It was so easy. Too easy. All I had to do was walk into the fireplace, throw down a fist full of floo powder and say the magic words, 'Malfoy Manor.'

My only obstacle was mom.

"Have fun." Mom said pulled me into a hug, sandwiching Pumpkin, who was in my arms, between us. "Write to us tonight. Keep us updated. Abby has an owl, right?"

"Yes," I beamed but the smile stretched across my face wasn't about Abby. "I'll be fine."

"Your father and I will be here if you need us." She squeezed tighter. "Right, Ron?"

"Yeah!" Dad called from the kitchen. His voice was muffled. I had no doubt his mouth was full of food. "Hugo, salt."

"No, more salt for you." Mom let go of me and called back.

"I only meant for him to stop hogging the salt." Dad protested.

"You pointed and told me to give you the salt, dad," Hugo said.

"Bloody hell, Hugo, was that really necessary?" Dad sighed.

"I'll be fine, mom, but dad and Hugo..." I trailed off.

Mom sighed, "Alright. Maybe you should wait-"

"Hugo, did you loosen the cap!?" Dad boomed.

Mom hurried into the next room. I grabbed some floo powder. I hugged Pumpkin tighter. That was my opportunity. Merlin, thank you. I ducked into the fireplace with my bag and Pumpkin not wasting a second in case she came back. Pumpkin started wriggling. He hated floo travel even more than I did.

"Malfoy Manor," I said clearly and quietly praying that it would take me where I needed to go. I giggled and released the floo powder.

I had never been that close to being caught by my parents.

The soot rose up into my face as the world twisted from my living room into a boiling green blur. I was thrown out of the new fireplace miles away dizzy and coughing. For the first time, I didn't fall. I grabbed onto the Malfoy's mantel sending something that sounded expensive crashing to the floor.

What a first impression I was making.

I coughed clearing my lungs and waited for what I hoped was Malfoy Manor to stop spinning.

The room was dark, it took my eyes a second to readjust. The first thing I noticed was the furniture. Mostly sleek black sofas that look more decorative than comfortable. Pumpkin, who had leapt out of my arms as soon as the flames disappeared, was stretched out on one, already making himself at home. Tudor-style portraits, ornaments and tapestries hung on the walls. Thick green curtains covered the long windows. The only light came from a few candles around the room. They created more eerie shadows than light. I doubted Scorpius put them there to set a mood. This had to be the living room but it didn't feel like one.

Then finally, I turned to see what I had knocked over hoping it was fixable. A photo in a frame. It was shattered on the dark wooden floor. Pieces of glass like crystals surrounded it. I covered my hand with my sleeve, then bent down to pick it up. A family photo. A younger smiling Scorpius sitting with his mom and dad on the sofa in the centre of this room, the very one Pumpkin was lazying on. There was a fresh crack running across Scorpius' face. Speaking of Scorpius.

"Scorpius?" I called out. I stood awkwardly with the frame in my hand. I didn't want to leave the room and go looking for him in case I got lost. At least the picture reassured me that this was the right house. That I wasn't yelling my boyfriend's name waiting for some stranger to find me. "Scorpius?!" I yelled louder this time.

No replied. Great. I should've told him to be there waiting for me when I got out. Apparently, some things aren't obvious.

Then there was a snap.

I jumped back dropping the picture again. A house elf stood before me with his hands behind his back like a waiter. He snapped out of his pose when his remembrall sized eyes saw the glass littering the floor.

He let out a loud whine, picking up the picture frame I dropped.

"Sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to do that I got a fright when you just-"

The house elf clicked his fingers and restored the photo, good as new. With a wave of his bony fingers, he magicked the picture back to its resting place on the mantel.

"You're Dinky, aren't you? Do you know where Scorpius is?"

Dinky bowed and nodded, "Dinky will take Miss Rose to Master Scorpius."

I laughed at the titles. Dinky looked at me funny.

"Sorry." I stopped. "Yes, please take me, thank you." I turned to Pumpkin, he was curled up in a ball, "Be good, Pumpkin." I pointed a finger at him, as in 'don't eat the house elf.'

