A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the long time no chapter! College is busier than I was expecting, lol. So this chapter, again, rape trigger warning, although they're just kinda talking about the after effects and not the event itself, so hopefully it's not that bad for any potentially triggered readers? Some of you might not like some of the ideas this chapter suggests about Rose's future with Scorp... I promise that this is their love story. As always, I love to hear from you, so tell me what you think. Should I write another chapter taking place over christmas break? Should I write one in January/February? Do you think Rose and Scorpius should take a little break in their relationship? Let me know! I love you guys; thanks so much for reading!

December 20, 2022

In the two months since I had been trapped by Goyle, my life seemed to have changed considerably. For the first month if felt like Mum or Dad was constantly at the school, talking to Uncle Neville or Professor Clearwater to try and figure out how it had happened and to keep it from happening again. Mum threatened to take someone to court, although I never did figure out if it was the school or Goyle she meant. She might have moved forward with it. I honestly didn't know.

My friends also never left me alone. I thought it was bad before, but now I literally had no time to myself. Melody and Sasha followed me to the bathrooms and our dorm, and Albus and Scorpius took turns accompanying everywhere else. Alice and Alan took turns sometimes, as well as some of my other friends and family members that were still in school, like Roxie, Freddie, Lily, and Hugo. The sad part was, I didn't really mind. I liked being surrounded by a group. I felt safer. My safe place had been taken away from me, and I didn't know how to feel.

The dynamic between Scorpius and I changed after everything, too. At first, all I wanted was him, and he didn't mind that. He made me feel safe and loved, which is something I needed as I realized just how bad what happened was, and how much worse it could have gotten. However, by the middle of November, I started to feel like Scorpius was suffocating me. He was always around, and he tried to tell me what to do and what not to do. When he held my hand in the corridors, it felt more like he wanted to show his possession of me than a casual way for us to express our love.

On the train back home for Christmas break, our compartment was full of chatter, but both Scorpius and I were quiet. Instead of sitting with our legs touching, there was an inch of space between us. We'd gotten into a really bad fight the night before when we were having a 'date night' in our spot. We'd been kissing in a way we hadn't for nearly two months, and then suddenly I couldn't see him, all I could see was this body pressing against me and I got scared and pulled away. He tried to kiss me again, not understanding that I didn't want it, and I ended up running away alone to the common room, tears falling all the while. We really hadn't talked since that incident.

"Rose, you okay?" Sasha asked me, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Er, yeah. I'm just thinking," I said softly. "I'm just glad to be going to the Burrow."

"Do you still want my family to come over for Christmas dinner?" Scorpius asked.

"Why wouldn't she?" Alan asked. Sasha, Albus, and Melody shared a look.

"I dunno. Rose, would you like to share with the class?" Scorpius asked me.

"Scorpius, mate..." Al started, but I shot him a look.

"What are you asking me to say Scorp?" I asked.

"Well after what happened last night-"

"Scorpius, stop-" Albus said, but I shot him my best 'Hermione-Granger-Weasley-look' and he shut up.

"You mean when I pulled away from you and you just came at me again and I got freaked out," I said. "Instead of being a caring, listening boyfriend like you claim to be, you just got mad and watched me run away!"

"Merlin Rose! That's not what happened!" Scorpius said, exasperated. He stood, walking over to stand in front of me. "Look at me, Rose, and tell me that I forced myself on you." I shook my head.

"Guys I feel uncomfortable being here during this conversation," Melody said. "Like okay, obviously you need to talk it out, but I feel like I shouldn't be here."

"You didn't force yourself on me...but Scorp, do you know how controlling you've been lately? I can't go to the bloody bathroom without you asking me twenty questions! It's not right. And then last night we were kissing and you're right, it was good. But then it wasn't. And when I backed off, instead of listening to my body language, you just assumed I was trying to get more comfortable, and you came at me again. That's basically what you've been doing since the incident. Instead of listening to me you just make assumptions about what I should want based of off what you want me to do."

"That's not true-" Scorpius started, but Albus cut him off.

"Rose isn't wrong, mate..." Albus said.

