear her Aunt's voice filter through from the living room.

"…got upset but she seems alright today, Pansy tends to be logical about these things. It's Eliza I'm worried about, Minerva." Aunt Petunia sounded upset, and she must be to have approached Aunt Minnie. Ruby hated over-hearing but apparently her arrival had gone unnoticed so she stayed where she was, for the moment.

"Has she said anything to you?"

"Just the facts, you know what she's like! It will build up and then…" She imagined her Aunt making an exploding gesture with her hands.

"I'll speak to Ruby, I'm expecting her any minute." Ruby should have guessed that Aunt Minnie would know she had arrived, with no choice she walked noisily through the entrance hall and into the living room. Aunt Petunia had turned away, probably to remove any trace of tears, and Aunt Minnie raised her eyebrows at Ruby.

"Good evening, dear." She said, standing up and hugging her. "Petunia just popped round for a catch up." Aunt Petunia stood up and walked over to embrace Ruby.

"Hey, sorry if I'm interrupting."

"Not at all, I need to get back. You must bring that boyfriend of yours to dinner soon, Ruby!"

"I will Aunt Petunia, I've got loads on at the moment though, I'm meeting his parents tomorrow night."

"How lovely, well let me know how you get on." Aunt Minnie walked Aunt Petunia out of the room and Ruby sat down on the sofa. She heard the Muggle floo away and wondered if Aunt Minnie would tell her off for eaves-dropping. She decided to apologise quickly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" Aunt Minnie waved away her apology.

"Not at all, tea?"

"Yes please, how did you know I was coming?"

"Because you are just like your mother." Ruby raised her eyebrows so Aunt Minnie continued.

"You received your mother's research yesterday morning, you then had an afternoon of dealing with the twins, then you told James' girlfriend about the magical world, I'm guessing that this morning was filled with mundane cases, no doubt causing some emotional outburst around lunchtime, this afternoon was possibly slightly better but then you re-examined your mothers work and realised that you had questions and you didn't want to bother Eliza so you came to me. Is that about right?"

"How can you possibly know all that?" Ruby asked, astounded.

"I told you, you are your mother's daughter, with a sprinkling of Fred who would have approached me the very second he was worried. I also have my sources, did I miss anything?"

"Well, Scorpius' ex has been sniffing around and Alice was annoyed with me for not warning her about the Vernon Dursley article."

"Hmm, I need some more sources. So what are your concerns?" Ruby talked through her worries and Aunt Minnie poured the tea and listened carefully.

"…know Mom's amazing and everything but what if this project doesn't work out?"

"Then it doesn't work out."

"Can you really see Mom just giving up?"

"Oh, Eliza won't give up, did you see her office?"

"Yes, I don't know how you can call me messy!"

"Do you think all of the ideas on those walls worked out? Of course they didn't, she doesn't give up but she does move on."

"So she won't be mad at me if I have to tell her that the Longbottoms are suffering?"

"No, she knows there's a risk. She put you on the project because she trusts you judgement and she trusts you to tell her if it's not working. Not many people know how to stand up to Eliza, people have problems telling her no or letting her down."

"I don't want to let her down!" Ruby wailed.

"You won't, but you know how to deal with her."

"Do I? Sometimes I still feel like I don't know her at all." Her god-mother laughed.

"Now you sound like your father, don't complicate her, Eliza is now, and has always been, very simple in her approach to things. She is either silent, or not, happy, or not. Black and white."

"What about when she's foggy?"

"That is when things get complicated, Ruby your mother has been through more things in her time than most people my age, she has been through so much trauma that sometimes I look at her and she astounds me, she is unique." Ruby nodded and felt a tear on her face. "Don't overthink things Ruby, if you are worried about the project them tell her, if she notices that you're worried and you haven't spoken to her then she will panic." Her Aunt wiped away the tear.

"Thanks, Aunt Minnie."

"You're welcome, now would you like to stay over?" Ruby was going to say no but then she realised that she hadn't stayed at the Manor since the summer.

"Yes please, I'm not in work till ten. Can I just borrow Mortimer to send Alice a note?" Aunt Minnie nodded and ten minutes later then were both sat down in the kitchen having hot chocolate, with marshmallows. It reminded Ruby of Scorpius and she realised that she hadn't spoken to her god-mother about her new relationship.

"What do you think about Scorpius and me?" She asked, stirring her drink.

"It's not for me to have an opinion on your love life. He makes you happy?"

"Yes."

"Then that is all that matters. You're meeting Draco and Astoria tomorrow? Have you met them before?"

"His Dad more than his mom, but it was when his Grandmother was ill so things were a bit tense."

"I can imagine. Draco Malfoy has changed a lot since the war, Astoria was a good influence on him."

"Rosie said she reminded her of Aunt Petunia."

