Chapter 10 – The Party

Rose and Scorpius were officially married.

The happy couple walked back down the aisle together in blissful wedded relief, hand in hand, the atmosphere around them buzzing with happiness and excitement from their loved ones. Neither could wipe the soppy grins from their faces.

Feeling like lovesick teenagers all over again, as soon as they burst through the doors they collapsed against the wall, dissolving into fits of giggles, alone for the first time as husband and wife.

"We did it," Scorpius murmured, pulling Rose back into his arms. "We actually did it."

"And now you're stuck with me for the rest of your life," Rose giggled, leaning into his chest.

"I could think of far worse fates."

Rose beamed up at him, her arms still tightly wrapped around him. Scorpius had been her boyfriend, her ex, her friend, and her fiancé, and now he was her husband. "Did my dad have the 'chat' with you?"

"Oh, yes," Scorpius recalled teasingly. "As did James."

"James? Really?"

"He felt, in the absence of an elder brother figure, he needed to be the one to assure me there'd be no end to my physical pain if I ever mess you around."

"How sweet of him," Rose teased.

Scorpius had twisted his fingers through Rose's, his other arm still cradling her waist. "I like this addition to your finger," he said, admiring the shiny new wedding band. Rose and Scorpius had opted for simple silver rings, no embellishments or fancy decorations. Instead, invisible to observers, two words were engraved into the inner curve of the bands. Scorpius' read Forever, whilst Rose's read Always.

"I'm rather fond of it too," Rose said coyly.

"And I like this dress."

Rose had quite forgotten Scorpius had never set eyes on her wedding dress. He hadn't been at any of the fittings, and Ebony had scared Rose into not letting Scorpius see it before the wedding. She'd agreed to uphold the superstition, purely out of fear that the wedding would be ruined if she didn't honour it.

The redheaded bride looked down at her dress with flattered pride. Like the rings, she'd opted for simplicity when it came to the dress. No fancy manipulations or embellishments, it was pure white duchess satin, A-line, with a fitted strapless bodice and a full, voluminous skirt, with the only slight extravagance being the train that trailed behind her.

"If you step on it whilst we're dancing…" Rose teasingly warned.

"Ah, no fear, I'm quite the dancer."

Anybody else would have thought he was joking, but Rose knew there was actually a lot of truth in Scorpius' words. She thought back to the night they'd met, at a Hogwarts ball during Fourth Year, and how he had taken her by pleasant surprise when he'd quite literally whisked her around the dancefloor, with ease and grace that most boys his age seemed to lack.

And to think, five years later, he'd be whisking her around the dancefloor again, as husband and wife. Rose wished she could see the excitement on her fifteen-year-old self's face if someone were to tell her that she'd one day be experiencing what the present day Rose was – her wedding to the forbidden boy. The boy her family had warned her about, had loathed and detested, and done everything in their power to keep them apart.

If somebody had told fifteen-year-old Rose that Ron would willingly and happily walk her down the aisle and give her away to Scorpius, Draco and Lucius Malfoy also in attendance, she would have laughed.

And yet, that is precisely what had just happened.

"Your grandparents," Rose said suddenly, as the memory surfaced. "I – I didn't know they were coming."

"Neither did I," Scorpius said, looking a little dazed himself. "I'm, err, I'm still trying to take that in."

And not only had Lucius Malfoy attended Rose and Scorpius' wedding, he had done so in complacent silence. He had not argued, protested, or tried to prevent it in any way. He had attended, then, because he wanted to? Because, despite their differences, he had wanted to be with his grandson on the most important day of his life and watch him get married?

Rose was not so convinced. But she didn't want her paranoia to play up on what had so far been a beautiful and happy day. So she accepted it for what it was. Or, at least, what it seemed to be.

But another memory surfaced, a more pleasant one, that made Rose smile. "The song," she said excitedly, beaming up at Scorpius with adoration again. "That was a surprise!"

Scorpius returned the smile and kissed the top of her veiled head. "Well, I had to do something," he teased. "And it seemed the only way to actually get my input in was to not tell you about it."

"It was beautiful," Rose praised. "I'm glad you didn't tell me. Maybe I should have let you help more…"

"Rose, honestly, the ceremony was perfect. I wouldn't change it in any single way."

It had been perfect. Rose couldn't have been more delighted with the way it had turned out in the end. All that worrying for nothing!

"I'm sorry I kissed you before we'd finished the vows."

"Rose," Scorpius said in alarm, "don't ever apologise for kissing me!"

"It was just… it was really beautiful – what you said."

"Yeah?" Scorpius looked flattered. "Well, you know, sometimes I can say romantic things. I was going to make a joke and call you 'Freckles' but I don't think you'd have appreciated it."

"I wouldn't have."

Scorpius snorted, and soon enough Rose was dissolving into another fit of giggles. Scorpius pulled her into his arms again, both of them still laughing. He kissed her firstly on her forehead, then her nose, and finally her lips.

"Oi, oi," James' familiar voice piped up.

Rose and Scorpius opened their eyes, remaining in place but glaring at James with a sideways glance. He looked idiotically happy.

"Come on, we don't want to see this. Save it for tonight," he said with a wink and a nudge to Scorpius' arm.

James wasn't alone; the rest of the wedding guests were all starting to spill from the room. Rose was saddened that her stolen moment with Scorpius was over. They'd barely be alone for the rest of the day, not with wedding photographs and then the reception. But, she thought happily, she'd be spending the rest of her life with Scorpius, and they'd have many a private, stolen moment during that time.

Rose lowered herself from her tiptoes (kissing Scorpius was always a bit of a struggle when she was so much shorter than him), but kept her arms wrapped around her husband's waist, his hand gently cradling her back.

"Right, so, congratulations and stuff," James said to the couple. "Is the bar open yet?"

"James," Rose warned. But he was already gone.

"Sorry about that," Ebony sighed, shaking her head as she looked after her husband. "The ceremony was beautiful," she told the couple, smiling proudly. "Congratulations."

With a quick hug with both the bride and groom, she too was gone.

As Rose and Scorpius waited politely by the doors as their guests filtered out in a line, offering congratulations, hugs, and handshakes, they felt more united than ever.

Hermione had barely passed through the doors before she was throwing herself at her daughter, Ron loitering just behind. "It was beautiful," she insisted. "It was so beautiful. You were beautiful, and the things you said – oh, they were beautiful. And –"

"Thanks, Mum," Rose interrupted, trying to move her along.

Hermione took a step back, laughing gently, and trying to regain her composure. "We're so proud of you. Of both of you," she said on behalf of her and her husband.

Ron nodded in agreement before stretching out a formal hand to Scorpius. The blond man took it gratefully. "Thank you, Sir," he said politely. "For everything you've done for me and Rose. I'm very much looking forward to spending my life with your charming daughter."

Scorpius could see Rose laughing out of the corner of his eye.

Ron shook his head, laughing himself. "I have told you, countless times, not to call me 'Sir.'"

"Can I call you 'Dad' now?" Scorpius asked with a cheeky smile.

"Absolutely not."

"Fair enough."

Ron released his grip on Scorpius' hand and made to move on to his daughter. Hermione cleared her throat, stopping him before he could do so, and looked at him expectantly. Ron's smile dropped. Hermione raised her eyebrows.

Looking uncomfortable and defeated, Ron turned back to Scorpius, hesitated momentarily, and before either he or anybody else could think twice of it, pulled Scorpius into a bear hug and slapped him on the back.

It ended almost as abruptly as it had happened. "Welcome to the family," Ron said in a gruff, unimpressed voice, refusing to look Scorpius in the eye, before offering Rose a hasty kiss on her cheek and walking away from the couple without a single look back.

Hermione looked thrilled. "Have fun," she said excitedly before hurrying after her husband.

Scorpius was frozen in shock, whilst Rose actually doubled over with laughter.

"Rose, you're dad just hugged me. You're dad just hugged me."

Rose struggled to say anything, wheezing in-between bouts of laughter. "Oh my gosh – you're face – and you – and he – and –"

Rose straightened up sharply, all traces of laughter gone from her face in a heartbeat. Draco Malfoy had just appeared through the doors. And he wasn't alone. Serephina was by his side, and just behind him, they were accompanied by his parents.

Draco gave his son a warm hug, even though the poor man looked just as scared as Rose did at the appearance of Lucius and Narcissa. "I'm really proud of you," Draco assured him. "And… I really think your mother would have been too." He spoke to Scorpius but looked at Rose, before offering her a gentle smile.

Rose returned it, but her heart wasn't it.

"You guys," Serephina said, like she was a proud mother.

Rose was taken aback by how tall Serephina had gotten. She was so used to seeing the girl as that delicate twelve-year-old she'd been when she'd first met her. Now at eighteen, Serephina was far taller and leggier than Rose, her trademark Malfoy hair swinging down to her hips.

