Hey readers!

Okay, I apologize in advance for this chapter. It didn't go the way I wanted so it's just a filler-chapter for now.

I promise a good chapter next time :)

Hermione's POV:

{The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting,
Could it be that we have been this way before?
I know you don't think that I am trying,
I know you're wearing thin down to the core.}

I knocked on the door of the Malfoy Manor sharply. Although the manor was much brighter – everything was covered lightly in snow, and there were festive decoration hanging from inside the windows which made the place look much more inviting – I still couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling from my body. Too much had gone on at this place for me to feel completely comfortable standing, waiting to go back in there.

I was greeted by Astoria, and she looked at me knowingly. She was a naturally beautiful woman, -lucky her - and I even found her a very nice person to have conversation with, surprisingly.

"Oh, Hermione, I know why you're hear," she nodded, "I was going to send a letter, to let you know but Rose told me something happened with Ron last night so I thought it was best not to interfere, just in case."

"Well, luckily you thought so. If Ron found out about this, there would be bloodshed," I half joked, although my joke was probably true.

"Mm," she agreed, "Well, she's up in Scorp's room… I almost died when I saw a girl in bed with Scorpius! But don't worry; they assured me nothing… uh, serious occurred last night… just a harmless sleepover."

"Yes, I just wish I'd been informed before she took off and had me searching around the house looking for her," I shook my head.

"Yes, I'm sorry it is like that, but I'll show you up to the room and you can take her home… I'd say that's the best idea, isn't it?" Astoria laughed. We headed up the stairs to wherever Scorp's room was and we bumped into Draco.

"Hello, Hermione," he nodded, "Here to collect your rebellious daughter?"

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, unfortunately that's all I really can call her – rebellious."

"That husband of yours not too happy with "them" still, I hear."

"Nope, you know what he's like; stubborn… too bad Rose is just the same. Fights between them can be pretty serious. I mean, Rose knocked him out and locked him in a cupboard yesterday, for Merlin's sake."

They both laughed at this news, Astoria spoke first, "Wow, I didn't know Rose was like that."

"Only around relatives, thank goodness. I guess you know now why Ron was so much angrier yesterday, then?"

They both nodded and Astoria pointed to the second door down the white and yellow hallway. It was so much brighter than the last time I visited. "That's Scorp's room… Best if you knock beforehand."

"Oh and Hermione, is it correct that the whole Weasley and Potter family will be coming the our New Year's party?" Draco asked.

"Hopefully, even Ron, if Rose hasn't killed him beforehand… But yes, we'll all be there."

"Good, I was just making sure that this, uh, little mishap hasn't changed everyone's mind. And don't be afraid to give Scorp a good telling off for bringing someone over without asking… Not that we won't be bringing it up with him later on…" he laughed lightly. It was weird to be having a civil conversation with Draco, in his own home. I could see that he was very, if not completely, different from the arrogant little boy he once was.

"Right, will do, thanks. This will only take a minute."

I knocked softly on the door to be told to come in. Rose was lying on the bed and Scorpius was sitting on his desk chair. Rose's eyes grew wide as she saw who it was. I closed the door behind me and Scorpius stood up and took a few steps away from me.

"Is Ron here?" Scorpius asked fearfully.

"Well, I think if Ron Weasley knew about this, he wouldn't have been so polite to have entered through the front door, let alone knock."

"Mum, I can explain…" Rose started.

I kept my cool, but it didn't mean I was letting Rose go without some punishment. "Well you better start explain pretty well then Rose."

"Mum, I couldn't stay in the same place as Dad… He was going insane!"

"So, that wasn't even partially your fault? Even though you locked him in a cupboard?" I said sarcastically.

Rose rolled her eyes subtly. "He kicked Scorpius out! You know he was in the wrong but you did nothing to stop him! All I wanted was for someone in that moment to stop him and the only person game enough to was Scorp!"

