SEVENTH YEAR
Rose hated to admit it, but she couldn't help but check on Scorpius from time to time.
He wasn't in danger or anything. There was just something that kept attracting her attention to him.
It was Saturday morning, a little bit after breakfast. Scorpius must've woken up late because he wasn't at the Gryffindor table, along with his roommates, including Al. Knowing them, they spent the night goofing around, planning something stupid or arguing over something stupid.
About half an hour after breakfast, Rose came to the library to help put away and organize books for Madam Pince. Scorpius had came in a little later, and sat with his cousins, Elijah and Amanda Zabini who were already there. She just happened to notice him as soon as he walked through the doors, and somehow she was the first person he saw when he entered. He gave her a wave and a wink that made her roll her eyes, which made him smirk.
Since they got to Hogwarts, Rose and Scorpius were on good terms. In the First and Second year, they were friends, regardless of whatever her father told her to do, in the Third, Fourth and Fifth year, they were best friends, along with Al. In the sixth year, Scorpius began courting her, and sometime after that they were, "Seeing" each other and now in the Seventh Year, she began seriously thinking about this relationship, concluding that she was actually starting to love him. But they weren't dating or anything… yet. For some reason, Scorpius kept asking her to Hogsmeade, kept walking her to class, to Quidditch practices, to the Great Hall and anywhere outside. He kept flirting with her and he kept smiling and winking and goddam smirking at her. And each and every time, some part inside of her would die. But he never asked her to be his girlfriend... yet.
She was somewhat fine with it though. She understood that some people wouldn't be supportive of their relationship. Her father certainly wasn't when he learned that they were friends. Boyfriend and girlfriend? Her father's head might've popped off. Then there was Scorpius's family. She wouldn't say his father was totally for their relationship, but he's never said anything against it.
His mother was kind to her. She was friendly with her. Rose thought of Astoria Malfoy as the classiest person to be alive. Everything about her was classy. The way she walked and talked and brought herself about. She was the epitome of "class". Her mother and her Aunt Ginny had once said that she was the better of the two Greengrass sisters, something she'd never say near Elijah and Amanda, whose mother was Daphne Greengrass Zabini.
Rose was friendly with Elijah. They weren't best of friends or anything, but they both would nod and smile at each other when they'd pass in the hallway. Like his father, Blaise Zabini, Elijah kept to himself and his small group of friends, except in a less arrogant way. Amanda Zabini on the other hand had her opinions on Rose. She referred to Rose as a tomboy, letting Rose know personally in snide remarks, or through Scorpius who would later tell her. Rose never minded, as long as she got to call Amanda a snob, which the Zabini girl seemed to have accepted.
Scorpius seemed to have it easier. Since the summer of their First Year, Scorpius had been invited to stay at the Potter Home for a week and half every year, since he was best friends with Al. Rose was always at the Potter House during the summer, just like all of her cousins. So over the years, Scorpius was able to befriend or at least gain the trust and comfortability of most of the Potter/Weasley clan. He was also quite close to her Uncle Harry, who treated Scorpius as somewhat of a protégé.
But then there was her father whose head was still stuck in the late 1990's, holding the greatest grudge over the Malfoys.
So yeah, there's one reason why Scorpius might've been hesitant with their relationship.
But it bugged her… a bit. The guys she's dated in the past would just ask her to Hogsmeade then ask her to be his girlfriend. Scorpius was just taking it slow and she just wasn't used to it.
Anyway, for about an hour now, she's been pushing the book cart, moving books, putting books and ordering books in alphabetical order all over the library, throwing glances at Scorpius from time to time. Sometimes he would have caught her glance and smirked that oh-so-annoying but oh-so-heart-clenching smirk.
And sometime during that hour Al had appeared and joined the Greengrass cousins.
When Rose got to the section of the library where she was out of Scorpius's view and he was out of hers, making it hard for them to send each other eyes, Rose began to look for the place for Quidditch Through the Ages. Just as she slid the book into it's place, a soft, low voice spoke behind her.
"Thought you left without saying bye," Scorpius said. She smiled, stood up from her bent position and turned around, to see him casually leaning against the bookshelf behind her, "Hullo, Rosie."
"Hello," she grinned, "Now, why would I do that?" she laughed, "When have I ever left and not given you a sweet goodbye?"
Scorpius shrugged, "Never, really. But, I wouldn't be surprised if you did, considering you couldn't even drop a proper hello."
