Hi, I know I missed last week. I was supposed to write 12 essays :/

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 25

After a hearty lunch in the Hospital Wing, a stern look from Ron towards Madam Minstra and several more directed at Scorpius who had been forced to stay by both Rose and Albus. The family had resolved their issues and Albus was a smiling young man again.

Of course it wouldn't be simple, he couldn't just simply transition from his self from the past 5 years to 11 year old Albus. It would take time. Of course Rose and Albus could never be the kind of friends they were when they were 11, again. But at least Rose understood what had been happening and they could begin to repair their relationship.

Scorpius may have emanated confidence his whole life, but definitely not when it came down to Ron Weasley questioning him about his relationship with his daughter, especially with his wand a minute distance away from his Auror hands. At times during the lunch he just stayed quiet out of fear of saying something wrong. Years of forced etiquette lessons from his parents, could not prepare him for a conversation with Ron Weasley, who easily took things the wrong way.

Though Rose was somewhat relieved and disappointed that Scorpius had been able to say anything about their relationship, she wasn't the least bit surprised. She knew how intimidating her father could be, especially when it came down to her personal life.

Rose could only laugh as Scorpius squirmed under the weight of her father's questions, and smoothly change the subject when the questions reached her.

Albus hadn't exactly shown his opinion to the situation through his facial expressions. He was at an impasse. He didn't want to have the last say in anything, he didn't want to be a problem. But he couldn't help still hating the idea of Rose and Scorpius getting closer and him being pushed out of the frame. Even though he wouldn't try and ruin their lives any more, it didn't mean he didn't want to be the centre of attention anymore.

Scorpius and Rose's lack of answers for Ron were also partly because of their reluctance to not anger Albus about their relationship.

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The adults had made their way home at about 2 O'clock, and Albus and Lorcan were still getting final checks in the Hospital Wing, Rose and Scorpius sitting on the edge of a bed in front of Lorcan and Albus.

"I think I'm going to take up Divination," Lorcan mused, staring out of the Hospitals large and arched windows.

Rose chortled and shook her head, "Divination is complete nonsense, plus, you can't, you didn't take it as an O.W.L."

"Without Divination, Albus and I would be long dead," Lorcan replied simply.

"Oh come off it Lorcan, you know that you can survive 3 days without food," Scorpius joined in, laughing.

"We may have gone crazy though, if it weren't for Chi," Lorcan started but stopped at Rose's roaring laughter.

"Please don't let her hear that," she shouted out, laughing into her hands. "You sound like your brother, that room really did affect you!"

"I agree with Lorcan," Albus chimed in, "being locked up like that really puts things into perspective," he continued, sending a genuine look of apology at both Rose and Scorpius whose laughter had slowed.

Lorcan nodded, "I work pretty well in stressful situations, if I do say so myself," he said with a self-assuring nod.

"While I know that I'm not the centre of the world and can't control people anymore," Albus said, a stoic expression written on his features.

"Even though you nearly killed me Albus, I'm still glad you got out alive," Rose said with a grin.

"I agree, I think we have all benefited from this situation," Scorpius added, mirroring Rose's grin.

Lorcan frowned, "you got to speak to Rose's dad and manage to survive it to tell the tale?"

Scorpius looked out of the window quickly as Rose laughed, "oh you should have been their Lor, the face my dad had on, Scorpius was speechless."

"You were too!" Scorpius exclaimed, a frown on his face. "Plus, your dad is pretty hard to please, I tried making jokes but he just shut me down."

Rose gasped and turned to him fully, pointing him in the chest, "you said to him, and I quote 'it's not like Rose is in love with me or anything'."

"Can I stress the importance of the 'or anything', plus I think Al's dad found that hilarious." Scorpius replied, poking Rose back.

Lorcan was shaking his head, "now you've made him paranoid, Scorpius. He probably believes you."

Rose nodded, "there are times when he really doesn't understand sarcasm."

Scorpius rolled his eyes and pulled a hand casually through his blonde locks.

Albus was sitting silently, "though it is true, isn't it?" he asked.

They all turned to him, silent.

"What's true?" Rose started after a few seconds, trying to slow down her heartbeat and stop a blush appearing characteristically behind her ears.

