12 August 2025

Rose lifted her chin, taking a deep breath, as she faced the double doors of the enormous mansion. She had never before seen a house so large, nor so lavishly decorated. She wasn't sure if it had been a trick of the light, but she thought she might have seen a white peacock wandering the aisles of the sprawling garden, by the front gate…

She glanced to her right. Scorpius's face, characteristically pale, was now shockingly so, but he was staring at the doors with determined bravado. Rose felt a twinge of panic; she had no idea what she was about to witness, but she already feared the worst. Dimly, she wondered what would happen if Scorpius's parents disowned him. Would Scorpius break up with her and choose his family? Surely not…but could she even blame him if he did? She couldn't imagine having to choose between Scorpius and her own family. Crossing her fingers tightly in her pocket of her cloak, she prayed that she wouldn't have to.

Frowning, Scorpius reached up and knocked the ornate, serpentine knocker against the door for a second time. It had been nearly a minute since his first knock.

Suddenly, the door swung open and both Rose and Scorpius straightened as a woman appeared in the door frame. She had long, shining brown curls and dark, shrewd eyes—Scorpius's eyes. There was no doubt in Rose's mind who this woman was.

To her right, Scorpius swallowed heavily. "Hi, Mum," he said with a weak smile. "I've missed you."

Mrs. Malfoy was staring at her son in utter astonishment, as though she couldn't quite believe his presence. Then, suddenly, she let out a strangled cry of happiness, hurtling forward and throwing her arms around him—accidentally brushing Rose aside, in the process. "You're home!" she exclaimed, hugging him so tightly that Rose heard him gasp for breath. "Oh, Scorpius, we weren't expecting you home from Italy until September!"

"The program finished early," Scorpius croaked, awkwardly patting his mother's back. Over Mrs. Malfoy's shoulder, he shot Rose a furtive look, and Rose bit her lip, taking a cautious step forward. "Er—Mum, I have something to—"

But Mrs. Malfoy had already pulled away from her son and sought out Rose. Her eyes widened. "Hello," she said, in a tone that was guarded, but not hostile.

Rose looked at Scorpius. With a half-glance in her direction, Scorpius cleared his throat. "Can we come in, Mum? I…I'll explain inside."

Mrs. Malfoy gazed at Rose for another moment. Rose shifted her feet uneasily. Then, at last, Mrs. Malfoy stepped aside, and Scorpius walked in through the doors, Rose a couple paces behind him. They proceeded down a dimly lit corridor until they reached another set of double doors that led into a bright, open drawing room.

Rose froze.

If she had thought the outside of the manor had looked intimidating, then she was sorely mistaken. The inside was absolutely chill-inducing. There were six gold-plated staircases, each with snakelike banisters, leading out of the parlor in every imaginable direction, and the ceiling of the room—complete with a massive, glittering chandelier—was higher than the Great Hall's. The mantel above the marble fireplace was lined with countless, gruesome-looking silver ornaments and candelabras, and by the fireplace, there was a set of four handsome—but fearsome—green-cushioned, oak furniture pieces: a sofa, two armchairs, and a settee.

Rose's brain screeched suddenly to a halt. The room appeared to loom over her, threatening her. She turned to Scorpius, eyes wide.

Clenching his jaw, Scorpius reached out and took Rose's hand in his, giving her fingers a reassuring squeeze. Then, he glanced over Rose's shoulder at his mother, who had followed the pair into the drawing room, looking very wary.

Scorpius stepped towards her, Rose in tow. "Mum, this is—"

"Scorpius? Is that you?"

Both Rose and Scorpius jumped, looking up. On the second floor landing stood a tall, slender man with receding blonde hair and a pointed face. Rose's breath caught in her throat; next to her, Scorpius went very still.

"Draco, come downstairs," called Mrs. Malfoy, in an oddly constricted voice. Rose chanced a glance at her, and Mrs. Malfoy's eyes latched onto hers; Rose quickly looked away.

Mr. Malfoy hurried down the staircase and came to stand next to his wife. With a jolt, Rose realized that Scorpius looked almost exactly like his father, with the same pale features, sharp jaw, and high cheekbones. Scorpius's hair, however, was a fuller, darker blond, and his eyes were brown, like his mother's.

Mr. Malfoy's eyes were gray. And they were narrowed, very, very unwelcomingly—at Rose. Her stomach twisted into a knot.

"What is this?" Mr. Malfoy asked in a low voice, turning to gaze at his son with a formidable glint in his eye. "What is the meaning of this, Scorpius?"

Mrs. Malfoy, plainly discomfited by her husband's tone, placed a cautious hand on his shoulder. "Draco, stay calm," she said quietly, shooting a worried look in Rose's direction.

Mr. Malfoy shook off his wife's hand, advancing towards Scorpius, who, Rose was amazed to see, was very much standing his own ground.

"Dad, this is Rose Granger-Weasley," Scorpius said icily, glaring at Mr. Malfoy.

