A/N Hello! So…I'm back after a short break. With a new chapter. Hopefully y'all will like it a lot better than the last. I know, I know. It was terrible. And I'm absolutely indebted to you for not sending me a Howler or an envelope filled with Bubotuber pus after reading it.
A shoutout to Jenna Cregg, Rose13296 and BookLuvr9802 for following the story. Thank you! This one's for you…
By Christmas morning the castle was overflowing with guests. Aunt Ginny had arrived and had immediately proceeded to inspect the Gryffindor common room, much to the delight of Lily and Rose.
'It hasn't changed a bit,' she smiled, lovingly tracing a curious bump on the bedpost of one of the four beds. The two girls gave her a tour as she regaled them with stories of pranks she had played with and on her brothers during her term at Hogwarts. Many boys watched her wide-eyed as some girls bravely approached her for autographs.
'Oh. One more thing,' she turned to Rose. 'Hermione and Ron would be arriving very soon. Did you know that?'
Rose gasped. 'Mom would be here?' she asked, giving a delighted laugh.
'Yes. And Aunt Fleur and Uncle Bill.'
'Oh, I knew that,' said Rose. 'And Viktor Krum.'
Aunt Ginny turned to her, a bit startled.
'How did you know?' she asked. 'It was a top secret!'
Rose gave her aunt an impish smile. 'Al, Scorpius and I worked it out.'
'You truly are Hermione's daughter,' her aunt laughed.
'Have you met Scorp?' asked Lily all of a sudden. There was a pregnant pause. Aunt Ginny looked slightly grave and discomfited.
'No, I haven't had the pleasure,' she said at length.
'Oh you must meet him,' Lily said eagerly. 'He's the best. He doesn't tease me and treats me better than Jamie or Al.'
Aunt Ginny sent an alarmed, questioning glance towards Rose.
'It's true,' said Rose, understanding her aunt's misgivings and yet trying to defend her friend. 'Scorpius is as decent a boy as they come, Aunt Ginny. I consider him my best friend. You can ask Al too, if you like.'
Aunt Ginny still looked sceptical.
ooooo
Scorpius had woken up to a rather loud 'Merry Christmas' from Al before he had tossed him his gift and bounded out of the Gryffindor tower. Apart from the box of Chocolate cauldrons Al had gifted him, he had also got an elegant quill (Rose's), a pair of mittens (definitely from Lily; purple was her favourite colour) and a gilt-edged diary from his parents, complete with the year printed at the bottom of the back cover in gold. That was all. His grandparents had stopped sending him any gifts ever since he got Sorted into Gryffindor.
He looked around the now empty dorm and sighed. Everybody was downstairs, meeting and greeting family, wishing each other a merry Christmas and having a great time. Even Al had not stayed long. His family was here and it was quite normal that he would spend time with them, thought Scorpius. Rose had not appeared come up to wish him either.
He gave another sigh as he dipped the quill in ink and opened the first page of the diary. It was of the finest quality and faintly smelled of a mixture of spices and vanilla.
Christmas (he wrote)
I wish Mom and Dad were here…
Finding nothing else to write, he closed the diary and went downstairs for breakfast.
He had been wandering past the library (which was open due to requests by many ex-student guests), trying to avoid parents and students alike, when to his astonishment, he saw Al give a furtive look around the hall and disappear behind a thick stack of books. That was weird. He had expected him to hang out with his family, catching up on new tidbits. Scorpius had consciously refrained from seeking him out for this very fact. Yet here he was, in the library, doing heaven knows what with all that secrecy and urgency. Intrigued, he entered the library and tried snooping around.
'Just what are you trying to do, young man?'
Scorpius froze in his tracks. Just his luck. He turned to face a rather irate Madam Pince.
'I-I was looking for you, Madam Pince.'
The aged librarian glared at him through her pince-nez. He stumbled on.
'I wanted to check a few ingredients of the potion that I was writing about. And for that I had to look through a library book and for that I needed to ask your permission. So I was looking for you,' he finished lamely.
Madam Pince sniffed haughtily. 'Very well,' she said, 'go ahead and do your research. But if you so much as crease one page – '
Scorpius shook his head vigorously. The librarian kept a shrewd eye on him as he took a down a thick potion reference book and pretended to search for the specific page. He frequently took a quick sideways glance to note if the harridan was still there. She was.
Just when he was ready to thunk his head on the table in frustration, he caught the librarian making her way towards her table at the back of the hall. Sighing a breath of relief, he quickly stowed away the heavy tome and dodged two shelf of books and peeked behind the stack that Al had disappeared behind. A door loomed.
He pushed it open. It was the same room he and Rose had served detention in. And in a corner, slightly hidden by more stack of books, sat Albus. He was too intent on poring over something to notice the door open. Scorpius tiptoed upto him.
'Psst…Al,' he whispered.
The boy jumped a mile.
