Chapter 9

The Burrow, 9 days after leaving Hogwarts.

It was a scorching hot summer day, and everyone had somewhere to be or something to do. So, surprisingly the house well relatively quiet, that was until you opened a window. Outside, Roxanne and her friend Ruby were experimenting with some new products for her dad's shop, Hugo and his best mate Lysander Scamander decided today would be a great day to have the rest of their mates over for a very loud game of quidditch and to top it off Scorpius had been working on his motorbike all morning. Scorpius had made some new parts and was trying to get it to run. Every now and then, he would try and start it up, making a lot noise.

Rose was helping her grandmother in the kitchen, making some homemade lemonade. She was squeezing some more lemons when she was startled again by another rumble of Scorpius' motorbike.

"Arghh, can't he do that some place else!" Rose snapped. Her grandmother just laughed.

"And deny us that lovely view," Victoire, Rose's older cousin, said as she entered the kitchen, "no thanks, I think he should stay exactly where he is." She was looking out the window with a cheeky smile admiring Scorpius from a far.

"Says the woman getting married in less than a month," Rose chuckled, looking down while she squeezed a lemon.

"Come on Rose, whether you think he's a prick or not, you can't deny that he has a gorgeous body," Victoire said looking back at Rose. Rose looked up at her blonde cousin, moving around the kitchen to grab the sugar. Victoire raised a challenging brow and smirked. Rose couldn't help but remember the night before they left Hogwarts, how smooth and toned he was. A blush rose in her cheeks, giving Victoire her desired reaction. Victoire just laughed at Rose, grabbing a juice before heading back up the stairs. Rose shouldn't be thinking about that night, they had both come to a silent agreement that it should be forgotten completely.

For the first time, Rose actually looked at Scorpius and he was making forgetting very difficult. He again wasn't wearing a shirt and because of the summer heat, he was covered in sweat and grease. He looked like one of those models that were oiled down to make their muscles pop only Scorpius' were natural oils. He had a concentrating look upon his face, focusing hard on the task at hand. As his arms worked, Rose could see his muscles moving. He stood up and wiped his grease covered hands with a rag, moving around to the other side of the bike, his back to her. She got a good look at his back muscles flexing as he repeated the same action. Her breath hitched as he knelt down, his jeans slipping further down, revealing the top of his underwear.

Molly Weasley turned around to see her granddaughter, Rose, mouth slightly open, craning her neck to get a better look out the window, while she poured a sugar into an already overflowing measuring cup.

"Um, excuse me Rose?"

"Mmm," Rose mumbled, not taking her eyes off the boy outside.

"Do you think that's enough sugar," she said smirking.

"Huh?" Rose finally turning to look at her grandmother, a little confused. Molly just nodded to the pile of sugar on the table, causing Rose to look down. "Oh shit," she said as scrambled to clean up her mess, face flushed and red with embarrassment.

Away from prying eyes, Alison and Albus sat on the edge of a small wooden jetty, feet dipped into the cool water of the Weasley's miniature lake. Albus was sporting a white singlet and a distracting pair of bright green board shorts while Alison wore a red two piece, leaving little room for imagination. She laid back, her head resting on a rolled up towel, allowing her skin to soaking up the sun, sunglasses shading her eyes. Stealing a quiet moment alone like this, since they left Hogwarts has been difficult. Between their graduation party and Victoire and Teddy's wedding plans, they hardly had anytime alone together. So they sat there in a comfortable silence, enjoying the quiet. However, the roar of Malfoy's engine could still be heard from their quiet place.

Back in the kitchen, Rose and her grandmother cleaned up the sugar and had just finished the final touches on the lemonade. Rose whipped out her wand and performed a cooling charm on it so that it was refreshingly cold straight away. Rose poured her and her grandmother a glass. Taking a sip, she sighed as the cool liquid ran down her throat refreshingly.

"That's just what you need on a day like this," Rose said smiling at her grandmother, Molly nodding in agreement.

"How about, I call all the others in and you can take this out to Scorpius," Molly said as she poured a new glass and handed it to Rose, smiling brightly. Rose's previous smile fell.

"Oh Gran, I'm sure if he wants some he'll come in," Rose said hopefully dismissing the idea from her Gran's mind.

