With a gentle "Poof", Scorpius and Rose landed on the soft grass of the Burrow backyard. Staggering, Rose fell forward when Scorpius's arms steadied her.
"Are you alright, Rose?" Eyebrows furrowed, he glanced at her anxiously, knowing well she was more than tipsy.
"Yeah, never better." Rose flashed an invincible smile at Scorpius and hastily pulled him toward the entrance. "I'm gonna make Hugo and Lily apologize for their behavior," she said resolutely.
"Rose," Scorpius stood his ground and pulled her back. Both hands placed on Rose's shoulders as she swiveled, he replied, his voice calm and toneless, "their reaction is actually anticipated. You are dating me."
Rose swiped her forehead exasperatedly as if she was scorching in the cold weather. "Scorpius, you can't be like this when we are about to meet my huge family. I am fighting for your honor, I need you to defend yourself, please." Squeezing Scorpius's hands, she glanced up at him, half demanding, half pleading.
"Alright, alright." Scorpius nodded and pulled Rose into his embrace. Stroking her hair absentmindedly, he let her head rest on his chest until he could sense her breaths slowered. "Let's go in," he finally mumbled.
Rose knocked on the door and it was swiftly opened in a blink of an eye. The chaotic sound of cutlery clattering, incessant chatting and distant laughters invaded the peaceful atmosphere outside the Burrow. Standing at the entrance with a tray full of food in her arms, Ginny Weasley squinted her eyes, attempted to recognize the person in the dark. "Rose! What a pleasant surprise!" She yelled in excitement as she realized the unexpected guest.
"Mrs. Potter," Scorpius greeted curtly. Ginny nodded in return and scrunched her eyebrows hard, trying to figure out the other stranger that Rose was holding hand firmly.
"Auntie, this is Scorpius Malfoy, my boyfriend." Rose said, impatient. "Are my parents still here?"
Blinking her eyes, Ginny stood frozen for a good second, then with a flick of her wand sent the tray of food towards the dining room direction. She hastily walked over where Rose was standing and reached for her niece's hand. "Rose, how did you…"
Impatiently, Rose cut Ginny off. "Aunt Ginny, I just want to see my parents, please."
"Mrs. Potter, could we at least come inside the house? Rose has been in the cold for a while." Scorpius wrapped his arm around Rose's shoulder and asked.
Hesitantly, Ginny stepped aside, leaving the way to Rose and Scorpius. "Mum! Dad!" Rose called out as she waited at the entrance. A few people yelled in excitement when they saw her "Rosie! Happy new year!" but the thrill died down as soon as everyone recognized Scorpius next to her.
"Rose! What's going on?" Hermione appeared from the kitchen with utensils in her hands. Looking at Scorpius and Rose side by side, she halted her baking task and hurriedly marched toward her daughter. "Mum, this is Scorpius Malfoy, my boyfriend. I thought it'd be nice that I introduce him to you and Dad."
"How do you do, Mrs. Weasley." Scorpius managed to mumble a greeting. His heart was making loud thumps with the stares coming from Rose's family members.
Hermione nodded slightly then turned to her daughter, her facial expression as stern as if she was in a tough negotiation with her colleagues. "Rose, how did you two meet?"
Rose huffed in disbelief. "Mum, I didn't expect this reaction from you of all people. You could ask least invite us to sit down and have some tea in the living room."
Sending Rose an alarming glance, Hermione turned to Scorpius and asked. "Could you tell me how you met, Mr. Malfoy?" He was about to speak up when Rose interjected abruptly. "Why does it matter how we met?"
Hand squeezing Rose's, Scorpius said "We met at St. Mungo's, Mrs. Weasley."
"You can't trust his words, Mum. Malfoy transfigured into someone else to deceive us at the pub. He might as well make up a whole story of their relationship." Having apparated to the Burrow, Hugo strode briskly toward the crowd with Lily followed suit, looking forlorn.
"Hugo, we're done talking to you. We already explained to you what happened and Scorpius has been the person I know and love since the beginning." Rose retorted fervently. Scorpius could feel the sweats forming in her palm.
Tended to her daughter, Hermione sighed, "Rose, please, I'd like you to stop meeting him from now on."
"For Merlin's sake, Mum, I am twenty-five and I date whoever I want! I just thought it'd be nice to let you know that Scorpius Malfoy is my boyfriend." Rose screeched, her breaths quickened as frustration took over her body.
"Please, don't yell at your Mum, Rose." Ginny touched Rose's arm, trying to ease the tension.
"Mr. Malfoy, I am sorry but I wish you leave before my husband shows up. We are against the idea of you dating my daughter." Hermione said calmly but firmly while opened the door wide, letting the biting cold fill in the house.
