Title: Linger

Author: divinerosekeeper

Rating: T

Genre: Romance, Drama

Summary: Sequel to Six Years After, PLEASE READ THAT 1ST. Rose is now the Transfigurations teacher of Hogwarts while Scorpius was made the new DADA teacher. Will they be able to gain back the relationship that had ended seven years ago? Rose & Scorpius.

Chapter One

Rose Weasley opened up the door to her new accommodations. The room was rather bland, she had to admit, but she was allowed free reign to decorate it however she saw fit. Rose took a moment to take the room all in, the walls were pretty bare, but the floor beneath her was of white marble covered with a plain rug, the white marble fireplace was in the right hand corner. Her bed was big and welcoming looking that had a sheer canopy above it, there was also a vanity and an armoire and a couch that was right under the window. A door that was on the opposite side of her fireplace was connected to her office. She lifted all of her trunks into the room and lit up her fireplace, all with the flick of her wand.

She sighed, she was tired, result of not getting much sleep in the past week, thanks to the nervousness of her new job as the new Transfigurations teacher and being head of Ravenclaw (thanks to Luna Scamander, the care of magical creatures professor who gave up as head of house in order to watch for nargles… One of the few things she still believed in). Rose would be sure to thank her Auntie Luna about this sometime later.

Rose gracefully conducted her things into the places she wanted them, her clothes in her armoire, makeup and knickknacks on her vanity. Pictures of her friends, brother, parents and her billions of aunts, uncles, and cousins were put on the walls, mantle, and atop her dresser. She changed the colors of her room to be blue and bronze for house spirit and loyalty. Lastly, she charmed her ceiling to be a silky night sky with a crescent moon and many shooting stars and constellations (emphasizing on the constellation of Scorpius, of course). Now the room heavily reminded her of her old head girl room. But she wasn't going to change it.

She collapsed on her couch, looking up at her charmed sky, her eyes following each and everyone one of the shooting stars overhead. Rose took out the ring on the chain that had been resting in her cleavage; she gently fingered it, mesmerized by it's nostalgic sparkle.

Destiny was cruel. It chose not for her to meet up with Scorpius… not that she hadn't tried. When she had taken a step that day, it had been toward the direction that he had went. She had gone through the sea of wizards to seek him out, but it had been too late, he had already disapparated. It had been almost ten months since that day, and she hadn't seen him since. It disappointed her of course, but she accepted it, knowing things were much better and simpler this way.

Rose got up and silently changed into some pajamas, slightly nervous about the next day, the first day of school.

-

Sitting down at the desk in her newly settled in office, Rose was setting up lesson plans for the first day of actual classes. The sorting ceremony was only five hours away.

There was a light rapping at the door, Rose perked up and with a light flick of her wand, and she opened the door. In came a smiling and huffing Headmaster Flitwick, she rose from her chair, peering over her desk in order to actually see the headmaster. She grinned at him, "Good afternoon, Professor Flitwick." Conjuring up a chair in front of her desk she offered, "Please do sit down."

"Thank you," he squeaked as he climbed up in the chair, it rose to the level of her desk so they could both see each other properly. Professor Flitwick looked around the room beaming, "Ah, see that you've settled in already, Miss Weasley."

Sitting back down Rose nodded, "Yes, just go in last night myself. I want to thank you again for giving me a job here, Professor."

Waving his hand he said, "Rubbish! I should be thanking you. I'm lucky to be able to hire a talented witch, such as you. I'm looking forward to this year and seeing what you have to offer to the bright young minds of the students."

Blushing slightly, Rose replied, "Well, I hope I won't disappoint. I'm just nervous whether or not the kids will take to me, or whether I'll even be a good teacher."

Flitwick patted her hand and gave her a reassuring smile, "Ah, I'm not worried, my dear, not at all. So I don't want you worried either." The chair started lowering, and he easily got off, "Now, remember the ceremony will start at eight tonight, so until then."

"Good day, Professor," she wished him off. When he was out the door Rose slumped in her seat, more nervous than ever.

-

The Great Hall was slowly filling up with second thru seventh year students at their respective tables. Rose was already sitting at the staff table next to her aunt Luna; the other side of her was an empty seat that was reserved for her uncle Neville (he was Deputy Headmaster and was in a corridor with all of the first years awaiting to be sorted).

She felt like she had gone back in time at the sound and sight of the Great Hall. Rose almost felt as though she was a student again, excited for the new term to start. Those were the good old days, catching up with your mates, asking how everyone's summers were, seeing who had changed over the summer and what not, and other rubbish.

