A/N: Thanks to those that have read. Appreciate the reviews that have been written. Hope you continue to enjoy.
On the first official day of summer holidays, Rose Weasley woke to the familiar sound of a commotion coming from the Weasley kitchen downstairs. She could hear raised voices, ones that she only assumed were her parents, trying, and desperately failing, at keeping them lowered.
Like Rose had done many times when her parents rowed, she tip-toed out of bed with a pair of Extendable Ears in hand, making her way to the top of the staircase. As she crept a few steps down, she could make out some of what her parents were saying. She lowered the Extendable Ears down the stair railing, and slowly took a seat on the third step from the top to listen.
"You had me worried, sick, Hermione," she heard her dad say angrily. "I was this close to alerting the Auror's Department to tell them that my wife, the fucking Minister of Magic, had gone missing."
"I'm sorry!" Her mum said with exasperation. "I lost track of time."
"Then," her father continued sharply. "Just when I was about to wake the kids and floo them to the Burrow so I could go put together a search and rescue team, I get a vague Pantronus from Harry telling me you were safe and wouldn't be home until morning."
"Ron, I - "
"I think to myself, 'it must be something really serious if Harry's involved,' but then you show up, looking like hell and reeking of booze," Ron ranted loudly. "And I can't help but think you were out drinking and partying all night like some twenty year old!"
"Shhh! You'll wake the kids!"
"I don't give a damn if I wake the block!"
"I'm sorry!" Rose heard her mother's voice crack, letting out a small sob, before frantically explaining. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm having the worst week, and there's so much to do, and it's all so overwhelming, and I can't talk to anyone about it unless they have security clearance and of the people I trust that only leaves Harry," Hermione took a deep breath before continuing her rambling. "I know I asked for this. I wanted the job. I just didn't think it would be this hard. I needed to blow off some steam yesterday so once I finished up work I had a drink with Harry to unload some stressed. I guess I got carried away."
There was a silence for a moment.
"I just... " Her dad faltered, and then his voice softened. "I need to know where you are and if you're okay. You need to tell me at least that."
"I will. I promise. I didn't mean to worry you."
Rose heard her father shuffle around the kitchen, and the sounds of what she guessed was coffee being poured into a mug.
"Seeing you like this scares me," Ron said. "There have been very few times in my life that I've seen you hungover. You're not one for drinking."
"I know," Hermione agreed sheepishly before adding, "You don't need to worry. After spending the last few hours puking the entire contents of my stomach in that filthy bathroom at Grimmauld Place, I've remembered why I hate alcohol."
"... you okay?"
"I'm fine, just a splitting headache, but the punishment probably fits the crime," she mumbled quietly before asking. "How were the kids?"
"They waited up for you for a bit," Ron said, pausing to take a sip of his coffee. "They turned in around ten."
Rose heard her mum groan. "I'm so angry with myself," she said. "Hopefully today I can make it up to them."
"That will have to wait. Hugo is going over to play Quidditch at the Chang's and apparently Rose invited Ferret Junior over for the afternoon."
Rose rolled her eyes upon hearing her father use his old pet name for Scorpius.
"Ron!" Her mum chided him. "You promised you'd stop calling him that."
"No, I promised I'd stop calling him that in front of the kids."
"Scorpius is a nice boy. He, Rose, and Albus have been friends since their first year. It's high time you give him a chance."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron muttered.
There was another lull before Rose heard her mum ask, "Al isn't joining them today?"
"Not that I heard," her dad replied. "Why?"
"No reason," Hermione said dismissively, but the question itself had been enough to make Rose blush, imagining what was going through her mum's mind. "Well if the kids already have plans, I guess there's no reason I can have a quick kip."
"I think you need it. Get some rest, my M'ione."
"We're good?"
"We're good."
Rose heard faint footsteps heading towards the stairs, and she hastily pulled up her Extendable Ear and returned to her room. Once inside, she flopped onto her bed and mulled over what she had just heard.
Her mum. Drunk. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't heard it come from her own mouth.
What the hell was going on?
...
"So then when I ask Dad where Mum is, he tells me she's in bed with a stomach flu. Can you believe that?" Rose asked, as she unpacked and sorted through her school trunk on the floor of her bedroom.
Scorpius was sitting on her bed, lazily flipping through the latest edition of The Quibbler, his messy platinum hair getting in the way of his grey eyes.
"So?"
"So?!" Rose cried incredulously. "My mum does not get drunk. My mum does not stay out all night."
"Our parents are just regular people, Rose," Scorpius said rolling his eyes. "They aren't perfect, even if your mum is close. You said it yourself, she's stressed. She's allowed to let loose every now and then."
"My mum does not let loose!"
"You're being dramatic."
"It's just weird," she said, rising off the floor and plopping herself next to Scorpius on the small bed. "This is the first time I've been home since Mum became Minister. I didn't think things would be that different, but from the way Dad was talking, it sounds like she's barely home."
"I'm sure being Minister isn't easy."
"No, probably not," Rose agreed. "I just figured yesterday she'd be all over me about how my exams went and what all my friends had planned for their summers."
"You said you hated when she pried in your personal life," Scorpius pointed out with a smirk. He slowly crept his hand next to hers and carefully intertwined them.
"I know, I know," she said, a flush rising to her cheeks at the physical contact he'd made. She pretended to ignore it and continued. "My parents are usually so boring. It was just strange, that's all."
Scorpius gave a small laugh. "Rose, your parents are arguably two of the most famous people in the Wizarding World. They are anything but boring."
"Ugh," Rose groaned. "Don't remind me."