'Scorp, you git,' he hissed, 'what are you trying to do, giving me such a fright? I almost felt my heart jump to my throat!'
Scorpius furrowed his brows. 'What are you doing? I thought you'd be with your family.'
Al waved him over. 'Look at this,' he said, turning the pages of what looked like an old book. Its pages were gilded and the cover was intricately painted with curling vines and flowers.
'What is this?'
'A book recording the family tree of every wizarding family in the realm,' said Al. 'It records almost all the wizarding families from the first Great War right down to the past few decades.'
'I understand you are mad about our history. But why on earth would you be reading this now?' asked Scorpius incredulously.
Al held up a hand. 'I was searching for one particular family. The Diggorys.'
Scorpius looked at him in surprise. Al nodded, 'Didn't I ask you two if you had found something odd last night?'
'Yes, maybe,' said Scorpius, frowning.
'I told you something was not right. You see,' Al paused and licked his lips. 'I come here sometimes to study these family trees. It's interesting. And I almost always make it a point to trace a person's roots once I find him fascinating.'
'Your point being –?'
'I had tried to trace Cedric Diggory's roots. And what I found is rather –'
He never got to finish the sentence. Footsteps were approaching. Scorpius and Al scurried behind a tall shelf, their panicked gazes fixed on the door. The footsteps stopped just outside. Scorpius could feel his heartbeats drum in his ears. A moment passed. Then the footstep began retracting again, slowly fading into general silence.
'So what did you –?
'Not here,' whispered Al. 'Let's get out of here first.'
They crept out of the room and made their way to the courtyard. Al looked around before lowering his voice.
'I think Delphini Diggory was telling a lie.'
'What! Why would you say that?'
'Because Amos Diggory never–'
'There you are,' someone called out. They whipped around. Al's parents were walking towards them, Lily leading Mrs. Potter by the hand. She waved at them enthusiastically. Al whispered a quick 'tell you later' and waved back.
'Mom, meet Scorp,' chirped Lily. 'Scorpius, this is my mom.'
Scorpius had never been introduced to Al's parents before. They would generally meet with Rose, just before the train left the station and found an empty compartment to sit together. He had watched both Al's and Rose's family from afar. His parents seemed to avoid all other families and kept to themselves. What other choice would they have, mused Scorpius. Everybody else avoided them as well. It wouldn't do to be friends with an alleged Death Eater, would it?
Ginny Potter gave him a calculating look as she held out her hand. Scorp bowed over it.
'I'm honoured to meet you, ma'am and a merry Christmas,' he murmured.
She glanced up at her husband, startled. Everybody had a similar reaction whenever they met him, thought Scorpius ruefully. As if they expected him to start spouting insults and behave rudely just because he was a Malfoy.
Mr. Potter gave her a small nod and smiled.
'A merry Christmas to you too,' she said, turning to Scorpius. She was still looking mildly startled.
'Dad, can he to come over during the vacations?' pleaded Lily, tugging at her father's sleeve. Scorpius started feeling panic and embarrassment arise within him again. Oh no no no. This won't do. The Potters were clearly ill at ease at the thought.
'I-it's ok, sir,' he stammered. 'You don't have to do that. I understand.'
Mrs. Potter looked at Al, who was a silent observer all this time. He had a hopeful expression on his face. Scorpius groaned inwardly.
'Of course he can,' Mr. Potter said suddenly. He was looking at his wife, a silent understanding passing between them. 'Tell you what, why don't we invite him this summer itself?' he smiled down at the squealing girl.
'Mr. Malfoy, we would be delighted if you would come over this summer to our place,' he turned to Scorpius and smiled.
Albus gave a gleeful whoop and grinned as Scorpius felt his jaws drop to his knees. It was the best Christmas gift he had ever received and yet he was scared. What if his father did not approve?
He was saved from an answer by an announcement by Headmistress McGonagall requesting them all to assemble at the front lawn to welcome the dignitaries.
ooooo
Rose sat having lunch with her parents at the House table. Most of the students were sitting with their families in clusters. She had been looking forward to the arrival of the guests, especially Viktor Krum. Now that he and Uncle Harry were seated at the high table, she could not resist stealing frequent glances. Aunt Fleur had chosen to sit with Victoire and Uncle Bill at the Ravenclaw House table. Aunt Ginny was there too, chatting with the rest of the House as Lily listened raptly. Al and Scorpius seemed to be arguing over something.
Scorpius suddenly looked up and winked. Rose felt her heart stutter for a moment. Then she smiled and winked back.
'Who are you smiling at?'
She quickly got busy spooning some apple pie into her mouth to avoid Dad's question.
'It's the Potters, dear,' her mother said, deftly steering him away from the topic. Rose gave her a swift grateful smile. Neither of them wanted Dad to raise a hue and cry and embarrass the family in front of the entire school.
Her father went back to eating. 'Mmm…I missed this,' he said, chewing on a chicken leg. 'The best food I've ever tasted, apart from Mom's…and of course yours,' he added quickly.
