/ki-'lig/

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It has only ever been you.

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Update: The Q&A is posted in my other book called Miscellaneous Notions, so if you're interested, check it out there!

Unedited because it's 3 in the morning and I apologise for any mistakes.

I hope you all enjoy, and it is kinda a filler chapter, so if it sucks, I am very sorry.

xoxo

And James on the side because why not.

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Aaron truly never wanted to stop.

Her warm breaths against his collarbone and her shaky touches on his chest; pink stained cheeks as she looked at him so shyly that Aaron was literally praying he wouldn't pass out on how beautiful Rose looked – Oh my God Christ I am going to die on this motel bed if she keeps this up Jesus –

Even her fingers felt so soothing against his troubled shoulders, and Aaron could make out her quivers beneath his shoulder blades, her subtle trembles her knees were jittering, but Aaron knew that if Rose was really paying attention, she would notice the way his own elbow was all wobbly and that his arm all of a sudden felt like liquid.

Rose gave him a small smile, lying down on his chest as she twirled with the ring on her finger – which Aaron noticed she did the minute she got it; playing with the matching ring he too had on the very same finger.

"You know," She mumbled to him, and Aaron could see her eyes drowsily look up to him. "I hate Umbridge more than I hate Voldemort."

Aaron chuckled lightly, smiling down at her. "I can tell," He told her, leaving her a small kiss to her head. "She's Satan."

"Satan seems nicer than her – she's messed up in the brain."

And Aaron honestly couldn't help ask:

"Are you a Gryffindor Rose?"

It kind of just slipped, but the smile that bloomed onto Rose face made Aaron want to repeat the question a thousand times. "No," She said, grinning now. "I'm not."

Aaron could feel his eyes widen. "Then what are you?"

"Hufflepuff."

Now it was Aaron's turn to grin. "You're adorable."

"Hey, Hufflepuffs can be incredibly aggressive when provoked, so watch who you're calling adorable."

Aaron laughed, giving her a sweetly sick smile as he added. "You're such a goody two shoes my God I wish I was as kind as you are and – OW!"

"I was provoked," Rose muttered darkly. "Wanna try that again?"

Aaron only let out a small No as a reply as he rolled his eyes. "What about you though?" Rose asked, looking up to him, and Aaron smiled at how some of the sleepiness leaked away from her eyes.

"I'm a Ravenclaw," Aaron replied casually, but he could see the specks of surprise that sparkled in Rose's eyes.

"Really?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing just –" Rose was smiling slightly. "You look like a Gryffindor to me."

"That wasn't what the Pottermore quiz told me," Aaron muttered, annoyed. "I thought I was a Gryffindor too."

Rose laughed. "I wanted to be in Ravenclaw – I think they're awesome."

"Well, it is what it is. Go to sleep Rose, you need the sleep – we have quite a journey tomorrow."

"But –" She let out a yawn. "I want to continue The Goblet of Fire, we are only 20 pages away from the ending."

Aaron smiled down at her. "We can finish it in the car by morning, now you need to sleep."

Rose didn't put up an argument after that, and quickly, Aaron could feel her steady breathing and light snores fill the room.

"I love you," He reminded her, smiling as he kissed her temple.

He took her grunt as a response.

♦♦♦

It was hard to not imagine it really.

Rose dressed in robes of yellow as she and Aaron always missed a turn on the disappearing stairs – We did it again Aaron, maybe we should just Apparate from now on – and it would be Aaron bathed in his robes of blue – We can't Apparate or Disapparate inside Hogwarts grounds, how many times do I need to tell you Rose?

Breakfast at the Hufflepuff table even though Aaron's stripes of blue stood out in a sea of yellow; the two of them munching on their breakfast rather quickly before they had Transfiguration together – I just hope anything but the Switching spells Aaron, I am really bad at it – and they would share Aaron's mug of coffee; Rose's small sips in between Aaron's large gulps – Rose the Switching spells is a piece of cake, when you come to the Vanishing spell, then we can cry together.

