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Push & Pull

Chapter 11

The Awards

Over the next few days, Rose immersed herself in her work. She came in early, spreading her notes over her lab bench and starting a brew before the sun rose. Her staff came in gradually, and knew from experience that when she got on a roll like that with a project not to bother her. But Scorpius was new, and had to face her wrath the hard way.

Slaving over a filled cauldron, Rose grinded pre-treated sticks of cinnamon into dust, ensuring the particles were fine enough to dissolve in her mixture. Upturning the mortar into the cauldron, she stirred twice to the right, and once to the left; a classic technique to ensure proper dispersal of the particles. She tried to hold back a sneeze, cinnamon billowing in the steam out of the pot.

It gave her a small headache, so she sat back, running her hands over her head. Her hair had started to curl, something that only happened when she was stressed and brewing.

"Good look," Scorpius came by with a take-out container.

"Lick my arse Malfoy," Rose spat, not even looking at him.

"Gladly," he responded, and Rose froze. It was then that she noticed the lab was empty. She forced herself to relax.

"Where is everyone?" she took the container from him, shifting over to a clean lab bench. Opening it, she was excited to see a lasagna with plenty of cheese: just the comfort food she needed.

"Well, it's the end of the day Rosie, most people like to go home when their work shift ends," Scorpius chided with a smirk. She didn't know whether she wanted to kiss or slap it off of him. Rose responded with a grunt, shoveling more food into her face.

"Jesus Rose, did you eat at all since Sunday?" He laughed, and she shrugged, returning to her potion.

"I need to finish this," she sighed, "it needs to brew overnight."

"Then let me help," he scooched closer to her.

Rose laughed, "No way, you were stuck with me in NEWT potions. You know how picky I am."

"And I survived, didn't I? We do have a date tonight that I'd really like to get to…"

"Shut up and slice those moth wings as thin as you can," Rose rolled her eyes. Scorpius shook his head, grabbing a small knife and getting to work.

Rose had to admit to herself, it felt nice to work next to Scorpius. There was something bubbling in her gut, and with the comfortable silence in the room to protect her from doing anything stupid, she let the feeling fester. Scorpius didn't steal glances at her the way he had the week before. He finished his task as she asked of him, sliding the cutting board to her and watching her add the wings to the brew. He did not comment as she stirred, and she felt her stress ebb away.

"Anything else?" Scorpius asked her. Rose wiped her hands, glancing around the room.

"I guess not…" her eyes locked on her cauldron, brewing lightly in the silent room. The steam changed from green to a pale blue, and she sighed with relief.

"You're a great brewer," Scorpius placed a hand on her shoulder, "It will be just fine." Rose felt that familiar warmth in her stomach at his comfort. She nodded, flipping off the lights and following him out.

…

"Stop touching it," Roxanne pulled Rose's arm down from her hair and she frowned. Her palms itched for something to do.

The three girls stood by the fireplace, waiting for the rest of Rose's team to arrive. They weren't late by any means, but Rose had returned home and gotten ready right away, brewing tea and even putting together a lunch for work the next day. She wasn't quite sure why, but she was more on edge than she expected.

"Stop worrying," Roxane scolded, putting her heeled toe on top of Rose's. Her foot had been tapping, "Everything will go great tonight. Worst case scenario you don't win anything, right?" Roxanne raised a lined eyebrow at Rose.

"Right," she replied, taking in her friends once more. Alice kept a classic look, red lips and rosy cheeks matching so well with her dark hair and angled face. Roxanne glowed, sure to steal the spotlight with her powerful gaze and strong body. Rose suddenly felt frumpy standing next to them, though Roxanne had charmed her curls and Rose had spent extra time contouring her face.

"I'm gonna check on my potion," Rose mumbled and took the elevator to her lab. Everything was as it should be, the potion brewing exactly as she left it. Even the half-eaten lasagna sat on the once clean lab bench. Rose's heels clicked on the floor as she made her way over, grabbing the container and taking it to the trash. Spinning quickly, she accidentally knocked some papers off of Alice's lab bench.

"Shit," Rose muttered, leaning over and collecting the stack in her hands. An unmarked file had toppled, and while she was typically very respectful of her workers' privacy, her curiosity got the better of her when she noticed her uncle's name. Rose froze, listening for any sign that someone was outside of the lab. Glancing around as a last check, she read the open page.

Prophecy retrieved by Senior Auror Potter 21 May 2025. Prophet: Inigo Imago.

"From the wreckage of war at the Solstice will come the Augurey, powerful beyond measure. The keeper will raise her from despair and illuminate her abilities. She shall burn through the veil and reveal the ultimate truth."

