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Push & Pull

Chapter 13

Trust

Rose felt her body contract and contort, squeezing her very molecules together for faster, more efficient travel. When she came out the other side, it was still in darkness, though she could smell the familiar scent of the forest around her. She immediately crossed her arms, preventing the cold from entering her lab coat.

"Lumos," Scorpius cast, and the forest around them lit up eerily. The trees were dense, and there was thick undergrowth. Scorpius walked quickly forward, "We need a flat surface. Al, help me out."

It was a few minutes of standing in the cold before Rose saw the fruits of their efforts. Scorpius had somehow gotten a magically expanded napsack from Roxanne's room which held a tent. Al lifted his wand and worked silently, clearing a bit of undergrowth while Scorpius levitated the tent into place. The group was silent as they worked, and Rose stared at the ground. She felt eyes on her, checking in, trying to make some sense of what was happening, but Rose wasn't there. Finally, Albus and Scorpius lowered their wands. Rose entered with Alice and Sam to see that the tent had a large living area, a kitchenette, and several door flaps which seemed to lead to rooms. Rose had camped in a similar tent plenty of times. She went to the center, starting up the heater now that she saw a way to be useful. Alice sat next to her, wrapping herself in a blanket with Sam.

"You guys have no idea what's happening?" Sam asked, and the two girls shook their heads. Rose stared at the heater, waiting for something to happen.

Scorpius finally entered the tent and Rose stood immediately. He walked past her to one of the rooms in the back, and Rose followed closely behind. She turned on him before the flaps of the door even closed.

"What the hell is this?!" She shouted, pacing in the small room. The room held the appearance of a tent with the feeling that it had been put up in her livingroom. It held two cots and a small end table with a lamp. The coziness didn't ease her anger at all.

His silence and blank expression was enough of an answer for her.

"Scorpius, one minute we were in my lab talking about my project, and the next I was burning it." Rose's voice cracked. Her hair was in great disarray at this point. She pulled the tie out and ran a hand through her mane, catching her fingers in it and grasping her scalp, "And we were being chased? I think? By someone influential enough to want to steal my research and not just kill some Weasley-Potters," she scoffed, pausing in her pacing.

Scorpius took that opportunity to grab her arms, "Please stop moving, you're making me dizzy," he said softly. Rose finally looked at him and his hard face was cracked, revealing a fear that she hadn't noticed before, "Rose I'll tell you what I can and no more, you have to trust me,"

"I've given a lot of blind trust today," she spat, pulling away from him. Scorpius's face hardened again, and something inside of her pulled back together at the old appearance. She sat herself on one of the cots and stared at him where he stood, expectant. His arms were crossed and his eyes were fixed on the lamp. He seemed miles away. Was it really that morning that she was picking her dress up off his floor?

"I'm not a businessman," he said at last, tilting his head to her attention but still avoiding her accusing gaze, "I was assigned by Harry Potter to protect you under the pretense of my father's work."

The room was silent as Rose considered the information. A humorless laugh escaped her lips at the absurdity of the statement.

"So you're what, my secret bodyguard?" she reasoned, eyes boring into him, demanding his attention. He seemed unfazed.

"Trained with Al as an Auror right after graduation," he admitted, a small smile creeping onto his face, "Originally it was me that wanted to keep my career a secret from the public, but then..." the smile fell abruptly.

"It turned into an advantage. There are a few missions where Harry needs publically unknown aurors to investigate matters. I did small jobs at first, then he chose me for this," the haunted look started to cross Scorpius's face again, but he finally looked at Rose and it melted away.

"I don't…" Rose tripped over her tongue, refusing to piece everything together, "I can't do this right now," Rose muttered, standing up and making towards the door.

"Rose, I need you to understand-" Scorpius reached for her. Rose pulled away from him, the burning of his touch scalding her where so many times it had been welcoming.

"How can I possibly understand?!" she laughed, all humor void of the reaction, "You've been lying to me. You and Albus," Rose paused with a start, "My family? And what the hell do I even need protection from?"

Fear suddenly gripped Rose like a cold blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She took small steps backwards until she could sink onto the cot, not trusting herself to stand. What are we running from? How unsafe am I that I need a bodyguard? The thought intruded on Rose. She pushed it away quickly, another unsettling feeling bubbling up. Rose looked up at Scorpius, hurt finally grasping at her features.

He walked to her suddenly, kneeling on the ground in front of her.