Mom rolled her eyes. 'Isn't it laying it a bit thick? I know I'm not good at cooking,' she said, arching one eyebrow.
Rose smothered her laughter. It was true. Mom was ok with the basics. But when it came to three meal courses or more, she was out of her depth. Dad would often help her in the kitchen when guests came over.
'Imma-ommy-temmim-de-toomph,' Dad mumbled with his mouth full.
'No, it'd nowhere near the truth. And please don't speak with your mouth full,' scolded Mom.
'How do you even know what he was saying?' asked Hugo. 'I couldn't understand one word!'
Mom smirked. 'I'm the daughter of two dentists, honey. I grew up figuring out garbled speeches in my parents' chambers.'
Dad sent them a droll look as Rose broke into giggles. Mom winked at her.
ooooo
Scorpius felt lonely. Almost everyone was busy meeting their parents. Al and James had taken their parents for a tour around the castle. Rose was nowhere to be seen. She too must have joined in the family gathering. If only his parents would come too. He sighed a he climbed the steps wearily.
He was just about to climb through the portrait hole when someone barreled into him. His nose painfully with the other's head.
Eyes watering, he blinked at the offender. Rose stood there, rubbing her head.
'Sorry,' she said, 'I didn't see you.'
'Yeah. My nose knows,' he said sarcastically. 'What's your hurry?'
'I just wanted to reach the girls toilet before the others crowded them,' she said. 'No no no. not what you are thinking,' she added quickly at the embarrassed look on his face, 'I was going to do my hair. The girl's dorm is crowded. And as noisy as a cage full of Cornish pixies.'
That's when Scorpius noticed the bottle clutched in her hands. The label said Sleakeaszy's Hair Potion.
'What's that?' he asked.
'Something to make my hair sleek and smooth. Mom gave it to me.'
Scorpius frowned.
'I want to look beautiful when I approach Viktor Krum,' she blushed.
'But you are beautiful,' he said.
'Not with this bush for a hair,' she said, sending him an unamused look.
He shrugged. 'I like it the way it is.'
'That's why you're my best friend,' she gave him a quick hug and went skipping towards the girls' washroom.
Scorpius could only shake his head in resignation.
oooooo
Rose fussed with her hair. She had decided at the last moment not to apply the hair lotion, though what made her do that she couldn't fathom. Her hair glistened with all the combing and had been gathered loosely at her nape with a silver comb (a gift from Aunt Fleur.) They now tumbled down her shoulders and the front in ringlets.
She looked down at the gown. The bodice was an emerald green embroidered with tiny leaves and vines and beads. The skirt was also the same satin layered with the apple green gauze Scorp had chosen. The gauze was gathered in descending folds down the front and revealed the emerald satin underneath. The skirt was not too flaired. It was a bit longer at the back and made a trail when she walked. The short, loose sleeves fluttered at the tiniest movements.
'Wow! You look gorgeous!' said Amanda as she looked at her handiwork. She herself was wearing a scarlet gown that set off her golden blonde curls and ivory complexion beautifully.
Rose tried one last to tame the curly tendrils falling over her eyes. But it was no use. She huffed out a sigh and slipped on her slippers.
'Are you ready?' she asked Amanda. 'The boys would be getting impatient.'
They had decided to meet near the statue of Godric, just beside the Gryffindor stairs.
Amanda applied one last touch of tint to her lips. 'Let's go bowl them over,' she winked.
Rose laughed as they linked their arms and walked down the stairs.
ooooo
'What's taking them so long?' asked Al, looking desperately at Scorpius. He was pacing the landing and looked up expectantly whenever someone walked down the stairs. This was the fifteenth time in a row and he was getting impatient.
Scorpius shrugged. Perhaps they need to put more effort to dress up than the boys, he mused. He had only had to put some extra effort to make a proper knot in his bow tie. The rest was easy. The cream coloured waist coat was followed by the blue dress-robe.
Al was still pacing and grumbling. He ran his fingers through his hair, upsetting its carefully sleeked back arrangement.
Footsteps were approaching. He looked up.
And felt all the air sucked out of his lungs at once.
There, at the top of the stairs, stood a vision in green. Rose.
She nervously smiled at him as she seemed to float down the stairs.
Scorpius felt his heart stutter before resuming at a gallop.
'Hello,' she said, trying to tuck a curl behind her ear.
His necktie suddenly felt tight.
'You look…beautiful,' he said at length, bowing over her small, soft hand. There was no suitable word to describe her beauty.
She blushed prettily. 'You don't look bad either,' she said quietly. Scorpius felt his heart give a strange thump again.
'Shall we?' he offered his arm. She tucked hers in his.
Al, who was talking quietly to Amanda, caught his eye and nodded.
Together they walked towards the Great Hall.
ooooo
To be continued…
Please review, my lovlies!