"Nice one, bro," she said to Scorpius. "And welcome to the family, Rose!" she squealed.

Rose didn't feel at ease as Serephina flung her arms around her, peering over the younger girl's shoulder at the two people she was still terrified to meet. Lucius Malfoy seemed to have pressed his lips into an even tighter grimace at Serephina's talk of Rose being one of the family.

As she was released, Rose finally found herself, for the first time in her life, face to face with Lucius Malfoy. He looked down on her coldly, Narcissa offering a much more genuine and warm smile by his side.

The elderly couple oozed sophistication and wealth, a complete contrast to anything Rose had ever known within her own family. The way they were dressed – the way they held themselves – it was highly intimidating to the homely girl.

Scorpius had gone as white as paper, unsure how to address either of them.

"Scorpius," Lucius said in an emotionless drawl. Narcissa embraced her grandson, kissing his cheek. Scorpius did not break eye contact with his grandfather.

"You – you came?" he asked uncertainly.

Not that they'd ever discussed it, but Rose was certain Scorpius hadn't seen or talked to his grandparents in years. Or, at least, his grandfather.

Draco was lurking off to the side, watching his father like a hawk, ready to intervene if necessary. Serephina lolled by his side, inspecting her nails.

"Of course we did," Narcissa said kindly. "We wouldn't miss this for the world – our grandson getting married!"

"Indeed," Lucius said, a disconcerting smirk on his face. He was now looking at Rose. She felt his stare boring into her, as though penetrating her very soul.

Scorpius put a gentle but protective hand on the small of her back.

Lucius did not look away from Rose. And then, to her horror, he addressed her directly. "Rose Weasley," he said slowly, dragging out her name with what appeared to be amusement.

"Mr Malfoy, Sir," she said in a quiet voice, her lip trembling. She felt, all of a sudden, a compulsion to curtsy. She didn't, but shyly dropped her gaze, terrified to look him in the eye any longer.

"And will you be taking our family name?" he drawled.

It was not the question Rose had expected. She and Scorpius shared a bewildered look. "I, err, I haven't yet decided," she said. "Sir," she added for good measure.

And it was true. Rose hadn't pondered too much on whether she would take the Malfoys' name, or whether she would remain a Weasley. Was Lucius implying she couldn't?

"Interesting," was all he said, still looking down his nose at her.

Draco was starting to get agitated in the side lines. "Father, it would be an honour for Rose to become a Malfoy. Not that we would expect it of her," he added quickly, looking at Rose.

Lucius cocked his head to look at his son, that unnerving smirk still on his face. "I don't recall ever saying it wouldn't be, Draco."

Draco glared at his father, not wishing to cause an argument. "Good," he said firmly.

Lucius looked back to Rose, still with an air of nobility that patronised her to no end. He said nothing. His gaze rolled over to Scorpius. Taking them once more by surprise, he extended a gloved hand to his grandson. When Scorpius took it, a little tentatively, Lucius said, "Congratulations," with the grace of someone who might have actually meant it.

Scorpius cocked his head, as though expecting this might be a trick of sorts. When nothing more was said, and Lucius released his grip, he was more confused than ever. "Are you staying for the reception?" he asked stupidly, not sure how to handle the situation.

"Oh, no, dear," Narcissa answered on behalf of them. "We, ah, we have an engagement this evening, but we wanted to come to the ceremony at least."

Scorpius knew immediately, from the slight hesitance in Narcissa's apology, that she was lying about being busy that evening. Either Lucius did not want to be there, or Narcissa had recognised it would be uncomfortable for those also in attendance for the unexpected couple to be there. There were an awful lot of Weasleys, after all. Including Arthur, whom Lucius had never seen eye-to-eye with.

And yet, Scorpius was deeply moved that they'd both come to the ceremony. He did not feel completely at ease with his grandfather's supposedly calm demeanour with regards to the whole situation, and his uncharacteristic offer of congratulations, but how could he do anything but accept it? Why would he do anything but accept it?

It was surreal, yes, and highly unnerving, but it seemed, for the most part, to be a blessing. Scorpius was not going to waste that moment of relief. He also respected the informed decision not to stay to the reception. "Thank you for coming," he said politely.

With a final nod of his head, and with his eyes rolling over Rose with that same penetrating gaze, Lucius Malfoy left the venue, his wife by his side.

Scorpius looked to his father for help – for any kind of explanation of what had just happened.

"I didn't know they were coming," Draco apologised, looking after where his parents had just left, with great discomfort. "I'm sorry."

"No… it's fine," Scorpius dismissed, still surprised that it really had been fine. Rose was still frozen in shock by his side. He stroked her back soothingly, smiling down at her. "You alright?" he gently asked.

She nodded, still not blinking. "I think that was the scariest thing I've ever done."

"Ah, and now you know how I feel about every single interaction with your father."

"Oh Merlin, at least your grandfather didn't hug me – I think the shock might have killed me!"

"I think the shock might have killed him," Scorpius laughed.

Even Draco was smiling. "I'll see you this evening," he said, dismissing himself to allow them to continue seeing guests out. Serephina followed him.

Next came the bridesmaids, Jinx, Lily, and the rest of the guys – Sam, Albireo, Albus, and, Rose noticed with an oddly painful lurch, Mason. The Gryffin-Girls had pulled her into a group hug, all squealing and laughing, before Rose could get too distracted.

"Congrats, Rosie!" Janey yelled with so much excitement that it made Rose's ears wring. Gwen and Taylor offered much more civil, calm congratulations, before moving on.

Albus came next, staring a little wistfully after the retreating girls. Rose couldn't understand why at first. She blinked in surprise.

Albus, noticing her curious and suspicious look, seemed to get riled up. "I didn't sleep with her," he insisted.

Rose sighed and rolled her eyes in response, remembering now, one of the many shocking things she'd discovered last night. And her fierce order that Albus wasn't to repeat such an action on that night. "Albus –"

"I didn't!"

"I wasn't accusing you of," Rose laughed, finding it comical how defensive he'd gotten. "Honestly? I'm not going to pretend I understand any of this, and believe me, I will be getting the truth out of Taylor as soon as possible, but, you know, if you really do want to be with her –"

"I don't want to be with her," he said, horrified.

"Alright, sleep with her, whatever –"

"Rose!"

"Oh, come one, Albus, I'm trying to give you my blessing here!"

"I don't want it," he said sulkily.

"Alright," Rose relented, more confused than ever, but deeply amused by it all. "Well, thank you, at least, for letting me marry your best friend."

Albus looked at Scorpius then, with a look of sudden enlightenment about him. "That means we're officially related," he breathed.

He and Scorpius shared a sort of impressed, brotherly look with each other. Rose found it all rather sweet.

Mason did not linger. He shook hands with Scorpius politely, offered congratulations, and then gave a weak smile to Rose. Had she not had the conversation she'd had with him just over an hour ago, she would have hugged him.

But she didn't. She watched him sadly, too uncomfortable to return his forced smile. They said nothing to each other, that same emotional tension passing between them in silent communication. He eventually cleared his throat and nodded at her, before he too moved on to the other room.

After sharing warmer interactions with Sam, Jinx, and Albireo (Rose and Scorpius were both deeply impressed by the two latter's continued civility and respect towards each other), they found themselves face to face with the youngest Potter child.

Whereas Serephina had shot up in height, Lily remained shorter than Rose. But like the Malfoy girl, her red hair had grown down to her waist, making her look more like her mother than ever before. Rose's heart ached, just as it had done on her hen do, as it really sunk in how grown up Lily was. No longer that pixie-like little girl, she was an adult. She was a woman.

"It was as beautiful as it was all those years ago when I first saw it," Lily told them fondly, referring to her prophetic vision of the wedding. Lily had known, longer than any of them, that Rose and Scorpius would one day tie the knot. She had known even before Rose and Scorpius had officially met.

"Really?" Rose asked breathlessly.

"And you're not at all indignant to who the bride turned out to be?" Scorpius teased.

Lily rolled her eyes. When she had first foreseen the wedding she had misinterpreted the redheaded bride as being herself, thinking she was destined to marry Scorpius. It had led to a series of confusing and complicated events.

But that was all in the past now.

"Honestly, I couldn't be happier with how things turned out," Lily assured them both.

"Do you think things would have worked out the same way?" Rose suddenly asked, looking at Scorpius with curiosity. "If Lily hadn't ever intervened with the love potion – if the whole world hadn't been against us – would we have fallen in love as much as we did? Would we have gotten married?"

"Definitely not," Scorpius said.

Rose rolled her eyes at his smirk, lightly punching him on the arm.

"Nah," he assured her, "I'm pretty sure, whatever the circumstances would have been, we'd have ended up together. I don't know about you, but I was always destined to fall in love with you."

Rose stared up at him lovingly, reaching out a hand to cradle one side of his face, their eyes locked in a tender gaze.

