Finally, the second part of this story. Took me forever to write due to the feared writer's block. I still plan to revise it but for now I just feel the need to post it as it is. Hope you enjoy it and thank you for your support.
Cheers,
(For though they may be parted, there's still a chance that they will see)
July 5th. Summer Party.
Contrary to popular belief, the world does not implode when he kisses her.
"This was a terrible idea" Effie tells her, a hour before it happens.
"I told you not to drink anything Al made" Rose answers distractedly.
"Not the drink" Effie says, and after taking a look at her glass she wrinkles her nose and adds "Maybe the drink too. But I meant coming to the party in the first place".
"You're drunk".
"A bit" she agrees "But mostly, I'm just mad. He's been ignoring me all night".
Rose doesn't have to ask who he is. Will Carmichael, who has been Effie's on-again-off-again boyfriends for the past two years, is directly in their line of sight, dancing in the middle of the room and apparently still unaware of the fact that the petite brunette dancing besides him (Senna something, who had been a Slytherin) is getting closer by the second.
"You should end it" Rose says, it's the same advice she's been giving Ef since the beginning of this ridiculously tortuous relationship. Because Will Charmichael might be exceptionally attractive, with his olive skin and broad back, but that does not make him worth the trouble.
"I know", this is also Effie standard response.
Rose tries to shut up after that. She really does. Because Effie is a grown girl and she knows what she's doing and Rose hasn't had a relationship in ages so, who is she to advise really? But after a couple of minutes, she can't take her friend's sighs anymore.
"Okay" she says, pushing herself of the wall. "This is what we are going to do" , she grags Effies arms and forces her to turn around and focus on her, "You are going to end up whatever Al mixed there for you, and then you are going to go over there and grab your… whatever he is. And dance with him".
Effie stares at her for a second, and then she drowns her drink in one gulp. "Okay".
Rosie doesn't wait to see how things go, she knows at the end of the day, her friend has Carmichael wrapped around her little finger. Instead, she finishes her own drink (a plain firewishkey not made by Al), and decides to wander around the room.
The Horntail is a nice pub, situated close to Diagon Alley, in what appears to be a demolished building to muggles. Its owner, Steve Thomas, used to be a Gryffindor and play in the Quidditch team, he is also the older brother of India Thomas, with whom Rose shared a room for the past seven years. He inaugurated the place only a week ago, and it's becoming a quick succes.
She locates Kerry Walsh next to the bar, "Hello".
"Rosie, hi!" she yells over the music, passing her a bottle of beer "I didn't know you were here!"
"I think all of Hogwarts is here" Rose yells back, taking a swig.
Kerry smiles and shrugs, swinging with the beat. She looks pretty, wearing a light summer dress and her blonde hair in a messy bun; but she is red-faced and her eyes look clouded, which probably means the beer she's holding is not her first one tonight.
Whatever she says next gets lost in the music and Rose has to lean closer to listen. "What?".
"Malfoy is looking at you".
She turns around so fast is a milacre her neck doesn't snap (and if she was completely sober, maybe she would realize it's slightly pathetic, how eager she looks, but she's a bit drunk and she doesn't care).
He is leaning against the wall, and Rose is pretty sure Vega Baddock is talking to him, but he is staring at her. And maybe is her imagination, but she swears he blushes a bit when he realizes she's caught him staring, before quickly recovering and nodding in recognition towards her.
Rosie smiles at him.
The effect is astonishing, she thinks. He turns briefly to Baddock and the other girl nods, and in less than a second he's leaving her behind and making a beeline to the bar.
"I think I'm gonna go" Kerry mumbles next to Rose, and as she passes him by she adds "Bye Scorpius".
He halts in front of her, so close her eyes keep flicking from one to another of his. "Hi".
"Hi".
"So, I haven't seen you around" he smiles, and it's kind of devastating.
