Ok, CHAPTER 20! This one featuring an apology from a certain ginger arse who I love dearly, and holding the title of CHRISTMAS PART 2! Yay! So sorry for the delay, I just haven't been really into this story lately :( But I definitely want to finish! So hopefully picking up the pace in the next couple chapters...
"Scorp!" Scorpius rolled over onto his pillow, Al was a great friend but he wished the black haired boy wouldn't wake up so early, or more importantly, feel the need to wake him up to, especially because he was such a bloody light sleeper once Al managed to shake him out of bed there was no going back. He kept his eyes closed. He'd had a dream about an angry ginger man and a portrait that was really Sirius Black, and a tilting house with a name he couldn't remember. It had been a good dream, and he'd rather like to get back to it. Maybe if I don't do anything he'll go away.
"Scorp! Presents mate!" Scorpius sat up, rubbing his eyes. When his vision cleared he nearly jumped, where he'd been expecting his scarlet four-poster was a thick padded quilt. Burrow, he thought hazily, Christmas. He groaned and tried to fall back into his pillow.
"Lemme sleep Albus." He started to roll onto his side when Al begun prodding him in the ribs.
"Come on Scorpius you've got some too!" That got his attention. Scorpius' parents still hadn't owled him for through the Holidays, though before dinner yesterday he'd sent them a tentative "joyeux noel" with Al's owl, Hedwig the second (Scorpius wasn't sure who "Hedwig the first" was, but it was as good a name as any) But she hadn't returned yet. He didn't have any aunts or uncles who would get him anything, Andromeda had the few times he'd been allowed to visit her, but that had been ages ago. So who would send me a present? Maybe Al was just trying to wake him up. Still, Scorpius slid out of his cot, pulling his quilt neatly to the side and glanced down. Sure enough, at the base of his bed was a small cluster of hastily wrapped gifts sparkling in the morning sunlight.
"How..." Scorpius said, dumbstruck.
"Well you didn't think we would get you anything did you?" Al said already tearing the wrapping of his first one. "Go on, open one." Scorpius sat down and picked up a rather square red one with a letter tied on with the bow. He slid it out and carefully picked apart the envelope with his thumbnail, just as Al pulled out a dark green sweater with a large gold "A" stitched onto the front.
"Weasley sweater," Al said, noticing his curious expression. "Get one every year, Grandma makes them for everyone, don't know how she has the time now there's so many of us." Scorpius smiled and nodded sleepily, going back to the letter, which he'd managed to pry out of its envelope.
Scorpius,
Al mentioned you weren't expecting any presents, so this one's from me, (I get a discount at Flourish and Blotts) and I suppose Teddy chipped in a bit. Use it to protect yourself, and never duel in the hallways.
Harry Potter (And Teddy Lupin)
Scorpius frowned curiously, what could the square little packaged have to do with dueling? Only one way to find out he thought, ripping the thin scarlet paper and pulling out-a book. Scorpius felt a bit put out, but he turned it over. Dueling and Defense for the Advanced Beginner. Scorpius grinned, and started to turn it over to read the back when Al interrupted.
"Thanks mate!" He said, holding up the copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, a Revised Edition, Scorpius' father had gotten him for his last birthday. It was in really good condition, and Al will like it more than I will. Scorpius grinned and murmured a welcome, setting Dueling and Defense for the Advanced Beginner behind him and grabbing a rather lumpy silver package.
"Oh, she's got you one too," Al said smiling knowingly.
"What?" Scorpius asked, scanning a note that told him this was from Mrs. Weasley.
"You'll see," Al said, tugging out a box of chocolates from James. Curious Scorpius tore of the wrappings and pulled out the great soft lumpy thing inside. It was a thick scarlet sweater, and sewn in the middle was a great dark purple S.
"Weasley sweater," Al muttered nodding. "She must like you if she's made you one, there usually only for family." Al said this very nonchalantly and promptly returned to tearing through his presents, but Scorpius was touched.
Also in the package from Mrs. Weasley were a pair of jeans, a red striped shirt, a gray army jacket and a pair of slightly beaten combat boots, which Scorpius greatly appreciated. From Rose there was a slim leather journal (for notes about Yaxley and the mysterious item beyond the veil). Mrs. Potter had purchased him a box of candy from Honeydukes (you're much too skinny!), and Hermione had gotten him a new set of quills. Even James had got him an oddly shaped box that had growled when he touched it, he was careful to nudge it into Al's pile while the other boy wasn't looking.
"Good haul!" Al said, glancing over his shoulder at the presents stacked at the edge of his bed. He grabbed a chocolate frog out of the Honeydukes box just as the door flew open and Rose came running in and plopped down next to Scorpius, her mess of red curls bobbing cheerfully behind her.
"Oi!" Al said, frowning at her. "We could have been changing!"
"Well you weren't," Rose said dismissively, turning to Scorpius. "Thanks for the color changing ink by the way, I've wanted some since August."
"So wait," Al said, ignoring Rose's last comment altogether. "You were just going to risk it?" Scorpius snorted and Rose rolled her eyes.
"Yes Al, I was." Al looked dumbstruck and then shook his head.
"Eurg, gross."
"Al I thought you got over the "girls have cooties" thing a while ago," Rose said peering over at Scorpius' presents. "Hey you got a Weasley sweater," she said grinning. "Well you're practically family now, not that you weren't before." Scorpius blushed and smiled, but Al still looked bothered.
"That doesn't mean I want you to see me naked!" Rose looked down at her feet, and then locked eyes with Al, her expression solemn.
"I'm sorry I invaded your privacy Al." Al nodded slowly.
