A/N I didn't expect this chapter (which is about Christmas) to actually be posted so close to Christmas day. It's long overdue. Thanks to all the reviewers! 100 reviews! Woo!

'Why do we have to have these parties every year, again?' snapped Rose angrily as she wiped down the large glass dining table, her arm sore and tired from cleaning the house for the Christmas party the Weasleys' were hosting in a few short hours. She was forced to clean the Muggle way, of course, being only 16 and unable to perform magic yet. This fact was making Rose increasingly cranky and she had no problem in expressing it.

'So that we get to spend "quality time with our loved ones during the festive season",' Hugo answered, quoting their mother, as he squeezed between the couch and the cabinet, trying to dust in between the two items.

'And let's not forget how we apparently "bond" when we organise an event "as a family". Quality time, my ass… Where are Mum and Dad anyway? They could finish this off in a few seconds!' ranted Rose, now polishing the chairs.

Hugo grimaced, pulling his head out from underneath the couch, his hair looking like it had been the duster, with his frizzy curls even frizzier than normal. Usually he would relish Rose's obvious displeasure, but in this case they were in the same boat.

'Well, your mother is trying to de-gnome the garden,' interjected her father, walking into the room, 'but she doesn't get how there's no way to "humanely" do it; they're just too bloody stupid. But that Noah was pretty eager to go help, so I sent him out.'

'That's where he's been…' muttered Rose, knowing how much Noah would have loved to have a one on one conversation with her mum, even if it was about the glamorous task of de-gnoming.

'I'll take care of the rest of the cleaning. You two need to start getting ready,' her dad stated, pointedly looking at Hugo's hair, a twisted grimace on his face. 'Hugo, that hair looks like a hairball Crookshanks might have coughed up.'

Hugo scowled and Rose was still laughing to herself as she quickly went upstairs to get ready.

…

An hour and a bit later, Noah came knocking on Rose's door. 'Your dad asked if you were ready yet?'

'Yeah, pretty much,' she replied, swinging the door open. Her long wavy auburn hair was let out, almost reaching her elbows and she was wearing a short sapphire blue dress and black heels. Her silver bangles and earrings complimented the look.

'Wow… You look beautiful,' Noah murmured, stepping in closer towards her, planting a soft kiss on her freckled cheek.

'Well you don't look half-bad yourself, actually.'

He looked down at his suit before smiling at her. 'Not as nice as you do.'

The corners of Rose's mouth twitched upwards. 'Coming?' she asked, leading him downstairs.

As they entered the living room, Rose was blinded by all the decorations. Gold, crimson and emerald hangings were draped on the ceiling and several glowing candles floated in the air. The most eye-catching, however, was the magnificent ceiling-high tree in the corner of the room, alight with fairies that flitted around it, and several glittery balls, candy canes and tinsel hanging off the pine tree's needles. A huge golden star shone brightly from the top.

Rose turned to Noah in surprise. 'Mum and Dad did all this while I was getting ready?'

Noah grinned. 'Nice, isn't it?'

The guests had already started arriving, bringing in armfuls of food and gifts and before Rose could reply, her mother was hustling her towards them. 'Rosie, I need to you place all the food and supplies they bring in on that table, okay? Then you can go enjoy the rest of the party.'

'Yeah, alright,' replied Rose, but her mother had already disappeared.

As Rose and Noah set the table up, Rose's younger cousin Lily arrived and handed over a cake to her. 'Nice outfit!' she exclaimed. 'And nice boyfriend!' she added, shamelessly eyeing Noah up and down.

Rose laughed, and looked over to Noah who looked a little lost for words at Lily's forward nature.

'Thanks. You look amazing,' Rose commented. Lily's pixie cut, naturally bright red hair contrasted brilliantly with her short, strapless emerald green dress. 'And you match the decorations,' Rose added with a smirk.

Lily grinned. 'Christmas is a redhead's best friend,' she called over her shoulder, as she trotted off in her stilettos.

Rose looked at Noah pointedly. 'Somebody's popular,' she teased. 'Do you wanna go join the party now?'

'Sure,' said Noah, with a smile, linking his hands in hers.

'There you are!' exclaimed her mum, upon seeing Rose. She was standing near a tall dark haired man in silk dress robes and a professional clean shave.

The man shook Rose's hand politely, 'Good to see you again, Miss Weasley.'

Rose smiled up at him. 'You too, Mr. Montague.'

Her mother smiled, effortlessly switching from motherly to professional in her tone. 'This,' she indicated to Noah, 'is Rose's boyfriend, Noah Adler. Noah, I'd like to introduce you to our new Adviser to our Minister for Magic, Mr. Fitzwilliam Montague.'

Noah went a pale shade of green. Mr. Montague reached out to shake his hand. Noah's hands were stuck to his sides, and a few awkward moments passed before he finally reached out and shook the Undersecretary's hand, still in shock.

If Mr. Montague was confused or uncomfortable with Noah's awkward reaction, he did not show it. 'Oh, Hermione, call me Fitz,' he laughed casually, barely acknowledging Noah. 'We've been working together too long for this.'

'Too true,' Rose's mother replied.

