Vote Now! Rose/Scorpius - Week 29
Time to Vote!
Please read the voting rules:
1. Do not vote for yourself and do not ask others to vote for you.
2. If you entered the challenge, you are REQUIRED to vote.
3. Vote for one MOST and one SECOND favorite drabble.
4. Please vote for the NUMBER of the drabble, not the name of it. Just makes it easier. :)
5. Please remember the prompt when voting: Celebrate
6. Voting will close Thursday at 11:59pm EST
Results will be posted Friday. Have fun!
1.
Author: xxx_angelin_xxx
Title: Celebrate for me
Words: 500
Rating: T
Warnings: Minor adult themes.
Celebrate…
When she was a little girl, she always searched the meaning of the words. The explanations were never enough because no one ever told her that she had to experience something to fully understand it.
And here she is now- her last night at Hogwarts. She’s scared of freedom; she’s scared of losing that organized life she has in school. And that’s why she’s not really celebrating like all the others.
It’s also Scorpius Malfoy’s- fellow Head’s- birthday.
“Don’t get too friendly with him, Rosie,” her father said. And that’s what she did till they both were made Heads. The competion remained, sometimes stronger than ever before. But spending her days with him, made her realize that he isn’t as bad as she had thought.
He’s smart and funny, and could be caring. Scorpius Malfoy is the one to celebrate life, to live it in the fullest. He wants every moment to be worth living. And Rose admires him for that. But she’s Weasley and he’s Malfoy and nothing else matters.
“Weasley!”
“Keep it lower Malfoy- you don’t want to be caught, do you?”
He shrieks his shoulders. “Maybe I do.”
She scowls.
“Com’on, Rose!” he exclaims. “Why don’t you have a little fun? Why don’t you celebrate a little bit? Forget those idiots. Celebrate for me; I’m officially eighteen!”
“And drunk…” is her cold response.
Scorpius rolls his eyes. “Rose, Rose, Rose… why do you make such a big deal out of everything? It doesn’t really matter, you know. Nothing matters more than what you want.”
His voice trails off in that last sentence and Rose is suddenly aware of how close they are, of the intense look in his eyes that makes her dizzy. She tries to answer something witty but she can’t.
They stare at each other, until he leans closer and she feels his breath hot on her face. She closes her eyes and lets him kiss her, his hand caressing hers, moving slowly up to her shoulder and then to her neck before cupping her face tenderly without the intensity someone would expect from a drunken man.
The first kiss is a small peck at the lips, a teasing sensation followed by a whisper.
“Just celebrate for me…”
The second is passionate and her hands are moving too; one to his back bringing him even closer and the other at the back of his head; her fingers in his hair.
When he pulls back her eyes remain closed. Once she opens them she’s surprised to see him still there.
“Live it,” he murmurs.
“I don’t know how…”
“No one does.”
And he’s holding her hand and she doesn’t care anymore about tomorrow, because tonight is here and she will lose it if she keeps thinking that much.
“Happy Birthday, Scorpius.”
And she takes his hand and pulls him with her; to where she doesn’t know. To wherever.
And he smiles. Because this is the meaning of the word. And she has now found it.
2.
Author: bealen
Title: New Beginnings
Words: 499
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Rose looked around at the castle which had been her home away from home for the past seven years. The wind was gently caressing her, pulling and twisting her robes and curls in different directions as if they were moving in time to some silent melody. The sun was high and she squinted as it cast its shine around the nooks and crevices of the courtyard. As she brought her eyes down to slabs of stone underfoot, her eyes were brimming with un-shed tears which could have been either from the sun or the reality of the situation hitting her. In a precious few minutes, she would have to leave the cocoon she had formed around herself. She knew what was expected of her in this place, how she should act and with whom she should be friends. Now there would be a whole different set of rules and Rose was at a loss as to how she would fit in. The thought simultaneously thrilled and horrified her.
Everywhere she looked there was beaming faces, all displaying delight at moving forward to their next stage in life, looking at this occasion as a cause to celebrate. Why wouldn't they she supposed, they didn't have an unwritten rule which forced them to associate only with people deemed suitable. The politics that had surrounded friendship here in Hogwarts had been stifling. The one person who had intrigued her more than anyone else was the one person with whom she never enjoyed even the slightest acquaintance, it wouldn't have been prudent.
Scorpius Malfoy was in one of the little groups milling around the courtyard. Rose looked on as he regaled the group with an amusing anecdote. As he ended with a flourish, the rest of the group laughed uproariously. Though she had not heard what he had said, Rose supposed it had been something witty and politically current. Apparently those were the types of jokes he favoured. She couldn't be sure, having had no interaction with him at all. In fact, all that she knew of him was gleaned from second hand sources which may or may not be reliable. His middle name was Hyperion, and had an enormous collection of Chocolate Frog Cards. His favourite class was Care of Magical Creatures. He was great at flying and particularly enjoyed it at night but hadn't tried out for the Quidditch team because he didn't want the restriction of a certain position.
