Chapter 69

This was definitely one of those times that Rose loved magic. She was able to sneak in to the stairwell without to much trouble. She began the long climb up the stairs, feeling less guilty now about not going for a run this morning as she was now getting her workout for the day in. When she got to the right floor she faced a new problem. Hugo being a wizard definitely had wards and enchantments up so that one could not just pick the lock or charm the door open. So she tried knocking on the door and calling for her brother with no success. She pressed her ear up against the door and could hear music playing, the sound of hardcore muggle rock filling the apartment. Just in the spirit of giving it a go, Rose tried a simple Alohomora charm. To her surprised it worked and the door clicked as it was unlocked. She opened the door, finally getting the full blast from the music. It was coming from one of his spare rooms at the far end of the apartment. Rose quickly went in search for her brother. What she saw she didn't expect and shocked her to her core.

"Hugo!" She called out as she ran and dropped to her knees next to his still pale body. She grabbed his face and tried calling again to wake him up. "Hugo! No Hue! Wake Up!" Rose then checked for a pulse, fearing the worst. She was so happy to still feel his heart beating. She then leaned down to listen for his breathing and she was glad to hear his small shaky breaths. Snapping into action, Rose grabbed a water bottle she spotted in the corner of the room. She tapped his cheek a few times as she squirted water onto his face. "I swear to Merlin Hugo, if you don't wake up I will kill you myself! Now come on!" Rose said frantically as she tried to wake her unconscious brother. She then used her wand to send a pratronus to Scorpius, before trying a Rennervate Charm on her brother. It was with no success, her brother still laid unconscious on the floor. She was unsure if that was because she wasn't in the right state to cast the charm or if it just didn't work on Hugo.

"Rose!" Scorpius called over the music as he ran into the room. "Oh shit," he said as he took in the sight of brother and sister.

"Help!" She immediately yelled back tears now in her eyes, snapping him into action. "He is still breathing. I have tried Rennervate, it didn't work." She told him as Scorpius moved to kneel next to Hugo's chest, Rose moved out of his way.

"I'm going to do CPR," Scorpius said, immediately starting compressions on his chest. "He's going to be okay Rose," the blonde added without taking his concentration away from his task.

"Hugo, please wake up!" Rose begged, again trying to wake him. Scorpius stopped compressions to give the standard two breaths before going back to them straight away. "Come on, mate," Scorpius muttered as Rose continued to let tears roll down her checks. Scorpius looked over at Rose, seeing her so upset and grew desperate. He didn't even know if CPR was the best thing to do for him. So he stopped compressions and punched Hugo hard in the chest. Hugo stirred and let out a painful groan.

"Hugo!" Rose called as he continued to groan. She wrapped her arms around her brother.

"Oh thank Merlin," Scorpius muttered, as he sat back and moved to give them some more space. He got up and turned the music off. Now the only sounds filling the room was Rose's cries.

"Argh…What happened?" Hugo asked in raspy voice as he sat up slowly, his sister still holding on to him.

"What happened is you are an idiot!" Rose replied, still far to emotional to think logically. Hugo then looked up at Scorpius, as he held his sister.

"I don't know, mate," Scorpius replied, doing a good job at covering how much he was shaken by the event. "But you were really out, we tried everything to wake you up."

"Well, I feel like shit," Hugo said. Scorpius silently summoned some water and a slice of bread. He then knelt down and offered it to the young man.

"Here, this may help." Rose pulled away and wiped her tears, as Hugo took the glass of water and bread. She then realised that he still had his half finger boxing mits on and helped take them off for him.

After he ate some food and drank some water, they noticed the colour come back into his face. When he felt up to it, they helped him to his feet and he shakily made his way to the shower.

"If you need anything, just call out," Rose said through the bathroom door, a little unwilling to leave him alone.

"I'll be fine, Rose," Hugo said just before she heard the sound of the shower running. Satisfied that he was okay, Rose made her way out to the kitchen. She found Scorpius, his back to her, his arms on the kitchen bench holding himself upright and his head hanging low as he took deep breathes. When she approached him, she ran her hand up and down his back trying to soothe him. He turned to her, leant back against the bench and pulled her in his arms holding her tight to his chest. She buried herself in his warmth and wrapped her arms around his midsection. They didn't need to say anything they just needed to hold each other.

After a while Scorpius leaned down and affectionately kissed her head. "Are you okay?"

"No, but I will be," Rose replied. "Just don't let go of me yet."

"Never," Scorpius whispered earnestly. After a minute or so longer, Rose pulled back a little to look up at him.

