The day of Rose's performance dawned cold and shadowed, as most other wintery days this far north in Scotland. Rose had had a hard time falling asleep the night before, too strung out with thoughts of today and the final assignments still to be completed before the holiday break. She did her best to put tonight's performance out of her mind for most of the day in order to stave off her anxiety.
After classes ended, she stayed in the greenhouse on the pretence of working on homework but, really, because her nervousness had begun to pick up. Professor Longbottom had been kind enough to leave her be without making conversation. The whole walk back up to the castle, she filled her lungs with chilly air, pepping herself up with affirmations inside her head. It was almost silly the amount of dread she felt. She'd performed with the Frog Choir many times in the last three years—including just last week!—and had memorized over fifteen songs' worth of lyrics, harmonies, and dynamics. Yet, she was driving herself mental with this one song, when most of the students would hardly pay attention or care!
Rose arrived a little earlier than was necessary to meet Scorpius in the Great Hall. She'd freshened up and changed into a green dress and short boots to pair with her tights. She'd pinned up half of her brown waves with a holly-and-mistletoe hair clip given to her by Grandma Helen. She'd even added white dangling earrings that bounced whenever she turned her head. She checked the staging area and warmed up her voice a little.
Scorpius walked in just as she began the second verse. He was dressed in all black, with a metallic silver tie. The cuffs of his shirt sleeves, featuring an intricate embroidery in the same hue as his tie, were held together by pearl cufflinks. His pale skin and snow-white hair contrasted with his dark outfit. He looked dashing. Rose couldn't help sweeping her gaze over him multiple times. She blushed at the realization and remembered the sorts of whispers and giggling she'd overheard in SOS meetings from gossipy third- and fourth-year girls from more than one house.
Scorpius greeted her and sat down at the piano. "Are you ready, Rose?"
Rose laughed shakily and smoothed out her dress as she leaned against the piano. "I've got butterflies! I know I've performed before, and I obviously sing all the time, but…this is just…this room is massive! And, to think, in less than an hour, it'll be filled completely…!"
Scorpius exhaled a laugh, too, and said, "Yeah, I think playing Quidditch is easier than this. At least if I miss the snitch, no one has pudding on hand to throw at me."
Rose congratulated him on winning Saturday's match, then breathed sharply and exclaimed, "Pudding!?"
"I'm joking, don't worry, Rose. It'll be over before you know it." Scorpius began some scales as Rose had another minor meltdown.
"Oh, Rowena, spell me…" she moaned. "Why did I think this was a good idea..?"
Scorpius paused and placed his hand on her arm. He looked right at her as he reassured, "Rose, listen. No one ever pays as much attention to you as you think they do—most people care only about their own problems. But. If you're really that worried, pretend you're performing for someone you love, who's in the audience, watching you and supporting you. They're going to think you're fantastic, no matter what happens, so, really, you have nothing to worry about."
He turned back to set out his sheets on the music shelf. Rose breathed deeply and exhaled as she observed him and considered his words.
"Is that what you do?"
"Sometimes."
She waited to see if he'd say anything more, but when he didn't, they started their final rehearsal. It was a thrill to be practicing in the Great Hall. The acoustics were so much better than in the tiny practice room or even the fourth floor music halls. Twelve giant evergreens, placed around the edges of the room by Hagrid and festooned to the brim with Christmas ornaments and tinsel by Professor Flitwick, gave the cavernous hall a cozy, cheery atmosphere. But the hall was still empty, and this gave Rose the courage to sing out, letting her voice echo and fill the space, all the way up to the darkening skies and emerging stars reflected in the ceiling above. She even felt brave enough to ask Scorpius to sing acapella. He agreed.
To Rose's pleasant surprise, Scorpius really could sing well. Their blend sounded wonderfully harmonious, and Rose delighted in it. She beamed at him in her glee, and Scorpius immediately broke eye contact and looked back down at the lyrics, embarrassed. This made Rose laugh more, interrupting the final chorus. By the time she settled, Scorpius had stopped singing, his ears turning red, and begun to say, "I think that's enough—"
"No, no, I'm sorry! I'm not laughing at you, I promise. It's just—Scorpius! You're really good! I had no idea. Albus never mentioned it. And you're not part of the choir, obviously..." She studied him. "You've done this before, haven't you? That's why you don't mind having to perform. I had wondered…"
Still looking down, Scorpius answered quietly, "Yes." Once again, Rose waited him out. "It was part of how I was brought up." He paused for a moment, then continued, even quieter, "Mother and I would play and sing together every year for the holidays. We'd put on shows, too, when I was smaller. It delighted Grandmother and pleased Father, too, although he'd never say and only pretended to be put out about our Christmas cheer..." Scorpius picked at the keys, playing random, sometimes discordant notes. "Christmas was her most favourite time of the year. She made everything feel…new and magical. There hasn't been any music in the Manor for the past two years," Scorpius finished softly. Without her, he didn't need to add.