Notes: Imago's last prophecy before his death. Due to the overwhelming surge in prophecies surrounding Delphini Lestrange's imprisonment, this has been categorized in Vault 394 as Prophecy 109 on Delphini Lestrange. Connection due to Scorpius Malfoy's account of the Augurey in an alternate timeline, and Lestrange's tattoo.

Classification: Null Reopened

Rose found herself reading and rereading the file. It was strange for Alice to have, she had no connection with the Department of Mysteries. Rose heard a noise in the hallway and rushed to shove the papers back in the folder, slipping it under some loose ingredient sheets.

She turned around, flustered, just in time for the door to open. In walked Scorpius, as put together as ever. Rose wasn't sure what she expected of him, but his deep emerald robes and silver tie were elegant, tailored tight to his body as usual. Rose let her gaze trail over him, appreciating his trimmed scruff. She had expected him to gel his hair like his father for some reason. Hoped he would so that he would look less attractive, but it was no use. His clean mop of hair was perfectly ruffled, and she longed to slip her fingers through it. Instead, she was frozen to the spot, held hostage under Scorpius's clear eyes as he closed the distance between them.

Rose wasn't taken in a dramatic kiss as she had hoped. Scorpius dragged his fingers along her collarbone, tracing her curve to the cut out of cleavage that was exposed to him. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to her now sensitive skin, and rose shuddered, her skin puckering with goose bumps.

"You are the most stunning woman," he murmured against her, kissing his way up her neck, "I wish I could show you off tonight," and Rose pulled away. Scorpius didn't bother to disguise the hurt in his eyes, and Rose felt her stomach drop at the sudden hard set of his jaw.

"I'm sorry," she avoided his eyes, "I didn't mean…"

"It's okay," Scorpius stuck his hands in the pockets of his pants, "That was inappropriate."

"No, it wasn't," Rose sighed. Scorpius's brows furrowed curiously. "It's just…" She bit her lip, searching for the answer in his expression, "I can't…"

"I know," he responded softly, leaning forward and placing a small kiss on her cheek. He turned around and left the room, leaving her wanting. Rose wasn't sure what she wanted to say, and couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened. She slapped her cheeks twice, leaving the room and making her way slowly downstairs.

…

When Rose arrived at the large mansion, her breath was taken away. The large garden in the front lead the way to beautiful ornate white pillars and flying buttresses. The cameras flashed away, turning on Rose as soon as she lead her team to the front door. She was flanked by Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy. Rose hadn't felt so safe from the press since her father hid her in a porta-potty when she was twelve.

"Roxanne Weasley, any comment about being scouted for the Harpies?"

"Neville Longbottom, how does it feel to be here since the loss of your wife?"

"Scorpius, a word for Witch Weekly?"

"Draco Malfoy, tell us about the merger!"

"Rose Weasley, over here please!"

Rose left the safety of her group, taking a deep breath, and pulling out her press smile. She was used to interviews, growing up with the family she did, but she was glad to finally have the questions be about her work.

"Rose, you have only been in the field for a few years, and you're making tidal waves," the young woman's quick quill was flying, camera man waving for Rose's attention, "How has it been trying to make a name for yourself in a field that doesn't have the Weasley name stamped all over it?"

Rose frowned, but quickly covered it, considering her answer.

"My family has never stood on its merits. We all choose to make a name for ourselves in one way or another, and my passion just happens to be in potioneering. I'm so honored to be present tonight, even just to witness the talent in the room."

"You got that big brain from your mother no doubt," the reporter continued, and Rose turned, pretending to hear someone else calling her.

"Thank you so much, enjoy the ceremony," Rose flashed a winning smile, slipping away and posing for another photographer. It went on like that for what felt like an eternity, when she found herself speaking with the Daily Prophet.

"Any news on if Harry Potter will be in attendance tonight?" The reporter asked, and she sighed, struggling to keep her smile up. A thin hand slid around her arm and tugged her away.

"Sorry man, I need a drink," Roxanne winked at him, pulling Rose from her doom.

"Thank god for you," Rose clung onto Roxanne for dear life, waving down a waiter for a martini. The two made their way to the ballroom and found their seats. Roxanne was towards the middle of the room with the family, and Rose was to sit further up front for the nominees. She was just taking her seat when she heard a commotion towards the entrance. She turned and her face sunk when in walked none other than Harry and her parents. Rose sipped on her drink quickly, trying to wave the waiter for another, but his attention was fixed on the entering stars. Rose groaned, leaning back in her seat.

"Nothing like a famous parent to humble you," Scorpius slid into the chair next to Rose, and she blushed.

"I hate to be jealous…" Rose started.