"Do you want me to leave?" Lily snorted.

"Yes," Scorpius said, at the same time as Rose said, "No, of course not!" immediately withdrawing her hand.

"Yeah, well, I need to get drunk anyway," Lily said.

"Lily, it's the middle of the afternoon!"

"So?" she asked with a shrug. "Everybody else is."

Rose didn't doubt that.

"Aren't you… worried, though?" Lily asked her cousin, dropping her voice to a low and serious tone.

Rose was taken aback. "About what?"

Lily widened her eyes as though trying to convey something. "About… tonight," she said uncomfortably. "The – the reception."

Why, because everybody was going to be getting drunk? No, Rose thought with deep amusement, she was over that. In fact, she probably wanted to get a little tipsy herself. She was no longer worried about her wedding being a disaster; so far it had gone beautifully, and she was happier than ever.

It took only a second longer for Rose to truly see the horror in Lily's eyes, before it hit her. It was like someone had flicked a switch within her, all that banished anxiety and paranoia suddenly flooding back in.

Someone is going to die at your wedding.

Rose had forgotten; she had forgotten somebody was destined to die that night. How could she have let herself get so distracted?

She turned to Scorpius with a look of desperate longing. He must have realised at the same time.

"Rose, it will be fine," he said in a soothing voice.

"But Scorpius –"

"It will be fine," he said again, looking meaningfully at Rose and then at Lily. "Please, both of you just enjoy this evening. In spite of everything else that's happened, the wedding has been a success so far. Don't let this worry prevent you from truly enjoying it."

"Scorpius," Lily trembled, "I know what I saw."

"And I'm telling you – both of you – whatever happens tonight will happen whether we worry about it or not. We will deal with any problem that occurs when it happens. Do not dwell on it until that time."

Rose released the breath she'd been holding. He was right; she knew he was right. But the worry still haunted her. How could it not?

It had been such a beautiful day. In spite of all her trivial worries about it all, and even with the problems that had occurred (which she now realised weren't really problems at all), she had truly had a lovely, memorable day – one that she would cherish forever.

But not if one of her loved ones died.

How could she enjoy the honeymoon, how could she enjoy marriage, if the start was marked by a terribly tragic event? The day would be ruined, no matter how beautiful it had been up until that point. Scorpius surely had to understand that.

"There's nothing we can do," he said weakly, as though sensing Rose's thoughts. "Please, please, don't let it get to you." He twisted his fingers back through hers like he had done before. "For me?"

Rose focused on both the engagement ring and the new addition of the wedding band, held up in front of her, catching the light. "You can only use that once throughout our whole marriage," she said playfully.

"What?"

"The 'do it for me' card."

"Once?" Scorpius echoed. "Ah, come on, ten times at least. You know I'll need them."

"Twice."

"Five times."

"Fine."

"Okay, but that's in addition to this one, right?"

She rose up onto her tiptoes in order to kiss him on the cheek. "We'll see. Use them wisely."

Evening descended upon the hotel. True to her word, Rose had done her best to enjoy the day, pushing certain worries as far from her mind as possible. But every now and again they'd creep back in, surfacing to the front of her mind before she could stop them. For five minutes she'd be in a blind state of panic, eyes obsessively darting around the ballroom for signs of danger, and to check the men closest to her seemed to be safe and thriving.

And then she'd get sucked back into the joyous atmosphere of the evening, champagne flowing, people laughing, dancing, and generally having a good time. Only to have that sudden worry surface once more, in which she'd go through the whole routine again.

It was a vicious cycle.

"Dance with me," Scorpius ordered, appearing out of nowhere, realising his bride was about to start freaking out again.

"There're only so many times that will work," she laughed. But she allowed him to pull her into the centre of the room anyway, holding her as tenderly as he had done when they'd been teenagers. Staring into his eyes, and blissfully swaying to the music, put her at ease immediately.

The reception had only just begun. Or rather, the party bit of the reception. They'd had the photographs, the meal, the speeches, and the first dance. (Rose had thrown the bouquet to the eager unwed women. Janey had caught it without even trying, realised in horror what had just happened, and dropped it to the floor like it was a bomb). Everything had gone smoothly.

Too smoothly.

"Just relax," Scorpius advised.

"You say that, but –"

"Rose, look at me. Do I have to drag you back to the bridal suite again?"

"Not just yet, Scorpius," she chastised. "Have some class."

"No, no, not like that," he laughed. "I mean, do I have to sit you back down on the bed again, pour you some scotch, kiss you, and tell you to calm down?"

"That depends on what your intentions are," she said, raising her eyebrows with a smirk. "Last time you did that I ended up taking my top off."

"Rose, I'm not trying to rush you into bed," Scorpius insisted, trying to act serious despite the laughter he was suppressing. "Unless, you know, you think that would calm you down. In which case I'm definitely not going to not do everything in my power to help you."

"If we disappear, everyone will know."

"Rose, it's our wedding night, everybody is expecting it," he reminded her.

"Oh Merlin," she said in disgust, realising it was true. "That's so awkward… You know what would be fun though?" she asked excitedly.

"What?"

"If we didn't."

"Please tell me you're joking…"

"Why?" she challenged. "Would you love me any less if I suddenly told you I wanted to have a celibate marriage?"

"No," Scorpius gulped, suddenly horrified that she wasn't joking. "But," he said slowly, "I've heard it's actually very healthy for married couples to, ah, be intimate every single day…"

"Really?" she snorted. "From who?"

Scorpius paused momentarily. "James."

"Ah," she humoured. "You get all your bedroom advice from my cousin?"

"Oh my God," Scorpius said suddenly, looking over her shoulder in horror, and dropping Rose's hold.

"Scorpius, I was joking," Rose said in alarm as he made to walk away from her.

"Oh my God," he growled, his look of horror morphing into one of vicious anger.

Rose gathered up the skirt of her wedding dress in order to follow him. Recognising his sudden horror and aggression was concentrated on someone behind her, or some event that might have been unfolding, she feared the worst.

"What? What?" she asked shrilly. "What is it?"

It was happening, it was happening, it was happening. This was it; someone was about to die.

Rose hurried after her husband, he himself briskly marching towards the commotion. Her eyes darted around the ballroom in a panic, struggling to identify just where the commotion was, exactly. But nothing seemed to have changed.

Guests were still laughing, chatting, drinking, dancing – everybody as relaxed and content as they had been before.

No, Rose realised, Scorpius hadn't identified who was about to die; he was just heading for the bar. Although very determinedly, at that. Had she really offended him that much?

"Scorpius, I'm sorry," she pleaded, still hurrying after him, struggling to manoeuvre the skirts of her dress by herself. "I'm sure you're a much better lover than James!"

"Excuse me?" the man himself asked, spinning around on his heel as she rushed past. Ebony, Janey, and Sam, who had all been engaged in conversation with him, turned to look at her in surprise.

Rose ignored them, intent on catching up to Scorpius as he approached the bar. "Scorpius, I –"

But she stopped, both vocally and physically, as she saw whom was at the bar, immediately understanding Scorpius' abrupt hostility. "What are you doing here?" he growled.

Rose was deeply surprised. She had not seen Deneb Jacobson in around three years, and she had certainly not invited him to her wedding.

He had always been of the dark, brooding, and mysterious persona, charming both physically and in his manner, capturing, and often discarding, the hearts of many young girls who had been shallow enough to get sucked in by the façade he used. Rose was ashamed to admit she'd once been one of them.

He had always been classically handsome, in a very obvious, very manly sort of way, and the maturity of three years had done wonders to deepen this. But Rose knew better.

Slytherin, the year above Rose and Scorpius, Deneb Jacobson was a snake of a man. Scorpius had deeply loathed him during their shared time at Hogwarts, despite both playing for the Slytherin Quidditch team, his hatred deepening after Deneb's excessive attempts to win over both Rose and Ebony, both of whom Scorpius was deeply protective.

But both girls were not so blind to his nature. Rose had been incredibly flattered when she'd first met Deneb at fifteen years old (a few months after she'd met Scorpius, in fact), sucked in by his charm, just as countless other girls had been before and after her. But his appeal had instantly faded the moment Scorpius had intervened, revealing him for what he was.

In fact, Rose thought coyly, it had been Deneb's attempt to charm Rose that had been the boost Scorpius had needed to ask her to be his girlfriend, following several months of flirtatious interaction and a beautiful first kiss.

Rose had even briefly considered dating Deneb as a revenge tactic when Scorpius had broken up with her to be with Ebony. She hadn't, of course. Since that first night, she had never seen him as anything than what he really was. A heartless user. A snake.

Ebony too, was an incredibly smart girl. Despite his frequent attempts to seduce her, Ebony had always been immune to the 'Deneb effect.'