Not long after the first years were herded into the hall, Rose smiled when she saw Marie Lupin wave at her, she was the first daughter of Teddy and Victoire. Like her father, Marie was also a Metamorphmagus, and was also part Veela, like her mother (though only one-sixteenth). Her honey-colored hair was streaked here and there with pink, which made her stand out from most of her peers.

Most of the sorting went by rather quickly, Rose only paying attention when she heard Neville call, "Lupin, Marie!"

Rose was very curious as to where her first cousin once removed was going to wind up in, her father had been in Hufflepuff, while her mother had been sorted into Ravenclaw. Marie sat herself on the stool and the old and beaten up hat was dropped on her head, going down almost to the tip of her nose.

The Sorting Hat took its time pondering while Marie just simply swung her legs, waiting for the hat decide where she would be put. After practically two minutes the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Although, slightly disappointed Marie hadn't been sorted into Ravenclaw, and was even more surprised she hadn't even been sorted into Hufflepuff, she beamed and clapped as she watched the eleven-year-old run to the cheering Gryffindors. When Marie sat down she looked over to Rose and shrugged with a goofy grin on her face. Hey, at least Grandad Weasley would be happy.

The remainder of the sorting went by even faster, and soon Flitwick was making a speech. About how to start off the new school year, the importance of learning. He introduced all of the teachers and the new Astronomy teacher, Misty Potts. When Flitwick introduced Rose, he said this: "And this is the new Transfigurations teacher, Rose Weasley, and do hope you will all make her feel welcome on her first year of teaching. She is also the new head of Ravenclaw, as Professor Scamander has decided to step down in order to be able to take full priority with magical creatures."

Rose gave her aunt Luna a rather annoyed look which Luna simply replied with, "Have to watch out for those nargles, Rosie. They are quite a nuisannce."

After Flitwick's lovely speech the feast was almost about to start.

That is, until something unexpected happened.

More like someone.

Scorpius Malfoy walked in. And no, Rose wasn't dreaming, hallucinating, or even making this up. He had seriously walked in, clad in a black suit, he wore a matching robe with it, his hair was slicked back like how it was the last time she saw him. He had his hands in his pockets, though he didn't look the least bit nervous, he had a more of a confident and somewhat cocky aura about him.

Rose's heart lurched, and her breath got caught in her throat.

Scorpius didn't bother to look over at the gaping Rose, and instead looked to Headmaster Flitwick, "I'm sorry Professor that I'm so late. I had some family business that needed to be attended to."

Rose heard Flitwick laugh, "Oh, no, it's fine, Mr. Malfoy. Everyone! This is Scorpius Malfoy, he'll be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, he's also the new head of Slytherin. So make him feel just as welcome as Professors Potts and Weasley."

"Thank you, Professor," said Scorpius smiling. He still hadn't bothered to look over at her, which was starting to piss her off, to be quite honest. What a prat! She thought viciously.

"Something the matter there, Rosie?" whispered Neville.

"Oh, nothing, Uncle Neville," she muttered, glaring at the stupid blond git that was walking towards the table.

"Now let us enjoy the feast!" squeaked Flitwick and food appeared before them.

When Scorpius got to the staff table it was only then that he glanced at Rose, though it was only very briefly and very nonchalantly. He went and sat down on the complete opposite side of the table where the head of Hufflepuff was.

Rose ate her dinner quietly and quickly, pondering of what to make of all this.

-

It wasn't until later that night when she made sure everyone was in their dormitories she was able to talk to Scorpius. She hadn't been seeking him out, she managed to run into him on the way to her office.

"It's nice to see you again, eh, Rose?" he said casually, which made her anger towards him even worse.

"Thought you'd be getting a job at the Ministry," she replied.

"Me too, but then I saw they had even more job offers here, and decided why not?"

"I see," she said.

Scorpius' gaze grew much softer, "How've you been?"

Rose sighed, "Fine, I suppose." And with that she walked right past him and quickly made her way to her office.

Author's Corner: Oi. Sucky first chapter. Ah, well. Hopefully it'll get better? Ideas would be nice. And no, Rose is not bipolar… She's just confused and stuff I guess.

And I had to have luna still believe in nargles. Because luna isn't luna if she doesn't mention nargles…

I swear this won't be half as boring as this chapter was.

Love,

Tabbie