She gave him a smile that said, "You know why," but she told him anyways, "I think it's a mutual agreement between me and Amanda that we don't talk to each other until after lunch. Y'know, so that way we don't start the day off on the wrong foot."
Scorpius only chuckled and shook his head.
Rose turned around and began skimming for a book on the shelf, still talking to Scorpius, "You weren't at breakfast. Long night?"
She heard Scorpius move to lean on his other side, "You could say that," he sighed, "Al, well, he was just giving me a lecture."
Rose snorted, "What's new? What was it this time?"
Scorpius didn't answer immediately, which Rose learned meant that he was thinking.
She turned around to look at him, and he looked completely relaxed, except for his eyes. His left elbow rested on the shelf, while his ankles crossed, and his right hand fiddled in his pocket. His eyes, though, were concentrated on something Rose couldn't see, but knew was something in his head.
Finally, Scorpius straightened up and clapped his hands together, "I've got something to show you," he said. He stepped closer to Rose, looked her in the eyes then slowly reached into his back pocket, presenting her an envelope.
On the back of the envelope, it had the familiar MoM logo, she's seen all over her mother's office at home and at work.
Rose searched back in her mind as to why Scorpius would have a letter from the Ministry of Magic and why he'd be showing it to her. She smiled, "Have you gotten in to the scholarship program?"
Scorpius have her a sad smile, "No questions. Just open it."
Rose opened it excitedly, knowing how hard Scorpius was trying to get into the Ministry Program for Hogwarts Graduates. With everything with the war, his father and his grandfather, the ministry was still a bit wary with Scorpius.
But when she opened the envelope, it had the Department of Magical Law Enforcement emblem, and started off with the line, "From the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Hermione Granger."
"So you've got a letter from my mum?" she asked quizzically.
"Just," he sighed, laughing a bit at her, "Just read it, would you?" he stuffed his hands into his pockets, leaning on to the shelf.
She rolled her eyes and went on
"To Scorpius,
I have received your letter, and I must say, it is refreshing to see that there are still young people like you that still consider parents, such as myself, in such a plan.
Asking permission regarding these things weren't even in style when I was your age! So kudos to you for even thinking about this! I think it's just so sweet of you to do, especially in your situation.
Now, I hope you already know what my answer is. I'm all for your intentions and plans, I'm actually quite excited!
But, you know my husband, he's strict and stubborn, but I have managed to convince him. He figures that if you had the decency to write us a letter and ask for our permission, then you're probably decent enough to be trusted with our daughter and her heart.
Yes, Scorpius, you have our permission to be Rose's boyfriend! Just as long as your parents really are okay with it, but I doubt you'd lie to me.
I really do hope you take care of my daughter, Scorpius. I hope you treat her the way you should and love her with all you've got because I know Rose has her ups and downs but she deserves all the love she can get.
I trust you, Scorpius, and hopefully rightfully so.
Anyway, we all are very very happy for you and Rose (if she says yes, which I know she will!).
Now, I do apologize, because out of my excitement I slipped the news to Harry. I'm so sorry, you must've wanted to tell him yourself, but he caught me smiling while I was reading your letter. You know Harry, he has to get to the bottom of everything!
Anyway, I must get going, I'm currently writing this letter in between meetings.
Best of luck to you and your plan, I do hope she says yes!
Sincerely, Hermione Granger"
Rose blinked and knitted her eyebrows, reading the same line over and over again.
"...you had the decency to write us a letter and ask for our permission, then you're probably decent enough to be trusted with our daughter and her heart."
She mouthed the words again and again and again, repeating it in her mind, letting the words of entire letter now, soak into her brain, trying to grasp every meaning of every word, "...received your letter... permission... intentions and plans... managed to convince... trusted with our daughter... permission to be... take care of her...deserves all the love..."
Finally, she gasped, "Scorpius," a tear falling from her eye. She quickly wiped it away and then smiled weakly, "You didn't really..." she was too befuddled to complete her sentence.
"Write to your mum and ask her for her permission to...well, you know?" he had removed his hands from his pockets, and gently held her face, "Yeah I did," he whispered.
Rose only gaped at him.
