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If asked about it, Rose would never admit how much time she spent looking for a gown.
Lila was so excited that Rose asked her to go shopping with her, without even realising who Rose wanted to dress up for.
The floor-length gown was a deep midnight blue with pearls tracing constellations on the delicate organza of the bodice and skirt. The colour complemented her warm skin tone perfectly. She hesitated to let her hair cascade down but settled with an updo. With the absence of sleeves, her neck and shoulders were exposed, and all she could think about was Scorpius' lips kissing her neckline, his hands grazing the length of her arms, then falling on her waist, ready to pull down the zip of her dress.
"Wow, Rose, you look amazing!" exclaimed Lila, pulling Rose out of her reverie. She hadn't even heard her best friend enter her room.
"Thanks, Lila! You look great as well!" She complimented her friend, trying to hide her nerves.
"I know! I can't believe we are actually invited to a ball! I hope they'll be some hotties," gasped Lila, twirling. "Let me put the final touch on my makeup, and then we can go," she said before disappearing into the bathroom.
Rose took that time to take deep breaths and steady her pulse.
"OK, I'm ready!" shouted the girl from the bathroom. "We should get going before there is nothing left to eat."
Rose laughed. Of course, Lila's focus would be on the free food and drinks they could have, not the fact that they were invited to the Yule Ball at the British Representation to the International Institute of Magical Cooperation.
For Rose, this was nerve-racking. It was the first function she was attending where she was the guest rather than accompanying her parents—outside of school. The invitation had been delivered and addressed to 'Miss Rose Granger-Weasley' in the delicate golden writing. She was a trainee in the Office of Magical Being Cooperation.
Tonight would be a chance to see her colleagues outside of the office. She hoped to appear poised and dignified, maybe, then, they'd see her as more than the over-ambitious trainee with big dreams. Perhaps they'd see her as an adult, a peer.
At the same time, this would be the first time she met Scorpius' parents. Not that she would meet them as anything else than their son's new friend, but she was curious to meet the people that had raised Scorpius. Her dad had told her stories about a terrible bully; her mum had told her about a boy with no choices. However, when Scorpius talked about his parents, it was always with deep respect and care. His parents had inspired him to turn his back on the supremacist ideas that were still present.
"Alright, ready?" asked Lila when she entered their living room.
"More than ever," replied Rose, grabbing a handful of floo powder.
The friends exited their floo in the foyer of the residence of the British Ambassador to the MACUSA and International Institute of Magical Cooperation—2IMC: Susan Bones.
"Miss Granger-Weasley, Miss Zabini, welcome," greeted an old-looking house-elf dressed in an adjusted tuxedo. "If you would go this way," he gestured toward some of the largest double doors Rose had ever seen.
On the other side of the door, the immense ballroom was full to the brim. Every year, for Yule, the Ambassador issued invitations to every magical British citizen on this side of the Atlantic. After the last British Wizarding War, many had left the Isles and settled in the United States.
Purebloods such as the Malfoys or Blaise Zabini, wishing to reconstruct themselves somewhere new. Rose had learnt from one of her chats with Scorpius that his parents had tried to reintegrate into society after his father had served his house arrest but had never felt safe enough to get out in public. At this time Lila's dad was already living in Boston, and his friends had simply joined him.
Muggle-born and Half-Blood families too had escaped before the Battle of Hogwarts or in its aftermath. Aunt Padma, for example, had left Britain shortly after the final battle. Rose had never really dared ask about her motivation, but she could imagine that the death of Parvati, her twin, had motivated her choice.
These were things she had learnt about in her history class, but she hadn't realised how many people that meant until then.
She probably seems extremely rude by gawking at everyone around her. Lila pulled on her wrist, leading her towards a corner where a tall blond man was waving at them. Scorpius was breathtaking. At work, he tended to wear Muggle suits that highlighted his broad shoulders. But to see him in formal dressing robes was something else. With his long blond hair and pale blue eyes, the long, flowing, forest-green robes gave him an ethereal look.
Scorpius' eyes first landed on Lila, to whom he waved enthusiastically. When he saw Rose, though, she could see his gaze changing, intensifying. Rose blushed, happy to elicit a reaction from him.
"Uncle Draco, Aunt Tori, it's so nice to see you," greeted Lila.
"Lila, darling, always a pleasure," replied Astoria, embracing the young witch.
"Mum, Dad, this is Rose Weasley," introduced Scorpius quietly. His eyes hadn't left her.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," smiled Rose.
"The pleasure is ours, dear," replied Astoria elegantly.
