Chapter 20

"Fuck!" Scorpius cried in shock, his hand over his heart, trying to steady his breathing. Albus was trying to hold back laughter, a smile playing on his lips. "For the love of Merlin, Al, What are you doing here?" he asked getting his breath back and closing the door behind him.

"I came to see you," he said honestly, but Scorpius could see the uncertainness in his eyes.

"Well, you found me," Scorpius replied jokingly, trying to cut the tension. It didn't work. Albus just nodded. "Look Al," he started, deciding to come out with it, getting a burst of courage. "I really want to apologize for what I said last night and the way I said it." He scrunched up his face in disgust, still hearing his own bitter and awful voice in his head. "It wasn't right and I am really sorry," he finished looking Albus straight in the eye, pleading for his forgiveness.

"It's okay Scorp; I am here to apologize to you for what I said. It was wrong and heartless and I sincerely regret it."

"So you accept my apology?"

"Of course," Albus replied, "if you'll accept mine."

Scorpius smiled and stuck his hand out in front of him. Albus grasped his hand, but pulled Scorpius into a hug which he gratefully returned. When Albus stepped back, Scorpius knew what he was going to say.

"So, are you going to tell me what is really going on with you and Rose?"

"Is it bad if I say no?"

"No, I can pretty much guess." Scorpius just sighed, frustrated with Rose and frustrated with himself. "Scorpius, you have to talk to her."

"She won't talk to me," he replied with a little bitterness detected in his voice.

"You don't know that."

"Do you even know your cousin at all?"

"Yeah, good point," Albus muttered. There was a pause, but Albus decided to break it before it became awkward. "So, where's my room?" Scorpius looked up at Albus, a little confused. "Well, I told Alison and she's cool with it as long as she gets to visit and maybe sleepover every now and then." Scorpius just laughed at Albus' casual tone.

"Yeah, I bet she said that."

"Well, she didn't say it exactly," Albus smirked, "but I know she agrees with me."

"Its fine," Scorpius compromised, "as long as I get fair warning."

"Deal," Albus chuckled. They shook hands again, not holding back their laughter. "Well, I guess I better go pack, and inform the parents, which should be interesting," Albus said making his way towards the fireplace, "but it is good to be friends again."

"Were we ever not?"

"Good point," Albus smiled at the conformation, "and I'll pick up your stuff from the Burrow for you, so don't worry about that." He stepped into the expanded fireplace, fisting a handful of Floo powder and paused. "Listen Scorp, if you change you mind, I left her new address in the kitchen," and with that, Albus left in the burst of green flames.

3hrs later, Rose's new flat

"Hey Rosie," her father called from the living room, "where do you want me to put these boxes?" Rose, who was in her bedroom packing her clothes into her draws, looked over at her mother. They shared a knowing look.

"What do they have written on them, Dad?"

"Kitchen," he called back before realizing what she meant, "Oh right, sorry." Rose giggled as Hermione just smiled and shook her head. The mother and daughter continued to unpack boxes of clothes in silence.

"So, you missed out on some drama after you left last night," Hermione said breaking the silence.

"I know, Alison filled me in," Rose said in a monotone voice.

"Scorpius was really upset." Rose held her breath at hearing his name, slowing in her folding actions, but quickly recovered.

"So," she replied, not even looking up at her mother. "Why would I care?"

"I don't know the reason why, Rose, but I know that you do care." Rose huffed in response, calming herself.

"No I don't," she objected, still not meeting her mother's gaze, walking over to the closet and hanging up some dresses. "Not anymore," Rose mumbled quietly, but Hermione heard. However, she decided to leave it alone.

"Well, in any case, he asked me to tell you that he is sorry," Hermione said to her daughter's back, "for everything." She watched as Rose looked down, registering what she had said. However, after a minute, she marched back over to the unpacked boxes and with a flick of her wand; all of her belongings flew around the room into their respective, organized places.

"Whatever, I don't care," she said as she left the room. Hermione could see how Rose had steeled herself and was not going to give in to any of her feelings towards Scorpius today or anytime soon. Hermione sighed before she followed her daughter.

"Rose, why did we have to do this the hard way?" Hugo said as he came through the front door, carrying another box.

"Because Hugo, this is a Muggle building; it would look too suspicious if we didn't," Rose replied as she made her way over to Alison and Zoe who were sitting on the floor of the lounge room.

"Fine, but you owe me," she heard her brother shout out, exiting the flat to retrieve another box while her mother also made her way downstairs. Alison and Zoe had found Rose's collection of Muggle music. It was packed away with her large stereo and speakers, which they had managed to set up in the corner. Piles and piles of CD's surrounded them where they sat on the hardwood floor.

"Rose, I never knew you had so much music," said Alison, as she turned a CD case over, reading the songs on the back.

"Yeah, since when did you start collecting Muggle albums?" Zoe asked, also browsing the back of another case.

"Since Dad fixed the old player in grandfather's shed, a while back," Rose answered sitting on her brand new couch, nodding towards the stereo/CD player in the corner.

