Love Isn't Enough

Dear Scorp,

There is only one week left before we return. Surely your Weasley friend will come around by then? And it sounds like you are happy where you are even if she isn't around. Please just wait another week. It won't be as bad as you think.

Love always,

Your parents.

Scorpius sighed as he scrunched the letter that had just arrived into a ball and threw it at the wall. He had known that would be the reply. He could have been on his hands and knees begging for them to come and pick him up and they wouldn't. Not when they knew he was safe (which they did, despite not particularly liking the family he was with).

He couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like for Rose if their situations were reversed; if he had been the one to leave her in his house. He was positive her parents would be there in a heartbeat to take her away, whether they were living next door or on the other side of the world.

What was he supposed to do without Rose? Hugo was still there, but... he was just a kid. There wasn't much to do with a thirteen year old. He missed Rose, but he knew she wouldn't be home any time soon.

It had been three days since she had left and despite her dad's best efforts to convince her to come home, she had refused. Sometimes she was too stubborn for her own good. Even he had written to her, but he hadn't gotten a reply. He hadn't expected to. He had just hoped.

The only good thing that had come out of this was that Rose was speaking to her dad again. She just wasn't speaking to anyone else. He tried to stay in Rose's room (which he had moved into after she left) as much as possible, but he sometimes couldn't help over hearing conversations.

Even her mother had gone to Rose's uncle's to try and talk her round, but to no avail. Scorpius was considering going over himself, but he doubted he'd be welcome – by Rose or her uncle.

Why did he have to love such a stubborn, moody person with a fiery temper? Why did he have to care about her so much when she had made it quite clear she didn't want to be around him? He missed the days at Hogwarts when they were together and happy. Even when they did go back, he didn't think things would be the same. How could they be? He didn't even know if they were still together anymore. He didn't even know if she wanted to be with him; or if he wanted to be with her. He didn't know much, really.

He was about to close the window, when he saw another speck in the distance. He stood, watching, hoping. His heart leaped into his mouth when he saw it was Rose's owl. Had she finally replied? What was she going to say?

He stood back and waited for Quinn to make himself comfortable on his perch before taking the letter. His hands shook slightly as he looked down at the envelope. He knew that handwriting anywhere. He loved that handwriting. Everything about Rose was perfect.

With hope, he tore the letter open.

Scor,

I know you've been trying to talk to me and I'm really sorry I haven't been replying to your letters (I really am). But I've just needed some space. I know I've really messed things up with you, my parents, even Hugo, I guess. I'm actually amazed you all still care.

But I've had some time to think. Actually, being here with my cousins has made me realise what I'm missing out on. You met them at James' birthday. You know, the little ones? Fred and Roxanne? They're such a close family. Always smiling, always happy (even if they do hold the record for the most tantrums thrown in one day).

I miss that and I want to come home now, but I'm not sure if I'm welcome. Hugo's already told me not to bother coming back, but you, Mum and Dad have been begging me. It makes me feel as if I'll be accepted if I come back. Will I? Will you be happy to see me, Scor?

You might have heard by now, but Dad and I are okay. We have pretty much sorted everything out that we need to. I apologised for destroying those plants and he said he'd try and be a lot nicer to you. I hope he has been.

He had. Scorpius had seen the effort he had been putting in to be a lot nicer and lot more accepting of him. It was a struggle, but he was glad he was trying.

And I'm not sure if anyone told you about those plants and why I burnt them. I know you kept asking me, but I couldn't bring myself to actually admit that I had done it. I was six years old and I was desperate to do magic. But you know the laws. The Ministry get all worked up over the smallest amount of underage magic.

But I begged Dad to show me. I didn't really understand that it could land us both in trouble. I cried and I begged and eventually he gave in and tried to teach me. He shouldn't have. I didn't even have a wand, but I used his and those plants were what happened.

It was a complete accident. I said a spell and that was what happened. Dad was amazed that I was able to do anything at all at that age, but I think he was impressed. And so was I. The Ministry didn't do anything and we were never going to tell Mum, but she found out anyway. From then on, we cared for what I had created. Together. Until that day when I decided to ruin them. It was what brought us closer together.

