Scorpius Malfoy picked up his rucksack and expertly cast an invisible extension charm. He didn't even need to say the spell aloud. After seven years at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, he had been become a bit of a master student when it came to non verbal magic. But of course he had always had a little help from Rose... Glancing around his room, Scorpius began to pick up the items he had set aside to bring with him. He picked his clothes up, which had been neatly folded on his bed and put them in first carefully, trying not to shake the rucksack as he went. If anything toppled in there, he would have to start all over again. He moved systematically through the room as Scorpius had also prided himself in being an organised individual.

Soon his cupboards were stripped bare, the once neatly plastered posters on his walls had been taken down and only their faint outline was left. His books were off their shelves and the things he didn't mean to take with him had been packed away in cardboard boxes and were stored in his trunk. The rug was stored against the wall and the little dust particles from the fabric could be seen floating in the air. Walking over to his dressing table, his basic necessities, toiletries and combs were packed. His emerald green bed was made and the dark heavy curtains had been drawn. He knew that eventually his mother would take those down too and pack them away until he returned. Looking around satisfied, something right next to his bed suddenly caught his eye. Rushing over to it, Scorpius breathed a sigh of relief as he glanced at the photo frame. Thank Merlin he hadn't left this behind...

He stared at the frame for awhile, carefully inspecting it, it's wooden borders carefully carved with vines and flowers. His mouth twitched as he watched the moving picture within the frame. That was the beauty of being able to use magic, he reminded himself, even the pictures could move. He looked so different then though, even if it had been barely 2 months ago. The picture had been taken beside the lake at Hogwarts. Scorpius had his arm around Rose Weasley, her auburn hair shimmering in the sunlight, her face bright and cheerful and she was hugging him, laughing. For a moment, Scorpius' mind flashed back to the memory.

"Come on Scorp!" Rose teased playfully.

Scorpius groaned.

"No... Please I'd rather not Rose."

"Spoilsport!" pouted Albus.

"Please?" Rose begged.

Scorpius sighed in defeat.

"One race to the lake and that's it." he warned.

Rose nodded.

"Alright. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

Albus cheered.

"I'm betting Rosie's gonna win!" he cheered.

"You wish." snorted Scorpius.

"Wait!" Albus called. "I'll run to the bottom first so I can tell who wins?" he suggested.

"Good idea." Rose agreed.

Albus quickly set off, his camera in tow. Albus had become quite the fan of "capturing memories" lately. He was using his camera to document their last few months as Hogwarts. At first Scorpius hadn't been too thrilled at the idea but after awhile it had grown on him. After all the pictures would represent memories for them to look back on when they had graduated. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Scorpius saw Albus waving at them, indicating that he was ready. Rose steadied herself at the top of the hill, her eyes straight ahead, intent. Scorpius followed her lead.

"Ready!" Albus called.

Scorpius could feel Rose's breath next to his. The adrenaline before any race with her always sent chills through his skin.

"Set!" Albus' voice rang in his ears.

"Go!"

Before Scorpius could process what was happening, he felt Rose take off beside him charging down the hill. Her auburn hair was trailing behind her and she looked like a Stallion or a wild horse, charging down the mountain top. Her experience in Quidditch had served her well and Scorpius could see the tones muscles in her legs as she sprinted ahead. He quickly ran after her.

"So much for going easy on me!" he teased her.

Rose didn't reply but he could hear her laugh as they approached Albus. Scorpius already knew how this would end. He skidded to a halt as they crossed the finish line.

"Rose Wins!" Albus cheered and snapped a picture of them.

The flash made Scorpius blink.

"Al!" Rose whined. "Not when I look like this..."

"Well, I have to try and capture an accurate image of our school life." he shrugged.

"There's no point arguing with you is there?" she asked.

Scorpius who was still panting, trying to regain his breath, laughed.

"You're figuring this out now?" he sounded exasperated.

Rose smiled and collapsed on the grass, Scorpius beside her. Albus had his back turned to them, fiddling with his camera and for a moment, they were alone. This place was special to the both of them. The lake had been where they had finally admitted to one another that they loved each other. Stroking Rose's cheek for a moment, Scorpius realised that he couldn't have picked a better place to tell her. Looking at Rose now, he knew she was thinking the same thing. The swift moment of tenderness passed as Albus turned around.

"Oh come on guys! Not when I'm around..." he groaned.

Rose who was still gazing at Scorpius grinned cheekily.

"Hey it's better for you to know than you to not know right Al?" she asked.

Albus covered his eyes playfully.

"I'm not sure about that..." he called.

Scorpius stood up and helped Rose to her feet.

"You can look again Al!" he called out.

Albus opened his eyes.

"How about a picture for the love birds eh?" he asked.

"I don't see why not?" Scorpius glanced at Rose.

She shrugged.

"Yea I don't mind."

The pair stood formally next to one another and smiled at the camera.

Albus snorted.

"Is that the most romantic you can get?" he asked.

Rose sighed.

"Well you were the one who said..."

"Forget what I said" Albus sighed.

"Well ok." Scorpius shrugged and immediately grabbed Rose by the waist, tickling her.