While thinking all of this, Rose had unwittingly been staring at the back of Scorpius' head and now found that he was staring back at her, wearing a quizzical expression. She smiled tentatively and was relieved when he followed suit. Now that they were heading out into the real world, she could no longer be bound by a promise extracted from her at age eleven from her father. Rose had the freedom to associate with whomever she pleased, and that she thought as Scorpius smiled at her, was something to celebrate.
3.
Author: jenny_b09
Title: Guilt
Words: 497
Rating: G
Warnings: None
If there was one thing that Scorpius Malfoy hated, it was Victory Day.
Sure, it was all fun and games for the sons and daughters of war heroes. There would be feasts and speeches and famous people like Harry and Ginny Potter would come to Hogwarts to celebrate. And at exactly three in the afternoon, everyone at Hogwarts headed out to the memorial; a large headstone which held the names of the ones who didn’t survive the Dark Lord’s reign.
Professor McGonagall, old as she was, read out the names with a shaking voice.
‘Cedric Diggory … A-Albus Dumbledore …’
He shifted uncomfortably at the last name. His father may have never spoken of it, but Scorpius wasn’t an idiot. He knew.
‘Remus and Nymphadora Lupin … Fred Weasley …’
Rose Weasley’s bright red curls, two rows in front of him, caught his eye. She had tears streaming down her face. As she turned to wipe them discreetly on her robes, she noticed him staring. Scorpius turned away, a lump rising in his throat. Not a lump of sadness for those who had died, or even compassion for Rose Weasley. No. It was cold, hard, merciless guilt.
Hoping nobody would notice, Scorpius rose from his seat and walked away from the ceremony towards the lake. He needed to clear his head. Shoving his hands deep in his pockets, he leaned against a tree and tried not to think about it.
‘Scorpius?’ a soft voice asked from behind him. Turning around, he looked long and hard at Rose Weasley. Her Head Girl badge gleamed on her chest, her curls were pinned back neatly and her skirt was regulation length. The boys in his dormitory thought she was a perfectionist. But all Scorpius could look at now were the remains of tears on her cheeks.
‘Shouldn’t you stay at the memorial?’ he asked, not knowing what else to say. She shrugged, sinking to the ground next to his feet.
‘It gets to me,’ she mumbled. Then she turned to look at him. ‘I guess it gets to you, too.’
‘You could say that,’ he said cautiously, sitting down next to her. They were silent for a moment, and Rose fiddled with a piece of grass.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said suddenly, looking up at him. ‘It must be difficult for you. Every year we have this elaborate service so we can remember what happened back then, but you must hate it. You probably just want to forget. Do you … do you feel guilty?
Even though they rarely spoke, Rose Weasley had just captured the very essence of his thoughts. He stared at her, and then slowly nodded.
‘Yeah,’ he told her. ‘I do.’
She gave him a small, wavering, sad smile. ‘You shouldn’t.’
‘I …’ Scorpius paused, looking at her. ‘Thanks, Rose.’
She nodded, and then her small, soft hand closed around his. Scorpius smiled at her. Perhaps he could find a reason to celebrate Victory Day after all.
4.
Author: valkyriekat
Title: Aguamenti!
Words: 470
Rating: G
Warnings: fluff
Rose thought she’d celebrate the removal of her Trace by using Aguamanti on Scorpius. He lay asleep on the couch in The Burrow Two, where the pair of them were spending the winter holidays. They were both seventeen now, they could get married - handfasted, in Scorpius’ tradition - and no one could say anything.
Rose had crept toward the couch, a grin on her freckled face, her eyes adjusting to the early morning gloom. It was eight a.m. and still darkish outside. She cast Aguamenti and the non-verbal spell produced a thick jet of water which she sprayed all over Scorpius’ sleek blond hair and pale features, his chin and nose just pointed enough to mar a perfect face, and he spluttered awake.
“R-Rose!” Scorpius yelped, and then he pulled out his wand and repeated the favour, also non-verbally. “Happy Birthday!” he snarled, his jet of water wider than Rose’s. They both screeched as more jets of water went everywhere. “Outside!” Scorpius said eagerly, and they raced like seven-year-olds through the gnome-infested garden (Dad had insisted they have some) and ran to and fro, nearly out of control, gasping and panting and shivering in the snow. The snowflakes fell but they seemed not to notice.
Ron was watching their progress from his and Hermione’s bathroom window. “You know, they’re just immature enough to get married.”
“They have to finish school, and I thought you didn’t approve of Mini-Draco. Not that he’s one bit like his father.” Hermione sounded very irritable.
“I was joking, Er-my-nee,” Ron said, a toothbrush in his mouth, relaxed as only Ron could be. “No Malfoy is coming near my daughter.”