Frenzied last minute Potions studying in the corner of the Great Halls as Rose tried to memorise one more time how to perform the Strengthening potion; Aaron scribbling down the exact number of stirs both in clockwise and counter clockwise direction, while Rose memorized the strength of the flames and the amount of powdered Griffin claw that needed to be used.

Sneaking out past night time curfews in the Greats Halls as Aaron pointed out the multiple secret passages he found – This is where I go if I want to skip Divination – and even the smile that adorned Rose's lips was enough for the pair to continue scurrying around the castle; constantly checking the Marauder's Map just for extra precaution.

And it would be Rose's blistered hands after another class of Herbology while Aaron just returned from Care of Magical Creatures; both of them seated for lunch as Rose nibbled on her Sheppard's pie while Aaron muttered Episkey as he tapped his wand against Rose's wrists and took a bite of her mashed potatoes – You should be more careful in Herbology you moron, what will you do in Care of Magical Creatures? We took Skrewds again for God's sake – and Rose slurped down her Pumpkin juice with drowsiness in her eyes – Neville let loose some Mandrakes, what am I supposed to do?

The spontaneous late night visits Aaron would make to the Hufflepuff common room; Rose almost shrieking when she would wake up to his eyes that so beautifully matched his robes, but she would welcome him with open arms as he settled in beside her – You're lucky Filch didn't see you – while they read more about Hogwarts: A History.

It would be Aaron and Rose swarming through the crowded halls with their hands intertwined; Aaron guiding them to their next Divination class because being almost a foot taller than Rose had its advantages.

I don't need you to get to class, I can always Apparate you moron.

You can't Apparate or Disapparate inside Hogwarts grounds!

Last minute Astronomy homework set out in the Ravenclaw common room; Rose's streaks of yellow catching the attention of curious eyes, but she was too concerned about how Aaron was reading her Study of Ancient Runes essay with a frown on his lips.

What now?

I don't even take this subject, but I'm pretty sure this whole paragraph is dedicated to the Moons of Jupiter, which have absolutely nothing to do with the question – or the subject for that matter.

I was desperate okay!

Their house scarves wrapped around their necks as they made their weekend visits to Hogsmeade, foam lipped smiles of Butterbeer as they entered The Three Broomsticks – Ooh, are those Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans? – and it would be Aaron giving Rose the go sign when he would nibble just at the edge of the bean; giving Rose a thumbs up as a clear coast – Yeah, this one's fine Rose, it's pumpk – okay no, it's baked beans, forget it – and of course, it would be Rose's Chocolate Frogs kisses that made it all better.

And he picture the kisses he would shower her with before they departed to different classes – Goodness Aaron, I'll see you in a few hours for Charms anyways – but Aaron always liked to think he could perhaps distract her while Professor McGonagall Vanished a tea cup yet again.

It was beautiful; thinking about the girl he loved most in the placed he loved best with nothing but a punch of parchment and a pot of ink that needed some work, and of course, the Quiddich matches Aaron would be playing – given that even with all the girls, Rose was his favourite cheerleader.

And he couldn't really help but notice how stunning Rose looked in her robes of yellow; how they complimented her hair so beautifully, and enhanced her smile all that much more.

"Aaron?"

Rose scribbling down her notes as Snape continued his lecture; not noticing how dots of ink ended up on her freckles and tip of her nose.

"Aaron,"

Rose giggling at how Aaron's Patronus flew across the room, but Aaron knew his own Patronus could never really compare to her smile.

"Aaron!"

His eyes flew open as he drowsily looked at Rose; his heart beating rather quickly for someone who has just awaken, but nonetheless, he replied. "What is it Rose?"

"It's almost 7 am now," She told him. "I tried waking you up since 5:30, but you were too busy dreaming about cool things because you were smiling like a Moron."

"Okay, I do not smile like a Moron –" But Aaron did remember telling Rose to have him up by 6.

"Yes, you do." Rose replied, and only now did Aaron notice that she was so close to him that he could see each and every one of her freckles. "Had a good night's sleep though?"

He gave her their usual morning kiss. "You already know the answer to that."

Rose gave him a quizzical look; one where she would quirk her eyebrow and purse her lips. "So was it good?"

