Though her hair was a darker shade, and her bone structure more petite, Rose recognized the woman moving toward their table as being Scorpius' mother. Scorpius stood immediately and went to her. The woman held him at arm's length taking in the sight of him in his soft black cable knit jumper and dark denim jeans. "You look…"

"Respectable?" Scorpius offered.

"Wonderful. Thank Merlin you've gotten rid of that awful fang," Mrs. Malfoy said pulling him into a warm embrace. She fussed over him for a minute while Scorpius flushed an adorable shad of pink.

"Mother, this is Rose Weasley," he said offering her his hand to help her from the booth. "And this is Albus Potter, Lily Potter and Hugo Weasley, Rose's younger brother. This is my mother, Mrs. Malfoy."

"It is very nice to meet you all," the older woman said with a smile that shocked Rose in its similarity to Scorpius'. She took Rose's hand between hers and patted it with what Rose could only describe as motherly affection. "You can call me Asteria, dear." Then she pulled Rose into a bone crushing hug.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy," Rose said with a smile of her own. "I hope you don't mind, but Scorpius and I invited my parents to join us as well. They should be here any minute." Rose then turned to her family. "A booth just opened up down the way, Lily."

"Right," Hugo said. Lily kicked Albus, who looked at Rose remorsefully as he slid out of the booth. "Tell Mum and Dad I said 'hi' if I don't see them." Rose nodded and offered Mrs. Malfoy a seat.

"You two aren't revising during a Hogsmeade weekend, are you?" Scorpius' mum said arching an eyebrow at them.

Rose looked at her guiltily. "Well, more devising a timetable to get us ready for our upcoming N.E.W.T.s."

"I have a lot to catch up on to bring my marks up, Mother," Scorpius offered. "Rose is going to help me."

"That is so lovely," Asteria said beaming at the two of them. "I've never been prouder of you than I am right now, Scorpie."

Rose hid behind her hand, but it didn't help. Scorpius kicked her under the table and she bit her lip to keep from laughing again. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I just can't imagine Scorpius in his tall boots and fearsome dragon fang earring being called 'Scorpie.'"

Asteria's pale green eyes were twinkling merrily. "Speaking of which," she said turning her gaze to Rose, "do I have you to thank for this miraculous transformation?"

"Entirely," Scorpius said easily. "If it weren't for Rose straightening me out, I'd still be floating along being a git." Blushing, Rose looked away.

"If she gave you a dressing-down anything like the one Mr. Potter just received, I can imagine why you've seen the error of your ways," his mum said seriously.

"She was much more kind to me," Scorpius said smirking at his mum. "She basically told me I was wasting my life in a pity-party."

"I did not!" Rose said glaring at him. Out of the corner of her eye, Rose spotted bushy brown hair coming toward her. "Mum!" Rose said waving her arm to get her attention. Scorpius slid out of the booth and Rose followed, bounding over to her mum's open arms. "I've missed you so much! Where's dad?"

"I've missed you too," her mum said giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry we're late. Your father was being an insufferable git about coming. He's back there somewhere talking Quidditch with Hugo." Rose grimaced and then proceeded with the necessary introductions.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Scorpius." She shook his hand and then turned to his mother. "It is so nice to see you again, Asteria," Hermione Weasley said as she slid into the round booth next to Scorpius' mum. "I read your article in the Prophet last week and I must say that I agree entirely about the effects of stress. I've read many Muggle articles about it, but I've never heard it addressed from a wizarding standpoint."

Scorpius and Rose slid back into the booth again. "It looks good so far," Rose whispered. "Hopefully my dad doesn't ruin it all. Mention Quidditch and avoid all talk of my knickers," she advised with a teasing wink.

He grinned and nudged her leg with his. "I think I can handle that, Weasley."

"You two aren't studying again, are you?" Asteria admonished.

"No ma'am," Scorpius said grinning.

"Scorpius wants to be a Healer," Asteria told Hermione with pride.

"So does Rosie," her mum said grinning at her. "She's wanted to be one since she was eight and we had to take Hugo to the hospital when he tried to fly by jumping out of a tree and broke both his legs."

"What specialty do you want to go into?" Asteria enquired with raised eyebrows.

