In the previous chapter…
"So," Scorpius asked, "What have we missed?"
The next few weeks were extremely hectic for Rose and Scorpius. Rose had 6 months of school work to catch up on, and most of the time, Scorpius would sit up with her until well into the early hours of the morning to explain things to her. They still shared a bed, considering that both of them had gotten used to the feeling of waking up in the other's arms over the time that Rose was a toddler.
It was fast approaching February 14th, Valentine's Day, and the school was hyped up for the Valentine's Ball, which the staff had organised as a treat. Rose and Scorpius left Transfiguration hand in hand.
Although Scorpius hadn't actually asked Rose to be his girlfriend, she's semi-consciously filled the role, and the couple were barely seen apart. McGonagall had even let Rose eat meals with Scorpius. The Headmistress had explained to Scorpius in private that she believed Rose was suffering from a few psychological and emotional attachment issues to him as a result from spending 6 months in close contact with him.
These new developments in the couple's relationship, and the rule bends that were being allowed, did not go unnoticed by the rest of the student body. Anyone who asked was simply told that it was none of their business rather forcefully by Rose's family or Scorpius. Scorpius had become rather close friends with the Weasleys and Potters, and when Rose had been sleeping off a bug one Saturday, he had explained to her family about the psychological strain she was silently suffering.
It was the weekend before the ball, and the students were allowed to go into Hogsmeade to buy dresses and accessories. Scorpius, Leo, Lorcan and Lysander however, were stuck inside the dungeons scrubbing cauldrons.
"Remind us why Rose set of the firework and blamed it on you?" Leo asked.
"Well, she said to me that after you three had exploded your potions, she thought that I should give you company in detention" Scorpius said with slightly gritted teeth. "Of course, her real reason was so that she can guarantee I'm not going to see her dress before Friday."
"I see that she's slowly returning to her normal sneaky, slightly unnerving Slytherin ways then?" Lorcan said, before his hand slipped and he went crashing into the floor.
"Yeah. But it's a good sign. She's recovered really well according to Madam Patil, but McGonagall still thinks she should see a psychiatrist about the attachment stuff" Scorpius frowned as the blue gunk stuck to the floor refused to budge.
"Is she refusing to go and see him still?"
"Yeah. Every time it's the same response. 'I don't have attachment issues, I'm fine' then puts her head back in a book"
"What's McGonagall planning to do about it?"
"She's going to get him to come to Hogwarts then schedule Rose in to see him during one of her frees"
"She'll run from him the second she realises" Lysander said
"I know, that's why they're locking her in and taking away her wand. And the worst part is, I have to stay in lessons, so she'll freak even more that I can't be there"
"But that's why she's seeing him"
"Exactly. I'm not too worried about it yet – he's not coming for another 2 weeks, so for now all I have to worry about is this ball"
"Aren't you opening the ball with the first dance?"
"He got forced into it by Miss 'I-Didn't-Open-Your-Ball-Like-I-Was-Meant-To-So-I' m-Opening-This-One-Instead' Weasley" Leo snorted a laugh.
"She specially asked McGonagall, so now I have no way of getting out of it" Scorpius said, mocking misery.
"At least she can dance. Imagine if you had to open it with someone who couldn't dance, you'd be a laughing stock for months" Lorcan pointed out.
"That's true. I just hope it goes alright…I've had enough of balls going wrong" Scorpius said, scrubbing at the blue gunk that seemed to be perfectly stuck to the floor. Lysander and Lorcan sniggered in unison. "Grow up, you two" Scorpius laughed, splashing water at them.
"So, Rosie, where's the boyf? Didn't lock him in your room did you?" Lily giggled as the girls walked along the street or shops.
"Nope, I landed him detention instead. Scrubbing the dungeons should keep him busy long enough" Rose grinned.
"No way! How'd you manage that?" Dom laughed. She and Victoire had met them in Hogsmeade to help them with the shopping.
"Put a firework in Ian Mundy's cauldron then loudly told him off for it. Professor Parkinson didn't take to kindly to it, so put him in detention with his merry band of miscreants, who's already managed to explode their own cauldrons" Rose explained.
"So, now that you've ditched the boyfriend, what're we doing about your dress?"
"I actually need to go and pick it up. You've seen it before, but I needed to get it altered" Rose explained as they walked into the Hogsmeade branch of Delacour's. Fleur Weasley was bustling around the shop, helping girl's pick out dresses. She came to them the second she saw them.
"My lovelies, what can I do for you today?" she beamed.
"I came to pick up, and we came to shop for Lils" Rose said.
"I'll grab your dress, Rosie, but I need to you to try it on so we can check the alterations" Fleur said before disappearing into the back room. She emerged with a sealed garment bag and practically pushed Rose into the changing room.
Rose slipped into the dress and left Fleur to do the back for her. All of the girl's mouths dropped as she left the changing room.
"Rose…is that?" Lily was speechless.
"Yeah, it's the dress I wore to Scorp's New Year's Eve Ball. Mum sent it over saying that if I got it lengthened it would be nice for the ball"
"You look drop dead gorgeous!" Dom smiled. "You've done a great job, Mum! But can I just suggest something as well? Can we make the skirt less poofy and also make the bodice tighter fitting? That way it'll be a tad more form fitting?"
"You should come work here, Dom, you have great ideas" Fleur said as she swished her wand. The bodice suddenly hugged Rose's generous curves, and the skirt clung more at her hips. Fleur waved her wand again, and the childish shoulder straps vanished, and the box-like neckline reshaped itself into a flattering sweetheart neckline.
"That's prefect!" Dom cried, clapping her hands together. Fleur beamed and then started trying to persuade her daughter to work with her whilst Lily started the help unzip the dress for Rose.
"You look amazing, Rose. He's gonna be drooling. And the best bit is, he's going to recognise the dress still. You're gonna need some serious body guarding otherwise you'll never finish your first dance as he'll try ravishing you on the spot" she grinned wickedly as she helped her cousin step out of the precious gown. She zipped it away in the garment bag as Rose got dressed and then they both went back to Fleur, who was beaming. She had obviously managed to force Dom into working at the shop.
"How much do I owe you, Fleur?" Rose said, grabbing her purse out of her bag.
"Nothing, Gab said to give it to you free of charge, providing you get a picture of Scorpius' face when he sees you in it" Fleur smiled. Rose none the less put 7 galleons on the desk and then walked out with Lily, who had decided on a dress, purchased it and had it tucked away in a bag.
A/N: Hi y'all! I will try to keep updating regularly, but can't guarantee it - I have a busy few weeks coming up, with results day and my birthday (woooo!) and also with work and school starting soon as well. Hope you're enjoying it and why not try reviewing? It's become my latest hobby - it's really fun, i promise! ;) - Rxx