Chapter Twenty-Five

When I was five I accidentally walked in to one of Fred and Roxanne's booby-traps and broke a cloudburst spell, drenching me in seconds. When I was nine, Teddy and his friend Sid thought it would be hilarious to pour a bucket of ice-cold water over my head at a Weasley barbeque. When I was twelve James thought it would be funny to rid two to a broom and I ended up falling off the back and into the pond behind the Potter house. When I was fifteen I fell into the Black Lake in early March and almost caught hypothermia.

So I can safely testify what it feels like to be suddenly immersed in cold water. And the expression 'it feels like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on my head' is in fact, strangely accurate. When Osmond had opened her mouth and muttered that one godforsaken name, it was the same sense of horrible shock, the millisecond of inevitability before the water soaks your clothes and chills your bones, the sensation of gasping for air but not being able to find any.

Of course, I should have known. I should have known the second she propositioned me. It was just to typically my life. Here I was, panicking about eye contact, stuttering over unnecessary apologies, hoping beyond hope that he would talk to me first so I didn't have to figure out how to bring us up. Turns out I needn't have worried. There was no 'us'. There never had been. The night at the hospital was just comfort-seeking. The moment before Dave opened his mouth and Faye fell was just a figment of my overactive imagination.

I should have known really, because Scorpius has cheated on so many of his girlfriends that his ability to be single for very long, to be committed for very long, is seriously questionable. The problem so many people have is thinking that they are the centre of someone else's world. I foolishly let myself believe that I was special. That I stood out among the other girls in Scorpius' eyes. That I was the leading lady in his story. But Scorpius doesn't have a leading lady. He just has a countless line of ex-girlfriends that are all the proof I should have needed to know that he just didn't do commitment. Relationships.

"Absolutely not," I state.

"Oh come on," Osmond rolls her eyes. "You know its true – if he will cheat, it's with you. For some reason there is something about you weasel that he just cannot seem to resist. It's four days before you're done with Hogwarts forever. You never have to see any of these people again – why do you care? Unless… Unless, of course, you do care. And that's why you won't do it. You didn't actually say no until I told you who it was. Has the infamous Rose Weasley got a heart after all? As she got feelings for-"

"Absolutely not," I repeat, cutting her off. And that wasn't transparent at all.

"Thirty galleons."

"No."

"Come on Thorn," she smirks.

"Don't call me that."

"Why not? Scorpius calls you Thorn all the time. Oh… is it something special between you two? Is he special? It that was this is? Come on then Weasley… Don't you want a little closure? Because that's what it looks like to me. And everyone else in the castle. You think you two are subtle? Anyone that sees you within ten feet of each other can tell that you are pinning over him. So why not give it one last try? Make him face you one last time? Thirty-five galleons?"

I want to strangle her. I want to strangle her because she is so fucking right.

"One last chance to see if you actually mean anything to Scorpius?" she practically croons. And I know I'm going to do it. I have known I would take the job from the second she said his name. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

"I won't take your money," I decide. Because I promised James I would never take money for this sort of thing again. Besides, this isn't for her. Not really. It's for me.

"But you will do it?" she smirks again.

"Tomorrow evening, seven o'clock, corridor off the main dungeon hallway," I say by way of answer. "If you're no there that's your problem."

And then I walk away.

And question what the ever loving hell I have just gotten myself into.

"Rose!" someone yells before I can really stop to think about it. "Rose!" that shout again from closer by.

"Al?" I smile when I spot him. "Nice catch."

"Thanks. Was that- was that Osmond?" he asks, frowning at the shadows from where I had just appeared. "Rose what were you doing talking to Osmond the Insane?" he hisses.

"She wanted me to tell you she's sorry for almost killing you…" I try.

"No she didn't."

"No, she didn't," I agree.

"So Lily inherited the Weasley trait for dramatics," he huffs, changing the subject having gathered I am not going to tell him anything. That is why I love Albus.

"Looks that way," I grin. "You're okay with it though?"

"Not like I have much choice," he snorts. "But I guess I would rather it be him than that slimy Slytherin guy she was dating," he confesses. "I'm just… What if she breaks his heart Ro? What am I supposed to do then?"

"You're more worried about her breaking his heart?" I frown.

"Well if he breaks hers then it's easy – family before anyone right? Besides, Lil can take care of herself, she's probably hex his ass into the next millennium! But if she breaks his heart, then what? Because I should pick her side because she's my sister but Keegan would be the one that was hurt and he wouldn't take revenge like Lil would. He would just… hurt. And I can't then take revenge for him because, obviously, sister. So what would I do?" he sighs, defeat and worry vying for control of his face.