"I know. It's weird, isn't it? Not seeing each other everyday and waking up to the sound of your parents instead of your roommates. Or maybe your parents are not noisy, I don't know, mine are, even when they are trying not to. They always end up arguing and then laughing and my house is not that big, so I end up waking up…"
For some reason, she can't stop talking. And she knows she's just babbling by now (and blushing, oh Morgana) but her tongue seems to have developed a brain of its own and refuses to shut up even when she clearly intends to.
When she finally has to drawn a breath, Scorpius speaks "Rosie".
And there's something in the way he says it that makes her look right at him, her heart hammering wildly in her ribcage. Maybe it's because all the talking, but she is suddenly out of breath. "Yes?".
"Stop talking" he mumbles, and she realizes he's moved closer, or maybe she has, because there's no way she could hear him if she was more than a breath away.
Contrary to popular belief, the world does not implode when he kisses her.
But, Rose thinks, she just might.
She doesn't know whether they are kissing for five minutes or five hours and her mouth feels bruised. She thinks someone is wolf-whistling for a second, but she can't be sure because she can't think of anything that isn't Scorpius Malfoy's heart beating frantically against her own.
It's not life changing. There's no sparks in her body or light in her veins. She doesn't hear music and she definitely doesn't feel like touching the sky.
Somehow, it's even better than all that.
(Later, she will realize it feels like there's been something missing in her all her life, and he knows exactly what it is).
She can't let go.
But somehow she does and suddenly they are standing in the middle of a room full of people, not wanting to pull back completely just yet. Rose can feel her mouth form words, but her ears are ringing with her own blood and she's not sure she's actually talked.
Scorpius's is though, more blurting the words out than talking, really, but they still hit her full force, "I'm moving to France".
"What?".
He winces, "For the summer. I promised my grandparents I'll stay with them until the training program at St. Mungos's starts".
There's something awfully heavy behind Rose's eyes. Maybe, if she was ready to admit it, she would say they are tears, but right now she's quite sure it has something to do with the heavy air of the room.
"Okay" she says, and her voice comes out so quiet she wonder if it's really hers, "When does it start?".
Scorpius looks at his feet. Her stomach drops. "October".
She nods, "That's not that bad".
"Not worth starting anything between us".
She takes a step back, which she immediately regrets. Because without Scorpius Malfoy crowding every one of her senses she starts to perceive other things. Things like the fact that there's a bunch of people surrounding them, not even pretending not to listen. And she can taste firewiskey on her mouth, which is the one drink she absolutely hates, so it must come from him.
And there's also the small fact that she might be hyperventilating, but her brain is going too fast for her to be really sure.
He raises his hand, almost as if he's going to grab her elbow, but he doesn't. His hand hovers in the space between them, almost touching her, but not quite, and Rose can't help but think it's funny. That's their relationship, isn't it? Almost but never quite.
"Rose" Scorpius says, but she shakes her head.
"No" she mumbles "I'll just… I'll see you when you come back".
He reaches for her, "Wait, Rose I didn't mean…"
But the rest of his words never reach her, because Rose's already running away.
She finds Effie inside the bathroom with Kerry Walsh. They are sitting on the floor against a wall and Rosie hopes they made a cleaning spell before deciding that would be a good spot to settle. There's a bottle of something swinging between them, and they both look as miserable as Rose feels, so after a second she stops caring about the state of the floor and simply sits next to them.
"The boy I've wasted the last two years of life with wants to meet new people" Effie says, taking a gulp of what she recognizes now as tequila.
"I could have a relationship that would make my whole family implode and might send both my father and his into an early grave" Rose contributes "But he's moving to France for the summer, so the whole defying the universe thing is kind of on stand by".
She passes the tequila bottle to Kerry, who takes a swig "I have just kissed the boy I'm head over heels with. Right before his girlfriend told him she loves him for the first time. In front of me".
In other circumstances, Rosie would know what to say to that. But she can't think of a single thing that would make it better, so she stays in silent and waits for her turn with the tequila.
After a while, Effie simply snatches the bottle from Kerry's hands in one fluid motion.
"Hey Kerry" she says, leaning back and taking a swig "You should come live with us in September".