'Look, the Minister sends his apologies for her absence. She unfortunately had another function to attend, I'm afraid.'

'Oh, that's quite all right.'

Soon, Rose's mother and Mr. Montague had completely forgotten about Rose and Noah, and they quietly slipped away.

'Your mother knows the Adviser to the Minister?' Noah exclaimed in shock, once they were out of earshot. 'Your mother invited the Adviser to the Minister to her party? I can't believe it! This is amazing!'

'Er… yeah,' replied Rose with a puzzled frown. 'She knows the Minister as well,' she added like it was no big deal. Because it wasn't. Not to Rose, anyway. She knew that not too many people were used to knowing people like Mr. Montague. But surely Noah should have expected this, knowing her mum was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? Rose simply could not see why Noah found everything her family did awe-inspiring, and at times like these, she found his behaviour rather irritating and foolish. Rose remembered how whenever Scorpius was forcibly introduced to any of her mum's friends he just seemed to take it as it came – sarcastic and laid back. Rose suddenly found herself missing Scorpius' blasé attitude.

'Show-off,' muttered Hugo, in response to her comment.

'Why is it that you always turn up at the most inopportune times?' snapped Rose in irritation.

As Hugo brushed past her, he muttered softly in her ear, 'You have to remember, Rosie. He's not Scorpius.'

…

Ah, Christmas morning. As a child, like so many of that age, Rose would run down the stairs as fast as possible to rip open the presents addressed to her under the tree. Though she was no longer as keen, she still loved that moment when she woke up snuggled in blankets, feeling a familiar tingle of excitement in her body.

Later that same morning, as Rose and her family and Noah sat at the breakfast table digging into some very delicious bacon and eggs, Rose spotted a small black dot in sky. As it came nearer she recognised it to be the barn owl belonging to Scorpius.

Surprised, she hastily opened the window and recovered a small package and scroll from the owl's feet before it flapped its wings and was off.

'Must be your Christmas present from him. What good timing!' remarked her mother, spreading some jam on a piece of toast.

Rose held the present in her hands; it was soft to touch. Not a book, then, thought Rose. Too many people gifted her books, not realising that she had more than enough of those. Scorpius, of course, knew this, she realised with a smile.

She carefully and slowly unwrapped the gift, resisting the urge to rip the green wrapping paper to shreds. She caught a glimpse of red as she unfolded the material.

It was an apron. She held it out in front of her. In the middle was an image of a flaming oven, the flames darting realistically around it, and the words "Nerds can be bakers too… right?" written right above. Rose let out a loud laugh, as the memory of her disastrous baking fiasco of last Christmas came back to her.

After watching Scorpius, who was a decent cook himself, help her mother in the kitchen, Rose had foolishly decided to bake a Christmas cake herself, just to prove she could. She was determined not to ask for help, and ended up leaving it in the oven for too long resulting in a burnt, rock hard cake, smoke all over the house and, of course, a flaming oven.

It was something Scorpius (and her family) never let her hear the end of, and as she showed the apron to her family, they all burst out in laughter.

'That's brilliant!' laughed her mother, 'Very clever, that Scorpius.'

Noah looked highly uncomfortable, not being in the loop, but Rose, who was now unrolling the scroll of parchment, did not notice this.

In Scorpius' large, scrawled writing, was written:

Weasley,

Make sure you have a happy, safe Christmas. Emphasis on the "safe". The apron should be a good reminder, I think. I mean, I prefer your family not burnt to a crisp, you know? Merry Christmas,

Scorpius.

P.S. Say hi to Hugo for me.

Rose smiled, amused at the short message. It was so easy to imagine cynical, sarcastic Scorpius speaking these words to her directly. Her own present to him was a rare antique book about advanced potion making. Though even she thought it sounded rather dull, she knew Scorpius loved anything to do with Potions, which was easily his best subject at school.

Noah spoke up for the first time since Rose had spotted Scorpius' owl, asking, 'Maybe I should give you your present now, then?'

Rose snapped her head up, only just noticing Noah. 'Oh, yeah, of course!'

Leaving her family at the table, the pair went into the longue room, next to the beautiful Christmas tree.

'I'll give you mine first,' Rose said quickly, picking up hers from under the tree. She had had so much trouble with this present, and she hoped he'd be satisfied.

He opened it and (to Rose's relief) smiled in delight. It was a book Rose had seen him look at several times in the bookshop they both visited frequently.

'It's wonderful! How did you know I wanted it? Thank you, Rose,' he said formally, and kissed her, before reaching out to give her his present.

It was a package wrapped extravagantly with gold wrapping and green and red silk ribbons; contrasting sharply with the plain green package Scorpius had sent her.

She opened it quickly, already suspecting what it was. A book. It was an encyclopaedia of famous witches and wizards and their achievements. Rose couldn't help feel put out, but when she saw Noah's expectant, eager eyes, she flashed him a dazzling smile and kissed him, causing Noah to respond rather enthusiastically and wrap his large arms around her lanky frame. But instead of his embrace feeling protective, warm and comfortable, Rose felt the very unfamiliar urge to pull back.

A/N Next chapter: finally some Scorpius. Merry Christmas to any of you that celebrate it and for the rest of you, happy holidays! :)