"That you love Scorpius?" he said, his face not giving anything away.

Rose looked down at her hands, twiddling them, her voice was light as she spoke, "well I don't know about that."

"Just tell me Rose," Albus said, much harsher this time.

Her head snapped up and Scorpius was looking at the door.

"I, well," Rose stuttered out, "it's..." She couldn't finish.

Albus frowned deeply, "you really can't tell me, after everything. I apologized! Don't you trust me enough to know that I won't do anything?" Albus asked, a layer of anger covering his words.

Rose went fully red, looking to both Lorcan and Scorpius for help, but their faces were blanks. She was especially surprised to see Scorpius' was the blankest.

"Say something Rose!" Albus said loudly, though not yet shouting.

"Excuse- me," she said quickly, her eyes unusually red, her cheeks flushed, and her hands shaking. She jumped from the bed, hurrying towards the door and running from the Hospital Wing.

Lorcan got up after her, moving towards the door, "I'll, well I'll see you both around. Best friend duties you see," he said to both of them before jogging through the door and after Rose.

Albus looked at Scorpius who was looking at the door.

"Why couldn't she say anything?" Albus asked frustratingly, looking at his best friend, who slowly turned his way.

"Rose isn't exactly one to open up, you know that Al," Scorpius replied lowly. "I don't think she appreciated you pushing her like that."

"Well I don't appreciate her not telling me anything, I bet she has told you, hasn't she?" Albus asked, his mouth set in a straight line.

Scorpius winced, "well not in the right state of mine, she isn't even open to me so don't complain about it Albus. Why do you think I have a black eye?" he replied, looking at Al earnestly.

Albus frowned, though his eyes sparked with delight, "I do admire her handy work." He said with a small smile, which Scorpius sneered at. "But don't act like you don't want to know, you should go and talk to her."

"But," Scorpius started, but was swiftly interrupted.

"No Scorp, I'm trying to separate myself from you and Rose in this light, don't make me regret it."

Scorpius straightened with a start, "are you saying that you're actually fine with this? I thought you were just trying to be nice before."

Albus huffed, "I'm not fine with it, I'll never be fine with it. Especially if this actually gets somewhere, the idea of my best friend and my cousin together is a horrible concept. But not as bad as my best friend and my sister."

Scorpius grimaced, "Lily?"

Albus rolled his eyes and continued, "just don't expect to hear this again Scorp. But I actually value your friendship," he said with a sigh, "I want you to be happy and I want Rose to be happy, just never ever ask me advice about your relationship, okay?"

His best friend was silent, just staring at Al, before he burst out laughing.

"Do you actually think that I'd ask relationship advice from the guy who went out with Jessica Smith?" Scorpius exclaimed, holding his stomach as it heaved with laughter.

"Don't make a big deal of it or anything," Albus replied sardonically, glaring as his best friend rolled around in laughter. "Just you, you better not mess her up Scorpius," Albus added quickly and unsure of himself.

This made Scorpius laugh harder, "I'm not the one with the black eye!"

"Yeah, but I know your track record, and you said yourself that Rose is not very open, you think she would deal if-,"

Scorpius stopped abruptly, looking at Albus with shock, "if what? My track record? Come on Al."

"If, well if you... if you succumbed to Jessica Smith's many advances, or if you decided to just get rid of her and move on, like you've done before," Al said seriously.

His mouth was slightly agape, trying to interpret something else from Al's words.

"I don't know whether to feel insulted or glad you hold Rose in such esteem after that, Al." He said, his head swimming in thoughts. "But Rose isn't the same, she's stubborn, especially when it comes to me. She'll go out of her way to avoid me, she just doesn't treat me the same as everyone else, all the other girls. She's different, and I like different. And the last thing I'd want to do is hurt her, imagine that I got a black eye and a crotch-shot from making her a little angry. I could be found, my body mangled in the middle of Diagon Alley if I were ever to sink that low."

Albus watched him with uncertainty, his mouth pursed in contemplation.

"Are you sure she likes you at all? All this physical abuse makes me wonder," Albus said, more casually this time.

Scorpius chuckled, shaking his head.

