Chapter 32- Family politics
Ruby woke up on her day off feeling extremely tired, she had slept well but she still felt like she could sleep for another few hours. Nevertheless she got up and showered and changed and then grabbed her wand and bag and apparated to Diagon Alley.
It was Uncle Ron's birthday the following week and in spite of her recent problems with him if she was completely honest with herself, he was still her favourite Uncle. This was the first time she had ever been unsure of what to get him, and she didn't like it. She went from shop to shop with no real progress and by lunch time she was feeling irritable. She was just walking past Gringotts when a flash of red hair had her do a double-take, Uncle Bill was walking out. Ruby walked over to him.
"Hey Uncle Bill, going for lunch?"
"Oh, hello Rubes. Yes, think I'll pop for a sandwich, what are you doing here?"
"Shopping for Uncle Ron's birthday present." Ruby replied.
"Any luck so far?"
"Nope, not even a card." Said Ruby with a grimace.
"Well, have you had lunch?"
"No."
"I'll treat you and we'll put our heads together." Ruby smiled and they walked together to a small cafe and went inside, Ruby sat down and Bill went to get some sandwiches, he returned and passed Ruby a Diet Coke and a Prawn sandwich.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. I heard from Vic this morning, she said it was quite a night."
"Yeah, it was horrible. He's leaving tomorrow."
"I know, he'll be alright though, Harry trained him well."
"Yeah." Ruby replied, looking down. Teddy had always gone on missions but there was something about his commitment to this one that made her feel uncomfortable.
"So, where have you been for a present?"
"Everywhere, I have no idea what to get him."
"Have you spoke to him lately?" Ruby shook her head.
"He's mad at me, about Scorpius."
"Maybe that's why you can't find him anything..." Bill stopped talking as the door opened and Ruby looked up and sighed in annoyance as she saw Henry walk in.
"Afternoon Sir, Ruby." He said, walking up to the counter, Bill replied but Ruby stayed quiet. Henry bought his sandwich and then walked over to the table and looked down at Ruby.
"How are you?"
"Fine thanks, how are you?"
"Tremendous, I was sorry to hear about you being attacked, I trust Scorpius helped you recover?"
"Yes, he did."
"Well, it looks like everything worked out alright for you."
"It did." Ruby said, anger threatening to boil over.
"It must be difficult for the family..."
"Alright Chang, get lost." Bill interrupted. Henry chuckled slightly.
"Plucked a nerve, did I?"
"Henry, just fuck off." Said Ruby firmly.
"Please give my best to your parents, they must be..."
"Absolutely delighted about Scorpius and I actually, you lost any respect from my parents at the Ball."
"Funny, I had a lovely conversation with your Uncle Ron last week, he implied that you were causing a rift in the family..."
"No rift Chang, get out, I won't tell you again." Said Bill, almost growling.
"Of course, good day." Henry left the cafe and Ruby put her head on the table trying to resist running out after Henry and hexing him. She felt Uncle Bill put his hand on her back.
"Ron will come around Ruby, give him time."
Ruby nodded and then continued eating her sandwich.
"Is Louis nervous about Saturday?" She asked, Louis was the seeker on the Slytherin team.
"I think so, he's scared about the twins."
"Tell him I'll patch him up if they break something."
"You're coming? I am surprised."
"I know, Scorpius is coming too, and his parents."
"Should be a marvellous day out then!" Bill boomed with a twinkle in his eye. "Are you on nights?"
"Yeah, starting on Friday then straight through until Wednesday."
They finished their sandwiches quickly and then Bill went back to the bank and Ruby popped into WWW and was pleased to see her father present and Ron absent. Her father took her into the back and made them both a cup of tea.
"Rubes, can you talk me through the surgery?" Her father asked as they both sat down. Ruby filled her father in on everything Spanswick had told her, even drawing a diagram on a spare bit of parchment.
"And you'll stay with her?"
"Yep, Spanswick promised me, he really is a brilliant healer, Dad." Her father nodded and stood up and paced the room for a few minutes.
"How was she last night?" Ruby asked as her father sat down and took a sip of his tea.
"I made her take a potion so she slept straight through. Teddy will be fine."
"Do you know how long he'll be away?"
"No, but Harry will keep us informed."