.
(I've just seen a face I can't forget)
August 10th. Rose's birthday.
She's sitting alone in the tearoom. Not many patients in St. Mungo's have visitors in the middle of the night, she imagines, but she doesn't know where else is she supposed to go.
Her heart's still beating too fast. Breathing still hurts a bit. She's still scared.
Rose keeps relieving Grandpa Weasley's call again and again in her head. She knows the sound of his voice, desperate and vulnerable, will be forever engraved inside her.
And the, when the healers finally told them Grandma Molly was going to be fine, she had seen her dad cry for the first time in her life.
And for some reason, that had terrified her more than anything else.
So now she's sitting alone in the tearoom, waiting, even though she doesn't know what for. After confirming Granny had not suffered neither an embolism or a heart-attack, they had declared her out of danger.
"We'll make some tests in the morning, just to be completely sure", Healer Rogers had said to Rose's mum, who somehow had been appointed as the person in charge without anyone uttering a word about it . "But so far everything tells us Mrs Weasley is perfectly fine, the episode she suffered was just her body's way of telling her to not take care of everything. Too much stress for her age".
Only one person was allowed to spend the night with her, so not to overwhelm her, Rogers explained. At first, a couple of nice nurses had tried to convince the younger ones to go home and get some hours of sleeps on a proper bed, but eventually they had had to resign and settle for getting them pillows and some blankets. So everyone but Grandpa Weasley was currently sleeping in the hall just besides the patient's room.
Everyone but Grandpa Weasley and Rose.
"Rose", says a voice coming from the door, and despite everything she's gone through today, her stomach still leaps against her ribcage when she places the sound.
At first, she thinks she's imagining it. Because for some stupid, incomprehensible reason, hearing Scorpius Malfoy's voice is the kind of thing her mind makes up when she's scared. But then, a soft hand places on her shoulder, and she realizes he's real.
"Hi" she croaks in a broken voice, not looking up from her cup.
His voice is so full of pity she can't barely take it when he mumbles, "Oh Rosie".
"I thought you were in France".
"Knews about your family travel fast" he sits in front of her, and Rose just knows he's trying to catch her eye. So she stubbornly keeps her head down. "So I decided to come home at least for a day".
She laughs (it sounds empty and wet with tears), "You chose a really bad day, then".
"I thought you might want someone here, for you".
His voice is laced with honesty, and pity, and compassion. They hurt like a knife. Rose squeezes her eyes shut.
For a wild moment, she wonders if words might have the actual capacity of breaking bone and flesh. Of reaching inside you, when you least want to be reached.
(Maybe it's not the words, but the voice who says them)
She hates him, she decides. He doesn't get to show up when she needs him, he doesn't get to act as if he cares about her, he doesn't get to say meaningful things.
Not when he's leaving her.
"You can't just...I mean you are not allowed to…" to her horror, her voice breaks a little more with every word.
Scorpius looks kindly at her, "Rosie…".
"Forget it" Rose says, finally raising her gaze to meet his. He looks exhausted. "This is not the place. Or the time".
Scorpius sighs, rubbing a hand across his face so vigorously his skin turns vibrant pink. But he does not say a word.
After a while, Rose can't help but huff in annoyance, "Why are you here?".
He looks confused, "I wanted to see you".
"Fine" she hates how bitter she sounds, but can't stop her anger, burning hot and sticky against her chest, from spilling out, "You saw me. That doesn't explain why are you still here".
"You know why I am here" he scowls.
"I do not!" shouts Rose, voice pitched, "You were supposed to be in France and never come back, remember?".
He sighs, "Don't be so dramatic. I told you I'll be back in October".
"And yet here you are".
"Rose" he mumbles tiredly, clearly asking her to drop it, but she's having none of it.
"Maybe you should have stayed in France".
His head snaps, fire burning in his grey eyes when he exclaims, "Maybe I should have!".
She's pissed him off, she can tell. Good. She's pissed off too (and scared). "Then why didn't you!".
"Because I'm in love with you!".