"I always sleep the best when I am with you Rose, my God how many times do I need to say this?"

"I only asked you three times!"

♦♦♦

There was just something about seeing Rose in her wrinkled Gryffindor sweater and messy hair that sent heat rushing to Aaron's face as he started the engine; clearing his throat as he tried to count his heart rate to normal – One, two, three; one, two, three.

"Okay, so now that we finally finished The Goblet of Fire, I can't wait to start The Order of the Phoenix!" Rose said excitedly, buckling her seatbelt. "800 pages worth of Harry Potter – even my legs are excited, and, hey, you okay?"

Aaron still couldn't look her in the eye. "Yeah," He said weakly, clearing his throat again. "Just checking things."

"Like what?"

"The gas."

"It's full."

"Shut up."

Rose laughed, and from the corner of his eye, Aaron could see the curves of her collarbones and he thought something in him exploded – Jesus Christ help me Lord give me strength I can't seem to think fucking straight –

But that didn't stop Aaron from imagining her in robes of yellow and parchment being balanced in her arms as they walked to Astronomy together.

And just like that, Aaron was grinning again as he started driving, feeling Rose's fingers entwine with his own as they started their journey. He insisted that they started on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as they drove, and of course Rose gave in, already reading the first chapter in the first half an hour.

"This book makes me sad," Rose said glumly, pursing her lips. "I've reread the series enough times to know it."

Aaron laughed lightly. "This book is actually my second favourite one."

Rose's eyes brightened. "Which one is your favourite?"

Aaron smiled. "Chamber of Secrets," He said.

"Really?" Rose replied, tracing his knuckles with her pointer finger. "Mine's is Goblet of Fire."

Aaron smiled. "That's why you were so excited with that one."

"It was so magical," Rose reasoned, grinning. "Like 616 pages packed with magic and Harry and uh – so perfect."

Aaron noticed the Hufflepuff house logo peaking from the corner of Rose's socks, and it was hard to resist the urge of daydreaming at Hogwarts again because, it could probably get them both killed given that Aaron was driving.

Rose insisted that Aaron had some biscuits to swallow down, considering he skipped most of his breakfast daydreaming about Hogwarts again – Dumbledore wouldn't want you starving Aaron, I mean Potions is a pretty tough subject, so eat up – but he did manage to get a few bites of toast and an entire mug of coffee.

"Rose I'm fine really," He reassured her, smiling lightly when he saw her lips flattened in a line. "I'm not even that hungry."

"It's not about being hungry you idiot," Rose said. "You barely had anything to eat."

Aaron shrugged. "I don't have quite the appetite," He grinned. "Besides I am keeping some room for the stir fry George is going to make."

Rose crossed her eyebrows. "George?"

"He's James' caretaker – the housekeeper if you will," Aaron said, taking a turn. "He took care of me too."

Rose smiled so softly that it made Aaron dizzy. "I can't wait to meet him," She whispered.

Aaron smiled too. "He wants to meet you too."

"I guess you can never keep your mouth shut about me, can you?"

He rolled his eyes. "It's pretty hard considering how dumb you can be."

"You don't mean that!"

Aaron shrugged. "I mean after I specifically told you alkenes was coming in Chemistry, and after proving to you it was, you didn't listen," He grinned almost smugly. "And you lost four marks for it."

"Maybe I want to go back home and away from your narcissistic attempts at being cool."

Aaron stifled a chuckle. "Then by all means, Apparate."

"You can't Apparate or Disapparate inside Hogwarts grounds!"

♦♦♦

2 hours later, and Aaron was taking out their luggage from the car as they parked a couple of blocks away from James; Aaron knew the neighbours would notice how Aiden's rusty maroon car was out of place, and he thought they would alert his parents – which was the last thing he wanted.

Tension stained Aaron's nerves and he could feel his fingers trembling as he held onto their baggage and Rose's hand; toxic thoughts were coursing through his mind and clogging his Adam's apple, but Aaron tried to calm down but he just couldn't couldn't couldn't –

"Hey," Rose said quietly as she steadied him for a minute, grasping his shoulders in a firm grip. "You'll be okay." But even Aaron noticed how tense Rose's shoulders were when she took one glance at how enormous the house was.