Mr. Malfoy didn't spare Rose a second glimpse; his eyes were locked onto his son's. "You shouldn't have brought her here," he said, and his voice was now so low that Rose was afraid to breathe. "Scorpius, you shouldn't have brought—"

"Oh, my goodness," Mrs. Malfoy interrupted softly. Rose, Scorpius, and Mr. Malfoy all turned around to look at her. Her mouth had fallen open and her eyes, wide and astonished, were transfixed by Rose's hand, which was gripping Scorpius's fingers very tightly.

Hastily, Rose dropped Scorpius's fingers. But Mrs. Malfoy shook her head slowly. In two strides, she crossed the room and seized Rose by her left elbow, holding her arm upwards, towards the chandelier.

In the vibrant lighting of Malfoy Manor's drawing room, the dazzling glimmer of the diamond on Rose's ring finger was unmistakable.

"I've never seen him like that," Scorpius said numbly.

Rose stared down at her wineglass, simply for an excuse not to look into Scorpius's eyes—which, the last time she'd glanced up, had been drawn and miserable.

The two of them were closeted together in a deserted, mercifully quiet corner of the Leaky Cauldron. They had left Malfoy Manor five minutes earlier, after the angriest, most heated argument Rose had witnessed in her life. If she sat very still, she swore she could still hear Mr. Malfoy's furious voice ringing in her ears.

"I can't believe it," Scorpius croaked, and Rose's heart fell to her feet. "I can't believe I said those things to him."

"I'm sorry," Rose whispered. A painful lump formed in her throat. "Scorpius, I'm so sorry."

Scorpius looked up, diverted. "Oh, no—no, Rose—"

"It's my fault," Rose interrupted. Tears stung the corners of her eyes; she stared determinedly down at her Chardonnay. "You should've listened to your father. You shouldn't have brought me—"

"Stop it," Scorpius said sharply. "Rose—"

"We've only been dating two years," Rose said in a strangled voice, not bothering to hold her tears back any longer. "You proposed to me in a cheap hotel room in Florence. What if—what if this is all a giant mistake?"

Scorpius fell silent, but Rose could feel his eyes boring into her skull. At long last, she looked up. His expression was blazing.

"I don't think this is a mistake," Scorpius said quietly. "Any of it—not for a second."

And just as it had done the very first time Scorpius Malfoy had looked at Rose Granger-Weasley with those eyes, determined and resolute, Rose's heart somersaulted. A rush of emotion overwhelmed her, but she didn't dare break eye contact with Scorpius; the intensity of his gaze was intoxicating.

"Neither do I," she whispered.

It was odd, Rose thought to herself, as she and Scorpius stared at each other across the table, how a relationship that had begun simply as an academic convenience at Hogwarts—as a way for Rose and Scorpius to tie for the top marks in their classes—had become so much more in just a year abroad. Sometimes, Rose wondered what would have happened if both of their careers hadn't inadvertently beckoned them to Italy at precisely the same time.

What would have happened if Rose had settled for a high-paying secretarial job in the Law Enforcement Office, rather than resolving to pursue her passion for Wizarding art in Florence? And what would have happened if Scorpius had declined the Italian Ministry's low-paying, but transformative one-year international transfer program, in favor of kick-starting his career in the British Department of International Magical Cooperation with a much higher salary?

Would their relationship have survived? Would it even have existed?

Would Scorpius have brought a different girl home to Malfoy Manor that evening?

Rose blinked, and a lump formed in her throat.

"I love you," she said suddenly, reaching across the table for Scorpius's hand. "I love you, and if that's not enough for your father, then there's nothing I can do about it."

Scorpius looked taken aback. "Rose—"

"I love you," Rose said again—firmly. There was not an ounce of doubt in her mind. "And I'm not sorry I'm marrying you."

Scorpius stared at her. Then, smiling slightly for the first time that evening, he squeezed her hand.

"I'm not sorry, either," he said softly.

Two days later…

Rose crept down the staircase, biting her lip. It was nearly a quarter past ten, and although she had retired to her bedroom a half-hour earlier, the nagging worry in the back of her mind had refused to dissipate, keeping her wide awake.

Silently, Rose tiptoed down the last step and towards the doorway of the parlor. Drawing her wand, she pointed back towards the staircase and whispered, "Muffliato." Hugo was in his room, and quiet and intelligent though he was, he had indubitably inherited their mother's quick temper. Rose had a sinking suspicion that there were going to be a great deal of raised voices in the house that night, with or without her brother's input.

She had reached the parlor. Peering through the doorway, Rose spotted her mother and father relaxing in their matching armchairs by the fireplace. Releasing a soft sigh, Rose slipped the familiar diamond ring off of the fourth finger of her left hand, and tucked it into the pocket of her dressing gown. If nothing else, she and Scorpius had learned one thing from their debacle at Malfoy Manor, two nights earlier.

Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then, she cleared her throat. "Can I talk to you both for a minute?"

Mum and Dad jumped, turning simultaneously around to stare at their daughter.

Mum smiled. "Of course, sweetheart," she said warmly, gesturing towards the nearby sofa. "What is it?"

Rose took her time walking towards the sofa. She could feel her parents' curious eyes on her, as she sidled past their armchairs and slowly took a seat on the sofa.