“Then...don’t...look.” Hermione’s empty voice caught Ron’s attention at once. “They’re snogging! Snogging! On my snow!” Ron said indignantly.
“Your snow?” Hermione said, exasperated. “And leave them be!”
Down below, Scorpius pulled out a small box, which was covered in wet, black velvet, and knelt amid the gnomes. “For you. Will you, will you please, consider marrying me? After Hogwarts?”
“I consider myself engaged. And I have something far less expensive for you. Not that I mind a silver ring with a huge emerald. Get under cover.” The two lurked under the overhang of the front steps where no one could see them. They both had very wide, manic grins.
“Here. As a symbol until the handfasting.” Rose lifted out of a leather pouch a homemade ring of thin twigs interwoven together with blue glass from the beach. She had been looking forward to this. Scorpius placed it solemnly on his ringfinger. He removed it after staring for a full minute, and put it in its leather pouch. “So fragile. Let’s hope we’re not so fragile?” Scorpius sounded nervous.
“Fragile! Ha! Aguamenti!" Rose screeched and they ran until nearly noon, endurance kindled by the spark called love.
5.
Author: enchantedteapot
Title: Rejected Invitation
Words: 499
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Rose had her back to him, wiping down the bar-top with a little more vigour than was probably necessary. Scorpius was scowling, watching her toss down her cloth and stalk past him, avoiding his eye, to collect up the empty glasses.
They had been arguing for over half an hour now, Scorpius marching into the Three Broomsticks just as she called for last orders and sitting in silence, face like thunder, as she had the nerve to ignore him, serving every other customer until the place had emptied and she could avoid him no longer.
“This is absurd!” he shouted angrily as she restocked the beer mats with an unwavering focus. “You know how important this is to me!”
“Oh don’t be so ridiculous Scorpius!” she faced him at last. “It’s just a silly party-,”
He looked offended, “It’s my stag do!”
“Exactly!” she hissed, snatching up the rag again and wiping forcefully at a particularly stubborn water-mark. She really didn’t need to be reminded of the upcoming nuptials, sure to be the event of the season; I mean who would have thought, a Potter and a Malfoy to be married?
Rose certainly hadn’t seen it coming. If she had, she wasn’t sure if she could have found the strength to take her Uncle Charlie up on the offer of a summer in Romania, leaving Scorpius, her best friend since school days, alone with the beautiful and vivacious Lily Potter for months on end.
Luckily for her, she’d returned home just in time to be invited to the pre-ceremony celebrations.
She found herself glaring at him across the bar, “A night when a bunch of men revert back to their adolescent selves, drink themselves into a stupor and leer at scantily clad women? Merlin, that really does sound like something I’d enjoy.”
“Oh don’t be so high and mighty about it Weasley!” Scorpius sneered, folding his arms, “I’ve seen you drink half of us under the table before and besides,” his expression softened reluctantly, “you’re my best friend Rosie. There’s no-one else I want to celebrate with...”
She turned her back on him then so that he wouldn’t see the lump she could feel rising in her throat. Rose knew she should be happy for him and she didn’t mean to sound so angry but this was all just so unbearably hard. She could still remember the nervous excitement she had felt about coming home to see him, coming home to tell him how she had realised at long last that she, Rose Weasley, was utterly and irretrievably in love with him, Scorpius Malfoy.
And then had come the news, the announcement that everyone else had seemed so wonderfully ecstatic about.
“I’m sorry Scorpius,” she muttered quietly, at last, “but you’ll have Al and James. I bet you won’t even miss me.”
Rose waited for him to leave, which he did after a moment without a word, before she lowered herself into a chair and allowed herself to cry.
6.
Author: hpfangirl71
Title: Cause To Celebrate
Words: 330
Rating: PG
Warnings: Just a bit of fluff... This takes place many years after the epilogue.
As Scorpius looked out at all the people who had come here in celebration, he thought of how lucky a wizard he was. This was the chance to celebrate a lifetime of achievement. It was a moment to reflect on all that had made this glorious day possible.
Scorpius thought back to when they were younger, still just kids at Hogwarts. He thought back to how he and Rose had competed with one another in everything from schoolwork to Quidditch and everything in between.
He thought back to the day Rose had slipped off her broom during a particularly fierce match against his Slytherin team. She had been trying hard to capture the Golden Snitch before he did and had almost had it when her accident had happened. In a flash, he had swooped downward and caught her in midair, the Snitch completely forgotten.
It was on that day that he had first fallen for Rose Weasley’s many charms. It was also the day their competitiveness had waned. From then on, they had been inseparable. Like two peas in a pod, never wanting for anything as long as the other was by their side.
It had been a hard road to travel but in the end worth it all. Their parents had fought them from the very beginning. There was no way either Draco or Ron could allow a Malfoy/Weasley union. It was then that they had decided that eloping was the answer. Both families had been shocked but nine months later, they had no other options but acceptance.