"Rose, I'm sorry that happened, but I'm not here for an explanation about that, I'm here for an explanation about why you thought it was okay to sneak out with Scorp on Christmas night, without even telling me!?"

"I just said it!" she yelled at me, "I couldn't stay where dad was, I wanted to be with Scorp…"

"Rose, I've spent so long trying to convince your father that you're a responsible person who knows what you can and cannot do. And then, just as he starts to believe me, what do you do? You do things completely irresponsible like, locking your dad in a cupboard and sneaking off to your boyfriend's house! I'm very disappointed in you, Rose. You know better than this."

I watched her bottom lip wobble and I knew she was going to cry. I wanted to apologize, but what I said was true. I was disappointed in her. Rose wasn't the kind of girl who just went against the rules and she needed to be pulled up on this behaviour.

"Rose, I… I," I stuttered as she cried, "You need to know that most people aren't going to be very understanding of what you've done. They won't wait to hear your opinion, they're going to assume things and I don't want you to have to deal with that."

Rose stood up and without warning, bolted into the bathroom. Instinctively, I knocked on the door and whispered loud enough for her to hear me, "Rose, please let me in."

"I don't w… want to… to talk to you. I want S… Scorp."

I took a step back and then nodded once at Scorpius who was on his feet and in the bathroom quickly. It was strange to feel unwanted by my daughter – it was something I always feared too. I guess I could now understand Ron's point of view. His role was quickly being taken over by Scorpius, and now so was mine. I crept back to the door and pressed my ear onto it to hear their conversation. I had good hearing, so it wasn't too hard to hear what they were saying.

"I'm sick of them all, Scorp. They don't understand."

"They're trying to, Rose, think about it. Imagine having a daughter with a sexy boyfriend like me-"

"Sure, sure, keep talking…"

"-and suddenly she'd rather spend time with him then you. It'd feel pretty crappy, right?" Scorpius put things into perspective. I reminded myself to praise him later on.

"I just, I hate how they think I'm just some rebellious teenager and that because I kiss you in front of them it automatically means we're having sex. They should know me better than that! I'm not like everyone else; I'm not going to have sex just because everyone else is doing it."

"Well, I'm not doing it," he laughed, "and I understand. But in my opinion, you should have a serious talk with your parents about it. They need to see your side of this story. You're going to have to explain to them that you deserve a chance to spread your wings and learn from your own mistakes."

"Exactly," Rose sobbed softly, "But I can't help but feel like they still won't listen even then."

"Did they know about hat Tyler did to you?" Scorpius asked. I froze. What had Tyler done to her?

"No, I just told them that we broke up because we were drifting apart. I considered it, of course, but in the end I realised dad would probably yell at me for dating him in the first place. He would have probably banned me from dating and then I wouldn't be with you would I?" Rose laughed lightly.

"Maybe you should tell them about Tyler, if you dad knew about him then he probably wouldn't consider me half as bad as he has been."

Rose hummed in agreement, "But I don't tell them anything anymore, Scorp. I can't. I didn't even tell them any of the drama that went on these past few months, none of it. I didn't tell them how you stuck up for me on the train and punch Tyler. I didn't tell them about Bree's lies at the Ball, not even how you tried so hard to make me realize she was lying. I didn't tell them anything! They wouldn't understand half of it anyway… They expect me to be the do-gooder daughter who makes no mistakes; I can't even tell them little things anymore without it making them think there's something wrong with me!"

I took a step away from the door. I felt absolutely horrible. My own daughter was afraid to talk to me about her problems. She didn't even tell me the real story about Tyler – which I still didn't know. I left the room quickly and called out to Astoria. She popped around the corner quickly and smiled.

"Oh, you're leaving now?" her smiled faded once she saw my blank expression, "Where's Rose?"

"Can… can you just tell her to floo back home when she's ready? I just, uh, have to go. Something's come up I'm afraid, but thank you for having her stay the night even if you weren't aware at the time. I've got to go, goodbye."