"Is it actually worth it, Scorp?" he asked, dropping back to his serious tone.

Scorpius didn't have to think long, he grinned and nodded, "I think it is, my gut instinct tells me to go for it, and it has never done me wrong."

"What about when you downed that whole pitcher of pumpkin juice?" Albus asked smiling.

"I think those Firewhiskeys were worth it Al, even if I did get ill for 3 days." Scorpius replied with a nod.

They were both silent for a moment, silent in thought.

"Scorp?" Albus said quietly, looking at his feet. Scorpius mumbled so Albus continued. "Can we just set out some ground rules?" Albus asked, looking up at his best friend, pleading in his eyes.

Scorpius raised an eyebrow but nodded anyway.

"Could you avoid any couple-y behaviour in front of me please, and I think that Uncle Ron would definitely agree with me." Albus asked politely.

Scorpius couldn't help letting out a laugh, "if her dad even knew about our relationship, I think I'd be banned from the house, in case of any tomfoolery." Albus grimaced, and Scorpius sighed and nodded, "yes, whatever Albus. Though I should tell you now, Rose can be rather reluctant about any relationship forming between us."

"Well this can be for just in case," Al said, he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, not wanting to see Scorpius' reaction after what he said next. "I'm deadly serious about this Scorpius. Marriage first, okay?"

There was silence again, Albus could only hear his own breathing. He decided to take a peek and opened one of his eyes, Scorpius was in a dead stare, straight at Albus. Albus opened both eyes and was about to say something when Scorpius burst like a balloon with laughter. Hindering himself partially from breathing, and having to hold his stomach and his heart to stop them from exploding from his body.

"Are... you... trying... to kill... me?" Scorpius shouted disjointedly through laughter.

Albus had his arms crossed across his chest, frowning, when Scorpius saw this, he straightened up and straightened his uniform, and took a huge breath.

"You are thinking rather a far distance ahead, aren't you Albus? Do you see a bright future ahead of us? With your new psychic abilities?" he asked, a grin on his face.

"Precautions," Albus mumbled under his breath, "I don't want to know, okay? At least give me peace of mind, she's my cousin for Merlin's sake! Not just any other girl that we can laugh about, conversation about you and Rose is strictly off limits!" Albus said, his voice sharper and his eyes in a fixed stare on Scorpius.

Scorpius rolled his eyes and sighed, "fine Al, no hanky-panky till we're married."

Albus grimaced, "just be thankful it's me and not Uncle Ron."

Scorpius' eyes grew and his face paled, "you may have just vetoed it all out, by New Years I'd have already had my grave picked out. Maybe this isn't such a good idea, now that I really think about it."

"You're an ass, you know that right?" Albus replied, giving Scorpius a hateful look. "You know just as well as I that my Uncle doesn't kill non-criminals, and that he shouldn't be the decider of you and Rose's relationship. And you're making me say this, even though you know I don't want to."

"Haven't you ever seen those Muggle crime shows?" Scorpius asked, leaning on his hands at the edge of the bed, "where they set up people? He could set me up, say I bought illegal fireworks and that I had a weapon, and he had no choice." Scorpius continued, surprisingly worried about what he was saying.

It was Albus' chance to laugh hysterically this time, shaking his head.

"You watch far too much television, Scorp." He said after his laughter had ceased. "Anyhow, Aunt Hermione would surely sort him out before he did any real damage," Albus added with a wink.

"I suppose you're right," Scorpius replied quite simply. "So the rules are; no PDA in front of you and no illicit behaviour before we are wed."

Albus sighed, "I sound like a right nutter," he grimaced and shook his head, "forget it, just... just don't do what...Uncle Percy wouldn't do." He said settling on his Uncle and smiling.

Scorpius frowned, "thanks Albus, you are just too kind. Do you think you could at least soften your Uncle up for me? Maybe fill him with a couple mince pies before I get to yours? Give him a potion of some sorts?"

"No, you have to deal with him yourself, now go away, I want to have my moment alone with Madam Minstra."

Scorpius laughed at his best friend as he slid off the bed, walking towards the large oak doors, his hands in his pockets.

Cutting it short today. SORRY :P

Thanks for reading

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