Now as he looked over at his beloved Rose, her hair no longer its vibrant red but instead a softly greyed hue, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled up at him with such adoration. He knew it had indeed been worth it all. It had been worth it just to see their families joined here in celebration and to spend the last fifty years with his beautiful Rose…
7.
Author: anysomething
Title: Brilliant
Words: 500
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Rose is foulmothed
"And it's Aaden Smith, with another ten points for the Australian side. They've really stepped up their game this time 'round, Ludo, 'aven't they?"
"Right you are. They haven't been to the Cup Finals in years. Great to see them here this evening."
Rose Weasley, who was squinting through omnioculars from the 35th row, jumped to her feet cheered loudly. "This is brilliant, innit? It's brilliant." It was the 430th Quidditch World Cup, and the first she'd ever attended. She'd had to beg her Aunt Ginny for weeks to see if she could land some tickets through the Prophet, but eventually her nagging paid off and Rose was awarded with a pair.
Scorpius Malfoy, sitting next to her, shrugged. "Not that brilliant. Russia's beating them by one hundred and thirty points. Sit down, would you? The woman behind us won't stop jabbing me with her wand. Can't see."
"You," Rose said as she reluctantly sat down, slightly tipsy from the four Butterbeers she'd already drunk during the course of the four-hour game, "are a major buzzkill. Lighten up! We're at the bloody World Cup! Come on, we'll put some money on it, make it fun, yeah?"
"I've got money, I don't want yours," Scorpius said, looking towards her. "And how are we even going to bet? Russia's clearly going to take this. It's bloody luck that Australia's even lasted this long as it is."
Rose grinned. "I'm for Australia, then. And if you don't want my money, what do you want?" She leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose before returning to her omnioculars. "Dammit, Hastings!" she yelled. "Keep your bloody hands on the bloody Quaffle!"
"...I want you to cook for me. A nice dinner. You're not allowed to order in and then try to pass it off as your own cooking. I'll know."
Rose, surprised, moved the omnioculars from her face. "Are you serious? I don't think you want that."
"Go take lessons with your grandmother. I just want you to try. And it's not allowed to be terrible, either."
"Ah," Rose said. "Well, if the best team, Australia, wins, then I expect a foot rub every day for a month. And you do the dishes, too."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"You're going to lose, you know."
"Hope you like burnt food, then, love."
"I can't believe this!" Bagman's voice boomed over the stadium. "In what could be the greatest World Cup Final turn-around of all time, it looks like Meadows has spotted the Snitch! She's gaining, she's gaining..."
At this, Rose grabbed her omnioculars and started shouting like a madman. "GETITGETITGETIT GET THE BLOODY SNITCH, MEADOWS! I WANT A BLOODY FOOT RUB! OH, FASTER, FASTER, FLY FASTER GOGOGOGOGO!" Scorpius, out of sheer secondhand embarrassment and pain of losing, buried his head in his hands.
"This is one impressive turn-of-events, eh, Ludo? This is one stunner of a final."
"And it's Meadows with the Snitch! For the first time in 152 years, Australia goes home with the Cup! What a beautiful match."
Rolling his eyes, Scorpius grabbed a cheering Rose's hand. "Brilliant. Just brilliant."
8.
Author: mollywheezy
Title: A Private Celebration
Words: 255
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Rose and Scorpius gently tinked their champagne flutes against each other, then interlocked their arms, leaned close, and took their first sip. Rose giggled.
"We are being ridiculously silly, aren't we?" Scorpius smiled at Rose.
"I like it when you're silly. The bubbles just tickled my nose." Keeping her arm interlocked with Scorpius' she took another sip. "This is delicious champagne. What kind is it?"
"Dom Perignon."
"Scorpius! That's so expensive."
"Better make sure you enjoy it then." Scorpius winked.
"I fully intend to," Rose smiled as she took another sip, "but I think I'll enjoy it more if we unlink our arms." Rose extricated her arm from Scorpius', careful not to spill any of her champagne.
"Thank Merlin you said something. I was starting to get a cramp." Scorpius carefully set his champagne on the nightstand, and began rubbing his arm.
"Here, let me." Rose set down her glass and took over massaging Scorpius' arm. "You don't need to lose circulation to prove your love, you know."
"Well, that's a relief!" Scorpius laughed. He looked into Rose's sparkling eyes, and leaned towards her, kissing her gently. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Champagne temporarily forgotten, Rose cuddled up against Scorpius' chest, stretching her legs out on the Egyptian cotton sheets. She sighed happily, "The party was fun, and I know the children went to so much trouble to plan it, but having this holiday alone with you is a much better gift."
"I couldn't agree more. Happy fiftieth anniversary, love."