"I might offer to stay at Grimmauld Place with Vic." Ruby said, just thinking of the idea.
"Good plan, except for when I'm in South America, can you move home?"
"Of course, when are you going?"
"Two weeks, I wish I could delay but Eliza's pretty much kicking me out the door."
"She hates you worrying about her."
"I'll always worry about her, you always worry about the ones you love."
"On that note, I better go, I still haven't got Uncle Ron's present. I'll see you Saturday, Dad."
"Bye Poppet."
When Ruby returned to her flat at four o'clock she was empty handed. She walked into her room and collapsed onto her bed, staring at her collection of pictures on the wall. One photo caught her eye and she summoned it towards her. She held it and smiled sadly. It was a picture of herself and Ron when she was about seven. She was on Ron's shoulders and she kept leaning down to kiss him on the forehead, she was smiling widely and every few seconds he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her down and tickled her as she shrieked with laughter. They had been at the beach in Cornwall on holiday with the whole Weasley family. Ruby felt a tear slide down her face and she put the photo back on the wall and buried her head in the pillow.
She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew was Scorpius calling her name softly and kissing her on the forehead.
"Wakey wakey, Rubes."
"Scorpius?" She mumbled, opening her eyes.
"Yep, you alright?"
"Yes, how was your day?" She asked rubbing her eyes and sitting up on the bed.
"Riveting, I now know the history of St. Mungo's, would you like a lecture?"
"No, I want a kiss."
"Good, because otherwise I'd have to get my notes out." He sat on the bed next to her and she turned her head and kissed him, he started to pull away but she put her hands in his hair and deepened the kiss. After a few moments of intense snogging Scorpius pulled away, breathing heavily.
"You alright?" He asked, looking worried.
"Horrible day, I..." Ruby leaned forwards and Scorpius pulled her so she was sitting on his lap.
"What happened?" He asked, leaning back and looking like he was struggling with his desires.
"Teddy's going on a mission, Mom's having surgery, I couldn't find Uncle Ron a birthday present and I bumped into Henry. Please Scorpius, please make me forget." She had another tear rolling down her face and Scorpius wiped it away.
"You don't want to talk about it?" He asked, Ruby shook her head and started unbuttoning his shirt.
"You're... you're sure?" He asked, his breath hitching slightly. She nodded and her hand ran down his chest and worked on the button on his jeans.
"Right, it's about making you forget then." He said firmly, he picked up his wand, locked the door and cast the enchantments and then pulled off Ruby's T-shirt. As he kissed her chest she found her eyes drawn back to the photo of her and Ron.
"Ruby?" Scorpius asked, pulling back.
"I can't, I'm sorry." She said, closing her eyes and leaning her head on Scorpius' chest.
"Okay, let's go out."
"Where?" She asked, still staring at his pale chest.
"Cinema, come on, we'll find something to watch." Ruby smiled and nodded.
"Okay, thanks." They left the flat quickly, knowing that Alice and Hamish would soon be saying a thoroughly non-verbal reply when they arrived, and apparated to a cinema in the centre of London.
Ruby had only been to the cinema a handful of times, twice with Aunt Petunia when she was small, once with Alice on her birthday, and a couple of times with Uncle Ron who enjoyed the moving pictures, he seemed to be everywhere today.
They watched a disaster film about an alien invasion and Ruby enjoyed it, Scorpius clearly loved it and when they were leaving Ruby asked him about it.
"Have you been to the cinema much before?"
"Yeah, every year on Hamish' birthday."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I know he's your best friend. How are you feeling...?"
"Rubes, I'm a man, we shook hands earlier, he'll be fine, as will Teddy." Ruby smiled slightly and Scorpius leaned over to kiss her.
"Shall we head back? Or grab dinner?"
"Dinner, let's go to Burger King or something."
"Not a chance, I'm a Malfoy, we don't lower ourselves to fast food."
"Seriously?" Ruby asked, Scorpius snorted.
"There's a KFC around the corner, come on, my treat." Ruby laughed and they had a very unhealthy dinner, as they left the restaurant Scorpius seemed to sense that Ruby still wasn't ready to go home.
"Dancing?"
"Yes, dancing, and alcohol." Ruby said, throwing her arms around him and grinning.
