Chapter 47

Saturday

It was your typical Weasley garden party. The Burrow was yet again full of Weasley's and their friends and family. Everyone had turned up for Victoire and Teddy's little girls naming ceremony, all excited and happy for the new family. Rose had happily catered the event. She was in the kitchen putting frosting on some extra cupcakes, when Lily and Lucy walked in.

"You do know the party is outside, right?" Lily asked.

"Yes, I am aware," Rose replied with a giggle, her eyes staying focused on the task at hand.

"Then tell me why you cooped up in here? You should be out there, letting your hair down…" she said gesturing to Rose's tied back mane. "Enjoying the breeze in your hair and the sun on your skin." Lucy took a different approach.

"What Lily is trying to say is that we would really appreciate it if you would join us," she spoke calmly and kindly, smiling as Rose looked up. Lucy is a kind Hufflepuff always, and Rose loved her for it. "We feel like we are having all the fun and you're in here working on your day off."

"Okay, let me just clean up," Rose relented.

"Fantastic," Lucy replied with a bright smile.

"Could one of you take that tray out and put it on the table?" Rose asked as she waved her wand, cleaning up the kitchen and restoring it to an appropriate state.

"Sure," Lily replied as she reached for the tray, holding the completed cupcakes.

"Allow me." A voice said, as hands reached out and lifted the tray up off the table before Lily could.

"Um, thank…you…," Lily stuttered, as she looked up at Max.

"Not a problem," he replied with a smile at both Lucy and Lily before he walked back out the door carrying the tray. Rose had managed to turn around and catch the exchange. She shared an amused look with Lucy, as Lily followed Max.

"Well, that is going to be interesting," Rose said as she washed her hands.

"I haven't seen her like that around a guy in a while," Lucy commented.

"I know it's like Bobby Donald all over again," Rose replied, taking off her apron, sharing a laugh with her cousin.

"Thanks again. I'm sorry I don't know your name," Lily said as Max placed the tray of cupcakes in the space Lily made for it on the table.

"Maxwell Jones," he replied, stretching out his hand into the space between them. "But please call me Max," he added with a friendly smile as Lily shook his hand in greeting.

"It's really nice to meet you Max," Lily replied smiling, blushing slightly, realising that they were still shaking hands but no wanting to let go. "I'm Lily Potter, but don't hold that against me," Lily joked, earning a small chuckle from Max. "Please call me Lily." Max's smile widened, as he let out a small chuckle, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Hey Max," Albus called out from across the yard, startling Max and Lily from their moment. Max looked over to where Albus was standing with his brother and cousins Louis and Fred, seeing Albus' wave him over.

"Ah, I better go," Max said, backing away slowly. "But it was very nice to finally meet you Lily."

"Likewise," she replied with sweet smile before he turned around and made his way over to the guys.

Rose and Lucy, who had watched the exchange, made their way over to Lily; desperately trying not to laugh at the love-struck look on their cousin's face.

"So…he seemed nice," Rose said first, to which Lily just nodded.

"His face is so familiar," Lucy thought out loud. "Did he say where he was from? Or how he knows our family?"

"Umm no, we didn't get that far," Lily replied, slowly coming back to normality.

"Yes but she knows every inch of his face now," Rose teased, unable to stop herself. Lucy and Rose laughed as Lily shot Rose a glare. "Did you at least find out his name?" Rose asked, still giggling.

"Yes."

"So?"

"It's Max," Lily replied. "Maxwell Jones."

"Did you say Jones?" Lucy asked with a shocked gasp.

"Yes. Why?"

"Oh my Merlin, I knew I recognised him," Lucy exclaimed.

"You know him?" Lily and Rose asked at the same time. Lily, a little put out by the fact.

"And so do you," she countered, bursting with excitement, like she had just solved a riddle.

"I do?" Lily questioned.

"Do you remember Chubby Jones?" Lily looked over at Max and thought for a moment, while Rose looked on confused.

"Merlin's balls, that was him!"

"I am sorry, I have no idea who you're talking about," Rose said, clearly trying to play catch up.

