The End of Us
Scorpius Malfoy was sweating. He had been dating the love of his life, Rose Hermione Weasley for two years now, and he was just now meeting her family. Things had started half-way through their seventh year, and though he had put if off as long as possible, today was the day. He brushed through his white blond hair, blinking his gray eyes in the mirror of his apartment for several seconds. He looked himself over, dark wash jeans, and a button down black shirt. In his pocket was a small box, with a beautiful diamond ring. He was going to make Rose a Malfoy, if she would have him. She was going to meet him here in about five minutes. Her perfect, beautiful face always set him at ease. He would propose to her after he met her family, he decided. He would take her to the beach, her favorite place in the world, and the location of their first time of actually being together. Merlin, he was nervous. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, something he had always abhorred seeing in others. There was a knock at his door, and he smiled as he opened it. Rose launched herself into Scorpius' arms, hugging him tightly.
"Hello, love," he greeted, tilting her chin up with one hand and kissing her. The kiss was quick, chaste for the time being, and he pulled back, grinning at her.
"Are you ready?" Rose asked him, smiling, a bit nervously. Scorpius shook his head, but grinned in reassurance as her face fell.
"I'll never be ready, but I'm going to do it. They do know I'm coming, right?" Scorpius ascertained.
"They know that my boyfriend's coming over," Rose responded evasively, not meeting his eyes. Scorpius looked down at her, searching her face for what she wasn't saying, or was too afraid to admit.
"They don't know who I am?" Scorpius asked gently. Rose buried her head in his shoulder, mumbling a 'no' into the fabric of his shirt. Scorpius sighed, but rubbed her back gently.
"I'm afraid to tell them," she admitted, blushing slightly.
"You met my parents," Scorpius pointed out, "and they loved you," he added, smiling at the memory. "Of course, I don't know anyone that wouldn't." Rose rolled her eyes impatiently, but smiling at his words. She didn't care if it was pointless flattery, it always sounded good coming form Scorpius.
"I love you," she whispered. "But I'm afraid my father won't be able to see past the past," she said.
"Well, it'll be twice as bad now that he doesn't know it's me," Scorpius pointed out, feeling a flash of guilt as her eyes filled with tears. This was as big a day for her as it was for him, he reminded himself. He pulled her into a tight hug again.
"Don't worry, Rose," Scorpius murmured, "We'll work this out," he promised.
"I know we will," Rose said confidently, pulling away and taking his hand. "I'll apparate us there," she told him, pulling out her wand, tightening her grip on his hand and with a 'pop' they disappeared from the very apartment they had spent so many nights together in. He swallowed hard as they landed outside the Burrow, and he smiled slightly as he felt the pressure of the box in his pocket.
"Let's get this over with," Scorpius sighed, taking her hand firmly, refusing to be intimidated by her family. He walked into the house, thankfully not yet seeing her father, only her little brother, who wasn't very little anymore. He was in his sixth year at Hogwarts, and was currently staring at Scorpius, mouth agape.
"Rose," Hugo groaned. "Dad's going to flip," he whispered, making sure no one was listening in.
"I know," Scorpius interjected. "I'm fully expecting it."
"No, you don't get it," Hugo said, "Every time someone even mentions your name, he leaves the room completely." Rose shot Hugo an angry look, holding onto Scorpius' arm, as if trying to protect him already.
Scorpius took a deep breath as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out of, what Scorpius assumed to be, their room.
"Mum, dad," Rose began hastily. "This is my boyfriend, Scorpius Malfoy," she said hastily, like saying it faster would somehow get the obvious past her parents. Hermione's eyes widened infinitesimally, betraying a little surprise.
"Nice to meet you," she continued, as if unperturbed. Ron was completely silent for several seconds, his eyes darting from Scorpius to Rose, who was clutching his arm. Ron's face flooded with color and he took several steps towards Scorpius, Hermione putting a restraining hand on his shoulder that Ron shook off impatiently.
"Hello, sir," Scorpius tried, extending a hand.
"Get the hell out of my house," Ron snarled. "Get your hands off my daughter, you pureblood," his tone mocking. Scorpius stared back at him, his face impassive.
"Dad, stop!" Rose said, holding onto Scorpius' arm tightly still.
"No, I will not have him near my family. He's a Malfoy," Ron spat. "He's bad news just like his father. His mum will probably crucio you just like his Great Aunt did to your mother!' he shouted at Rose. He turned back to Scorpius, who flinched slightly.
"Get out," Ron hissed. "Now. I'm an Auror, I could find a reason to put you in Azkaban for life. Get out you treacherous, no-good, son-of-a-death-eater," he spat. Scorpius' face hardened and he shook off Rose's arm, storming out of the house.
"Goodbye, Rose," he said with an absolute finality. "Your father's right, I'm no good for you," he stormed out of the house, leaving a sobbing Rose in his wake who was screaming unintelligibly at her furious father. Scorpius grabbed the box out of his pocket and threw it as far as he could, not giving a damn where it went.
He wasn't right for Rose, and Rose wasn't right for him. It only took five minutes with a furious adult to figure that out.
Cunning and Ambition