"You're a bad influence on me, Rubes." They ended up apparating to the muggle club in Birmingham and when they stumbled out at three o'clock in the morning they were both considerably worse for wear.
"Let's get back to mine." He said, putting his arm around her and helping her stay steady.
"No..."
"Rubes, I've got classes..."
"You can go, I need to talk to someone."
"Who? It's the middle of the night."
"I won't be long, I'll come to your flat after." Ruby ducked into an alley and pulled out her wand.
"Ruby, don't apparate! You'll..."
In a twist Ruby was gone, she materialised outside a farmhouse and stumbled up the path and knocked on the door loudly. The Apparation had made her feel a bit queasy and she leaned on the wall to steady herself.
She saw a light turn on in the house and the sound of some hurried footsteps.
"Who is it?"
"It's me." Ruby said, feeling very annoyed at the sound of her Uncle's voice.
The door opened at her Aunt and Uncle were stood on the threshold of their house looking very confused.
"Ruby, what on Earth are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"I'm mad at you!" Ruby replied, pointing at her Uncle.
"Ruby, are you drunk?"
"I can't find you a birthday present! It's all your fault!" She said, stepping forwards and almost tripping, her Aunt caught her and guided her into the house.
"Come on Ruby, let's get you inside. You shouldn't have apparated like this, you..."
"I can always find you a present but now I can't!"
"Rubes..." Her Uncle started, moving towards her.
"No, it's not fair! You're making it too hard!"
"It's not my fault you're dating..."
"I love him! You're not being fair, no one else cares! You're being nameist or pastist or familyist! It's not fair!"
"Ron, go and make her a drink." Hermione ordered, pulling off Ruby's shoes and pulling her wand out of her hand.
"I don't want to see you get hurt!" Ron replied, not moving.
"Well, that's stupid! You're hurting me, you are, not Scorpius!" Ruby burst into furious drunken tears and her Aunt hugged her. She heard her Uncle walk away.
"Sshh, it's alright Ruby, he's an idiot...Sshh, it will be alright. Where have you been tonight? Were you out with Alice?"
"No, Scorpius, we went to the cinema, then dancing."
"He let you Apparate like this?"
"I didn't ask him ... I needed to yell at Uncle Ron. I'll go to Scorpius' now." Ruby made to pick up her wand but her Aunt pulled it out of her grasp.
"I'll Floo you, hang on." She disappeared into the kitchen and Ruby heard her shout at her husband and then return with a bag of Floo powder.
"What's the address, Ruby?" Ruby recited Scorpius' address and her Aunt walked her to the fireplace and they Floo-ed to Scorpius' flat together.
When they arrived Ruby tumbled out of the fireplace and a pair of arms caught her quickly.
"There you are! For Merlin's Sake Ruby, what were you thinking?" Scorpius ran over to her, lifting her out of his father's arms, and guided her to the sofa.
"Oh, hello Draco." Hermione said, straightening up.
"Hermione."
"Ruby came by to yell at Ron." Hermione said, looking at Scorpius.
"I'm so sorry Mrs Weasley, she apparated before I could stop her!"
"It's alright, no harm done, she's a bit upset though."
"Yeah, she's had a bad day. Thanks for bringing her back, I didn't know what to do."
"I'll get back to bed then, son."
"Yeah, thanks Dad, sorry."
"I'll see you on Saturday, are you coming to Hogwarts?" Draco asked, looking at Hermione.
"Yes, see you then." Draco apparated out of the room.
"I can't find him a present!" Ruby wailed from the sofa. Her aunt walked over and knelt down in front of her.
"Ruby, he'll come around, I promise. Are you working tomorrow?"
"She's starting on nights."
"Oh, well you get some sleep and I'll see you on Saturday at Hogwarts, okay?" She asked, kissing Ruby on the forehead. Ruby nodded and she heard her Aunt and Scorpius talk for a few more minutes before her Aunt Floo-ed home.
"Are you mad at me?" Ruby asked, looking up at him and feeling like a complete fool.
"Let's get you to bed." Scorpius lifted her off the sofa and carried her through to the bedroom.
"I can walk."
"I know, but I have some fragile things that I'm rather fond of."
"I'm sorry, Scorpius." Ruby wailed.
"Oh, hold still I'll give you a sobering charm, you look too pathetic." He picked up his wand and the cushion of alcohol left her and she felt completely mortified.