"From what Mum was telling me...even that first night Rosie was getting a little irritated with the fact that you were controlling her," Alice said softly.

"Your mum doesn't know what was going on," Scorpius mutted.

"Right, okay, maybe Aunt Hannah doesn't, but we, both of your friends do," Albus said.

"Scorp do you remember why we said you and Rose should have a one-on-one date night before we left for the holidays?" Melody asked.

"Because we hadn't since the incident?"

"No. Because you needed to find your couple dynamic again, because it was gone. Rose is constantly fighting you because you've stopped letting her be an independant person. Do you remember why you wanted her to break up with Axton so badly?" Melody asked.

"Er, because I wanted to date her?"

"That's not the reason you gave me," I piped up. "You told me, and I quote 'Since when does Rose Weasley let boys push her around?'" Scorpius looked at me in silence.

"You guys are a good couple. It almost seems fated that you two would get together. But you guys haven't... right now, it's not good. You guys don't have a healthy relationship." Alan looked carefully at his best friend as he spoke.

"I think I need to leave," Scorpius said softly. I nodded, and he practically ran out of the compartment.

"I should go with him," Alan murmured, and then took off.

When we rolled into Kings Cross, the mood was still sort of sombre. I didn't know if Scorpius and I were still dating. I didn't know if he was going to come to Christmas dinner. I felt like I didn't know anything.

"Rose! Rose Weasley! Wait!" Scorpius called for me as I got off the train. I stopped and looked for him. When I found him, he pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry, Ro," he said softly. "I'm so so sorry."

"It's okay, Scorp. I don't want this to be the end," I replied into his shoulder as I hugged him back tightly.

"We need to have a real talk," Scorpius said. "I don't want this to be the end either; I love you so much. But... if I can't rein in these controlling tendencies I've been having lately... I dunno. We might need to consider taking a break." His words cut me like a knife.

"I don't want that," I whispered. I looked at him, my eyes wide.

"I don't either. But look at Teddy and Vic. They stopped dating for awhile and they came out stronger for it."

"Don't say that," I said, pulling away. "Scorpius, you're right. You've gotten a little out of hand with how controlling you are. I don't think just breaking up is the answer though. If we know it's going on, then we can work to fix it..."

"Rose Jean Weasley, I love you a great deal. And the last thing I want is to lose you-"

"ROSE!" I heard Teddy's voice from across the platform.

"I've got to go, Scorp," I said. "Write me. We'll talk about Christmas."

"Rosie, you okay?" Dom said, sitting next to me on the staircase in the Burrow that evening.

"Not really," I answered truthfully.

"Is it because of Crabbe?" she asked. I shook my head.

"He's an asshole. He's scarred me. But he's not the reason I'm upset right now."

"Is it Malfoy?" she tried.

"Yeah. I think... I think we might be breaking up. And that makes me really really sad."

"That would be a shame. You two seem like a cute couple, and Gram loves you guys together. She's excited he's coming for Christmas," Dom said. I sighed, wanting to scream and cry and cursing the world.

"I just... After everything with Crabbe, Scorpius got really controlling and he stopped listening to me..."

"Rose, come with me." Dom took my hand and led me upstairs to one of the empty bedrooms. She motioned for me to sit while she went over to lock the door. Then we looked at each other in silence.

"Why did you bring me up here?"

"Because I want to tell you a secret. Practically no one knows. Right after I left Hogwarts, back when I was renting that apartment from Uncle George... I was raped. Dad tried to get me to go to the Muggle version of aurors... I think they're called police? But I didn't. I couldn't remember anything about the guy and I didn't want to admit to some stranger what had happened. I didn't even want Vic to find out, though she did. Mum told her. Gram doesn't know, and I don't know about your mum or anyone. Louis doesn't know.

"Point is, it's more common than it should be. And it affects everyone differently. I kinda started to spiral and act out more... Mum got me to go to therapy recently and it actually helped a lot. I think you'll find Scorp just doesn't know how to deal with what happened to you, the girl he loves, the girl he almost lost in a sense because of Crabbe."

"I... I don't know what to say," I said softly.

