Chapter 12

Rose never slept in her house's guest room before. Once when she was six, she asked her father why they even had a guest's bedroom when they didn't have any guests to sleep in it. She remembered Ron's laugh after hearing her innocent question. Ron said that she had a point, but he believed that sooner or later, they would have a visitor who would choose to sleep in the guest room. The only visitors they had were Rose's cousins, and all of them usually slept in the living room inside a fort they built out of blankets and pillows, pretending that they were camping outside.

The young Rose then wondered why they didn't use the guest room even when they had their cousins over. She came to a conclusion that maybe that that room, which was next to the eerie attic stairs, was haunted. Since then, she never wanted to go inside there. And after she realized that thinking the room was haunted was childish, the thought of entering the guest room didn't pass her mind.

But now, she was to sleep in there. The room, although decorated with soft-coloured wallpaper and nice wooden pieces of furniture, looked bland to her. She felt cold and isolated. Rose sighed and sat down on the mattress squeaky from years of not being laid upon. Someone came knocking on her door.

"Oh, it's just you," Rose said as her heart returned to its normal pace after opening the door.

"You left your bag," Scorpius said, thrusting to her the bag that contained her possessions. Rose took it and nodded. "You alright?"

"Yeah, sure."

Scorpius considered for a moment before bidding her goodnight and closing the door curtly. Rose screwed her eyes shut and exhaled in frustration. She changed in her night clothes and climbed on the bed, making herself feel as comfortable as possible. But after a few minutes of tossing and turning and squirming, she gave up, and instead, did what she always did whenever she couldn't sleep well at night; she went downstairs to the kitchen to get a mug of hot chocolate.

Rose developed this habit when she was young, under the influence of Ron. She once saw him fussing over the kitchen counter with the cocoa powder the night he found out from Albus that a little boy gave Rose a single red rose when they were only five. Ron told her she was growing up too fast and that he couldn't sleep. She joined him with his hot chocolate session and told him everything was going to be alright.

Rose's eyes stung as she had that memory, but willed herself not to start bawling again when she saw that she was not alone in the kitchen. Ron was in there, a fresh mug of hot chocolate in his hands. His freckles were more visible than ever.

"Wh—re—?" he started incoherently. He shook his head, grumbled and went upstairs. Rose felt so pained that it almost felt like something was squeezing her chest tightly that she couldn't breathe. She looked down at her feet.

"He's not angry," came Hermione's voice. Rose looked up and saw her screwing shut the jar of cocoa powder. "He's just being emotional. Emotional about Scorpius."

"Why?" Rose croaked.

Hermione sighed and placed the jar on the table. "Ron's really looking forward for this trip, since it's only going to be a short one because the Ministry needs us back so fast from the winter holidays. He just wanted to spend time with the family, particularly with Scorpius. Our son…seemed to change somehow. We don't know…but Ron was affected and he wanted to just have time with him…"

"But then he didn't come with you and instead…" Rose choked. "Instead…he was with me…"

Hermione nodded sadly. "I don't blame you, Rose. Don't think about that. It's nice that Scorpius pushed away an old immature family grudge and helped you, but I'm afraid you're doing a wrong turn. You needn't run away from your pare—"

"I know," although Rose was sure she didn't, because she didn't actually ran away from her real parents. She was trying to run to them.

"Erm, Rose?" Hermione began curiously.

"Yes, mu—Mrs. Weasley?"

"Did Scorpius get into a fight?" she asked worriedly.

Rose's breath hitched in her throat as she realized that, of course, they noticed Scorpius' little cuts and that bruise on his forehead. "Right…" Rose's brain whirred as she thought of a lie, since telling Hermione that they went to a club didn't sound pleasant at all. "We were at the park this afternoon and, well…h—he…lost his—t—temper because some bloke was being…you know…."

Hermione looked worried and disappointed. "I hope you haven't seen a mortifyingly bad behaviour of his—"

"No, no! It's fine. He's fine. I mended some of his wounds and it's alright, really."

"Thank you," Hermione replied genuinely. After a second of silence, "You needed something?"

"Huh?"

"You came down here. Did you need something? How can I help?"

Rose shook her head vigorously and said, "Please, no. I was only…I couldn't sleep, so—I didn't want to trouble you or anything."

"It's okay, I'm not being troubled. You couldn't sleep, did you say?"

Rose meekly nodded and mumbled, "I was going to have myself some hot chocolate then I realized I had no right of rummaging your cupboards at night—"

Rose was startled as she heard Hermione chuckle. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley! I wasn't going to—"

"No, no," Hermione said sentimentally. "It's just odd; my husband does the same when he can't sleep. Did you see him with that mug? Yeah, I know he couldn't sleep tonight, so I prepared him some hot chocolate. There's still hot water left if you want."

