Dragon Heartstrings

Rose woke to the sound of Howls and Hippogriffs’ new album blaring downstairs. Rose smiled as she rubbed her eyes, they were Hugo’s latest band obsession, and she guessed he was playing them for everyone who walked through the house. She sat up and looked across the room at the grandfather clock. It had been magically altered by her grandfather, who was more than happy to do so. This clock didn’t just read the time, it offered the date, as well as where her immediate family members currently were. It was similar to the clock Rose had seen at the Burrow. After seeing it was 3:16 in the afternoon, she stood up, stretched, and walked over to her window. She had a clear view of the sea from here, and she wondered what were her chances of convincing her cousins to go for a swim. 

She was still thinking about how she’d get to the beach when she heard a loud, impatient knock. Rose barely had time to register that there was someone there when it burst open and in ran Frankie. She bounded over to Rose and hugged her so tightly Rose had to clap her on the back to get her to release her. 

‘You’re back!’ Frankie beamed at her.

‘I am! I didn’t know you were coming, was it for the surprise party?’ Rose beamed back, she had missed her best friend. 

‘Of course, wouldn't miss it. Al wrote to me telling me to be here before tomorrow, and then sent me another letter this morning when he found out you were here early. So I decided I’d call today instead, I wrote ahead though, to your mum, didn’t want to just drop in and expect dinner and cause chaos an-’ Frankie paused to take a breath.

‘You know you’re welcome here anytime Frankie’ Rose said laughing. ‘Don’t forget to breathe though’ she added.

‘You need to tell me all about it, I want every dragon detail you can think of’, Frankie said, sitting cross legged on Rose’s windowsill, looking at her expectantly. 

Rose smiled and walked around the room, launching into the story she had been wanting to share since she came home.

Frankie was one of Rose’s best friends, the person she was closest to outside of her family. Always supportive and full of energy, Frankie was a firm believer in doing anything that makes you happy, within reason of course. So ultimately she was the first person Rose told when she received word from Charlie that she could spend the Summer in Romania. Frankie was muggle-born, an only child from London, and had never even heard of Harry Potter, or The Golden Trio, or the Battle of Hogwarts, before she started school. It still took her a few years to wrap her head around the history, and to fully comprehend how famous Rose’s family was, and by extension, how well known Rose was herself. The fact that Frankie knew nothing about Rose’s family, led Rose to trust her easily. It had been difficult for children of witches and wizards who played a large part in defeating Voldemort, to navigate making friends and getting jobs, never knowing people’s true intentions. Frankie had none of these prejudices, and her and Rose had been firm friends since first year.

‘Wow, that sounds amazing Rosie’ Frankie gushed, after Rose finished her tales of summer. 

‘It was’ Rose said wistfully, then she stopped short ‘also, don’t think I didn’t notice the hair, full blonde pixie cut?’ Rose asked.

‘Yes, got bored of pink, so said I’d bleach it fully and give myself a blank canvas, thoughts on the gel?’ Frankie asked, turning her head so Rose could see her gelled hair spiked up on top and at the back. 

‘No one would pull it off better than you, but you and Hugo could now pass for twins’, Rose grinned.

‘Well that actually works out perfectly, I’ve always dreamed of being part of the Weasley-Granger-Potter clan’ Frankie replied laughing.

‘Marry Al and you’re sorted’ Rose said, sticking out her tongue.

Rose turned when she heard another knock at her door, but not before she caught her friend turning red. 

Imelda walked in without waiting for a reply, she smiled as she saw Frankie. 

‘Oh thank goodness, I was feeling a little outnumbered down there, they’re having another debate about the need for telephones’ said Imelda fondly. 

‘You know sometimes I agree with them Mel’, Frankie replied, ‘I mean if a bird can find you anywhere, what is the need to be waiting till someone is at home to ring them?’.

‘Granny, how is it looking downstairs?’ Rose said quickly. She loved listening to Imelda and Frankie bonding over both coming from a non-magic world, but this conversation could go on for hours, and she was distracted by the smell of roasted garlic potatoes wafting upstairs through the open door.