"Tonight's about you though," Scorpius leaned forward, taking her hand while nobody was watching, "It should be about your accomplishments, recognition for your hard work." and in his eyes Rose saw all the understanding in the world for a feeling she was so ashamed of. "Nobody gets to take that away from you."

The chair pulled out from next to Scorpius, and he pulled his hand from hers quickly, favoring his drink. Draco slipped in easily, turning a handsome smile to Rose and his son, "Ready to sweep the competition?" he asked confidently, and while Rose blushed a bright red and wondered if he had seen the interaction, she told herself that he hadn't, and responded with a dorky thumbs up.

The ceremony was long, offering awards for all manners of innovative magic. There were acknowledgements for inventions in muggle equipment, charms, transfiguration, education, healing, and so many others that Rose lost track. She lost the potioneering award to Seamus Finnigan, a friend of her parents who invented the disintegrating cleaning potion this past year.

"Damn Finnigan," Neville had whispered to his daughter Alice, "Always liked blowing things up."

And at the end of the night, when they announced the larger awards, Rose was well on her way to drunk. Alice kept ordering more drinks, and Rose had kept up, trying to keep her morale as strong as her liver.

"When is this damn thing going to end?" Rose said through gritted teeth to Scorpius, who flashed a smirk at her. Rose blushed, kicking him under the table.

"And the young innovator award, presented by none other than Horace Slughorn himself!" Rose sat straight and clapped along with the rest of the room. She decided she should pay more attention to the man who founded the whole awards than the last ten announcers she sipped her way through. As Slughorn made his way to the stage, Rose noticed how old he was. He had retired the year before she had entered Hogwarts, and her mother had mentioned him once or twice, but she had mentioned everyone in the wizarding world once or twice. The only reason Rose knew the name was because of the awards.

"Good evening all," The man spoke slowly, as if everyone hung on his words, "I am so grateful to have such beautiful minds present tonight," he looked around the room, eyes settling on tables one by one, "I have lived a long life in teaching, spending my spare time at Hogwarts recognizing greatness as it presented itself to me. I am honored to have shared the great halls with such grace, such talent."

"The award I present tonight is my personal favourite. As I recognized upcoming greatness in young students, I like to recognize the go-getters who have devoted themselves to magical discovery. These innovators have chosen a field with much ambition and little recognition. I have worked hard to allow for more recognition in these careers, and am happy to award labs the honor of public recognition, and of course, a little monetary substance," he wiggled an eyebrow, and the crowd laughed good-naturedly.

"Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to this year's Rookie innovator of the year," he opened a small envelope dramatically, pulling out a small card with wobbly hands.

"Rose Weasley!"

Rose was swept in thunderous applause, and whisked to the stage by two men in black dress robes. She glanced back to see the proud faces of her table, lingering on Scorpius. She took strength in his natural enthusiasm for her win, and took her place at the podium, holding the classic gold trophy in her hands. The room hushed quickly as she was supposed to say a few words.

Her mouth opened, and nothing came out. Rose glanced around the room, searching for her labmates, but couldn't find them.

"Where's my team?" she asked awkwardly. From the back of the room, she heard cheering from one table, then the rest of the room chimed in, helping her out.

"Stand up guys," Rose grinned broadly, "I'd like to thank my incredible team of workers for dealing with all of my crap," the room laughed, and she laughed with them, "Alice, Millie, Auggie, Sam, Arthur. Neville Longbottom for founding the amazing company that I have been able to do such great work for, my parents, for buying me my first brewing kit at age six," she giggled, and heard a cheer from the back of the room, "Roxanne for my morning tea, you all for inspiring me at such a young age," she heard the band start to play, and anxiety pulled at her, wishing her moment wasn't over so soon, "And at last thank you to Horace Slughorn, for allowing me this opportunity. Good luck this next year!" Rose finished, a smile plastered to her face. As she exited the stage, a woman spoke of her accomplishments over the last few years, and Rose was surprised at how much she had actually done.

After the lab award was given to the Finnigan lab, the awards shifted quickly to an after party, the winners lead to the stage for pictures. Rose quite literally ran into Seamus Finnigan, apologizing profusely.

"Congrats little Rosie," he grinned, slapping a hand on her shoulder. She smiled back, "I was so worried you would beat me out for this one," he raised his own golden award.

"No way," Rose scoffed, "I use your potion in my lab for cleanups all the time."

"My husband is just so proud I tried to clean up my fires this time," Seamus rolled his eyes, and Rose laughed along. They took their pictures, and Rose escaped as quickly as she could into the crowd. So many congratulations were thrown her way, she didn't know who she hugged or took pictures with. She briefly remembered hugging her parents, and something tugged at her mind when she thanked uncle Harry, but she was so swept up in her joy that she shoved the thought away.

