.

Push & Pull

Chapter 9

The Potters

Rose had to pry herself reluctantly out of Scorpius's arms on the couch.

"I'm not kicking you out," Scorpius murmured against her skin, "You're more than welcome to stay the night." Rose's body was betraying her, raising goosebumps where his breath touched. But she didn't want to stay the night. It came with unfamiliar territory, and a level of closeness that didn't sit right with her.

"I appreciate it, but I really like the idea of sleeping in my own bed," Rose responded, turning to kiss the side of his head. She recovered her discarded clothes, recalling how they ended up where they did.

Do you trust me?

Rose shook the discomfort building in her spine and dressed quickly.

"I'll walk you out,"

"Don't you dare," she responded, "I need the air to clear my mind before bed." Rose grinned, picking up a shoe. Across the couch, Scorpius picked up a dark purple thong, holding it up to admire.

"I'm gonna need that," Rose told him, reaching a hand out.

Scorpius looked back to her, smirking, "What if I don't give it back?" he asked, voice gravelly with the implication.

Rose stood from the couch, scowling, "Then I'd be arse-naked in the hotel lobby."

"A good sight, I'm sure," he balled them up in his fist, and Rose felt like a drop of cold water was making its way down her back, "I think you should ask for these back on Monday."

Rose's mouth went dry, thinking of all the ways she could convince him to give them back. But she'd play his game.

"I suppose that means I shouldn't be wearing any when I see you next... so that I have a reason to ask for them," Rose grinned.

"You're dirty," Scorpius closed the space between them, slipping one hand into her hair and pulling her head back. He claimed her mouth roughly, and she melted against him. Just as soon as it had started however, he was pulling away. When their eyes met again, Rose felt a need stir in her gut once more, reflected in his eyes.

"Be safe," he grinned, releasing her.

"Okay," was her only response, as her mind had become terribly fuzzy. Rose stumbled a little as she approached the elevator, hyper aware of the feeling of her bare ass on the fabric of her dress. She turned back towards him, and as the elevators closed, Rose held Scorpius's gaze. And there was something there that she hadn't noticed before. The twitch of his jaw, or the crease in his forehead. While they watched the other leave, Rose couldn't help but feel like there was something she should be worried about.

After the doors closed, she shook her head, reassuring herself.

On the walk and floo to the apartment, she tried to distract herself from the odd feeling with the wetness between her thighs, but Rose didn't feel at ease until she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

...

Rose awoke to a heavy weight on her and a ringing in her ears.

The ringing formed into words, "GET UP!" Rose blinked the sleep out of her eyes to see a fully dressed Roxanne on top of her bed.

"What the hell?" Rose tried to pull the covers over her face, but Roxanne pulled them back down.

"It's burrow day! Gotta go see family for dinner, get dressed dummy!" Roxanne tapped both of Rose's cheeks. Rose flinched away, and Roxanne finally released her.

"Shit," Rose had forgotten that it was the last Sunday of the month. Like she had told Scorpius, growing up they had regular dinners at her grandmother's house with the whole family. It had been great to know her cousins so closely, but it was also a little competitive. Rose and Roxanne liked to go looking nice, and having things to brag about.

This day was unlike any of the past ones. She was up early showering, picking out a modest but flattering outfit and doing her face with the perfect light pinks that her mother always complimented.

The two arrived with the usual box of butterbeer, as nanna Molly never had alcohol in the house. The door flung open to reveal a house full of Weasleys and Potters.

"Rose!" Hermione appeared, flicking her wand and levitating Rose's crate out of her hands. She pulled Rose for a tight hug, "Great to see you as always. Oh no Molly, let me get that for you!" and her mum was off again, trying her best to prevent nanna from cooking everything herself.

"Oh, I've got it dear, really," Nanna Molly insisted, trying to pull a large turkey out of the oven. Hermione flicked her wand, levitating the tray anyways and rolling her eyes so Rose would see.

"Take this," Roxanne held a butterbeer out for Rose, and the two went further into the burrow.

They were greeted by the usual Sunday dinner sight, minus the Hogwarts kids, so everyone held a drink. Rose noticed her favourite aunt Ginny in the corner and went to chat, but was interrupted by her father.

"Rosie!" he loudly announced his presence, throwing an arm over her shoulder, "Is your fancy job too important to visit your old pops?" Rose rolled her eyes, the spitting image of her mother, half-hugging him back.

"Nice to see you too dad," she kissed him on the cheek, prickled by his light scruff.

"Have you seen your brother? He's been avoiding me just as much," Ron Weasley pouted.

"Yeah actually, ran into him at the pub last night. I hear he's joining the family business?" Rose raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her butterbeer.

"Oh, I'm actually very proud of that one," Ron beamed at her, "What else can I do with a young boy who has no idea what to do with his life?"