"I couldn't—"

"I insist," Hermione said kindly. She gave Rose a small smile and walked past her towards the stairs. Rose smiled to herself and then opened one of the cupboards where she obtained a pack of honey marshmallows.

"Oh, you like honey marshmallows too?" Hermione asked in surprise, which made Rose jump, as she thought Hermione had gone up to her room.

"Er—yes," Rose said sheepishly.

Hermione's face glowed. "That's curious, I do too."

She shrugged and continued her way up.

Rose was smiling as she made herself her own beverage. She didn't hear the descending footsteps on the stairs a few moments after.

"Can you make me something too?" Scorpius edged towards her peering down inside the mug as she stirred.

"You can have this one," Rose said tiredly, pushing the mug towards him.

"I don't drink this stuff," he said with a wrinkled nose. "Only coffee and tea, at a few occasions, Firewhisky."

"Then you surely couldn't be a Weasley," she joked weakly before taking a sip from her mug.

Scorpius pushed himself up and sat down on the surface of the table. He popped a piece of marshmallow in his mouth and chewed silently.

"Couldn't sleep?" Rose asked him.

"Yeah…" Scorpius ate another marshmallow. "I heard you and your mum. She's really nice, although I can tell she didn't like what I did."

"She's just worried," Rose replied. "Listen, I'm coming back tomorrow."

"Back where?"

Rose looked down at her mug. "Back to the manor. Then I'll apologize to your folks and then I'll go and stay in Hogwarts."

"Where did that plan come from?"

Rose exhaled wearily. "Mum's right. You know, even if they're not my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy think I'm their daughter, therefore, I should act at least like it. I'm going to apologize for leaving so suddenly."

Scorpius got down from the table and lowered his head so he could peer at Rose's face. "You don't have to do that," he said in a low controlled voice. "You could stay here over for Christmas. You could be with your real family. You don't have to be alone."

Rose looked at him quickly; her eyes gleamed with helplessness and defeat. "Don't you get it? If I stayed here, I'll only be tormenting myself. Yes, they're my family, but to them, I'm not! My brother hates me. My dad doesn't trust me. My mother's nice to me, alright, but I assume she's only acting that way because she finds reason in you! As much as I want to, I don't seem to belong here anymore. I couldn't stay here; it doesn't work that way. I couldn't stay in your home with your parents either. I don't know, but it's too strange for me…"

"So, you'll be alone in Hogwarts 'til everyone's back?"

"I'll have the professors and the ghosts, don't worry," she said drily. Rose remained silent. Then, "I don't understand how you take all these."

Scorpius looked at her enquiringly.

She continued. "Don't you want to spend your Christmas with your family? You miss them, I'm sure. But how can you stand to live here when you—?"

"I don't hate your family."

"I wasn't going to say that."

Scorpius sighed. "I do want to spend Christmas with my own family, but what's the point? The desire isn't...mutual. But I don't want to be stuck here too. Your family's nice and all, but, being with them, acting like everything's alright, it's just not natural when something's really wrong and you're the only one who knows that. Of course, you know that to. You understand, and that's why I wanted you to stay."

Scorpius stared at her for a couple of moments, and then made up his mind. "I'll come with you. I'll go back to Hogwarts too."

"But…dad…Dad misses you," Rose said softly.

"He's not my dad."

Rose considered for a moment. "You're not going to change your mind, are you? Why am I even asking that? You never change your mind."

Rose didn't even look at Scorpius as she said this. She drank half of her cocoa as quickly as she can and then left the half empty mug on the table, forgetting that she was not allowed to leve things messy like how she used to because it wasn't really her house anymore. She muttered goodnight and then rushed upstairs to the guest's room.

Scorpius watched her go, her last words before she left still echoing in his mind. 'You never change your mind.' But he already did; he changed his mind about Rose, now that he really knew what she was like, now that the only people they could solely rely on was each other. He smiled and took a sip from Rose's mug. He realized that he actually liked hot chocolate.

.

The next morning was a little bit awkward. Rose got up as soon as dawn break and immediately cleaned up. The bed was already made, her things were prepared and packed, and she had her day clothes on. All she had to do was talk to her real parents and go to her 'other' parents. Rose frowned at the thought.

But then, she couldn't find herself to stand up from the edge of her bed. She sat there, stiff and frozen. She didn't want to leave, although she knew she must.

Someone knocked at the door again, and she ignored it.