"Hmm… yes I can see the similarity. Astoria was always more laid-back about blood purity than her sister, and the rest of the Greengrass'. I think it rubbed off on Draco. There was a big surprise a few years after the war, it was in all the papers. Draco hired a Muggle-born to run his Hogsmeade shop, people were amazed."

"Scorpius' best friend is Muggle-born, he's dating Alice actually."

"That's convenient." Ruby nodded.

"I'm worried that everyone is pretending to be happy about it because I'm happy, and because I… got hurt." Ruby was going to say 'nearly died' but chickened out at the last minute.

"I doubt that is the case, but if it is it will become apparent soon. I will ask you one thing though, Ruby." Her Aunt suddenly looked unsure and this unnerved Ruby.

"What?"

"Please do not ask your mother to go to Malfoy Manor, nor Hermione."

"I won't, Teddy explained."

"We are not sure how long Eliza was kept there, Luna Lovegood wasn't sure and Eliza hasn't spoken about her time there."

"I thought mom told you everything?"

"She told me about Azkaban, we never broached the Manor until a few months later and… she was not comfortable talking about it. At the time I didn't want to push it and now it may be too late." Ruby nodded.

"Mom said that me and Scorpius are a simple complexity. That love was simple but life made it complicated."

"Considering the amount of time your mother spends in silence, she does have quite a way with words." Ruby nodded, hoping that one day she could be as wise as her mother, or her godmother.

In a fit of Gryffindor independence Ruby had insisted on arriving at the Malfoy's on her own. She was wearing a pale green knee length dress with tights and ballet pumps, with a yellow cardigan, she was holding a small bouquet of flowers that she had bought in the florist next door to her flat, and had a box of after dinner chocolates shrunk in her bag. She knocked on the door feeing terrified but knowing that she looked respectable.

The door was open by Mrs Malfoy, she smiled widely as she saw Ruby.

"Ahh, Ruby, so glad you could make it!" Ruby smiled nervously and passed Mrs Malfoy the flowers. Scorpius appears at the top of the stairs and ran down them two at a time.

"Thank you for inviting me, Mrs Malfoy."

"Astoria please, it's so nice to meet you properly. I'm so glad that you've recovered well, Scorpius was so worried." Scorpius blushed and Ruby bit her lip to conceal her smile.

Astoria left to return to the kitchen and Scorpius stepped towards Ruby.

"I told you to stop pulling that face." He said, pulling her into a kiss and making her stop biting her lip.

"Sorry, habit. How are you? Good classes?"

"Yeah, alright thanks, let's go into the sitting room." They walked into the large sitting room where Mr Malfoy was sitting holding a Firewhisky and stroking a large golden Labrador. He stood up when he saw Ruby and the Labrador trotted over to greet her.

"This is Flicker, Ruby. There's a Chocolate lab called Delia somewhere as well." Ruby nodded and patted the dog.

"Hello, Miss Weasley, pleasure to see you again."

"Thank you, Mr Malfoy. You have a lovely home."

"Yes, I like it. Scorpius will have to show you around after dinner, the house-elves will be plating up soon. Would you like a drink?"

"Yes, please." Mr Malfoy clicked his finger and a house-elf appeared.

"Yes, Master?" The elf asked, standing on the table to avoid Flicker's affections.

"Miss Weasley would like a drink…"

"Two Butterbeer's please, Miff. Flicker, leave him alone." Said Scorpius, dragging the dog away from the elf.

"Of course, Masters." The elf disappeared and was replaced by a tray with two Butterbeers. Ruby and Scorpius sat down and Mr Malfoy stayed standing and moved towards the fireplace, still watching the couple.

"How are your parents, Miss Weas…?"

"Ruby, Draco! Honestly!" Said Mrs Malfoy returning to the room carrying a glass of wine and followed by the chocolate lab who greeted Ruby with a sniff and a nudge.

"If you don't mind?" Mr Malfoy asked.

"Of course not." Said Ruby, hoping she wasn't going to have to start calling him Draco.

"Very well, how are your parents?"

"Well, thank you."

"I was sorry to see the paper yesterday, I hope it wasn't too difficult for your mother?" Mrs Malfoy asked.

"No, we were warned by my Aunt Audrey so we were able to warn my sisters and cousins. We stagger the past in our family and my parents wanted to wait until the twins were seventeen before telling them about Dursley but we had to tell them early. They're staying at home until Monday, waiting for things to settle down."

"And are your family pleased about you and Scorpius?" Asked Mr Malfoy, looking intrigued.

"Mostly, I think quite a few of them saw it coming."

"We did too, didn't we Draco? You kids think you're so secretive!" Mrs Malfoy said, smiling happily.

"Which is why I love my flat." Said Scorpius, pulling a face at his mother.

"I can imagine that your mother wasn't surprised? It takes a lot to fool Eliza Potter."

"It certainly takes someone a lot smarter than me, sir." Said Ruby, Mr Malfoy laughed and then sat next to his wife.

"How is your mother?" Asked Ruby, looking at Draco.