___________________________
Next Gen Drabbles Week 29
Poll Next Gen Drabbles Week 29
Please read the voting rules:
1. Do not vote for yourself and do not ask others to vote for you.
2. If you entered the challenge, you are REQUIRED to vote.
3. Vote for one MOST and one SECOND favorite drabble.
4. Please vote for the NUMBER of the drabble, not the name of it. Just makes it easier. :)
5. Please remember the prompt when voting: Celebrate
6. Voting will close Thursday at 11:59pm EST
Results will be posted Friday. Have fun!
1.
Author: xxx_angelin_xxx
Title: Celebrate for me
Words: 500
Rating: T
Warnings: Minor adult themes.
Celebrate…
When she was a little girl, she always searched the meaning of the words. The explanations were never enough because no one ever told her that she had to experience something to fully understand it.
And here she is now- her last night at Hogwarts. She’s scared of freedom; she’s scared of losing that organized life she has in school. And that’s why she’s not really celebrating like all the others.
It’s also Scorpius Malfoy’s- fellow Head’s- birthday.
“Don’t get too friendly with him, Rosie,” her father said. And that’s what she did till they both were made Heads. The competion remained, sometimes stronger than ever before. But spending her days with him, made her realize that he isn’t as bad as she had thought.
He’s smart and funny, and could be caring. Scorpius Malfoy is the one to celebrate life, to live it in the fullest. He wants every moment to be worth living. And Rose admires him for that. But she’s Weasley and he’s Malfoy and nothing else matters.
“Weasley!”
“Keep it lower Malfoy- you don’t want to be caught, do you?”
He shrieks his shoulders. “Maybe I do.”
She scowls.
“Com’on, Rose!” he exclaims. “Why don’t you have a little fun? Why don’t you celebrate a little bit? Forget those idiots. Celebrate for me; I’m officially eighteen!”
“And drunk…” is her cold response.
Scorpius rolls his eyes. “Rose, Rose, Rose… why do you make such a big deal out of everything? It doesn’t really matter, you know. Nothing matters more than what you want.”
His voice trails off in that last sentence and Rose is suddenly aware of how close they are, of the intense look in his eyes that makes her dizzy. She tries to answer something witty but she can’t.
They stare at each other, until he leans closer and she feels his breath hot on her face. She closes her eyes and lets him kiss her, his hand caressing hers, moving slowly up to her shoulder and then to her neck before cupping her face tenderly without the intensity someone would expect from a drunken man.
The first kiss is a small peck at the lips, a teasing sensation followed by a whisper.
“Just celebrate for me…”
The second is passionate and her hands are moving too; one to his back bringing him even closer and the other at the back of his head; her fingers in his hair.
When he pulls back her eyes remain closed. Once she opens them she’s surprised to see him still there.
“Live it,” he murmurs.
“I don’t know how…”
“No one does.”
And he’s holding her hand and she doesn’t care anymore about tomorrow, because tonight is here and she will lose it if she keeps thinking that much.
“Happy Birthday, Scorpius.”
And she takes his hand and pulls him with her; to where she doesn’t know. To wherever.
And he smiles. Because this is the meaning of the word. And she has now found it.
2.
Author: bealen
Title: New Beginnings
Words: 499
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Rose looked around at the castle which had been her home away from home for the past seven years. The wind was gently caressing her, pulling and twisting her robes and curls in different directions as if they were moving in time to some silent melody. The sun was high and she squinted as it cast its shine around the nooks and crevices of the courtyard. As she brought her eyes down to slabs of stone underfoot, her eyes were brimming with un-shed tears which could have been either from the sun or the reality of the situation hitting her. In a precious few minutes, she would have to leave the cocoon she had formed around herself. She knew what was expected of her in this place, how she should act and with whom she should be friends. Now there would be a whole different set of rules and Rose was at a loss as to how she would fit in. The thought simultaneously thrilled and horrified her.
Everywhere she looked there was beaming faces, all displaying delight at moving forward to their next stage in life, looking at this occasion as a cause to celebrate. Why wouldn't they she supposed, they didn't have an unwritten rule which forced them to associate only with people deemed suitable. The politics that had surrounded friendship here in Hogwarts had been stifling. The one person who had intrigued her more than anyone else was the one person with whom she never enjoyed even the slightest acquaintance, it wouldn't have been prudent.
Scorpius Malfoy was in one of the little groups milling around the courtyard. Rose looked on as he regaled the group with an amusing anecdote. As he ended with a flourish, the rest of the group laughed uproariously. Though she had not heard what he had said, Rose supposed it had been something witty and politically current. Apparently those were the types of jokes he favoured. She couldn't be sure, having had no interaction with him at all. In fact, all that she knew of him was gleaned from second hand sources which may or may not be reliable. His middle name was Hyperion, and had an enormous collection of Chocolate Frog Cards. His favourite class was Care of Magical Creatures. He was great at flying and particularly enjoyed it at night but hadn't tried out for the Quidditch team because he didn't want the restriction of a certain position.