Everyone in our family knew what they meant (Dad told everyone what I had done at the age of six). That's why Mum was so angry with me. She said Dad was really proud. I regretted it – you know I did – but that is basically why I started acting like I did. Yes, I was angry with him for not accepting us, but I also felt really bad for what I had done. I hated myself for it, so I thought he should, too.

I'm sorry for treating you the way I have. I have been the world's worst girlfriend. But I really do love you, Scor and I really hope that you will forgive me. Please don't tell my parents I'll be home in a few hours. I want to surprise them.

I hope to see you there as well.

Love Rose

Like he had done with his parent's letter, Scorpius scrunched it into a ball and threw it away. For the past three days, he had wanted nothing more than for Rose to come home. He had begged her in his letters. But now that she really was coming back, he was furious with her. She just expected they would all welcome her back with open arms, act as if nothing had happened.

And maybe her parents would. They missed her, of course they would. But he wasn't going to. He was angry with her for leaving him. He wasn't going to forgive her just like that. And he definitely wasn't going to keep this from her parents. He was on relatively good terms with her dad at the moment. He was sure keeping a secret as to when his daughter was coming back would ruin that. He'd be hexed into oblivion.

"Rose?"

Scorpius spun around, not hearing Hugo approach him. Rose's younger brother was staring at the two crumpled letters, a smirk on his face.

"She's coming back, apparently," he said, exasperated.

"Mum and Dad will be pleased," Hugo replied. "But you seem as happy as I am about that news."

"I'm angry with her," Scorpius mumbled. "She expects us all to fall at her feet with relief when she gets back. It's like she thinks she can hurt anyone, say anything to anyone and we'll all just forgive her."

Hugo shrugged. "Well, that's how it's been her whole life. No one can stay angry with Perfect Rose. Surely you would have learnt that by now. When Rose put some Tickling Powder in my cousin, Molly's, clothes, she barely got into trouble. If I had done it, I probably would have been confined to my room for the next month."

"Molly probably deserved it," Scorpius said absently. He looked at Hugo. "You need to value yourself more," he told him. "Your parents think you're amazing. I see the way they look at you. I'd love for my parents to look at me like that."

Hugo went bright red. "Er... thanks," he said.

"It's true." Scorpius threw an arm across his shoulders. "Anyway, so what do you want to do today?"

"Well..." Hugo looked at him uncertainly.

Scorpius wondered if he was going to ask him to play Quidditch again.

"I have these Muggle friends down the street. I'm supposed to be seeing them today. You're welcome to come if you want."

Scorpius hesitated. His parents would be furious. Muggles. Really? Sure, he didn't share his parent's opinions about them, but he still didn't know how to interact with them. Not like Hugo and Rose, whose grandparents were Muggles.

"It's okay," Hugo said quickly, noticing his expression. "I'll only be there for a few hours. Afterwards, we can do something else."

Scorpius shook his head. "No, it's fine, I'll come. Do they – do they know about you?" he asked.

Hugo shrugged. "I think they think I'm a bit strange, but they would never suspect. They're not that bright."

"So no magic?"

Hugo shook his head. "Well, neither of us are seventeen, so Mum and Dad would have the Ministry on their backs anyway, plus they're Muggles."

Scorpius nodded uncertainly. "Okay."

Hugo laughed. "Don't worry, they're okay. They think I go to boarding school somewhere far away. We don't do much, really."

Scorpius nodded again. This would certainly get his mind off Rose.

"I'll meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes," Hugo said.

Before he left Rose's room, Scorpius picked her letter up off the floor and flattened it. He left it on her desk. How he loved that handwriting.

OOO

"You ready?" George entered Rose's room quietly, feeling the atmosphere significantly change. He didn't like the way it felt. Rose was sitting on her bed; her backpack lying on the floor, its contents spilled everywhere. It didn't look like she was packed to leave.

Rose looked up at him and nodded. She seemed uncertain. "Yeah," she said.