Done with reminiscing, Rose was suddenly brought back to the present. She was at her wedding reception. Deneb Jacobson was casually sat at the bar, enjoying a drink with Serephina Malfoy by his side. Who, Rose noted, looked furious at her brother's intrusion.

Oh no, Rose thought. It all clicked into place.

Deneb was coolly and calmly smirking at Scorpius. "I'm having a drink –"

"Like hell, you are," Scorpius growled, roughly grabbing hold of Deneb's collar, dragging him from the barstool.

"Scorpius!" Rose shrieked, as Serephina leapt down from her own barstool, also shrieking.

Scorpius released Deneb, giving him a rough shove. The two men stared each other down, as other guests started to notice the disturbance. Oh my God, Rose suddenly thought. Was Scorpius going to kill Deneb? Although, admittedly, she'd find his death highly preferable to someone she actually cared about, she did not want her husband of less than twenty-four hours to be a murderer.

"Were you going to mention to me that you invited him?" Scorpius demanded, turning his anger on Rose.

"I didn't invite him!" she protested.

"Well, who did? Because I sure as hell didn't, and if you –"

"I did, you psycho!" Serephina yelled at her brother.

Scorpius looked at her sharply, too confused for it to fully piece together. "What?"

"He's my plus-one for the reception," she explained calmly, though there was fury burning in her eyes.

"Your…? You… what?"

"I invited Deneb," Serephina said impatiently, folding her arms. "He's my date for the evening. Alright?"

"N-no," Scorpius stuttered, eyes darting confusedly between his angry little sister and the boy, the man, he hated, who was lurking just behind her with a triumphant sort of smirk. "Date?" he spat, like it was a dirty word. "Serephina, do you even know him? When have you and Deneb Jacobson ever –"

"Of course I do," Serephina interrupted, rolling her eyes.

"B-but – but you – and him – and – why? Why would you ever – I mean – what could you possibly –"

"Scorpius, please," Rose whispered, finding his aggravated stuttering embarrassing. Oh Merlin, it was obvious. But if Scorpius hadn't twigged… Well, Rose didn't want to be the one to tell him.

"No!" Scorpius yelled, still glaring at Serephina and Deneb, even though it had been Rose who'd interrupted him. "This is my wedding, and he is not welcome, and I don't… I don't understand why you and him are even –"

"Isn't it obvious?" Deneb scoffed, greatly enjoying how much he was getting under his rival's skin.

Serephina shot him a glare that let him know he wasn't helping. "Scorpius," she said irritably, turning back to her brother, "stop being so childish about this. Honestly."

"About what?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"The nature of mine and Deneb's" – she gulped – "relationship."

Scorpius' eyes very visibly widened.

I think Serephina has a boyfriend… She's been acting really strange and elusive recently. She's always sneaking around, and she keeps trying to avoid me – like she's hiding something.

Rose dropped her head into hands, anticipating the rage her husband was about to fly into. Is this what it felt like to be her mother? Every time Ron had kicked off at Rose about Scorpius when they were younger?

"WHAT?" he roared. "Serephina," he said in a dangerous voice.

Rose grabbed hold of his arm as he made to advance. "Scorpius," she hissed.

Scorpius ignored her, but didn't take another step, instead concentrating all of his fury into glaring at his sister. "You are seriously telling me that you – that you and him are – are? He's four years older than you!" he accused. "You don't even know him!"

"I'm eighteen, Scorpius," Serephina reminded him with a challenging tone. "And I do know him. Very well."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Scorpius demanded.

"And it's not like I haven't dated before!"

"What? Who?" Scorpius demanded. "Who have you dated before? I want names."

"Listen here, Malfoy –"

"GET OUT!" Scorpius roared, positively furious that Deneb had had the nerve to address him. "You are not welcome here."

"You're such an arse," Serephina screamed at him. "After how supportive I was of you!"

"That's different," Scorpius dismissed. "Believe me, Serephina, I know Deneb. He's only using you to get back at me. He doesn't care about you!"

"You don't know the first thing about him!"

"Oh, and I suppose you do?"

"As a matter of fact –"

"GET. OUT," Scorpius roared again, appalled that Deneb was even still there.

"Fine," Serephina huffed, turning to leave.

"Scorpius, she's your sister!" Rose said to him, appalled. "Are you seriously going to turn her away from your own wedding?"

"If she insists on remaining with him – who is not welcome – then maybe I don't want her here."

Deneb looked unfazed, still glaring at Scorpius from behind Serephina. "Come on, Seffie."

"Don't call her that," Scorpius said agitatedly, lurching forwards.

Rose knew she wouldn't be able to restrain Scorpius by herself. Fortunately she didn't have to, as Draco Malfoy came skidding over to the commotion. "What's going on here?" he demanded.

"Serephina is dating this arsehole –"

"Scorpius!" Rose yelled again, mortified.

Draco turned to look at the 'arsehole' his son had just ungracefully introduced as Serephina's boyfriend, with an air of curiosity and slight amusement. Deneb's expression remained stone cold, like he was not the slightest bit intimidated or embarrassed.

Unlike Ron, Draco seemed to be civil and accepting at the sudden news that his daughter was dating. Especially considering Scorpius had introduced him so unfavourably.

"We were just leaving," Serephina said, with a cold look to her brother. "We know when we're not welcome."

"You are welcome," Scorpius said. "He, on the other hand, is not. And if you insist on staying with him –"

"Which I do."

"– then you can both get out."

"Scorpius," Draco said condemningly, like his son was still a little boy and not a fully grown man. "I really don't think there's any need for this. You can't just kick out your sister and her… friend," he said delicately.

Rose found it amusing how Scorpius seemed to have a bigger problem with Serephina dating than Draco did. But then again, Draco didn't know Deneb to the same degree.

"If you turn Serephina and Deneb away then I'm leaving too," Rose piped up brightly.

Scorpius paled. "Rose…"

"Oh, no, I'm being deadly serious," she told him. "I'll go home and watch a film or something. You can have fun tonight by yourself."

"Rose, it's our wedding," he said sulkily.

"Then don't kick your sister out! We gave everybody a plus-one option for the evening; you can't tell her who she can and can't bring."

"Yes, but I didn't know she was bringing Deneb."

"If I'd told you then I knew you'd flip out," Serephina said through gritted teeth. "I thought, at least, by the evening you'd be so happy, or drunk or whatever, that you just wouldn't notice."

"I'm happy," he said indignantly.

"Good. That's settled then." Rose slipped her hand into Scorpius' in order to lead him away. "Thank you for coming," Rose said sweetly to both Deneb and Serephina. "Scorpius and I really appreciate it. Enjoy the evening."

Serephina flashed a smile of gratitude at her new sister-in-law.

Scorpius was still sulking, but he allowed Rose to lead him away without protest. "Keep your hands off my sister," he said as a final warning to Deneb before fully turning away.

Neither he nor Rose said anything until they were as far away from the bar as possible, the most quiet and secluded corner of the ballroom. When they came to a stop, Rose just raised her eyebrows at him, like a teacher scolding a disruptive student.

"Deneb Jacobson," Scorpius said weakly, almost apologetically. "I didn't know it was him she was dating."

"And do you honestly think she would have told you? Scorpius, you can't blame her for keeping this to herself given the way you just overreacted to it."

"Do you think I'm wrong?" Scorpius asked incredulously. "It would be different if he was just some random guy, but he's not, Rose, this is Deneb. We both know what he's like…"

"That's true," Rose said calmly, "but neither of us has seen him in three years. Serephina's a smart girl, Scorpius; he might be different now."

"People like him don't just change, Rose. He is using Serephina to get to me. He doesn't genuinely care for her – he doesn't care for any of the girls he has flings with. I'm not having my little sister just be some name on a list! Especially not his list."

"Just give him a chance, Scorpius," Rose begged. "He might genuinely be making her happy. He might genuinely be committing this time. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt, if only for Serephina's sake."

Rose wasn't one hundred percent convinced Deneb's intentions were strictly honourable, but she really didn't want to encourage Scorpius. It did seem incredibly surprising for Serephina and Deneb to be involved. They hadn't even been in the same house; she had no idea how they might have met, let alone started dating.

"It's revenge," Scorpius insisted. "Because he couldn't have you, and he couldn't have Ebony, and I had both of you, and now this is the one thing he can still take from me."

"Excuse me?" Rose said coolly, folding her arms.

"I know, I know," he said, realising his mistake. "I didn't mean 'I have you' as in 'I own you' or…" Scorpius trailed off miserably, thinking about what Ron had said to him just before he and Rose had gotten married. What a great start he was making as a husband…

"Deneb brings out the worst in you," Rose said sympathetically. "That's understandable. And I don't know what his intentions are, but if you let it show that he's getting to you then he's winning, alright? If that's the trap he's laid then all you've done is walk straight into it."

"But Serephina's going to get hurt," he gulped. "I can't just let him mess her around."

