Disclaimer: I own nothing recognisable – the picture isn't mine, either

Rose lay in bed that night, grinning at the ceiling as she listened to her father snoring in the room next hers and Lily's. Scorpius had, shockingly, said yes to her invitation. Of course, her father had barely been able to contain his rage when he saw the blonde hair in amongst the red, but she had quickly convinced him that Scorpius was different.

Sure, they were incredibly competitive, but she kind of liked it. Whenever he beat her on a test, he would look at her; his grey eyes would dance, almost as if they were teasing her. Up until now, she hadn't really known how to react, so she had snapped at him. But she had finally realised that it was because she was trying to not smile.

A Weasley and a Malfoy. How ridiculous.

And yet, she couldn't get him out of her mind. Merlin, that was clichéd, but it was true. The way he had run alongside her and her cousins, the way he had laughed just as loudly as the others at the jokes flying around, the way he had flopped onto the grass when he was too tired to run any more – she couldn't stop grinning at the memories of the day.

She had to get it out.

She sat up, grabbed a quill and some parchment and sat by the window in the bright moonlight. She started scratching away, pausing every now and then and nibbling on the end of her quill before continuing. Finally, she grinned at the page, slid it into the bottom drawer of her bed-side cabinet and went to sleep.

She was awoken by voices downstairs. She groaned and turned over, wanting to go back to sleep, but it sounded as if there was an argument going on. She sighed and got up, knowing that if Hugo and Albus were arguing again, she would be the one who would have to break it up.

But it wasn't her brother and cousin. It was her father and cousin.

"How could you let him come here?!" Ron shouted.

"Rose invited him, not me!" James shouted back before seeing Rose and adding, "Ask her yourself!"

Rose sighed, knowing what was to come. She listened as her father told her exactly what he thought of the Malfoys before saying calmly, "Scorpius is not his father."

Ron glared at her, then seemed to realise what he was doing. He closed his eyes and sighed, sinking into the nearest chair. "I'm sorry, Rose," he muttered. "You know what he did."

"I know, Dad," she answered softly, "but I've known Scorpius for six years, and I know that he isn't like that. The whole school knows. And I've heard rumours that his father has changed. He doesn't believe in blood purity and he certainly doesn't take pride in being a Death Eater. He knows he was lucky to escape Azkaban."

"And he avoided Azkaban for a reason," Uncle Harry added as he came down the stairs. "You're absolutely right, Rose. He has changed. I have been talking with Neville, and he agrees. You need to calm down, Ron," he said quietly. "If Rose wants him here – well, I trust her judgement. Don't you?"

Ron looked at his best friend, sighed and said, "Yes. I trust her judgement completely."