Chapter 31

11:30 am

The late morning sun peaked through the curtains of the bedroom, awaking the uncovered Alison where she lay wrapped around the still sleeping Albus Potter. She lifted her head off of his well-defined bare chest and blinked, focusing her eyes. A giddy smile slowly spread across her features as she stared down at her boyfriend's face. She ran a finger down his lightly stubble-covered jaw, enjoying the roughness she knew he would soon shave it away. He stirred under her caress. Alison smiled as she leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss on his cheek.

"Mm…morning," Albus mumbled as he stretched his arms above his head, before opening his eyes. A lazy but delighted smiled found its way on to his face when his eyes found his beautiful girlfriend, resting on her elbow as she looked down at him with the same delighted expression. She was surrounded and masked in the morning light, giving the illusion that she was glowing like an angel from heaven.

"Good morning sleepy head," Alison replied with a giggle.

"Good indeed, especially when you're the first thing I see," Albus said, pushing himself up onto his side, mirroring Alison's pose.

"Since when did you become the charming wordsmith?" Alison asked playfully, as she shuffled closer to him, leaving only inches between them.

"It comes and goes," Albus shrugged, extracting another giggle from Alison. He chuckled with her, before leaning in for a brief, chaste kiss. "I'm glad it's the weekend, I get you all to myself," Albus added as he reached out grasping a hold of her hip, drawing caressing circles.

"It's the weekend?" Alison asked in a slightly panicked tone, as Albus attached himself to her neck.

"Hmm Mm," he mumbled against her skin as he rolled her onto her back, pressing her into the mattress and continuing his assault on her neck.

"Wait…what time…is it?" Alison stuttered suppressing a moan and breathing heavily; the feel of his lips against her skin fogged her mind. When he just continued, she started to pull his head back lightly with his hair. "Wait, Albus," she tried to say sternly, only her body betrayed her. His name practically left her lips as a moan. "Albus! The time."

"Who cares?" he said as he stopped and pushed himself up, supporting his weight with his arms as he looked down at her, confused as to why they had to stop.

"I do," she replied as she looked over to the clock on her bedside table. With a gasp, she pushed him off her as she realised the time. "Oh sweet Merlin," she added as she made her way to the wardrobe. "Rose will kill me if I'm late."

"Late for what?" he asked as he sat up.

"I am supposed to be helping her get ready for the Ministry Gala;" Albus chucked at his girlfriends frantic behaviour. "What are you laughing at? You're due at the Burrow to help set up for Victoire's shower," Alison said smirking at his slightly confused expression over her shoulder as she made her way to the bathroom. "I only have one Weasley woman to deal with if I'm late, you have several." Albus' face dropped its confused look because he knew exactly what she meant.

"Oh, shit," he exclaimed as he shot to his feet.

Scorpius and Hugo flooed into the Burrow and were immediately greeted by a stressed-out Teddy.

"Hey Scorp," he said, trying to hide his distress and giving him a brief, yet manly, hug. "Sorry I couldn't be there last night."

"Nah, don't worry about it," Scorpius replied. "Geez, Teddy you look like…" Scorpius started as he got a better look at Teddy, trying to find an appropriate but nice word to describe Teddy's exhausted state.

"Shit," Hugo finished for him, bluntly. Scorpius turned to look at Hugo; the young man had no idea of what he had just done. Teddy and Scorpius just laughed at the honest and unremorseful expression on the redhead's face.

"Thanks mate," Teddy said through his laughter, patting Hugo on the back. "C'mon, we're setting up out the back," he added as he led them out the back.

They passed through the kitchen on their way through. Scorpius immediately spotted Dominique leaning against the bench with a glass of wine in her hand. She smiled brightly upon seeing him too.

"Hello stranger," she said, as she put down her glass and held her arms open for him. He didn't waste any time and quickly crossed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around his friend in a tight hug.

"It's good to see you Dom," Scorpius said, as he pulled back from the welcoming embrace.

"Likewise," Dom replied.

"So, where's the ring?" Scorpius asked with a cheeky smile.

"Shhh…not so loud," Dom whispered, looking around to make sure no one heard. Scorpius wore a worried and confused expression. "I haven't told anyone yet," Dom sighed.

