Hi, everyone! Here's a chapter dedicated to Rose/Scorpius and their thoughts, hopes and fears. There's some Scorpius/Asteria at the end... *signs* I couldn't finish the whole funeral thing without a mother/son sonversation. I'm too sentimental:)

Wish I could be the man you could be proud of

Central Cemetery, London, 10:59

It was getting colder as time sped by; but they didn't seem to mind. It was odd how they could stay side by side without ever talking or looking anywhere but in front of them, just thinking.

Rose was thinking of him, of all their years together, of how they acted towards each other. She was recalling moments, conversations, glances. Considering every step that brought her to her previous realization… The feelings she had when she found out he was Head Boy. The disappointment, the misery, the anger he caused her to experience each time they talked.

She didn't like hating people, but he was someone that always got under her skin. He was cold, cruel, indifferent. He talked badly to everyone, even to his friends. He insulted everybody, for no reason at all. Scorpius Malfoy was an awful person.

But soon she found herself wondering; who was she to judge him. They had spent a couple of months acting friendly towards each other and he didn't act that bad anymore; at least not to her. He wore a more human face lately, yet was still holding something back.

And that scared her. What was he hiding behind his mocking smirk?

She was also perfectly capable of understanding it, especially that day when she saw his family, when she heard her family talking about them. She realized the weight his name also carried.

They had too many things to talk about. She had many things to think about. Her feelings didn't confuse her anymore; she was very certain for the first time after months. What did confuse her and made her dizzy was the thought of the days following. Of her family. And then of his. She never doubted his feelings. She wouldn't call it love, but she knew that something was there. For both of them. The question was, what about everyone else?

However, this was a question that didn't really bother her at this point. All she wanted was to stand next to him and help him; whatever it meant. Rose was considering offering comfort. Scorpius was considering accepting it.

The past few months had changed many things for him too. Rose appeared to be something more than a fling to him. And he was confused because never before had he felt this way, never before had he considered getting serious about someone. But she was here in this moment, when he needed her more than ever. She was here and she wasn't talking, she wasn't pressuring him in any way. She just stood there, letting him know that she would do anything if he needed her to. Just her presence was enough.

He felt like his whole life flew in front of his eyes. Images of his childhood, happy memories of his parents… his first day at Hogwarts, the day his father talked to him about his past, the day he realized how right his mother was when talking about how mean people would be to him. The day he was sorted into Slytherin, the feelings it created in him…the day he became a seeker, his pride when he learnt he was his house's prefect. Albus; always there, always a true friend. His fellow Slytherins, there to joke with him. Girls; many girls…

And somewhere in-between, Rose. He recalled the first day he had ever seen her; a short skinny girl with red hair and freckles. What had happened to those freckles, really? He remembered their arguments; they started from the very first day, talking about which was the best house and they continued throughout all their years. His attraction for her started growing in his fifth year when they both became prefects and shared their late patrols. It had continued because only she dared to say 'no' to him. And now it was growing into something bigger.

And then, there was everyone else. Every person he had met in his life crossed his thoughts at those moments. How they acted towards his family. How fake they had made him be. He felt again the pressure he had, as an eleven year old boy, realizing that only in Slytherin could he make his mark. Only in Slytherin could he be himself.

He was not the good boy, he was not the hero. He was an average boy with too much of a reputation to handle. A spoiled child, yes. Idiotic, and at times, selfish. He was what girls called "the bad boy". So, what? He was also smart; a model student, Head Boy; above the average standard of his classmates. He was his own person and he had learnt to accept it, he was proud of himself.

However, there were moments during which- like everyone else- he had his doubts. It wasn't about people around him. He didn't care about them, nor their opinion. Nor did his friends matter to him. If they were true friends they had the right opinion. Otherwise he shouldn't care, he didn't care.

It was his parents who he cared about. His father, always trying the best to make him proud. Was he proud? Would he approve of his thoughts, of his actions? Would he admonish him? Would he understand him? And what about his mother? Was she happy? Proud or simply approving?

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted. Rose shuddered next to him and as she was so close he could feel her body shivering, shaking from the cold. And he remembered other days, happier maybe, more heady definitely. He remembered the first touch, the first kiss. He remembered what she could cause inside him, the feelings she could awaken, feelings he never thought he could feel, he never realized that could exist.

She squeezed his hand with hers, offering the slightest form of comfort she could, the only one she had the courage to. And then he finally realized where they were and how cold it was. He could finally see the rain and for a second he could even feel the cold.

"You're cold." he stated, without turning to look at her.

"No, I'm fine." she responded in the same tone, but her shaking body betrayed her.

"Let's go." He turned to leave but she stopped him.