"Scorpius," Rose started, but was stunned silent when he took her hands in his. He grasped them too tightly, but she held onto him, feeling as if the world would fall out from under her if she let go. "Scorpius, you lied to me."

"I know," he said fiercely, leaning his head down to rest it on their grasped hands.

"Please tell me this was real," she begged, tears filling her eyes. She tried to keep her breathing steady, but it was no use, she was already falling apart, "Scorpius, you didn't just have a shag with me to gain my trust."

"No," Scorpius's voice was rough as he raised his head, ripping his hands from hers and placing them on either side of her face, "Rose, there is one very important reason that I took on this mission," he told her. She placed her hands over his, tears running freely down her face.

"Shit," Scorpius looked up, blinking away tears, "I've been selfish this go around. I allowed myself to have something that I could never have," his voice cracked, and a single tear escaped down his cheek. Rose sucked in a deep breath, feeling her body shake with huge sobs.

"You're-" gasp, "-not making sense," Rose gasped again, trying to keep what little dignity she had at that point.

"I know, but hopefully I will in the end," he tilted his head slightly, a look crossing his face that she couldn't place.

The room was silent as they stared at each other. She considered everything that had happened in just the past twenty four hours: her award, the ceremony, the running, burning her work, and Scorpius. He had invaded her life in the best way, infecting every thought with his stupid smirk, his gentle touches.

"Rose, I'm in love with you," he said at last.

Rose sat for a long moment, letting the words sink in.

"Fuck," she finally said.

"Yeah, he responded.

"I…" Rose went through a hundred different emotions and feelings in a few fleeting seconds, I don't-"

"You don't need to say anything," he continued. Scorpius leaned in close and kissed her forehead. Rose felt a deep need in her to wrap her arms around him and pull him close, but her mind was at odds with her heart.

"You just need to trust me," he told her, smoothing her hair down.

"I..."

And a large crack sounded from outside the tent. Scorpius was out the door before Rose could blink, wand at the ready and a pillar of strength. Rose, and she pulled her wand out, ready to fight.

Upon entering the main tent, she saw that it wasn't an enemy, but another friend that had joined them.

"Rose!" Roxanne rushed around the heater in the center of the room and hugged her friend tightly, "I'm so glad you're okay."

It took a moment before Rose replied. "What are you doing here?" without the tone that the question entailed. Roxanne picked up quickly on the accusation, looking to Albus for help. Rose didn't follow her gaze, keeping her eyes fixed on Roxanne. It made her clearly uncomfortable.

"I… don't think I should be the one to talk to you about this," Was all she could offer, and Rose stormed out of the tent without another word.

"Rose, wait!" Albus called after her.

"I've got it," Scorpius muttered, following quickly.

The room was left in a stunned silence.

"So, how about telling us what the hell is going on?" Sam grinned, beckoning the two newcomers to sit down.

…

Rose stumbled through the forest, anger building as she walked. She had no idea where she was, but she just needed to get far enough away to think. She trekked along, letting the cold finally seep into her bones. She stopped at a fallen log, and stood, staring at it. A shiver racked her body, and she let it, embracing the numbing feeling. Rose finally sat, sinking onto the rotting wood and letting her tears fall again.

Her life had been flipped upside down in the last twenty four hours, and she felt betrayed. How could Rose possibly return when Scorpius told her that everything she knew had been a setup? Well, his feelings weren't… Rose pushed the thought away. There was no way she could deal with that sort of thing just then.

First and foremost, she was in danger. He was helping. Albus was with him. Harry had approved it. She went through facts in her head, chewing on them until they sat with her. She didn't feel like seeing the other side. Rose could only think of herself, and how her perfect life had fallen apart.

I don't deserve this, she cried harder. Rose had pushed herself, worked her arse off to get where she was as a potioneer. And what did she get for it? Chased by some fucking goons. And for what?

Rose recalled her potion, pulling the small vial out of her pocket. It still glowed a pale blue. She smiled sadly to herself. Will I ever get to test it?

She felt a presence before she heard it, and Rose spun quickly, slipping her vial into a pocket.

"It's just me," Scorpius had both hands up. Rose could only relax slightly, taking her hand off her wand. He slipped his hands into his pockets, gazing at her silently. She wiped the tears from her face with the palm of her hand, trying her hardest to regain her usually strong appearance. She crossed her arms, staring back at him defiantly.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," Scorpius shrugged, the defeat clear in his voice.

"Thanks," she responded, though she didn't forgive him. Rose didn't feel the forgiving type just then.