While thinking all of this, Rose had unwittingly been staring at the back of Scorpius' head and now found that he was staring back at her, wearing a quizzical expression. She smiled tentatively and was relieved when he followed suit. Now that they were heading out into the real world, she could no longer be bound by a promise extracted from her at age eleven from her father. Rose had the freedom to associate with whomever she pleased, and that she thought as Scorpius smiled at her, was something to celebrate.
3.
Author: jenny_b09
Title: Guilt
Words: 497
Rating: G
Warnings: None
If there was one thing that Scorpius Malfoy hated, it was Victory Day.
Sure, it was all fun and games for the sons and daughters of war heroes. There would be feasts and speeches and famous people like Harry and Ginny Potter would come to Hogwarts to celebrate. And at exactly three in the afternoon, everyone at Hogwarts headed out to the memorial; a large headstone which held the names of the ones who didn’t survive the Dark Lord’s reign.
Professor McGonagall, old as she was, read out the names with a shaking voice.
‘Cedric Diggory … A-Albus Dumbledore …’
He shifted uncomfortably at the last name. His father may have never spoken of it, but Scorpius wasn’t an idiot. He knew.
‘Remus and Nymphadora Lupin … Fred Weasley …’
Rose Weasley’s bright red curls, two rows in front of him, caught his eye. She had tears streaming down her face. As she turned to wipe them discreetly on her robes, she noticed him staring. Scorpius turned away, a lump rising in his throat. Not a lump of sadness for those who had died, or even compassion for Rose Weasley. No. It was cold, hard, merciless guilt.
Hoping nobody would notice, Scorpius rose from his seat and walked away from the ceremony towards the lake. He needed to clear his head. Shoving his hands deep in his pockets, he leaned against a tree and tried not to think about it.
‘Scorpius?’ a soft voice asked from behind him. Turning around, he looked long and hard at Rose Weasley. Her Head Girl badge gleamed on her chest, her curls were pinned back neatly and her skirt was regulation length. The boys in his dormitory thought she was a perfectionist. But all Scorpius could look at now were the remains of tears on her cheeks.
‘Shouldn’t you stay at the memorial?’ he asked, not knowing what else to say. She shrugged, sinking to the ground next to his feet.
‘It gets to me,’ she mumbled. Then she turned to look at him. ‘I guess it gets to you, too.’
‘You could say that,’ he said cautiously, sitting down next to her. They were silent for a moment, and Rose fiddled with a piece of grass.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said suddenly, looking up at him. ‘It must be difficult for you. Every year we have this elaborate service so we can remember what happened back then, but you must hate it. You probably just want to forget. Do you … do you feel guilty?
Even though they rarely spoke, Rose Weasley had just captured the very essence of his thoughts. He stared at her, and then slowly nodded.
‘Yeah,’ he told her. ‘I do.’
She gave him a small, wavering, sad smile. ‘You shouldn’t.’
‘I …’ Scorpius paused, looking at her. ‘Thanks, Rose.’
She nodded, and then her small, soft hand closed around his. Scorpius smiled at her. Perhaps he could find a reason to celebrate Victory Day after all.
4.
Author: valkyriekat
Title: Aguamenti!
Words: 470
Rating: G
Warnings: fluff
Rose thought she’d celebrate the removal of her Trace by using Aguamanti on Scorpius. He lay asleep on the couch in The Burrow Two, where the pair of them were spending the winter holidays. They were both seventeen now, they could get married - handfasted, in Scorpius’ tradition - and no one could say anything.
Rose had crept toward the couch, a grin on her freckled face, her eyes adjusting to the early morning gloom. It was eight a.m. and still darkish outside. She cast Aguamenti and the non-verbal spell produced a thick jet of water which she sprayed all over Scorpius’ sleek blond hair and pale features, his chin and nose just pointed enough to mar a perfect face, and he spluttered awake.
“R-Rose!” Scorpius yelped, and then he pulled out his wand and repeated the favour, also non-verbally. “Happy Birthday!” he snarled, his jet of water wider than Rose’s. They both screeched as more jets of water went everywhere. “Outside!” Scorpius said eagerly, and they raced like seven-year-olds through the gnome-infested garden (Dad had insisted they have some) and ran to and fro, nearly out of control, gasping and panting and shivering in the snow. The snowflakes fell but they seemed not to notice.
Ron was watching their progress from his and Hermione’s bathroom window. “You know, they’re just immature enough to get married.”
“They have to finish school, and I thought you didn’t approve of Mini-Draco. Not that he’s one bit like his father.” Hermione sounded very irritable.
“I was joking, Er-my-nee,” Ron said, a toothbrush in his mouth, relaxed as only Ron could be. “No Malfoy is coming near my daughter.”