"No, we can stay as long as you…" 'want.' she meant to say. But she couldn't; he had already left his place and was walking towards the exit, making her run to catch up with him before getting completely wet.

"Are you hungry?" When she didn't respond - unsure of what to say - he continued: "I know a good place nearby."

For the first time, he turned to look at her. Dazed and surprised, she simply nodded.

Flocks & Hendels, East London, 12:54

It was a quiet coffee house in a quiet neighborhood. They were sitting in the corner, facing each other. She was eating a waffle and he was staring at her, taking big sips of his coffee infrequently.

It was still dark outside. How ironic; God was grieving a Death Eater. Or maybe, He was grieving the wizarding world's decadence. The decadence that had lead the poor man to commit murder. That had lead to years of war, pain and death. To years of misery, to families ripped apart, to morals gone.

The decadence that had lead the two of them here, staring each other, friends after years of hate, discovering a very different emotion because of their previous situation. It was a natural reaction. They had reached the point where they couldn't continue acting immaturely, following traditions long gone, unreasonable and painful.

For a moment they forgot the pressure they felt. Their families' names had faded. They had both decided to build their own future. Even if those thoughts lasted for only a few moments - the time they spent together that morning - it was enough.

It was enough to settle their future. Their result would be each other. And the past their families had; the anxiety, the angst they were going to feel, were enough to create an unbreakable bond between them.

They didn't exchange a word throughout the time spent there in the coffee house. She was eating slowly; he was staring and drinking; until her waffle was finished. And looking at him with innocent eyes, she nervously checked her watch.

He got up.

"Come on, I'll take you home." He made a sort pause and smiled, "We have school tomorrow."

She got up too. With certainty, this time. She let him help her with her coat but didn't follow him like she had done before.

"Scorp." she stated.

He looked at her and questioned, "What?"

"I'll take you home."

"No, there no reason for you to…" he seemed puzzled.

"I'm the one with the umbrella here." she reminded him.

"Yes, Rose, but what kind of gentleman am I, if I let you escort me home?" he mocked, looking tired.

In response, she gave him a look full of meaning as she said quietly but clearly: "You seem to be a gentleman only when you want to."

Surprised, he was ready to disagree, but a thought stopped him. She was right; he was no gentleman, never acting like one - just pretending. He was good at pretending but her words made him realize what he truly was. And that was no gentleman for certain…

"I guess you're right."

Malfoy Manor, 17:32

Scorpius hesitantly opened the door to his parents' older bedroom, uncertain of what he would see there. His mother was laying on the big bed, curled in a small ball, with her back turned towards him.

"Mother?" he whispered uncertainly.

She didn't move. He though she was sleeping, and disappointed he was ready to leave when he heard her weak voice calling to him, "Come in, Scorpius."

Quietly closing the door behind him, he slowly walked into the room, circling around the bed, until he reached the spot she was in and sat next to her. She smiled kindly at him and he took a moment to study her face.

Asteria Malfoy was what most people would call fragile. By nature a quiet and obedient person, she rarely disagreed or argued. She was an ideal woman of her class; an ideal wife for a Malfoy. Those were Lucius' thoughts when he arranged her marriage with his son.

Little did he know that this shy and soft-spoken girl was too strong for him to use and manipulate as he had planned in order to control his son. Draco would do anything to please her as he would do to please his father. Keeping the balances in the family was a hard task, especially when it was about Scorpius' upbringing. But somehow they had made it. Until that day.

Mother and son remained silent for too long. He was staring at her; and she was staring back.

"We'll make it, Scorpius." Asteria whispered, her eyes blank, her voice steady.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, mum. I'm so sorry."

When he opened them, he saw her break; her eyes watered, her face twitched. She got up and hugged him and finally he let his tears fall.

"I wish I could be better, mummy." She smiled and tightened her grip around him; it had been a long time since he had last called her mummy.

"A better son, a better person. A better Malfoy." He was crying by then and she felt her heart breaking at the feeling of his tears and the sound of his words. She pulled away from him and made him look at her.

"You couldn't be any better, baby. We were both so proud of you. I am so proud of you."

He hugged her again and she laid him next to her in the bed; after all those years, he was her little boy again.

"Everything is going to be alright."

5 more things I have to say...

1) Thank you, Erin for beta-reading this story.

2) Leave a review.

3) Missing scenes from this chapter plus a special flashback will appear in the next one.

4) Happy ending has a couple of chapters to come. As for happily ever after... well, you'll have to wait long for that. Sorry, but what kind of "Devastating Love" would that be if the only devastation was their families' reaction?

5) If you have any requests, anything you'd like to see after they get together... Say it. I'm in a godd mood today and I'll take it under consideration.