"She needs to come home!"
Rose heard her mother's voice from her place in Lily's bed. She covered her head with the pillow in an attempt to drown out the conversation. It was futile. Every day this week Aunt Ginny had had the same conversation with Hermione.
Every day this week Aunt Ginny had successfully prevented Hermione from taking Rose home.
A soft knock on the door, followed by creaking of an opened door elicited a groan from her lips. The bed shifted beside her and immediately, the pillow was lifted from her head.
"Go away," she mumbled, turning to face away from her uncle.
"That's no way to talk to Harry Potter, the chosen boy who lived." She had to kick away one of his hands when he tried to tickle her feet. "I could get you arrested for that."
She curled up tighter. "I know why you're here and I do not want to talk about it."
Uncle Harry had the nerve to chuckle. "I don't even let Jamie speak to me like that, and you think you can get away with it?"
She let out a puff of air. Turning around, she pierced her godfather with the most threatening glare she could muster. The anger dissipated quickly when she was met with Harry's calm demeanor.
"What?" She asked, slumping down her hands.
"You have to go home," he answered matter of factly.
"You see, I was kind of thinking maybe this could be my new home. Lily and I could have bunk beds. I can change my name to Rose Weasley-Potter and you and Aunt Ginny can adopt me."
Harry laughed and pulling at her hands brought her close to her side, wrapping his arm over her shoulder. "Aunt Ginny and I would love nothing more than to adopt you and keep you here forever. We might not survive if we do."
Rose's shoulders slumped down.
"Maybe if you tell me how you feel, I can help you sort out those tangled thoughts."
She shook her head. "You wouldn't understand."
Harry stood from the bed and pulled a chair to sit right in front of Rose. When his eyes met hers, she almost broke. Uncle Harry's gaze always made her feel like he could see right through hers into her soul. She immediately looked down.
"Try me."
Rose let herself fall backwards on the bed with a sigh. She quickly brought her pillow back to cover her face.
Ever since her mum's date with Mr Malfoy, she'd been locked up inside Lily's room and therefore, her own thoughts. Every day that she didn't speak about it, her mind wandered to the worst case scenarios regarding her and her unusual situation.
She honestly felt that if she did not talk about it her head would explode. Uncle Harry was right here. She could speak to him, he could help her and maybe, just maybe, she could find some solace in him.
"I just don;t understand!" Her voice was louder than she intended. "There are so many men in both the wizarding and muggle worlds! Why does she have to go after my boyfriend's dad? This puts us in such a difficult situation. Scorp and I already have enough of a hard time, with him being the heir to the Malfoy dynasty and me being all red and Weasley and blood traitor half blood, without us having to exist as step siblings. This isn't fair and mum is being completely selfish."
"That is a lot of feelings," Uncle Harry said with a knowing smile. "It sounds like all the feelings in the world to a 14 year old."
Rose nodded, thankful that someone finally understood her.
"Have you considered your mum's feelings in all of these?"
"She hasn't considered mine," Rose bit bat harshly.
Harry sighed. "Rosie, your mum has been through a lot. I'm not just talking about what we went through as children," he added when Rose rolled her eyes. "Her whole wizarding community was composed of the Weasleys. After the divorce, your mum was mostly alone, not because she couldn't count on your uncles, or grandparents or Ginny, but because she wanted to give Ron her space. And then she devoted her life to raising you,a beautiful, smart, strong girl. She has done everything for you, and that includes missing out on very large number of dates because she was afraid of what you might think,
"Your mum and Malfoy hated each other in school, but in these short instances they've been able to form a close relationship and it only makes me think that it was meant to be. I understand you feel uncomfortable, but have you given the whole situation a chance? Would you really wish for your mum to deny her happiness without trying to make this work first?"
Rose sighed. As always, and as much as it infuriated her, Harry was right. But she wasn't about to admit that to him, she only looked away, swiping at the tears that escaped her.
She didn't want to be unhappy, but she didn't want her mum to be unhappy either. Why did they have to be mutually exclusive?
She was brought out of her wondering by her aunt's voice coming from the doorway. "If your uncle is done ruining your life with his sane advice, I'm about to leave for a Harpie's game just now. Want to come?"
She grinned, jumping off the bed and rushing to her aunt. This was just what she needed.
XXX
Aung Ginny apparated them to Diagon before heading to the Quidditch Match. She entered Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream parlor and waited until they were sat with their treats before engaging in the difficult conversation. Rose appreciated the gesture.
"So, now that your dumb uncle is out of the way, want to tell me what's going on?"
Rose didn't, but denying Ginny was like denying her own mother. "I just don't want my boyfriend's dad to be my step dad."
Ginny didn't laugh, but Rose could tell she wanted to from the face she made. "You do know that is very far-fetched right? Both are new relationships and you can both bloom while giving the other the space it needs.