Rose burst out laughing and began to try and squirm away from Scorpius. Scorpius' arm moved to her shoulder and she wrapped one of her arms around him as the pair continued to giggle. Rose's hair was all over the place and eventually she came to rest her head on Scorpius' shoulder. "Nice." Albus called and steadied his camera. Scorpius tickled Rose one last time and she squealed again in delight just as Albus clicked the button and the camera flashed.

Staring down at the picture, Scorpius could still hear Rose's laugh and gently touched her face as she scrunched it up in the picture, still laughing. Laughter, that was the embodiment of Rose. She was always laughing and she knew how to make you laugh. Carefully, Scorpius placed the frame into his rucksack and sealed it. Getting off his bed, he moved across the room and took one look around. So many memories here. Good and bad ones but all the same... This had been his home for 18 years. Merlin that was a long time. And the room on close inspection, showed it's age. The wooden carvings by the fireplace were faded, the beams a little creaky. The curtains, gold threading had worn away a little and the windows were a tad dusty. But in a way it was nice. The lived in feeling of it all. But now everything was about to change. Summoning his broom and beater bat, which lay in the corner with his trunk, he grabbed them both and swiftly shut the door.

Scorpius' footsteps creaked across the stairway as he head towards to the sitting room. Now that nostalgia no longer occupied his thoughts, a feeling of excitement swelled within him, his heart was racing. He had after all been looking forward to this day for ages. Pushing the large door of the sitting room open, the same room where Rose had first met his mother, Scorpius saw his parents casually sitting around the cold fireplace, waiting for him. Hearing him come in, his mother immediately stood up followed by his father who walked towards him and clapped him on the back. Scorpius smiled at his father who squeezed his shoulder.

"All ready then?" Astoria asked.

Scorpius nodded.

She nodded. "Right" For a moment, Astoria Malfoy seemed unsure of herself.

Draco was the one to take control.

"You better get going. You'd want to make a good impression."

Scorpius breathed deeply.

"You'll be great at the Falmouth Falcons dear." his mother smiled encouragingly.

"And you're a good player." his father reminded him.

"I know you didn't really want me to be a Quidditch Player." Scorpius glanced at him.

Astoria chewed her lip but Draco shrugged.

"I admit that I would have liked you to have gone into something a little more institutional but I can tell nothing will change your mind. Plus why deprive you of something which you excel at?" he asked.

Scorpius breathed a sigh of relief. His father, especially after having met Rose, had become a lot easier to talk to. Well she did have that effect on people. Scorpius then decided to forget the usual propriety and hugged his parents. To his surprise neither pulled away i embarrassment as they would have done in the past. Instead they seemed to welcome his embrace and they pulled him closer.

"This is going to be an empty house without you." Astoria was tearing.

"Much too empty." his father commented.

"Well I'll be back for Christmas and holidays." Scorpius assured his parents.

"Make sure that new place of yours is suitable for humans to live in." his mother warned.

Draco chuckled. "Knowing your mother she might just come and check up on you!"

Scorpius smiled. "Why don't you? You could come for a meal once I settle in."

"Knowing you, we could come over tomorrow and everything would be spotless. You always unpacked so fast even as a child." Draco snorted.

Astoria frowned. "And why shouldn't he? I brought the boy up well. My son..." she sighed.

Scorpius glanced at his watch. Now he really had to go.

Draco and Astoria reading his thoughts, took a step back.

"It's not forever." Scorpius reminded his mother who still looked a little lost.

Draco squeezed his wife's shoulder and mouthed a "Don't worry." to his son.

Scorpius nodded. He could understand his mother's perspective. This wasn't just him heading off to Hogwarts for the year. He was actually leaving home. For good. Sure he might come back once in awhile to spend the holidays but this was no longer his home. Not really anyway. The realization sent a pang through his heart. Suddenly there were cries from beyond the room and several figures burst in.

Scorpius' eyes widened as the house elves hurried up to him. Dropping his sack, he bent down to them both and hugged them. They had been his friends as a young boy growing up, had fed him, taught him, washed him. Loved him. They were his family the house elves. Draco and Astoria did not intrude. They recognised the bond the elves had formed with their son over the years.

"Goodbye Master!" they called, some were crying.

Seeing their sorrowful faces, Scorpius felt a wave of sadness engulf him.

"It's not forever dear friends." he smiled, reassuring himself as well as them.

"Take care!"

"Best of luck!"

"Master shall do us proud!" came their voice.

Scorpius kissed each one on the forehead and whispered a goodbye.

Finally, he stepped over to the fireplace which had been purposely washed and kept unused for the day in lieu of his departure. Turning to face them all once again, Scorpius felt the tears sting his eyes. His parents waving, holding each other reassuringly, the house elves, crying, waving, some of the more optimistic ones were laughing. Like Rose, he thought to himself. Just like Rose. And with those thoughts in mind, he grabbed some of the floo powder beside the fireplace and through it into the hearth crying out, "Falmouth Falcon's Stadium!" There was an eruption of loud,green flames that licked at Scorpius' very being. The company quickly turned their eyes away from the light to avoid the glare and when they faced the hearth once more,

he was gone.