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“You’d have to admit you’re madly in love with Scor first” Albus said nonchalantly, fiddling with a piece of wrapping paper that Hermione’s wand hadn’t swept away.
Rose scoffed loudly “don’t be ridiculous” she spat. Being on the younger side of the cousins they’d drawn the short end of the stick and were currently crammed on the floor of the burrow with Hugo and Lily while everyone else took up the sofas.
Albus' green eyes sparkled as he curved an eyebrow at her “but you so are.” It was Christmas time during their final and seventh year at Hogwarts and despite the fact that they were both now adults in the wizarding world they still hadn’t quite grown out of their bickering.
“Am not” Rose threw back childishly.
“You are.”
“I'm not.”
“Are”
“Not”
“Are”
“Not -”
“Albus Potter and Rose Weasley” Ginny's severe voice cut through “what on earth are you blabbering about?”
Rose had the decency to look flushed at being caught acting like a twelve year old but Albus was unfazed, he grinned back at his mother. “We were just discussing” he said loudly enough that it got the attention of everyone else in the room “how Rose is in denial about being madly in love with my best friend.”
The response around the room was immediate and loud . The cousins all rapidly turned to look at Rose with a renewed interest and she glared back at all of them, her cheeks a furious red.
“As if my daughter would be in love with a Malfoy” Ron scoffed at the same time that Rose loudly proclaimed “hell will freeze over before I love Malfoy .”
They caught each other's eye and Rose smiled at her father, the only one who hadn’t immediately latched onto Albus’ words as if it were gospel.
Hermione frowned “now dear” she said grasping ahold of Ron’s arm “you mustn’t say things like that you know Scorpius is not his father” she turned to Rose “Rosie darling I think that you and Scorp-“
Rose cut her off, the tips of her ears turning red in frustration as she threw her hands in the air. “For the last sodding time” she shouted earning herself a severe glare from Grandma Weasley for her language “I am not nor will I ever be in love with Malfoy. Everybody knows I hate the bloke!”
It was true that for the past seven years that the two had attended Hogwarts together they had done nothing but bicker. It drove Albus absolutely up the wall to have his two best friends at each other's throats like that. For years he’d tried to get them to get along but he’d come to the conclusion that they simply liked fighting with one another, it was something they both refused to give up.
Dominique cut through his thinking with a sly smirk directed at Rose “you act like hate sex doesn’t exist” she teased and Rose leapt to her feet furiously before Albus pulled her back down.
Victoire slapped Dominique lightly on the shoulder “ignore her Rosie” she said and Rose nodded gratefully at her.
Ron looked a little pale at Dominique's comment and Harry laughed at him. “It’s like you forget” he said under his breath so that he wouldn’t face the wrath of Rose. “How much you and Hermione used to fight before you got together.”
Ron rolled his eyes sending a sharp glare towards his best friend “don’t be ridiculous Harry” he snapped “that was completely different” but secretly Harry thought it really wasn’t that different at all.
It was then that Lily piped up, flicking her long auburn hair over her shoulder. She was perhaps one of the only people in the world not afraid of the wrath of Rose’s infamous hexes considering she was quite well known herself for her own hexes. “Rose” she said sweetly though everyone in the room could tell she was only acting innocent “if you’re not with Malfoy, then why in the name of merlin are you two attached at the hip at school?”
The older cousins and parents leaned forward with interest. Al, Rose, Lily and Hugo were now the only ones left in Hogwarts so only they had been privy to the changes between Rose and Scorpius this year.
“He’s the head boy you dunderhead” Rose replied rolling her eyes fiercely “of course I have to spend time with him, i'm the head girl!”
Hugo didn’t look up from the snitch he was playing with as he added a sly “didn’t know it was a requirement that you had to look so… happy about hanging out with him.”
Rose sent a sharp look at her brother mouthing “Judas” at his smug face.
“I do not look happy about it” she scoffed “we fight constantly! Merlin, you lot need your eyes testing.”
Albus’ eyes were gleaming as he rounded on his cousin “yes you fight all the time” he agreed and Rose threw her hands up.
“You admit it! Thank Godric.”
“But -“ An interjected, a smirk pulling up at the corners of his lips “it’s more like a ‘I wanna kiss you so bad it makes me act stupid’ kind of fight.”