And suddenly, there's not anger inside her, but a quiet, not quite unpleasant warm buzz.
"You're in love with me?".
"No. I didn't mean..." he shakes his head, making a frustrated sound from the back of his throat before suddenly looking up at her. There's a defeated gleam in his eyes, but also a determined one that makes his jaw set, "I think I might be".
"Oh".
(This might be the first time a Malfoy leaves a Weasley speechless).
(In fact, this might be the first time a Weasley is speechless).
Scorpius flushes bright red, but he still holds her gaze. "Yeah".
"Okay" she manages to say after a few minutes, feeling light-headed. "So when you figure it out for sure… Would you mind letting me know?".
.
(In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make).
September 15th. Vee and Teddy's Wedding.
The dresses Vee chose for all the cousins to wear are stunning, simple and with a knee-length skirt that makes their legs looks leaner and longer. Unfortunately, they are also low-cut, and the Rose's worries about the cleavage are only accentuated when even the ministry worker who is officing the wedding darts his eyes to her chest while giving her instructions.
"You look great" Lily reassures her during the dinner, when it becomes far too warm inside the tent and Rose has to finally take off her light coat "Stop fidgeting".
She's wearing the same dress in a soft green tone. But Lily has always taken after the Potters, which means she's small and light boned and petite in every way. Roxanne is the only one who sends her a look of understanding, she has Rosie's body structure, tall and curvy and Weasley all the way.
Next to Ro, Lucy adjust her own dress "Oh I love this song" she says, staring at the dance floor where Vee and Teddy had been joined by a crowd of guests Let's go dance"".
Lily gets up at once, grabbing Rose's arm to pull her up "Just stop thinking about it and have fun".
Rose gets up.
And she sits down again.
Scorpius Malfoy is standing right next to the bar.
She can practically feel her brain twirling and working inside her head, trying to understand how is it possible. She is sure the Malfoys were not at the ceremony, she would have noticed them, but of course they are still part of Teddy's family, and both families have been trying to get closer to each other for as long as she can remember. It makes sense they decided to show just for the party. If Rosie wanted to avoid being noticed, she would have used the alcohol and the dancing in her favor too.
"Rosie?".
Her whole table is looking at her, their faces showing almost identical confused expressions.
"Sorry", she says, getting up again "I'm fine".
She can't help her eyes from darting out to him as Lucy drags her to the dance floor. They don't make eye contact because he's staring at the cleavage.
"Rosie" Al yells, appearing out of nowhere "Dance with me".
Albus is a terrible dancer. He sways without any rhythm and keeps looking at his feet as if he's trying to make sure they are still there. Rose can only dance around him during two songs before finally giving up and moving on to Fred, who is no better, as he keeps repeating his two best moves again and again.
She tries to ignore Scorpius Malfoy is staring at her, really. But she can't. And when she leaves the garden and enters the empty house, she's not surprised to hear footsteps right behind her.
He smirks when she turns to face him, the light of Grandma Molly's kitchen making his hair look more yellow than white, "Nice dress".
Rosie is glad she's wearing her hair down. It covers the trademark Weasley-blush that's slowly appearing on her ears. As if he can read her mind, his gaze reaches her head.
"What happened to your hair?" he says, and she realizes she's been playing with a strand and quickly lets go.
"Lucy spent an hour straightening it this morning". she practically snaps at him, and she doesn't know why she's suddenly pissed of, but it has something to do with his tone.
He raises an eyebrow (the bastard, she's never been able to do that) and lifts his hands against his chest in surrender, "It looks nice".
She huffs.
Her hair looks awesome, thankyouverymuch.
"I think I like it better when it's everywhere, though".
She stares at him for a second, scanning his face for any sign of a smirk or an amused expression. But he just looks right back at her, completely genuine, and somehow it's enough to make her lungs stop working.
She lunges at him, making both of them stumble back and hit the wall right behind to the still open door. Scorpius lets out a surprised sound, but he seems to recover as soon as her lips find his, kissing her back with all the intensity of a thunderstorm.
