Chapter 3

Later that week, Rose and Scorpius met up at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Rose decided the direct approach was best with her uncle to determine what was planned next. After getting tricked by him, she thought it was best to neutralize him as a threat. Scorpius planned to peruse the shop for items they could use to help fend off further parental attacks. They had ten Galleons to spend between the two of them; they might as well put them to good use.

"Uncle George, that really wasn't very nice of you to trap us that way. I didn't realize my love life was that interesting to you."

"Oh, it isn't, love, but your father's plan was in need of serious help, so I decided to step in and save the day."

"So you aren't going to interfere anymore?"

"Goodness no, the element of surprise is gone. Besides, Angelina would kill me. When she found out what your parents were up to and that I had helped," he gave an involuntary shudder, "well, needless to say I'm staying out of it."

"I always knew she was my favorite aunt!"

"Don't let my sister, or any of your other aunts hear you say that or there will be hell to pay, little one."

"So, two plans down, only two left. I think we can handle that," Rose murmured.

"Actually, only one left, for now, anyway. If it fails, though, I'm sure there will be more."

"WHAT!" Rose shouted. "What do you mean, only one plan left?"

"How many plans are there?" Scorpius asked.

"Three – well, two and a half really, since your mother's plan really couldn't be considered a plan. You managed to sink that one fairly effectively, Scorpius."

"So, what is the third plan?" Scorpius asked.

"You've already fallen to the third plan," George said.

"But you said that there was only one plan left. If Dad's was the third plan, then what was the second plan?" Rose asked, getting more confused and panicky.

"Rose, I don't know the details, and after Angelina's reaction I don't want to know them, but do you honestly think I would interfere with your life if there wasn't at least some evidence that this," he said pointing between Rose and Scorpius, "might be the right thing?"

"What evidence? What was the second plan!" Rose asked, now starting to get a bit hysterical. Scorpius had a sinking feeling in his gut. If they had uncovered Rose's dad's plan, and his mother's plan had failed miserably without their actually knowing what it was, then that meant that Rose's mum and his dad were working together, and that the plan was already in motion. This was not good.

"Rosie, I'm going to ask you a question, and this is the absolute last thing I'm going to say on the subject. So listen carefully. You two are bright enough that you should be able to figure it out and then decide what you want to do about it."

"Okay."

"Have you smelled anything interesting lately?" George asked.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Rose screamed, dumbfounded.

Scorpius paced back and forth; George had said that there was evidence that a relationship between him and Rose was a good thing, and that the evidence had been collected by their smelling something. The only thing he had smelled was the perfume for his mum. With that, the realization set in.

George looked over at Scorpius, who had turned white as a sheet. Good, George thought to himself. The boy had inherited his mother's brain and solid reasoning. Now, hopefully, the cunning he had inherited from his father would kick in, and he would snatch up the amazing witch in front of him. Suddenly, Scorpius' knees wouldn't hold him anymore, and he sat right down in the middle of the floor and buried his face in his hands. Oh, hell, he loved Rose Weasley!

Rose raced over to his side, still not thinking about the clue. "Scorp, what is it, what's wrong?"

"Rose, I'm sorry, love. We are totally fucked." With that, he stood up, still a little shaky, exited the shop and Apparated home to think.

Rose stared after Scorpius. "Uncle George, what just happened?"

"Well, love, I think Scorpius figured out the answer to my question and is trying to figure out how he feels about it."

"Can you clue me in?"

"Clue you in to what, dear?" Aunt Angelina said, coming into the store.

"What Scorpius' and my parents' plans are for us. Don't worry, Aunt Angelina, Uncle George has promised to stay out of it. I just wish he was clearer with his staying out of it." With that, Rose left the shop, worried, frustrated, and more than a little annoyed.

Angelina gave George a look. "Truly, Ange, I promised you I wouldn't interfere, and I haven't. All I did was give them a clue as to why I agreed to help to begin with."

"And?"

"Scorpius figured it out, and Rose ... well, she didn't."

"And you didn't think giving them a clue was interfering? Why didn't you just tell them outright what the evidence was?"

"Now, Ange, what fun would there be in that?" George smirked. "Besides, as you so eloquently put it, they need to figure this out on their own if it's going to last."

***

Rose went to Lily's flat. She thought to herself that she should really move out of her parents' house. She was nearly thirty, making enough money that she could easily afford her own place, and given the amount of parental involvement in her private life, the privacy it would afford would be welcome.

"What's wrong?" Lily said as soon as she closed the door.

"I wish I knew. Scorp and I went to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes today to talk to Uncle George. Next thing I know, he's giving us a clue about the next plan, and Scorp is saying we are fucked and Apparating away."