"Do you remember the only boy to be sorted into Hufflepuff in my year?" Lucy asked. "He was really sweet but didn't talk much…he was bullied like constantly and…he was…um-"

"And he was fat," Lily supplied.

"Lily!" the older two scolded.

"What? He was," Lily said with a shrug of her shoulders. "However, he clearly isn't now," she added, looking over at him dreamily.

"Anyway," Lucy continued, turning back to Rose. "He is one of the fair few in history who left Hogwarts early and didn't finish their final year by their own will."

"He didn't complete his final year?" Rose inquired, shock written all over her face.

"No, he just didn't come back."

"I mean, look at him," Lily butted in, completely in her own little world. "Isn't he just so handsome? Like a model…or an angel," Lily added with a sigh. Lucy and Rose just burst out laughing.

Not too far away, Scorpius' eyes were drawn by the sound of Rose's laughter. He couldn't help but think she looked absolutely beautiful. Rose was sporting a short summer dress with a sweet heart neckline, the material blue with a small, barely noticeable floral pattern complete a white slash tied around her waist. Her hair was done up in a messy, casual bun with some loose tendrils shaping her face. He watched her for a moment before his solace was interrupted by Jacob Richardson.

"Hey, Scorpius," he called as he approached him.

"Hi Jacob," Scorpius replied with a smile. "Glad you could make it." Believe it or not, Scorpius and Jacob had actually crossed paths many times throughout the last 3 years. Jacob was a free-lance photographer who worked mostly for advertisement companies all across the world. Jacob was also in Slytherin at Hogwarts. However with Jacob being five years his senior, Scorpius and Jacob didn't really cross paths much at Hogwarts.

"Me too. It's a wonderful celebration, isn't?"

"Yeah, it is."

"So, Dom told me she told you about our engagement?"

"Yeah, and I do believe a congratulations is in order," Scorpius said, extending his hand into the space between them.

"Thank you, I am just happy that she said yes," Jacob replied, beaming.

"Yes…well, that is always a good start to a marriage, isn't it?" Scorpius teased with a smirk.

"So I have heard," Jacob chuckled.

"So, anyway Lily," Lucy started, trying to bring her cousin back from her dream land. "Aren't you going tell Rose your exciting news?"

"Exciting news?" Lily questioned, a little confused. However, after Lucy gave her the 'you know' look she remembered. "Oh yes, I almost forgot." She turned back to face Rose, somewhat returning back to her normal self. "Guess who is finally coming back home?"

"Who?"

"Ella!"

"Ella Thompson? Your best friend, Ella?"
"Yes!" Lily exclaimed excitedly, beaming.

"Didn't she move to Ireland or somewhere for an internship or something?"

"Yes but it was also to spend some time with her grandparents and now that she has, she is finally coming back for good," Lily rattled off quickly.

"That's great Lily," Rose replied. "I can see how much happier you are because of it."
"Yes but that isn't the half of it, Rose," Lily went on, bursting with excitement. "We are going to find a flat together and be flat mates, and…she is coming today!"

"Today?"

"Yeah like she will be here within the next few minutes for sure," Lily replied, scanning the crowd, finally realising that her find could actually be close by.

Scorpius eyes had found Rose again, and he watched amused as Lily jumped up and down excitedly and Rose was clearly trying to hold back her laughter at the younger red head.

"Listen Scorp, about the wedding," Jacob spoke again, nervously. Scorp quickly turned his attention back to the man next to him.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I…I was just wondering if you would like to be one of my groomsman?" Scorpius let out a sigh of relief he didn't even realise he was holding. For a moment there a crazy thought crossed his mind. He thought that Jacob might have wanted to call off the wedding. He knew that would have just broken Dom's heart, but then again he knew how much Jacob loved her, he wouldn't do that.

"Of course mate," Scorpius replied with a cheerful smile. "I'd be honoured."

"Oh great," Jacob grasped the blonde in an unexpected hug. "Thanks, I really appreciate it."

"Ah…you're welcome," Scorpius replied, though he had to admit that he felt a little awkward in the friendly embrace. However, it didn't last long. Jacob pulled back and shook his hand.