Somewhere in her mind Rose's aware that she's acting like a mad woman. But before she has time to over analyze her behaviour and regret it, Scorpius' mouth finds her collarbone. And she's a goner.
"Scor" she pants, his hands making their way up her skirt. She tries again "Scor".
He grunts to let her know he's hearing her, but his mouth is back on her again and she forgets what she was about to say for a moment. Finally, she manages to disentangle from him enough time to whisper "Bedroom".
That makes him stop.
"What?", he looks confused, blonde hair disheveled and dress shirt completely open, letting her see his pale chest raising heavily with every breath.
She can't quite believe she's done that.
"Bedroom" she repeats, her own air stuck at her throat.
He shakes his head, "Rosie…"
"I want to" and as soon as the words leave her mouth, she knows they are true. She wants him, and for a split of a second she thinks that she doesn't mean just right now.
Scorpius doesn't respond, but he follows her silently when she takes his hand and conduces them upstairs, to the room that had once been Uncle Bill's but became Rose's and Lily's about eighteen years ago.
And the truth, what anybody tells you, is that is not like in the movies. It's awkward, and it takes them a minute to adjust their bodies to each other. He doesn't tell her she's the most beautiful girl ever, or stops to stare at her like she's the best thing to happen to him.
The truth is, it is twice as nice here, with him.
And when he takes her hand, lacing their fingers together and not letting go until the very end, she feels as if she's breathing properly for the first time in her life.
.
(Oh! Darling)
October 31st. Halloween's
"Just say yes, Rosie" Effie asks her over the phone.
Her voice crackles and and buzzes and Rose, who is slouched on the couch trying to find something worth listening to on the radio, gives it a couple of shoves before answering. Her parents only use the device to talk with Hermione's parents, so the magic around the house easily interferes with the line.
"I just don't feel like partying the night before I have an interview at the auror department".
Effie snorts, "You are already working there, the interview is in the afternoon. And there's also the fact that you uncle runs the auror department".
"Eff"
"Just saying" she replies, and Rose can almost see her shrugging and shaking her head "Come on Rosie, just for a bit, I swear. The last party before everyone starts to move on with their lives. Once November starts we will all just be gone".
"You don't even know half of them" Rose reminds her, still fidgeting with the radio "I don't know how Neil and Dave thought it was a good idea to invite the entire seventh year to their flat anyway".
"It's a terrible idea" Effie agrees "They just rented the place yesterday!".
"But you still want to go?".
"Badly".
Rose frowns, before remembering that her friend can't actually see her "No".
"Rosie" she wines, and the name comes out faltering once again "Even Al is coming".
"You say that as if Al partying was never heard of" Rose mumbles, shaking the phone once more, "Besides, he's still recovering from breaking up with Eva. I can guarantee you he's not fun these days".
Effie's voice sounds slightly clearer, "I still can't believe he broke up with her".
"I think he had wanted to for a long time" Rose tells her honestly, "I feel like he's been thinking about someone else all summer, always distracted".
"Maybe" Effie agrees "So we should go with him tonight and cheer him up".
"Effie for Merlin's sake.."
"Are you going to be this much fun all the winter? Because I might want to find a new roommate if that's the case" she sighs loudly when she doesn't get an answer, "Come on, Rosie. You know you'll have fun. You can't spend Halloween night slouched on your parent's couch".
She doesn't have the heart to tell her even her parents are going out to have dinner with Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny.
Rose sighs in defeat. "I'll get dressed".
Two hours later, she is having the time of her life. There's been awhile since Effie disappeared on her, but Kerry Walsh seems to agree with her on the best way of enjoy the party, which is dancing near the drinks table.
"Cheers" a voice practically yells in her ear.
"Al!" says Rosie turning around so fast her head spins out of control for a minute. Or maybe she's just a bit drunk. "How are you? I can't believe you are a single man after all this time!".
Definitely drunk, a part of her brain corroborates as she sees Al flinch.