"I forgive-" Rose burst out laughing, and Scorpius joined in while Al scowled.
"What's so bloody funny!"
"Only-"
"I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE WITH THIS!"
Breakfast was happier than it ever was at the manor, and last night seemed to be forgotten. Scorpius pulled on his Weasley sweater and his jeans, so did Al and Rose. In fact nearly everyone at the table that morning was wearing one of the thick knitted things with there first initial plastered on with invisible stitches, so many that Scorpius couldn't help wondering how Mrs. Weasley found the time to make them all.
"Maybe she just goes through the alphabet every year, and then gives whatever letter to whoever it matches." Rose suggested, taking a bite of her pancake. "Or maybe she's got a inventory and she just updates it every Christmas."
"It's not like she's bursting with things to do mate," Al said, grabbing another sausage. Scorpius leaned in slightly closer, ignoring Ron Weasley's scowl.
"What about the you-know-what in the dungeons, we haven't got anything yet and the Holidays are nearly over." Al nodded.
"Tomorrow. I know James has got some extendable ears under his pillow..."
"And they all chat after we've gone to bed," Rose added. "We just have to be quiet enough-"
"-We'll have to be," Scorpius interrupted. "If we ever want to find out what's behind that barrier." Scorpius took a last bite of his toast. The table had started to clear away, and soon nearly everyone had excused himself or herself for one reason or another.
"We should talk about this upstairs," Rose muttered, quietly enough that only him and Al could hear. He nodded and Al copied the motion. Scorpius stood up to go, pushing in his chair with a squeak.
"Scorpius?" He swiveled on the spot looking back at the table were Ron Weasley was eyeing him almost-well-guiltily. Scorpius could hardly believe he had been the one speaking when he started up again. "Can you hang back for a moment?" Scorpius gave the ginger man a wary glance.
"Ok," he said, carefully sitting back in his chair. Al moved to do the same but Ron shook his head.
"Al, you and Rose can go." Rose caught Scorpius' eye questioningly and he nodded, she looked wary but she grabbed Al's arm and marched towards the door.
"But Ro-" the dark haired boy said confusedly.
"We've got that thing Al," Rose interrupted, raising her eyebrows expectantly.
"Right!" Al said, and Scorpius smiled meekly as they disappeared into the hall. He turned cautiously back to Ron who was shifting uncomfortably in his seat, his teacup dangling abandoned in his hand. There was a moment of silence as Louis, a fourth year Ravenclaw Scorpius had only spoken to on one occasion, excused himself from the table.
"So," Scorpius said, clearing his throat.
"Right," Ron said, looking even more bothered. "I er, well, I wanted to, I just-it's-certain complications...I er, I regret, um,"
"It's alright," Scorpius said quickly, glancing awkwardly at his shoes, the new ones Mrs. Weasley had gotten him.
"No," Ron said suddenly. Scorpius looked up confusedly, his brow furrowing as he brushed a wayward piece of blonde hair out of his eyes. "It's not. I was an arse," he flinched. "Er, sorry," he said, looking even more uncomfortable than before. Scorpius, who couldn't help being reminded of Al, smiled slightly. "I, well, your father and I didn't get along, and I doubt we ever will. I don't mean this to be insulting," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "In fact, you'll probably be quite good looking when you're older if you're anything like Mal-er Draco, but you look quite like your father." Scorpius blushed. "Not that you're not-er-good looking now," Ron said awkwardly, running a hand through his hair. Same color as Roses, Scorpius noticed.
"Mr. Weasley-"
"Ron," Ron corrected him.
"Er, Yeah, Ron-it's really fine, I get that all the time-"
"But you shouldn't," Ron said, meeting his eyes for the first time. "Especially not from me. Look I know what it's like to be an outcast, I was a blood traitor with no money who lived in the shadow of his best friend for six year-no one ever really understood," he flinched slightly. "Or cared for that matter, and, well-your father really knew how to drive that home." Scorpius grew very red.
"I'm Sor-" he started but Ron interrupted him.
"No. You have no reason to be sorry. You're a hell of a lot more than your father the same way I always wished people would realize I was more than Harry's best mate, and," his voice grew deadly serious. "The last thing I wanted to do was make anyone feel like that." Scorpius felt stupid, but there was a tiny tear brimming in the edge of his eye. He wiped it away quickly and smiled.
"I forgive you Mr.-Ron." The ginger man cracked a smile, and reached behind his chair.
"I got you a Christmas present," he explained, catching Scorpius confused expression. He pulled up a thin rectangular package wrapped in slightly ripped purple paper. Scorpius gave it a cautious look, and then pulled it across the table peeling off the tape of the side and pulling out a thin rust colored book.
"Open it," Ron said, grinning. Scorpius flipped the cover and gasped. There framed across the plain white paper were pictures of him Al and Rose, sitting by the lake, laughing at the Gryffindor table, and doing homework in the library.
"How?" Scorpius asked, glancing at a full page shot of the three of them laughing around the fire in the Gryffindor common room, Rose lying on the thin red oriental rug her face propped up on her hands, her curls covering her Gryffindor badge, Al talking animatedly, his hands moving widely as picture-Scorpius laughed and dodged them, his mess of blonde hair glowing gold in the firelight.
"It turns out Teddy is quite the photographer," Ron said, laughing at Scorpius' amazed expression as he started at a shot of himself trying out a spell at the Gryffindor table, his brow furrowed with concentration. "And you lot are prime subjects." Scorpius glanced at another of Al and him sitting next to the lake, and another of him and Rose lying in the grass, staring up at the sky.
"Do you like it?" Ron asked. The tears had come back to Scorpius' eyes, and that was answer enough.