What is love?

Dictionary's across the world describe it as a strong feeling of affection. Most people describe it as the best single feeling in the world; whether it's between two people, or a mother and child, love is said to be wonderful and fulfilling.

Others believe love is a trick; a feeling that, once it's done with you, throws you away and finds someone new to cling onto. It's a cruel thing – it gives you hope then when you're happy, snatches it away from you.

Love is a game of breaking hearts and Rose Weasley found out the hard way.

Age 13

"As much as they make me sick with their fawning, you have to admit, they really do love each other," Commented Dom, who was lying next to Rose in front of the fireplace at the Burrow.

Both cousins turned their heads inconspicuously to see Victoire and Teddy, who were curled up on the sofa, whispering to each other as not to gain the adults' attention. Rose watched with innocent fascination as the pair held hands, leaning in to hear each other speak and sneak kisses when no one was looking. As the girls continued to stare, they blushed red when the couple stopped and turned towards them, smiling widely. Both girls turned away abruptly, red cheeked and they could hear the soft giggling of Victoire behind them.

"Nanna Weasley thinks they'll end up getting married," Rose replied, her voice low, "So does Aunt Ginny, I heard them discussing wedding preparations. I asked Mum about it and she just said that everyone should leave them be and let them decide on their own."

Dom nodded, "Dad was the same. Mama secretly has a stash of bridal magazines in the drawer in the bathroom. She secretly hoping for a wedding."

Rose listened to the fire crackle, mesmerised by the flames which were dancing wildly. "Do you reckon we'll find love like that one day?"

Dom shrugged beside her. "I don't know, I guess so. Mama always says that there is someone for everyone and that we'll find them when the time is right."

Rose smiled at that. "I hope I love someone like that when I'm older." The red-head sighed and placed her head in her hands. "Did you hear who James snogged in a broom cupboard? Fred and Roxanne found him!"

"Tell me!" Dom's eyes lit up and the girls began to gossip, all notions of love pushed aside for scandal and hilarity.

Age 16

"I hear someone has finally said yes to dating a certain Malfoy?" Rose looked up from her homework reading to see Teddy sliding into the chair opposite her, a wolfish grin on his face. Rose flushed red and looked back to her book.

"Yes well, it was the only way for him to stop hassling me." Rose felt herself smile a little, "And he's not that bad. Dad isn't happy though, as you can imagine."

Teddy laughed and Rose couldn't help but look up at the sound, which was so melodic to her ears. "Ahh, Ron will never approve of a Malfoy, it will forever be a family grudge. Does the poor boy know what he's getting himself in for?"

Rose shook her head, biting her lip. "Probably not but I don't think anyone would be prepared for this family. Dad doesn't approve of anyone."

"Well he approves of me," replied Teddy, puffing her chest out proudly, "I'm special."

Rose rolled her eyes. "He only approves of you because you're not dating his, and I quote 'precious daughter'." Rose shut her book, using her quill to mark the page. "He wouldn't be so nice if I was in Victoire's place."

At this comment, Teddy looked at Rose intently, causing Rose to blush again and begin packing away all her school things that were spread across the table.

"I better get to bed, I told Aunt Ginny I would help her out in the kitchen in the morning. Goodnight Teddy."

And with that, Rose left the room quickly, practically running up the stairs to her adopted room in the Potter house. The blush that had begun downstairs was now in full bloom and the moment she stepped into her room, she closed the door and leant against it.

It was now apparent to Rose that she knew the cause of her blushing and her bumbling comments.

Rose Weasley had a crush on Teddy Lupin.

Age 20

-Christmas Eve

"Do you think your Dad will like these?" Rose turned her head to find Scorpius by a sock stand, a pair of Puddlemere United themed socks in his hand.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "Never get my Dad anything other than Chudley Cannons themed Quidditch items. He would banish you from ever coming to the house if you gave him them for christmas."

"Any excuse." Scorpius mumbled, putting the socks back, his face miserable. Rose smiled sadly and walked over to him, placing an arm around his waist. "Your Dad is never going to like me."

Rose bit her lip, knowing it would probably always be slightly true but she knew she had to make the blonde feel better. "That's not true, he lets you stay over and come for family dinners. He wouldn't do that if he hated you." Rose was lying of course, but she couldn't tell him that. It was always her mum's idea but they always found a way to make it look like it was her dad who had invited him.

"Don't worry Scorp, Ron is the hardest person to buy for anyway." Teddy appeared from behind the sock stand and put an arm around Scorpius causing Rose to let go and step back. "Come on, we'll go find something perfect and leave Rose to shop for everyone else." The pair shot Rose a smile, Teddy's happy, Scorpius' apprehensive before disappearing, leaving a bemused Rose to carry on looking around the store, spotting a scarf that she knew her mother would love.

-Christmas Day

"And this is off Scorpius and I." Rose bit her lip as she watched her dad grimace whilst he took the wrapped present. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised Dad."

"We'll see Rosie, we'll see." Ron ripped open the paper violently but his movements stopping suddenly as he saw the contents. "Rosie, how did you?"