"Thank you," Rose said. She didn't let him say anything return instead she went up on her toes and kissed his cheek, lingering at little longer then necessary. When she pulled away, Scorpius took her face in both his hands and leaned down to kiss her lips. They deepened the kiss almost straight away, Rose reaching up and locking her arms around his neck, Scorpius wrapping his around her waist. His hands started sliding up and down her back and Rose let out a little moan of pleasure when they heard someone clear their throat behind them. They pulled away from each others lips and turned their heads to see Hugo standing there, smirking at the blush that rose in his sisters cheeks. Scorpius was surprised when Rose just turned in his arms but didn't move completely away, still keeping her body intimately pressed to his as she faced her brother.

"You feeling better?" She asked ignoring her embarrassment, as though there was nothing out of the ordinary about what he just walked in on. Taking both Hugo and Scorpius by surprise with her response. In fact, when Hugo raised a eyebrow in confusion and challenge, trying to get her to acknowledge what he just walked in on, she simply reached behind her and took Scorpius' hand in her own, pulled in across herself so that his arm wrapped around her. Scorpius smiled, proud to be hers and for her to make that clear to her brother. He entwined their fingers as they rested against her stomach. Letting her know they were in this together.

"Yeah," Hugo said, accepting that this was all he'd get on the matter at this time. "Much better, thanks."

"Can you tell us what you do remember?" Rose asked.

"I remember coming home from training and doing some boxing," Hugo said with a casual tone and shrug. "That's it."

Unfortunately for him, both the people standing in front of him, knew him to well. They knew there was more to the story.

"Well, how was training? A tough one?" Scorpius asked.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Then you shouldn't have pushed yourself after that," Scorpius replied, almost like a big brother.

"Yeah, fine. Next time I won't," Hugo agreed, dejectedly. He moved to the fridge to get a drink. Rose and Scorpius shared a concerned look, before turning around.

"Hugo, can I ask how things went with Ella?" Rose asked, now stepping away from Scorpius to move around the bench towards her brother.

"No," Hugo replied, then taking a sip of water. Rose looked over at Scorpius, across the bench, almost pleading for help with one look.

"Look Hue, we want to help. But we can't if you won't let us," Scorpius said.

"I don't need help, I'm fine," Hugo replied, still acting as a hollowed version of himself.

"Clearly you are not fine, since just twenty minutes ago you were laying unconscious on the floor!" Rose raised her voice in frustration at how to get through to her brother.

"Whatever," Hugo replied with a shrug and without looking at either of them.

"That's it!" Rose yelled and slamming her hand down on the bench top next to Hugo. "If you won't talk to me or look after yourself, then I will move in here until you do." Hugo looked up at her, shocked.

"You can't do that!"

"I can and I will!" She replied defiantly. Hugo looked over at Scorpius, as if asking him to talk some sense into her.

"You're on your own with this one, mate," Scorpius said, holding his hands up like in surrender. "If she wants to do something, I can't stop her." Rose smiled briefly at the blond man, before putting her stern face back on, moving back around the bench and towards to front door.

"Wait, where are you going?" Hugo called after his sister, slight panic in his voice.

"To pack another bag!" She called back. "And to the market. I am getting you some food and making you a proper meal." And with that she was out the door. Hugo looked back at his friend in disbelief.

"She can't be serious," Hugo said to him.

"You and I both know that, once Rose has made a decision there is no stoping her," he replied patting the redhead on the back. Hugo look almost as pale as he did before at hearing that. Scorpius let out a chuckle at his friends expression.

Grassy Cliff Top Somewhere in Iceland

"Scorpius took off really quickly, I hope everything is okay," Lily commented, as she finished putting the charm on the white rose petals that littered the aisle, so that don't blow away, before sitting down next to Max. They sat in the front row of the white chairs for the wedding, the arch Scorpius made in front of them, staring out at the ocean.

"I'm sure Hugo is fine," Max replied.

"Yeah, they probably just wanted some time alone," she added with a laugh, trying to make light of her feelings of concern for her cousin.

"Or more like knew that we wanted some time alone," he replied with a cheeky smile.

"Do we?" She teased. Max just winked back at her. Lily laughed and bumped her shoulder into his. Max smiled at her, as she looked down at her hands. When she looked back up at him, he looked away.

"So, tell me is working at the Ministry what you always wanted to do growing up," Max asked.

"Oh Merlin, no!" Lily said with a laugh.

"Well, what did you want to do? What was little Lily's dream job?" Max asked excitedly. Lily continued to chuckle at him, almost in disbelief that he was asking this cheesy first date type question.

"You really want to know?" Lily asked with a smile. Max nodded in response. Lily pursed her lips, as though deciding whether to tell him as he continued to watch her and waited patiently. "I really wanted to be a singer," she finally said.