"Thanks, and now I can go tell Dom," he added, as he headed back through the party in search of his fiancé. As the brunette left, Scorpius couldn't help but get the feeling that he had just agreed to something more than a normal groomsman job.

"Oh look, there she is," Rose said as she looked over Lucy's shoulder. Ella had obviously just arrived and was giving her congratulations to the new parents. Once Lily turned around to see her best friend, she squealed with joy as she ran through the crowd towards her. This had drawn the attention of the rest of the guests, meaning everyone was now well aware of Ella's return. In the midst of all the commotion, Scorpius looked back over to Rose. Maybe it was because he had heard from Albus that she and Ben were having troubles, maybe it was because her beauty; he wasn't sure, but he just couldn't seem to drag his eyes away from her. Rose felt that tingling feeling that someone was watching her. Searching out the culprit, she looked around finding Scorpius staring at her. He smiled welcomingly, but even with the distance between them Rose could just make out the faintest of blushes rising in his cheeks at being caught staring. Rose returned the smile, slightly amused with Scorpius' embarrassment at being caught staring. He mouthed a silent 'hi' across the yard to which she couldn't stop herself from giggling at his cheesiness. However, she did reply with a casual, silent 'hi' as well. Rose excused herself, leaving Lucy and making her way towards the blonde. As she cut through the crowd she took the time to really look at him. He looked so handsome without trying. He was wearing tan coloured pants with an off white button down shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong, toned forearms and his first few buttons were again left undone. As she drew nearer she noticed that he had in fact combed his hair and shaved for the occasion. Overall, Rose found herself taking deep breaths to calm herself down. She couldn't get ahead of herself just because she was single now doesn't mean that she is ready to try anything with Scorpius. 'I have only just gotten out of a long term relationship, plus Scorpius and I have finally called a truce and being friends for a change will be much better for both of us right now. Besides who said that he would even want to be more than friends with me, he wouldn't be interested in me in that way,' she thought.

"Ms Weasley, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Scorpius said with a smirk as Rose came to stand by side him, deciding to play it cool.

"I have no idea, Mr Malfoy," Rose replied, feeling a little annoyed about hearing a little of the old Malfoy attitude in his comment; especially after his sweet and slightly cheesy behaviour a moment ago. "But now that that smirk of yours has come out to play, I may just leave to find better company."

"Rose, I…I'm sorry," Scorpius stuttered. "I'm just…I…sorry." Rose regarded the blonde carefully. She could see his anxiety clearly written across his face; he was nervous around her. A part of her was a little please and a part of her felt guilty. She didn't want him to be nervous around her, what kind of healthy friendship was that.

"It's okay," she sighed. "I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"I deserved it," he said with a shrug.

"Well, it's debatable," she replied with a smile.

"Didn't I always?" he smirked playfully.

"True, but you're different now."

"Amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes, isn't it quite," Rose teased. Scorpius just laughed. "So, how has your week been?"

"It has been good," Scorpius replied. "A lot of hard work, but I enjoy it."

"Living my brother must be…interesting. As someone who has been there, you have my sympathy," Rose joked, reaching out and touching his arm before she could stop herself.

"Oh c'mon, he's not that bad," Scorpius said through chuckles.

"Oh please," Rose scoffed. "It's only been a week, just you wait. You haven't seen anything yet."

As if on cue, Hugo ran behind Scorpius. "Hide me," he pleaded as he crouched down a little.

"What? Why?" Rose asked, confused.

"Just make sure she doesn't see me," Hugo said to Scorpius, ignoring his sister. Scorpius sighed.

"Make sure who doesn't see you?" Rose asked, again finding herself playing catch up.

"Hugo, you're acting ridiculous," Scorpius replied, moving out of the way, stepping closer to Rose in the process.

"No, I'm not," Hugo insisted childishly as he moved back behind his sister and mate. Frustrated with not knowing what was going on, she gripped Scorpius' shirt over his chest and yanked him around to face her.

"Why is my brother hiding behind you?"