"Rose…" Scorpius twisted the door handle and poked his head on the little crack of the door he opened. He saw Rose ashen-faced, staring at the floor with a scared expression. He immediately went inside and closed the door behind him.

"You're leaving already?" he said, glancing at her clothes. Rose shook her head. "Then, what…"

Rose gulped. "I have to talk to them first."

Scorpius sat down beside her. "Then you're going to leave?"

"I must."

"What are you going to say to them?"

Rose shrugged. Scorpius patted her on the back and said, "Breakfast's ready."

Scorpius led her out of the room and downstairs. A delicious smell of bacon and eggs greeted them. They reached the kitchen and dining area, where they found the Weasleys having their breakfast.

"Rose has something to say," Scorpius announced seriously.

Everyone looked at her. Hugo was close to glaring at her, Ron was looking disgruntled and Hermione looked patient. Rose suddenly felt a wave of discourage, and nearly ran out of the room, if Scorpius hadn't just taken hold of her hand behind her.

"Go," he whispered so softly that she barely heard him.

"Erm," Rose began shakily. "Good morning….erm…I'd just like to thank you for letting me stay, though I know I've caused…trouble between you and Scorpius here—"

"Great, she knows," Hugo muttered and went back to forking his bacon murderously.

"Hugo," Hermione reprimanded.

Rose breathed slowly. "Right, well, I'm really sorry. I am—" she had to stop abruptly to force her tears back. "And I do appreciate Scorpius' help, but I have to go…home." Her voice cracked.

Scorpius squeezed her hand.

"Thank you, Mrs….m—Mrs. Weasley," Rose continued. "What you said helped."

"I'm a parent too, that's all," she replied humbly.

"And Scorpius is just being a great friend, really," Rose added, this time, indirectly addressing Ron, who was looking at one spot in the newspaper which had advertisements about Niffler trainers, probably pretending to read. "I guess, I guess I have to leave now. My p—parents are expecting me, I think…"

"Have some breakfast first," grunted Ron, still looking at the newspaper.

Hugo's fork clattered against his plate and he was looking incredulously at his father. Hermione, meanwhile, took this as a signal to levitate an extra plate towards the dining table, and she started to shovel some eggs and strips of bacon on it.

"Do you want toast?" she asked Rose.

Rose was still staring gratefully at Ron. Scorpius smiled and pushed her down on a chair. He sat beside her, and then took his own plate with his. Rose received her plate and meekly started eating. Hugo got up and stomped upstairs, to which Hermione called out, and once ignored, she apologized to Rose for his ill behaviour. Ron continued to eat his breakfast and read the paper as if Rose didn't exist. Though, she knew he was thinking hard about something, because she often saw that wistful expression on his face whenever he is deep in thought. Rose snuck a glance at Scorpius, he was smiling encouragingly at her. Moments later, the two of them were the only ones left in the dining area. Hermione asked Scorpius to clean up as she had to send and answer letters from her department in the Ministry while Ron silently went in the lounge room to finish reading his newspaper.

"That was nice," Scorpius whispered.

"Maybe he was just forced to invite me for breakfast."

Scorpius shrugged and tossed his plate on the sink. "Wait," he said once Rose was finished. "I have to wash all these without magic?"

Rose smirked at him. "It's how we are disciplined. Are you complaining?"

"Pssh, no! I was just making sure…"

Rose helped him pile up the dirty plates and the forks and knives. She quietly said, "How're you going to Hogwarts? Have you thought of what you're going to tell them?"

Scorpius knitted his eyebrows. "No, I haven't. But whatever they say, I'm going."

"When will you leave?"

"At the same time as you will—"

The glass Rose was holding slipped from her hand and landed on the sink loudly. Fortunately, it didn't break.

"What was that?" came Ron's voice.

"I slipped." Scorpius said coldly; Ron replied with a string of incoherent mutters. Scorpius turned to Rose. "Don't worry. After you leave, I'll tell your parents I'm off early to Hogwarts and—"

"You're being difficult to them!" Rose whispered frantically. "They want to spend time with you! You can't just leave them! Especially now—"

"The same situation goes with you," Scorpius countered. "My mum and dad are probably worried sick and infinitely in agony after you disappeared. And then you expect them to be just okay with everything when you come to their doorstep, saying sorry and then setting off to school early after that?"

"I don't expect them to be okay…I just…"

"I know how you feel. You feel guilty but you don't really want to do it either. Trust me. I know. How many times will I be telling you that?"

Rose replied with a sigh.

Scorpius grabbed the sponge from her hand. "Go on in your room and, I don't know, meditate or something. You're stressing yourself. I'll finish in here and when I'm done you can say goodbye and go on."