"Wow," Max commented. "Are you any good?"

"I'm just okay," Lily replied glum about the answer.

"Who told you that? I bet you are fantastic!"

"No one, I just know," she said.

"Ha, what would you know?" Max joked, drawing more laugher from her as they continued to enjoy the view in front of them.

Hugo's Apartment

"Look, I'm just going to ask straight out," Scorpius told Hugo as they sat comfortably in the living area. "What happened with Ella?" Hugo sighed and looked like he was going to ignore the question. But then he spoke.

"It was terrible," he said. "I really screwed it up, mate." He looked over at his friend, but Scorpius didn't say anything. He just waited for Hugo to continue.

"I went in there trying to apologise for taking advantage of her drunk state and then she said that she wasn't that drunk. I mean what am I supposed to say to that!" Hugo leant forward, running his hands through his hair and rested his elbows on his knees. "I mean this beautiful girl, the one that I have always wanted but broke my heart, has basically admitted that she wants me and you know, what I did?" Hugo then said looking up at Scorpius, now in full Hugo down on himself mode.

"You freaked out?" Scorpius asked.

"I freaked the fuck out!" Hugo almost shouted, throwing himself back into the couch. "And then, you know what I did?" He leant forward again, depressingly laughing at himself self already. "I fucking accused her of seducing me for my money and fame!"

"You what!?" Scorpius shouted in disbelief.

"I know!" Hugo yelled, laying back again. "Bet you never thought I was that stupid, huh?" He mumbled, depressingly.

"Wow, mate…I don't even know what to say," Scorpius said.

"Exactly," Hugo muttered.

Just then Rose burst through the door, walking past with many bags hanging from her arms. "Right, now I am making you a healthy lunch." She barely acknowledge them and went straight into the kitchen and started cooking. Scorpius couldn't stop the small smile that tickled at the corner of his mouth as they heard the sounds of utensils and banging pots and pans in the distance. He looked up to see Hugo looking at him strangely.

"What?"

"This is so weird," Hugo said, shaking his head.

"What is?"

"You two," Hugo said. "Like I never saw it coming."

"Yeah," Scorpius replied, dropping the Ella conversation for the moment. "Well, please don't make a big deal about it yet. It is still really new for both of us."

"So, you're not sure about her yet," Hugo probed, trying to figure out how serious he was about his sister.

"What? No!" Scorpius said confidently. "I am so sure about her and us. It is just new and she doesn't what everyone to know and make a big fuss," he explained, hoping Hugo knew he was in this for the long haul. He didn't want to give Rose's family any doubts about how much he was in this relationship.

"Alright, I won't get in the way," Hugo said after moment. "But I wanna be there when you tell Dad. Now that will be fun," he added with a cheeky smile.

"Gee, thanks for your support," Scorpius replied sarcastically, causing Hugo to laugh. The blond stood and left his laughing friend in search of Rose.

"You got him to laugh, that's an improvement," she said, as he entered the kitchen. He could still tell she was a little angry at her brother from her posture and tone of voice.

"Don't be so surprised. Just because you don't get my jokes, doesn't mean other people don't find me hilarious," he joked as he moved around the bench to stand behind her. She smiled despite wanting to continue being angry. He greeted her with a kiss on her neck as he slid his hands down the sides of her body to wrap his arms around her as she continued to chop up and peel what looked like ingredients to a salad. "What are you making?"

"Just a beef salad, it will be quick," Rose replied. Scorpius hummed in response, pressing his lips to her skin again before stepping to the side.

"Sounds good, do you want me to do anything to help?" He asked, keeping himself close with a single arm around her, holding her hip.

"Can you cook steak?" she asked smiling up at him playfully, almost with a teasing tone.

"Ha, can I cook steak?" He responded with joking offence. "I'm a man! We know our meat." Rose giggled at him as he immediately turned to the other side of the kitchen to the check the heat of the pan that was already on the stove. She then focused on seasoning the steak and coating it with olive oil. Rose bumped him affectionately with her hip, to get him to move out of the way slightly as she added the steaks into the pan for him. Scorpius watched her still close by her side as she did so.

"Medium Rare, please," she said when she had finished. He held his breath as Rose looked up at him and shot him a passion loaded smile before going back to the island bench and to the salad. She smirked to herself hearing him blow a big breath out as she continued to prepare the rest of lunch.

Albus Office

"Mr Potter?" Albus looked up to see the new receptionist in his the doorway to his office.

"Yes, Macy?"

"Um, Mr Barnes would like to see you," she replied.