Rose thought steam might flare out of her nostrils like she’d had a pepper up potion if he continued making her angry like this. She heard her cousins in the background begin to laugh, Fred and James starting up a chorus of “Malfoy I love you, Malfoy I dooooo, when we’re apart my heart beats only for youuu.”
“That’s it!” She screeched and Ron’s eyes widened. She had his temper and Hermione’s rash actions and that was never a good combination for whoever was facing her ire. Absent-mindedly he began to rub at his arms over where Hermione’s conjured birds had pecked viciously at him after the Yule ball back in fourth year…Merlin save Albus he thought.
Rose stormed over to the fireplace and picked up a handful of green powder, throwing it viciously in the grate. She didn’t so much as jump when the flames burst into life instead glaring backward at Albus. “Since you’re so invested in my love life” she said with a gleam of revenge in her eye “I think it’s time we told ‘ you know who’ you're in love with her.”
Al’s eyes widened at the same time George joked “little Albies got a crush on voldy?” Earning him a glare from the adults and a smack on the shoulder from Ginny.
No one spoke now, the adults and cousins far too invested in the unfolding drama before them. If directly asked they would deny it of course but if there was one thing Potters and Weasleys were it was dramatic. With so many kids running around, each with their own dramas of the week the adults had learnt to just sit and watch it all unfold, enjoying the show. Getting involved when they were this age would only cause more drama and besides they were nosy, they wanted to see what would happen.
“You wouldn’t” Albus gasped and tried to jump forwards to stop Rose but at that moment James stuck his leg out and Al fell to the floor, glaring at James from where he lay in a crumpled heap. No one reprimanded him, all too focused on what Rose was doing by the fireplace.
She was shouting into the green flames. Attempting to make a floo call. “Cassie!” She screamed “Cassie, Cassie Zabini answer the call right now! I have something important to tell you.”
The room all gasped and Al groaned as he threw his head into his hands. “Your best mate's cousin?” Fred laughed, slapping Al on the shoulder “Albie you dirty dog.”
“Oh shut up” he groaned, ignoring the smirks around him. He supposed it was his karma to have his crush announced like that in front of all his family but he didn’t have to like it.
He was just standing up, ready to tackle Rose away from the fireplace when suddenly a voice floated up through it. Instantly silencing the occupants.
“Weasley” came a familiar drawl and they could hear the smirk in his words without even seeing him “care to explain why you’re screaming your head off through my fireplace?”
Rose groaned, letting her head fall with a loud plunk onto the wood of the hearth.
“Malfoy, are you stalking me?” She asked furiously and he laughed.
“You are aware that you were shouting through my fireplace, not the other way around?”
Rose threw her hands up in frustration “well I was calling Cassie not you!”
“Rose!” A soft feminine voice drifted through the fireplace “I’m here. We’re visiting for Christmas. Floo must have known I was here.”
Rose wished she had known that Cassie was there then she would have known not to bloody call her.
“I have something to tell you” Rose proclaimed, “Al is in lo-“
It was at that moment that Albus recovered from being tangled on the floor and rushed over to tackle Rose. Ginny began to pass a bag of popcorn that someone had summoned from the kitchen down the line of watching adults.
“Sod it all” Albus muttered looking thunderous.
“Oi! Scorp!” Al shouted.
“Yes mate?” Came a shout back and Al didn’t hesitate.
“CATCH” he screamed and then he grabbed the back of Rose’s jumper and shoved her unceremoniously into the fireplace.
Rose screamed and for a moment the room was frozen in shock. Ginny stood up to scold Al, Hermione was ready to rush to the fireplace after Rose but then they heard voices and everyone promptly sat back down.
“MALFOY!” They heard Rose screech “Put me down!!”
They could practically hear the roll of his eyes “oh I am sorry Weasley” he replied sarcastically “next time i'll let you crash land on the bloody carpet shall I?”
“Yes you should!” Came Rose’s furious shout “hands!” She reminded him and they heard a loud thump as Scorpius presumably dropped Rose on the carpet.
She let out a colourful stream of curses, detailing all of the things she was going to do to Albus. Words she would not have used had she known her parents, grandparents and entire family could still hear her of course.
Suddenly in the middle of a particularly colourful explanation of how she was going to burn Al’s broom in a ritual sacrifice she cut herself off in the middle of her sentence.
