Rose Weasley spent seven years doing what her father asked.
She beat him in every test, out-flew in on the quidditch field, and generally was an all-around better student.
But from the moment, she'd seen him standing with him parents on the platform, she'd been curious. And it was her curiosity that led her to realize that in some cases, the apple does fall far from the tree.
So for the first time in her life, she defied her father and walked up to him to make proper introductions.
"Hi, I'm Rose," she said smartly, hoping out her hand.
He looked up, startled. Never in a million years would he have expected a Weasley to speak to him in a tone that wasn't vindictive. But he managed to get a hold of his tongue and answer her. "I know. I mean, everyone knows you. You're the smartest person in our year."
Rose smiled slightly. "Can I sit down?" She motioned to the table where Scorpius' potions essay was currently spread out over. He jumped up and gathered up the papers frantically. She tried to put him at ease by asking about the essay.
"Have you found enough information? I've already finished my essay, but I couldn't find enough sources. I had to spend last night in the library before I found another book. It's a stupid essay, but I can't help but do well."
He floundered for the words. "Uh, yeah. I've found enough sources. I'm almost done."
Her smile widened. "That's good. Are you excited for the match this weekend?"
But while she couldn't quite recall that first conversation years later, she knew that it was the first time she'd followed her heart.
And despite her family's protests, she never backed down. And it paid off because exactly five years later, she walked down aisle into his arms.
Rose entered the rose garden at the Burrow. She wore a long white gown with a thousand tiny white pearls beaded into the bodice. Her red hair was curled and flowed down her back in an ocean of waves. As she reached for her father's arm, she was grinning from ear to ear.
Ron used his free hand to wipe away the single tear that rolled down his cheek. When his gorgeous daughter turned to him, he could barely choke out the words.
"You're beautiful Rosie," he managed.
She only smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Daddy. I hope that you can be happy for me. Scorpius is nothing like his father. And I love him."
Ron nodded. "I am happy for you. And I know that Scorpius loves you. But please, I ask that you do not make me be in the same room as Draco."
"I think that that can be arranged." She took her father's arm and together, they moved toward the aisle. As the music began to play, Rose and Ron glided down the aisle. They came to a halt at the front and Ron turned to Rose, kissed her cheek again and placed her hand in Scorpius' waiting one.
Even though she didn't remember the minutiae details of the ceremony, Rose knew that it was all she'd ever dreamed of. She was married to the man of her dreams and had managed to break a family feud in the process. Nothing, in her opinion, could have been better.
Years later, when their children were grown, Rose and Scorpius sat together on their porch swing. As they reflected over their lives, neither had any regrets. Rose knew that her life changed the day she defied her father. Even Ron agreed that Rose and Scorpius were meant for each other. Rose hoped that she and her beloved would have at least another century to prove that she was still as in love with Scorpius Malfoy as she had been the day she'd first laid eyes on him at the Hogwarts Express.