Title: Counting Days
By: mandy-jg
Rating: G
Pairing: Rose Weasley/Teddy Lupin
Summary: The back door closed, and the voices raised again. Most definitely not safe to enter.

Counting Days

She could hear their raised voices again, and something crashed heavily to the floor. While part of her felt bad that they were arguing over her, but then it faded when she remembered how much they were over-reacting. She was sixteen, nearly seventeen, she was hardly a child anymore. Didn't they remember back to that age? Surely they had carried on a little at school, maybe do something a little stupid?

Maybe not so much her mother, but she'd heard Aunt Ginny tease Dad several times about some witch with a flower for a name. So she knew he wasn't as innocent as he was currently proclaiming rather loudly.

Rose sighed as the voices died away thankfully, she knew it was still far from safe to enter the house. For the first time she wished Uncle Nev hadn't visited during the holidays. He was always interesting, and engaging, but why did he have to tell them?

The back door closed, and the voices raised again. Most definitely not safe to enter.

"You've done it this time kiddo."

Rose cringed, "Don't call me that."

He laughed softly as he sat atop the fence beside her, "Sorry, but you've really done it."

"They'll forget it soon enough," she shrugged.

"Unlikely," Teddy grinned, "I heard something about castration."

"They don't know his name," she smiled.

"It wasn't for him."

Rose laughed loudly, "Liar."

He shoved her gently, "Bit silly though girlie, did you really think you wouldn't get caught?"

"I was hopeful, and I'd finally convinced the sod. I honestly wasn't thinking about them finding us."

"The prefects bathroom though? Mighty risky."

"I set an detection charm on the door," she said, picking the log beneath her fingers apart. "Of course Uncle Nev knew how to dismantle it."

"Well, he is Neville Longbottom."

"It was so bloody embarrassing," Rose grumbled. "I don't think I'll ever be able to look him in the eye again."

"Please tell me you were dressed still?"

"Somewhat," she whispered, a slight smile on her lips.

"How much is somewhat?"

"He didn't see my butt," she flushed as she said this, the wood on the other side suddenly incredibly fascinating.

"Bloody hell Rose," Teddy laughed, smiling as he looked away from her. "Who was he?"

"Brent Campbell."

"Tyson's brother? Jeez Rose, I thought you had some taste."

She slid closer to him, "Are you jealous?"

"No," he said quickly, "That snot isn't worth it."

Rose watched his hair change colour in the sunlight, "What does yellow mean?"

"Nothing, it's just hair."

"What does it mean?" She asked again, her fingers brushing against his.

Ted just shook his head.

"Is it the same reason you keep avoiding me?" Rose asked quietly.

"I'm not avoiding you, I'm right here aren't I?"

"Well Hugo's at the shop, and they are having an argument, do you have another option?"

"I'm not avoiding you," Teddy said again, "I hardly see you with you at school, and me working."

"This is the first time I've seen you all holidays, and school goes back next week."

"Fine," he said quickly. "A little, but you just... It's just better this way, for the time being."

"Says who?"

"Oh your father for one, and the Ministry," he smiled.

"I don't like you avoiding me," Rose whispered.

"It'll stop one day, when there isn't so many bloody rules," his finger brushed against hers softly.

"When?"

"The eleventh of November, next year," Teddy grinned as she clasped his hand.

"I'll mark my calender."

"Just promise me Rose though," he said quietly as she leaned towards him.

"ROSE WEASLEY! INSIDE! NOW!" She startled as her father bellowed down the yard.

"I have to go, unfortunately," she muttered, stepping off the fence. "You don't have to avoid me Ted, I really don't want to not see you."

He nodded slowly, "So what if I happened to be in Hogsmeade one weekend, and it just so happened to be a visit weekend?"

Rose beamed at him, "You just might find me at a table at the back of the Three Broomsticks, having a Butterbeer all by myself."

"ROSE!"

"Go, before they have to come out, it just makes them angrier," she nodded starting towards the house, "And Rose? No more losers in the bathroom yeah?"

Rose smiled as she walked backwards up the yard, "I'll be too busy counting days."