Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. He and all material in regards to him are the property of JKR, and I make no money from the writing of this fic. I do however claim any Original Characters that appear and would prefer if you asked before you took.

AN: Once again I'd like to thank all the wonderful people who have reveiwed thus far. To answer a question left by M. love, yes the people that were meantioned in the last chapter are part of a 'new order'. More info on them will begiven in upcoming chapters. Please keep reveiwing and don't hesitate to ask anything, I'll answer it if it is with in my knowlledge.

Chapter 7

Flight of the Falcons

The days slipped by in quiet succession in Number 23. Rose would wake early everyday but Sunday and help Vic make breakfast before Teddy and she would leave for work. After that the hours slipped by reading, studying spells, and working on strategy. In the afternoon, usually about two Al and Scorpius usually sat in the setting room and played chess, talking in hushed conversation she was never permitted in on. They had been doing that a lot lately, excluding her. It hurt not to know their secrets, she had always known them, ever since they were eleven years old. So she occupied her mind with her own things, going over intelligence information, unknown curse damage and anything else she could get her hands on. It was true she wasn't thought to be as smart as her mother was at her age, but she was determined to prove them wrong on all accounts. She was a Ravenclaw for Merlin's sake she should be able to think her way through anything.

Giving a frustrated sound Rose flung the parchment she had been reading onto the bed. She had been looking over the information they had collected on the new Dark Lord and his followers for the last three hours. The information, what little of it that there was, seemed to be going in circles with no definitive clues. The Falcon's, as the new Order had dubbed themselves, were good at collecting information, it was just a shame that so little of it was useful. Rolling her eyes and both the name and their espionage skill Rose picked up another book only to set it down again just as quickly. Nearing a month and a half of research and the only thing Rose knew for certain was that this group of followers called themselves 'Raiders' for no apparent reason. They were masks and cloaks, yes but nothing more then a glimpse of black had ever been seen of them. Not to mention that their symbol, if one would dare to call it that, appeared in no magical text that she had found reference to. In fact it was shaping up to look like it was just a doodle of some kind, leaving the sanity of the new Dark Lord even more in doubt. "How are we supposed to fight someone that we have no knowledge of, no idea what they look like, and know even less what their motives are!" she angrily murmured to herself, throwing her body back onto the disheveled blankets.

"You know, they say talking to yourself is a sign of insanity." a crisp voice drifted in from the doorway. Bolting up on the bed warm brown eyes met ice blue as Rose felt a blush raise on her neck. Scrambling around she made herself busy with picking up any fallen papers.

"That's answering yourself." she countered, refusing to look up at him. "Talking to yourself is a sign of intelligence." Scorpius gave a snort in response, entering the room. Leaning down to pick up her last page her eyes stared at his worn brown shoes. Clearing her throat she stood nervously playing with a stray piece of hair as she sat down the papers. "Did you need anything?"

Her question was met with a pregnant pause but she still refused to look at him, her nerves getting the better of her. 'There's a reason why your not a Gryffindor or a Slytherin. Your courage and bravado come forth in negative.' she thought, the voice sounding oddly like her mother. Shaking her head of those thoughts she finally turned to look at him, her heart racing in her throat.

Scorpius wasn't looking at, a nervous expression on his face as his eyes drifted around the room. Clearing his throat he dared a glance out of the corner of his eye. "Happy Birthday." he said in a rushed voice, pulling a haphazardly wrapped parcel from behind his back. "It's not much, but, I thought you'd enjoy it." Rose nodded, even though she wasn't really listening to what he was saying, her eyes transfixed on the brown paper that wrapped the oblong object.

'Birthday?' she thought after a moment. 'It isn't my birthday.' Rose opened her mouth to tell Scorpius just that when she allowed her eyes to land on the makeshift calendar that hung on her wall. August 9. The bold black number seemed to stare her down, mocking her. She had forgotten her own birthday, her sixteenth birthday at that. Bowing her head to hide her own embarrassment Rose took the offered gift. "Thank you." she said in a rushed tone, blushing fiercely as he looked at her sharply. "Thank you." At her repeated phrase a smile tugged at Scorpius's lips, making him look even more handsome in Rose's eyes. Giving into a momentary impulse Rose rushed forward to give him a peck on the cheek before hurriedly setting down. She didn't look up as she heard him make a slightly strangled noise.

"Ri-Right. Ha-Happy Birthday." With his stuttered reply he quickly left the room, shutting the door just as quickly behind him. Setting very still Rose willed her heart not to chip anymore. She tried to reason out the situation, that he had merely been surprised by her forwardness and that was why he had responded thus. Clutching the package to her chest she allowed it to be her life line.