"Much better, we have managed to slip some healthier choices into her diet, not that she knows though. Scorpius found some Muggle alternatives that taste the same."

"Low fat mayonnaise and butter, stuff like that." Said Scorpius smiling.

"Good idea." Said Ruby.

"Yes, it's too late for her to willingly change her diet now but the elves have been most helpful."

"Her blood pressure and cholesterol have dropped and she thinks it's just because she's reduced her caffeine intake by one cup of coffee a week. We switched that to decaff as well. Hl Spencer has agreed to keep up the illusion, have you meet him?" Scorpius asked.

"Briefly last year, I had one week on cardiology but I wasn't keen on it. He's nice though."

"Where would you like to specialise?" Asked Mrs Malfoy, tapping the sofa to encourage Delia to jump up.

"Emergency healing, I really enjoy it. Usually." She shot a sharp look at Scorpius who snorted.

"Ruby is on low risk cases this week and she's getting a bit annoyed."

"Low risk?"

"Nothing that my Grandma couldn't handle, I think my Dad may have had a word with Hl Kyle."

"And your Uncle." Said Scorpius.

"Which one?" Ruby asked, outraged.

"Ron, Auror Potter…and the one that works at the bank."

"Bill….it's a conspiracy. I will get them back, watch me."

"I believe you."

"I can imagine it is quite difficult to prank your father…" Mr Malfoy started laughing and everyone looked at him.

"What, Dad?" Asked Scorpius, smiling.

"I've just remembered. In my fourth year, just before Eliza and Weasley started dating, I made some remark… completely charming I'm sure…" Scorpius snorted and Ruby smiled, "anyway Eliza fired a spell at me, I tried to dodge it but it hit me."

"What did it do?" Asked Ruby,

"That's the thing! Nothing, your father told me that it would take some time to develop and that I shouldn't stay outside because the sun would make it worse, I didn't sleep for four nights!" Scorpius and Ruby laughed and Mrs Malfoy also looked amused. "In the end I went to see Snape and he told me there was nothing wrong with me and took ten points for being out-witted by a Gryffindor, I was fuming!" They all laughed.

"I saw the portrait of Professor Snape on Tuesday, he told me to send you his best wishes." Said Ruby when they had recovered.

"Thank you, I haven't been to the Headmaster's office for a few years, not since Scorpius had that Quidditch accident, when was that?"

"Fourth year, it was your cousin's fault." Scorpius said, looking at Ruby.

"Al? What did he do?"

"Feinted and I tried to mimic him and crashed into the ground, he caught the snitch and then landed to see if I was alright."

"Honestly, can't even have a good Quidditch rivalry these days! Did you play, Ruby?"

"No sir, I'm like my mother when it comes to coordination so flying isn't the best idea. We get too distracted. My sisters play though, beaters. Actually they're in the final next month with Slytherin, I said I'd go, d'you want to come?" Ruby asked Scorpius.

"Sure, it would be nice to see them play again, they're like one mind!"

"I know, it's weird."

One of the elves appeared and the group moved through to the Dining room and had a delicious three course dinner before retiring to the sitting room for drinks. Ruby was surprised by how relaxed she was in the company.

Draco Malfoy spoke mostly about his business and appeared to be very grateful to Ruby's father for introducing him to his French business lawyer. An apothecary in France was now firmly on the cards. He seemed to be proud of Scorpius and obviously loved his wife a lot.

Astoria Malfoy was an amazing baker and had made an incredible desert from scratch. She seemed to be very connected and asked Ruby all about her family and their various jobs and projects. Ruby could see the comparison with Aunt Petunia, but only, she thought, because Rosie had mentioned it to her.

At ten o'clock Ruby thanked the Malfoy's and Scorpius walked her to the entrance hall.

"Any plans for your day off?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close, the wine and good food made Ruby want him even more and she snuggled into him.

"I'm having a lie in and then going home. Can you still come tomorrow night?"

"Of course, I'll be there at six."

"Great, can you stay tonight?" She asked, biting her lip and making him groan.

"No, I want us to wait until the weekend, I've got an amazing place booked and I want us to be desperate when we get there." Ruby grinned but still felt her heart sink.

"I have to wait till Saturday?" She whined.

"Well, we could go tomorrow night after we leave Wales, we've got the place all weekend."

"Okay, that's not too bad then." Ruby said, leaning in to kiss him.

"No, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yep, I had a great night, your parents are lovely. I hope they liked me?"

"They did, I'll give you more details tomorrow when I've had then post-dinner briefing from my mother." Ruby laughed and they kissed and then she apparated back to the flat and fell into bed.

A/N So Ruby has finally met the parents, what did you think?

Next chapter; Scorpius meets the twins!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks.

LUG-14- They'd already done the contraceptive charm at Ruby's flat so I figured it would last for a few hours, I've got enough pregnant characters for the moment!

Scorubes4life- Thanks.

witchprincess33- Thanks, I love Hugo!