A/N So...another quick update before I'm done for the day. I was thinking that perhaps you guys would like to know how Draco reacted to Scorpius's gift. So read on and enjoy. It's a small chapter though I liked writing it immensely. Let me know what you all think. And review, review, review!
Dear Carrots,
A Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Christmas was as boring as I had predicted (though it got mildly interesting towards the end of the family dinner.) Suffice it to say that father and Grandfather do not see eye to eye anymore. Don't worry that I'm upset. Far from it. It is an improvement if I may say so. I remember father remaining morose and taciturn for weeks after visiting my grandparents. Being in my grandfather's presence can do that to a person. I do not blame father.
We have been touring Rome on account of father's business. We leave for home on the morrow. I picked up a little something for you from one of the local bazaars. Please accept it as a Christmas gift (it reminded me of you). Speaking of which, I almost forgot to thank you for these soft leather gloves. And of course the fudge. Mom too is in love with your Grandma's cooking. You guys are so lucky. However, I do wonder how you all maintain your figures (please don't punch me. I'm kidding.)
On a different note, father liked my gift. I spied him admiring the eagle feather quill the other day. He has been using it to sign documents lately. Thank you once again for helping me out on that count. Mom sends her regards.
Hoping to see you all soon.
Yours sincerely,
Scorpius
P. S. Hope this reaches you before the holidays, though I have serious doubts. Apollo has been growing rather plump due to lack of exercise. I wonder if he can make the journey after all.
Rose chuckled as she read and reread the letter. God, she missed school and her friends. Her cousins could be boisterous most of the time. And Albus was a boy. She couldn't share everything with him. Oddly enough, it never stopped her from sharing everything with Malfoy. Weird.
Thinking of him made her feel a twinge of sadness, something she couldn't explain. She sighed and folded the letter. Then she picked up the tiny wrapped package. It looked like a lump of rock. Careful not to tear the wrapper, she eased the string bit by bit and suddenly a heavy pendant slid out of the wrappings.
Rose blinked. Then she blinked once again.
There lay upon the sheets a piece of a galaxy of stars. At least that was what it looked like at a first glance. The stone was mounted on a gold cage and shimmered like a thousand stars that dot the night sky. She picked it up and held it to the light. Each dazzling pin-prick winked and twinkled as it caught the sun rays. It was breath-taking.
Rose quickly stowed it away in her chest on hearing a pair of footsteps climbing up the stairs. The next moment the door swung open and Lily flounced inside and stood shifting from foot to foot.
'What is it?' Rose turned to her.
'Aren't you coming down?' she asked.
'Does Mom want me to help with the chores?'
'Not that I know of. James and the others have been asking for you.'
'What do they want with me?!' Rose asked, raising her brows.
'Oh, nothing!'
Rose smelt a rat immediately. One would not survive the Weasley household without learning to spot brewing mischief.
'C'mon,' Lily tugged at her, 'they wouldn't start without you.'
'What wouldn't they start?' though she let Lily drag her down the stairs and out on the lawn. And she found out 'what' soon enough.
SPLAT.
A cold lump of snow connected with her neck. What the—?
SPLAT.
Another snowball wetted her jeans. She turned sharply. James, Hugo and Albus were grinning from ear to ear and taking aim.
'Don't you dare throw that snowba—, goddammit!'
SPLAT.
She whirled around to catch Lily. But the traitor had hightailed it to the kitchens. Perhaps to lure the rest of the cousins to join the snowball fight.
In the meantime, two more balls had collided with her back and head.
Enough was enough. She rolled up her sleeves. This was war.
She gathered as much loose snow as she could and set to creating an arsenal of snowballs, all the time dodging the incoming barrage.
'What's going on?!' Dominique had joined the fight. Lily hovered near the door.
Rose lobbed two snowballs which immediately connected with the targets. 'Defending my fort!' she yelled taking aim.
With a whoop Dominique jumped into the fray and started making more snowballs. Together they managed to make an entire heap.
The boys were taking a serious beating. They had not created a hoard before. Each time they bent down to scoop more snow they were hit by snowballs. Rose did an evil cackle. Shouts and yells and an occasional squeal filled the air. The fight commenced with full force.
'Aha! What have we here?'
They turned to find Aunt Ginny standing and grinning near the door.
'Snow war!' everyone yelled.
Aunt Ginny was a formidable opponent. With the reflexes of a seasoned Quidditch player and the aim of a Chaser she could take down the enemy in a trice. Lily pulled her down the steps to join Rose's group.
'That's unfair!' yelled Hugo, 'we need someone to even out the numbers.'
So Uncle Harry was dragged in followed by Uncle Bill and Victoire. Soon almost everyone had joined the fight. They had to shift ground many times due to lack of snow.
It was fun, thought Rose. Then she shook her head. No. It was tradition.
