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Eek! My first scorose! (with a hint of romione as well because I cant help myself ♥️)
oOo
The summer air clung heavy but sweet over the back garden of the Granger-Weasley home. Fairy lights floated between the branches of the old oak trees, and music pulsed softly from a wireless speaker perched on the garden table. A dozen teenagers were scattered about, chattering over one another, laughing, passing around snacks, and occasionally flinging harmless hexes whenever someone said something especially idiotic.
Rose Weasley lounged on an orange blanket with a drink in hand, her long red hair braided loosely over one shoulder. The party had been her idea, a casual celebration to mark their final summer before heading into their last year at Hogwarts. Her parents had surprisingly agreed to give her full reign of the house, on the condition that they had a night out themselves.
“We’ll be completely out of your hair,” Hermione had promised that afternoon as she checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. "Your dad has some mystery outing planned, but he won’t tell me where we’re going."
“You’re going to get drunk again, aren’t you?” Rose had teased, remembering the night several months ago when her mother had come home from a date night more than a little tipsy.
Her mother had looked affronted. “No, of course not!”
Now, as the evening settled into early morning, Rose scanned the garden with a sense of satisfaction. Lily and Hugo were playing Exploding Snap on the back porch steps, while Albus and Lorcan were debating the ethics of love potions under the lantern tree. Near the table, Dominique and Roxanne were passing around a suspicious looking bottle and giggling like maniacs.
And then there was Scorpius Malfoy.
He was sitting alone on a low bench near the garden fence, nursing a butterbeer and looking like he was thinking about something terribly complicated. Over the years, Rose had come to notice that was sort of his thing. He had a habit of withdrawing from the group just enough to not be considered antisocial, but enough that no one expected him to be the center of attention. Occasionally, he’d smirk at something Albus said or throw in a sarcastic comment that caught everyone off guard. But mostly, he kept to himself.
Rose wasn’t sure when she’d first started noticing him in that way. Probably sometime around fifth year, when he’d shown up to class one day looking like he hadn’t slept and answered five questions in a row with flawless precision. She’d decided then that he was attractive, but it wasn’t something she said aloud, not even to Hugo. Scorpius was quiet. Smart. Kind of mysterious. Someone she knew, and yet barely knew at all.
And tonight, she kept catching him watching her.
Almost every time Rose turned her head, she’d find his eyes on her, but he always looked away before she could hold his gaze. At the beginning of the evening, she thought she was imagining it, but it happened again. And again. And again.
“You keep looking at Malfoy,” Lily said, flopping down beside her with a mouthful of chocolate.
Rose nearly choked on her butterbeer. “What? I do not.”
“You do. But it’s okay. He keeps looking at you too.”
“I—I wasn’t looking at him like that ,” she stuttered.
Lily gave her a knowing look. “Mmhmm. Sure.”
Before Rose could respond, the back door swung open and slammed against the back of the house with a bang. Her mum stumbled out into the garden, laughing as she squinted into the darkness. Her lipstick was smeared, and her curls were more chaotic than usual. “Oh! I forgot there were people here!”
The entire party paused.
“Hi, Mum,” Rose said weakly, embarrassment flooding her.
“Oh, hi, Rosie!” Hermione waved, swaying slightly. “Everyone’s having fun, right?”
"Yes, Mum," Hugo said, sounding not the slightest bit embarrassed. "We’re having a great time."
Hermione teetered toward the snack table, humming something under her breath. “I just needed some fresh air. Your dad is trying to be all romantic and slow dance in the living room. Honestly. It’s adorable but impractical at the moment.”
From the still open door, her dad appeared, shaking his head and grinning as he caught sight of his wife. “Oi! You said you were going to the loo.”
Hermione turned. “I did! And then I wanted to get some air.”
“You’re absolutely sloshed,” Ron said fondly, crossing the garden to catch her before she tipped over.
“I am not! I’m… mildly tipsy.”
Lovingly, he wrapped an arm around her waist. “You’re so cute when you’re drunk.”
“I’m always cute,” Hermione whispered dramatically. Rose wanted to disappear into the ground when her mum grabbed her dad’s face and started snogging him like a woman possessed.
Her dad looked just as startled but recovered quickly, returning the kiss with a soft, sheepish smile. Still, he tried to steer her back to reality, murmuring between kisses, “Love, we’re not alone.”
It took a second, but then Hermione blinked and looked around at the amused crowd of teenagers watching. She froze, her eyes widening in horror. “Oh my god!” she gasped, burying her face into her husband’s chest as if to hide. “I can’t believe I just did that in front of all these kids! I am so embarrassed!”
