Word Count: 1101


"Dad?" Rose stands in the doorway, smiling that smile.

Ron sighs heavily. That's the smile that means she is undoubtedly about to get her way. He wonders if he should go ahead and say yes now, or at least make a show of it so he can tell Hermione that he did try, thank you very much. With a smile, he sets the newspaper aside and looks up at his daughter. "Yes, Rosie?"

She wrinkles her nose. At fifteen, she likes to think she's too old for such childish nicknames. Still, she smiles because she knows she likes it, even though she likes to protest it. "Can you teach me to drive?"

That definitely isn't what he had expected. Ron raises his brows, eyes wide as he studies her. She keeps a straight face, and he assumes she must be serious. "Don't you think your mother might be better suited for that, sweetheart?"

Rose gives him a look, and he understands it all too well. Hermione is wonderful. Really, she is. Unfortunately, as brilliant as Hermione is, she is a terrible teacher. Ron thinks it's because she holds everyone and everything to such a high standard. Just teaching him to bake a cake from scratch had led to an argument and Ron sleeping on the couch for two nights.

"Never mind," he says with an awkward laugh.

Rose takes a seat across from him, resting her elbows on the table. "So… You'll do it?"

"Why do you want to learn to drive so badly?"

She scowls, and Ron can guess. Scorpius Malfoy. The two of them have such a ridiculous rivalry, and he seems to be the root of her every endeavor. Ron wonders when the two are going to realize they fancy one another. Then again, maybe Rose is just as clueless as he had been.

"Scorpius doesn't know how to drive," she answers.

"Well, of course not. He's a Malfoy."

"But his mum will get him a private instructor! I have to learn, so I can apply to be his instructor, and then I can rub it in his face that I learned before he did!" Rose says with such an energy that Ron is reminded of one of those supervillains from the old Muggle movies Hermione likes.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit scary when you're competitive?"

She grins brightly and climbs to her feet again, moving closer and throwing her arms around him. "Please, Dad? Pretty please with Chocolate Frogs and whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles on top?"

He wonders if he's put up enough of a show. Hermione always says he spoils the kids, but Ron can't help it; he just wants to make them happy. "Okay, okay," he says, climbing to his feet. He places a kiss on the top of her head. "Let's go."

Ron doesn't remind Rose that he only vaguely knows how cars work, and that he had needed a little assistance in passing his exam. He knows enough, and he trusts himself. After all, he would never do anything stupid and reckless that could lead to Rose getting hurt.

"Ease your foot off the brake, and touch the accelerator very lightly," he instructs.

He can't see Rose's feet, but he assumes she's doing as he says. A moment later, the car speeds forward several inches. With a squeal, Rose slams on brakes, causing Ron to jerk forward, snagging roughly against the seatbelt.

Rose offers him a sheepish grin. "Sorry, Dad."

"It's okay, Rosie," he says, and he's certain all his hair must have gone white in that moment. "Let's just… keep going."

It takes nearly half an hour for her to learn how to make the car move forward without any drama. Ron finds himself smiling. It really is best that he's the one helping Rose. She and Hermione are too similar, and he imagines one of them would have stormed off to cool down by now.

"You're doing great, Rose," he says as they creep along at a snail's pace. "Try going just a little faster."

Once again, she presses down a little too hard. The car moves forward suddenly, swiping against a tree. The mirror on Ron's side falls to the ground.

"Oops."

Ron just smiles. "We can fix that," he says.

Two hours later, she has her speed perfected. Braking, on the other hand…

"Ease into it."

The brakes squeal noisily, and the car jerks. Ron grips the arms of his seat until his knuckles turn a ghostly white.

"I'm terrible," Rose says with a heavy sigh at the end of the day.

"No, you're not. You just have to learn to lightly tap the brake. It's like Quidditch. If you're a Chaser, passing the Quaffle to your teammate, do you sling it at them with full force?"

Rose shakes her head. "No. You don't want to break their noses," she answers. Her eyes widen, and she gasps softly. "Oh!"

"Oh," Ron echoes, nodding and grinning. When in doubt, Rose understands Quidditch.

"So… I hit the accelerator," she murmurs, doing so. The car moves along. "Then I gently hit the brake…"

Ron holds his breath. Rose's foot slowly presses against the brake, and they ease to a stop.

"Look at you, Rosie!" he praises, holding his hand out for a high five. "You'll be ready for the road in no time!"

Their driving lessons last for a week and a half. Rose picks it up easily enough, and Ron finds himself having to reread the old manual and refresh his memory on actual proper technique. Rose is always so patient with him when he has to check something in the book, and he returns the favor by patently guiding her along.

She is better than he had been. Maybe it's because she had actually wanted to learn to drive.

"Look at you," he says, clapping. "We'll be able to get your provisional driving license soon."

Rose beams proudly, unbuckling her seatbelt. The two get out of the car. "I told Scorpius about my driving lessons," she says.

Knowing Rose, she probably bragged about them. Ron doesn't ask.

"Do you plan to teach him?" Ron asks curiously.

Rose shakes her head. "I told him that you could teach him," she says.

Ron clears his throat, shaking his head. "You told him what now?"

"I just don't have the patience that you do." Rose shrugs, smiling up at him. "You were a good teacher, Dad."

Ron bites back a laugh, shaking his head. It's ridiculous the things he'll do for his daughter. "Okay. Fine."