‘Ah yes, the boys are downstairs, Molly and your father are trying to make dinner but Hugo keeps playing music while James makes the plates and cups dance so we need an intervention, Albus mentioned something about the beach?’ asked Imelda. 

‘Great, we’ll be right down’  Rose said, happy she didn’t even have to try to convince them of her idea. 

Rose and Frankie made to follow her grandmother out the door when she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She hadn't bothered to change when she took a nap so she was still in her travelling clothes. Her shorts were wrinkled from laying down, and the denim had become loose and faded from the constant wear over the summer, so that they now hung loosely around her hips. She had on an old blue t-shirt, now stained with drips of tea from the morning breakfast. She glanced at Frankie, ‘maybe a quick outfit change?’ Frankie tried to hide a smile and nodded, ‘I’d advise that’. 

‘Did you bring a swimsuit or do you want one of mine?’ Rose said to her as she fished through her wardrobe for a clean shirt.

‘Well I wouldn’t come to Cornwall without one, I’m already wearing mine under my clothes’.

Once Rose had found a swimsuit and gotten dressed, the girls took one more look in the mirror. Rose had kept on her shorts, but changed into a white tank top, with an oversized blue shirt she had taken from her dad’s wardrobe. Through the white top her bikini was just slightly visible. Frankie wore white shorts, paired with a short, green top, and two different colour flip flops. Both girls were tall, reaching just under 5’10. They grinned and linked arms, headed out the door and down the stairs. 

The chaos of the kitchen was briefly paused when James stopped hovering cutlery for enough time to give Rose a hug.

‘Thank Merlin you’re back’ James had to raise his voice to be heard over the Howls and Hippogriffs record, which true to their name, added howls and Hippogriff grunts to their songs. 

Albus shoved his brother aside so he could throw his arm around Rose.

‘Why didn’t you write to say you’d be back early?’ Albus said laughing. ‘We wouldn’t have had to warn everyone on the guest list to keep it a secret’ he added. 

‘Element of surprise Al’ Rose replied, ‘although I wouldn’t have bothered if you weren’t gonna wake up till three o clock’

‘I did not! We were told not to wake you, we came over here at ten’ Albus said putting on mock outrage.

‘It was eleven actually, but that was only because we stayed up late finalising the guest list’ put in a voice from behind Albus. 

Rose looked up, there he was, leaning against the kitchen counter top. He had let his hair grow out longer over the summer, his blonde curls now reaching just below the nape of his neck. From the pictures Rose had seen in the paper, Scorpiius didn’t look much like his father, apart from the eyes, even his hair was a few shades darker than his dads. He, like Rose, had gotten a tan over the summer, Rose guessed he had already been here a few weeks, staying with Al. She glanced quickly at his upper arm, she could see the edge of a tattoo, mostly hidden by the sleeve of his shirt. That’s new, she thought distractedly. 

‘Hello Rose’ he said, smirking. She wondered if he’d noticed her staring. 

‘Afternoon Scorpius, hope you’re not expecting a hug too?’ Rose said, smiling sweetly, although she was gritting her teeth.

‘Wouldn’t give you the pleasure’ Scorpius replied, running a hand through his hair. 

‘It wouldn’t be ideal, I’d have to shower after the stench of yo-’

‘Now now children, let's play nice’ Frankie said, swooping in between them. 

‘I want to see the guest list’ Rose said, directing her attention to Al. 

‘I knew you would, it’s in my bag’ Albus replied, grateful for the change of subject.

‘Why don’t you take your bag to the beach, and bring Hugo, and his music’ her grandmother put her hands on Albus’s shoulders, with the strong implication that this was not just a suggestion. 

‘Gran, I need to be bribed’ James said, giving his Gran an innocent smile.

Molly swatted James’ head with the tea towel she had been holding in her hand, but she passed him a container holding fresh scones.

‘There’s jam and cream here too’ she added, smiling fondly. 