The conversation flowed well for several minutes. Rose and Scorpius passed their timetable across to their mothers and Hermione suggested a couple more efficient time-saving techniques for N.E.W.T. studying. They both looked over the books and Asteria nodded in approval over the one meant specifically for Healer focused students. She also gave Rose and Scorpius a few tips for getting their applications to programs noticed.

"Hullo," Rose's dad said moodily as he came up to the table.

"Daddy," Rose said smiling tentatively at him. Scorpius slid out of the booth again to let her out. Rose hugged her dad and introduced him to both Scorpius, who shook his hand and his mother who smiled and waved. Ron Weasley glared at the younger man and squeezed harder than necessary. "Father," Rose said icily, "am I going to have to give you the same speech I just gave Albus?"

"If I were you, dear, I'd refrain from delivering that last line to my father," Asteria said with a twinkle in her eye.

Ron let go of Scorpius' hand and flopped into the booth next to his wife, still glaring malevolently. Rose let Scorpius scoot in next to his mum in the round booth and Rose took the outside. "I'm starving," Ron said darkly.

"If you'd have gotten ready on time and come and sat with us when we arrived, we could already be eating, Ron," Hermione said glaring at her husband.

Mr. Weasley muttered something under his breath and put his hand up to call the serving maid. They all put in their order, and the conversation turned back around to plans beyond Hogwarts. Rose and Scorpius were animated. "If I don't make the Healer training program," Scorpius said, "I plan on trying out for the Canons."

Asteria and Hermione groaned, but Ron's ears perked up. "The Canons? I really think it is there year this year."

Rose stifled a giggle.

"I told you," Scorpius said turning to her.

"What position do you play?" Ron asked casually, as though he hadn't been glaring at the boy since he arrived.

"I'm Keeper for the Slytherin team," Scorpius said. "I really think we're going to take the cup this year."

Rose dug her elbow into Scorpius' ribs. "Not with me as Chaser for Ravenclaw you aren't. I've gotten tons of goals past you."

"Rose is a great Chaser," her dad interrupted. "She gives me a heart attack every time she flips over on that racing broom of hers though. I told Harry that she needed something slower, but he just wouldn't listen."

From then on out, lunch was a peaceful affair. Hermione and Asteria discussed things quietly, and she could swear she saw the two women sneaking glances at her and Scorpius. Her father and Scorpius discussed Quidditch, and Rose was content to watch from the sidelines. At one point, Albus surreptitiously walked past them and pretended to go to the loo. Rose had a hard time not laughing at the look of dismay on his face when he noticed Scorpius and her dad talking animatedly about Quidditch moves over their sandwiches.

"Oh!" Asteria said as she pulled a large silver coin from her pocket and read the inscription. "I'm needed at the hospital. One of the Healer's went into labour halfway through her shift. I had better get going."

Scorpius and Rose slid out to allow her to pass. She gave Scorpius a big hug and Rose heard her whisper, "You have our blessing. Your father is a little worried, but he's okay."

He nodded and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks mum."

"We had better go too," Hermione said as she and Ron slid out of the booth. "Gran is having dinner at the Burrow tonight for Uncle Charlie's birthday and I'm supposed to help decorate."

"I wish I could be there," Rose said wistfully.

"You'll graduate soon enough. Enjoy Hogwarts while you have the chance," her dad said wrapping his arm around her affectionately.

"It was nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Scorpius said shaking Ron's hand. "I really enjoyed talking Quidditch with someone who appreciated a good team when they see it." He glanced sidelong at Rose and smirked.

Ron laughed. "You're alright… for a Malfoy."

"Ronald," Hermione said peevishly.

"I was kidding, mum," Ron said rolling his eyes skyward at his wife.

Scorpius and Rose grinned. "I'll see you guys at the game when we kick Slytherin's sorry bum."

"Sorry, but I'm on her side about this one," Mr. Weasley said to Scorpius chuckling. They all laughed as they walked out of the pub. Rose noticed that it had been sprinkling, and most of the students had already started back toward Hogwarts to beat out the rain.

Rose and Scorpius waved as her parents Apparated off the street. "That went well," Rose said with a great amount of surprise as she shouldered her rucksack. Scorpius smiled affectionately at her and her heart started to beat wildly in her chest. She couldn't believe that he actually liked her and had gone to the trouble of meeting her parents. Shyly, Rose slipped her hand into his.