"It was all Scorpius' idea Ron, I was there when he picked it out, the boy is a good one." Teddy's voice piped up, having just arrived alongside Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Dom and Louis. Rose turned around, a smile on her face but it soon disappeared when she noticed Teddy and Victoire's hands intertwined and she looked away quickly, concentrating on her dad.

"So do you like it?" Rose asked, although she already knew the answer.

Ron nodded, speechless still looking at his present; a Chudley Cannons classic jumper from 1972, the year they participated in the International Quidditch Tournament, signed and framed. "Thank you. Tell that boy of yours he's welcome anytime."

At Ron's words, the who living room erupted into laughter and Rose smiled, leaning down to kiss her dad on the cheek. "You're welcome."

Fleur cleared her throat and every turned their heads to watch her and Bill, who was smiling almost sheepishly. "We have an announcement to make-"

"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!" Victoire all but screamed, shooting her left hand out for everyone to see. Almost immediately, Ginny and Hermione were up out of their seats and Molly was crying as she hugged Victoire tightly.

Rose forced a smile, the feeling in the pit of her stomach making her want to throw up and she quietly left the room, heading upstairs to the room she shared with Dom and Lily when they stayed at the Burrow. Sitting down on her small, single bed, her quilt cover decorated with unicorns and quills, Rose smiled as she pulled her legs up to her chest.

She knew her feelings were silly – Teddy and Victoire we're always destined to get married; she and Dom had discussed it countless times as children – but she still couldn't rid herself of the jealously that was making her nauseous and she cursed herself. She was happy with Scorpius, she loved him but she knew Teddy would always be in her heart; he was her first crush, her first love and that would somehow always be special.

"Can I come in?" There was a knock on the door and Teddy appeared, walking in as Rose nodded and he closed the behind him. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Rose lied as she watched Teddy sit down on her bed, a smile on his face as he noticed the quilt.

"I can't believe you still have these," Teddy traced the outline of a quilt, "I remember these covers when I used to come in and read you all stories before bed."

Rose smiled at the memory before she faltered. "I always forget how much younger I am than you." Rose sighed lightly. "Congratulations by the way, i'm really happy for you both. Been a long time coming."

"You're not that much younger than me." Teddy commented before smiling. "And thanks, I guess it wasn't a surprise then?"

Rose shook her head. "No, Dom and I have been talking about this day since we were 13, when we saw you and Victoire all loved up on the sofa in the Burrow."

"That long huh?" Rose nodded and Teddy smiled. "Guess it was inevitable. It'll be you and Scorpius next."

Rose shook her head, "Doubt it, Dad would never forgive me if I changed my name to Malfoy."

"He might be reasoned with after the amazing present he's just received." Teddy laughed and Rose couldn't help but smile at the sound – it was still so melodic, so sweet to her and deep down she found herself wishing she felt that way about Scorpius.

"Thank you for that, I really appreciate what you did for him." Rose reached for Teddy's hand, feeling the instant shock the moment their flesh made contact and she gasped quietly although she was pretty certain Teddy heard it, by the twitch of his hand. "You've made his day. He's already on his way over."

"He's a good guy, Ron just needed a little persuading so he could see what we see." Teddy laughed. "But we all know he'll never love the kid more than he loves me."

At his words, Rose looked up, their hands still touching and she gently squeezed his, all the while, she couldn't help thinking the same thing.

She'd never love Scorpius more than she'd always love Teddy.

Age 23

"We can't do this." Rose murmured as she felt her hand being tugged into an unused room, one of Harry's countless studies that Ginny used for storage more than anything else. "Not here."

"We're alone up here, everyone is too busy downstairs."

Rose giggled and rolled her eyes but she shut the door behind her and turned around, her back against the door, the cold wood chilling her skin. "You're a bad influence Teddy Lupin."

"But you like it, Rose Weasley." Teddy grinned and walked towards her, stalking towards her like he was a predator as she was the unfortunate prey. "You like it a lot."

"I do." Rose bit her lip as Teddy kissed her neck and her hands went to his hair, an instinct she had developed since this whole thing had started. "I more than like it but like I said, we can't do this."

As the words left her mouth and Teddy's lips continued to trail her skin, she felt her resolve fading. She didn't do things like this. She was Rose Weasley for Merlin's sake, reporter for the new generation of the Daily Prophet, daughter of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, fiancée to Scorpius Malfoy. She had reputation as the 'good girl', the 'sweetheart', she didn't do things like this.

Except she did when it came to the irresistible Teddy Lupin.

"We can, no one will know until we decide to tell them." Teddy moved his lips to her ear, "No one else matters, just us."

"But that's the thing, everyone else does matter." Rose pushed Teddy away gently, running a hand through her mussed up hair. They had been doing the same routine for months, trysts in dark rooms, secret rendezvous' in places they weren't recognised and she knew it had to stop somewhere. "I love you Teddy but something has to give. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore."

"What are you saying?" Teddy asked, a hand scratching his neck and his eyes changing colours – a nervous habit he picked up as a child. "That this has to stop?"

