CHAPTER 8 – TUESDAY

"I saw mum at the Ministry yesterday," Lily said. She and Albus sat outside Florean's Ice cream Parlor having a hot chocolate. They had decided to meet up before they went home to everyone. Lily had told Rose before she left that morning in case she would worry where they were.

"What did she say?" Albus asked as he sipped his hot chocolate.

"It was more me," Lily replied honestly "she mostly listened."

"For something different," Albus grinned. Lily stole his marshmallow.

"It's better that I talk than she does," Lily told him "because then she goes on about penises and vaginas. Then I told her not to say that word because it creeps me out and do you know what she said? 'You know, you're brother doesn't hate it' and I told her that was probably because you have one. Stop laughing it isn't funny it's serious, our mother has severe problems." Lily tried not to grin too.

"Sorry," Albus laughed "I can't help it. You sound just like her sometimes."

"We need to stop getting sidetracked this is serious," Lily insisted.

"You're right," Albus nodded "sorry, keep going."

"It's Valentine's day and Scorp and Rose have to kiss tonight," Lily told him.

Albus grinned. He dropped a marshmallow in is steaming mug of hot chocolate. He knew is his sister all too well. "And you already have a plan which if fail-safe and comes with instructions, a plan B and a list of possible spell that might come in handy of course."

"Of course," Lily agreed, grinning.

Earlier that morning

"What's her problem?" James asked. Teddy, Dominique, Rose, Lily, Hugo, Louis, Scorpius and Albus all looked up and at Victoire. Teddy knew that Victoire always had a problem in the morning because it was just that – the morning. However she looked particularly irritated this morning.

"You want to know what my problem is?" Victoire asked with an attitude.

"Everything?" Louis guessed. Victoire ignored him.

"It's Valentine's Day and I am companionless," Victoire said "I haven't settled down with anyone!"

"The key word is 'settle down' Vic," James smirked. Teddy snorted.

"If it makes you feel any better the rest of us are single too," Teddy tried "except for Lily." Lily poked her tongue out playfully.

"Dom, James, Teddy, Rose and Scorp – you all have no excuse. What are you all waiting for? A mating call?" Victoire demanded. "Albus, you're the perfect guy, why are you single?"

Albus turned red and shrugged. "I just haven't found a nice girl," he said honestly.

"'A nice girl' listen to him, bless his soul. Alrighty then, Louis, why haven't you found some bilingual bird?" Victoire asked her brother.

"Bird? I think you mean bug. They're all rough in my department and seriously mechant." Louis replied.

"Hugo," Victoire turned on him "why don't you take someone out to lunch?"

Louis snorted. "Are you kidding?" he laughed "Lunch is his date." Hugo laughed along with him.

"Who am I supposed to shack up with?" Scorpius wanted to know.

"Yes," Rose agreed "please shed some light." Victoire raised her eyebrows as if to say, are you kidding me?

James rolled his eyes. "And you say I'm clueless," he scoffed at Victoire.

"Dom you have got to go out with that Healer," Scorpius said "he has the biggest thing for you."

"See," Victoire exclaimed, she gestured to Scorpius "even clueless idiot over here had noticed it."

"Oi," Scorpius frowned.

"Who are they supposed to be with?" Rose asked, 'they' meaning Teddy and James. Victoire just looked at the two of them hopelessly. She made a motion of locking her lips and throwing away the invisible key.

"You don't even know," James said. He still felt sure of himself. There was no way Victoire could guess who he liked; he hadn't said anything to anyone. He just shook his head happily at her. Teddy followed James' suit.

"Vic you don't even have a clue do you?" Teddy smirked.

"A clue?" Victoire asked. She patted him on the back as she walked out of the kitchen. She looked back over her shoulder, "Oh I have every clue and do you know what happens when you find all the clues? You piece them together and then voila! The answer is clear and simple, right in front of your eyes…"

"She talks like she has twenty-twenty vision but she needs glasses to read," Louis snorted. Everyone laughed except Teddy and James – should they be worried? Teddy was sure that Victoire didn't know his third reason and James was sure she didn't know who he liked…but…what if?

Earlier that afternoon

That evening

"So you're in?" Lily asked.

"A chance to break the rules?" James asked. He grinned, "I'm in."

Lily looked at both of her brothers. "These events are never to be retold," he instructed them "got it?"

"Do you even realise who you're talking to?" James rolled his eyes at her.

"Got it," Albus nodded.

"Okay," Lily affirmed "let's do this."