Rose ran to the bar to grab another drink, as her tipsy was getting more sober by the moment, and a bright blonde head crossed her vision. Scorpius was standing very close with a pale beauty, all legs and silky black hair. The girl was clearly interested in him, placing a foot between his legs and leaning forward onto the bar, pushing her cleavage up perfectly. And he was not immune. Rose strategically came up behind the girl, ordering her drink and flipping her hair, giving Scorpius a full view of her freckled shoulders. She tilted her head sideways, rubbing the back of her neck and fluttering her eyes shut as if she were tired. Rose knew exactly what she was doing, putting herself on display like that. She only hoped it would be enough to distract him. She took her drink gratefully from the bartender, spinning quickly without a glance at him. She shook her arse a little more than she needed to when she walked away, and hoped that the burning of her ears was because of his eyes on her and not everyone else's.

It was well into the night when her friends decided they should stumble home.

Alice slipped into her flat safely, leaving Rose & Roxanne to take the long way around home. Rose found herself a street away from Scorpius's and paused, her fuzzy head puzzling out whether she should go or not.

"Go," Roxanne flipped her hand dramatically, "someone's gotta get laid tonight," she giggled.

"Thanks," Rose breathed, half running down the street. It took all of her effort not to wobble in thin heels on the cobble of the street, which was a hard feat sober, and she was truly drunk by now.

She took the elevator up, shifting in her heels. Just knowing she would see him, and thinking of the way he looked at her that night, she was already wet. She slipped out of them, choosing to carry the shoes instead. When the elevator dinged, her heart leapt, and the doors opened to reveal her cousin.

"Albus!" Rose's voice raised an octave, "What are you doing here?" she noticed briefly he was in his dress robes.

"I was at the ceremony! I tried to track you down, but you couldn't stop moving," he hugged her briefly, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I have her purse," Scorpius turned around the corner, rolling his eyes, "she left it at the table. So forgetful."

"The worst," Albus agreed with a grin, "Which reminds me, I haven't been to see your lab yet."

"How about in the morning?" Scorpius patted Albus on the back, "We'll all go over together."

"Sounds lovely," Albus agreed, "I should really get going. I'll see you," he exited through the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, Rose dropped her heels, throwing her arms around Scorpius and snogging him fiercely.

"Woah, slow down," he laughed, scooping Rose into his arms and carrying her to his bedroom. Rose realized she had never been in here before. It was a large bed with dark sheets, modern architecture like the rest of the flat. It was neat, the bed made nicely and all toiletries placed neatly on the backs of the furniture. She paid it no more attention as she was tossed onto the bed. Scorpius pinned her down, biting into the flesh of her breasts. Rose gasped and then sighed as he sucked at her soft skin, leaving small marks where he moved. Rose pulled her arms free, pushing him away from her.

"Take my damn dress off," she ordered, and he needed no other request. Scorpius spun her over, laying her belly-first onto his bed. He unlatched the top and undid the zipper. Rose shivered as the material slid over her skin. She shimmied out of the material, leaving herself fully naked underneath him.

"I'm a little overdressed," Scorpius muttered, and Rose wasted no time amending that issue. Knowing that she needed no preparation this time, Rose leaned backwards against his pillows, pulling him on top of her. She kissed him softly, and he lined himself to her, sliding in easily. They both sighed in relief, the sensation washing over them. Scorpius moved at a torturous pace, slipping his hands into her hair and holding her steady. Rose could only moan into his mouth, twisting her legs into his, and relishing in the friction.

"You're incredible," Scorpius said against her lips, tasting her moans as they slipped from her mouth, "So smart, so beautiful," he slid a hand from her hair down the side of her body and under her arse, lifting it and grinding her against him. Rose's orgasm surprised her, rippling through her body slowly at first, and lasting for so long. She felt Scorpius moving more quickly inside of her, and though she was already so far gone, her sensation was heightened, leaving her a sweaty, gasping mess. She felt him cumming inside of her as she rode the last waves of her orgasm, and they settled against each other, bathing in their clear heads.

That was… Rose thought with anxiety, very romantic. And I liked it. She tried to push the fear away as he pulled out and dragged her close to him. She settled into his embrace and fell asleep, his hands protectively around her.

Author's Note: Thanks for a wild ride guys, I so appreciate these reviews. If you haven't gotten it by now, this is my (third?) week of steady Sunday updates, so I think this is sticking well! Sorry this one is a day late, I'm on school time, and lucky for me there was a nice Monday holiday. I needed the extra time to set up some plot points. Next chapter is gonna get a little crazy, so bear with me. Let me know how you like/hate the plot, because we're gonna get a little more push than pull for a hot second. Thanks as always for the read!