It sounded terrible to think it, but Rose had forgotten that Scorpius' mother had passed away two years ago due to a blood-borne illness. Albus and his parents had attended the funeral, but at the time, Rose herself hadn't known Scorpius. As the sole Ravenclaw in the Weasley family, she didn't spend much time with her cousins while at school. She and Albus had been very close during their childhood, before arriving at Hogwarts, but the Sorting had separated them into different houses and they didn't see each other as often. She still considered him her best friend, but she knew that Albus' true best friend was Scorpius himself. For their first few years at Hogwarts, Rose had always thought of Scorpius as Albus' friend and had only gotten to know him on her own terms when she started the SOS at the end of fourth year. They still didn't know one another all that well, although, with every interaction, Scorpius became more compelling in her eyes. Rose was well aware, in that moment, that she was very lucky to be getting a tiny glimpse into Scorpius Malfoy and his family—Scorpius only shared of himself with one other person.
She didn't know what to say to Scorpius' revelation. She felt a little sorry for him, to have lost his mother in his childhood. He clearly still missed her dearly. Rose also felt a little bad to think she might have forced Scorpius into playing music again when he might not have been ready. No wonder Scorpius had been reluctant to sing during practice. Music was something precious he'd shared with his mother, something he felt he'd lost with his mother's passing. She recalled Albus' admonition from yesterday, about being careful with Scorpius, and understood the protection for what it had been.
"I'm sorry," she replied just as quietly. "I didn't know that. If you don't feel comfortable with performing, we could still drop out… I'd completely understand."
Scorpius smiled a little sadly and said, "No, Rose. I meant what I said when I told you this was important to me. I haven't sung at all or played much since Mother… I think it made Father even sadder the past two years to see it. I want to do this, for both of them. And for myself, too."
Rose smiled back at him and then shared her own confidence. "The reason this has been so important to me is because I have stage fright, and I'm tired of it." When Scorpius raised his eyebrows in bafflement, Rose explained, "Yes, I know. It didn't use to be the case. I went to Muggle primary school, did you know? Every year, there were always one or two big performances—plays, skits, presentations, things like that—a way for the children to show off for their parents."
Rose rubbed the edges of the piano as she spoke. "One year—I think I was seven—I said my lines wrong during the real show. The audience laughed and I was teased about it in school for weeks afterward." Rose looked over to see Scorpius listening attentively. "And that was it," she shrugged a shoulder, "I dreaded getting up in front of a crowd. But I love to sing, you see. So, as part of a choir, I never have to be alone on stage. But, it got tiresome after a while, seeing others perform solos and passing over auditions myself, feeling like I could never do it. So, I decided this summer that I would just have to get over it. I remembered the Showcase, and here we are."
"Ah, there you are!" Rose jumped and turned to see Professor Babbling stride into the Hall. "Ms. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, are you both ready? You will perform first tonight. Anything you'd like me to say when I introduce you?"
Rose began to shake her head no, when Scorpius interrupted, "Yes, Professor. Could you please mention that I'd like to dedicate this performance to my mother, Astoria Malfoy?"
Professor Babbling was clearly surprised, but she gave Scorpius a kind smile, no doubt recalling Mrs. Malfoy's passing. "I can certainly do that, Mr. Malfoy. And you, Ms. Weasley?"
Rose hadn't thought to dedicate the song to anyone, so she told Professor Babbling, "For my family. They know who they are."
Professor Babbling shook her head, "And no doubt they will make quite the ruckus in your honour tonight. Now, please take your seats at the top of your respective House tables until I call you forward." She made to leave but then turned around to add, "Ms. Weasley, I must say I'm glad to see you be able to continue the program this year. I would have been disappointed to see you leave." She gave Scorpius a considering nod and left before Rose could stammer out a thank-you.
The two of them looked at each other a moment and laughed together about their professor before heading to the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables, respectively.