“Then...don’t...look.” Hermione’s empty voice caught Ron’s attention at once. “They’re snogging! Snogging! On my snow!” Ron said indignantly.
“Your snow?” Hermione said, exasperated. “And leave them be!”
Down below, Scorpius pulled out a small box, which was covered in wet, black velvet, and knelt amid the gnomes. “For you. Will you, will you please, consider marrying me? After Hogwarts?”
“I consider myself engaged. And I have something far less expensive for you. Not that I mind a silver ring with a huge emerald. Get under cover.” The two lurked under the overhang of the front steps where no one could see them. They both had very wide, manic grins.
“Here. As a symbol until the handfasting.” Rose lifted out of a leather pouch a homemade ring of thin twigs interwoven together with blue glass from the beach. She had been looking forward to this. Scorpius placed it solemnly on his ringfinger. He removed it after staring for a full minute, and put it in its leather pouch. “So fragile. Let’s hope we’re not so fragile?” Scorpius sounded nervous.
“Fragile! Ha! Aguamenti!" Rose screeched and they ran until nearly noon, endurance kindled by the spark called love.
5.
Author: enchantedteapot
Title: Rejected Invitation
Words: 499
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Rose had her back to him, wiping down the bar-top with a little more vigour than was probably necessary. Scorpius was scowling, watching her toss down her cloth and stalk past him, avoiding his eye, to collect up the empty glasses.
They had been arguing for over half an hour now, Scorpius marching into the Three Broomsticks just as she called for last orders and sitting in silence, face like thunder, as she had the nerve to ignore him, serving every other customer until the place had emptied and she could avoid him no longer.
“This is absurd!” he shouted angrily as she restocked the beer mats with an unwavering focus. “You know how important this is to me!”
“Oh don’t be so ridiculous Scorpius!” she faced him at last. “It’s just a silly party-,”
He looked offended, “It’s my stag do!”
“Exactly!” she hissed, snatching up the rag again and wiping forcefully at a particularly stubborn water-mark. She really didn’t need to be reminded of the upcoming nuptials, sure to be the event of the season; I mean who would have thought, a Potter and a Malfoy to be married?
Rose certainly hadn’t seen it coming. If she had, she wasn’t sure if she could have found the strength to take her Uncle Charlie up on the offer of a summer in Romania, leaving Scorpius, her best friend since school days, alone with the beautiful and vivacious Lily Potter for months on end.
Luckily for her, she’d returned home just in time to be invited to the pre-ceremony celebrations.
She found herself glaring at him across the bar, “A night when a bunch of men revert back to their adolescent selves, drink themselves into a stupor and leer at scantily clad women? Merlin, that really does sound like something I’d enjoy.”
“Oh don’t be so high and mighty about it Weasley!” Scorpius sneered, folding his arms, “I’ve seen you drink half of us under the table before and besides,” his expression softened reluctantly, “you’re my best friend Rosie. There’s no-one else I want to celebrate with...”
She turned her back on him then so that he wouldn’t see the lump she could feel rising in her throat. Rose knew she should be happy for him and she didn’t mean to sound so angry but this was all just so unbearably hard. She could still remember the nervous excitement she had felt about coming home to see him, coming home to tell him how she had realised at long last that she, Rose Weasley, was utterly and irretrievably in love with him, Scorpius Malfoy.
And then had come the news, the announcement that everyone else had seemed so wonderfully ecstatic about.
“I’m sorry Scorpius,” she muttered quietly, at last, “but you’ll have Al and James. I bet you won’t even miss me.”
Rose waited for him to leave, which he did after a moment without a word, before she lowered herself into a chair and allowed herself to cry.
6.
Author: hpfangirl71
Title: Cause To Celebrate
Words: 330
Rating: PG
Warnings: Just a bit of fluff... This takes place many years after the epilogue.
As Scorpius looked out at all the people who had come here in celebration, he thought of how lucky a wizard he was. This was the chance to celebrate a lifetime of achievement. It was a moment to reflect on all that had made this glorious day possible.
Scorpius thought back to when they were younger, still just kids at Hogwarts. He thought back to how he and Rose had competed with one another in everything from schoolwork to Quidditch and everything in between.
He thought back to the day Rose had slipped off her broom during a particularly fierce match against his Slytherin team. She had been trying hard to capture the Golden Snitch before he did and had almost had it when her accident had happened. In a flash, he had swooped downward and caught her in midair, the Snitch completely forgotten.
It was on that day that he had first fallen for Rose Weasley’s many charms. It was also the day their competitiveness had waned. From then on, they had been inseparable. Like two peas in a pod, never wanting for anything as long as the other was by their side.
It had been a hard road to travel but in the end worth it all. Their parents had fought them from the very beginning. There was no way either Draco or Ron could allow a Malfoy/Weasley union. It was then that they had decided that eloping was the answer. Both families had been shocked but nine months later, they had no other options but acceptance.