"Ahh…Um," Scorpius muttered, distracted by how close they were and how Rose hadn't let go of his shirt. "He-"

"Don't tell her, Scorp!" Hugo interrupted.

"Scorpius?" Rose said almost flirtatiously, letting him know she was still waiting for an answer and pulling him a little closer.

"He's hiding from Ella because he's in love with her but they had a falling out and he hasn't spoken to her properly in probably two years and he hasn't see her since their graduation," Scorpius admitted really fast, clearly more effected by Rose's proximity and behaviour.

"I am not in love with her!" Hugo stood up straight as he shouted probably a little too loudly. Rose, still holding on to Scorpius, looked at Hugo realising that despite what he had said her little brother was in fact in love. Whether he like it or wanted to admit it was irrelevant because it was clearly written there in his eyes. After a moment the silence between them was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.

Rose's gaze moved to the person who had approached them. Seeing Ella standing there her stare flicking between the three of them, lingering on Hugo behind them a little longer, snapped her back to reality. She quickly let go of Scorpius' shirt, regretting her efforts of trying to smooth the shirt out from its crinkled state because she found herself enjoying the feel of his chest under hands.

"Hello Ella," Rose said pleasantly after clearing her own throat nervously and taking a step away from Scorpius.

"Hello Rose, Scorpius," Ella nodded in greeting to them as she said their names. Then she turned her gaze to Hugo. "Hello Hugo."

"Hi," Hugo replied stiffly.

"How have you been?" Ella asked softly, ignoring his stiff short answer. Hugo seemed to just stare at her for a moment before shaking his head.

"Look, I have to go, excuse me," he said, refusing to make eye contact with Ella as he brushed past Scorpius and walked away. Rose felt guttered as she watched the young blonde girl deflate.

"So, I guess nothing has changed at all," Ella said mostly to herself. Rose could hear the frustration in her voice. "It has been like that for a couple of years now."

"Ella, I'm sure-"

"Oh no I'm mistaken," Ella cut over Rose's weak attempt at reassuring her. "I got a 'good luck' and a handshake on the last day of school. So much for friendship, huh?" Scorpius moved to place a comforting arm around her shoulder as her eyes grew wet. Rose's heart swelled with emotion for the man as she watched Scorpius comfort the younger girl with ease. "The worst part about it is that I don't even know why he started treating me like this," the young woman added, wiping away a few stray tears that broke the banks. No one said anything as Ella collected herself. "So anyway, do either of you know the baby's name?" Ella asked, putting on a smile. Rose notice that she was very good at it and had probably masked herself like that many times before.

"No," Rose and Scorpius said in unison.

"It's quite amazing that they have been able to keep it a secret for this long actually," Rose continued. "Must be a new Weasley record."

"You don't even have a suspicion of what it could be?" Ella questioned. To which Rose shook her head.

"James and Fred have pool going," Scorpius commented. "I think leader at the moment is Nymphadora or Gabrielle."

Scorpius and Rose spoke to Ella for a while longer before the young woman excused herself to get a drink and catch up with the rest of the family, leaving them alone. Once she was out of hearing range Rose spoke.

"I have never felt like such a bad sister before."

"What?"

"I had no idea that Hugo was having issues, and that they weren't friends anymore."

"Don't blame yourself, it wasn't something you would notice straight away," Scorpius replied, as he looked out through the crowd for Hugo.

"That was why he and Lily have been distant in the last couple of years, isn't it?" Rose recalled. Scorpius just nodded. "I saw it but I…I just didn't have the time to really think about what it meant," Rose added, becoming increasingly ashamed and disappointed in herself. She and Hugo weren't ever super close but at the same time, she was always glad to say that she knew her brother and they could get along decently well. However, now after finding out that Hugo had been struggling with his feelings and whatever had become between them for a long time, she had never felt more like she didn't know her brother at all.

The next chapter will follow straight on from this one, but I wanted to get this one out there for you guys :) This chapter is a bit jumpy in places and there is a lot of dialogue but I hope you enjoy it. I think you will notice there is a lot of hints in this chapter about future plot-lines for certain characters and you do find out a little more about Max's back story. Let me know what you think in a review :)