"Why do I have to say goodbye after you finish washing the dishes?" Rose asked him.

"Because," he replied as he tried to concentrate on scrubbing off grease from one of the plates. "You need me."

Rose scowled at him, to which Scorpius playfully smirked. "Admit it," he added. "You need my support."

"Ego," Rose breathed and went upstairs.

After Scorpius was finished washing the dishes, he made his way upstairs towards Rose's room but Ron called his attention. He slowly got down the stairs.

"Son," Ron said. "Is Rose going home now?"

Scorpius suppressed the urge to say something disrespectful to him. He just didn't like it how Ron acted towards Rose last night. It hurt Rose really badly.

"Yeah," was all the pseudo-Weasley had said.

Ron shifted his foot and nodded. "I need to talk to her first," he said. And then he quickly added when he saw Scorpius' reaction, "I'm not going to scream at her or whatever you're thinking. I just want to tell her something."

Scorpius frowned, and then went up to the guest room. He rapped at the door, and Rose opened it. "You're leaving."

"Okay," she said.

"But your dad wants to talk to you first."

Rose's eyes widened. "Why?"

"I dunno. But you're not going to talk to him, are you?"

Rose shouldered her bag and pushed Scorpius aside, heading off downstairs. Scorpius dragged her back gently and hissed, "He'll probably say ugly stuff to you—"

"I'm talking to him."

Rose went to the lounge before Scorpius could even catch up. Ron was sitting in an armchair. He looked up when Rose arrived. "Are you in a hurry?" he asked.

"Rose..." Scorpius came behind her. Rose peered at him, breathed and then told Ron, "No. I—I'll talk with you, Mr. Weasley, sure."

Ron nodded and then led the way to a little study room next to the lounge. Rose went inside and then Ron closed the door. Scorpius gritted his teeth and sat down restlessly. He stayed silent, trying to pick out any of their conversation, but he heard nothing.

Meanwhile, inside the study room, contrary to what Scorpius thought, Ron was being very polite. He sat behind his desk and insisted that Rose sit on the chair propped before it, just like how it is in school offices. Rose was beyond nervous. Although she remained composed on the outside, her heart was hammering inside her ribcage. Ron looked at her grimly, and she expected the worst. But what Ron told her calmed her down a great deal afterwards.

"Are you alright?"

Rose flinched slightly. "I'm sorry...what?"

"Hermione's right. You shouldn't have run away from your parents. Even if you don't feel so good about them for a moment..." He looked down sadly as he said this.

"I'm sorry—"

"Rose, I'm a parent too," Ron cut in. "When Scorpius said that he didn't want to join us for the family trip, I was deeply hurt. I wanted to spend some time with my old boy. He really changed. But I guess he has his good reasons why he decided to skip the vacation with us. I trusted him not to come...but I reckon I can't let him go now just that easily, and I actually begged my wife that we come home for Scorpius. I realized that maybe out-of-town vacations are not necessary to have a special time with your family. Being together is enough..."

Rose hadn't noticed that silent tears started to stream down her face. She bowed her head, covering her face in her blonde hair, and surreptitiously wiped her wet cheeks.

"I'm sorry for bringing up this talk about family," Ron said, oddly sentimental. "Have some tissue."

He opened a drawer and got a box of tissue for her. Rose only took it out of courtesy.

"Now," he continued. "When I found out he's with you while his family was worrying about him—" Rose shrank back in her seat, "—I couldn't help but feel betrayed. And for a moment, I blamed you. That was not fair. I'm sorry. But Rose, know this: I don't feel entirely good towards your family, but I don't hate them. I know they're already redeeming themselves, but I just can't seem to trust them that easily after everything."

"I understand. Sir." Rose realized that her prejudice against the Malfoys was really unfair. She was really unfair to Scorpius.

"Please, don't think I'm a bad person. I can be judgmental, but I don't want you to think I just go on hating on people."

Rose nodded.

"Scorpius helped you, right?" Ron asked lightly.

"Yes. But nothing happened, I swear."

Ron bobbed his head. "He really has changed. Normally, he wouldn't even think of talking to someone like you. I am proud of him, but he just brings to many surprises."

Rose felt a lump settle in her throat as she said, "Your son's a good kid."

Ron looked at her strangely as silence fell upon them. Rose stared back, and what was going through her mind was maybe, somehow, her father could see the truth in her eyes, her eyes she got from Hermione, and remember everything. Maybe Ron could see that she really was his daughter, and then everything would be back to how it is. But no.

"I'm just going to ask you this one question," Ron said carefully, still maintaining their eye contact. "And I hope I'm not, in any way, violating...er, any unspoken personal rights or whatever it is." He looked so utterly uncomfortable that he seemed to be losing his words.