"You and I both know, he won't leave his precious bike for at least another couple of hours." Rose bit her lip, looking out the window again, unsure. True to her word, Molly called all of her other grandchildren in for some fruit and fresh lemonade, while pushing Rose out the door.

Scorpius looked up as all the other kids ran inside and smiled as he saw Rose walking towards him with a glass in her hand. She was wearing short denims, giving him another look at her long, creamy legs, coupled with a blue, causal cotton shirt over a white tank top. Her wavy locks were rapped up in a bun and off her neck.

"Er… Hi," Rose said as she stood opposite him, the bike in between them. Scorpius smirked at her awkwardness.

"Hello," he said with a nod, wiping the grease off his hands with a rag. Rose blushed as she watched a single drop of sweat run down his torso. She quickly diverted her stare to the ground.

"Ahh, this is for you," she said slightly raising the glass of cool lemonade. Scorpius moved around the bike and stood in front of her.

"Thank you," he said as he took the glass.

"Welcome," she replied still not meeting his gaze. Scorpius lifted the glass to his lips and began to drink. He closed his eyes as the liquid ran down his throat, quenching his thirst. He couldn't stop. Rose took the opportunity to look up, watching him scull the drink hungrily. However, she got distracted again by the sweat running down his neck and over his chiseled chest as he leant back slightly. Rose quickly shifted her eyes back down to the ground when she realized he was finish, but he caught her.

"Are you ok, Weasley?" he asked in a mock concerned voice but with a smirk dominating his expression. "Is the heat getting to you?" he added, leaning back against his bike.

"No," she mumbled, "Where's Al and Alison?" she added distractingly. He chuckled at her attempt but answered anyway.

"At the lake," he said putting the glass down.

"Oh, I bet it's nice down there," she said turning her head in that direction.

"Mmm," Scorpius murmured as he watched her as she entered her own little world. She bit down lightly on her lip as she thought about the cool water. Driving him crazy, as he thought about the last time he watched her lips that closely. The night they don't talk about. Suddenly, a light bulb went off inside his head, bringing him back to the present. "Well, you definitely look like you could use a cool down," he said smiling cheekily.

"What?" Rose turned back confused.

"You look really hot," he said naturally, taking a step towards her. Rose raised a questioning eye brow, trying to figure him out. The smile grew broad on his face. In one swift move, he scooped her up in his arms and ran, laughing at her struggles.

"Malfoy let me go!" she screamed, struggling against his strong arms.

"Never," he said through his laughter as he ran in the direction of the lake.

Alison watched Albus closely, a little worried. He appeared to be deep in thought, looking out across the peaceful water as he swung his legs, disturbing the peace around his feet.

"Sweetheart," she said, her voice thick with concern, as she stroked his lower back, "are you okay?" Albus sighed serenely before turning around and looking down at his girlfriend with a blissful smile.

"Baby, I couldn't be happier," he said delightfully as he watched her smile back at him. He laid down next to her, supporting his weight with his elbow while his other hand came to rest on her opposite hip. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and enabling the lovers to gaze directly into each other eyes. His thumb tenderly drew circles on her hip, caressing the skin softly. "You're so beautiful," he whispered with such sincerity, it nearly brought tears to her eyes. She leaned up and he leaned down. Their lips met in the middle, as they shared a kiss filled with a deep love. They came apart slowly and gazing at each other deeply.

"I love you." She barely registered what he said. She had heard it him say it before but this time seemed different. He was genuine, that she was sure of but he also seemed nervous about something. However, this did not stop the smile that took over her features. She brought her left hand up, caressing his cheek as she gave him another kiss.

"I love you too," she said honestly, after she pulled back, her hand still rested against his cheek.

"Will you do me a favor?" he asked seriously.

"Anything," she replied, as she continued to caress his cheek, wondering where this was going. She couldn't stop the small voice in the back of her head telling her he wants to take a break or break up with her all together; even though she knows he loves her. She loves him and even though their lives were about change she didn't want to lose him. Albus turned his head and kissed her palm before taking it in his. He placed something cold and small in the palm of her hand, closing her fingers around it, never taking his eyes of hers.

"Wear this for me," he said simply. She looked at him, he did seem nervous again but at the same time confident. Her eyes would not leave his even after he let go of her hand. They both gradually sat up as she looked down at her closed hand. Trying to steady her breathing, she slowly opened her hand to reveal a small sliver ring. Alison's other hand flew to her mouth to try and hide her gasp.