"How about you figure that out when – if – it actually comes down to it," I chuckle. "Because right now there are some scouts overthere who are looking for you," I gesture to where there are indeed three Quidditch scouters talking to some of the team who are pointing in our general direction. "Go. Be famous," I grin, shoving him in their direction.

~X~

The Gryffindor celebrations that night are insane. What with it only being a few days until the end of the school year and not only having one the game but the whole Cup as well, people are going crazy. And as of yet, no Professor as had the heart to come in and tell them to tone it down. The team itself are spilt on the celebrations. Thelma has snuck her Ravenclaw girlfriend in and is dancing wildly on one of the tables while Elsa looks on in amusement. Albus and Leo are being forced to do a shot for each goal of the match by Scott James – sour pumpkin juice for a Slytherin goal and firewhiskey for a Gryffindor goal. Keegan and Lily on the other hand, are wrapped in their own little world on one of the big armchairs by the fire. And Will is surrounded by Bertha Corner and her friends on one of the window benches, blushing to the tips of his ears as they all go on about his amazing performance.

Eventually, Scott drags Keegan away from Lily to join the other Gryffindor Seventh Years in the shots game and Lily makes her way over to where I am nursing a bottle of butterbeer at the bottom of the staircase, watching everyone.

"Hey," she smiles.

"Hey," I nod back.

"Not feeling in the mood to celebrate?" she guesses.

"Not particularly. Congrats of the…" I wave in Keegan's vague direction.

"Thanks," she blushes. "I feel like mum wouldn't been proud," her smile turns to a smirk as we both recall the countless times either my mum, much to the chagrin of my dad, would recount the time Ginny had kissed Harry in front of the entire House after she won the match. History apparently does repeat itself sometimes.

"Have you… have you heard from Faye?" I finally ask the question that has been on my mind over almost two weeks now. Lily's look instantly becomes somber and I almost regret asking.

"Yeah, she's back at her grandmother's now. She's still weak but she is recovering. I think she is more emotionally drained than anything," Lily sighs.

"What did you say to her? At the hospital?"

"I yelled at her until she fought back," Lily snorts humorlessly. "I couldn't stand the look in her eyes – the complete blankness. So I yelled until something appeared in them, until she got angry with me – rightfully so, I was not holding back – and then she cried. And I knew she would be okay then. That she would allow herself to heal."

"You'll look after her next year, won't you," I ask, knowing the answer already.

"I'll always look after her," Lily promises.

~X~

When the noise gets too much and the people too drunk, I spill out the portrait hole and wander through the castle until I end up in one of my old haunts: the Owlery. I whistle for Nox and he comes fluttering down to land on my shoulder as I hold out a treat.

"Enjoy your last few days here buddy," I tell him, taking a seat in one of the alcoves.

It is only then that I realise I am not alone. Sitting in the shadows on the opposite side of the alcove, now dressed in plain black robes rather than his Quidditch gear but with the same blank, haunted look on his face, is Andrius Malfoy. Neither of us say anything. We just sit in silence, both lost to thought. The times slips away and by now we must be into the early hours of the day. When the silence is finally broken, it is with a voice hoarse and weak from lack of use.

"Filia," Andrius whispers into the darkness. The moon is hidden partial from view so the light doesn't quite reach him in the shadows. "They called her Filia." And my heart constricts in my chest when I realise who he is talking about. "Filia River Malfoy. They buried her beside her parents. Because she needs to be reminded of everything she has lost," he practically growls, bitterness staining his voice.

"She won't talk to me. Won't even read my letters, I keep getting them returned, unopened. She's shut me out and I don't know why and everything is fucking wrong and she isn't there to help me fix it!" he curses and I can hear the tears in his strangled words even if I cannot see them glistening in his eyes.

"But the worst part is that I don't understand. I never wanted that baby; I never planned for her to get pregnant. When I found out, I freaked, I avoided it, denied it to myself. But now that she's gone I am so lost," his voice breaks again. "Everything is so wrong…. I just- I just want to see her Rose," he confesses on a whisper. "I just want to see her."

Reaching into the darkness, I grab onto his robes and pull him towards me without thinking. I wrap my arms around him and hold on tightly. He clings to me and I can tell by his uneven breathing that he is crying. So I hold him even closer.

~X~

Six thirty-five. Six thirty-five and I am panicking. I have managed to put off thinking about Osmond's job all day. Now there are twenty-five minutes before I am supposed to be in the dungeons and I am panicking.

I cannot do this. Osmond isn't the insane one, I am. What on earth made me think that taking on this job was a good idea? Closure – pah! This isn't closure. This is idiocy. He knows about my job and I know he knows about my job. Everyone knows about my job. He is never going to fall for it. Unless he really does give zero shits about his reputation. This is going to be a disaster. A humiliating disaster.