Now as he looked over at his beloved Rose, her hair no longer its vibrant red but instead a softly greyed hue, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled up at him with such adoration. He knew it had indeed been worth it all. It had been worth it just to see their families joined here in celebration and to spend the last fifty years with his beautiful Rose…
7.
Author: anysomething
Title: Brilliant
Words: 500
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Rose is foulmothed
"And it's Aaden Smith, with another ten points for the Australian side. They've really stepped up their game this time 'round, Ludo, 'aven't they?"
"Right you are. They haven't been to the Cup Finals in years. Great to see them here this evening."
Rose Weasley, who was squinting through omnioculars from the 35th row, jumped to her feet cheered loudly. "This is brilliant, innit? It's brilliant." It was the 430th Quidditch World Cup, and the first she'd ever attended. She'd had to beg her Aunt Ginny for weeks to see if she could land some tickets through the Prophet, but eventually her nagging paid off and Rose was awarded with a pair.
Scorpius Malfoy, sitting next to her, shrugged. "Not that brilliant. Russia's beating them by one hundred and thirty points. Sit down, would you? The woman behind us won't stop jabbing me with her wand. Can't see."
"You," Rose said as she reluctantly sat down, slightly tipsy from the four Butterbeers she'd already drunk during the course of the four-hour game, "are a major buzzkill. Lighten up! We're at the bloody World Cup! Come on, we'll put some money on it, make it fun, yeah?"
"I've got money, I don't want yours," Scorpius said, looking towards her. "And how are we even going to bet? Russia's clearly going to take this. It's bloody luck that Australia's even lasted this long as it is."
Rose grinned. "I'm for Australia, then. And if you don't want my money, what do you want?" She leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose before returning to her omnioculars. "Dammit, Hastings!" she yelled. "Keep your bloody hands on the bloody Quaffle!"
"...I want you to cook for me. A nice dinner. You're not allowed to order in and then try to pass it off as your own cooking. I'll know."
Rose, surprised, moved the omnioculars from her face. "Are you serious? I don't think you want that."
"Go take lessons with your grandmother. I just want you to try. And it's not allowed to be terrible, either."
"Ah," Rose said. "Well, if the best team, Australia, wins, then I expect a foot rub every day for a month. And you do the dishes, too."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"You're going to lose, you know."
"Hope you like burnt food, then, love."
"I can't believe this!" Bagman's voice boomed over the stadium. "In what could be the greatest World Cup Final turn-around of all time, it looks like Meadows has spotted the Snitch! She's gaining, she's gaining..."
At this, Rose grabbed her omnioculars and started shouting like a madman. "GETITGETITGETIT GET THE BLOODY SNITCH, MEADOWS! I WANT A BLOODY FOOT RUB! OH, FASTER, FASTER, FLY FASTER GOGOGOGOGO!" Scorpius, out of sheer secondhand embarrassment and pain of losing, buried his head in his hands.
"This is one impressive turn-of-events, eh, Ludo? This is one stunner of a final."
"And it's Meadows with the Snitch! For the first time in 152 years, Australia goes home with the Cup! What a beautiful match."
Rolling his eyes, Scorpius grabbed a cheering Rose's hand. "Brilliant. Just brilliant."
8.
Author: mollywheezy
Title: A Private Celebration
Words: 255
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Rose and Scorpius gently tinked their champagne flutes against each other, then interlocked their arms, leaned close, and took their first sip. Rose giggled.
"We are being ridiculously silly, aren't we?" Scorpius smiled at Rose.
"I like it when you're silly. The bubbles just tickled my nose." Keeping her arm interlocked with Scorpius' she took another sip. "This is delicious champagne. What kind is it?"
"Dom Perignon."
"Scorpius! That's so expensive."
"Better make sure you enjoy it then." Scorpius winked.
"I fully intend to," Rose smiled as she took another sip, "but I think I'll enjoy it more if we unlink our arms." Rose extricated her arm from Scorpius', careful not to spill any of her champagne.
"Thank Merlin you said something. I was starting to get a cramp." Scorpius carefully set his champagne on the nightstand, and began rubbing his arm.
"Here, let me." Rose set down her glass and took over massaging Scorpius' arm. "You don't need to lose circulation to prove your love, you know."
"Well, that's a relief!" Scorpius laughed. He looked into Rose's sparkling eyes, and leaned towards her, kissing her gently. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Champagne temporarily forgotten, Rose cuddled up against Scorpius' chest, stretching her legs out on the Egyptian cotton sheets. She sighed happily, "The party was fun, and I know the children went to so much trouble to plan it, but having this holiday alone with you is a much better gift."
"I couldn't agree more. Happy fiftieth anniversary, love."
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Next Gen Drabbles Week 29
Poll Next Gen Drabbles Week 29