"Why? They would be so happy for you," Scorpius reasoned.

"This is Victoire's time; I don't want to ruin her shower and pregnancy joy by announcing my engagement."

"How is that going to ruin it?"

"Okay…maybe it won't ruin it, but it will take the spotlight away from the new awaiting parents."

Scorpius sighed and looked out the window to see Fleur and Bill talking to Teddy. Teddy looked as pale as a ghost while Mr and Mrs Weasley seemed to be laughing. Scorpius chuckled at the scene in front of him.

"By the looks of things they would probably welcome the distraction," Scorpius said, nodding in Teddy's direction. Dom and Scorpius laughed as they saw Victoire join them, trying to calm Teddy down. "You just want to avoid that fuss for as long as possible," Scorpius added.

"Yeah, okay you got me," Dom said smiling up at him. "But I mean, can you really blame me?"

"I suppose not, your Mum is crazy."

"That's the understatement of the century," Dom giggled. "And Vic is not far behind, especially this far into her pregnancy; and why did they wait so long to have the baby shower?" Dominique rambled.

"Yeah, I am surprised she can even walk with that belly," Scorpius commented with a chuckle.

"She doesn't, it's more of a hobble," Dom gagged. Scorpius watched Victoire move around the yard, ordering her several cousins around, in a way that could only be described as a hobble. They shared a laugh at her expense before Scorpius turned back to their previous conversation.

"So no to the big, charming announcement during the toasts, then?"

"No," Dom replied. "Look, I just don't want to tell anyone until Jacob is here." Scorpius nodded. A beat of silence went between them. Dominique knew what was on his mind as he caught sight of the cake.

"So…um…is-"

"She isn't here," Dominique cut across him. "You just missed her actually."

"Oh well, I guess I'll see her later," Scorpius said. "Will she be arriving with the rest of the guests?"

"Actually…Rose and Ben are on the sorry-we-had-a-better-offer list," Dom explained.

"Wait, she's not coming to the baby shower at all?"

"No, Ben was invited to the Ministry Gala and she is his plus one."

"Well, I suppose that is really important," said Scorpius, his voice not lacking in sarcasm.

"I know, who would want to miss the unavoidable and completely compelling discussion of what's new at the Ministry," Dominique added in a matching his tone, causing the two friends to laugh.

Rose had apparated directly into her flat, walking straight to her bedroom, her mind clouded with thoughts of a blonde boy she once knew. There was no doubt that Ben wouldn't be home from work, even though it's a Saturday, until it was his correct amount of scheduled time to get ready for the Gala. Alison would most likely be late because Al wouldn't keep his hands off her on a Saturday morning, so Rose came to the conclusion that she would be alone for a little while. She toddled over to her side of the Queen sized bed and sat down. Her gaze turned to the single draw in her bedside table. Reaching over, she slowly opened it, revealing her latest pleasure reading novel on top. She dug underneath it and then underneath the many cake designs she had drawn to find what she was looking for. It was a bunch of envelops, some open some not, tired together with string. Rose flipped through all of the letters. Upon finding the one she was looking for Rose dislodged it from the others. It was already open; she removed the contents resting it in her lap. There was a letter along with three photographs.

Rose unfolded the delicate letter gently. It was so creased and worn because of how many times she had read it, running her fingers over the many words. She began to read the letter, dated the 1st Jan, 2023, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.

Dear Rose,

I understand that you didn't want to write but I have never been one for following the rules. However, I have come to realize that you don't either, at least not always. You hardly ever do what is expected. I remember constantly picking on you, calling you a bossy, overbearing, know-it-all, but you weren't most of the time. I did that because it was one of the only times my father had spoken to me that year, about a thing other than 'pass the salt'. It was when I had first seen you on the platform. I was jealous of how all you family were there talking, joking, laughing and helping each other, and I couldn't take my eyes off you. I remember you looking so carefree and calm, no nervousness or apprehension like what I was feeling. My father must have seen me because he turned me around and told me about what your mum had been like, and what your uncle and father had been like at school. He told me to expect bad treatment and to get one up on you, the new know-it-all. Hence the judgement before I knew you.