"Do you need anything else before we head back up to the castle?"

Rose shook her head, still lost in thought. She could feel a line of energy passing between them and wondered if he felt it too. "I think my mum was really impressed with you."

"Not as impressed as mine was with you," Scorpius said seriously as they began walking down the path hand-in-hand. "I thought she was going to fall over when she saw me."

"You are quite stunning," Rose said boldly.

Scorpius smirked and tugged her hand so that she was closer and their shoulders were touching as they walked. "So will you date me now?"

"Now that you look respectable?" Rose asked with a grin. A fat raindrop fell on the tip of her nose and she wiped it away with her sleeve. "I—"

He frowned at her. "I don't want you to feel like you have to."

Rose shook her head, trying to think of how to put things into words properly. "It isn't that I don't want to. Honestly. I'm just scared. I've only dated and ever kissed one boy, and we broke up after the first week. And you…"

"And I'm a womanizing pig?" Scorpius said acidly.

"I didn't say that. I just know you've dated a lot of other girls and you are more experienced than me. And I don't just want to be one of them," Rose said waving her free hand wildly. "I don't like casual dating."

Scorpius stopped dead and pulled her around to face him. He looked directly into her eyes as the sky exploded above them. She could smell him and fresh rain as it poured into the dirt. In a matter of seconds they were both soaked, his hair was plastered against his forehead. "It may come as a surprise to you, but I am not nearly as experienced as people think I am. Ophelia L'Colombe told all her girlfriends that we had sex in the fifth floor loo to try and get back at me for dumping her. I've never even seen a girl's knickers before let alone been in them. The rumor suited my purpose at the time, so I didn't refute it."

Rose's eyebrows shot up into her fringe. "Really?"

"Yes really. Do I look like I want to be casual, Rose?" He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to his body. Though they were both chilly and wet, she could feel the heat of him through their jumpers. He looked away from her. "We aren't even dating. I shouldn't be thinking the things I am thinking about you… about us."

Rose reached up and cupped his wet cheek in her hand. "What kind of things are you thinking, Scorpius?"

He hesitated then all too briefly he touched his lips to hers. "I'm thinking that I've met my match. You're witty, smart, and you keep me focused. You make me want to settle down and be a better person."

"You don't need to be a better person, Scorpius. That person is already inside, you just need to let it back out," Rose said softly as she blinked the water and tears out of her lashes. He reached up and wiped the wet off her cheeks with the sleeve of his jumper.

"Mother always told me that when she kissed my dad for the first time that there were bells and whistles and that was how she knew he was the right one. Up to the point when we were sitting under that tree studying, I hadn't heard bells, whistles or any other kind of indication. And then when you Potter was goading you, I felt the fiercest need to protect and reassure you, so I took your hand."

Rose was trembling and it wasn't from the cold. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She'd been in this school for seven years and since she'd tried dating her cousin Albus' best friend, Phillip Jordan, in the fourth year, but no one until Scorpius had ever really appealed to her. Honestly, she'd only dated Phillip because he'd asked and she'd been too kind to say no. She looked up at Scorpius. Rain was dripping down his cheeks and running off his chiseled jaw. His eyelashes were a dark frame around his pale gray eyes and Rose wanted to do nothing more in that moment than kiss him. But still, she held back.

"Are you sure, Scorpius, really sure that I won't be a passing fancy?" Rose asked.

"If I break up with you," he said very seriously, "You can hex me into next week. I won't even fight it."

Rose giggled and raised up on her tiptoes, her mouth was a breath away from his. "I'll hold you to that," she said before crushing her lips against his. Without thinking about it, Rose's arms slid up and around his neck, her fingers sliding through the hair at the nape of his neck. She felt him pulling her tighter against his body and she stepped up onto his toes for leverage. They stood in the rain kissing one another as though their lives depended on that kiss—depended on that moment.

A loud crack of thunder brought them apart after what might have been minutes or hours. The sky was dark and the rain was pouring down on them. Scorpius grinned widely. "We better get going, dinner will be starting soon, and then I've got Quidditch practice."

Rose stepped back and linked her cold hand in his. They took off at a run, laughing and making sure to splash in all the puddles along the way.