Albus left and went to talk to Scorpius and Rose. He began asking them about the time in Herbology where Professor Longbottom lost his toad and he wondered who had found it. Meanwhile Lily went into her and Rose's room and picked up her book next to Rose's bedside table. She made sure to get the one that Scorpius had asked for the previous night however Rose was still reading it so she told him he couldn't have it yet. Silently she crept out of the room and hastily walked to the other side of the house to Scorpius and Albus' room where she placed it on Scorpius' bed. Lily walked out calmly and joined Albus in the kitchen.

An hour later Rose came out of her room. "Lily have you seen my book," Rose asked looking confused "I could have sworn I left in on the table next to my bed."

Lily frowned and shook her head. "I haven't touched it," she lied smoothly "sorry Rose."

"No that's fine," Rose replied absentmindedly. She went back into the room to, Lily guessed, double check. She came back out looking frustrated.

"I think I'll go to bed," Lily said. She yawned for good measure.

"It's pretty late," Albus agreed "I think I'll be going to bed too." He popped a grape into his mouth and left. James, Scorpius, Rose and Teddy were the only ones left in the kitchen as everyone else had gone to sleep.

"I better brush my teeth then," Teddy said. James, Albus and Lily thanked Merlin for that.

"Scorpius have you seen my book?" Rose asked him. James continued looking at the Daily Prophet.

"Which one?" Scorpius asked.

"The one that you were asking for last night," Rose told him.

Scorpius shook his head. "Why don't you just Accio it?" he frowned.

Rose groaned at her stupidity. She moved into the hallway to get better special awareness. "Accio!" she said. Scorpius' bedroom door opened and out flew Rose's book into her hand. She looked at it and then up and Scorpius. Scorpius hadn't missed this and did not like the stormy expression that was forming on Rose's face one little bit.

"You haven't seen it huh?" she demanded accusingly.

"Rose," Scorpius started, putting his hands up defensively "I swear I did not touch that book."

"You were asking for it last night and I told you not yet, does that mean just come in and take it?" she questioned, her temper rising.

"No and that's why I didn't take it," he told her sincerely.

"Then why is it in your room? Albus wouldn't want it." She challenged.

"I don't know how it got in there I promise," Scorpius insisted.

James looked at his wrist where the spell Lily had told him was written on it in black ink.

"I don't believe you," Rose said through narrow eyes.

"For something different," Scorpius spat, he was angry too now "you never believe me. Why is it you never believe me? I told you I didn't take it. I'm not lying. Does it look like I'm lying? You constantly tell me that you know when I'm lying so put your skills into place because you'll see that I'm not lying to you. Why would I take it? To purposefully piss you off? That's like stealing a nesting dragon's egg – stupid and suicidal."

"Are you saying I'm like a nesting dragon?" Rose hissed. This wasn't a question, this was a dare.

"When you're pissed off yes," Scorpius snapped "like now. You're basically breathing fire at me!"

James decided it was time to intervene. He stood up. "That's it," he said sharply. Scorpius and Rose turned to look at him. "I've had it with the constant arguing." He walked over to the kitchen cupboard which was as tall as he was and completely empty. It was large enough to fit three people comfortably inside. "You two need to word it out." He waved his wand, thinking the non-verbal spell in his head. Scorpius and Rose gave a yelp as they zoomed into the cupboard. The door shut tightly and James locked them with a locking spell that only opened for him. He also cast a spell that didn't fully mute the sound emitting from the cupboard but it lowered the volume.

Lily and Albus hurried into the kitchen. They all sat at the table, grinning.

"And now we wait," Albus said.

"And now we wait," Lily agreed.

James smirked. "We really are Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley's kids." The three siblings laughed quietly.

Scorpius and Albus banged on the door.

"James!" Rose shouted "James Sirius Potter let us out right now!"

"Lumos!" Scorpius whispered. "Rose he's put a silencing charm, no one can hears us."

Rose panicked. "He can't just lock us in here!"

Scorpius put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down," he told her gently "he'll open the door in a few minutes."

Rose counted her breaths as a very quite silence spread inside the cupboard. Rose was very aware of her surroundings and she felt incredibly uncomfortable that she was in a small dark space with Scorpius Malfoy. Scorpius swallowed and tried to think about other things. He decided he may as well fulfill the purpose he was put in the cupboard for in the first place.

"Rose?" he asked quietly.

"Yes?"

"I didn't take the book," she said quietly.

Rose sighed. "I believe you."

"You do?" Scorpius asked shocked "why?"

"For two reasons," she said "firstly, as much as it thrills you to get on my nerves I don't think you wanted to upset me tonight."

The truth was Scorpius didn't like upsetting Rose. He preferred her much more when she was smiling or laughing as opposed to scowling. However getting on her nerves also got her attention, though he would never admit that.

"And the second?" he asked softly.