"What was the clue?"

"'Have you smelled anything interesting lately?' I'm a healer, I smell things every day: good things, bad things, very, very bad things. I don't think I would classify those as interesting, but heck, I don't know."

"And Scorpius' reaction to this was to say you were fucked and to Apparate away?"

"More or less."

"Well, he obviously figured it out."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Lily rolled her eyes at Rose and walked over to the Floo, grabbed a handful of powder, threw it into the fire and yelled, "Scorpius' room!" She knelt over and stuck her head into the flames.

"Scorpius, are you there?"

"What do you want, Lily?"

"Rose is here; she's worried about you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, go away."

"What does the clue mean? What do you mean that you're fucked?"

Scorpius got out of bed and sat down in front of the fire. "No offense, Lily, but this is none of your business."

"Well, if you won't tell me, tell Rose. I'll get her."

"No! I really don't want to talk to Rose right now. I just need some time to think."

"Think about what? I'm no slouch, Malfoy, and I have to say Uncle George's clue is pretty meaningless."

"It is NOT meaningless. It was actually pretty damn good. Look, Lily, I don't imagine you would get it, but trust me when I tell you the answer to his clue changes fucking everything. I need think about it."

"Merlin! Suck it up, Malfoy; we are coming through."

"The hell you are! Tell Rose to get her head out of her arse and to figure the clue out on her own." With that, he pushed Lily's head out of his fireplace and warded his Floo.

"Hmm, Scorpius isn't in the mood for company at the moment," Lily said, fixing her hair while trying to buy time.

"What did he say?"

"That the answer to the clue changes everything and that you needed to it figure out by yourself."

"What. Did. He. Say. Exactly."

"To get your head out of your arse and figure it out on your own," Lily said with a sigh.

"Oh," Rose said with a bit of maniacal gleam in her eye, "May I borrow your owl, Lily?"

"No. Now, Rose, you need to calm down. Use your head."

"I'm sorry, Lily; apparently, I can't use my head because IT IS SHOVED UP MY ARSE!" Rose shouted as she grabbed some Floo powder, threw it in the fireplace, shouted for her room and stepped into the flames.

"Shit!" Lily penned a quick note to Scorpius, tied it to her owl Evan, and sent him on its way.

Scorpius opened the window and let Evan in. The owl flew off as soon as the letter was off his leg, seeming to sense Scorpius' mood. Lily's note was simple: Howler coming, move to America, you've been warned. Scorpius didn't doubt that Rose was upset with him. He wasn't sure that she knew how to make a Howler, but he warded his windows just in case.

He really did love her, temperament and all. The signs had been there for a while. How her smile made him feel lighter. How she was the first person he wanted to talk to in the morning, and the last one at night. How she smelled, the damn smell, like sensuality incarnate. His physical reaction to her had been strong since he first discovered that there were more interesting things to do with girls than pull their hair. Merlin, don't even get him started on her hair! Holding her in his arms while they had been trapped had felt so right, almost as if he were home. So the question now was what to do about it.

***

Scorpius opened the door to great Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Unfortunately, Anastasia, Rose's owl, was with them, and as it turned out, Rose did indeed know how to make a Howler. The second Anastasia saw Scorpius she dropped the envelope and flew as fast as she could away from the Malfoy summer home.

"You'd better open it, son. She sent that owl about two hours ago," Ron said with a sympathetic look.

Scorpius opened the letter, and Rose's voice came out at the level of shriek.

"MY HEAD IS SHOVED UP MY ARSE, IS IT? HOW DARE YOU TELL ME WE ARE FUCKED AND THEN FUCK OFF? AS IF YOU COULD KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FUCKING ANYWAY, WITH THAT TINY EXCUSE FOR A PRICK! I'M FAIRLY SURE THE ONLY THING IT IS FIT FOR IS BUGGERING A FLOBBERWORM! AND DON'T THINK I FORGOT ABOUT THE 'SEXY' COMMENT, EITHER!"

At this point, Draco cast Silencio on the Howler which continued to shout for a few more seconds before exploding. "I take it that those were the dulcet tones of your daughter, Weasley?" Draco quipped.

"Dad, before you say anything to disparage your future daughter-in-law, I did somewhat deserve that. Well, not the disparaging my pr ... umm ... personal parts, but I did desert her and tell her to pull her head out of her arse, so I guess a little insulting back can be expected. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll see if I can't calm her down some."

With that, he stepped out the door and Apparated, leaving four very confused people in his wake.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait between updates, they should be a little faster now. Thank you to julymorning for betaing and making my insults more British! Finally, thank you to my reviewers, you make doing this worthwhile.