'He bought me a gift.' The thought replaying in her head on repeat. 'He bought me a gift.' With nervous fingers she undid the wrapping, eyes wide with anticipation at what he had bought her. As the paper fell to the floor she felt another tiny part of her heart fall away as well. Tears pooled in her eyes, making silvery tracks down her cheek as muffled sobs escaped her lips. Setting pristine, yet worn, its leather just beginning to show its age, was a book. Trembling fingers ran over the gold foliage of the spin, Moste Potent Potions. He had bought her a book, a text book. Silently placing it in her bag with her other reference books Rose curled into herself, silently letting the tears drain from her body. He would never see her as anything but the over achieving Ravenclaw, the brains behind their schemes. She would never be a girl to Scorpius Malfoy.

That night she helped Vic around the kitchen, preparing a special meal in celebration. Vic, having grown up with little to do with the Muggle world, save what she found in Grandpa Arthur's shed, was delighted at the prospect of making Rose's favorite food, pizza. Half way through the ordeal, however, Rose had politely ushered Vic towards making a salad instead while she finished the main dish. Casting a quick cleaning charm to be done with the flowery mess that Vic had made of the counters she had set her sights on making the best meal possible. Pizza was Scorpius's favorite Muggle food as well, and even if she had reluctantly come to terms with the fact that he would never see her as more then a friend she still wanted it to be the best meal possible.

At quarter past seven the table had been set, and a small cake was set aside on the counter for later. The meal was more or less a success, Teddy have to explain to Vic several times that it wasn't uncivilized to eat pizza with out a knife and fork. Rose laughed as Al whispered his own commentary through out the meal, and Scorpius joked in a dead pan fashion when ever the smile so much as drooped a centimeter on Rose's face.

After the plates had been cleared away Vic stood by Rose, smiling widely and clapping her hands. "Present time!" she exclaimed, almost jumping with excitement. "Me and Teddy first!" Not waiting for anyone to agree or object she had pulled a brightly wrapped package out of thine air. The wrapping felt silky under Rose's fingers as she gently unwrapped it. Pulling out a wooden box Rose's eyes widened in wonder. "The paper's a scarf, something a bit more sophisticated now that your sixteen." Nodding Rose ran her finger tips over the ornate pattern carved into the richly stained wood. Opening the lid she gently traced each crystal phial that lay within, watching as the kitchen's dim light reflected off the brightly colored liquid within.

"Every girl need's pretty things." Teddy had replied casually as Rose had rushed forward to hug both him and Vic in thanks. "I figure you'll be brewing your own for too long anyway, so why not give you a good basis for study. Blondie said their French and all girls like French things." Laughing Rose had nodded before retaking her seat, being sure to carefully wrap her box safely in the scarf once again.

Once everything was tucked away she turned towards Al, an amused smile mirroring his. "I didn't really know what to get you, so, here." he said, handing over a slightly misshaped gift. Quirking an eyebrow Rose took the gift with nimble fingers, unwrapping it carefully. Pulling away the brown paper Rose felt her breath catch in her throat.

"Oh, Al," she breathed as she lifted up the cloak that was inside. The dark blue material seemed to gleam silver in the candle light giving it a life all it's own. "It's beautiful." Caressing the ornate clasp she slide it over her shoulders, marveling at how warm it felt even though it was so thine. Twirling around to show it off her smile momentarily faltered at Scorpius's foul look. Forwarding her brow she looked at him in question but he refused to meet her gaze. Feeling more stubborn then ever, Rose went back to smiling, determined to ignore him as best as possible.

Setting down again she noticed all eyes had turned to Scorpius expectantly. "So what did you get her." Al asked, a look in his eyes Rose couldn't explain. Ducking his head slightly Scorpius mumbled something that apparently only Al heard. "You did?" Another silent exchange passed between them before Al nodded.

"It was my mothers." Scorpius said. Rose felt her heart contract at his four simple words. Scorpius's mother had been sick for some years now, making her health weaken. Because of this anything he had was his mother's was very dear to him. The very thought that he had given her something that she had given to him made Rose's heart swell with love.

"Thank you, Scorpius. It was a lovely gift." Rose said, feeling a slight blush stain her cheeks. Giving her a slight smile, though it didn't fully reach his eyes, Rose felt that they had come to an understanding of sorts, though she wasn't quiet sure what it was.

"Cake time!" Vic's voice broke through the silence. Sharing one last look Rose felt as though part of her chipped heart had just come back to her.