Rose was grateful the darkness hid her blush. "I'm most likely wrong," she lied "it doesn't matter."

"You're most likely right always Rose," Scorpius said the darkness hiding his smile "what is it?"

"Don't you find it odd that Albus was talking to us about Professor Longbottom losing his toad?..."

Back out in the kitchen James, Albus and Lily sat at the table. Teddy walked into the kitchen. "I thought you were all going to bed?"

"Umm…" Lily stammered. This was not part of the plan.

"Grapes," Albus blurted out, pointing at the bowl of fruit. Teddy looked at him questioningly. James wanted to bury his head in his hands – grapes? Really? Teddy was about to further investigate when he heard a sound from the cupboard.

"What's that sound coming from the cupboard," he asked the trio.

"I don't hear anything," James shrugged casually "do you guys?"

"Nope," Lily shook her head.

"Not a thing," Albus concurred.

Teddy paused to listen. He definitely heard something. "There's something in the cupboard," Teddy said in a confident voice.

"No there's not," Lily frowned.

Teddy nodded, "Okay." He knew something was up. He walked closer to the three siblings who were sitting in a line – Lily, Albus and James. He hovered his hand over Lily's head like a metal detector.

"Bip…Bip, Bip…Bip, Bip…Bip" Teddy floated his hand in the air above her head; Lily looked straight ahead with a blank expression. Teddy drifted over to Albus. "Bip…Bip…Bip….Bip," Teddy looked down and Albus who looked back up at him with a questioning, innocent expression. Teddy moved his hand over James head where it lingered, "Bip! Bip! Bip! Bip! Bip! Bip!"

James looked up at Teddy with an angelic face. Albus covered his mouth with his hand and looked down to control his laughter. Lily had to look away so that Teddy wouldn't see her quavering face.

"James?" Teddy asked sweetly.

"Yes Teddy?" James replied pleasantly.

"What's in the cupboard, James?" Teddy repeated.

"Which cupboard were you referring to, Teddy?" James asked innocently. Albus was using all of his willpower not to laugh.

Teddy smiled, "The big long one over there." He pointed it out.

"Oh," James said as if it were all coming back to him "that cupboard."

"Yes, that cupboard." Teddy said.

"Well…in that cupboard…there's um…you know…just Rose and Scorpius." James replied casually.

Teddy nodded to himself. "Right," he said quietly. Lily, Albus and James waited for it. "And what are Rose and Scorpius doing in the cupboard, if I may be so bold?"

Albus answered with a shrug, "It's Rose and Scorpius–"

"–on Valentine's day–"

"–who knows?" James said harmlessly.

Everything was quiet as Teddy nodded to himself again. "James?"

"Hmm?"

"Open the doors," Teddy said his closed eyes covered by his hand.

"Oh," was all Scorpius said. There was an awkward silence as they both came to terms with why they were actually both in here.

"Why do they think we like each other?" Rose asked suddenly "We are clearly just friends."

"Exactly," Scorpius agreed quickly.

"And this is very immature of them," she said matter-of-factly.

"Very immature," Scorpius nodded. He decided to hastily add, "I mean I don't even like you in that way."

"Right," Rose agreed looking down at her shoes "same."

Scorpius swallowed self-consciously. He carefully and silently turned around to face Rose. "R-Rose?" he asked.

"Yes?"

He stepped forward. He leaned in towards her. Rose knew what he was going to do. Her heartbeat quickened as did his. She inched closer to him. He had waited so long for this. She could feel his warmth as he was millimeters away from her lips.

The door flew open and light poured into the cupboard. As their eyes adjusted to the light they saw Albus, Lily and James sitting at the table. Teddy was standing in front of them.

"Good Godric Draco's going to hex my balls off," Teddy muttered to himself. He cleared his throat and said audibly, "What were you to doing?"

Scorpius and Rose looked over and James, Albus and Lily. They were all waving their arms around madly and making DON'T SAY ANTHING gestures. Scorpius knew they ought to get in trouble, but if they hadn't done what they did he wouldn't have been in the cupboard with Rose.

"We were looking for Rose's book," Scorpius lied.

"In the cupboard?" Teddy asked skeptically.

"We like to be thorough," Rose said.

Teddy rubbed his hands on his face. "Okay," he said "I'm going to pretend you and Scorpius were not locked in a tight cupboard together on Valentine's say sno– I mean, 'looking for your book' and I'm going to pretend that Little Miss Mastermind, Mr Licensed For Mayhem and Accomplice over here had no part in this at all."

"Speaking of," Rose said dryly "weren't you all going to bed?"

Albus pointed and the fruit bowl. "Grapes," he shrugged.