A/N: So here's the epilogue. The story's come full circle now and I'd really like to thank everyone who reviewed or added this story to their alerts/favourites. It's been so nice to write this story for you all and I really appreciate some of the support you've shown me through my exams and the other goings on. I hope you'll like this chapter and I'd love to know what you think. I'll keep the poll on my profile page open until tomorrow but then I need to close it and get to writing the five winning chapters.

As usual Kings Cross Station was packed and busy. As we tried to get to the arch between platforms nine and ten, Hugo, Mum, Dad and I were all jostled by the commuters speed-walking through the station. I was looking forward to beginning my Sixth Year at Hogwarts. It promised to be the most exciting year of my life with all the travel I would be doing and the people I would be meeting.

For once we actually arrived on the platform early and after stowing our belongings aboard the train, Hugh and I simply waited for more people to arrive and talk to. Scorpius friend Tim was already there and came to stand and talk with us.

"Have you seen Lucy?" he asked.

"No, she was on Uncle Percy's book tour all summer," I answered, wondering how things were between Tim and Lucy.

"Yeah, I saw her briefly when they came to London. Oh, look, there she is," Tim replied, pointing at the arch where Lucy was just coming through. Uncle Percy followed and they waited for Molly and Aunt Audrey before joining our little group.

"Tim," Uncle Percy nodded.

Lucy grinned and slid her hand into his waiting one.

Looking between them and Uncle Percy, I frowned in confusion. How was he okay with it? Or had he just not noticed that his daughter was holding hands with a boy who wasn't one of her cousins?

I was saved the trouble of asking by my dad, who unthinkingly blurted, "Perce, are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, Ron, I am."

"Then why aren't you having a fit about Luce standing within two metres of a boy?"

"Ronald!" Mum cried, looking apologetically at Percy, Tim and Lucy. "Why can't you think before you speak? Hmm?"

Dad shrugged and turned back to Uncle Percy. "Well?"

"You mean Tim?" Uncle Percy asked.

Dad nodded.

"Well Tim's a polite, considerate boy and I think that perhaps it's time I let Lucy make her own decisions," Uncle Percy said in an undertone, trying to keep the conversation from Lucy and Tim's attention. He needn't have worried as at that moment, Tim kissed Lucy's cheek, making her blush and giggle slightly.

"Good for you, Perce!"

"What's Percy done?" Aunt Ginny asked, surprising us all as we hadn't seen her approach us.

"He's letting Lucy date," Ron told her.

Auntie Ginny looked at Uncle Percy with raised eyebrows as if to say, "Really?"

Uncle Percy nodded.

"How about drinking, Uncle Perce?" James asked. "Is Lucy allowed to do that 'cause I just discovered the best Muggle drink – Tequila!"

Uncle Percy blanched.

"Just kidding – gives you the worst hangover."

Al snickered, probably reminiscing about his brother coming in drunk early one morning and throwing up over something.

"Shut up, Al," James said, shoving his brother to the side. "Look there's Katie, why don't you go bug her?"

Al rolled his eyes, but ambled over to see his girlfriend anyway. No-one was surprised that they were still together. We all thought it was kind of sweet anyway.

"Hey Lily," I greeted as she came to stand next to me. Catching sight of Chris O'Dowd, I asked, "How's Chris? Did you see him this summer?"

"We split up," she replied sadly with a shake of her head. "I really thought he was the one."

"Cheer up, Lils," James replied. "You'll find someone else. Just become a quidditch star – everyone'll love you then."

"Yes, but they're just fans, James," Aunt Ginny replied, looking imploringly at Uncle Harry to try to talk some sense into their eldest son. "They don't really care about you."

"Not Jenny, though," James said quietly. "Jenny's different."

"Not Jenny," Uncle Harry agreed. We'd all heard something about Jenny, the new journalist at Quidditch Weekly, who'd been tasked with shadowing the country's youngest professional seeker and had come to fall in love with him. How exactly she managed to overlook his big head long enough to see the sweet young man inside, nobody knew.

Just like James, Fred had come to see us off.

"Feels weird not to be going back to Hogwarts, doesn't it?" he commented to James as they stood to one side.