"I could help take your mind off things if you'd like," Scorpius said suggestively, with one eyebrow raised.
Rose flushed, and cast her gaze down, self consciously tucking a long strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. She'd be waiting for him to make a comment like that.
Rose and Scorpius had been sneaking off to empty broom cupboards and classrooms since they had their first kiss a little over a month ago after the Gryffindor Quidditch Team had won the Hogwarts Championship. He and Albus had snuck in to the common room to celebrate with her, and at the end of the night, Rose, still wanting to revel in her excitement, convinced Scorpius to come out with her to sit by the Black Lake and sip home-brewed Butter beer she'd nicked from her older cousins. She didn't know how it happened, but they had kissed.
After that night, Rose and Scorpius seemed to find ways to be alone together, being careful not to draw any attention from Rose's protective older cousins or Al. No one knew what they were up to, and as for what they were or what the kissing meant, Rose wasn't sure. She and Scorpius had never talked about it really, it was something that just was. She supposed they were friends... friends who enjoyed snogging one another.
"My parents are home," she said quietly, suddenly very aware that his face was not far from her own.
"Your dad went to watch Hugo play 'ditch and your mum apparently has a ' stomach flu'," he said in a playful tone. "Besides it's been almost two days since I've had you alone. I miss you."
Scorpius leaned in closer and timidly placed a soft kiss on her pale, freckled neck, slightly under her jaw. He'd never kissed her anywhere other than lips before, and Rose froze, unsure what to do.
"Is this okay?" He asked cautiously, sensing her hesitation.
Rose felt nervous and excited all at once. Her stomach fluttered at the thought that she and Scorpius were alone. In a bedroom. With a bed. How had either of her parents allowed this? That didn't matter though, she decided, all that mattered was that it was happening.
"Rose," Scorpius said, now half his body hovering over her. "You still... you know?"
Rose looked up at at him curiously, cocking her head slightly to the right. "Still what?"
"You still want to..." he blushed and made a strange gesture with his hands before saying, "kiss and stuff?"
Rose gave a small laugh, finding his small moment of vulnerability adorable. She gently grabbed him by the back of his neck, pulling his lips to hers.
...
It was early evening when Hermione emerged from her room. The house was eerily quiet, though she didn't mind as her head was still throbbing from the night before.
She still couldn't believe how stupid she'd been. Drinking herself silly and then passing out on the sofa only to be woken by a frantic Harry at three in the morning. She'd then spent the next few hours sleeping beside the toilet until nothing remained in her stomach.
Wanting to push that from her mind, and needing a distraction, Hermione made her way downstairs where she found Rose in the living room, watching television while sipping tea. Over the last Christmas break, Rose had discovered sitcoms, and it was no surprise to Hermione to hear the familiar laugh track sound.
She supposed Ron and Hugo were still out, likely visiting with the players after the scrimmage, giving her the perfect opportunity to connect with her daughter.
"Hey, mum," Rose said. "Feeling better?"
"Much," Hermione nodded, sitting next to her on the oversized sofa and throwing an arm over her daughter's shoulder.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it back home last night," Hermione said softly.
"It's okay," Rose replied. "I was pretty tired anyway."
"Well, I'm still sorry," Hermione sighed, and then with a small smile. "I'm so happy to have you home, have I said that yet?"
"You have, but it's always nice to hear," Rose answered snuggling in closer, and then, hoping to learn more about her mother's mysterious evening, asked, "Everything alright, mum?"
Hermione faltered for a moment, considering what she had learned from Harry. Things were not alright, but she would never say that to Rose.
Hermione couldn't imagine what Rose would think if she were to find out her mother and uncle had once slept together. Would she freak out? Stop speaking to her? It was possible she wouldn't care as much as she thought. After all, it was a long time ago. She and Harry had only been seventeen. Practically children themselves. Would Rose see it that way? Would it taint the saint like imagine she had of her?
"Mum?"
"Oh, sorry," Hermione said, snapping away from her thoughts. "Everything is great, and don't you worry about me. It's my job to worry about you."
The look her daughter gave her told her she hadn't quite mastered the art of deception. She knew something was up. Desperate for a subject change, Hermione inquired about the first thing that came to mind. "Did you and Scorpius have a nice time?"
"Yes," Rose replied causally. "We listened to some music and hung out while I sorted through my school trunk."
"Al didn't join you?"
"No, he couldn't."
Hermione nodded drawing her attention to the television. A few seconds later, she noticed something peculiar. Her daughter's ears had turn pink, a trait she got from her father whenever she was embarrassed or flustered. It was at this moment Hermione also noticed a different smell coming from Rose. Usually she smelled of strawberries, but Hermione was detecting something different. Cologne. Hermione could faintly smell earthy cologne.
Her motherly instincts kicked in and she panicked for a moment. Could Rose and Scorpius be more than friends?
No, Hermione shook the thought from her mind. She was being dramatic, crazy even. Rose, although turning fourteen in less than two months, was only thirteen. She was too young to start thinking about boys. Maybe Scorpius had hugged her and that was why she smelled like him, or maybe the new trend for young witches was wearing men's cologne. As stupid as it seemed, crazier things had happened.
Hermione looked down at Rose, noting that her auburn hair was no longer short and frizzy, but long and wavy, and her cheeks no longer round and plump, but defined and elegant. She wore light makeup that brought out her deep blue eyes. It was a subtle change, but something that was different since last summer. Her little girl was starting to look not so little anymore. She was probably overreacting, but she would keep a closer watch on the two young teens. Just in case. After all, she had recently been reminded of just how fine the line between friendship and love could be.