‘Success!’ James cheered. ‘Oi, when are Fred and Roxie calling?’ he asked.

Rose smiled, James and Fred were as thick as thieves, and one without the other caused withdrawals, James had clearly been moping around like a lost puppy the past few weeks. 

‘They’ll be here tomorrow’ Albus told his brother. ‘They’ll collect Lily on the way’.

‘Teddy will be here tonight tho, with Vic’ Harry called from the sitting room.

‘Yes yes, now be on your way please, be back for half five though!’ Molly said as she ushered them out the door.

Rose grabbed a cloth bag and threw in several towels, as well as grabbing a pair of sandals on her way out. 

Rose and Frankie led the way, with James and Hugo behind them, followed by Albus and Scorpius. It took them twenty minutes to reach Porthmeor beach, which was already packed with muggles, on account of the weather that day. They found a quieter spot towards the edge of the beach, and sat down, putting down towels and blankets, and passing around Molly Weasley’s famous scones. 

‘Right’ Frankie said, mouth full of cream scone, ‘pass that list over’.

Albus rooted through his bag and pulled out a long crumpled piece of parchment. Frankie took it from him, then passed it to Rose.

Rose scanned the list, ‘it’s nearly our whole year?’ she asked, surprised.

Al nodded, ‘believe it or not some people really wanted to attend, a few even got onto me even asking for an invite, once word spread’.

‘A chance to see Rose Weasley’s bedroom’ Frankie said wickedly.

Rose laughed, she looked up to see Scorpius watching her. She frowned, he looked away quickly.

‘Sandy and Red are going’ Rose said happily, she loved the twins, and their father would presumably be going too, meaning he could spend the night chatting to her parents and aunt and uncle. 

James snorted, Frankie started giggling.

‘Don’t’ Rose warned, but she too had to bite her cheeks to stop herself from laughing. 

‘I mean really, what sort of logical person calls their children Sandy and Red Wood’ Scorpius said, shaking his head.

‘Oliver Wood is not known for his logic’ Albus said.

‘Pity they never had another child, he could have called them Asher’ Hugo said with a smirk.

‘Ash wood? Stop it I feel bad now’ Frankie said, still giggling.

‘I just don’t think it crossed his mind when calling the twins Sandra and Redmond, that they would most definitely be shortened to Sandy and Red’ Rose said, feeling the need to defend her friend Sandy. 

‘To be fair, I think Red has it the worst, I mean he’s in Gryffindor, is the quidditch captain, and his name is Red Wood?’ James said, adding ‘I hope they know that jokes will be made about it all night tomorrow’.

‘Oh they do’ Rose replied, her friend was well used to it.

‘Oooo Rosie, marry Red and you could be Rose Wood’ Frankie said, causing all to start laughing into his hands. 

‘Yes and name your kid Fire’ Hugo said, robbing the last scone from the box.

‘Enough’ Rose insisted, she didn’t know which was worse, having that name or the idea of being married to Red. He was usually alright as a friend, but always had at least three girls on the go, and told them all he was only dating the one. 

‘You could do better than him,’ Scorpius said quietly. Rose stared at him, she knew her cousins hadn’t heard it, as they were all too busy calling out other names for the Wood children, but she guessed Frankie had, but was just pretending she hadn’t. 

‘Right it’s time for a swim’ Frankie said loudly, Rose turned away from Scorpius, who had caused a blush to spread across her cheeks. 

‘Yes, we’ve got less than an hour to be back for dinner so cmon’ Rose stood up, silently thanking Frankie. 

The group began to take off their shorts and tops, revealing their swimwear. Rose looked over at Scorpius and saw the full tattoo that had been barely visible under his shirt. It was a scorpion, roughly the size of her hand, and curved around to begin at his shoulder and end just halfway up his upper arm. Scorpius caught her eye and raised his eyebrows.

‘When?’ Rose asked, indicating his arm.

‘The start of summer, Al and Noah were staying at mine, we went into London for the evening’ Scorpius replied. Rose was surprised, Scorpius didn’t usually say something directly to her without adding in an insult, or a sarcastic comment. 