"Nah, Dad didn't fix that," Hugo said, entering the flat again with another box and going into the kitchen.

"What?" Rose asked.

"Scorp fixed it," Hugo said coming back after putting the box in the kitchen, and already moving towards the door again. "Dad thought you wouldn't want it if you knew." Rose just sat there, watching her brother leave as quickly as he had come in, not sure how to react. It made sense that it was Scorpius now that she thought about it; her dad couldn't fix anything without his wand. Alison, quickly deciding to distract Rose from her own thoughts, put the CD she had in her hand in the player. As the music started, Alison turned up the volume a little bit while Zoe snatched the CD case out of her hands.

"What the hell is this?" Zoe said, "Who's ABBA?"

"It's an old, old pop group," Rose answered, "Grandma Granger gave it to me." Alison started tapping her foot and bobbing her head to the beat.

"I kind of like it," Alison said, with a smile. "C'mon," Alison pulled Zoe up off the floor and the two started to dance, around the room. Rose just laughed at her two best friends, dancing around the room to the upbeat song. At the chorus, they started to sing.

"You can dance. You can jive, having the time of your life. See that girl," they both pointed to Rose, causing her to laugh, "Watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen." They pulled Rose up off the couch and onto her feet. Not a moment later Rose was in full swing, singing and dancing around her own lounge room with them and loving it.

"I'm hopping in the truck," Hugo said, to his parents as he came out of the building, "You guys can take up the last two, right?" Not even waiting for an answer, Hugo jumped into the passenger side of the rented truck.

"She's not going to forgive him," Hermione whispered to her husband as she leant against the back of the truck and he reached in to drag the last two boxes out.

"What?"

"Rose, she's not going to let this go."

"Maybe she just needs some time," Ron said hopefully.

"I know my daughter, Ron," Hermione spoke in her protective mother voice, "and she's not going to forgive him, if at all, for a long time."

"We'll see, you never know he might convince her."

"Sorry, but dealing with you and Harry as teenagers doesn't leave me with much faith in that statement," Hermione said mockingly.

"Oh really," Ron smiled at his wife.

"Yep," she answered, holding back giggles.

"Well, I convinced you in the end," Ron said wrapping his arms around her.

"Honey, I am sorry to tell you this," Hermione said seriously, holding back a smiled as she locked her hands at the nape of his neck "but I was very easy to convince," she finished, finally giving in to the smile that wanted to push through her mock serious expression.

Just then, the rumble of a familiar motorbike made them break their gaze. They disentangled from each other to see it park in the space behind the truck.

"Hey Scorp, where did you get off to this morning?" Ron asked as Scorpius took off his helmet and hung it on the handle bars.

"To clear my head and talk to Albus," he replied a little apprehensively, taking off his gloves and dismounting his bike.

"And did you?" Hermione cut in.

"Yes I did and we are good now," Scorpius answered, walking over to the couple, unzipping his leather jacket. Hermione nodded in approval. They stood there awkwardly for a moment before Ron lifted the last two boxes off the truck. "Would you like some help with those?" Scorpius said easily taking them into his arms.

"Thanks, if you want to take them up that would be great," Ron smiled.

"Sure," Scorpius turned and started towards the building.

"Second floor, door on the right," Hermione called.

He turned back and gave her his best attempt of a smile. "Thanks."

When he climbed the stairs he could hear the sound of music playing. Approaching the doorway on the right, like instructed, he found it wide open. Scorpius stood there, silently, watching the scene in front of him. Alison, Rose and Zoe danced around the room singing shamelessly, without a care in the world. His gaze locked on the laughing redhead. He thought she looked absolutely beautiful in her old faded jeans and her plain white tank top with a radiant smile, lighting up her whole face.

"Scorpius!" Zoe exclaimed, being the first to notice him in the doorway. He watched as Rose froze with her back to him, her shoulders visibly tensed. Alison walked over to the old music player Scorpius faintly remembered fixing and turned off the music.

"Oh, will you look at the time," Alison said, taking a look at her bare wrist, not even attempting to be subtle. "We have to go," she said to Zoe, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her over to stand in front of Rose.

"Where?" Zoe asked, wanting to stay and watch the upcoming exchange. Alison just ignored her.

"We'll see you tomorrow, okay," Alison said speaking now to Rose. Once Rose nodded in confirmation, they Disapparated, leaving Scorpius and Rose alone.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I felt it was important to show Rose enjoying herself and doing normal girl things with her friends. If you haven't already guessed the song was Dancing Queen by ABBA. So, if you didn't like it I am sorry but I just thought it was something everyone knows and women of all ages can enjoy.

The next chapter will be the talk. They will admit some things and Rose will call on the favor Scorpius owes her. So there's a teaser for you. Anyway I just want you all to know that it is proving more difficult to write then I expected plus I have many Uni commitments coming up and it might take longer to finish. Hopefully, by next week it will be done :)

I would also like to thank my beta, peacock33, for all of her help :)

Please review, follow or fav :)