"Are you alright, Hermione? You seem a little, um… shocked?"

"I think I just need to go home and have some breakfast…" I swallowed. I was shocked, though. I was shocked that my own daughter, who I have loved and nurtured her whole life was keeping things from me. Where had I gone wrong?

Astoria's face lit up, "Oh well I just made some blueberry pancakes and homemade pumpkin juice! You're welcome to join us for breakfast if you'd like!"

"That's a lovely offer, but I'm going to pass for the moment. I just really need to get home right now. I'll probably see you next at New Year's, then? Thank you for letting me into your house but I'm just going to… leave."

Astoria's smiled faded into a sympathetic expression. She then nodded - still a bit wary about my unusual state - and let me out of the house. I instantly apparated to the burrow and stood outside for a moment, breathing in the cool air. I then hurried into the house before I got too cold. Ron was sitting in the kitchen, eating some toast for breakfast. His hair was still bright green, so I doubt that he remembered it was still like that. My stomach rumbled for some food but I didn't want to eat, I wanted Rose to be open with me. Ron took one look at me and asked me what was wrong.

I didn't speak. Instead, I shook my head and stomped up to our bedroom. This was always my sign for Ron to follow me, and he did. I sat on the bed, staring blankly at my hands. "What's wrong 'Mione?"

"Do you know that our daughter feels like she can't talk to us anymore? That she feels like we are so harsh that being open to us would just cause trouble?"

"What are you talking about? Isn't Rose asleep?"

"Well, yes. But I found this out from other people," I quickly retorted, "apparently, she didn't break up with Dean's boy because they were growing apart. Instead, he actually did something to her!"

"Everyone knew she was lying when she said that, 'Mione. But what do you mean he did something to her?"

"Why didn't you say something about it then, Ronald? I had no idea and you saw it was a lie and shrugged it off like it was nothing!" I burst. "I don't know what he did exactly, but I don't want to be in the dark about it anymore, Ron…"

He ran his hands through his hair, pacing at the end of the bed, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I should've said something, but I didn't want to cause trouble. I like Thomas because he wasn't taking over my role so much, he wasn't her favourite guy – I was. Then she started dating Scorpius so soon afterwards, he cared for her. He was so good to her and that made me mad because she started to care more for him than me. I was replaced."

"Is that the only reason you've been mad at Scorpius, Ron? This whole time, it's been the fact that he's taken your place?"

"Don't act like you don't understand, 'Mione. Rose goes to him for comfort even more than she does to you. And it hurts me, and I know it hurts you too!"

I nodded softly, and I could feel a lump in my throat growing by the second. "I don't want it to be this way! She thinks we expect her to be perfect. We don't! I don't want her to do something stupid because she thinks we don't understand her, Ron. I couldn't live with myself if she did something bad because of us."

I tried to hold myself together but I couldn't. I let a few silent tears slip from my eyes. Ron wrapped his arms around me and held me tight while I try. His body started to heave up and down next to me and then he let out a few heartbreaking sobs. I held him tighter as he cried on my shoulder.

"I h-hate myself for wh… what I've been d-doing to Rose, m…. 'Mione," he wept between breaths. "I've been putting down the boy she loves out of pure jealousy. Why am I such a horrid person?"

"You not horrid, Ron… You're just human," I whispered sadly, and rubbed the tears from under his eyes. "I think all Rose wants from us is to listen and apologize for not doing so in the past."

"I will, Hermione, I promise," he sniffed, "As soon as this hair of mine is fixed I'll sit down with her and I'll beg for forgiveness until she's ready to give it… I swear."

I laughed gently, and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll help you fix it, honey. But first, I need some food and a kiss from my husband."

Is it okay? I hope it's satisfactory for the moment…

What's your opinion about Ron, guys? Do you feel sorry for him or do you still think he's a jerk in this story?

Please, please, please, REVIEW you thoughts about this chapter, it's much appreciated :)

Lots of love,

Alicia xx