"Touche," Rose giggled.

"Plus I've gotta keep him in sight so he doesn't get into more trouble," Ron's face was suddenly more serious. Rose laughed again, and luckily they were interrupted by Fred.

"Little Fred! How is your apprenticeship going? Ollivander treating you well?" Ron slapped a hand on Fred's back, and Rose took the opportunity to escape.

She walked by Roxanne who was deep in conversation with her own mother and James.

"You need to look at other teams though, the pay on the Cannons is shit," Aunt Angelina told the kids.

"Loyalty!" James scoffed, "The Cannons took my arrogant, immature, inexperienced arse and turned it into an arrogant arse who can throw a damn quaffle!"

"Plus he's in line for captain, there's no way he should throw that away," Roxanne backed him up, crossing her arms. Her determined look matched her mother's.

Rose looked out over the room, hoping for an excuse to escape the quidditch talk: she got enough of it at home. Her uncle Harry passed her with a squeeze on the shoulder, and Rose followed him to greet her Aunt Ginny.

"Jesus Rose, are you still on your first butterbeer?" Her uncle Harry grinned at her.

"Come on, my liver isn't as strong as yours," Rose laughed, "Speaking of strong livers, where's my cousin? Are you keeping him hostage on rounds?"

Harry laughed, "He'll be here soon, his shift ended about an hour ago."

"Harry, did you hear Teddy finally set a date?" Ginny reached for Harry's hand, yanking him down on the couch with her.

"Yes, a fall wedding, right? We'd better give James some money for new dress robes. We can't let him go in whatever the hell he wore last time."

"Please. I'll rip his head off. Oh and did you hear about Molly's first few weeks out of the Healer program?" Ginny inquired, taking a deep sip of some purple bubbling liquid.

"Of course, did you hear Rose?" Harry turned to her with his lopsided grin, "She tried to diagnose some poor man with the black plague - the actual plague - but it was just one of your uncles puking pastilles," Harry grabbed his wife's arm, and the two giggled maniacally, holding each other for support.

Rose shook her head, a large grin spread over her face. She loved spending time with her Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry more than anyone. They spent every family function giggling drunk in a corner, and she aspired to that niche at the family gatherings.

There was an unusual pause in conversation, and Rose heard the opening of a door. She was in the middle of a large sip of butterbeer as Harry looked to see who it was. A grin spread on his face, "Scorpius! It's been a while."

Rose turned to see that yes, Scorpius was walking into her family gathering with Albus, just like he had done so many times before. Except that since they graduated, he hadn't been back. So why the hell was he at their gathering now, three years later? Right when they started hooking up again? She spun back towards Ginny, who was now alone since Harry left them. Ginny raised an eyebrow as Rose downed the rest of her butterbeer quickly. This was gonna be a long day.

…

"It's going great," Albus responded to Molly's inquiries about the Auror program, reaching for more potatoes, "I'm just working on my final field work assignment, and then I'll finally be a full Auror!" Albus glanced at Harry, who shrugged knowingly.

"So will you graduate with your sister?" Molly kept on, trying to keep up with her plethora of grandchildren.

"Well, it doesn't quite work like that," Albus corrected, "I'll graduate when this assignment wraps up."

"And how about you Rosie? How's that potions job going?" Molly turned to Rose, who grimaced.

"It's been a little stressful. Our company has been bought out, and so I've been trying to prove how useful my lab is so that we can continue our research," Rose kept a and on her butterbeer, debating downing another one in front of her grandmother. It wasn't very becoming, and her face was already warm, but she could save good decisions for another day.

"Oh, I haven't heard an announcement or anything," Rose's mum perked up suddenly, "Did Neville say anything to you?" she turned to Uncle Harry who shook his head in response.

"Well, Rose won't have trouble keeping a job," Scorpius interrupted. Rose snapped to attention. What the hell is he doing? She snapped, biting her lip to keep any retort to herself, "She was just nominated for a Slughorn Award!" He grinned at her. The table erupted in congratulations, clearly proud of her accomplishments. They always knew Rose would do great things, and now it seemed she was quickly accomplishing them.

Rose accepted the compliments with a plastered smile, and as soon as Molly moved on to the next grandchild's update, she sighed. Rose had planned on only telling her parents unntil after the awards ceremony. Of course her parents would be invited whether she went or not, hey had apparently known Slughorn very well and were guests of honor at this ceremony, but now Harry and Ginny would be going to and supporting her. She would never admit it, but for this, she didn't want to be a child of the Golden Trio. She wanted to be Rose, the incredible, intelligent young witch, helping people with her innovations. Not Hermione's bright daughter.

With a glance to Scorpius, she considered his motives. Why did he announce her accomplishment? It was strange.