Aaron could actually feel the nausea choking his windpipe. "Yeah, I know."

Rose wiped away the bands of sweat that wrapped around his forehead, a small frown on her lips, but he could still see the understanding embedded in her eyes. "He would be happy to see you."

His throat felt like it was all dry and crusty. "I know but –"

"Your parents aren't here Aaron," Rose whispered, her hands coming up to cup his face. "And even if they were, they not going to hurt you because I am not going to let that happen."

Aaron tried to smile. "But still –"

The smile she gave him unclogged his throat and cleared his mind. "James is worth it, isn't he?"

And Aaron smiled the smile that meant he was happy she was with him. "Yeah," He said quietly. "He is."

The early morning light was making Rose look unreal. "Then let's knock on that doorbell."

Aaron steadied himself again before he took in a large gulp of air and rang the doorbell; Rose trying to stabilize his shaking hands.

George opened the door; his grey eyes lightening at the sight of Aaron. "Aaron my boy!" George smiled as he shook Aaron's hand and gave him a gentle hug. "We've been expecting you! James has been so excited and he even – oh." George's aged eyes settled on Rose, a soft smile cherishing his mouth. "My apologies my Lady, I didn't see you there."

Aaron tried not to freak out over the pink that swirled Rose's cheeks. "It's alright," Rose squeaked, clearing her throat as she handed George one of her nervous smiles. "It's kinda hard to see me when I'm next to a towering 6'3."

George chuckled, smiling. "And you are?"

"Rose, Rose McLean," She answered, and Aaron tried to stop the murderous thought that clouded his mind when George bowed down and gave Rose a kiss to her hand.

"Pleasure to meet you," George said. "Aaron never stops talking about you."

"George,"

But George just grinned profoundly; almost cheekily before he said. "James is waiting for you in his room," He took one more glance at Rose before he looked at Aaron, grey eyes shimmering. "And I am sure he will be very pleased with our extra guest."

Rose smiled gently, the copper in her eyes glittering with gratitude.

"Please, welcome inside."

George took the baggage from Aaron, ignoring all his protests – George really there is no need to – and when Rose took a step into the mansion, her mouth parted open.

He could see her chest heave with shock and her brown eyes widened as she took a look around. With chandeliers hanging from every corner and only the most polished egg shell wallpaper draping the house, along with the multiple servants that sent both of them bows, it was a given that Rose would be taken off guard.

It was a huge difference from his one floored apartment with a falling ceiling.

"Woah," Rose said, her voice coming out as a small gasp. "This is...unexpected."

George chuckled, giving her one more smile before saying. "Now if you will Miss, I shall escort you to James' room."

"You don't need to call me Miss," Rose mumbled, giving George a small smile. "Rose is good."

"Okay then Rose," George smiled. "Shall we?"

Aaron took Rose's hand as they followed George up the stairs, Rose gawking at how huge the house is – My goodness is that a fountain – and all Aaron could really do was smile as her brown eyes took everything in; from the glorious carvings on the ceiling, to the polished granite they were walking on.

"James," George knocked on his door. "You have guests."

Aaron could hear clatters from inside, and even Rose noticed; furrowing her eyebrows when they both heard things slipping and a loud Bang! and Clash! was emitting from the room, and while Aaron could feel his chest tense, George looked unfazed.

"My room isn't clean George!" James called out, and Aaron could see the smile that graced Rose's lips – Christ get it together Aaron – and he could feel the muscles in his body loosen.

"It's quite alright James," George replied, smiling. "I don't think they would mind."

"They?" James almost shrieked from the other side. "So there's more than one? Of course they would mind, my room looks like someone died while installing a nuclear plant and oh my God –"

"James," Aaron said, smiling lightly. "I can assure you, I won't mind the mess."

All the rummaging instantly stopped on the other side, and it became so eerily quiet that Rose's grip around his hand tightened, until they could hear the door unlock.

James came out cautiously; still hiding behind the door as he spoke quietly. "Aaron?" He then looked up at Aaron, and a big smile made its way to his lips. "Aaron!"