Once I had made friends with Al, it became clear to me that you weren't like that. Well, to an extent anyway. You would only raise your hand to answer a question every once in a while, you were never overly enthusiastic about homework. You seemed to be like everyone else, but at the same time there was something different about you. What surprised me the most was how you always rose to the challenge. You never backed down from me whenever we had our confrontations. You always stood up for yourself and your friends to whoever was game enough to mess with them. I admire that. You may not know this or believe me, but when I left my parents at the end of fifth I thought of you.

I guess I am probably boring you and blabbering a bit, but waiting for a delayed aeroplane gives you plenty of time to think. The reason I am writing this letter is one, to let you know that I really am sorry for how I judged and treated you when we first met. It set the foundation for our enmity, although I like to think that I eased off as the years went by and on my side it became light teasing. Two, I want to rectify all that I have said to you, because you are beautiful in every way. You are kind to anyone who deserves it; you are brave and strong but there is a softness to you that I have been extremely privileged and lucky to see on occasion. I admire you because to me, you are prefect.

Now, I am not even sure you will receive this but I hope that if you do, you haven't just chucked it away or burnt it, but if you did I honestly wouldn't blame you. I will see you again Rose, I am not sure when but I know I will. I also know that when I do, you will have everything you dreamed of because not only do you deserve it but because you will always find a way; because it's you. However, most of all, I hope you don't change. I hope you find happiness; I hope you still sing and dance like you don't have a care in the world. I hope you still laugh with your beautiful, sexy laugh which lights up your whole face because there is no greater joy in this world than when I hear your laugh. I know that I was never really meant to hear it, I didn't warrant or deserve to, but I would when you didn't know I was there; when you let your guard down.

I have to go, my flight is being called, but I just want you to know that when I tell everyone I meet on this 'adventure' about my friends and family back home I will tell them about you. I want you to know that, like Al, I include you in both these categories. It doesn't matter to me whether I warrant the same treatment from you, because truthfully I don't, but I just wanted to let you know.

You don't have to reply, I did this without expectation. However, just know that I am going to write to you whether you do or not. Even if you never read any of them, I will continue to do so even for my own state of mind.

Love

Scorpius

The letter said many things, but at the same time it didn't. What had always plagued Rose the most was how it was signed. When Rose had first read it, those many years ago, she was speechless. She didn't know how to react; as far as she knew Scorpius had never told anyone that he loved them, and he had never signed a letter with 'Love Scorpius' to anyone. As it so happens, he never did again. His next letter had arrived a week later, however, it was signed 'Scorpius', just 'Scorpius'. She had never known of how highly he thought of her; he thought she was perfect. However, Rose couldn't understand why he would think that. No one is perfect and if someone was it definitely wasn't her. If she was perfect then she wouldn't have let him go, she would have let him kiss her those many years ago. If she was perfect she wouldn't be afraid to see him again, but she was. She was afraid because she had stop reading his letters, because she didn't know what to expect with his return, but mostly she was afraid because of it would feel to see him again. She was afraid that she would see him and be right back to where she had started.

Rose looked down at the three photos that he had also sent; she remembered them. The first included all of her cousins as they surrounded him at the airport. They all looked so happy, like one big happy family. The thought made her smiled sadly; he had said he included her in this category but she was not there. She turned over to see his messy scrawl on the back. 'Thanks for the camera'. She smiled as she remembered, everyone promising he had no idea that it was her idea and that she had bought it. The next one always made her laugh. It was face down, so she read the back first and knew what to expect. 'You know me too well'. She giggled as she turned it over and saw Scorpius with his nose against the glass of a large window, a bright smile on his face as he looked out at the moving planes with two little boys on either side copying his stance. He had obviously asked someone to take the photograph especially for her. The last one he had obviously taken himself as it only cut off some of his ear. It was a simple one of him smiling sweetly with a plane in the background. Rose turned it over and read 'See you soon'. She sighed as she turned it back over. Her eyes raked over his features, she wondered if he would look any different now. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear Alison arrive through the Floo, she just stayed there gazing down at the face of a man she considered as the one that got away.

I am sorry that I have updated in a while, but I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I love all of your support for this for this story and would like to thank everyone! I will try to update again soon :) Let me know what you think of this chapter and for all of the worriers, I promised Rose and Scorpius will eventually get together and when they do it will be awesome!

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