Dinky started walking expecting me to follow.

"Master Scorpius has been waiting for Miss Rose."

"Would it kill him to wait in front of the fire?" I snorted.

"Dinky doesn't think so. Mistress Narcissa wanted Master Scorpius to read to her. Master Scorpius is a good boy."

I politely fought back another laugh.

"Does he know I'm here?"

"Dinky doesn't know, but it's hard to hear things on the second floor. Dinky heard you. Master Scorpius told Dinky to bring Miss Rose up straight away when she comes. Dinky was dusting next door. Dinky made sure Dinky could hear you."

"That's considerate," I said when we reached the stairs. The staircase was black marble. The bannister was as cold as ice when I touched it.

It was still dark, even the portraits on the stairs were painted in muted tones to match the shadowy lighting. They were all asleep in their frames.

"Dinky likes Master Scorpius. Master Scorpius always says hello to Dinky and asks how Dinky's day was. And Miss Rose seems just as nice."

"Aw."

"You're his secret."

"And he's mine. What else does Master Scorpius say about me?"

"That's being nosy, Miss Rose," Dinky said.

"Probably nothing I haven't heard before. Tell me one thing."

Dinky giggled, "Master Scorpius says you're very pretty."

"Master Scorpius knew I was going to ask you. Did he send you down for that? He's sneaky that way."

"Master Scorpius would never!" He gasped. "He wanted to be here to greet Miss Rose but Mistress Narcissa demanded he read to her. He talks about you all the time. Dinky didn't know your name until this morning though. He tells Dinky and Mistress Narcissa but not Master and Mistress Malfoy. Dinky asked Master Scorpius why and he said they wouldn't like it." He clapped his hand over his mouth, his ramble ending. "Dinky loves to talk."

My footsteps echoed on the marble staircase. The faint odour of that expensive perfume Longford had hung in the air. Dinky was a fountain of information.

"So what does Master Scorpius have planned?"

Dinky thought for a second, "Dinky does not know. But Master Scorpius did clean his bedroom. Now that was shocking."

"Do you have the before and after pictures?"

"Dinky wishes." Dinky laughed. "Dinky must inform Miss Rose in case Master Scorpius forgot to. Miss Rose must not use certain words around Mistress Narcissa."

"Dinky, what words?" I said as we turned into a corridor. I couldn't see an end to it. Oh boy, I was going to get so lost.

"Triggering words and names. From the old times."

"The battle of-"

"Shhh!"

"Sorry. I get it now."

"And Miss Rose must not acknowledge Mistress Narcissa's health while she is here." Dinky stopped at a door. I could hear Scorpius' voice on the other side. My heart sped up. It had been almost a week since I last heard it.

"Oh, silly Dinky!" Dinky face palmed. "Dinky must take Miss Rose's bag. If Mistress Malfoy was here…"

"It's okay."

"Dinky insists. Dinky will keep it safe." Dinky held out his hands clearly not taking no for an answer.

The faster I handed over the bag the faster I would be with Scorpius. I gave it to him without a second thought. Dinky knocked on the door before opening it.

Dinky announced, "Miss Rose has arrived Master Scorpius."

"Please, stop calling me that. It's embarrassing." I heard Scorpius' voice.

"Dinky insists." The house elf said with determination.

Dinky took my hand and pushed the door the rest of the way open. The room was dark like the rest of the house the only difference was it smelt like flowery perfume. Scorpius sat on a sofa with a book in his hand. Next to him was a table with drooping flowers in a vase. The blue flowers were the brightest things in the room. He stood up, when I came in, a grin stretching across his face as Dinky led me over to him. I couldn't believe it, this was actually happening.

"Hi, Rosie," Scorpius said taking my hand from Dinky. "Thanks, Dinky."

And with a bow and a snap, the house elf was gone.

I wanted to kiss him. I leant up to kiss him but he pushed my shoulders down giving me an apologetic look.

"Sorry, not now." He pointed to an old woman who seemed to be asleep on the opposite sofa. I hadn't noticed her, she blended in too well with the sofa and the shadows. I had been so focused on Scorpius. That pinch into reality made me feel out of place.

