I'm sorry, I know this is a day late, but it's longer so please don't be too upset! Thank you for all of the reviews, favorites and follows! It's amazing to scroll through the views menu and see how many people from dozens of different countries have read this, and I'm truly grateful. Please continue to review, they keep me writing and help immensely when I get writers block like earlier this week.

I am a broke college student; I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters.

Chapter 4

First Year, Part Four

In what seemed like the blink of an eye to the trio, December arrived. Scorpius, though still nervous as to whether his grandfather would refuse to see him, was getting particularly good at pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind. He, Rose and Al all led their year in certain subjects: Albus had remained at the top in Transfiguration, Rose had a particular talent in Potions, and Scorpius once again defied familial expectations with top marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Gregory Ollivander was best in Charms, a Hufflepuff by the name of Charlie McLeod ranked highest in Herbology, Slytherin Delilah Macnair had top marks in History of Magic, and Andy Sterling was first in Astronomy. Of course, this meant that by the time the Christmas holidays rolled around there was a seven way tie for the top of the year, a Hogwarts first that pleased none of the students involved.

Scorpius surprised his two closest friends with an uncharacteristic hug as the Hogwarts Express pulled into Kings Cross. "Promise you'll write?" In these final moments, he dropped his calm façade and allowed them to see just how nervous he was about how his family would treat him. Without a second thought, Rose returned his tight embrace. "Of course," she said. "Have to make sure you don't forget about us, won't we?" As Albus turned around to lift his trunk from the overhead rack, Rose murmured to Scorpius "It's only a few weeks; we'll all three be back and first in our year before you know it."

Albus and Rose were careful to exit the Hogwarts Express from a different compartment than Scorpius when they arrived at Kings Cross; they were able to find and exit with James, Fred, Victoire, Dominique, Molly and Louis, all of whom gave the pair a pointed look but said nothing. Though both were considering telling their family, neither wanted to start the Christmas holidays off with a row; and as for Scorpius, he would have enough to worry about simply because of the House he belonged to.

Though Ron and Hugo had wanted to accompany Hermione to Kings Cross to pick up Rose, she wanted to spend time with her daughter alone, especially since she'd be at work for a good portion of the holidays. True to form, Hermione asked Rose about her placement in the class within ten minutes of the train's arrival. While Rose wasn't happy having to explain why she wasn't first in everything, she decided to use the opportunity to test the waters concerning Scorpius.

"…and Scorpius Malfoy has the top grade in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He's really very talented, and Professor Chang thinks he might even be able to cast a full Patronus by third year like Uncle Harry."

Her mother briefly made a face as she drove, which Rose was able to catch a glimpse of in the rear view mirror. "Really? What house was he sorted into?"

"Ravenclaw, with Al and I."

"Well, hopefully he won't be like the rest of his family."

"Oh no, not at all," Rose responded quickly. Apparently her response had been too fast. Hermione looked at her daughter in the mirror and caught her eye.

"Are you friends with him, Rose?"

She could only nod; the words wouldn't come to her suddenly dry mouth. Perhaps this hadn't been the best time to recommend Scorpius to her mother after all.

Hermione's eyes returned to the road and she sighed. "Well, this certainly complicates things," she spoke in a quiet tone. "I'm honestly not sure what your father will do."

"Mum, please don't tell him. Not yet."

"Well really dear, what do you expect me to do?"

"I promise I'll tell him before I go back. Just give me some time to lead up to it, and tell him myself. You know how he'll react if you spring it on him tonight. It'll help once Al tells Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny too."

Hermione sighed again. "Alright Rose."

Rose stayed silent for a few moments before speaking up again. "Mum? I think you'd like him."

Her mother met her gaze in the rear view mirror again. "You're a good judge of character sweetie, and I'm sure you're right. And it's high time we start breaking down these old prejudices- they've been the cause of far too much trouble. It's just hard to forget what the Malfoys believed in for so long."