Draco said nothing, simply giving her a polite nod while his wife embraced the witch.
Rose hadn't felt so self-conscious in a long time. She was usually quite sure of herself and knew what to expect from this kind of function. If someone she didn't know before tried to talk to her, chances were, they were looking for an opening to introduce themselves to her parents.
Here, though, everyone she talked to seemed genuinely interested in her traineeship, her ideas, or the name of her designer. She had danced with a large number of her friends, her supervisor, and most surprisingly, Draco Malfoy.
"I have to admit, Miss Weasley, I was extremely surprised when Scorpius mentioned you as a friend," he said as they twirled around the dance floor.
"Really? Any reason in particular?" She was trying to focus on her steps.
"I imagined that your parents would have warned you about our family. We don't have the best history," he simply stated.
Rose frowned. "I know about your family's role in the war, yes. But I also know you were 17 when the Battle of Hogwarts happened. My parents had no choice but to fight with the Order. You had no choice but to join the Dark Lord. Neither I nor my family have anything against you or Scorpius."
"You seem very wise for your age. I can see your mother's influence," he smiled, relaxing a little.
"Oh, most definitely, my father still refers to you as 'Ferret,' but I think it's mostly nostalgia," she chuckled.
Draco laughed with her, more at ease, gliding with her on the music.
"I'm pleased that you and Scorpius are finally putting an end to the Weasley/Malfoy feud," he smiled at her when their dance ended. "It has been way too long."
She smiled softly and flushed. Surely he only meant it in a platonic way.
She continued to mingle and chat away with people she knew and others she just met.
The night would soon be over, and she hadn't danced yet with Scorpius.
She was torn.
Could she ask him?
It wouldn't be weird. Would it?
They were friends after all. She had danced with her other friends, and no one had batted an eye.
"Knut for your thought?"
As if he had heard her internal dialogue, Scorpius was standing behind her, a hand outstretched, inviting.
"You'd be wasting money," she replied softly, placing her hand in his.
"I doubt it; your brain is fascinating, Rose." Scorpius led them to the dance floor where a waltz just started.
They stayed silent for a few seconds, enjoying their glide on the music.
"You look… magical," whispered Scorpius after some time.
Rose chuckled. "Thank you, I believe the dress is indeed made with magic," she teased.
"The dress is amazing, but it's you I was talking about," he replied softly. "You are the most beautiful witch I have ever seen."
Rose blushed deeply, speechless. "Thank you," she let out in a breath.
Scorpius gave her a small smile and continued to twirl her around until the end of the music.
Rose felt like some kind of fairy tale character who just had her turn on the dance floor with Prince Charming. Her heart was racing, and she couldn't do anything to bring her heartbeat back to a regular speed.
"I'm just going to get some air and water," she informed her friends before exiting the ballroom. Refreshments were also set up in the library, offering a calmer space for guests in need of a break.
She grabbed a glass and turned her attention to the bookshelves. She must have been more absorbed than she realised. When Scorpius called her name, she jumped, surprised.
"My parents left almost an hour ago, and the others want to continue the party somewhere else," he explained.
"Oh, I'm sorry I missed your parents, but I'm not sure I am up for more partying." She looked at the clock. It was already past midnight.
"Me neither; someone dragged me to this exhibition in the Guggenheim this morning, and it was awful, but I had to be up early," he teased her.
She slapped his arm playfully, but his seeker reflex kicked in, and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer to him. The world around them stood still for a moment as they stayed there, locked in intense eye contact.
"I've wanted to kiss you the entire night," whispered Scorpius.
"The evening isn't over, there is still time," she breathed.
"What about Oli?" he asked, uncertain.
"He isn't here, is he?" she replied.
Scorpius' eyes darted to her lips, and suddenly, she could taste the firewhisky on his breath. The kiss was slow and tender, yet passionate and burning. She didn't even realise at what point she stopped seeing Scorpius as more than a friend. When Lila had introduced them, they had become best friends, always together, talking non-stop. And a couple of weeks ago she'd caught herself daydreaming about him. How it would feel to hold his hand, to kiss him. She relaxed in his arms and let herself drown in the taste of him.
Then they heard footsteps coming their way and separated hastily.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
What had she done?
She had just cheated on Oli.
How could she have done something like this?
She loved Oli.
She loved Oli.
Did she love Oli?
At least she thought she did. She was just 21 years old, a bit young to decide if he was the love of her life. But even if he wasn't. He didn't deserve this.
"I have to go," she blurted before running away.
She barely acknowledged Lila in the corridor and just ran to the floo, hoping to get home before she fell apart.