"There's my girl." Scorpius said, sitting next to her and wiping away the tears.
"I'm such a pathetic idiot." Ruby said, her face buried in her hands.
"You were upset, I should have been quicker."
"I'm sorry."
"You're forgiven." He said, putting his arm around her.
"Do you think your Dad will forgive me?"
"Yeah, I think he found it funny. I'll get you some water." He left the room and Ruby sat up and ran her hands through her hair feeling too embarrassed. She looked at her watch and saw that it was nearly four in the morning, Scorpius had to be in classes from eight.
"I'm so sorry, you've got classes, I'll go home."
"Not a chance, I still need to cheer you up." He said, putting a glass of water on the bedside table.
"Have you spoken to your Grandfather? I thought..."
"No, he's been delayed, back late on Saturday night." Scorpius replied, his face darkening slightly. "Come on, everything will be fine." He said, pulling off his shirt. Ruby was momentarily distracted by the sight of his muscular chest and the smirk on Scorpius' face told her that the Slytherin had definitely noticed.
"I... I forgot what I was going to say..." She muttered, her eyes dropping away from him.
"I tend to have that effect on women." Ruby picked up the pillow next to her and hit Scorpius hard with it.
"You are going to pay for that one, Weasley." There followed a ten minute pillow fight that turn into snogging which quickly turned into sex.
When Ruby woke a few hours later both Scorpius and her with both naked and on top of the duvet with feathers all over them. Scorpius' alarm charm sounded and he groaned and muttered the counter-curse.
"If I open my eyes and you're not naked then I'm going to be really annoyed."
"Why?" Ruby replied, smiling.
"Because that's the only thing that will make waking up after about two hours sleep worth it." Ruby snorted and Scorpius opened one eye and then laughed as his eyes moved over her body.
"I can't believe I turned up at my Aunt and Uncle's house that drunk!" Ruby said, rubbing her eyes.
"I think your Aunt understood, I've got to get ready. What are you doing today?"
"Saying goodbye to Teddy and then grovelling to my Aunt. What classes have you got?"
"Magical blood disorders and then case studies. Shall we go to the match together tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'll come by at about two?" Scorpius nodded and then started getting ready. Ruby had a long shower and then changed, when she walked into the kitchen Scorpius was just about to leave.
"Have a good day." She said, kissing him.
"You too, wish Teddy and Hamish luck for me, and have a good night shift." Ruby nodded and Scorpius left.
After a quick breakfast Ruby left the flat and walked to a florist to buy a nice bunch of flowers and then apparated to the Ministry. She shrunk the flowers and put them in her pocket and then walked up to the security checkpoint.
"Yes?" The watch wizard said grumpily.
"I'm here to see Hermione Weasley, Teddy Lupin, Harry Potter and Eliza Weasley." The wizard look confused for a moment and then looked up at Ruby and chuckled.
"Which one are you?" He asked, picking up a blank badge and a quill.
"Ruby Weasley."
"Right, here you go Miss Weasley, give it back to me before you leave please." Ruby thanked the man and pinned the badge (which said; Ruby Weasley, family business) on the front of her jumper and then walked up to the Auror office.
"Hey Rubes, here to see Teddy?" James asked, looking up from his desk. "Or Uncle Ron?" He smirked slightly and Ruby knew her drunken visit had already been shared. Although Ron now worked at the shop Ruby knew he still had high-level access to Auror cases, he was a freelance strategic consultant.
"Teddy, is he around?"
"Just in a meeting with Dad, he won't be long, sit down." He conjured her a chair and she sat down. James stared at her and she sighed.
"Not talking about it." She said, firmly.
"Spoil sport, you working later?"
"Night shift. How's Poppy?" James smiled and adopted a 'completely-in-love' expression.
"She's great, I'm bringing her to the Burrow on Sunday, will you be there?"
"Depends how work goes."
"Yeah, I can imagine you've got quite a bit of sleep to catch up on already." The door to the Head Auror office opened, saving Ruby a scathing retort, and Teddy walked out with Harry, Ron and Hamish.
"Hello Ruby, come to apologise, have you?" Ron asked, Ruby stood up and looked at Teddy, completely ignoring her Uncle.
"What time are you going?" She asked.