Later that night, after the cake had been eaten and everyone had gone to bed Rose sat in her room staring at her gifts. Something had been lurking at the back of her mind all day, almost like a feeling of dread. Carefully backing everything away in her expandable bag Rose knew that the happiness that had filled the flat that night would be her last happy memory of Number 23.

A shrill knocking awoke Rose, a few short hours after she had slipped into sleep. Vic, disheveled and looking frightened burst into her room. "Rose! Dress quickly, hurry." she said in hushed tone, handing Rose a set of cloths. Sending her a questioning look, Rose did as she was told, stuffing a few last minute items into her bag before exiting the room. The other occupants of the flat were already in the setting room, dressed and holding their own bags.

"Port keys are tricky but this should take you there or close enough to be safe." Teddy was explaining to Al, handing him what looked to be a hair brush. Al nodded taking it from him. "Vic and I are going elsewhere, we'll be safe but we probably won't be able to contact you for sometime." Rose opened her mouth to ask what was going on but Scorpius merely hugged her to him, placing her hand on the brush. Sounds of shouting could be heard from the hall, bangs echoing through out the apartment. Not waiting another second Teddy tapped his wand to the brush and Rose felt a tugging at her naval before her world began to spin.

Time passed in a blur as the world spun around her in a cloud of grey before she fell heard to the muddy, damp earth. Having not time to get her bearings she felt her self being tugged up, and pulled at a run, the darkness hurting her eyes as streaks of lightening flashed over head. Fear gripped her stomach as she heard shouts and watched curse fire hit trees around them. Still they ran faster, ducking under limbs and hurtling themselves over fallen trees.

A large structure loomed in the distance, oddly shaped in the dark. Pulling on her forcefully she found her self kneeling towards the back of it, its rough wood digging into her bare arms. Al, who she could barely make out, pushed boards a side, leaving a small, jagged entrance. Slipping between the boards, holding in a silent cry of pain as they scrapped against her, she was pulled into a pill of hay.

Laying quietly, covered by the foul smelling straw she held her breath, listening to shouts outside, barely audible over the rain. Holding her breath she listened as someone entered the barn, horses kneeing at the intruder. "No magical reading in here!" a dark, scratchy voice sounder from some where to the left of her. Another voice called out in answer but Rose couldn't make out the words. "Aye. We'll regroup, they couldn't have go far." Heavy booted steps echoed, before finally dying out, being over powered by the storm.

Rose felt her self being pulled close to someone's chest. Looking up she stared into Scorpius's eyes, and for the first time since she had known him say fear there. The minutes ticked away, and no one returned but she still held herself stiffly, not daring to move should they return. Soon her eye lids grew heavy, even though her fear remained, and she felt herself drift off into a restless sleep, her only comfort being Scorpius's arms wrapped tightly around her.

Light drifted through the walls of their shelter far to early for Rose. Snuggling deeper into the warm blanket that had cocooned itself around her in the night she allowed herself to float blissfully through the void between dream and awake. "Rose." a gentle voice called to her, bringing her from her dream world. Hazily opening her eyes she stared up into the most beautiful face she had ever seen. The morning light turned normally platinum hair golden as his eyes shone like blue diamonds.

"Mal," Rose heard herself whisper, using her private nickname for him. His eyes seemed to question her for a moment but Rose ignored it, instead choosing to run nimble fingers along his cheek. It was so like the dreams she had so often that Rose allowed herself to indulge, believing the Scorpius was here with her after a night they had shared together.

"Is she awake yet?" Al's voice broke through her dream world, causing her to jerk back. The light of morning, that had seemed ethereal just a moment before suddenly turned harsh to Rose's eyes, as Scorpius pulled away to stand and face her cousin.

"I'm awake." she answered, pulling herself up, absent mindedly pulling stray pieces of straw from her hair.

"Good," Al replied, picking up his bag. "Cause we have a long walk ahead of us. The safe house is about two miles east of here and we want to reach it before dark. The coast seems clear but we should be as carful as possible. The Raiders from last night might still be near by." Reaching into his bag he retrieved two apples tossing one to her and one to Scorpius. "Eat up, it's going to be a long walk today." Nodding Rose took a bit of the apple, glade it gave her something other than her embarrassment to focus on. Scorpius glanced her way only once as they left the barn they had taken refuge in, but Rose refused to entertain any thoughts about what she had seen there. There was no hope that it had been love anyway.

tbc.

Next: La Maison sûre- What awaits the young trio as they make their way towards their destination?

AN: There you go, the next part, and it was longer this time, breaking the 2000 word mark. I will be trying to make my chapters longer but in all honesty it all comes down to getting what I need to get across for that chapter. Please review, I'm not above begging.