The Love Confession of Scorpius and Rose (For Ellie)

"It'll be all right, I promise!" Rose held on to the boy's hand tightly as they rose from their seats to exit the Hogwarts Express. Unlike the start and finish of every year, today the train seemed quite empty, apart from themselves and a few other students wishing to spend Christmas with their families. This year, the staff at Hogwarts had organized a special Christmas party, and the majority of students were too excited to miss it. Scorpius Malfoy, however, was not. Despite Rose insisting that he stayed, he wasn't as sociable as she and said he'd much rather spend Christmas with her, and not with his overly excited peers. The only thing he wanted to do less was what he was about to do. 

Scorpius and Rose had held a tight friendship beginning a few months after the start of their first year. On Christmas day, two years later, their attraction for each other was confessed and that was the start of a new relationship. They had spent their free time between lessons meeting in empty classrooms and through secret passageways. Rose wished their relationship didn't have to be kept a secret, but she had very little choice in the matter; her friends did not approve of her mere friendship with 'That Slytherin'. But Rose was strong willed and possessed the courage to stand up to her friends. Yet she held this secret to her. Words circled her memory stronger than anything her friends had warned her against. These were the words of her Father. 

"Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pure-blood."

Her Father had been known to joke, but although he spoke those words with a happy demeanour, she sensed a seriousness in his tone. True to his obey, she had indeed scored higher than Scorpius during all tests and exams, much to the latter's disappointment, but someone had to carry on the Granger intelligence. So far, Rose's younger brother, Hugo, had not quite gained the mass number of 'O's his sister had. His talents lay on the quiddich pitch. 

Apparently their last match wasn't the first time "Weasley Is Our King" had been sung about a Gryffindor beater. Rose was equally surprised to hear Professor Longbottom begin the chanting, but that was nothing compared to Scorpius following suit, albeit quietly. They were playing against Slytherin at the time, but Rose new that Scorpius would put that aside for her. There were a great deal of things that Scorpius sacrificed for the love interest of Rose, minus enduring a school dance, but meeting her parents was a gift that he was prepared to give her. After all, it was Christmas. Scorpius didn't mind the secrecy of their relationship, but after a whole year of hiding in the corridors, it was time to unveil the truth. 

Rose was almost as nervous as the boy holding her hand as they walked together down the length of the train. The only thing that kept one foot in front of the other was the fact that her Mother might just be on her side with this one.

"What if they don't like me?" Scorpius let this childish fear issue from his lips and Rose kissed him lightly on the cheek. 

"They will." She was trying to convince herself as much as she was Scorpius. 

They reached the side door at last and the couple took a united, deep breath. Rose stretched her free hand out and the door swung open.

"ROSE!" A blur of thick, brown hair streaked passed her as Hermione rushed over to hug her daughter. Rose gripped Scorpius' hand tighter in fear of being bowled over, but at last her mother released her and took a step back to admire her fourth-year girl, a wide grin plastered on her face. Rose smiled weakly back at her before turning to her father, but her face fell at his sight. Ron was looking from Rose to Scorpius with a look of distaste. It was obvious that he didn't approve of his daughter's companion. 

Before he could speak, however, a third figure stepped forward and out of the train's steam.

"Son!" But when Draco Malfoy's eyes moved down to stare at his son's hand gripping Rose', his smile faltered and his eyes narrowed. 

The five of them stood there on the platform, an awkward silence pressing down on the scene before Hermione finally spoke. 

"Have you had a good term so fa--" But her husband interrupted.

"What are you doing with… with him?" He reached out to pull Rose firmly, but without hurting her, by her arm to drag her away from the Slytherin, but Rose continued to hold onto Scorpius' hand as though it was adhered there with a Permanent Sticking Charm. 

"Dad, he's my friend. I wanted to invite him over for Christmas." Tears sprang into Rose' eyes, but just like her aunt, she rarely let them fall. 

"And he most certainly shall not be attending." Draco spat, also reaching out for his child. 