He pecked my cheek as if sensing this.

"Grandmother," he whispered clicking his fingers in front of the woman's lined face. "Grandmother, are you awake?"

There was no verbal response from the old woman just a snore. Scorpius relaxed and put down the book he was holding, 'Petunias and Tulips' by Hetty Fairfield.

"Brilliant timing," he said leading me out of the room. He glanced back into the room again before closing the door softly after me, like a parent putting their child to bed.

"Doesn't feel like that," I replied.

I shivered. It was Scorpius, the one I knew and loved, but in a pureblood manor setting, he looked different. I reached out and touched his shoulder, making sure he was real. This could totally be a dream.

"I'm not kissing you in front of my Grandmother," he said taking a step closer filling in the gap between us. "It's not that I don't want to kiss 'cause believe me, I want to."

His voice echoed through the hall. I was never this alone with him before. So far away from everyone else. It would take adjusting to.

"No, Scorpie," I said softening my voice in an attempt to turn the mood. It was always better when we were laughing or teasing each other. "This is just…"

"Weird?"

"Yeah."

"I know, I can feel it." He shook his head.

"Can we go somewhere, that's not outside your Grandmother's door?" I said. "I'm worried she's going to come out."

Scorpius grinned, "Anything you want, Rosie."

A flight of stairs later and a couple of doors down, I ended up in Scorpius' room. I threw myself on his bed, a double bed. I rolled on the made bed giggling. Scorpius' room made me more comfortable. The curtains and windows were open letting in a breeze that the house was in dire need of. The walls had quidditch posters on them, plastered across the green and gold wallpaper. The bookshelves lining one wall were packed with quidditch theme books and old school books. On his desk across from the bed, I could see piles of parchment with his writing on it. And the chair in front of it had his school bag hanging off it. His trunk sat under an open window with his clothes thrown in and around it.

This was Scorpius.

He watched me grinning for a second before joining me. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close.

"Tell me if you hate this. I get that it's a sad place."

"But you're in it. I'm just nervous." I admitted. "It'll pass. Hogwarts feels like it's on another planet. This place feels more grounded in reality. A darker reality."

Scorpius kissed me gently, a wordless reassurance. I unclasped my cloak throwing it off to the side. Scorpius moved down to my now bare neck, his kisses leaving warm trails down the crook of my neck and back up again. I took his hand in mine.

There was a loud snap.

Scorpius stopped and sighed into my neck. My eyes opened to see Dinky the house elf standing in the centre of the room.

"Dinky was told by Master Scorpius not to bother knocking anymore." Dinky started up defensively.

"I'm changing that rule from now on knock, always knock." He grumbled into my neck. I pulled away from him, my face burning. "You don't need to check up on us."

"Dinky wasn't 'checking up.' Dinky is here to inform Miss Rose her belongings have been put in the guest room," Dinky added. "The one with the nicest view of the grounds."

"I thought I was staying in here." I raised an eyebrow at Scorpius. He smirked in response.

"Well, Dinky didn't know that," Scorpius said picking up my hand that was still in his and examining each of my fingers. "Dinky, would you please bring Rosie's belongings here."

"I can do it." I protested.

There was another snap. Dinky was gone.

I pulled my hand out of Scorpius' grip and poked him in the side.

"That's mean."

"No, it doesn't take him-" Snap. "See less than five seconds." Scorpius gestured to Dinky standing in the centre of the room with my bag.

"Anything else Master Scorpius?" Dinky asked. "Oh wait, Dinky forgot again! Dinky must lay out the guest's clothes- Oh, if Mistress Malfoy could see forgetful Dinky now-"

"Dinky," Scorpius said. "It doesn't matter. I'm in charge-"

"Mistress Narcissa is in charge." The house elf crossed his arms.

"He's got you there, Scorpius," I remarked.

Scorpius poked my arm.

"Dinky, go pull out Rose's stuff-"

I clapped my hand over his mouth, "Don't you dare."

He jerked his head from my hand, "Do it, Dinky."

