A/N: I've had this idea for a while and I finally got around to writing it out. Originally, I was going to make this longer, with an extra part showing Rose in the future following Teddy's advice but I rather like just this part by itself. Hmmm...I don't know...maybe I should write that extra part? Let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter but I don't. It's a fact that depresses me, I don't like to think about it too much.
"Teddy, can I ask you a question?"
Teddy turns around to face Rose from his post on the stairway of the Burrow. Rose leans against the doorway of her and Lily's shared room, looking upset.
"You just did," Teddy answers.
He knows she can't be too upset when that pathetic attempt to tease her actually does make her smile.
"Another question." she says, exasperated.
"Ask away," he pats the step next to him.
Rose sits down next to him and seems to think about the question she wants to ask. Teddy waits patiently, listening to the various noises coming from different parts of the Burrow. Most of the grandchildren of Arthur and Molly seem to spend more of their vacation time at the Burrow than at their own homes. Never has Teddy heard a moment when the Burrow was completely silent.
"Teddy, why must boys be so infuriating sometimes?" Rose finally asks.
"Are we talking about someone in particular? Or just in general?"
"Well...there is one boy who keeps bugging me. He teases me about being a know-it-all if I beat him at something in class. And if he beats me at something it's all he talks about for days. He's always messing with me and doing anything to make my life as miserable as possible. Teddy, I don't know why he keeps picking on me. Do you know why he might be doing all this?" Rose says.
Teddy barely restrains himself from laughing, remembering what he was like when he was twelve, Rose's current age. At that age, he used to pick on girls all the time. Teddy knew exactly why this boy was picking on Rose.
"Rosie, I think this boy has a crush on you," Teddy tells her, gently.
"That's impossible. Scorpius Malfoy can't like me. He's about the rudest, most uncaring person I've ever met, " Rose exclaims, her eyes sparkling with wonder at her new discovery despite her tone of outrage.
"Well, whatever he may be and whatever he may do I want you to promise me something, Rose," Teddy says.
"What?" Rose asks.
"Don't let him dim the lights in your eyes," Teddy answers. "Don't ever let anyone put out that glimmer in your eyes, Rosie."
"Okay," Rose promises, giving him a questioning glance, not understanding why he would make her promise that. "Thanks, Teddy."
She gets up and goes back to her room.
"Scorpius has nice eyes," he hears her murmur before she shuts the door. Ron was not going to take the fact that his daughter was smitten with Scorpius Malfoy well.
Teddy sighs, hoping that Rose never needs to use his advice because her heart never gets broken. Knowing how unlikely this is, he just wishes she'll remember his advice. For it's good advice, created from years of being a heartbreaker. Perhaps it will ease his guilt for causing so many girls pain if he helps Rose avoid the pain he used to leave so many girls with. He could only hope for Rose's sake that Scorpius doesn't turn out to be a heartbreaker like he used to be.
Standing up, he went to find Victoire, the one girl's heart he hoped to never break.
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