"Serephina is her own woman, Scorpius. Even if it is a mistake, it is her mistake to make."

"Do you think they're sleeping together?" he asked sharply.

"Oh, Scorpius, I don't know," Rose sighed. "Why don't you ask her?" she asked sarcastically.

Scorpius shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Can you?"

"No," she scoffed. "How would you like it if she asked me about our private life?"

"Yeah, but –"

"No, Scorpius," Rose gently laughed, running a soothing hand up his chest, and leaning into him. "Don't let Deneb spoil our night, okay? It's our wedding. Enjoy it."

"I could never live with myself if he hurt her though…"

"Oh Merlin, I know you don't want me to say it but you sound exactly like my father right now. You've been in Deneb's shoes, Scorpius – everybody questioning your intentions and your morality. And look at us now," she said in a proud, soothing voice.

"It's not the same," Scorpius dismissed sulkily.

Rose started to laugh. "Is this what it's been like the whole time for you with me?" she asked. "The wedding, I mean. With me overreacting and getting worked up in public about stupid little things. Only, instead of me this time, it's you."

Despite his continuing feelings of worry and resentment, Scorpius broke out into a smile. "Of course not, sweetheart," he said sarcastically, finally responding to her embrace, and resting a hand on her back.

"Oh, wow, and you still married me?"

"It was a struggle," he teased.

"So anyway, do I need to sit you down on the bed in the bridal suite, give you some scotch, kiss you, and get you to calm down?" she teased. "Or are you going to act civil now and enjoy yourself?"

"That depends… Will you take your top off again?"

"Scorpius, if I take this dress off it's never going back on."

"Is that a promise?"

"We've got to get through this evening first," she jokingly scolded, clutching at his lapels in order to straighten them and smooth them down. "Why don't we get a drink?" she suggested.

Scorpius had to admit, perhaps the numbing haze of alcohol would help keep his mind from wandering to thoughts of Deneb and his little sister. He was a little embarrassed as they made their way to the bar, to think that after all he'd insisted Rose keep calm and stop being so dramatic, he'd gone and done exactly the same thing. He resolved to try and follow his own advice – remain calm; enjoy the evening.

"HEY, GUYS!" James yelled enthusiastically, as they approached the bar. Rose and Scorpius were both relieved that Deneb and Serephina had moved on elsewhere.

"James" – Rose cleared her throat – "exactly how much have you had to drink?"

He waved his hand in an exaggerated movement. "I'm feeling really good," he told them loudly.

"Yes," Scorpius said, amused, "we can see. But that doesn't really answer the question, does it?"

"It wasn't my fault," Ebony groaned from his other side. "I tried to stop him, I really did, but he –"

"Ebony, it's fine," Rose laughed. "Just so long as he doesn't throw up on my dress.

James burped loudly.

"I'm so lucky," Ebony said drily.

As they left to go dance, Rose noticed Gwen, Sam, Lily, Mason, Janey, Jinx and Albireo (who were actually still tolerating each other remarkably well), and Taylor and Albus (who were avoiding looking at each other at all costs) were all gathered around the bar too.

"Can I sing yet, Rose?" Janey asked eagerly.

"I… I'm not sure I ever agreed that you could sing, Janey," Rose said slowly.

The blonde girl frowned, confused. "I'm a West End star," she reminded her. "I'm the closest thing to a celebrity you'll ever know. Do you know how many people would kill to have me sing at their wedding?"

Rose thought she was exaggerating a bit, but she daren't point this out to Janey.

"Me and Janey can do a duet," Jinx said excitedly.

"Ohmygosh, yes," Janey agreed, she and her half-sister sharing a look of thrilled delight.

"Janey, Jinx," Rose began, desperately thinking of a way she could convince the duo not to take the stage on what she didn't want to be a drunken shambles of a night, "I really don't think –"

"Rose, Scorpius," a female voice greeted from behind Rose.

The bride turned around, grateful for the intervention, but stopped when she saw just who the voice belonged to. "Isabella…?" she said slowly, recognising the raven-haired girl as one of the Ravenclaw Prefects in her year group, and whom she distinctly remembered deciding not to invite. "I, ah, I didn't know you were coming."

"You sent me an invite," the girl said in confusion.

Rose turned to Scorpius with wide eyes. He looked sheepish. "Right," she said cheerily, turning back to offer the girl a false smile. "I'm so glad you could make it. And, oh," she exclaimed, falsely cheery, noticing the boy by her side "you brought Henry too…"

"Oh, no, I was invited too," Isabella's brother (fellow Ravenclaw Prefect) explained.

To Rose's further horror, the former Hufflepuff Prefects emerged from behind them too – Annabel and Tom.

"Annabel," Albus spluttered, falling off of his barstool. Taylor glared at him.

"Hi, Albus," Annabel said shyly, tucking a strand of her dark red hair behind her ear. A hand, Rose recognised, that was bearing an engagement ring of its own.

Rose felt her heart sink for her cousin. Annabel was his ex-girlfriend, after all, and seeing her engaged (if he'd even picked up on it yet) had to sting. Rose didn't know the details of his and Annabel's split, but it had been well over a year and a half now. Still, as far as she was aware, they had ended it mutually, and on generally good terms.

"Well," Janey piped up, drink in hand, "isn't this nice? Like a Prefects reunion."

Janey was right, Rose realised. Isabella and Henry for Ravenclaw, Annabel and Tom for Hufflepuff, Scorpius and Ebony for Slytherin, and Sam and Janey for Gryffindor – all of the Prefects from their year group were there. Rose daren't even look at Scorpius, knowing he was responsible. She had expressly told him not to invite them.

Isabella looked down her nose at the seated girl, her lips pursed.

Oh, no, Rose groaned internally. Isabella and Janey even in the same room was never a good idea, but Isabella, Janey, Sam, and Henry all together again? It was a recipe for disaster. Annabel and Tom were pleasant enough people, but Rose had known it would be awkward for Albus to invite his ex. Why had Scorpius thought this was a good idea?

"Sam," Isabella greeted smugly, her eyes lighting up with a sort of vindictive delight as she identified her ex-boyfriend next to Janey. To Rose's knowledge, no one in attendance particularly liked Isabella. "You two are still together?" she asked patronisingly.

"Yes," Janey said through gritted teeth, already seething. Sam looked deeply uncomfortable by her side.

"Really?" Isabella asked. "Seriously – for that long?"

"As a matter of fact," Janey said smugly, slamming her drink down onto the bar, "Sam and I are –"

Jinx slapped a hand down onto Janey's left hand, impulsively shielding the engagement ring. She widened her eyes at her half-sister in warning, at which Janey frowned and looked sulky. Jinx turned back to Isabella, hand still clasped on Janey's. "Sexually active," she finished sweetly.

Albus spat out the sip of his drink he'd taken, whilst everybody else turned to stare at Jinx in horror, nobody looked more horrified than Sam and Janey themselves.

"Congratulations," Isabella said drily. "I think I'll get a drink…"

As she went to order, the other new arrivals following her lead, everybody remaining broke into conversation.

"What the hell was that?" Janey hissed, shoving off Jinx's hand.

"You couldn't tell her you were engaged, you idiot."

"And that was the best alternative you could come up with? Sexually active?" Janey demanded.

"What else was I supposed to say?"

"Literally anything!"

"I don't like this," Sam announced, looking awkward. "This is weird…" He turned to Rose accusingly. "Why did you invite Isabella and Henry to the reception?"

"Yeah, and why did you invite Annabel?" Albus piped up furiously.

"I didn't!" Rose insisted. "I made the informed decision not to invite each and every one of them." She glared at Scorpius. "Care to explain?"

"Look," he began, incredibly sheepish, "I'll admit, I kind of forgot I sent them invites until just now…"

"Why did you even invite them without telling me?" Rose spluttered. "We talked about it, Scorpius – we decided not to!"

"You decided not to," he mumbled.

"What?"

"Look," he sighed, "it's just, after we talked about the invitations, I realised I had hardly anybody coming for me. I mean, other than my dad, my sister, and my grandparents – who we didn't actually expect to turn up – everybody else was for you. Or, you know, us."

"Scorpius," Rose said incredulously, "have you even talked to these people in two years?"

"No…"

Looking back on it, Scorpius wasn't sure he'd thought it all the way through. He was certain part of the reason he'd gone against what Rose had wanted was because, in that moment, he'd been feeling left out and therefore vindictive. He'd honestly forgotten, almost the following day after sending the invites, that he'd even done it.

"You invited my ex-girlfriend?" Albus asked, hitting Scorpius' arm with the back of his hand, making a satisfying slapping sound.

Scorpius winced and rubbed at his arm. "She's my… friend," he defended.

"Okay, what's her last name?"

Scorpius looked from Albus' angry glare to Rose's, to Sam's, to Janey's, chose to ignore everybody else's perturbed looks, sighed, and said, "Okay, I might have made a mistake."