"Sorry" she starts to say, " I didn't mean to bring it up. I just…"
Al raises a hand in the international stop sign, and she shuts up, "It's okay" he says, and the easy expression on his face makes her believe him, "I actually wanted to talk to you about it".
"About Eva?", Rose contemplates making a run for it, she is so not prepared to do this right now.
"About Kerry" Albus says, and all her escape plans evaporate in a beat.
Rose blinks, "Kerry who?".
Al rolls his green eyes at her, "Kerry, Kerry" he nods to Rose's back "Kerry Walsh".
She turns around, and of course faces Kerry Walsh, who is dancing with a petite girl Rose vaguely recognizes, completely oblivious to Al's and Rose's conversation.
Rosie stares at her friend for a long time, she knows Al's expecting her to say something, but in all honestly her brain seems to be unable to connect Kerry and her cousin together, leaving a giant black space for her to fill.
"I want to ask her out" Albus finally says.
"Kerry?".
He sighs, "Rose, how drunk are you?".
"No" she shakes her head, turning to face him again "No, that's not it. I'm just...confused. I mean, Kerry Walsh my flatmate?".
"Future flatmate" Al points out, as if it makes a difference.
"She's the girl you've been thinking about all this months?".
Her cousin turns bright red, (a trait no doubt passed on from the Weasley half of his parentage) and says nothing. Which really, is all the answer Rose needs.
"We kissed", he whispers it so quietly she thinks she's imagined it for a moment, but Al's wearing a guilty expression that makes her do a double take. He raises his hands as if he's surrender to her, "I know, I know… But it was back at a party in July, we were both tipsy and things with Eva were not good, and I…"
Rose is vaguely aware he keeps talking, but an image pops into her mind. Kerry Walsh sitting on the floor of a bathroom wearing a summer dress, taking a swing of a tequila bottle, "I have just kissed the boy I'm head over heels with. Right before his girlfriend told him she loves him for the first time. In front of me".
"Oh Morgana" she mumbles, and then more convinced, "Oh Morgana. That's great".
Al looks confused, "Is it?".
"Yes! I mean not that you kissed her while you were with Eva, of course. It's great that you like her " she puts all the enthusiasm she can in the words, and Al's face brightness a bit "Kerry is really...".
"Great?" he suggests, and Rose nods eagerly while he chuckles.
"So you don't mind?".
She shakes her head, "Why would I?"
"Well, because she's your friend, and flatmate and I just...I don't know, I felt like I needed to tell you".
Rose's heart sinks to her knees. "Al?"
He must read the change in her humor, because his smile evaporates, "Yes?".
Rose breaths in. Breaths out. And in again, "I'm seeing Scorpius Malfoy".
Al stares at her for a moment, and the he simply nods, "Okay".
"Okay?".
"Sure, I mean your dad might have a heart attack but other than that…" he stops when he sees her anguish expression, "Hey Rosie, come on I was just joking. Scorpius is… I don't know, do you like him?".
"Like crazy" she replies instantly, doesn't even have to think about it.
Al smiles, "Then he must be worth it".
It feels like a weight she didn't even know she had been holding was suddenly lifted up from her, like her whole body can finally grow.
Like she can fit the whole world inside her.
"I want to be there when you introduce him to the family though" says Al.
She sticks his tongue out at him, "That might never happen".
He actually laughs, "Oh please".
"What?".
"Look yourself in a mirror Rosie" he answers, a half-smile still at the corner of his lips, "You look completely happy".
.
(Here, there and Everywhere)
December 25th. Christmas.
"I got you a present" she singsongs in his ear, and even before he turns around to face her, she knows he's smiling.
She takes the sit across from him right as the bartender arrives with her coffee. The girl gives an appreciative look at Scorpius as she sets the mug down, before quickly averting her gaze, giving Rose an apologetic smile.
Rose scowls at her back.
"You're cheating" says Scorpius , completely oblivious to the exchange, "We agreed on exchanging presents on New Year's Eve".