‘Yeah we went up to see some muggle band, you’d have liked them Hugo, they all had cool hair’ Albus said. 

‘And then we went into a tattoo parlour while we waited’ Scorpius explained. ‘Noah got a Basilisk, it’s cool actually, he’s got it going winding around his wrist and up to his elbow’. 

‘Show yours’ Frankie said to Albus.

 Albus blushed, he lifted up his shirt and showed a Phoenix, the size of his palm, just above his hip bone.

‘Woah’ Hugo said, leaning in to get a better look, ‘they’re class guys’.

‘Your Patronuses?’ Rose asked.

‘Yeah’ Scorpius replied.

Rose walked closer, and leaned in to look at the scorpion. It was cool, she had to admit, and well done too. It was cute really, the guys getting matching Patronus tattoos. 

‘I want one,’ Frankie said eagerly. ‘Rose, next time we’re in London?’ she turned to her friend.

‘Maybe’ Rose smiled. Her Patronus was a dragon, more specifically a Swedish Short-Snout. She’d always wanted a dragon tattoo, but had planned on waiting till after school, to avoid a guaranteed argument with her parents. 

‘Does Ginny know?’ Rose asked Albus.

‘I haven’t told her,’ Albus said sheepishly, ‘but I’ve shown James, who’s most likely told dad, who definitely would have told mum, so she knows…I think’.

‘Do you think mum would let me get one?’ Hugo asked Rose.

‘Let her adjust to the hair first, then wait till you’re seventeen’ Rose replied, shaking her head smiling. 

They headed towards the water, Rose breathed in the smell of the sea and salt air. Once they had waded in up to their ribs, she dove in headfirst. She squealed as she adjusted to the temperature. She glanced back. James and Hugo were right behind her, Al had hung back with Frankie, unsuccessfully trying to coax her into the cold water. Rose grinned at the two of them. She heard a splash behind her, and saw Scorpius after swimming up ahead of her. She followed him, wanting to prove she was better in the water than him. They kept going until they had placed about five metres between themselves and her brother and James. They treaded water and Rose became aware of the silence that stretched between them. 

Scorpius spoke first, ‘I wish I lived by the beach’.

‘Mmm, not much options for swimming unless you fancy the Thames’

Scorpius pulled a face, ‘the closest nicest beach is over two hours away, I love Cornwall’

Rose was surprised, Scorpius had grown up in London, and she really saw him as a city boy. 

‘Me too’ she replied, Scorpius looked at her, she held his eye contact.

After a moment they turned to hear James shouting, ‘it’s quarter past five, Gran will have a fit if we don’t hurry on’.

Rose made to swim towards the shore, then turned to look Scorpius in the eye.

‘I like your tattoo,’ she said, smiling.

She turned back and began to swim back to shore, not waiting to see his reaction. 

                                                                     *

They arrived back to Rose’s house only ten minutes late, Molly had predicted they would lose track of time, as dinner wouldn’t be ready for another twenty minutes, giving them all time to shower and change. 

Frankie and Rose headed upstairs while the boys went over to Albus’s. 

‘So,’ Frankie said, drying her hair with a towel while Rose searched her wardrobe for something to wear to dinner. 

‘So?’ Rose replied distractedly, she was looking for her white summer dress, and wondered vaguely had Lily taken it while she was away. 

‘Rosie’

‘Frankie’

‘You and Scorpius’

Rose turned. ‘What about me and Scorpius?’ she asked.

‘I saw the two of ye, probably the longest time ye’ve gone without shouting at each other’ Frankie smirked.

‘You and Al seemed comfortable’ Rose smirked back.

‘Don’t change the subject’

‘Don’t avoid mine’

Frankie sighed, ‘well, talk to me when you’re ready’.

Rose looked at her, she hesitated, and then said, ‘he’s acting differently, I can’t explain it’.

‘You don’t have to’ Frankie gave her a warm smile.

‘Go on, what about Al?’ 