Finally, with a deep, reassuring breath, she met their gazes. "I have something to tell you," she said seriously, looking from her mother to her father. "And I…think it would be best if I just came right out and said it."

Immediately, both Mum and Dad tensed; Dad's eyes narrowed slightly. Rose swallowed heavily and braved on.

"This past year, in Italy," she continued softly, "was one of the best years of my life. Being away from England really helped me make some…important decisions about my future."

Dad raised his eyebrows. Mum frowned.

Rose straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, fixing her parents with a confident look. "Mum, Dad…I'm…in a relationship with Scorpius Malfoy."

Mum's jaw dropped. Dad's face, however, remained eerily expressionless.

"I'm sorry," he said, his tone calm; Rose's stomach flipped unpleasantly. "Did you just say that you were in a relationship with Scorpius Malfoy?"

Rose nodded, keeping her gaze firmly on her father's. She was bracing herself for the explosion, preparing to react accordingly.

Dad was silent for several moments. Then—

"No," he said bluntly. "I won't allow it."

A fire burst into to life in Rose's head. She glared at her father.

"I wasn't asking for permission," she said coldly. Next to Dad, Mum still looked dumbfounded. "Scorpius and I have been together since our seventh year. We were both working in Italy this past year, so—"

"What?" Dad's face contorted with fury. He leaped to his feet. "Are you telling me you've been hiding this from us for two years?"

Rose climbed to her feet, as well, opening her mouth to retaliate, but she was interrupted by her mother, who, it seemed, had found her voice at last.

"Rose, Ron—sit down," Mum said in a steely voice. Dad rounded on her, plainly ready to argue, but was quelled by his wife's sharp gaze. Swearing under his breath, he threw himself back down onto his armchair and crossed his arms. Rose too slowly sank back into the sofa, glowering at her father.

Mum turned to Rose, her expression serious. "Rose, you can't spring something like this on us out of the blue and expect everything to be all right—"

"Why not?" Rose demanded hotly, curling her hands into fists. "Why can't a witch tell her parents that she's dating a bloke and have them be happy for her? Why can't you two be normal parents?"

"Because this isn't a normal bloke!" Dad flared up again. "He's a Malfoy!"

Mum closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. "Ron, that's not how I wanted to—"

"But you're the ones who taught me not to judge a person by their family!" Rose countered, her voice echoing through the room. "You're the ones who've always said that a person is more than their house or family! Besides, Scorpius was a Ravenclaw! So if this is about your stupid, old-fashioned prejudices—!"

"This isn't a schoolboy grudge, Rose!" Dad interjected furiously. His ears and face were a vivid shade of maroon. "You are not dating Malfoy! It's nonnegotiable!"

Mum spoke again, looking very cross. "Ron—"

But Dad's groundless, baseless refusal had fueled the fire in Rose's brain; she was propelled to her feet again. Hot, angry tears were stinging her eyes, and she was shaking with fury.

"You know, I was hoping that you'd be a bigger man about this than Mr. Malfoy," she spat, as tears blurred her vision. "Scorpius says his father hasn't spoken a word to him since he brought me to Malfoy Manor. And as it turns out, you're no better than he is!"

For the first time, her words were met by a ringing silence. Rose looked at her parents, taken aback. Mum had frozen in her seat, her eyes wide. And Dad, though his face was still red, no longer looked angry.

He looked like he'd been slapped. It was worse.

It was several, long minutes before he spoke, and when he did, his voice was very quiet.

"You went to Malfoy Manor?"

Whatever Rose had been expecting, it certainly wasn't that. She stared at her father, completely caught off guard by the change in his tone. Next to him, Mum was staring at him, slightly openmouthed.

"Yes, two days ago," Rose said slowly, utterly bewildered. "Scorpius and I went to talk to his parents."

There was a pause.

Then— "Go to your room," Dad snapped.

Rose gaped at him. "What?"

"Go to your room," he ordered again, his voice rising dangerously. "We'll talk about this tomorrow—just go to your room."

Rose knew immediately that she had overstepped a boundary, but for the life of her, she couldn't fathom what it was. She looked to her mother for support, but for the only time in Rose's memory, Mum appeared to be speechless. The sight filled Rose with a rush of mingled fury and frustration.

Without a word, Rose stalked to the fireplace and grabbed a fistful of Floo powder from the ashtray on the mantel. She could apparate, but even in her raging, reckless state, she knew better than to leave the house without telling her parents where she was going.

Viciously, she hurled the Floo powder into fireplace. The flames turned emerald-green and roared, growing higher, as Rose stepped into them.

"Chez Potter!" she bellowed. The last thing she saw, before she was whisked away, was her mother burying her face in her hands.

Author's Note:

SPOILER ALERT! I know this story doesn't follow the events of Cursed Child completely, but...I just can't kill Astoria off. I like her. Plus, I thought Draco was way too nice/tame in CC. I agree the war changed him for the better, but I think he got too much redemption in the play...lol.

Anywhoooo, this is Chapter 1 of 4. Tell me what you think!

Ari