Rose smiles, "I'm spending the afternoon at the Burrow on New Year's" she says, "Are you planning on coming to get it then? My uncles would be delighted".
Scorpius actually pales a bit at the idea, "I'd rather not face your whole family at once, thanks".
"That what I thought" she replies smirking smugly at him "First you should meet my parents".
"Great" Scorpius mumbles "Can't wait. Do you reckon your father will advada me on sight or leave it for after the introductions?".
She smiles at him, but doesn't quite manage to do it right. She knows he is exaggerating but telling her parents she's dating Malfoy scares her almost as much as the reaction she will get from Scorpius' own family. She's terrified they are going to make him realize she's not good enough for him.
"Rosie" Scorpius says, bringing her back to reality when he places his hand over hers, "Relax, I was joking".
"I know".
He runs his thumb softly over the smeared freckles of her fingers, "Everything is going to be fine. Well, except for the fact that you are trying to make me look bad giving me a present when you know I don't have one for you".
Rose smiles fully at him, "Don't you want it, then?".
"That depends", he narrows his eyes, as if considering an important decision, "Do I want it?".
"I think you do" she smiles, getting a carefully wrapped present from her purse.
Of course, Scorpius lunges at it the minute she places it on the table.
"Hematic powder?" he stares at her in disbelief. Then back at the cage in his hands with the same dumbstruck expression. Then back at her.
Suddenly, Rose feels shy. Clearing her dry throat she starts to ramble, "Aunt Luna got it for me when she was somewhere in Asia a couple of months ago. I remembered you saying it was impossible to get in England and that you'd love to prove it on some patients for once and I just.. I just thought…" she feels herself nodding, as if that settles it all. "I thought, and now here we are".
Scorpius is still staring at her, but there's something warmer in his gaze as it travels the planes of her face.
She clears her throat again. He doesn't look angry, or disappointed; in fact he is starting to smile. But the silence is making her stomach feel like dancing, and she doesn't like it one bit.
"Do you..like it or..?".
"I love you" he blurts out. And now the silence between them is electric somehow.
"I love you too" she says. It comes so easily it surprises even her, for a split of a second, she evens has the crazy idea that the words have been in her mouth since forever, waiting for her to realize it.
But now that they are out, she realizes they are actually the most natural thing in the world.
The earth spins around the sun. The sky is blue. And Rose Weasley loves Scorpius Malfoy.
.
(All you need is love, love)
December 31st. New Year's Eve.
The room is warm and the lights are low and The Weird Sister's brand new hit is blasting so high from the speakers Rose can barely hear herself think.
She tries not to step on anything (or anyone) as she makes her way through the room, a task that has become rather difficult in the past hour or so, as more and more people keep showing up at Eliza Emmerson's house, where the New Year's Eve party is currently going full blast.
She navigates the sea of bodies, walking towards the the back door, that closes behind her with far more force than necessary.
"Hey" she says.
Scorpius is leaning against the wall, and he turns around at the sound of her voice, a smile already on his lips "Hey. Took you long enough".
"I know" she winces, passing him his drink and leaning in for a kiss "The bar was absolutely packed".
He kisses her back, slowly at first, and then, before she can react, his tongue is on her mouth and he's pressing her against the wall, drinks already forgotten.
"Scorpius" she mumbles between his lips, "Come on, anyone could walk on us here".
He mumbles something incoherent. The palm of his hand is warm against her waist through the fabric of her dress, and even as she tries to tell him again to stop she's rising herself on her tiptoes to give him better access to her neck.
Because there's something about Scorpius Malfoy that makes Rose Weasley's blood burn.
"Scorp" she repeats weakly, and he sighs and finally lets go.
"Fine".
Rose presses the heels of her hands against her cheeks to cool them with no avail.
"Hey" he says, coming closer again but hugging her this time "Happy New Year".
Rose closes her eyes. She can hear him breathing softly, and the happy sound of their friends and family gathered inside.
But over all, she can feel his warm pressed softly against her skin.
"Happy New Year" she replies.
And it's going to be a good one.
(Love is all you need)