Chapter 72

When Scorpius woke in morning, it was to the sound of thunderous snoring. Albus always complained that his brother snored like a freight train. He smiled as he was reminded how James got kicked out of his own tent, joining his, Max, and Hugo's tent as Fred actually got lucky with one of Dom's friends the night before. After slipping on a plain white long sleeve crew shirt, Scorpius escaped the loud tent. After a scan of the area for any other signs of life, he noted that it seemed like everyone was still asleep, he was alone. That was until he saw the silhouette of someone standing at the cliff's edge watching the sun rise. He walked closer to join them but paused in his approached as he recognised who it was. The sun was peeking out behind some clouds as it slowly rose in the sky, he watched as the wind gathered up her red curls, creating a beautiful scene before him. It took his breath away and he wanted to remember this moment, capture and store it in his mind to remind him how beautiful she is and how lucky he is.

After a moment he continued his approach, getting closer he could see that she was wearing long plaid pyjama pants much like his own and a baggy grey hoodie. She seemed to be transfixed by the sunrise as she sipped from a mug of what he assumed was tea. She seemed so peaceful in her own company that he almost turned and left her to enjoy her solitude. However, the slightly stronger and selfish side of him, wanted to be part of the peaceful moment with her.

"Rose," Scorpius called gently. She gasped startled but turned to see him. Once, she saw him smiling back at her, she returned his smile effortlessly.

"Good morning," she said pressing her body back to his, as he moved to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Scorpius rested his head against the side of hers affectionately, before pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Good morning beautiful," he whispered, as she locked her fingers with his, where they sat around her midsection. "Why are you up so early?"

"I'm a baker and cafe owner, my body clock is insisting that I can't have a sleep in," Rose replied, looking back up over her shoulder at him. "What's your excuse?"

"James and Hugo," Scorpius replied. Rose continued to gaze up at him, now with a confused expression. "James struck out with Dom's friend, but Fred didn't. So, now he and Hugo are both in my tent."

"It's a wonder you were able to sleep at all, with that lot making the racket they do," she said with a sigh, before returning her gaze to the view before them.

"I'm surprised too," Scorpius agreed, also returning to the sunrise before them. Both were content and happy to be in each other's embrace as they watched the orange filled sky. After a while, Scorpius broke their comfortable silence. "I'm glad that I was woken up early though, cause now I get to be with you like this."

"Aww sometimes, you're such a sap," she teased him, with blushing cheeks and a squeeze to his hand. He laughed with her but didn't comment further. He simply kissed her temple again in response and continued to enjoy this moment.

Soon, everyone else started leaving the comfort of their spacious magical tents, ready for the beautiful sunny weather. In Hugo's case, it was mostly in search of food. Rose and Victoire made a simple breakfast for everyone to enjoy, all except the newlyweds. Understandably, they were the only ones who didn't leave their tent until much later in the day. After newlyweds rose and bid the guests farewell many of them started leaving, only the cousins and close family friends remained by the time lunch was served. It was about this time that Hugo and James suggested everyone play a game of Backyard Quidditch. The family and friends split up into two teams, with the exception of Victoire, Dominique, Louis, Lucy, Alison and Ella, who opted not to play but rather enjoy the show. Everyone was surprised that Carlton chose to stay, Dominique in particular thought that he would leave the first chance he got. She couldn't help but notice how his eyes seemed to drift towards Lucy quite often. They were even more surprised when he opted in to play.

Ella sat between Lucy and Alison as they watched the Quidditch game. "He's surprisingly good at this for someone so…so…serious," Lucy commented randomly. Ella looked at Lucy, following her line of sight towards Carlton, her eyebrows constricted as she tried to figure out the confusing man before her. It seemed that Dominique had also heard the comment.

"Didn't think you cared that much Lucy," Dom teased with a smirk. Lucy blushed and denied it quickly. Everyone's attention shifted as Albus scored a goal for Hugo's team. Alison let out a hollering cheer in support of her boyfriend Albus.