The two teenagers struggled under their parent's grasps until Hermione cut in front of them. "That's enough. Ron, at least let them explain." 

Ron glared and released Rose' arm. "There isn't anything to explain." He muttered under his breath, but ceased his complaints at the look on his wife's face. Hermione had no control over the Malfoys, but just as Ron had done, Draco let go of his son. 

To everyone's surprise, it was Scorpius who spoke first. "Not that blood status makes a difference these days, but Rose is a half-blood, so that's okay, right?" He spoke more to his father than to anyone else, but Draco said nothing. 

"And you married a pure-blood, Mum." Rose turned to her mother, but Ron spoke for her.

"But your Mother wasn't the child of a Death Eater."

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say because the other two men stiffened. The mention of Draco's past had been a tabooed subject in the Malfoy household. 

"I renounced those ways before the fall of The Dark Lord." Draco spoke to the floor, avoiding contact with his fellow adults. 

"You were a coward!" Ron shouted at Draco. 

"Dad, please!" Rose whimpered at her father's fury. Onlookers on the platform had started to stare at the scene before them. 

"He was! He was a two-faced bastard and a true coward. No wonder his son isn't brave enough for Gryffindor!" Ron yelled, not caring who on the platform heard him. Draco said nothing but continued to hang his head in shame, accepting all that Ron said.

"My father wasn't a coward." Scorpius spoke quietly, shaking with both anger and fear as he watched his girlfriend's father insult his dad. Ron stared at him for a moment, forcibly reminded of his best friend. Harry had thought just that. 

"If that's the attitude you have, Dad, then maybe I don't want to be a Gryffindor anymore. I could never be proud of my house if we consider all others to be cowards." Rose' words sent a shockwave through Ron. He had never heard his daughter say such things before. Then again, she had never heard him be so childish and insulting towards the Malfoys. 

"Sir," Scorpius stepped forward to address Ron, still clutching Rose' hand. He was shaking with terror, but he couldn't bare to see their family ripped apart on his account. "I am a pure-blood Slytherin, but I would much rather be a mud… muggleborn Gryffindor. I may not belong in your house, but I do belong in mine. Slytherin's aren't set apart as evil-doers. We are ambitious and tenacious, stopping at no means to gain what our heart desires." He squeezed Rose' hand as he took a break in his speech. "And my heart desires your acceptance. I vow to make my both father and Rose proud of me, and you, Sir, if you'll allow me to continue my friendship with your daughter." Scorpius took a steadying breath to calm himself.

"I think it's more than friendship, am I right?" Draco spoke up, and Rose nodded.

"What are you intentions with my Rose?" Ron asked the boy, very aware of how cheesy this line was, but he needed to know the truth. A bated breath was held amongst the group, waiting for Scorpius' response. 

"Mr. Weasley, I have no intentions. I would never force your daughter to do anything she didn't want to. I only wish to give her all the happiness and support that she deserves."

Hermione and Draco looked rather impressed by his answer, as did Rose. Ron stared at Scorpius, analyzing his statement. 

"My happiness is with him." Rose whispered. 

"It seems as though I have very little choice." Ron said, then he extended his hand. "I don't think I'll welcome you to the family just yet, Scorpius Malfoy, but what I can do is give you permission to have a relationship with my daughter. As long as you continue with your lack of intentions and those wishes you just mentioned."

Scorpius took Ron's hand in his free one with great delight. "Thank you, Sir!" And Hermione bent down to hug both him and Rose, her face beaming. It was good of Ron to make that mature decision without her interfering too much. Draco looked at Rose and nodded his head curtly. 

"So I'll see you in two days time?" Scorpius asked Rose, turning to face her  before they departed.

"I'll send you an owl as soon as I get home!" Rose grinned and hugged Scorpius, then taking hold of her case, she followed her parents off the platform, and Scorpius and Draco stepped in the opposing direction. 

"I can't say I approve of your choice in girls, but I'm glad that you have a good head on your shoulders." Draco said, squeezing his son's shoulder as they walked. 

"Thanks, Dad. I won't let you down."