Frankie shook her head, ‘when I’m ready’ she said placidly.

Rose nodded, she knew not to push Frankie, and trusted her friend would confide in her when the time was right. 

‘Ah ha! Found it!’ she pulled out the white dress, tucked behind her Holyhead Harpies newest kit. 

The dinner was to be held in the dining room, on account of the sixteen guests. Rose was seated in the middle of the table between her two grandfathers, directly across from her sat Scorpius, in between Harry and Teddy, who was retelling the story of his and Vic’s holiday to his godfather. Rose chatted to her grandfathers between the courses, but by dessert the conversation had drifted into debating the difference between muggle singers and wizards singers. Rose usually tuned out when her grandfathers got into this debate, they loved having muggle inventions and trends versus wizard ones, and had become close friends since her parents had gotten married. She let her eyes wander around the table. Watching Molly and Imelda serve up the dessert, Imelda’s famous banoffee pie recipe, made by Molly. She observed James and Hugo having an intense conversation about some wizard band, more than likely Hugo’s school band, with its ever changing name. As she looked around she felt someone’s eyes on her, she looked across and saw Scorpius watching her. She raised her eyebrows, expecting him to turn away, but he didn’t. Instead he kept watching her, even as she looked away to accept the plate of pie Imelda was handing her. She felt someone nudge her foot. She knew it was him. Could Scorpius Malfoy really be playing footsie with her? She felt her face grow hot, the famous Weasley blush she had inherited was creeping up her neck. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Everyone seemed to be busily engaged in conversations. His foot was circling hers now, but he had started chatting to Teddy, no longer looking at her. Rose frowned, he was winding her up. She pulled her foot out of his reach, and watched his face falter a bit as he listened to Teddy. She smirked. She reached out her foot again, only this time she began tracing the toe of her boot up Scorpius’ ankle, he glanced over at her, she watched him run his hands shakily through his hair. She began to look very interested in her dessert, and focussed on staring down, listening to her grandfather's discussion. She lifted her boot and pushed the leg of Scorpius’ pants higher up his calf. She stole a look at him, he was definitely blushing, she could see his neck grow red and creep up into his cheeks. He ran his hands through his hair again as she heard him ask Teddy about his new job. Rose was taking immense satisfaction in seeing Malfoy under pressure, after all, he had started it. 

She drew her foot back as she heard Molly ask for help with clearing up. 

‘I’ll do it Gran,’ Rose said as she hugged her, thanking her for dinner. ‘It’s your turn to sit down now’.

Rose began to walk around the table, collecting plates as she went. As she stopped next to Scorpius, she held out her hand for his plate, brushing their fingers together as he handed it to her. Rose headed into the kitchen, her hand still tingling.

She washed the dishes on autopilot, cleaning them with a spell her Aunt Angelina had taught her, and drying them absentmindedly with a clean tea towel.

‘You okay hun?’ Rose jumped, as Ginny walked into the kitchen.

‘Of course’ Rose said, a little too quickly.

Ginny smirked, ‘I’ll say nothing’, she picked up another tea towel and started on the rest of the dishes.

‘There's nothing to say’ Rose said, feigning ignorance.

Ginny just replied ‘of course not’, but still remained smiling.

‘Go on, up to bed, I’ll finish these’ Ginny said, taking the towel from Rose’s hands.

‘You sure?’ Rose said, though she was already walking away.

‘Mmmm, oh Rose just one thing’

Rose turned, ‘yes?’

‘Your room is on the third floor’ Ginny said, as she stacked the clean dishes into a pile.

‘What?’ Rose said, confused.

‘I’m just reminding you in case you forget and wander onto the second floor’ Ginny said sweetly. 

Rose narrowed her eyes, she knew what her Aunt was implying, Scorpius was staying in one of the guest rooms tonight with Albus, as Teddy and Vic were staying in their room at the Potters. 

‘I’ll try my best to remember,’ Rose said, rolling her eyes as she made her way up the stairs, careful to pass the second floor landing without stopping. 

                                                                          *