"About two, shall we go and get a cup of tea? I'm due a break." Ruby nodded and then hugged Hamish and wished him well from herself and Scorpius, she heard Ron snort but again she ignored it.
"Come on then." Teddy said, putting down a large file.
"Are you planning to apologise?" Ron asked, again Ruby ignored him and started walking out of the room, Teddy following with a smile on his face. They were nearly at the door when she heard her Uncle Harry tell Ron that Ruby was just as stubborn as her mother. Yes, she thought, I am.
When they arrived in the canteen Ruby sat down and Teddy collected two cups of tea, when he sat down he smiled at Ruby.
"So, tell me what happened then." Ruby gave a brief yet accurate account of the night's events and Teddy laughed quietly.
"Rubes, he'll come around! I guarantee before I'm back everything will be sorted."
"How long will you be?"
"I'm not sure, a couple of month's maybe."
"Have you told anyone about...?"
"No, Just Scorpius, you and Hamish."
"Don't you think you should tell Uncle Harry?"
"No, he'll pull me off the case and I'm not having that, trust me Ruby. If you were read into the case you'd understand."
"Just... please be careful, Teddy!"
"I will, look after Vic for me, will you?"
"Of course, I was thinking of moving into Grimmauld Place to keep her company." Teddy loved the idea and Ruby told him she would speak to Vic about it at the Quidditch match.
"Is Auntie Eliza really going to be alright?" He asked, seriously.
"He's a great surgeon but everything has a risk. She needs the operation though, you can see how much pain she's in."
"Yeah, Harry's been worried for a while, and Uncle Fred. She'll be fine, she survived the tournament, the war and even Azkaban, she's not about to be defeated by a bit of anaesthetic!"
After they had finished Teddy gave Ruby a hug and they parted ways. She walked to Aunt Hermione's office and her assistant told her to wait on the sofa outside the office. Ruby sat down and pulled out and enlarged the flowers and waited.
Five minutes later the door to the office opened and Kingsley Shacklebolt walked out, carrying a large file.
"Oh, hello Ruby. How are you?"
"Good morning, Minister. I'm fine thank you, how are you?"
"Very well, Penny tells me the project has made some progress."
"Yes, I think more than any of us were expecting. How's Ali?"
"Very happy apparently, I think he's coming back in a couple of weeks for our Wedding Anniversary."
"That's great!"
"Indeed, anyway, I best be off, nice to see you again."
"You too, Minister." Kingsley walked out and after a few minutes the assistant told Ruby she could go in.
Her Aunt was sat behind her desk looking at a photo of her husband and children, she smiled at Ruby as she walked in.
"I'm really sorry Aunt Hermione." She said, passing her the bunch of flowers.
"Oh, they're lovely Ruby, you don't need to apologise, you're not the first drunken niece or nephew we've had arrive in the middle of the night and I'm sure you won't be the last."
"Really?" Ruby asked, surprised.
"Of course not, James used to turn up at least once a month before he fell in love!"
A few minutes later when Ruby left her Aunt's office she felt much better, but she was still no closer to figuring out what to do about her still favourite Uncle.
A/N So we've had a bit more family time, that's the last we'll see of Teddy for a while. Please review, any ideas about what the mission is about?
Next chapter; The Quidditch match!
**I am currently working by way through editing the whole Words universe, I'm mainly correcting spelling and consistency mistakes but I'm also adding some extra scenes. If you can think of any scenes that you wanted in then let me know ASAP!
Philosophers stone has already been updated and the new scenes include; Eliza and the Mirror of Erised, Mrs Weasley meeting the Dursleys, The Flying lesson.
New scenes in COS so far include; More time with the Dursleys, Eliza meeting the Grangers, more classes, more references to Biscuit the cat, more Neville time, more Lockhart, McGonagall teaching Eliza how to make a wand wall, Eliza finding Hermione's basilisk entry.
I will probably be putting COS up today so if you're desperate for a scene then let me know quickly! **
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- Thanks for having a look at those chapters, I'm halfway through POA now so I should be putting it up later.
Scorubes4life- Neville is in the next chapter, just for you!
girlwholived- Haley Potter- I'm not answering any of those questions!
Reading Dorkk- There's some Scorpius for you.
LUG-14- No guesses about the mission, seriously? I'm disappointed!