Rose stared out the window, watching the city fade in favor of the rolling hills of the countryside. "I think Scorpius agrees with you. He said he wanted to be in Ravenclaw because it was time for a change."

Hermione paused, then spoke quietly "I think I'd like to meet him."

Christmas at the Burrow was always a large, noisy affair, filled with Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs, delicious smells, matching homemade sweaters, and nearly thirty of Rose's closest relatives (and family friends, as was the case with Kingsley Shacklebolt). Though this created a merry atmosphere, it was also fairly overwhelming. As Rose, Ron, Hermione and Hugo stepped out of the fireplace, it soon became apparent that they were entering into the annual red and green anarchy. Fred and James were running through the crowded house, causing mayhem with a Fanged Frisbee and several dozen Super Wizard Crackers. When Hugo spotted them he eagerly entered in the chase, joining Roxanne in the procession. Lily followed behind, yelling at all of them when they knocked over a lamp or a person (which was quite often). Lucy cowered behind her slightly, rounding out the tail of the group, not wanting to get in trouble but also not wanting to be left behind. Meanwhile, Nana Weasley stood in the center of the kitchen, commanding objects with her wand and people with her voice simultaneously. Occasionally she would pause to shout at James, Fred, or one of her other grandchildren, though no one was exactly sure how she was able to see them even when her head was turned the other way. She was joined in the kitchen by Ginny, Harry, Audrey, Angelina and Fleur, all of whom scurried frantically to keep up with her orders; Victoire could be seen weaving a complicated repeating dance in and out of the action, helping to prepare dishes before sneaking off to find Teddy. Dominique, Molly and Louis gathered in the sitting room (Dominique was only a few months older but a school year ahead of the other two) to discuss all of the latest Gryffindor gossip. This earned them amused glances from Ron, Hermione (who had offered to help cook but had been quickly and politely dismissed due to her somewhat lacking cooking skills), Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Kingsley, Mr. Weasley and Andromeda, who were jumping topics from Quidditch to wizarding affairs to Celestina Warbeck's impending retirement.

Rose traveled through all the rooms on the ground floor and began to wonder where Albus was. Just as she was about to ask Uncle Harry, however, she felt someone grab her by the elbow and pull her upstairs. Albus released her once he'd led her to Aunt Ginny's old room, checking to make sure the door was shut carefully behind them.

"My parents know about Scorpius," he burst out. "James let it slip, the idiot… I'm sorry Rose. I know we were planning on waiting 'till after Christmas at least."

She sighed. "It's alright, Mum knows too. She read me like… well, a textbook. I didn't even make it home from Kings Cross. How did they take it?"

"Pretty well, considering. They actually asked if they could meet him."

"Mum too. I can't see him telling his family anytime soon though; he said in his last letter that his grandfather might agree to spend Christmas with the rest of the Malfoys as long as no one talked about Ravenclaw."

Albus shrugged. "Guess we'll have to wait and see." He paused. "When are you telling your dad? I think you should let him know, and soon, before someone accidentally mentions it."

"Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow. Hopefully everyone who knows can keep their traps shut for one more night."

When the cousins exited the spare bedroom and rejoined the rest of the family, they discovered it was nearly time to eat. The pair headed outside, where a warming charm had been placed around the garden so that a table long enough to accommodate them all could be erected. Rose and Albus sat across from James and Fred, with Lily and Hugo on either side; they felt as if they were about to go deaf any moment. As soon as the adults who had been working in the kitchen started levitating an endless procession of platters and bowls, however, the garden grew quiet. Grandpa stood, and was joined by Nana Weasley when the food had reached the table, where it continued to hover a foot above its surface. Rose looked up and down the table at her smiling relatives (and Kingsley), clad in their new Weasley sweaters.