"Think of it as a promise," Albus said calmly as she stared at the ring with glassy eyes. The ring was simple, understated yet stunningly beautiful. It seemed to loop back on it self holding three tiny diamonds in the centre. Albus picked up the ring and turned Alison's hand over. He held it in front of her hand, positioned to slide on her ring finger. Alison saw the engraving on the inside of the sliver band. It read, 'A Promise of Forever'.

"My father gave this to my mother before she went back to finish her 7th year, after the war," he said drawing her eyes to lock with his. "He gave it to her as a promise of a life together," Albus smiled, "A promise of eternal love, of a home and a family," Albus looked down and began to slide the ring onto her finger. "A promise of forever," he finished as the ring sat snug on Alison's ring finger. A tear escaped, running down Alison's cheek. They both looked back up into each other eyes, Albus' filled with love, Alison's with tears. Simultaneously they leaned in, sealing the promise with a kiss.

The kiss didn't last long as the quiet was yet again interrupted but this time by someone screaming. They came apart to see Scorpius running with Rose in his arms, down the jetty.

"No! Malfoy, don't you dare! Nooooo!"

"Watch out!" yelled Scorpius over Rose's protests, heading straight for them and the water. Albus grabbed Alison and pulled her across him onto his side before shielding her as Scorpius jumped into the water, Rose still in his arms. Water splashed up onto the two still left on the jetty, mostly Albus as he was shielding Alison.

"Scorp!" Albus yelled at his best friend as he and Rose resurfaced.

"What? Rosie needed a cool down."

"Arhh, I'm gonna kill you!" Rose said as she dived across the water at Malfoy, pushing him down beneath the water, trying to drown him. Underwater, Scorpius grabbed Rose's foot and pulled it out from under her causing her to be dunked back in the water again. Scorpius and Rose continued to wrestle while Albus and Alison just laughed. Alison turned to Albus as he laughed a Rose getting dunked again.

"Thank you," she said, getting his attention.

"Huh?" he said not hearing her over the commotion behind them.

"I said, thank you," she said sincerely, with a loving smile.

"My pleasure," he muttered as he leaned in and kiss her again.

"Awww," Rose cooed. Albus and Alison came apart to find Rose and Scorpius had stop to watch them. Scorpius piggy-backing Rose walked to the edge of the lake that over time was used as an easy exit.

"We'll give you love birds some privacy," he said sheepishly as he walked up the bank and out of the water, Rose's arms rapped around his neck. He supported Rose's legs that were rapped around his waist and she rested her cheek against his temple as he continued to carry her in the direction of the house. Scorpius reveled in the fact that he could touch her and more so that she let him. Rose could not help but feel safe in his arms, as she felt his soothing caress where he gripped her legs and unconsciously held him even more tightly. As Rose caught sight of the Burrow from her perch, it gave her a sense of reality. She shouldn't feel safe in Malfoy's arms because everyone knew that Malfoy doesn't keep his arms around a person for long. He's the love them and leave them type, searching for lust. Were she is searching for love, preferably a long-lasting love. Panicking, she released him from her hold and jumped down off his back despite his protests.

"Thank you, but I am capable of walking on my own," she said sternly as she set off on foot in front of him. Scorpius was confused, he thought that she didn't mind especially since he heard her sigh and felt her nuzzled up to him.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked seriously as he caught up with her, not hiding his obvious confusion.

"That depends on if you find throwing a fully clothed person into freezing cold water," she said rounding on him, putting on her best scowl, "against their will I might add," poking his still bare chest, "wrong!"

"What? I thought we were just having a bit of fun," he replied, trying to hide his hurt, "besides you were enjoying it."

"Don't pretend like you know what I'm feeling!" she yelled at him, causing him to take a step back slightly. Rose was surprised when he didn't retort, and only stared back at her. She dropped his gaze to avoid seeing the hurt in his eyes. "Just leave me alone," she uttered as she turned around, leaving the only thing for Scorpius to do is watch her walk away from him.

A longer chapter this time and its a bit sappy but I enjoyed writing it. Its my favorite so far, a lot happens it this chapter. Please let me know what you think :) Follow the story to see where it goes. Please feel free to make suggestions etc about what you want to see happen.