George went to sit beside her, throwing an arm across her shoulders. "You'll be fine," he assured her. "They want you home; they miss you. The only ones who don't want you home are Fred and Roxie. They've liked having their big cousin to annoy."

Rose smiled. "I've liked spending time with them," she told him.

"They'll be forever grateful for yesterday," George continued. "Ange or I don't have time to take them places like London, or Diagon Alley. Fred wouldn't stop talking about it all night."

Rose shrugged. "It was nothing," she said. "It was a distraction."

"Well, they loved it," George told her.

Rose smiled again and then got up from the bed. "I'll see you down stairs in ten minutes. There's just some things I have to do."

George followed suit and got up from the bed. He nodded and then left the room. He was half way down the stairs when a pair of tiny arms latched onto his legs. With a smile, he looked down and found Roxanne beaming up at him. "What is it, Roxie?" he asked, continuing to walk down the stairs.

Roxanne giggled with delight. "Where's Rosie?" she asked.

"Packing," George told her. "Remember, she's leaving today."

Roxanne nodded. "I have something for her."

"... what kind of something?" George asked nervously. Unfortunately, his children had inherited his love for pranking others. She was only three, but Roxanne was the worst.

Roxanne giggled again. "Surprise," she said.

George made his way to the kitchen – the room Rose would be leaving from. He pulled his daughter from his leg and sat her on a chair. "You worry me sometimes," he said.

Roxanne climbed off the chair as soon as he put her on it. "I have to go and get it." She ran off again, her small feet making plenty of noise up the stairs.

It didn't take long before she was back, a tiny box in one hand and dragging Rose along with the other. "I have something for you," she said excitedly.

"Er... thanks," Rose said, throwing a nervous, but questioning look at George. He just shrugged.

Roxanne gave her the box, grinning from ear to ear. Rose took it, but she didn't seem to know what to do with it.

"Open it!" Roxanne demanded, folding her arms crossly.

Rose opened the box carefully. George was holding his breath, half expecting a Blast-Ended Skrewt or something of the kind to leap out at his niece. But nothing happened. In fact, nothing was in the box.

"Um... thanks, Roxie," Rose said.

Roxanne snatched the box back from Rose and looked inside. She frowned. "It's gone."

"What was it meant to be?" George asked her, not liking the fact that she said it was gone. It probably meant it was alive.

"A twik wand," Roxanne answered.

"A trick wand?" George laughed. "You gave Rose one of those? Roxie, did you use it at all?"

Roxanne nodded. "Yes."

George took the box out of her hand and felt inside. Sure enough, it was still in there, just invisible. "You know what happens when you use it. I thought you learnt your lesson last time when we spent half an hour trying to stop it from flying away."

Roxanne blushed. "Oops."

George handed the box back to Rose with a smile. "Take it. It will make her happy."

Rose stuffed the box into her overflowing backpack. To help her, George cast an Undetectable Extension Charm. After that, it closed much easier.

"Thanks," she said.

"Anytime, Rosie. Now, are you ready to go home?"

"Yes." This time she said it with more confidence.

Angelina came in with Fred to say goodbye. The five year old threw his arms around his cousin. "Come and visit," he said.

"I will, Freddie, don't worry," Rose assured him. She ruffled up his hair. "You too, Roxie," she added, hugging Roxanne as well.

She quickly hugged Angelina and then George. No one commented when she held onto George for a few moments longer than the others.

"See you, Rosie. You'll be fine, I know you will."

Rose stepped into the fireplace.

"And one more thing, Rosie," George added as she picked up a handful of Floo Powder. "Your mum and dad want you home, they'll never give up on you and most importantly, they love you."

Rose nodded. "Thanks." And with a loud voice, she said "Home!" and she was gone.

George turned to his two children who were staring disappointedly at the fireplace. "You'll see her again," he promised. "You always do."

"We love her, but," Fred said. "We miss her already."

"We all do, Fred, we all do."

It's been a while, but here is a new chapter. Yay! I hope you enjoy.