"You think?" Janey asked nastily.

"No, it's fine," Rose cut in, immediately feeling sorry for Scorpius with everybody ganging up on him, herself included. "They're here now – there's nothing we can do. And really, it's not going to be a problem for anybody, is it?"

Janey opened her mouth.

"Just because you dislike Isabella doesn't mean she's a problem," Rose sighed. "I mean, sure, she's irritating, but just ignore her. It's been two years, Janey, really."

"She's the reason Sam and I couldn't be together," Janey protested.

"Janey, you're the reason you and Sam couldn't be together," Rose said. "You and your stubborn refusal to admit you fancied the hell out of him…"

Janey just glared at her in response, pouting but not denying.

"Err, I have a problem!" Albus said irritably.

"What?" Rose sighed.

"My ex-girlfriend is here!"

"And why is she your ex-girlfriend, Albus?" Taylor asked sweetly. He shot daggers at her. "Is it perhaps because you ran off to –"

"It was mutual," he cut across.

Rose cursed internally. She'd been certain she was about to get some intel on the whole sordid affair.

But Taylor was far from done with her taunting. "If it was mutual then why is it so uncomfortable for you and her to be here together?"

"Does it matter?" Scorpius sighed, much to Rose's frustration; she'd actually wanted to hear what Albus might say. "Just stay away from her? I mean, she seemed perfectly polite about it all."

"Maybe," Taylor went on, "the problem isn't Annabel at all. Maybe the problem is Albus and his inability to –"

"I'm getting a drink," Albus said impatiently, once more cutting Taylor short. Before turning to join the queue, he stopped, a smirk spreading out. "In fact, I think I'll get Isabella a drink…"

Taylor frowned.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Albus," she said in a warning voice, "don't even think about it…"

"What?" he asked, falsely innocent.

"Don't you dare think about trying to sleep with Isabella."

"Why not?" he asked. "Who would I be hurting if I did?" He looked pointedly at Taylor, trying to taunt her. She didn't bite back, but looked away, head held high, silently seething.

"Me," Rose replied. "We really don't need to involve Isabella in our lives again, and I'll never forgive you if you inflict that fate upon us."

"But –"

"Consider it a wedding gift," she said sweetly.

"Yeah, you didn't get us anything else," Scorpius said under his breath.

Albus looked agitated at their assertions, either about to protest, concede, or else try and bargain with them. But he didn't. Suddenly, whether Albus and Isabella would hook up that night, how Taylor would feel about the situation, and any grievances Rose and Scorpius might have, couldn't have mattered less.

There was a piercing female scream from amidst the dancers, from the very centre of the ballroom, followed by what sounded like a collision, and then a deafening crash. Everybody gathered around the bar leapt into action, Rose and Scorpius at the forefront of the panicked dash to the commotion.

Having gotten so distracted, first by Deneb's unexpected appearance, and then the arrival of the Prefects, Rose had not thought of the deathly prediction in some time. She did not have time to curse at herself for having been foolish enough to let her guard down so drastically, for that dreaded rush of fear and alarm had captivated her body once more, this time to an almost unbearable peak.

This was it – she knew it this time. This time it was actually happening.

But there was no time to dwell. Rose found Scorpius' hand, and together they ran. Even he, as dismissive as he'd been, had paled to a deathly pallor.

Dancing couples parted as the group skidded into the clearing that had been made, panicked looks on everybody's faces as they all clamoured to see what exactly had happened. And as wedding guests all hurried to gather around, Rose pushed her way through to the centre, fearful of what she'd find there.

James was lying flat on his back, a disgruntled looking Ebony sprawled half on top of him, both of them looking worse for wear, and surrounded by shattered glass and flower petals. Both looked a little startled, Ebony looking particularly embarrassed, but both had wide eyes and were very much alive.

"What happened?" Rose asked shrilly, eyes roaming over what looked like a crime scene.

"It wasn't my fault," Ebony said desperately, trying to push herself to her feet, whilst James just groaned, pushing some of the glass out of his hair. His own glasses had slipped from his face, twisted and shattered from the collision with the floor, and his hair was even more ruffled than normal.

But he was breathing, Rose assured herself. That assurance did nothing to calm her though. She lifted her eyes to look around the gathering.

I could clearly see you and Scorpius, and you were definitely wearing a white dress and a veil.

There was a huge crowd of people all gathered around something – like I said, it was a ballroom-type-room, and everybody was dressed up all fancy – I couldn't see a lot of people's faces though, because they had their backs to me. I could see you though, and I could see Scorpius on one side, and Aunt Hermione on the other.

Everybody was gathered around, all looking down at something – or someone – on the floor. I couldn't see who, because there were so many people – but everybody looked really sincere and shocked.

And then your mum spoke, in a really quiet, serious voice: 'He's dead.'

Rose subconsciously tightened her grip on Scorpius' arm, perhaps to stop herself from falling to the floor, but he didn't seem to mind. In her white dress and veil, stood in the ballroom, everybody dressed up, all looking down at someone on the floor…

Hermione was nowhere to be seen.

Not James, not James, not James, Rose begged of a God she wasn't sure she believed in.

Other than a few slight differences – Hermione's absence, and the fact that everybody appeared to be breathing and alive – this was exactly what Lily had described in her prophetic vision. If it had not happened yet, then it was about to…

Bobbin and Roberts burst into the clearing. "Ebony, are you alright?" Bobbin shrieked, whilst Cepheus pulled his daughter-in-law to her feet.

Ebony smiled at him gratefully, brushing a few shards of glass off of her dress. There was no blood anywhere in sight, and no signs of scarring or wounds of any sort on either James or Ebony. "I'm fine," she insisted.

And she truly appeared to be. Rose glanced down nervously at James, who just looked very bewildered by it all. Nobody tried to help him to his feet.

Still, it did not put Rose's troubled mind at ease. Someone was going to die. And soon, at that. She did not want it to be her cousin. She did not want it to be anyone.

If no one was wounded, it was not apparent how the death would occur. Nobody's life was being threatened, and that made Rose deeply uncomfortable. What was going to happen? What could possibly go so fatefully wrong in that situation that meant someone was going to lose their life?

"What happened?" Scorpius urged, repeating Rose's earlier question.

"I – we were dancing," Ebony explained. "James is very drunk…"

She looked down at her husband with mild discomfort. Everybody followed her gaze. The shock of whatever had happened seemed to have sobered James Potter, if only by a little bit. He just looked incredibly confused as to how he'd suddenly ended up on the floor. Perhaps he was concussed, Rose thought.

Well, that had to be better than being dead.

"Hugo, go get James a glass of water," Rose instructed her younger brother. He departed obligingly.

"And, you know, he's very enthusiastic as it is – I mean, you know what he's like –"

"Ebony, get to the point," Rose ordered impatiently.

"Right. So yeah, we were dancing, and he got a bit carried away and we ended up crashing into one of those big, glass, decoration things –"

She nodded to one of the other objects in question – a beautiful ornamental column made of glass, on which the decorative flowers were displayed. There were about twelve or so placed around the ballroom.

"– and we were dangerously close to the food table – oh my gosh, we're so lucky we didn't hit the cake – and then, well, James fell, and I went down too, but I tried to grab at something to stop us, and just ended up grabbing the decoration thing. Which then, obviously, broke." She looked incredibly apologetic.

"And that's… that's it?" Rose asked. She felt, not disappointed as such, but almost dissatisfied with Ebony's answer. Normally she would have been furious at James – firstly for getting ridiculously drunk, and then for causing a scene and making a mess – but compared to what she had been expecting, it was a huge relief.

How very anticlimactic. And yet, it didn't make sense…

"I'm so sorry, Rose, we can clear it up –"

"You're not hurt, are you?" Bobbin interjected, concerned mother that she was.

"N-no," Ebony said, slightly fazed. "No, it was just an accident. Nobody got hurt – we can clean it up."

Rose looked around the group in a daze. Not that she wasn't hugely relieved that James wasn't lying dead at her feet, but that had not been what she'd expected. Lily's vision had been so clear, and she'd seemed so certain.

Could it really be, then, that the vision had been incorrect? Or had, somehow, they managed to evade fate? Perhaps what Lily had seen had merely been one of several paths of fate they could travel down at the wedding, and not a sure thing. Perhaps none of Lily's 'prophecies' had been sure things – it had just been extremely coincidental that they'd all come true.

Rose could not believe their luck. In fact, it seemed too good to be true.

Hermione emerged into the clearing next to Rose, panting heavily, clearly having rushed there, and now out of breath as a result. There was a sense of frantic urgency about her. Rose's heart sank.