"Al's been badgering me for weeks now. Told me to stop fooling around with you. So I did. I'm sure he meant to stay away from you, but... Well he wasn't really clear about it," he joked, "Anyway, I thought it was time to finally make the move," he slowly rubbed her jaw with the pad of his thumb, "I decided to send the letter to your mum's office instead of your house though, y'know, just so there isn't a chance your dad would come across it first. I figured if your mum read it first, she could convince your dad into," he searched for the words, "At least consider this. And it must've took a bloody long time, 'cause I sent this letter to your mum a while ago and I only got it back last night."
Rose gasped again and broke into a humongous smile.
Scorpius broke into a grin when he saw her smile. He slid one hand to the small of her back and used the other one to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. He leaned in a little closer, lowered his hand and rested it on her shoulder and whispered, "It's no scholarship acceptance letter or anything, but it's still an acceptance letter into your family. Al was right and I really wanted to stop... playing around and get serious. I wanted to make us," he paused, "Official. And I wanted to do it the right way. So I asked your parents for their permission. I figured they had some say in your love life. I wanted to make this, us, different. I've never asked a girl's parents for permission, and I know none of your past boyfriends have done this. Hell, I even asked my mum and dad for their permission. I mean our families aren't ones you'd find holding hands around a tree on a hill singing muggle songs together..." he laughed and she noticed that there was a glint in his eye, "So..."
"So..." Rose seemed to be running out of breath, as she gasped again for air.
"So, you haven't said, 'Yes,' or, 'No,' or anything really," he chuckled softly, his thumbs brushed against the skin they were touching.
Rose took a deep breath and exhaled, laughing a bit. She reached for his hands and slowly began to lace their fingers together, holding their hands between them, "I-I," she took another deep breath and shook her head laughing, "Can't speak a bloody word at the mome'. Give me a second," she laughed and he laughed along with her.
He let go her hands then wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. Scorpius pressed his lips lightly against her forehead, making her close her eyes. His lips slowly moved against her skin, "I'm serious about this Rose, I really am. But if you're not sure or if you're not ready-"
"Oh I'm bloody ready," she said, lifting her head up to align her lips with his. She looked into his eyes, smiled, then looked at his lips, before planting a soft kiss on them. Scorpius smiled and kissed back, gently rubbing her back. Rose slowly pulled away and ran her fingers through his hair, "You've just caught me by surprise. I mean," she laughed, "Finally. Right?"
Scorpius looked down at her and gave her a look he's given her before but never with so much adoration. He swayed them lightly and nodded, "I took too long, didn't I?"
"I was starting to get impatient," she whispered.
"Well," he said, "Let's make it worthwhile then."
She grinned, "So you've told my mum and dad, you've told your mum and dad, Uncle Harry knows and by now probably the rest of my family that isn't at Hogwarts, excluding Al who you, no doubt, have already have told. How about your cousins? How is dear old cousin Amanda gonna take this news?"
Scorpius glowered at her, "Not "gonna". She already knows."
Rose smiled even wider, "And considering that I haven't turned into a frog yet, I'm guessing she took it well?"
"She promised to be... civil."
Rose snorted.
Scorpius took a step back, still holding on to their hands, "Just as long as you promise to be civil, too."
"A girl can try," she shrugged.
He groaned, "Rose."
She let go of his hands and put them up as a sign of surrender, "Civility. Fine. But do not expect us to hold hands and skip through fields together."
"All I want is civility," Scorpius said, grinning.
Rose laughed, something she's done more than often this morning than she has in any whole day. She reached for his hands again and smiled, "Thank you, Scorp."
"For what?" he asked.
"For letting me in. I mean you don't do it a lot, and with just anyone. With everything since the war and your dad and-" she stopped there and shook her head, "I must be really special to you if you're letting me in like this."
"You've no idea how special you are, Rose," he whispered. He trapped her between his arms, his hands holding onto the shelf behind her head, leaning in once more for a long and eager kiss.
Rose pulled away, breathing hard and smiling. Scorpius made a noise close to whimpering and she smirked her own smirk, "I've-" she paused to catch her breath, "I've still got a dozen or so more books to put away," she said, her hands slowly raising to his chest from behind her.
"Yeah?" he breathed haughtily.
"Yeah."
Scorpius smirked and straightened himself. Fixing his cuffs and pushing his sleeves up to his elbows then crossing his arms, he said, "How about you join me for lunch, then? After you're done, come and join me. I'll wait till you're done."
"Sounds like a plan," Rose said, kissing him on his cheek before walking away, pushing the book cart.