The common room is almost empty as everyone is either in the Great Hall or outside enjoying the summer evening. A couple of Third Years who look like they got ahold of some alcohol for the first time last night are napping on the sofas; a Sixth Year is writing a letter at one of the tables and Martha and Lucy are perched in one of the window seats, flicking through the latest copy of Witch Weekly.

"Rose," Lucy calls unexpectedly as I head towards the portrait hole. "Hey, can I talk to you for a moment," she asks a little hesitantly. I make a gesture for her to carry on. "I just… I just wanted to say I'm sorry for outing you in the Great Hall like that. That wasn't called for – I was hurt and angry but that's not an excuse. I had no idea, not really, of how far it all went… So yeah, I just wanted to apologise," she shifts awkwardly on her feet. "And for the way I treated you after everything with Dave. It wasn't your fault, not really. And with hindsight I can kind of see that. So… I'm not expecting you to be my best friend or anything again; I just wanted to make sure you knew. It wasn't my place you out your secret and I really am… sorry," she shuffles again, glancing over at where Martha is making little shooing gestures with her hands that I think are meant to be encouraging.

"I'm sorry for hurting you," I reply honestly. Because I am. I never meant for her to get so hurt by what happened with Dave and I.

"Thank you," she smiles. "Well I'll see you later then," she nods and heads back to Martha, looking slightly relieved. And the air between us feels a little less heavy, a little less taught. We won't be friends, not like we were, but perhaps things between us will be less painfully awkward and bitter.

Once she is re-engrossed in her magazine, nothing is stopping me from going to the dungeons and I turn around, half hoping a Hungarian Horntail will make an appearance and stop me from doing this incredibly stupid thing.

But no such Horntail appears and by five to seven I am in place in the corridor off the main dungeon hallway. A place where I have cornered and kissed Scorpius so many times I couldn't even begin to count anymore. My heart is racing almost painfully beneath my ribs and it is all I can do to make sure there is no sign of it on my face. Osmond is nowhere in sight but I assume she is hiding behind one of the gargoyles that litter this corridor.

She is a little less stupid than most of Scorpius' ex-girlfriends and it makes me wonder whether she will end up joining that list or not. Maybe Scorpius' is actually serious about this one. She's a member of the Quidditch team so they have common interests and he must know her quite well; I've seen them in Hogsmeade together a few times and she often sits near him at the Slytherin table; she has no qualms about touching him and dragging him places – especially the time I had to give Nott the letter from Dominique… Maybe he really does like her. Maybe she is the one to break the trend.

"You came," a voice drags me from my thoughts, its soft and familiar and my heart trips over itself. "I didn't think you would," the voice continues and I turn to see Scorpius ambling towards me. And then he is in front of me, his expression gentle but unreadable. And then there are lips on mine, sure but tender and my heart is beating overtime and I'm not sure I can breathe.

My eyes slip closed of their own volition and somehow my hands end up curled on his chest. His rest carefully on my waist, steady like an anchor holding me down. I don't understand.

The kiss is undemanding, sweet, thoughtful in a way I have never experienced before. None of the challenge, none of the uncontrollable fire, none of the destructive need that characterizes all our previous kisses. And don't get me wrong, I love those kisses. But this is different. This is tender, this is hopeful, there isn't any of the need because this is a promise. A promise of more. This is special. And Merlin be damned Scorpius Malfoy does not get to make me feel special if e doesn't fucking mean it.

When he pulls away, his eyes are bright, his lips shining and pulled into a smile. His expression an echo of what it was that day on the staircase before everything went wrong. He looks happy, at peace… and I don't understand.

"I hear you didn't take Anninka's money," he murmurs, leaning forward so our noses are brushing against each other. The breath that was sucked from my lung with his kiss has yet to return as I stare at the faint scatter of freckles on his nose.

Wait…

"You should have," Scorpius continues. "It was mine."

What?

"I'm confused," I manage to breathe out.

Scorpius tilts his head back to laughs lightly before leaning closer again and resting his forehead on mine. "I asked Anninka to proposition you – she's not my girlfriend, just a friend of mine who has a very grey set of morals – admittedly, I didn't know she was going to do it right after the match but that's Anninka for you. I gave her the money, told her to use however much you asked for. I wasn't expecting you to refuse it altogether," he chuckles.

"But… why?" I frown.

"I had to get your attention somehow," he smirks, a hand coming up to cup my face. "You can be a very hard person to read Rose Weasley."

"Why would… Why would you want my attention?" I ask. Because I have to know, for sure this time. My heart can't cope with any more uncertainty.

