Do you believe in love at first sight?
Chapter 8
"Cass," Scorpius called from the Kitchen, "Did you get a cat?"
"No, Oooooooh hello beautiful!" Cass bent down and ran a finger over the Cats spine as he wound itself around her ankles.
"How the hell did he get in here?"
"What's your name then?" Cass asked completely ignoring Scorpius' question, the cat looked up her softly mewing "Hmmm, I think I'll call you Mumbles, you make funny little noises don't you? Can we keep him?"
"No, he probably belongs to someone else, look how fat he is. Greedy bastard! I bet he goes from house to house getting fed."
"Oh, but he's so gorgeous, all fluffy and warm. Like a big ginger cushion."
"We're not feeding him. We shouldn't encourage him."
"Awwww!" Cassie moaned, "You big meany."
"I know, I'm a horrible person, but don't feed that bloody cat." Scorpius warned as he downed his coffee, stepped into the fireplace and disappeared.
"Who cares what he says." Cassie whispered to 'Mumbles' "I think I've got some mackerel in the fridge."
"Oh well hello your highness. Nice of you drop by, stupid cat, Cilla's been going round the twist looking for you." Rosie muttered, rolling her eyes as Magnus strolled through the cat flap, into the kitchen and straight for his food bowl. "Corr, you stink of manky fish!" Rosie wrinkled her nose, "Erlack! That's gross!"
Rose picked up the colourful parcel on the counter, turned on the spot and reappeared at a familiar house. Balloons were fastened on the front door.
It was her nephew, Jack's, first birthday.
"Rosie!" James Potter answered the door in large party hat, he pulled Rosie into tight, slightly over dramatic hug. "Thank Merlin you're here!"
"Parties in full swing I see." They exchanged knowing smile.
"It's so boring, Jacks been asleep since I arrived! What's the point of having a big party, he's not going to remember it, I got out of bed at the crack of dawn on a Sunday for this! Fucksake-"
"James! Language, there are children in the house!" Hermione scolded as she bustled past with sausage rolls probably fresh from the packet knowing her mother. "Hello dear." She added pecking Rose on the cheek.
"Jack's asleep, and I've heard Dougie say worse things than that, what do you expect with Fred as a father?" James retorted, but Hermione ignored him completely and carried on into the living room.
"Is everyone here?" Rosie questioned James quietly in the hall, "Were they talking about me and my failed life much?"
"Yes everyone's here, and stop blowing your own trumpet, you ain't that bigger news." James laughed and casually stepped to one side dodging Rosie's half heart swipe at him.
"Rosie?" Called the familiar voice of good ol' Nana Weasley, "It's rude to skulk in hallways. James?"
"Coming." The cousins droned in unison and traipsed into the crowded living room.
She walked in to the sea of red heads, heading straight for her Nana, who pulled her into a Molly special – a rib cracking hug.
After what seemed hours, Jack finally woke up, he was carried into the living room rubbing sleepy dust from his eyes with a tiny fist. Rose was glad she spent ages trawling the shops for the perfect present for him, within seconds of opening it he cast the toy to one side, put the box on his head and ran off after Dougie.
"How's the new job Rosie?" Asked Harry sitting opposite her and tucking into a jacket spud.
"I like it! I don't have to deal with too many people, I just hide behind my desk reading all day. It not very exciting but it'll do until I decided what I'm doing." Rosie replied scooping a spoonful of baked beans onto her plate.
"You could do anything Rosie!" Lily interrupted suddenly, "You spend all your time in that library finding boring books for boring people, who are to ugly and isolated to live in the real world!"
"LILY!" Was the general cry from the room.
"That was harsh and unnecessary."
"Not to mention completely untrue," Added Al, "I use that library."
"My point precisely." Lily said seriously.
"Cass, that sodding cat is back! Have you been feeding it?" Scorpius had entered the kitchen, noticing a set of muddy paw prints leading from the back door, along the floor, up the kitchen cupboards and along the counter.
"No…" Cassie replied as innocently as she could muster, she was wearing a lairy pair of pajamas bottoms, vest top, hairy cardi, and a pair of large fluffy slippers. "Maybe he just likes it here."
Scorpius was dubious.
"Has Cee gone to work?" Cassie asked swiftly changing the subject.
"Yeah, and I'm going to be late. See you later." Scorpius finished the last of his coffee, grabbed a piece of toast from the table and headed for the fireplace. "Oh and don't let that bloody cat back in the house!" He added as he disappeared from sight.
