Chapter Sixteen
Rose sees in the New Year
New Years Eve found Rose and Lily commandeered into the kitchen to help with the food.
"I think Grandma thinks she's feeding an army," Lily whispered to Rose as she took another plate of sandwiches out to the living room.
"I heard that," Molly Weasley shouted from the kitchen and Rose and Lily laughed.
"Oh sandwiches," George smiled grabbing a handful of egg sandwiches.
"You dare Uncle George," Lily growled "Grandma Weasley will kill me."
"Has anyone told you that you do a mean impression of your mum?"
"Yes, now sandwiches back on the plate." Rose laughed at them and wanted to hug them her family could drive her crazy but she loved them too.
"Rose, Lily more sandwiches," Ginny shouted from the kitchen.
"Mum how come you're not helping?"
"I've paid my dues I'm afraid your turn now," Ginny laughed as she grabbed several bottles of butterbeer taking them to the living room. Like all New Years Eve parties the Potter house was full of the extended Potter-Weasley family. This New Years party was no exception Rose could see Harry grabbing his wife around the waist playfully and James making puking noises. Teddy talking in the corner with George and Bill looking decidedly shifty in Rose's opinion her mum was flitting in and out of the kitchen with still more food. Her Granddad was sat asleep on the sofa a half finished box of chocolates still on his knee. Albus was sat at the window looking out impatiently for Alexandra's arrival in the garden with Roxanne sat beside him reading the latest witch weekly saying,
"She's not going to be here for another twenty minutes at least."
Fleur, Victorie and Dominique where stood beside the Christmas tree chattering away in rapid French with Molly and Lucy sat on the floor discussing politics and Rose smiled one of those would make minister for magic one day. Alizia was sneaking a firewhiskey whilst reading one of the books Hermione had lent her on ancient runes. Neville was talking to Roses dad and Lavender who seemed to have miraculously have recovered from her mystery ailment and was languishing on a footstool looking rather bored. To her left she to her surprise saw Louis and Marianna.
"How are you?" Marianna asked.
"I'm fine," Rose replied indifferently "you?"
"I'm fine." Marianna said equally unfeeling then repented "Ro I've missed you."
"Me too," Rose said grabbing her best friend in a hug.
"Are you talking now?" Lily interrupted and they both nodded before joining the hugging.
"Rose may I have my girlfriend back?" Louis asked haughtily.
"There you go," Rose smiled at them before wiping a tear from her eye and smiling at her best friend walking away hand in hand.
"I think I see her," Albus shouted from the window quite loudly. Roxanne who was also peering out into the garden said,
"That's not Alex that's two people it's Abi and Max."
A knock came at the door and it was Lavender who was quickest to answer rising up from where she had been sat to open the door the cold strong wind whipped her deep blue dress as she stood in the doorway. It was obvious that in spite of themselves everyone in the room with the possible exception of Arthur Weasley who was still softly snoring was straining to hear the conversation at the door. Rose could hear snatches of the conversation.
"And now your engaged darling,"
"Yes France mum."
"No your sister's staying here,"
"How silly for you all to be worried," it was Molly Weasley who broke the tension by turning on the wireless and the sound of a high falsetto voice began on the radio. Fleur rolled her eyes Arthur woke up quite suddenly and James, Albus and Fred laughed. A few minutes later despite the loud music Rose and Lily by the kitchen heard the door slam.
"Rose how are you?" Abi smiled falsely grabbing Rose in a hug then Lily before standing beside Max her hand resting on his so that a diamond ring glinted on her hand.
"How are you Rose?" Max asked curtly.
"Fine," came the equally curt reply.
"Oh dad," Abi cried and flounced of in the direction on her father the moment she saw him and Lily began laughing.
"What?" Rose asked confused.
"She hasn't changed a bit," and Rose smiled.
Abi continued to work herself around the party as if she was at an engagement party held for her instead of a New Years party it was another hour or so before Abi came back to Rose.
"I'm going Rose me and Max have a portkey to catch early in the morning to France."
"Are you looking forward to it?" Rose asked.
"Yes I mean it's much nicer than Hogwarts or going to New Zealand and it's thanks to Malfoy."
"What?" Rose asked whipping around to look at Abi for the first time properly.
"Oh I wasn't supposed to say anything," Abi laughed.
"What did Scorpius do?" Rose asked.
"No I can't possibly say," Abi giggled.
"Abi," Rose said seriously.
"Well," Abi said as though revealing a great secret "it was Scorpius who found us and paid the fees for Beauxbatons and some money for us to get married in a few years."
"Abi," Max grabbed her hand "we have to go."
"Yes of course darling," Abi said smiling and with a wave to Rose walked to the door Max almost pulling her away. Rose was left looking at the space that they had occupied just moments earlier.
She was brought out of the trance by loud magical fireworks provided by her Uncle George that announced the New Year.
"Happy New Year Ro," Lily came over to her giving her a hug as Marianna joined the hug after giving Louis a kiss.
"Happy New Year guys," Rose repeated in a dazed voice.