“W-what” he voice sounded uncharacteristically shaky “what in the name of Merlin’s saggy left ball sack is that? ”
“A peacock” Cassie supplied helpfully.
“Well I know that!” Rose bristled “I mean what is it doing in here?”
Scorpius shrugged “family pet” he said nonchalantly as if it was perfectly normal to have a peacock prancing about the living room.
Suddenly Rose screamed “it’s coming towards me!” And they heard a commotion as she presumably scrambled up onto something. All eyes on the burrow were glued to the fireplace now, everyone silently wishing they had a screen to watch the chaos as well as listening to it.
“Weasley” they heard Scorpius say disbelief evident in his tone “are you - are you scared of peacocks?”
“Don’t be ridiculous” Rose snapped but the squeak in her voice gave her away.
“You’re ridiculous,” Scorpius muttered, shaking his head “and completely mental.”
Rose bristled “excuse me” she said sharply “everyone has fears, surely even you the great Scorpius Malfoy is afraid of something” the sarcasm was evident in her tone and Scorpius huffed.
“Everyone has fears Weasley but peacocks ?”
“What’s wrong with being afraid of peacocks?” Rose crossed her arms over her chest in frustration, glowering down (as she was currently standing on the coffee table) at him.
“You hang out with dragons!” Scorpius shouted back in disbelief “in your free time, for fun!”
Rose rolled her eyes “that’s completely different” she dismissed “those dragons are well controlled by uncle Charlie and -“
“So you’re saying” he interrupted her “that dragons are less scary than peacocks?”
“Obviously” Rose nodded and Scorpius began to mutter under his breath something that sounded like to the occupants of the burrow “completely unhinged” and “bloody mental.”
It was then that the burrow heard Rose scream again. “It’s chasing me!” She shouted.
“Stop running!” Scorpius shouted back though it sounded like he was holding back a laugh.
“And have it peck me to death?” Rose screeched back “fat chance!”
“He thinks it’s a game” Scorpius tried to explain “if you stop running he’ll -“ but Rose was gone, screaming her head off as she dashed for the door.
“Merlin’s trousers” Scorpius muttered before calling out “Weasley listen to me - Weasley”
“ROSE” he finally bellowed and the occupants of the burrow stared at the fireplace with wide eyes. They’d never heard him say her first name before and there was something about the way that he said it, like it wasn’t the first time.
“SCOR” Rose bellowed back and the family's eyes widened even more at hearing their Rosie address him as anything other than Malfoy. “CONTROL YOUR - BLOODY - BIRD.”
With that she ran out of the room, the peacock hot on her heels and Scorpius tried to shout after her in vain “ROSE NO - COME BACK, NOT IN THERE, THAT'S MY BEDROOM. Oh Merlin'' he muttered.
Cassie who had so far been watching this whole interaction without comment (too busy shaking with silent laughter) stared at her cousin “shouldn’t you go after her?” She asked and Scorpius sighed.
“Yes” he said, “but first.”
He turned towards the fireplace shouting loudly “OI AL.”
Al stepped forward “what?” He shouted back, disappointed that he could no longer hear his cousin freaking out over a peacock. This was blackmail material for life.
“Catch” was all Scorpius said and then before Al even had time to process a pretty wheat blonde haired witch was hurtling through the fireplace, landing directly in his arms. Thank godric for seeker reflexes.
“Cassie?” Al asked tentatively, looking down at the girl of his dreams now suddenly laying bridal style in his arms.
At his voice Cassies face, which had been twisted in anger at her cousin for quite literally throwing her through a fireplace, softened. “Al” she said with a soft smile “erm…hi.”
“Hey” Al replied with a dumb smile playing across his face.
Grandma Molly cooed “young love” she whispered to Arthur who nodded sagely.
“Look at you Zabini” Al said with a smirk, gaining back some of his confidence after the shock “quite literally falling for me.”
The adults all laughed at his cheesy pick up line, some of the cousins groaning but Cassie flushed.
“Shut up Potter” she said with not a single drop of malice in her tone and Albus grinned.
It was that moment that everything erupted into chaos once more. Even Harry Potter who had seen some ridiculous things in his lifetime including a house elf materialising in his bedroom and dropping a cream cake on a house wife could say he had never seen anything quite so mental as this.