"That's okay. You don't have to. Just think I know you and Scorp should try and have an adult conversation about this, especially if you don't want to lose him. I've gone through my fair share of partners of both genders, and it's not easy. But it's even harder when you can feel them falling apart around you and you know in your soul that you aren't done yet. So talk about it. Communication is the most important thing."

"Thanks Domi," I said before hugging my cousin. She laughed.

"Any time, Rosie."

"Rose? Can I talk to you?" Mum asked later that night.

"Sure Mum?" I said. She took my hand and led me into the kitchen.

"I don't know how, but someone leaked what happened to the media. We wanted to keep your story private, but they know. And we're trying to get to the bottom of it all, trying to keep all the media attention away from you by speaking for you-"

"Speaking for me?"

"Well, yes. I mean, they want to know how you're doing, and what your reaction to everything is-"

"Mum, I'm sixteen, and you aren't me. Next year I'm legally an adult. You don't know my reaction, you barely even know how I'm doing-"

"How can you say that!? You're my daughter, of course I'm checking up on you even if I'm not there."

"What you're doing is just as bad as what Scorpius is. Merlin. Why can't people get it into their heads that I saved myself? Yes, I was in a really dangerous, scary, scaring situation. But I didn't let him hurt me. I didn't let him get near enough to touch me. I used my memory and figured out how to get myself the hell out of that situation. I relied on myself because I was cut off from everyone else. After the fact, however, no one has listened to me. Everyone has listened to what everyone else has said about what I should be feeling and what people should do for me, but no one is actually asking me how I feel, or what I want. Everyone just assumes and I'm tired of it!" With that, I stormed out of the kitchen. I knew I was going to regret yelling at Mum later, but I really needed to say my piece. Finding out she was talking for me without actually talking to me... that didn't make any sense!

As I was sitting with Al in the sitting room, I saw Mum pull Dad aside. A few minutes later they came back in together, and then Dad came over to me.

"Rosie, can I talk to you?"

"If you're just going to say the same things Mum did, I don't want to hear it." I crossed my arms. Dad sighed.

"Rosie, please," he said, and the look on his face I couldn't argue with. I always had a soft spot for Dad.

"Alright." Together we headed upstairs to what was once his bedroom.

"Now, I'm not going to yell at you for what you said to your mother. You aren't wrong. As mad as I was at that boy and the people working at that school for putting you in that situation all by yourself, I was so proud that my daughter was able to save herself. You didn't need someone to come riding in to save you. That's pretty bloody great.

"And I've been trying to tell your mum that we needed to talk to you. You two... you're very different people. I mean, your mother erased her parents memories and sent them to Australia for their own good when she was 17! Not that you should get any ideas, young lady. I'm just saying that Hermione sees things as being very much problem-solution, and while that's great at making laws and all the things she does, sometimes it means she doesn't quite relate to you well. You're emotions are much more like mine."

"I thought Mum said you had the emotional range of a teaspoon?" I asked with a giggle. Dad chuckled.

"Maybe I did when I was 14, but by now it's pretty easy to see that I'm the emotional one. You know one of my favorite memories of your mother? We were 11, just finishing with our first year at school. We'd already fought a troll together, and we'd discovered that the sorcerer's stone was being hidden at the school."

"Yes, Dad. I know the stories." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, we got passed Fluffy, right? And we land in the Devil's Snare, and Uncle Harry and I are stuck, and your mum, that bright mind of hers, she remembers how to get rid of the Devils Snare -"

"Fire."

"Basically. She recited this rhyme I think and Uncle Harry told her to light a fire. Your mum said 'of course! but there's no wood!'" Dad started laughing. "No wood! I yelled at her as I was being suffocated, 'are you a witch or what?'"

"That's a sweet story, Dad, but I don't see how it applies..." I said, chuckling with him.

"I don't know that it does. I guess I just wanted to tell you that your mum means well, even if she doesn't always know the best way to go about things. She also mentioned in your little outburst you said something about a Mr. Malfoy... Do you wanna talk about that Rosie?"

"Not tonight, Dad. I think I'm ready for bed."

"Alright then, pumpkin. I love you."

"I love you too."