"Okay, thank you. Tell him I will be there in a minute," he replied as he quickly finished up what he was doing. He then stood and checked over his appearance, putting on his suit jacket before leaving his office. Approaching, his bosses office he knocked.

"Come in."

"You wanted to see me, sir?" He said, as he entered the large office.

"Yes! Albus, my boy," Mr Barnes, was a big loveable old man that was completely infectious with everyone. He reminded Albus a lot of Santa Claus. "I wanted to know how things were going with that house of yours in our new venture?"

"I believe its going well, sir," Albus replied. "My builder has assured me that he is nearly finished actually."

"Really? That is fast," he commented smiling joyfully. "You have spoken well of this builder, I believe it's time that I meet him and see his work."

"Now, sir?" Albus asked, nervous as he knew that Scorpius would be busy with the wedding stuff today.

"Yes, now!" He said, with a jolly laugh. "I need to see if he is the one to offer our big contact too."

"Of course," Albus replied. "Let me just give him a call. Let him know that we are coming."

Hugo's Apartment

"This looks absolutely delicious," Scorpius praised Rose, as the three of them sat down to eat at the dinning table.

"Yeah, okay settle down there Romeo," Hugo responded, rolling his eyes at his sister and his mate. "It's just a salad." Rose and Scorpius tried not to laugh as they ignored the comment, amusement dancing in there eyes. Hugo tuckered into the meal straight away, showing how much he really needed it.

"Thank you," Rose said quietly to Scorpius who sat next to her, the two sharing a smile.

Suddenly, Scorpius' muggle mobile ringtone sounded.

"Sorry," he said, guilty about interrupting their meal, as he checked to see who it was.

"Hou ez tit?" Hugo asked, his mouthful of food. Rose rolled her eyes, and shot a glared at her brother for his manners.

"It's Albus," Scorpius replied concerned. "I better take this, might be important," he added looking at Rose, almost for permission.

"Of course," she said to him.

"Excuse me," he added, as he stood from the table. "Hey Al, what's up?" Scorpius answered the phone and walked into the living room.

"Hey mate, where are you?" Albus' voice sounded through the device.

"I'm at Hugo's actually. Why?"

"Oh good! Okay, you need to get down to the house and look the part of a muggle and wizard builder," Albus said, almost excitedly.

"Why? You know I'm not working on it today," Scorpius responded.

"Just do it, trust me!"

"Al, what's going on?"

"My boss wants to meet you and see your work," Albus explained. "He could be offering you a big contract for the whole suburb!" Scorpius didn't say anything, he was unsure what he felt about that possibility. "Look, I have to go! I will try stall him, but get down there as soon as you can." With that he hung up the phone. Scorpius walked back into the dinning area, a little dazed.

"Everything okay?" Rose asked.

"Ah yeah, I think so," Scorpius replied, though it was clear that he was unsure about something.

"What did Al want?"

"His boss wants to meet me to offer me a building contract," Scorpius explained.

"Wow, that's good isn't?" Rose asked, wondering why he was not excited.

"I don't know, it will be a lot of work. I'd be building a lot of homes for people to live in," he responded, sharing his concern.

"Do you like building houses?" Hugo asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Scorpius replied.

"Then do it," Hugo advised, nonchalantly. Scorpius turned to look at Rose, where she sat at the table.

"I know you can do it. You can do anything you put your mind to, but do what makes you happy, Scorp. You do that and you can't go wrong," she said, smiling at him reassuringly and what she hope was encouragingly.

"Okay," Scorpius said with a nod. "I better go." He moved to Rose, leaning down to kiss her lips softly. "Thank you," he whispered, as he pulled away. "See you later, mate," He said to Hugo, before walking towards the door. Rose watched him go, with a adorable smile on her lips. Once he left she turned back to see her brother looking at her with a teasing smirk on his lips.

"What?" She asked innocently. He just continued to stare at her, failing to hold back his laugher. "Oh shut up," she said blushing, ignoring him and turning back to her lunch.

Albus' boss loved what Scorpius had done in the time since he started. He was impressed that he had mostly achieve it by himself without a crew. It was no surprise when he offered him the contract straight away. They made plans for Scorpius to come in next week to sign it, after he had it drawn up by the legal department. Albus and Scorpius now stood in the almost complete house, after Mr Barnes had left them.

"I can't believe that just happened," Scorpius said, in complete disbelief. "This is huge."

"Yeah, but look at what you have done," Albus replied, gesturing to the beautiful high ceiling and exposed beams above them. "This is incredible! Like really, mate. You deserve everything that is going to come your way from this."

"Thank you," Scorpius replied, humbly. "I was just doing it for you and Alison but now I think I'm going to be doing this for a while now."