Late in the afternoon a wet and muddied and bedraggled bunch traipsed inside the Burrow.
'Wipe your shoes on the doormat,' barked Grandma Weasley, as she waved her wand at the floor to vanish the splotches of dirt.
That night at supper everyone laughed and shoved each other playfully, recounting how they had outmaneuvered the opponent. Rose sat back and observed her family. Grandpa Weasley discussed the mechanism of the electric heater with Uncle Harry. Aunt Ginny helped Grandma Weasley and Aunt Fleur to clear the dishes as Mom brought in the desserts. Hugo and Lily fought over the number of times they got splattered by snow (Rose shook her head). Dominique discussed the latest fashion with Victoire. Teddy stole quick peeks at Victoire in the meantime. James boasted of the number of girls who asked him out as Albus shook his head ruefully. Uncle George had a half-smile playing at the corner of his lips as he listened to them.
This was her family. Boisterous and funny, loud and loving, irritating and comforting all at the same time. Rose smiled as a half-eaten bun sailed past her ear (the culprit turned out to be little Freddie who later gave the reason that cousin Rose had been staring at him and made him uneasy). How she loved them all.
It was well past midnight and Lily had fallen asleep beside her by the time Rose remembered about the pendant. What had he written about it?
It reminded me of you.
Rose smiled at the darkness, rolled over and promptly fell asleep.
oooooo
Scorpius looked out of the horse-drawn carriage to catch a glimpse of the school he had missed so much in the past few days. He had no friends at home. Albus and Rose had sent him the only letters during the vacation. Scorpius had envied them while reading about the whole family snowball fight that Rose had described in minute details. He tried imagining his father and grandfather engaging in a harmless snowball fight. His grandfather would probably look down his nose and try to kill whoever suggested such lowly amusements with concentrated disdain.
The carriage took a sharp turn and suddenly Hogwarts rose before his eyes, a gigantic silhouette against a blue sky with its numerous turrets and windows. Scorpius felt a familiar sense of contentment settle upon him. He pulled his cloak closer and peered out again.
The huge gate was flocked with returning students. Owls screeched and cats yowled, adding to the general cacophony. Dragging his heavy trunk and owl cage, Scorpius set out looking for the Weasleys and the Potters. Many Gryffindors called out to him. A group of second year Ravenclaw girls caught his eyes and giggled. Jostling the crowd with his elbows, he slowly progressed towards the Great Hall. The grounds were still covered in snow.
All of a sudden someone grabbed his arm. 'Scorp!' she squealed.
It was Lily Potter. Scorpius had come to look at her as a little sister.
'Hello poppet. Where's Al?'
'Over there,' she pointed at the back, 'I wanted to thank you for the colourful ribbons!'
'I'm glad you liked it,' he smiled.
The rest of the group had joined him by now. Amidst handshakes and backslaps he looked at them. They had come to consider him as a part of an extended family. He let the loneliness inside him seep away bit by bit. Albus was chattering about some new books he had found in Uncle Charlie's possession ('It'd help us in Care of Magical Creatures classes, trust me.') James was looking forward to the next Quidditch practice ('I wonder if I could take a spin around the goalpost today itself?') and Hugo was scolding Lily for eating his last Chocolate Frog ('I didn't mean to,' whined Lily, 'I only wanted to look at the card.') Laughing and talking they crossed the threshold and breathed the sweet, familiar scent of the castle.
'Hey Snowy.' Scorpius felt his lips curl into a smirk. Her slightly husky voice would always give her away.
'Hello Carrots.'
They stood looking at each other.
'Did you like my—'
'How was your—'
They laughed. 'You go first,' said Scorpius.
'How was your trip to Rome?'
'Lovely. How was yours? Don't tell. I know it was brilliant.'
She grinned, 'So what did you want to ask me?'
'Oh that,' he coloured, 'did you like the gift?'
'Oh yes. It's beautiful. Thanks Scorp.'
Scorpius blushed, 'you're welcome.'
They stood there, loath to break the beautiful moment till Al barged in and grabbed their attention. 'C'mon,' he urged, 'James and all the others are planning a snowball fight once again. We must hurry if we want to join them!'
Rose's grin turned devilish, 'I can't wait to splatter y'all!'
Al grabbed the bannister and turned, ' You better watch out, mate. She has a devilish aim!'
'Really?!' Scorpius raised an eyebrow. 'Excellent then. I could never resist a challenge!'
They clambered up the steps, eager to join the others on the ground. Scorpius hadn't felt such joy bubbling within him in a long, long time.
Al left them at the landing and the two of them turned to the right to climb the same old flight of stairs that led to the portrait hole.
'Oh it's good to be home,' sighed Rose, throwing away her cloak and falling back on a plush chair by the cheerful fire that burnt in the Gryffindor fireplace. Scorpius smiled at the sight.
He couldn't have agreed more.
ooooooo
To be continued...