The house elf looked at us both, confused. Scorpius attempted to escape my wrath by crawling down the bed. I jumped on his back pushing him back down onto the sheets.

"Dinky is leaving." Snap and I imagined the house elf was gone. I didn't know because I was too occupied with keeping Scorpius down. He laughed, shrugging me off him with ease. He pinned me to the bed, holding my arms above my head.

"You're ridiculous." I panted. I blinked away the nostalgia of being in the exact same position a few months ago in Herbology before anyone could guess this is where we would end up. Scorpius looked happier now, his eyes glistened in the daylight. He looked perfect, there was not one thing I would change about him.

"My father called me strange before he left." He said releasing me.

I smiled up at him, "That's a compliment."

"Not from him."

"Well, I'm just as strange and proud about it." I reached up, cupping his cheek.

"You're not strange,"

"I am. And so are you. That's why we're together because when we are together like now we're blind to the strangeness."

"I take it back," he grinned pulling me up with him. "You've just proved you're a proper weirdo."

"A romantic one." I pecked his lips.

"Want the grand tour then?"

"The sooner, the better. I'm going to get lost."

He jumped up and started walking. I stood up on the bed.

I cleared my throat, "Scorpius?" I held out my hands.

He did a mock bow and walked back over to me.

"Are your feet too precious to touch the ground?"

"Obviously. Let me get on your back."

He turned, I clambered on using the bounce of the bed as my lift off.

"Is this the house that… stuff went down in?" I said when Scorpius stepped into the corridor. Even on Scorpius' back, I wasn't high enough to touch the ceiling. That would tell you how fancy this place was.

"First off, I wouldn't call it a house. It's a manor. It's cold and isn't a place for a family." Before I could point out the family part he added. "A real family. Secondly, yes, Rosie, this is it. We eat dinner in the room where-" his voice dropped to a whisper, "Voldemort's snake slept-"

"He's dead."

"I am aware of that."

"Why are you afraid then?"

"Does the back of my head look afraid to you? I just don't want Grandmother Narcissa hearing."

"Dinky told me."

"Smart elf."

I shivered, "So my mom and dad-"

"Don't finish that thought. It's a bunch of walls that's all it is. The Malfoys were… rabid."

"I can see by the house elf heads."

"Ignore those."

"I was until you said rabid. We've skipped about ten doors," I said watching as more doors went past. "I thought I was getting the grand tour."

"Dusty extra rooms. Bedrooms with creepy dolls and dead bodies."

I rolled my eyes and tugged the strands of his hair, "You're not as funny as you think you are."

"Sure I am," he said confidently. "I make you laugh all the time."

"Those were coughs," I said like the bitch I am.

"Sure they were." He said cheerfully.

After visiting all the major locations in Malfoy manor including several parlours, studies, bathrooms with swimming pool sized tubs and a kitchen that was roughly the size of my attic. We did what anyone with common sense does, we played hide and seek. I got lost not once but nine different times. I ended up calling Scorpius or Dinky to come get me making him the unfair winner. Then it was time for a good old game of chase across the hard floors. The floor boards creaked under us sending specks of dust into the air. I doubted the Malfoy's floors saw anything faster than a walk in all their years.

Dinky emerged with a feather duster from one of the many rooms lining the hallway. I shrieked as Scorpius tackled me from behind again.

Dinky put his hands on his hips, giving us a look of disapproval.

"If Mistress Malfoy were here," the house elf shook his head. "Mistress Malfoy would be horrified. Mistress would say, 'House Elf, this is a manor, not a brothel.'"

I collapsed onto the floor laughing. Scorpius stood above me looking like he was about to die of embarrassment.

"I love him!" I wheezed out in between laughs.

Dinky continued, "She'd be-"

"We'll go outside," Scorpius concluded for him.

"Many thanks, Master Scorpius," the house elf waved his feather duster in salute.

"I'm dying to see the peacocks." I held out my hand for Scorpius to pull me up. "You better not be kidding about them. I swear to Merlin, I'm leaving if they're just bits of plastic and feathers."