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah, I think it is," Scorpius smiled back at his friend.

"Good, I'm happy for you."

"I'm going to have to make this a proper business and higher some help to keep up with your departments projections," he said, looking down at the papers that Mr Barnes had given him.

"I can help you with that," Albus offered casually, still admiring his friends work.

"Hey Al," Scorpius said, drawing Albus' attention back to him. "Just in case I forget to thank you for this, I just wanna say it now. Thank you, truly," he spoke seriously, but the two friends share a smile.

"It was my pleasure, mate," Albus replied.

"So, I guess there is nothing stopping you from proposing now," Scorpius said with a chuckle as he saw Albus swallow deeply and nod. "Know how you are going to do it?"

"Nope," Albus replied, nervously.

"Wow, that sounds good. What could go wrong?" Scorpius teased, causing Albus to shoot him a little glare.

"Thanks, as if I wasn't nervous enough," he replied.

"It will be fine, you'll see," Scorpius responded, with a manly pat on Albus' back.

Malfoy Manor

Draco was nervous. There was no other way to look at it. He was actually sweating as he stood staring at his reflection in the mirror as he tried to get dressed for his date with his wife. The whole situation was designed to challenge him, going outside for dinner. 'Why didn't I just suggest a special dinner here at home?' He thought to himself. However, he knew the reason he suggested going out for dinner. It would show her how much better he was, and he hoped that would persuade her to move back in properly. Back to their room and share her life with him fully again. After a few deep breathes, he gave himself a pep talk and buttoned his shirt. He put on his coat, slid his wand into an tailored inner pocket and walked down the hall to his wife's room.

He knocked on her door. "Coming," he heard her voice through the door as he looked down at his shoes, clenching his fists and desperately still trying to knock down his uneasy and nervous feeling. Then suddenly the door swung open and his wife stood before him. "Hey," she said, looking him over and smiling at him. Draco's heart really stopped, he had worked himself up so much that when he saw her, he could barely breath. And yet he was happy, calm and relieved to see her smiling face.

"Hey," he managed to finally say. "You look…beautiful."

"Thank you," she replied, enjoying his nervousness. It reminded her of how they were at the start of their relationship. "And you don't clean up too bad for an old man," she teased as she reached out and fixed his collar. He didn't say anything, just continued to admire her as she fixed his collar and brushed away fluff from the shoulders of his coat. "Come on, let's go before we get any older," Astoria added, once she had finished, looking back up to meet his eyes.

"My Lady," he said, offering her the crook of his arm. They shared as smile as she took his arm and he lead her away from her room.

Hill Cottage

With a smile Dominique looked around at her family and friends squeezed in her small living room. Lucy, Teddy and her sister were now joined by her brother Louis, her friends Nancy and Katie, Roxanne, Lily, Max, Rose, Scorpius, Hugo, Albus and Alison. She was amazed that they all fit, but so glad that they were here. As she looked around the room, she was almost overwhelmed with the joy and love in the room.

Her brother held his little niece up in the air as he and Roxanne cued and smiled up at her. Her sister sat on the floor between her husbands legs, leaning back on on his chest as she spoke animatedly with Nancy about France. Teddy was in his own conversation with Hugo, but effortlessly caressed his wife's hand as he did so. Around the coffee table in the middle of the room, Max, Lily, Katie and Lucy laughed and cheered as they played a muggle game of Jenga together. In the corner of the room, Rose and Scorpius sat on the end of the couch together in a conversation with Albus and Alison, who sat on the small arm chair facing them. Alison naturally perched across Albus' lap, with both couples smiling and sharing lovely glances with each other amongst the conversation.

That was when Dom took at second look at her cousin and her blonde friend. She smirked as she realised that they actually did look like a real couple. Rose was on the end of the couch, leaning forward slightly as she talked to her best friend, Scorpius sat with his side pressed up next to her and his arm casually draped around the edge of the couch. However, if you looked closer you could see his hand wordlessly and affectionately run up and down the length of her arm. Sometimes, when Rose wanted to talk to him or bring him into the conversation she'd lean back against Scorpius, place her hand on his thigh and look at him. Her smile was infectious and beautiful, and Dom hadn't seen her that happy and at ease in a while. They looked at each other like Victorie looks at Teddy, like Albus looks at Alison and like Jacob looks at her. And now more then ever, she was ready for tomorrow. She couldn't wait to see the love of her life look at her like that again.

That's another Chapter for you. Please let me know your thoughts in a review. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer if I can. Dom's Wedding will be the next chapter, let me know what part of that are you looking forward to the most :)

Thank you for the support so far, I know it has been a long time coming.