As they the game unfolded, it was definitely becoming more obvious that Rose and Scorpius had feelings for each other. They were on opposite teams and took every opportunity to knock into or even press up against each other. You'd have to be blind not to notice the playful teasing and flirting throughout the game, even though it was clear they still wanted to beat each other and win. "You'd think after all these years, they be better at hiding it," Alison commented to the group with a smile.

"You'd think they'd just snog in front of everyone and get it over with already," Victoire added, getting a laugh from all the spectators.

Ella found it hard to keep her eyes from drifting towards Hugo. She always enjoyed watching him play Quidditch when they were in Hogwarts. The one season he was on his house team before he stopped talking to her, she felt like after evert goal he saved he'd find her in the crowd and smile just for her. Of course, that feeling had stopped, he was all business after whatever made him drop their friendship, barely looking at the Hufflepuff section of the crowd from then on. Watching his games was actually a rather painful reminder of how things had changed. Today, however, she felt things were little different. She found that he was looking her way a lot. His gaze felt like it burned her skin and her heart raced nervously throughout the whole game. She felt that she had to quickly divert her eyes from him to give the impression that she didn't care about him. Ella didn't know how to feel about it and wanted to avoid him as much as possible at that moment.

Eventually Hugo's Team, which included Scorpius, Albus, Jacob, Lily, Roxanne & Carlton, won the Quidditch game and they all walked back to the tent area to shower and change. Scorpius and Rose continued to bicker with each other as they drifted behind everyone else, one would think it was like old times except both couldn't keep smiles of their faces as they teased each other. Eventually Scorpius had enough of the tension and reached out to wrap an arm around Rose's waist. He pulled her into him and backed up, so they were hidden from view into a spare tent that one of the guests who had already left had used. Both reacted instantaneously, their lips meeting in a fiery passion. Rose latched onto him with her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her hands in his hair, as she moaned into his mouth. Scorpius wasted no time in lifting her up so that she could wrap her legs around him and he carried her further into the tent. He accidentally backed her into the support post, "Ow!"

"Sorry," he muttered sheepishly, but Rose really didn't care as she dived back in and capture his lips again. Once he found the bed, he lowered Rose onto it and took his place above her. Rose kept her legs hooked around him, holding his hips to hers and she thrusted up to grind against his. Scorpius moaned at the friction she was creating. He detached his lips from Rose's to kiss down her neck. Rose continued to gasp and huff out breaths as she kept running her hands through his hair, enjoying every sensation he was creating.

"Oh Scorpius," she moaned, as his hand slid under her shirt and ghosted over her skin and his mouth found a particularly nice spot on her neck. She pulled him back up to her lips and they continued to kiss, as Rose's hand went wondering for skin too. She slid her hands under his shirt and up his back, feeling his muscles move as his hands continued his exploration of her body. Lightly scratching her nails down his skin as she slid them down again, pulled a moan Scorpius lips as he continued to ravish her.

Rose lifted the bottom of Scorpius's shirt and Scorpius pulled away from her just enough to get the shirt over his head and off before pressing himself back down onto the redhead below. Scorpius then started work on removing Rose's top, he lifted it up and off in no time. His hand immediately went to her back in search of her bra clasp. Soon her bra found it's way to the floor, joining their t-shirts. His hands immediately found her breasts, Rose gasped and then whimpered in arousal at the contact.

"Hey-Argh! Really?" A voice came from the mouth of the tent, startling the couple and stopping them from continuing. As Scorpius went to move and see who disturbed them, Rose squeaked and grasped him tighter to her. This was when he realised that if he moved Rose would be clearly in view of their intruder. She looked up at him with a panicked expression and deep red blush. He smiled back down at her, for some reason not at all phased that they had been caught, just enjoying the view of her below him. "Why is it always me?" The intruder muttered. Hugo was now covering his eyes as he continued. "Everyone is looking for you guys, so surely this can wait until later! Like much later!" Hugo exclaimed. Cause both Rose to giggle, now seeing the humour in the situation, even though her embarrassed blush still coated his cheeks.