First, Rose came hurtling through the fireplace, screaming her head off and running towards the door.
Secondly a peacock burst through the flames, tail feathers singed as it clattered after Rose.
For a moment no one spoke. Too shell shocked to find words to describe the situation. Could peacocks even travel by floo powder? The whole thing was so beyond ridiculous that it even rendered James motormouth Potter speechless.
“I - what the -“ Ron began to splutter when a third figure burst from their fireplace.
Scorpius Malfoy looked distinctly dishevelled. His hands on his knees while he tried to catch his breath. He looked like he’d chased Rose around half the manor which he probably had.
“ Rose ” he rasped, still slightly out of breath “ stop running.”
But Rose wasn’t listening; she was dancing around on the balls of her feet avoiding a peacock who (if they didn’t know better) everyone would say looked almost amused.
Eventually Scorpius caught his breath enough to run forwards, jumping over Dominique’s legs to reach Rose who had flattened herself against the wall. Upon seeing its owner though, the peacock got excited and ran forwards faster. Rose acted purely on instinct, she did the only thing she could think to do - she jumped into Scorpius Malfoy’s arms.
He caught her, his chaser instincts kicking in, though they could tell by the look on his face that he was shocked.
“Rose” he muttered and she burrowed her face into his neck, hiding away.
“ Rosie ” his voice was gentle as he looked down at her and the adults in the room (even Ron though he would later deny it) softened at the way he was with their clearly frightened family member.
She looked up from his neck, big blue eyes shining wide.
“It’s okay,” he assured her, “really I promise you nothing will happen.”
She swallowed and her voice was quieter than usual “okay” she said and Scorpius smiled.
“Do you trust me?” He asked and to the complete surprise of the family (save Albus who had seen it coming a mile away) Rose nodded. Scorpius edged closer to the peacock, trying not to wince when Rose’s grip tightened painfully on his shoulder.
He reached out with a hand and the peacock nudged his palm affectionately. “You can pet her if you like,” he said to Rose.
She looked from Scorpius to the peacock, deciding to tap into that famous Gryffindor bravery and stuck her hand out. The peacock nuzzled her fingertips and Rose smiled tentatively. “That’s not so bad” she said and Scorpius grinned.
“Druella” he addressed the peacock “home now.”
The peacock turned on its tail and without another word stepped through the fireplace, vanishing back into Malfoy manor.
James decided to break the silence first. “That was the weirdest peacock I’ve ever seen in my life.” He declared, leaving out that he’d never actually seen a peacock before of course.
“It’s a magical peacock,” Hermione explained “they’re powerful magical creatures and extremely loyal to the families they live with. Surprisingly affectionate too, though they only give affection to those their owners like.”
For a moment the room stared at her in shock until George asked “how the bloody hell did you know that?”
Hermione rolled her eyes “I read about it of course, in the newest edition of Fantastic beasts and where to find them.”
Harry and Ron shared a fond look over her shoulder. Some things would simply never change.
“Well that was certainly a memorable Christmas.” Harry said, eventually turning to smile at Scorpius and Rose.
Al came sauntering forwards. Notably holding onto Cassie's hand. No one knew when in the chaos those two had suddenly decided to get together but it appeared something had happened.
“That was brilliant” he said wiping a tear of laughter from his eye “bloody brilliant you should have seen your face Rosie.”
Fred began to laugh too and George as well as Roxanne. Rose crossed her arms over her chest angrily, she knew that if this had happened to any of them she’d be laughing too but that didn’t make her any less annoyed.
“Yes yes laugh it up” she scowled “you won’t all be laughing when there’s bat bogey hexes under the tree for you next year!”
Lily snorted “wrapped bat bogey hexes? Now there’s an idea to look into…”
James - the person most often at the end of Lily’s wrath - took a pointed step to hide behind Dominique.
Scorpius looked as though he were trying not to laugh too and Rose rounded on him, her hair whipping around so fast it was a red blur.
“And you Scorpius - Hyperion - Malfoy !” She thundered, punctuating each shout of his name with a stab of her finger to his chest.
He yelped and backed up against the wall. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at!” She shrieked, "It was all your fault!”
Scorpius scoffed “how did you come to that conclusion?” He asked crossly, swatting away her finger that threatened to poke him again “you’re the one who came toppling through my fireplace.”