"Mum! How could you behave like this? Give me a reason, because I don't understand!" Rose squealed; tears started to cascade down her cheeks.
Scorpius turned to face Rose's mother, his voice shaky but he managed to remain calm. "Mrs. Weasley, I love Rose truly, dearly and I have never ever had the attention of hurting her. Please look past my last name and let us be together."
"What's with the noise, Hermione?" To Hermione's dread, Ron and Harry appeared in the kitchen with packs of Firewhiskey bottles in their arms. The Weasley-Potter members turned to the duo with concerning looks.
"Dad, I come here to let you know that I'm dating Scorpius Malfoy, and as the closest family member of mine, I wish you accept us as a couple." Wiping her tears, Rose said, her voice clear and full of determination.
Ron cringed at his daughter's words. Closing his eyes slowly, he exhaled, "First of all, Rose and Malfoy, take your hand off one another's," to which the young couple responded by clutching one another's hand tighter. Unsettled at the sight, Ron growled and marched toward Scorpius but Harry quickly cast a body-binding curse his way, causing him to stagger onto Hermione and Lily' arms.
A lump formed in Scorpius's throat. "Mr. Weasley," Scorpius cleared his voice and uttered, "I know that my father and you have a long history of rivalry, but I truly love Rose and I swear I will do my best to protect her. Please accept our relationship and don't hurt her."
"Hah," Ron laughed darkly, "don't you dare lecture me about hurting my daughter. I will never allow Rose to be with you so bugger off and never show up again!"
"Dad!" Shrieked Rose. "How could you say that to him? Don't you want me to be loved and live happily like you always claim?"
"Listen carefully, Rose, as long as I'm alive, I will never allow this Malfoy to be with you." Ron muttered hotly, his face all flushed up in anger.
"Oh will you stop this ridiculous and ignorant hatred that you have since you were eleven! I am only here to announce our relationship out of respect for you but I don't give a damn whether you approve us or not!" Arms flailing in the air, Rose exasperated. She was already rolled on with her tirade.
"Rose! Utter one more harsh word and I'll Langlock you!" Hermione jabbed her finger in her daughter's direction, warning.
"Mum! How could you side with Dad when he is full of prejudice and hatred like this?" Rose quivered but Scorpius quickly caught her. "Mum, you fought a war so that we could eliminate pure-blood supremacy and restore equality. Why can't you look past his last name and see him for who he really is?"
Glancing at Rose somberly, Hermione stood frozen, unable to form a coherent reply. Ginny turned to Scorpius and smiled weakly, trying to ease the tension. "Mr. Malfoy, it's rather late. Why don't you go home? We'll discuss about this with you some other times."
"No way!" Rose protested defiantly, pulling Scorpius away her aunt. "Don't leave, Scorpius. Once you go they will find all means, even resort to dark magic to separate us forever."
Scorpius glanced at Rose's tear-glistened face, unsettled. Heart twinged in pain with Rose's repeated attempts to fight for them, he pulled her into his arm and allowed her a good cry, disregarding the dangerous glares sending his way. "Shush, I'm not leaving you, I promise."
Albus sighed out loud as he gave a pity look at his old friend hugging his cousin. Catching the sight of Albus, Scorpius mumbled apologetically. "Al, I'm sorry for earlier. It's a long story and we'll tell you later but I swear we never meant to deceive you anything."
"Uncle Harry," Rose wiped her tears, drew in a deep breath and turned to her last resort, "you don't hate the Malfoys. You fought a war so that people like me can freely love someone without concern of blood status. Scorpius is your son's friend. He has done nothing wrong to me. Please persuade my parents for me. I've been a good girl all my life and everyone has been trying hard to help me find love and now I'm in love. I'm deeply in love. You should root for me." Rose almost begged.
Harry sighed. He glanced at Scorpius warily then mumbled, "Rose, I don't really have a say in this. All I could say is please understand that your parents are doing what they believe is best for you, as they have always been."
"Harry, cast the counter-spell on me. You know that I'm lucid more than ever and I'm not doing all of this out of irrationality." Ron said and broke free in a second after Harry muttered a few words.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Scorpius said, "If you disapprove of me this much, please at least let me know the reason. Please let me know what I need to improve in order to deserve Rose. I'm gonna do anything to show you that I'm serious with her and that our love is real."
"Well," Ron huffed darkly, "if you truly love her, let go of her hand and leave her."
Rose chuckled bitterly. "Dad, this is ridiculous. He asks you why you dislike him, so that he could prove himself, and all you do is use his own words to chase him away. Go on, tell me, 'cause I'm also curious why you hold a grudge toward him this much."