Hers and Lily's eyes locked across the gathering of people, most of whom were still looking down at James and the mess around him in shock, others now looking to Hermione with concerned expressions. Rose and Lily shared a moment of silent, worried communication, both of them with wide eyes, slightly parted lips, and suddenly pale faces. This was it. Everything was falling into place. Lily's prophecy was coming true – this was what she'd seen.

"Mum, what it is?" Rose asked quietly, terrified of the answer.

Hermione caught her breath, pain persisting in her eyes. She looked at her daughter, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a breathless voice, "He's dead."

"No, he's not!" Rose wildly denied, looking down at James in case he'd suddenly dropped dead since she'd last checked. James certainly looked dazed, but he was very much alive, she desperately thought. "Look at him, he's fine, he just –"

"What?" Hermione looked down at James in confusion, as though only just noticing he was on the floor. "No, no, it's not that. It's just" – she gulped, and Rose could have sworn she felt her own heart stop – "you remember when I said your father and I might have to leave tonight?"

Rose nodded meekly, still clutching at Scorpius' hand for support.

"But then we didn't – we told him to go it alone – and we thought it would be fine. We thought it was all under control – that there would be enough people to handle it, and –"

"What are you talking about?"

"I just got a letter," Hermione said, still quiet and dazed, as though she couldn't quite believe it. "There was a raid. We severely underestimated it all – but there were so many more than we thought – all those dark wizards attacking, and –"

"Who, Mum?" Rose interrupted, throat dry, body cold.

"It's Kingsley," Hermione said.

At which point James threw up, causing people to leap back and shriek. Everybody gathered around, particularly those at the front, stared down at him, sincere, shocked, and a little disgusted.

But Rose ignored him, still looking to her mother with desperation.

Hermione spoke in a quiet, serious voice, echoing her earlier words. "He's dead."

Rose wanted to do several things. She wanted to throw her head back in dizzying relief; she wanted a drink to calm her overworked nerves; she wanted to burst into laughter and cry out with complete and utter joy.

But above all else, she wanted to make absolute certain that she understood.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt," Rose asked in a measure voice, "is dead?"

Hermione nodded sadly. "His was the only fatality – we probably couldn't have done anything if we'd been there."

Rose forced her eyes shut, breathing out deeply. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic, had been a close and dear friend of her family's, and he and Rose had always been fond of each other. When she'd been much younger, before she'd even started Hogwarts, Rose would eagerly ask him about his work in the Ministry, and it had been Kingsley who'd told her wonderful tales of Hogwarts and various wizarding adventures he and/or her parents had embarked on – he'd even given her newspaper clippings on Professor Bobbin when she'd first been appointed as Headmistress, as a pre-teen Rose had been eager to know anything and everything she could about the admirable woman before finally meeting her.

And though his loss shook her, as it would a lot of the wizarding community, especially those in attendance at the wedding, Rose could not pretend she wasn't hugely relieved. Oh, Merlin, was she relieved!

All that fear – the constant dread and paranoia, building up to the moment she'd just experienced – was over. And, oh, as far as outcomes went, Rose couldn't have been more content. Of course she was deeply saddened by Kingsley's death (preferring that no deaths in any circumstances had occurred), and she would certainly grieve him when the time was right, but she could not pretend that she wasn't overjoyed that someone she'd been more close to hadn't lost their life that night.

And not actually at her wedding.

They hadn't evaded Lily's vision at all, as Rose had briefly thought. Oh no, it had come true – every last detail – but it had been, as Hermione and Scorpius had tried to convince her, taken completely out of context. It had not been the person whose body lay at their feet, everybody gathered around in shock – whom Rose now knew to be James – whose life had been at stake. It just so happened, that at that time, an external message had found its way through.

A death had occurred that night, but not at the wedding.

Rose leaned into Scorpius' arm, emotionally exhausted from all the built-up worry, but deliriously ecstatic that she'd gotten it so wrong. Scorpius mistook her relief as sadness, holding her close to him and saying in a soothing voice, "Hey, it'll be alright."

"I know," she sighed, truly believing it.

A sombre atmosphere had descended over the gathering, as people took in the news of the Minister's death. Bobbin, in particular, looked distraught. She too had been close with Kingsley, Rose remembered. It had been him who'd posed the idea of her becoming Headmistress of Hogwarts to her, encouraging and defending her when people had questioned his judgment or her competence.

"Are you okay, Mum?" Rose gently asked Hermione, still enfolded in Scorpius' arms.

Her mother gave a slight nod. "I'm… devastated," she admitted. "But Kingsley was a good man. He led a good life."

"We should toast him," Scorpius suggested.

Hermione smiled. "That would be nice."

As people adjusted to the news, and got over the shock of James' little tumble, the group started to break apart, people re-engaging in conversation, the wedding festivities picking up once more.

Lily approached Rose, her face pale with apology. "Rose, I'm so sorry. I mean… all that worrying. That was all my fault. It's just, when I saw it in my mind, I honestly thought –"

"Lily, it's fine," Rose assured her. "You couldn't have possibly known."

"But it was only because I'd so wrongly misinterpreted it. I never should have told you somebody was going to die. Everybody else was right – I hadn't seen anybody die – I shouldn't have formed such a drastic conclusion. I should have considered how it could have been taken out of context."

"But Lily, none of us could possibly have predicted what would happen," Scorpius said gently. "It was logical for you to assume what you did, and I mean, at the end of the day, what harm was done?"

"B-but all that worrying, and –"

"That was my fault, Lily, not yours," Rose said. "I was too overdramatic about it. But Scorpius is right – what harm was done? I've had a truly wonderful day, in spite of all my worrying and obsessiveness."

Lily looked slightly relieved at her cousin's assurances.

Hugo came skidding back over to Rose at that moment, a glass of water in his hand. "Sorry it took so long," he panted. "It's just –"

Rose took the glass from her brother's hand, looked down at James, lying on the floor amongst the shattered glass and his own vomit, and upended the contents over him with an air of deep satisfaction.

As the delightful (and almost disastrous) wedding of Rose and Scorpius drew to a close, the newlyweds found themselves in a position all too familiar. Swaying on the dancefloor, safe in her husband's arms, Rose had never felt more at peace, and more at home, than she did with her head pressed against Scorpius' beating heart, one arm snaked around his waist, whilst the other hand was clasped in his own.

Surrounding them were all number of couples, locked in similar romantic embraces. From the corner of her eye alone, Rose could see Bobbin and Roberts, Sam and Janey, James and Ebony, and even her parents. All beautifully happy in love, stolen smiles shared with each other, like sharing a secret only they knew.

Almost each couple would be embarking on a new chapter in their lives together, Rose thought. Bobbin and Roberts were having a child of their own, Sam and Janey were apparently getting married, James and Ebony would perhaps consider having children of their own too (though Rose wasn't so convinced – still, it was a nice thought), and Ron and Hermione had acquired a son-in-law!

As for Rose and Scorpius, they were starting their next chapter too. Married, and living together for the first time, both were equally as excited as the other, desperate to see what happiness and even what challenges the future had to offer.

"So," Scorpius said brightly, "the wedding was a complete disaster then."

Rose rolled her eyes. "It was not."

"Ah, but almost everything on your worst-case-scenario list did, in fact, come true," he reminded her with a smirk.

"And thank God it did," Rose said. "This day would have been horribly boring if it hadn't!"

"So you're not upset then?"

"Scorpius, how could I be?" she asked, genuinely surprised at such a question. "I just got to marry my childhood sweetheart in front of my loved ones – loved ones who once hated the thought of us being together – and now I get to start the rest of my life with him. I honestly couldn't be happier."

Scorpius smiled at her assurance, looking proud and happy himself. "I really wanted to give you everything you wanted, Rose – I know I never made things easy."

"Don't be ridiculous," she dismissed. "I wouldn't change a single thing about today. I wouldn't change a single thing about our whole relationship."

"What did I do to deserve you?" he murmured, resting his head on top of hers as they continued to sway.

"The same thing I did to deserve you," Rose replied coyly. "Fell in love. Deeply and beautifully. Despite the difficulties; despite the insecurities."

"And I will do for the rest of my life," he vowed. "Love you, that is. I couldn't possibly fall any more for you than I already have."

"Me too," Rose promised.

Sighing happily, the couple reflected on the journey to the altar. The engagement alone had been stressful enough as it was. But Rose could honestly say, even with everything that had happened, which she may have deemed problematic at the time, and even though theirs had had significantly more drama that most other couples', her wedding day had well and truly been the happiest day of her life. And she wouldn't change a single thing for all the world.

It was not the end of their worries. Futures were still unclear, more so for others in their lives rather than Rose and Scorpius themselves. There was now a vacancy for the Minister of Magic, and likely Headmaster of Hogwarts too; Serephina and Deneb dating certainly provided a complicated dynamic; Rose still felt guilty and uncertain about just what was going on in Mason's heart and mind; Janey and Sam's engagement seemed a little too hasty; Ebony was once more feeling rejected by Bobbin; Rose still didn't know what she was going to do with regards to her career.

