"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Don't worry, everything will be alright."

Rose's grip on his arm tightened.

They were going home for Christmas break. And they were going to reveal their relationship to her parents. Scorpius's parents didn't know a thing about it, either, but he had told her that it would be wiser to face her family first, so they could get it over with. No doubt, Rose's dad was going to be furious. Before Rose had went on the Hogwarts Express, when she was 11, he had made it clear that she and Scorpius shouldn't be . . . friendly with each other.

"Hey Scorpius, Rose," Albus greeted them as he entered their compartment.

Rose smiled at him, while Scorpius replied, "Hi,"

"So you two are finally going to . . .?"

Rose nodded.

"Great! Can't wait to see this . . ."

"What do you mean? You're going to be at home. Right . . .?" Rose said those words with uncertainty.

"Oh, darn it, it was supposed to be a surprise. Our families are going to live together during Christmas break. Mum accidently revealed it to me in one of her letters. In the next, she told me to not tell any one you."

"Great! So we'll also have to tell Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny . . . I hope they don't take it too badly . . ."

"But think about it. This is Harry Potter we're talking about. Surely he wouldn't let me be . . . I mean he took mercy on the man who betrayed his parents." Scorpius pointed out.

"Oh and Scorpius? What did you tell your parents? They'll be wondering if you don't come home. " Rose wanted to know.

"I told them I had a girlfriend and I was going to meet her family. Promised them they'd get the chance to meet her by next week. Which wasn't a lie, I just didn't tell them who she was."

"Rose?" She looked up. It was one of her closest friends, Macy. "Just wondering if I could sit here?"

"Sure,"

Macy sat down by Albus, and said, "If you get disinherited, you're welcome to live with me."

Rose cringed, but quickly said, "Shut up,"

Macy grinned, "You know, I always love to tease."

There was some silence before they started chatting.

"See them?" Albus asked.

"No, wait! Yes, oh never mind, or maybe . . .? No, no, I think it's them! Near Luna, see them?"

Albus scanned the crowd before responding, "Yeah, I see them!"

They came out a few minutes later.

Hermione approached them. "Rose, oh you've grown so much!"

Ron was still himself. "You know, I didn't see Draco and his wife . . . you think -?"

Hermione smiled, but said, "No, Ron, I'm sure he was not disinherited."

"Maybe he's dating a Muggle-born or a half-blood, or even a Muggle! And that's why -"

Ginny laughed, "Draco changed."

"Yeah, well I really doubt it."

"Not the best comeback." Hermione teased.

Ron grinned at her. "Well -"

Harry looked nervous, but said, "Scorpius's coming with us."

Silence. Then: "What?" Ron said it like he thought he hadn't heard it correctly.

"Scorpius, he's not- his parents aren't here because we're going to take him."

"Wait, what do you-"

"You heard me correctly, Ron. Scorpius is coming with us."

Hermione and Ginny exchanged surprised looks, before Hermione suggested that they go.

With Scorpius, she added, when Ron tried to leave without him.

"So Rose, why-?"

She cut him off. And with a deep breath, she said, "Scorpius and I are dating."

Ron was speechless.

"Rose," he started.