It had been two weeks since he had had his little chat with Cass and a week since he'd realized the error of his ways and gone groveling back to Cee. She had taken him back and Scorpius was trying to make amends, mainly by ignoring the voice in his head that told him he was doing the wrong thing and 'to get out now!' Cecelia was practically perfect, she wasn't pushy or jealous, she was chilled, she drank beer not wine, liked Quidditch, had her own life away from Scorpius, didn't constantly badger him with questions about his day, and there was the added bonus that she was absolutely gorgeous. Five feet six inches of fucking perfection, dark hair, olive skin, a deep sexy voice, even sexier laugh, perfect breasts and it wasn't like she was beautiful but dense. She was smart…really bloody clever. She had a well-paid job too, quite high up in the ministry, headed up one of the main offices that dealt with international co-operation…or something like that.
Cecelia was perfection and Scorpius must be completely insane for not realizing how lucky he was to have this amazing girl. Everyone else did, his mates thought she was brilliant, his father thought he been 'Mental to let her go' the first time, Cassie thought she was the crazy one to even give him a second chance so grew in her estimation. So now Scorpius was going to be the perfect boyfriend, or at least try. He had agreed to go out for the day with Cee and her four year old brother, Henry. Scorpius knew Cee was testing his loyalty, a day with a small child, she would be able to tell if he was serious about taking their relationship seriously. Whether he would be able to take it to the next level, make that commitment to her, see how they would work together as parents for the day.
Scorpius had a feeling he would fail miserably.
"Oh go for it Rosie! Don't be such a bloody wet blanket, one date if you don't like, don't do it again. It's simple."
"I'm not ready."
"You said that last month. You are ready. I offered you lots of options, nice men, but you said no. Now Janice from work knows this guy, and I've told her about you, and she'd told me about him. You sound perfect for each other."
"You've been telling people about my personal life! Cilla!"
"Janice isn't people, she's just one women…who understands men, she's been married four times." Cilla and Rosie had met up for lunch in Diagon Alley, Rose was under the impression that it was some kind of emergency, she hadn't expected on being bombarded with questions and strange men.
"You have no idea who this man is! I'm not doing it!" Rose protested over her pint.
"Yes you are, I've said you'll be there, and you won't let him down." Rose stood up and stared down at Cilla but there was a note of finality in her voice that Rose couldn't argue with. The waitress brought over their food. "Now sit down, shut up and lets eat." She finished tucking into her chips.
An hour later, Rose stepped out into the glistening sunlight, it was a crisp sunny day. She said her goodbyes to Cilla, who headed back to work, and went for a stroll. It was one of those wonderfully rare days when Rose had a free afternoon. Even the centre of London with heat eminating from every surface, thousands of tourists walking insanely slowing, the traffic, the noise, all of it today had a glow. A warm, secure feeling, she finally felt at home in London. Like she belonged here, Muggle tourists or even fully-fledged Londoners could mistake her local. She strolled along oxford street breathing in her freedom, it was true, she was free, no one else to worry about, no responsibility at home or at work, she could just relax take life at a steadier pace. Meandering in and out of shops, buying bits and pieces, she stopped and had a coffee. Sitting out facing the world, people watching was always fun, Muggles rushing about talking fast on their telephones, Tourists asking for directions, then there were the eccentric strangers not going in any particular direction just wandering taking their time, seeing the world, meeting people, living.
Rose suddenly choked on a mouthful of coffee. A large red bus had pulled away on the other side of the street revealing a very familiar face. It was as though seven years had never passed, she was that eighteen-year-old girl again, completely besotted. Scorpius Malfoy was still handsome, he had that sexy old-fashioned type of way, he was a bit taller and had broadened out. His hair was shorter too, but it all suited him, he was standing outside the 'MacDonalds' opposite smoking a cigarette.
Rose faced a dilemma, should she brave it, take the plunge and cross that road? Maybe just say a friendly hello. What would he do? Would he even remember her? It had been a long time ago. Rose had begged him to write in her letter, apologized for leaving without saying goodbye, but maybe he never did forgive her. She never got a letter of any sort. Nothing. Maybe Rose should be angry! No, none of it was his fault, she should go over and say hello.
Rose stood up quickly gathering up her coat and bag and legging it out the door back on the busy street, he had his back facing her, and kept disappearing from view as traffic sped past. She hated these Muggle cars, even when her mum or dad drove, they were dangerous and mostly driven by idiots. Rose was half way across the road, stranded on an island, when she heard-
"Scorp' We're ready!" A tanned goddess emerged from MacDonalds with a small boy, who charged towards Scorpius, the boy was scooped up into his arms and placed on his shoulders. The woman/goddess kissed Scorpius and they headed off, hand in hand, down the street. Like some fucking picture perfect family, and there was Rose stranded in the middle of a busy road, no way forward no way back.