"Thank you for joining us for another Christmas- Molly and I are so happy and proud to see how this family has grown, both bigger and closer. And because I know I won't be able to get another sentence in without there being a riot- Dig in!" The trays of food all fell to the table with a thump, splashing a few soups and sauces into the faces of those in front of them, but everyone was far too busy helping themselves to care. As usual, sitting encircled by several growing males meant that Rose had to utilize her quick reflexes and pointy elbows to fill her plate, but she loved every second of it. How must Scorpius feel, she wondered, coming from such a small family?

After dessert, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny started a family Quidditch match in the orchard, another tradition that Rose loved, while her mother and those who were not so sports inclined broke into a new bottle of spiced mead. Though the teams were formally chosen anew each Christmas, the rosters hadn't changed for years except for Teddy's replacement by Hugo and Uncle Bill's by Louis. Rose, Lily and Hugo were always Chasers on Uncle Harry's team, with her dad as Keeper, Fred and Roxanne as Beaters, and Uncle Harry as the obvious choice for Seeker. On the other side, Aunt Ginny, Dominique and Molly were Chasers, Louis played Keeper, Uncle George and Uncle Charlie were Beaters, and Albus played Seeker against his father.

She headed back to the house to pull the colored cloaks with a Heat Spell placed on them out of the broom cupboard, when she saw Orion land on the windowsill. Dropping the cloaks, Rose rushed to grab the owl's letter before anyone else in her family could spot him. Orion appeared to sense that he should not be seen, for as soon as Rose had untied the scroll from his leg he returned to the sky. Rose bit her lip as she read what Scorpius had written:

Dear Rose,

Thanks for the Sneakoscope- it kept going off this morning, which in retrospect should have given me a warning of what would happen tonight. I hope you like the Licorice Wands; I thought I remembered you saying they were your favorite.

Grandfather had apparently asked Delilah Macnair for information on me- never underestimate the pureblood information network- because when he came to dinner tonight he told the rest of my family about our friendship and broke a few pieces of Mum's china in the process. You'll be happy to know that my mother defended me; she argued with him for over an hour until she fainted- she's been very fatigued lately. Although my father and grandmother seemed less than pleased when they discovered the allegations were true, Dad started yelling once he and Grandmother had taken mother to bed, and they're still at it downstairs. Suffice it to say that Malfoy Manor is now a horrible place to live and I intend to stay in my room until school starts.

I'm sorry to spoil your holiday. Please write when you can.

Happy Christmas,

Scorpius

Rose's heart broke for her friend as she finished and reread the letter. She couldn't begin to imagine what it must feel like, not to be welcome in your own house during the holidays. Unfortunately she'd left Circe at home, Orion had already flown away, and she had no intention of sending one of her Gryffindor grandparents' owls to Malfoy Manor. She ran back to the broom cupboard, grabbed the cloaks, and headed back outside to the orchard, hoping no one had noticed how long the task had taken her. Rose need not have worried: her father was currently arguing with Uncle George and Aunt Ginny- something about an unfair advantage with the brooms. She sidled up to Al and whispered the story of Scorpius' disastrous Christmas into his ear. His green eyes grew dark, and his mouth thinned. She pulled him off under the trees as Uncle Harry and Uncle Charlie joined in the fight.

"His grandfather is awful and no one should have to spend their vacation in their room and he's our best friend so I want to invite him to stay with us for the rest of the holidays," she said in a rush as soon as they relatively out of earshot.

"I was going to suggest the same thing, actually. I'm surprised Miss Let's-Be-Rational is on the same page. Only… are you sure? Your dad doesn't even know, not to mention Nana and Grandpa Weasley."

"Don't go soft on me now, Mr. Idealistic. You're the reason I sat with Scorpius on the Hogwarts Express in the first place. I'm not pretending it won't be difficult, but… he's our friend."

Al nodded. "Alright, but I think it would be best if he stayed with me. Both my parents already know, and your dad won't have to see him until New Years at our house."

Rose agreed, and the pair left the shelter of the trees just as the other twelve Quidditch players kicked off into the air.