“After Al pushed me!” She fumed.
“After you called me!” He threw back.
“I was calling Cassie to tell her that Albus is in love with her actually!” Rose thundered.
Scorpius rolled his eyes “couldn’t that have waited until after Christmas? I mean half of wizarding Britain probably knew that!”
Al choked and Scorpius looked towards him “sorry” he shrugged though he didn’t sound it “but you two are probably the most oblivious idiots in the world. Everyone can tell you fancy each other…but each other!”
Cassie looked down at her hand, still entwined with Al’s and smiled “well we’re not oblivious anymore.”
Al squeezed her fingertips. “Did he just call me oblivious?” He asked incredulously looking around at the adults in the room “ me?” He pointed at Scorpius and Rose “she was just in his bloody arms and these two probably won’t admit they have something going on!”
Rose and Scorpius scoffed at exactly the same time.
“Something going on?” He asked incredulously “with Rose?”
“I’ve told you!” Rose exploded “there’s nothing going on between me and Malfoy.”
The two looked at each other in surprise. “I think that’s the first time we’ve agreed on something, Weasley.” He said thoughtfully.
Rose nodded an amused expression on her face “I think you’re right. It’s funny that the one thing we can agree on is that I would never fancy a posh ponce like you.”
“Pfft” Scorpius glared “how am I a posh ponce?”
He looked at Albus then for help but Al just raised an eyebrow at him. “You live in a manor,” he reminded him.
“And you have a pet peacock.” Rose interjected “enough said.”
“Actually” Scorpius drawled “I thought we’d agreed that I would never fancy a hot headed harpy like you?”
Rose fumed, puffing out hot air and tossing her fiery hair over her shoulder. “Hot headed harpy? Says you ferret face!”
“Babbling banshee.” He threw back.
“Slimy snake!”
“Gryfffin-DORK.”
“Slyther-PRICK.”
No one knew who leaned in first but suddenly and without warning the two of them were kissing furiously, like their lives depended on it. Scorpius arms wrapped around Rose’s waist pulling her closer as hers wrapped into the silvery blonde hair at the nape of his neck pulling his head down.
When they finally pulled away for air their faces were inches apart, eyes shining and lips puffy. “Like I’d ever fancy you” Rose said a little breathlessly, still not pulling away.
“Never in a million years Weasley” Scorpius replied though he was smirking.
“Try a billion Malfoy” Rose threw back and then they were kissing again.
Albus laughed part in disbelief that they were still fighting even through this and part in relief. “About bloody time” he scoffed though there was a fondness in his tone.
Ron sighed, loudly and deeply and half of the family members looked at him worriedly, wondering if he was about to explode in anger and do something rash. Instead Ron just sighed again and collapsed into a nearby arm chair. “I’m going to have to put up with Malfoy,” he groaned.
“Hey Scorp is a -“ Albus began to say, ready to defend his friend but Ron held up a hand to silence him.
“Not him” he said, jerking a thumb towards where Scorpius and Rose were still connected, oblivious to their surroundings.
“Malfoy senior” he clarified “I’m gonna have to see Draco bloody Malfoy’s prat face again aren’t I?”
“What are you going on about now?” Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
Ron looked back towards his daughter who was now standing staring into the Malfoy spawns eyes, her own glistening with a happy kind of fire.
“They’re gonna get married” Ron said like he was making a prediction for his divination homework “they’re gonna get married and then they’re gonna pop a couple of sprogs out and then I won’t just have to see the prat il have to share my bloody grandchildren with him.”
Hermione rolled her eyes “don’t get ahead of yourself Ronald.”
Though of course…he was right. Five years later he walked his daughter up the aisle, begrudgingly nodding to Draco on the way up. Al was standing next to Scorpius nudging him excitedly and next to him was a very out of place looking peacock. Rose kissed her dad on the cheek and moved off to take Scorpius’ hands in her own. They still looked at each other with that same fire they always had done only now everyone knew it wasn’t hate…it was love.
Ron sighed and took his place next to Hermione, wiping away a stray tear from his cheek. It was all that bloody nephew of his fault of course. Him and that fireplace and then that bloody peacock. But when Ron looked at his daughter and her new husband looking so radiantly happy that it lit up the room he couldn’t find it within himself to be annoyed about it.