Her brooding was interrupted by a flicker of white at the window. A ghostly figure was pushing its way through the kitchen and made its way to the table. Rose didn't recognize the four-pawed animal, but she could tell it was a patronus. It opened its muzzle to speak.

"Harry, Minister Weasley, there has been a break in at the ministry," it shouted and dissipated on the spot. The movement was immediate, almost everyone stood, moving to an open space to prevent splinching.

"Everyone stay here," Harry warned, "We don't know the damage, I'll send an owl when I know everything is safe," he nodded to Hermione. She latched onto his arm, and they apparated together with a loud pop.

It was soon after that a snowy white owl tapped on the window, bringing good news. It was a minor trespass, and all was well, but they would be staying late at the offices.

Rose helped to clean, knowing her mother would be helping if she could. She found herself in an assembly line: Ginny washed dishes, Rose dried and handed them to Albus to put away. Scorpius had tried to help, but Ginny insisted that he was a guest, and would do no such thing. So he sat at the table near them, and Rose felt his eyes burning into her.

"I have a silly request of you," Ginny handed Rose a plate, and Rose turned to her with wide eyes.

"I'm sure it's not silly at all!" Rose smiled.

Ginny smiled back, reaching into the dishwater and grabbing another plate, "Do the lot of you want to stay over at my house?" she requested, not meeting Rose's eyes, "I'm always a little nervous when Harry is out late, and it's lonely without the kids".

Rose considered for a moment. She would hate going into work the next day without sleeping in her own bed, but she understood Ginny's request. It was certainly tough being married to an Auror. Rose reluctantly agreed, handing off a plate to Albus. It was odd, but she swore she noticed Albus become visibly relieved as she agreed. Maybe he didn't want to stay by himself at home? Rose pondered this as they finished up the dishes.

When they arrived at the Potter Residence, Rose found herself making tea in the kitchen with Ginny as the boys sat in the parlor.

"Are you happy with your career?" Ginny asked suddenly, "Sorry if this is odd, but I know I changed around a bit before I settled into my career as a journalist. How did you find something you love so quickly?"

Rose considered her response for a moment, "I'm not sure. I went with my gut, pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I shadowed, got an entry level job, and fell in love with the work. You either know in your gut or you don't." Rose shrugged.

It was a long moment before Ginny responded, "I'm worried about Lily," she sighed, taking the whistling kettle off the stove, "Everyone seems to know where they're going but her. She's bright, and committed to everything she does, but her interests are so varied she can't choose."

Rose nodded, "That was my problem as well. How could I chose one thing for the rest of my life when I wanted to do everything?" she smiled, reliving that last month of Hogwarts where she immersed herself in studies.

"I don't mean to intrude," Ginny smiled, knowing that her request was ironic, "but maybe you could find a space for her at Longbottom Labs? I think working with you would be good for her."

Rose smiled, a little thankful that Ginny saw her as someone that could help Lily, "I'll see what I can do."

The four sat up and chatted for a while, and it was nice. Ginny needed to catch up with Scorpius, and he was happy to tell her what he had been up to after Hogwarts. His stories of travel were incredible, but as the night went on, they started to fade out with her eyes.

"I think it's time you went to bed, Rose," Albus had told her, and Ros agreed, heading up and leaving the three chatting. She tried hard to sleep in Lily's bed, feeling comfortable in her Aunt's home, but her sleep was restless. It was as if something were nagging at her, like the night before big test. Get up, study more or you'll fail. After an hour of tossing and turning, Rose decided to get up for a glass of water. Walking down the hall, she noticed the light still on downstairs. Rose stood at the top of the stairs, considering descending, but the hushed voices traveled clearly to her.

"That was the only thing taken, and we're still not sure why," Rose recognized the voice as Harry's. Who was he talking to about Auror business? "Do either of you know any information?"

"No, I don't know why the Death Keepers would need a time turner," was the response. Scorpius? Why was Harry asking Scorpius for information?

"I'll keep a closer eye on the lead," Albus's voice carried.

"I suppose that's the best we can do for now," Harry sighed, clearly worn out, "I have to catch some sleep before I head back in," she heard the creak of someone walking towards her. Rose startled, moving quickly and silently back to Lily's empty room.

What the hell is going on?

Author's Note: Hello again! Sorry for disappearing without notice, life happens blahblahblah. Clearly there will no longer be daily updates, as my classes have started again with a vengeance. I have had some time to revamp the story, and was re-inspired by a visit with my old friend who got me into writing in the first place! This story will start progressing to lots of plot, and will continue to have sexual elements. Please let me know what you think as always, but please keep the bitching about updates out of my comments. Nice nudges are great, but don't be a dick about it. Reminder that I don't get paid for this, nor am I in school for writing. Calm your tits. Please please let me know what you like or hate though! Those are my favourite to read.