"We'll be right out Hugo," Scorpius said through his own chuckles, resting his forehead against Rose's.

"Good, because I don't want to be sent back here and have to see that again," Hugo warned before they heard the tent flap signalling his exit.

"So, that just happened?" Rose mumbled into the space between them. Scorpius let out a deep sigh, lowering himself so that he could kiss her neck again and their chests were pushed together. "Scorpius, we can't. We have to stop," she added breathlessly, clearly still effected by what he was doing but trying to be the voice of reason.

"It's not fair, I don't want to," Scorpius said into her skin. Rose pulled his face back to hers to give him another quick kiss.

"I know, but this isn't over," She said and looking up at him. "There will be another time, and we don't want to rush this, it's probably for the best anyway."

Scorpius groaned as he rolled off her and allowing her to get up and get her clothes back on. He sat up a bit and watched her as she dressed, when she had she turned to leave. "Hey?" He said, quickly reaching out and clasping her hand. He pulled her attention back to him, as he looked up at her still seated on the bed. "Rose, would you go out with me sometime next week?" Rose smiled back at him, finding the whole situation rather sweet.

"Like on a date?" She clarified, as she moved closer and decided to perch herself, straddling his lap, holding herself up with her arms casually resting on his shoulders.

"Yes," Scorpius said, sliding his hands up her thighs before wrapping them around her.

"Where would we go?" She asked.

"Somewhere no one will interrupt us," he responded, leaning in to kiss her. Rose kissed him back briefly.

"What would we do on this said date?" She pulled back and asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He smirked and teased. "It'll be a surprised, Rose."

"I'm not sure if I like surprises on dates," she said with a pout.

"You will like this date, I promise," Scorpius replied.

"Okay," Rose relented, with an added kiss to his lips. "Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, I will go on a date with you," she said with an infectious and giddy smile.

"Good," he said smiling up at her, leaning in and kissing her again. Just when he got his hopes up at, she allowed him to deepen the kiss, she pulled back.

"But first, we need to make it through the rest of this weekend." Scorpius groaned as she detached herself from him. "Come on," Rose said as she grabbed Scorpius' hand and pulled him up off the bed. "Let's go before they send Hugo back."

Later, they all enjoyed the sunset and the meal Rose cooked on the campfire. As they sat around the campfire, blankets on over their knees, the conversation flowed effortlessly amongst the family and friends. It was like an unspoken rule to not comment of the fact that Rose and Scorpius sat closer and had a new couple aura around them. No one spoke to them about why Hugo found them in a spare tent, nor were they asked what they were doing together either. Both Rose and Scorpius were happy that everyone respected their privacy thus far. Somehow, the conversation turned to unknown talents.

"I can fold my tongue 3 times," Fred piped up, quickly followed by a demonstration.

"Gross, I don't want to see your tongue!" Roxanne exclaimed in disgust to her brother. The others laughed at her reaction and of course Fred doing it again just for her.

"I can write backwards," Molly said with a shrug, "I use to do it in some of my notes when I was studying at school so that Isabella Cornett couldn't copy of me easily."

"That's boring," James commented. "Of course, yours is to do with schoolwork."

"I can cut onions without crying now," Rose added to the conversation with a laugh. "I think I have just gotten use them after years of culinary school."

"Also boring," James said again. "Come on, I didn't know that Fred and I are the only talented people here."

"I don't think riding a bicycle with no hands classifies you as the only talented person either mate," Scorpius chuckled as he tried to stick up for Rose.

"Okay, well what's your talent? Can you do better than, Malfoy," James challenged.

"No, I'm just saying-"

"Scorp can write songs and play guitar," Hugo butted in.

"Really?" Victoire asked, clearly more interested in this talent than hearing her cousin continue.

"Yeah, I've heard him sing too," Hugo added. "He's pretty good."