"Roxanne was just helping us as much as she could," Scorpius explained to the still tense Rose, "She's not an Auror or anything, but Albus thought she could be helpful. He was right." He seemed relieved at that thought, and Rose wondered if he intended to protect her on his own.

"Am I safe?" The words left Rose's lips before she could think about them. As soon as they came, she decided she didn't want to know the answer.

"No," he told her, and she nodded. She should have expected that much.

"Who is coming after us?" her voice was small. She was having an out of body experience, watching herself blurt the questions that were on her mind.

"The Death Keepers," he told her as if he had done it a thousand times before, "They seem to be sympathizers of Voldemort's cause. We're unsure if they're targeting you because of your heritage, or because of your potion."

"According to our intel," he continued, "They're only after you, not any of your siblings or cousins. So we believe it's your work that caused this interest."

Rose nodded slowly. That fit in with what she had already considered.

"I'm not even sure if it works," she shrugged, "They could be looking for a botched potion."

"It wouldn't just be for the potion you made Rose," he told her slowly, "It's you. You're brilliant. We don't know what for, but you're one of the brightest minds of the time."

Even though it was a compliment, the words struck fear into Rose once more. She found herself taking deep breaths, and the familiar prick of tears clawed at her face once more.

"Oh my god," she pulled her hands to her face, and Scorpius was there in an instance. Her fear won over her mistrust, and she found herself wrapped tightly in his embrace.

And Rose found that despite what her brain screamed at her, Rose felt protected in Scorpius's arms. Her heart soared, and she found herself tilting her head up, forcing her lips onto Scorpius's. He pulled back in surprise, but she slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. He hummed in appreciation, falling into the passionate kiss. The vibrations traveled down her body, sending a gush of wetness to her core. His lips were grounding, pushing the numbness away and filling her with warmth once again. She forced her tongue past his lips, tasting him, and she couldn't get enough. Rose's fingers laced into his hair, pulling his head back and taking those sweet lips away from her. She grazed her teeth along his jaw, licking her way down his collarbone.

He pulled back, placing his hands on either side of her face, "Rose, are you okay?" he searched her, but all she could see was his messed up hair, and the flush of his cheeks in the moonlight.

"No," she answered, grabbing his robes and spinning him around. She backed up into a tree, pulling him close so that she could feel his throbbing cock against her thigh through his trousers, "But I need you," she was kissing him again, inviting him in.

"Rose," Scorpius muttered against her lips, a warning.

"Please," she cried, grinding a thigh against his length. Scorpius moaned in response, and she knew she had caught him.

He returned to her with renewed passion, kissing her fiercely and forcing his tongue roughly into her mouth. Their tongues danced, and he grinded against her. With every movement, the friction built in Rose, soaking her panties. She found herself pulling at his clothes franticly. Scorpius pushed her hands back, slipping her trousers and panties below her ass and reaching for his own belt. Rose kicked her bottoms off, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. When he was free, he grabbed her hips, hiking her up onto the tree and pinning her there with his weight.

Rose was impressed by his strength once again, and a pang deep inside her head reminded her it was because he was trained as an Auror. As he slid into her, the thought melted away, and she was back in the moment. Scorpius entered her slowly, and Rose relished at the familiar stretch. She was a little sore from the night before, but she adjusted quickly, sighing at the sensation.

"Fuck me hard," she whispered to him, and he delivered. Scorpius set a relentless pace, and Rose was gasping at every movement. She felt so dirty, fucking in the woods, pinned against the tree by nothing but Scorpius's body weight. The thought sent a fresh wave of pleasure through her, and she moaned loudly. Scorpius raised a hand, forcing it over her mouth.

"Shh, the others will hear," he grinned at her, grinding in just the right way for her to moan through his hand. She bit at one of his fingers and he looked into her eyes, his passion the only thing written on his face. Rose kept her eyes open, as they glazed over with her orgasm. She could think of nothing besides Scorpius's cock pounding through the feeling, and she was left a moaning, sweaty mess. She was so wrapped up in her own feelings, that she didn't notice him finish, but the slowing of his movements certainly cued her in.

He let her down, and they laughed together, cleaning up the aftermath and pretending, just for a moment, that everything would be alright.

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update guys! I had a rough week, and while the chapter was half finished yesterday, I wanted to take an extra day to make sure I gave you a quality as opposed to a rushed chapter. I got AMAZING responses to the last chapter, and I am so excited to hear your thoughts as the story unravels! Hope you enjoy!