And she was still irritatingly in the dark about the whole Albus-Taylor thing!

But those worries were not to be dwelled on. Not on that night of all nights. And when they were to be faced, Rose knew she would firmly have Scorpius by her side. And somehow that was everything.

Just as their engraved wedding bands read: Always and Forever.

Rose lifted her head from Scorpius' chest to look him in the eyes, the blue finding the green. "It really was a beautiful day," she insisted.

"And you," Scorpius said, smiling at her with true endearment, "really are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

He brought his head down to hers in order to kiss her, Rose responding on impulse. It was not unusual for Rose and Scorpius to share a kiss, and yet each one made the other feel as weightless and giddy as when they'd been teenagers – that same passionate spark, that same feeling of bliss, as though it was their first.

Rose brought her hands up to wind into his hair, the silkiness of it soft and familiar to her fingers, whilst Scorpius' moved to wrap around her waist. Eyes closed, romantically entwined, blissfully lost in their own slice of heaven, both minds began to wander…

"Rose Malfoy," Scorpius murmured.

"Scorpius Weasley," Rose murmured back.

"May I take you to bed?"

"How very formal and polite of you," Rose teased, breaking the kiss, but still embracing him in the same way.

"I'm respecting you as the gentleman I am, and as the husband your father wants me to be."

Rose glanced over his shoulder. "Hmm," she considered. "Will my dad see?"

"God, I hope not."

"No," she snorted. "I meant, if we leave, we're going to look really suspicious if we sneak out, and my dad will know that –"

"Rose, it's our wedding night," Scorpius pointed out. "We're not sneaking around – I'll happily take you up into my arms and announce to the whole ballroom that I'm taking my bride to bed!"

"Scorpius, if you do that I will not be sleeping with you at all tonight."

"Ah, I wouldn't dare," he teased.

Rose looked around the ballroom. It was late into the evening, with few guests even remaining in the ballroom. People had either gone home or retreated to their rooms in the hotel for the night. "Should we say goodnight to people?" Rose asked uncertainly. "Or should we just… go?"

Scorpius looked around the ballroom too, considering it. "I vote we just leg it."

Rose paused for a moment. "Yeah, let's do it," she decided, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door. Scorpius went very willingly.

As the couple burst through the doors, laughing like lovesick teenagers, just as they had done following the ceremony, they very nearly ran headfirst into Albus. The Potter boy stopped as the couple came tearing into the corridor, an expression of alarm on his face, which quickly slipped into a smirk.

"Ah," he said wickedly, "where are you guys off to?"

"Goodnight, Al!" Rose yelled, dragging Scorpius past.

"Have fun!" Albus yelled back sarcastically.

Rounding the corner, Scorpius was forced to skid to a halt when he realised that Rose had stopped. "What is it?" he asked worriedly, already out of breath.

Stood in her wedding dress, Rose smiled coyly. "You can 'take me up into your arms' now," she told him.

"What," Scorpius asked, "even up the stairs?"

"I'm not that heavy!"

Scorpius came towards her with a grin on his face, their gazes locked. Easily, and wordlessly, he pulled her up into his arms, train draping down onto the floor. "Shall we?"

After running up the stairs, forgetting which number the bridal suite was, struggling so much to get the key card to work that Rose had snatched it out of his hands and done it herself (whilst still in his arms), and almost hitting her head on the doorframe on the way in, Scorpius carried his bride over the threshold.

"Scorpius, calm down," Rose jokingly ordered, after he'd practically dropped her onto the bed, and then run back to slam the door.

"Rose, I'm but a man," he said breathlessly. "Now," he said, unwinding his bowtie from his neck, and coming towards her, "about this dress: just how valuable is it?"

"Scorpius, if you rip it I'll kill you."

"Ah," he grinned, "a challenge."

Beautiful, sophisticated, and deeply romantic, Rose and Scorpius' relationship behind closed doors was another thing all together. Clothes strewn on the floor (though she'd made Scorpius hang the dress up carefully), Rose was extremely grateful that Ebony had leant her the garter…

"Wow, I'd forgotten about that tattoo," Scorpius said, impressed. Rose's inky constellation of Scorpius on her lower ribcage was a beautiful contrast to the paleness of her skin.

"Mhmm, not as impressive as yours though," Rose said, stroking the much larger and colourful tattoo that was inked onto Scorpius' shoulder. "You're so lucky we ended up together," she teased.

"I wouldn't have had it removed even if we hadn't," Scorpius assured her. "It was too important to me."

"That's so sweet," Rose swooned.

"Rose, just for tonight, please don't think of me as sweet." Scorpius looked too excited for his own good. "Think of me as wildly sexy."

"Oh, believe me, I do that every night."

As Scorpius began to shower her in kisses, Rose sighed with contentment, that feeling of blissful relief returning. A beautiful end to what had been a beautiful day. She was really married. At long last, she was married!

"Oh my God," Rose gasped (and not in a good way), something very unusual catching her eye as her gaze had drifted south.

"What?" Scorpius asked in a panic, lifting his head sharply. It wasn't like that was the first time they'd engaged in such activities. There shouldn't have been any surprises!

Rose's look of shock had quickly changed to one of immeasurable amusement. "Turn around, Scorpius," she ordered, her whole face having lit up with glee.

Scorpius was more than a little alarmed. "Why, what are you going to do to me?"

"Just do it!"

He sat up, feeling concerned and incredibly self-conscious. Eyeing his wife suspiciously, whilst she continued to grin like an idiot, Scorpius did as she asked. When she burst into uproarious laughter, he looked back in confused apprehension. "Rose!"

"Oh my God," she practically yelled, laughing so much that she'd started to wheeze, and a visible tear was forming in her eye.

Scorpius felt put out. God, it was demoralising! "Rose," he whined, "what is so funny?"

Struggling for breath, she managed to say, "You – you – you remember your stag night, right?"

"Yes," Scorpius said irritably, sulky because he didn't see what was so funny, "what about it?"

"You remember how you ended up in that tattoo parlour but none of you could find any tattoos afterwards?"

Scorpius' heart skipped a beat. "Yes," he said slowly, a feeling of dread having engulfed him.

"Oh, Scorpius," Rose snorted, never more deeply amused in her whole life, "are you aware that you have 'James' tattooed on your left arse cheek?"

The End

Author's Note: Yes, that is how I chose to end this beautiful and romantic story…

Thank you, guys, for all the support you've given this story. I know it wasn't nearly as long as 'A Forbidden Love' (but then again, the wedding fic was only supposed to be a one-shot initially, and look how that turned out XD), but it's been a fun little journey over the past couple of months, so thanks for sharing in that with me. It was really fun for me to re-explore the characters, in their adulthood now, rather than their teenage years. (I would also like to apologise for the more, ah, mature nature of some elements of this story XD)

Like I said at the end of AFL, I don't know if that was the ending you were expecting (or, indeed, the whole wedding), or the one you wanted, but that's the one you got ;)

I don't know if you're irritated or relieved with the cop-out on the whole 'someone dying' thing. Believe me, as soon as I first started thinking of ideas for the wedding fic, I thought 'I must kill someone!' (because that's the kind of writer I apparently am XD). Problem was, I couldn't decide who, exactly. I wanted it to be shocking, so it had to be a main-ish character - Mason, James, and Ebony, were all serious contenders at one point. But then, ultimately, I decided killing someone off at a wedding, in any context, was going to create a very morbid atmosphere, and I honestly wanted this to be a very light, comedic, and romantic story - also, I couldn't bear to put ScoRose though that, nor take the lives of any of my characters! So even before starting writing, I knew I wasn't really going to kill off someone :)

Some of the things I threw into the story without much context are ideas I've been playing around with for a while, and just wanted to test the waters. Anything vague and unexplained will be resolved and/or put into context in the many other spin-offs I have planned (Taylor/Albus, Mason, Sam/Janey's engagement, maybe some more Bobbin/Roberts, Serephina/Deneb and though they weren't featured in this story, Piper and Evangeline etc.)

There won't be any other spin-off stories this year (2015), but I'm all set for 2016, don't you worry. I can't promise what will come, and in what order, and they won't necessarily be in chronological order - there are still things I'd like to explore between the end of AFL and this wedding fic, after all. BUT, one thing I can say - keep your eyes pealed, as I'm planning to publish the start of my Sam and Janey multichap spin-off sometime in January, which will be titled 'Honeymoon Avenue.' (Yep, named and inspired by an Ariana Grande song XD) Which, even though it will revolve around Sam and Janey rather than Rose and Scorpius, will still heavily feature all the usual characters

And that is all I really have to say for now!

Thank you, once more, for being as supportive as you always are. It is an honour to share my stories with you and get such an encouraging response :) See you all in the new year!

~ Ever