Rose sighed. "That is exactly my point. What if Scorp and I break up, but mum marries his dad and I end up living with my ex?"
Ginny gave her an understanding look. "I understand that, but even if that were the case, is it worth ruining your relationship with your mum over?"
Rose looked down into her ice cream. Of course it wasn't, but she didn't know how to face this situation. It wasn't like her, but it definitely was easier to run away from the whole situation.
She knew it was cowardly and that if she just spoke to her mum they could probably get to an agreement, but she convinced herself that whatever solution her mum came up with would not be enough to calm Rose's worries.
"Look, Rose, I am not going to be able to assure you that everything is going to be alright, but I can say that you need to talk to your mum. Harry and I cannot and will not hide you forever."
Rose knew that her aunt was right, but she would never admit it aloud.
XXX
It had been too good to be true. When she left Grimmauld with Aunt Ginny, and they stopped for Ice Cream before the match. She should have know this was an ambush. Uncle Harry would have never been able to pull this off, but Aunt Ginny? She was known for being cruel.
And cruel it had been when Rose walked into the Harpie's VIP box to find none other than her mother sitting on the very first row, next to the only other empty seat.
Rose sat down begrudgingly, settled to ignore her mother, despite how much she wanted to scream at someone at the moment. Aunt Ginny was out of the question, since she'd already retreated to the Harpie's bullpen.
They sat quietly for a moment and Rose almost believed that her mother was not going to say anything. Why would she come here then? If she planned on dragging Rose home, she would report her for kidnapping. Is it possible to kidnap your own child? Why were her hands sweating so much?
"I've decided to nor pursue a relationship with Draco."
Her mum's words were soft, but they hit Rose like the Hogwarts Express. The absolute hurt in her mother's voice twisted Rose's heart, especially since Hermione had yet to look at her.
Rose blinked up at her mom. "Mum…" Her voice shook as she spoke. "That's not what I want."
Then Hermione turned to face her, a look in her face that Rose had never seen before. Was this disappointment?
"What do you want Rose?"
Rose looked down at her hands, exasperated. She tried to stop the tears falling down her face, but she couldn't. "I don't know, mum." She shook her head. "I don't know. I want to be happy and I want you to be happy, and I want to have a normal relationship with Scorp, but not if it costs you your happiness."
Rose felt her mother's arm cover her shoulders, and she was pulled into her mother's side. "I want you to be happy, Rosie. If your happiness means your being with Scorpius and my not seeing Draco anymore so be it."
Why? Why should her mother sacrifice her first boyfriend since dad like this? It wasn't fair.
"But why mum, why does it have to be your happiness or mine? Why can't we both just have what we want?"
Her mother wrapped both arms around Rose this time. "Rose, the person who decided that we couldn't all give this a try was you. Draco, Scorp and I are all willing to give this a try. But if you are uncomfortable, I will step back and give you your space."
Rose sniffled, wiping away the tears from her face, she couldn't help but feel guilty over the predicament she'd placed everyone in. "How do you know Scorpius is willing to give it a try?"
Hermione chuckled. "Rose, when I tell you that boy is smitten, I mean it. He's floo called every single day asking for an update on you, he's owled you several letters that have all been intercepted by your Uncle in case they were a plot to run away together, they were not. He let it slip last night that Albus had been giving him updates on your well being all week, but the boy is going crazy." Hermione shook her head, the smile still on her lips, and pulled a folded parchment from her pocket . "He asked me to give you this."
Rose took the letter and carefully unfolded it. The scrawl was hurried and she could tell my skimming it that he had forgone all of his usual formality when writing letters.
Rose,
You're being insane. First of all, you need to come home, your mum is worried sick. Second of all, we are not breaking up. I talked to my dad and he's willing to dump your mum if that's what you and I want. While I obviously would prefer them being together, if I had to pick, I would choose you, Rose. I would choose you every day. I know we're only 14 and we have our whole lives ahead of us and my dad reckons I don't know what I'm talking about. But I know, Rose. I am sure. I love you. So stop acting crazy, come home and let's talk about this. This is the fifteenth letter I've sent you, and dad worries that it might be bordering on psychotic, but if you do not reply to this letter, I will run down to your Uncle's house and find you, Rose. okay?
Please, please reply. I beg you,
Scorpius, your boyfriend, because you do not get to dump me without talking about it first.
Rose couldn't help but giggle at the words in the letter. She looked up at her mum.
"I think he's desperate," her mum said. "Are you sure you want to keep him waiting for you?"
Rose shook her head, no.
"Do you want to ditch this game and go talk to Scorp?"
Rose nodded and jumped from her chair. She started toward the door, but quickly turned around and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist. She hugged her tightly, her head buried in her mother's chest. She felt her mum's arms wrap around her and smiled. She missed this.
Rose made a mental note to never let any idiot boys come between her mother and her again.