"I—I'm sure you won't."

Ron cleared his throat and straightened himself in his seat. He set his lips in a firm line and looked at her in the eye. "Rose," he began. "Do you feel anything for Scorpius?"

She was taken aback, so much that she exclaimed, "Huh?"

"It was jus—"

"He—he's nice. I admit," Rose said nervously. "...that I didn't really like him at first, but now I got to really know him and I think he's...he's a real person."

And she knew she was being genuine.

"So...?"

"He's a good friend?" Rose suggested weakly.

Ron shook his head, a smile already forming in his once stern face. He stood up and said, "Very well, very well..."

Rose got to her feet as well and followed Ron heading to the door. Ron opened it for her, but before he could let her leave the room, he said, "Now go back to your parents and tell them you love them. Because they feel the same way. Trust me, I know."

Rose looked at him meaningfully; the lump in her throat became more painful. She nodded and went out as fast as she could, quickly bringing her hand to her eyes. Scorpius stood up when he sensed Rose come out, and then seeing her face down and one of her hands on it, he rushed in front of her.

"What happened?"

Rose looked at him and he felt relieved; she was smiling, though sadly. "I'm fine."

"What did he tell you?" Scorpius prodded anxiously. To his surprise, Rose laughed slightly. "What?"

She shook her head. "Is...Is mum upstairs? I want to thank her and say goodbye..."

"Yeah...you want me to—"

"No," she smiled at him again, and then sniffed thickly. She spoke again, her voice shaking a bit, "I'll tell her goodbye and then I'll leave and I guess I'll see you at Hogwarts—"

"I'll go with you to the manor—"

"Mmm-mmm," Rose closed her eyes and shook her head disapprovingly. "No, please. I think it would be less complicated if I did this alone, alright?"

"Sure," Scorpius nodded reluctantly. Rose sighed and carefully went upstairs. Moments later, she and Hermione came back down.

"Well," Hermione said. "I do hope you and your family solve whatever your problem is."

"We will," said Rose. "Thank you again. And I'm sorry for causing much trouble."

Hermione shook her head the same way Scorpius saw how Rose did. How can she not see the resemblance between her and Rose? "You're a teenager and you're troubled. I've done things more rash than what you did when I was your age. Now, off you go—"

"I'll call the Knight Bus for you," said Scorpius immediately. He grabbed Rose's wrist and together, they dashed out of the Weasleys' house. Rose glanced back several times and Scorpius knew what was going through her mind.

"Come on," he said, dropping Rose's wrist.

They stopped on the sidewalk. Scorpius raised his wand hand and after a few moments, the purple Knight Bus sounded to a halt before them.

"You two again," Mike remarked.

"No, just her," Scorpius replied. Rose got on the bus and looked down at Scorpius. "I'll see you." He stepped back and placed his cold hands in his pockets as he squinted against the chilly winter breeze.

"Yeah, alright," Rose mumbled, taking a last good look at her house some distance away.

"And please don't break Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy's heart. I still love them, you know, even if they cannot presently return the feeling," he gave her a wry smile.

Rose snorted and went inside.

"Nice chap, you are," Mike commented. "Sneaky, but nice."

The bus zoomed away. Scorpius remained in his spot for a couple of seconds, thinking of how long it would take the next time he could see her again. He thought that maybe he should leave as soon as he can, so he ran inside his house.

"Dad!" he called. "Dad! Dad! I—"

"I need to talk to you, Scorp," Ron said, emerging from the study. He looked really solemn.

"Oh—y—you do?" replied Scorpius, taken aback. "Al—alright, I was going to say the same."

Ron motioned for him to join him in the study. He took his seat and so did Scorpius.

"What did you tell Rose?" Scorpius asked immediately before everything else.

"I didn't want to talk to you about that," Ron said rather impatiently. "But I assure you, I didn't say anything hurtful or whatever you expected me to."

"Then what did you want me for?"

Ron peered at him knowingly, "You want to go back to Hogwarts right now, right?"

Scorpius stammered for an answer. Ron didn't seem angry about it. "Yeah."

"It's all because of Rose?"

Scorpius' chest constricted. What is this man on about? "That's….that's more complicated than that."

"I have an idea," Ron mused as he examined the curtains. Then he sighed and looked at his 'son' seriously. "I just have one question."

"Sure."

"Do you love Rose?"

Boom, cliffhanger! I think this chapter is corny, but you be the judge! And I don't know about you, but Rose immensely confused me in this one.

Apologies for wrong grammar and spellings.