Ron chuckled and gently hushed his wife, steering her back inside with the expression of a man hopelessly in love.The moment the door closed behind them, the garden burst into laughter.
“Well,” said Albus, raising his cup, “cheers to Aunt Hermione, the unexpected life of the party.”
“Cheers,” everyone echoed, cups clinking together.
"Rose… your dad is so hot," remarked Lily’s friend Stephanie, prompting a chorus of groans from nearby family members.
As the group relaxed again, Rose leaned back on her elbows and exhaled, her cheeks still warm from secondhand embarrassment. But when she glanced toward the fence again, Scorpius wasn’t there.
She found him a few minutes later laying on the ground by the oak tree, watching the stars. He didn’t seem startled when she approached, just nodded and shifted slightly so there was room for her to lay beside him.
“They’re cute,” he said, nodding toward the house. “Your parents.”
“Yeah…adorable,” Rose said, rolling her eyes but smiling.
Scorpius glanced sideways at her. “They seem happy.”
“They are.”
They were quiet as a breeze rustled the leaves, the fairy lights swaying above them.
“Did you want to be alone?” she asked finally.
Scorpius shrugged. “Not really. Just thinking.”
“Anything particular on your mind?” she dared to ask, silently hoping it was her he was thinking of.
A pause. “Lots of things.”
Rose waited, but he didn’t elaborate. Typical. “You’ve been watching me,” she said, surprising herself with the bluntness.
His head snapped toward her, eyes wide. “What?”
“You’ve been staring at me all night.”
“I haven’t—well—not staring .”
“Okay,” she grinned. “Looking. A lot.”
Scorpius looked away again, shaking his head. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t.”
More silence. Then Rose tilted her head toward him. “So….why were you looking?” she probed.
He hesitated before answering. “Because I wanted to.”
That answer shouldn’t have been satisfying, but it was, and her stomach did a little flip of happiness.
Before she could say anything else, the door creaked open again, and her dad poked his head out. His eyes scanned the garden with suspicion. “Everyone alive?” he asked.
“Still breathing,” Dominique called out.
Ron’s eyes found Rose beneath the oak tree, and his gaze narrowed slightly when he saw who was beside her. Without a word, he started across the lawn, his footsteps quiet in the grass. “Just came to check on you,” he said once he reached her. “Your mum’s out like a light. Crawled into bed without taking her shoes off first.”
“That sounds accurate,” Rose said with a small, awkward smile, hoping he’d go back in the house so she could get back to talking to Scorpius.
Instead, her dad turned his attention to Scorpius. “Malfoy.”
“Mr. Weasley,” Scorpius replied. Though it wasn't visibly noticeable, Rose sensed he was nervous.
Hands in his pockets, her dad rocked casually from toe to heel. “Enjoying yourself?”
Scorpius nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Ron grunted then turned to his daughter. “You all right?”
“I’m fine, Dad,” she huffed.
He looked between them again, then turned to Rose with a raised eyebrow. “You know he fancies you, right?”
Rose blinked. “What?”
Scorpius instantly sat up. “Sir—”
“Relax,” her dad muttered. “I’m not mad….just stating the obvious. Trust me, I know that look.”
Rose’s face went red hot. “ Dad .”
“What? I’m not wrong, I looked at your mum like that for years before she cottoned on.” He paused. “You’ve got good instincts, Rosie. Use them.” He made to start back toward the house but stopped to add. “Also, if you decide to snog under the tree or something... just do it after I’m asleep. Please.”
Rose groaned and buried her face in her hands.
“Goodnight, Mr. Weasley!” a blushing Stephanie called out, drawing a chorus of laughter from the others.
Ron, looking confused but ever polite, called back, “Er…goodnight!” Then, he finally disappeared into the house.
Scorpius sat frozen, somewhere between mortified and amused. “Well,” he said after a beat. “That wasn’t horrifying at all.”
“I might die,” she moaned, hands still covering her face.
“Please don’t. I haven’t even gotten to tell you that you, uh, that you look really pretty tonight.”
Rose glanced up, her embarrassment morphing into something less horrible. “You’re not just saying that because my dad basically gave you permission to snog me?”
“Well,” he said in a slow, teasing voice, “not until after he’s asleep.” Rose groaned again and Scorpius laughed. “Kidding,” he added quickly. “And no, I’ve thought you were pretty for ages.” He looked directly at her this time, eyes soft and honest. “I just didn’t think you noticed me.”
“Well, I did,” she admitted.
They smiled at each other, and for the first time all evening, Scorpius didn’t look away.