"No, I'm pretty average actually," Scorpius responded, clearly wanting everyone to drop it.

"Don't be modest Scorp," Max jumped in. "He used to do gigs all the time to help pay for our travels, the odd busks here or there too."

"I knew you played guitar, I didn't know you sing too," Rose bumped shoulders with him as she smiled and spoke softly to him. He looked at her, clearly a little flustered with the conversation.

"Well, I-"

"Why don't you sing us one of your songs?" Dominique suggested with a cheeky smirk across her features. Scorpius narrowed his eyes slightly at her as the rest of the group responded with enthusiasm for the idea.

"What's a campfire without some songs sung," Alison added. Eventually, Max had retrieved his guitar from their tent and Scorpius stood to accept it from him. He held the neck of his old guitar and looked out to all the faces looking up at him, a special redhead flower in particular and gave in.

"Okay, I'll play you the new one I had finished writing a little while ago. Hugo liked the little bit he heard, so yeah," Scorpius said as he lifted the strap over his head. Rose noticed there were little patches from different places and cities stitched on it. She made a mental note to ask him about it later. "I will need a little help from a few of you though," he added. "So, gentlemen when you see the words in the air sing along for me." Everyone looked around a little confused by that instruction, as Scorpius turned and whispered something in Max's ear. Clearly, he knew something no one else did. Max pulled out his wand and transfigured one of their plates into a tambourine, while Scorpius tapped his wand against the guitar and a few little green sparks coughed out of the sound hole.

The hush fell across the group as Scorpius prepared, they all listened in rapture when the first few chords were plucked on his guitar.

"When I look into your eyes, it's like watching the night sky," When he started to sing, Rose couldn't help but feel amazed and lost in his voice, especially when he looked straight at her. "Or a beautiful sunrise. Well, there's so much they hold," She could her murmurs around the fire of surprise and delight, but she could not take her eyes of the man standing in front of them with his guitar. "And just like them old stars, I see that you've come so far. To be right where you are, how old is your soul?" It was like everyone else faded away and it was just the two of them and he was singing to her and only her. "Well, I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough. I'm giving you all my love; I'm still looking up." Rose could help it, but she found herself teary eyed, smiling and blushing as he continued. "And when you're needing your space, to do some navigating. I'll be here patiently waiting, to see what you find," she could see parallels in their lives and believed she understood when he wrote this and how he was feeling.

"Cause even the stars they burn; some even fall to the earth." The music picked up and it was like he came alive with it, a bright smile bloomed on his face. Max sung lightly in the background to add another layer to the music. "We've got a lot to learn, God knows we're worth it. No, I won't give up." It did not take long for Rose to feel her smile brighten as well. He looked so in his element, happy. It made her happy to see him like this. "I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily, I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make. Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use the tools and gifts, we got. Yeah, we got a lot at stake. And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend, for us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn. We had to learn, how to bend without the world caving in, I had to learn what I got, and what I'm not, and who I am," he smashed the big note and got more lost in the music. It appeared as though everyone was enjoying it with him as well.

"I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough. I'm giving you all my love; I'm still looking up." The green sparks came back and shot into the air, as Scorpius sung. They created some words in the air just above Scorpius' head and Max counted in the boys to sing and follow them as the flashed in time with the music.

"Well, I won't give up on us," Scorpius continued as the other men sang their backing part "(No I'm not giving up)."

"God knows I'm tough (I am tough) enough. We got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved), God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)." It came together beautifully and brought happy tears to many eyes around the campfire. It went soft again as the green words disappeared again and it was just Scorpius and the firelight.

"I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough," he met Rose's gaze once more and there was no doubt amongst the group that he was singing just to her. "I'm giving you all my love; I'm still looking up…"

Hi all, I am sorry it has been so long. I hope you enjoy this chapter, please continue to let me know what you think by leaving me a review.

Full Disclaimer: I did not write this song. It is "I won't give up" by Jason Mraz