Ron stood shaken with anger and Hermione stepped in. "Rose, don't you question your parents' judgement."
"See? You two don't even have a logical explanation. Why can't you tell us, Dad? Is it because you're simply ignorant and full of prejudice?"
Ron Weasley scrunched his face in pain. Hugo walked toward his sister and snorted. "Sister, you're out of line!"
"Well, Hugo, I'll show you that not everyone carries a grudge of when they were eleven." Still holding Scorpius's hand, she turned to her grandma. "Grandma, you always say love is the most important thing in the world. You're with us, right?"
Grandma Molly mumbled, "Rose, for once I plead you to listen to your parents."
"Very well then," Rose huffed and drew in another deep breath, her head started to throb, "what about you Grandpa, don't you see Scorpius is nothing like his father and grandfather?"
"Rose," Grandpa Arthur said firmly, "don't ask us to take sides, this will be ugly."
"I take it as a no. Anyone then? My cousins? You all have someone you love; will you allow your family to meddle with your personal life just because of some old prejudice?"
"Rose, please don't be like this. We only care about you." Lily said miserably.
"Oh please, I told you to stop being a fake and uttering those craps." Rose laughed bitterly, her own voice ringing in her ears. The snow and wind had finally taken a toll on her body.
"Al," Scorpius turned to Albus, "You know me. We were best mates. You got along with me despite my last name. I'm gonna make an Unbreakable Vow with you that I love Rose and will never hurt her. Please trust me. Please root for me like you said you would."
Albus stood still; all eyes were focused on him. Finally, he glanced up at Scorpius and Rose and sighed, "Rose, I'm with your parents in this situation. Scorpius, as an old friend, I respectfully ask you to leave her."
Rose tipped her head off and laughed, her voice wild and dark, echoing the entire living room. "I don't even know why I went all the way to persuade you, when you don't even give a damn about my happiness. All you Weasleys are hypocrites."
Ron stood up, anger flushing his whole body. "Rose Weasley, take your words back right now."
"No, dad, you didn't even give Scorpius the benefit of the doubt. You couldn't even give a proper explanation as to why you have a profound hatred towards the Malfoys. You're ridiculous. I am only here to announce my relationship with Scorpius out of respect for you two. I don't need your approval." Rose glared at her father, her voice getting more panicked as she was suffocated by her own anxiety. Holding Scorpius's hand, she closed her eyes and tried to apparate.
"Rose, the house was set up with anti apparition. Let Malfoy go and we'll have a talk, daughter." Hermione cut in.
"Mum! Dad! I hate you with all my heart!" Outraged to the point of breaking, Rose screamed and pulled out her wand then pointed directly at Hermione. "Rose, you can't!" Instinctively, Scorpius yelled and jumped in front of Rose in a split second to shield the possible spell aimed at her parents, just in time to be knocked off-balance as Ron Weasley cast Protego their direction. Staggered, he toppled forward.The tip of Rose's wand was poking through Scorpius's layers of clothes and leaving a burning sensation on his chest.
The rest of the family stood still, eyes widened and mouths dropped; no one dared to move or make a single change to the fiasco that happened in front their very eyes. Rose was threatening her own mother and Scorpius was now the victim of both spells.
"How could you..." Ron mumbled and brusquely threw his wand away, his face scrunched up as the emotional pain shot through his body. Harry and Lily immediately helped him settle in a nearby chair.
"I…I didn't cast any spell…I was just protecting myself…" Wand still poking at Scorpius, Rose stood frozen as if she was petrified, chocking in her own sob.
"I know, Rose," Scorpius muttered. Eyes still gazing at Rose, Scorpius forced a calm look despite the aching burn and slowly grabbed hold of her wand. The wooden stick radiated heat in his cold palm. "Just relax. I've got you."
"Scorpius, you need to trust me, I didn't cast any spell." Rose mumbled hoarsely.
"I trust you." He nodded and cautiously pulled Rose's wand out of his chest and pried it off her fingers.
Slowly releasing the wooden stick, Rose hyperventilated. Scorpius observed her breathing becoming more shallow and ragged, and before he could register, she fell forward, her face wincing hard as if a tide of pain washed over her body. Quickly, he caught her tiny frame and tugged her in the flaps of the woolen coat, his face crumbled as he felt her cold skin. "She's sick," Scorpius announced hastily, "we will be back when she gets better." Glancing at the closed entrance door and knowing too well it was locked with charm and couldn't be opened with a simple Alohomora, "I'm sorry for this," he muttered reluctantly and broke the door with a flick of his wand, and before anyone could react to the situation, dashed into the snowy night with Rose in his arms.
So, it's a short chapter, but I promise next chapter will be much longer and better. Please review! It makes my day!