"Rose… it may have escaped your notice but I am completely and hopelessly in love with you," he confesses with an open smile. "And I don't, by any means, expect you to feel the same way for me right now but I hope that I haven't entirely misread the signals and that you do care about me somewhat and that maybe I could take you on a date because I really-"

"Iloveyou," I interrupt in a frantic rush – whether to get the words out or in an attempt to stop them I'm not entirely sure. But there they are: the simple truth. For the first time since he turned up in the corridor, Scorpius looks completely stunned. "I love you," I repeat at a more intelligible pace. I am pretty certain I have never done anything so irrational in my life but at the same time, I have never been so sure off anything either.

The grin that breaks across his face is blinding and he makes a noise that I am sure he would hex me for describing as a squeal but that is really the closest thing to it before his hands are cupping my face again and his lips are on mine once more. This kiss will unquestionably go down as one of my top kisses of all time, along with the one after that detention that Bethan had teased me about. Something tells me Scorpius will be responsible for all the great kisses of my life.

This kiss is full of everything we have been too oblivious or too stubborn to say to each other. Full of promises of a future. Full of hope and happiness that I did not think I would feel for a long time. Eventually it the grins on our faces prevent it from really being a kiss anymore but I don't really mind.

"Come on," he says, grabbing my hand. "Let's get out of these dungeons, I know we're in Scotland but its still a summers evening and we're missing it," he laughs.

~X~

We end up by the lake, sitting on the shoreline and watching the ripples of the fish and merfolk across the surface. The sunlight sparkles pleasantly on the water and for a moment I feel like I am caught up in a dream. People are too busy wrapped up in their own end of year summer bliss to notices us.

"Where did you go? That day you got detention for being late back from Hogsmeade?" Scorpius asks out of the blue.

"I went to the Potters house with James to make sure he told his parents about Evanna. Why?"

"I still can't believe I didn't recognize James Potter," he snorts. "Do you know where I was?"

"No," I frown, remembering wondering that question back in that detention.

"I was looking for you," he snorts again. "When you didn't come back, I panicked."

"You're an idiot," I chuckles, throwing grass at him. "Okay, I have a question… before Easter, when you found out I was sending a letter to Pollux, why were you so angry?"

"Ugh, I was hoping you had forgotten about that?" he groans. "I was mad at Pollux more than you if that makes you feel any better. He, uh… he knew how I felt about you. He was the only one I had told. And I jumped to conclusions, which I realized later that day where completely unfounded. I thought maybe Pollux had purposefully dumped into you because of what I had told him and I was irrationally worried that he had fallen for you as well and that you were, you know, a thing," he blushes.

"You thought me and Pollux were a thing," I repeat with a grin.

"Yes, alright, laugh it up… If you must know when I confronted him about it, it was in front of Louis as well and that's when he admitted he was gay and Louis kissed him. It was all very humiliating on my part," he huffs.

"So really it's thanks to your irrational anger that Pollux and Louis got together?"

"I suppose… Although I kind of wish they didn't have to do it right in my face," he grumbles. "Like serious. Centimeters."

"Why were you so close?"

"Uh… Pollux had me pinned to the wall… because I tried to punch him," he confesses, the tips of his ears turning a hilarious shade of pink. "You know I almost told you how I felt the day your cousin blurted out your secret in the Great Hall, when we were sitting behind the statue of Seraphina," he changes course. "Just before Lily interrupted us."

"That was like a month ago!"

"Rose I've been basically obsessed with you for the better half of my Hogwarts career," he chuckles. "Admittedly I had a pretty messed up method of trying to get your attention but we can't all be perfect."

"Wait, all those girls… they were to get my attention?" I ask incredulously.

"Obviously," he smirks.

"You're insane!" I laugh, shoving him before immediately tugging him back for a kiss. Because that is something I can do now: kiss him whenever I want.

He pulls me into his arms again and we kiss and talk and laugh until the sunsets and still for a while afterwards. Not everything is perfect. There are some wounds that will take time to heal; some relationships that won't last, some that cannot be salvage; some people that we will loose touch with by accident and some we will actively shut out of our lives; sometimes things go wrong and things happen that we don't expect but that is just life. But at the same time, wounds will heal and some relationships do last; we will meet new people and cement old friendships, some people may even come back into our lives; mistakes do happen but they aren't always bad and sometimes the unexpected can be just what you were looking for all along. And that too, is just life.

And my life, right now, is looking pretty good.

Author's Notes

I feel very strange right now. The story is over. I'm a little lost. There will be an Epilogue set a few years in the future but this is it. It's done. I really hope you enjoyed the ride and thank you to all those who have been with me from the beginning and all those who joined along the way. There may be various one shots and short stories about the other characters but for Rose and Scorpius this is it and I'm going to miss them and you readers too. Thanks once again,

Irish Myth.

P. S. Come pester me, ask either me of my characters questions - nothing should be unanswerable now because there are no more spoilers! - or just browse pictures/quotes/profiles/thefamilytree/pets on my blog (theotherwoman-irishmythe . tumblr . com)