"Yeah, but we can count on Louis to uphold our mischief-making – we taught him well."

"What are you doing now you've finished school?" Hugo asked Fred.

"Mum and Dad are letting me do some work in the shop to save some money and then I'm going travelling. First stop is Romania to see Uncle Charlie and join his team for a month or so, then I'm going to Greece. Perhaps I'll stay out there, who knows."

"Perhaps it'll help you grow up," Auntie Angelina said pointedly, though her voice was warm and it was clear that despite Fred's penchant for trouble and lack of responsibility she still loved him.

Roxie left us rather quickly after Uncle George helped her stow her trunk and cat on the train. I watched her leave and greet Lorcan with a kiss, only I realised that she hadn't kissed Lorcan; but Lysander and Lorcan was looking on from a distance with an angry expression. I'd always known Roxie would move on, but perhaps going from one twin to the other wasn't her best idea. Shaking my head, I supposed that it wouldn't matter – in a few weeks she'd be interested in someone else anyway. One day she'd find someone who she wanted to stay with though.

Just like Roxie, Louis appeared to have moved on from Carrie over the summer. I wondered if James hadn't taught him his habit of keeping a few girls on the trot as well as how to cause trouble and avoid punishment. Louis, now a Third Year, had an eye on two people – one of my friends, Tracy, and a girl in his own year. I hoped he would get together with the girl in his own year, not Tracy.

Dom stood beside me and hugged me.

"Good summer, Rosie?"

"It was okay," I replied. "Yours?"

"The best," she responded, grinning excitedly. "French guys are the hottest!"

"I thought you were with Jason…"

"I am, but that doesn't mean I can't look at other guys."

"If you say so," I told her. I knew I wouldn't be happy if Scorpius was looking at other girls and I doubted he'd be okay with me looking at other guys.

Jasper arrived with his parents, who greeted Hugo with wide smiles. He was clearly welcomed by them and Hugh and Jasper were still going strong. Perhaps their relationship would be like Al and Katie's. Maybe they would be forever. I hoped they would be – that was the kind of relationship that Hugo deserved.

Scorpius and his family were practically the last people to arrive on the platform. He rushed over, wearing the same leather jacket and white t-shirt as he had last year. I gulped; trying to ignore the way the t-shirt clung to his chest and defined muscles. What was with me? Every time I looked at him I seemed to go weak in the knees and lose my voice completely. James noticed and smirked, elbowing Fred and nodding over at me as Scorpius hugged me, completely unaware of the effect he was having on me.

If I was going to do the same all year, perhaps it was a good thing I was going abroad and having some separation from him. When I got back, I was sure it would be ten times worse, but then that would be good, wouldn't it? Our reunion would be all the better and we'd appreciate each other that bit more. As it was I was happy to see him.

The train whistle blew and we hurried towards the train. Scorpius' father had already put his trunk onboard and waved to us. Astoria Malfoy looked on, dignified as she simply nodded at her son.

"Have a good term, Rosie," Mum called.

I nodded and waved goodbye to them, seeing Dom and Jason arguing slightly out of the corner of my eye.

"Don't look at her like that," Dom reprimanded. "You can only look at me, you girlfriend, like that."

"Oh, so I didn't just see you staring at Luke McClaggen's arse, did I?"

"Dom get on the train, for Merlin's sake!" someone, probably Lily, further down the train called.

I grinned at Scorpius, the both of us laughing at how similar his friend and my cousin were.

"Don't forget to write!" Mum shouted to Hugo.

He nodded, but we all knew he wouldn't write. I'd be doing that again. I smiled at how nothing had changed. But one look at Scorpius as we walked towards the prefects' compartment told me I was partially wrong. Hundreds of things had changed between us and there would probably still be more changes to come but I was beginning to see that that wasn't such a bad thing.

I wondered what my life would be like if I hadn't given him those second chances and I knew instantly that I'd done the right thing. I'd always give him a second chance, just as he would me.

A/N: So thanks again for reading. Let me know what you think and if you haven't yet, head on over to my profile and vote for the bonus chapters!

Much love, SabreDae

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