Rose shook her head. "No! That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying I love you and that you need make a choice because I can't hurt Scorpius anymore, he doesn't deserve it." Rose walked towards Teddy, steps tentative. "I need you to make that choice – I've made mine."

Age 24

Christmas had come around again quickly and Harry's house had become the new Burrow, the old favourite not able to withstand the growing brood of the Weasley/Potter clan anymore. Rose, wine glass in hand had been sitting quietly in the corner, chatting to a heavily pregnant Dom when the door slammed open and Scorpius walked in, face bright red.

"Scorpius?" Rose stood up and began walking towards him, "Are you okay?"

Scorpius was shaking his head. "Is it true? Is it all true?"

In that moment, Rose's heart stopped and she felt her throat close up. She knew what he was referring too and she went cold. Feeling like a deer in the headlights, she reached for Scorpius' arm but he violently pulled away from her, causing her to back off.

"IS IT TRUE?"

"What's going on in here? Scorpius, why are you shouting at Rose?" Rose watched as her mum walked in, surveying the situation as she always did. "Perhaps you should take this upstairs, somewhere private?"

"Yeah Rose, we should go upstairs, you can take me to the same rooms you and Teddy used when you were snogging each other's faces off!"

There was a collective gasp in the room and Rose felt the tears welling up. Fleur, who was sat with Molly, dropped her champagne glass onto the floor and stood up, running to Victoire was stood by the fire, her face blank.

"My baby, is this true?" Rose ignored Fleur and instead looked to Teddy, who had the grace to look down in shame.

"Scorpius, not here please." Her words were a plea and it was clear in that moment to everyone in the room that what Scorpius had said was true. Scorpius shook his head and scoffed, storming out of the room in the same manner he had arrived. Rose, the tears falling, followed after him, ignoring the bitter chill in the outside air.

"Scorpius wait."

"Why? You can't deny it so is there any point?" Rose watched as Scorpius wiped away tears and she felt her heart breaking. She loved him, she had never denied that and it had never been her intention to hurt him. She'd been stupid and naively in love with another man. "Was there any hope for us Rose? I loved you so much, so much and this how you treat me!"

"I am so sorry Scorpius, I really am."

"It's too late Rose. I'll see you around." Scorpius disappeared and Rose dissolved into crying heap on the floor, sobs wracking her body as she closed her eyes tightly.

She had ruined everything and all for something she could never have.

"Rose, come on sweetheart." Her mum's arms were suddenly around her and she felt herself being led back inside. Walking past the living room, the door slightly ajar, she could hear Victoire's voice talking loudly.

"I knew about this and after much discussion, Teddy and I decided we would work on our relationship and I think we've gotten past this whole mess. We weren't planning on telling everyone like this but we'd like you know that we're expecting a baby."

At her words, Rose felt the tears flow faster and Hermione quickly ushered her upstairs and into the room she shared with Ron when they stayed over. Rose crawled onto the bed and rested her head on her mum's lap, who sat beside her, stroking her hair tenderly.

"I don't need to tell you what you've done is stupid, do I?"

Rose shook her head, sniffing loudly. "No, you don't. It's been eating me up for all this time." Rose felt a new wave of sobs coming and she covered her face with her hands. "I've been such an idiot Mum."

"You loved him?" When Rose nodded, Hermione sighed. "Oh darling, love makes you do stupid stuff. I went out with Cormac McLaggen just to make your father jealous. I know it's not nearly the same thing but my point is we all do stupid things when we're in love."

Rose tried to smile but failed. "But what you did was extremely stupid and selfish and you've hurt a lot of people."

"I know." Rose sniffed and sat up, leaning her head on her mother's shoulder. "I hate love. Love makes you do the worst things and for what? Misery and grief. It gives you hope and then snatches it away." Rose glared at the wall opposite her, "I used to hope I would fall in love, like you and Dad, and ironically like Teddy and Victoire but now I've realised something."

"What's that sweetheart?"

"The things you hope for most are the things that destroy you. And destroy everything around you. I know that now."

And she vowed to herself, in that moment, to never let love destroy her ever again.

Age 33

Rose smiled at the scene before her, children giggling loudly and playing with the discarded paper from their presents.

"Aunt Rose?" Rose turned to see Amelie in front of her, blonde pigtails and pink ribbons in her hair.

"Yes lovely, what is it?" Rose replied, smiling widely. The little blonde was so like Teddy, it sometimes hurt her to look at her for too long but she couldn't blame the little girl, and she couldn't change the past.

"Why aren't you married? Don't all adults get married?"

Rose bit her lip and though about her answer. "Well, sometimes people fall in love and get married but there are some people who are just not cut out for love and then there are some who just don't believe in love anymore."

Amelie gasped. "You don't believe in love? Everyone has to love someone, Mama says there is someone out there for everyone." Rose could remember Dom reciting those same words to her and she felt herself holding back a bitter laugh.

Rose merely smiled at the little girl's shock. "Well sometimes love just isn't worth the hassle sweetie and most of the time, it just hurts too much." Rose could feel Teddy's eyes on her but she ignored him and stood up. "My advice is to never fall in love, that way you'll never get hurt, and you'll never hurt anyone else."