Thirty minutes later, the Great Hall was filled with bustling students boisterously greeting their friends and settling down to dinner with raucous conversation. Rose neither spoke to anyone nor touched her food, only took frequent sips of her pumpkin juice. Professor McGonagall called the hall to silence and ceded the floor to Professor Babbling, who announced Rose and Scorpius, mentioning their dedications just as she promised. Rose's nervousness kicked into high gear: her heart pounded; her hands trembled; gooseflesh broke out over her arms; and butterflies flopped in her stomach. She met Scorpius at the piano and tried to smile but probably only managed a grimace. He muttered lowly to her, "I'll give you an extra two bars of the intro, Rose. It'll be alright."
They took their positions as Professor Babbling charmed them both with Sonorous. Rose could hardly look at the audience. She stood to the side of the piano, diagonally facing Scorpius and didn't know what to do with her hands. She finally gripped the edge of the piano. When Scorpius started playing, Rose felt frozen. Her cue came too soon, and she opened her mouth to begin, but Scorpius leaned forward and shook his head as he repeated the intro and then cued her to start.
She was thankful for those extra seconds because she started too quietly. But she kept her eyes on Scorpius as she sank into the lyrics. He joined her shortly afterward in the hook and met her gaze when he sang his solo line, "You are looking so lovely." Rose blushed again, but she found the confidence to sing louder when she sang the first chorus with Scorpius, letting her voice and their blend carry into the hall. The song brought forth a feeling of closeness and home, of sheltering with loved ones before a warm fire while snow and winds chilled the world outside. Rose was reminded of it every time she listened to this song, and she tried to convey that same feeling through her voice.
During Scorpius' expansion of the bridge, she felt brave enough to look towards the audience, or at least, whomever she could see from her position, which turned out to be the professors' table. Professor Babbling smiled and nodded at her, Headmistress McGonagall looked on encouragingly, and Hagrid looked like he might tear up. Rose looked away before she started giggling in her distraction.
As the final chorus neared, she circled around and sat down next to Scorpius. He adjusted and turned slightly towards her, and she focused on his fingers tapping elegantly over the keys. They sang the final lines—"...as we sing our song for you"—nearly acapella, Scorpius playing more softly as they held out the final note, their eyes meeting once again.
The roaring applause from the Great Hall interrupted their connection, and Rose startled, turning to look at the clapping crowd. She spotted the coppery heads of her family at the Gryffindor table, Lily whooping and Lucy standing up out of her seat. Rose grinned at them and wiggled her fingers in a discreet wave. Her gaze found Finn, too, at the Hufflepuff table; he gave her a thumbs-up.
Professor Babbling clapped as she came forward to introduce the next act. Rose still felt quite shaky, a zinging sort of feeling buzzing through her limbs, but she managed not to trip down the short steps leading down to the dining tables. She barely registered Scorpius patting her shoulder as he passed her for the Slytherin table. Rose spent the rest of the meal in a daze of replaying the performance in her head and being congratulated by her housemates.
Lily and Lucy bounded over to her as soon as dinner ended and screamed their excitement once again. "Oh, you were wonderful, Rosie! I took lots of pictures for your mum and dad," Lily exclaimed. Lucy asked if she had anything planned for the Summer Showcase, but Rose couldn't possibly start thinking about going through the whole nerve-wracking ordeal all over again. Even Hugo came to pay his compliments. He usually avoided his older sister in school in order to not be teased, but he slid over from the Hufflepuff table to give her a hug and a "Good job, sis," before heading off to bed.
Rose prepared to leave, too, when she felt a presence behind her. She turned to find Albus and Scorpius waiting for her. Albus spoke first, "You sounded good, both of you, and now I hope I never have to hear about the Showcase ever again. Thank Salazar none of the rest of our family is musically talented..." Rose tutted and shoved at Albus, pushing him into Scorpius, who chuckled and steadied his friend as they turned to leave the Great Hall.
"Thanks, Albus, you're too kind, really," Rose said sarcastically. She stopped before the grand staircase and looked at Scorpius. "Thank you so much for all your help, Scorpius. I couldn't have done it without you. If you ever need anything, please do ask. I owe you."
Scorpius shook his head. "It was nice to play again. I'm glad I did it." The two of them smiled at one another in the entrance hall before Albus wished her a good night and tugged his friend away.
As the boys walked away, she heard Albus tease Scorpius, "I had no idea you had such a lovely voice, Rio. All this time you could have been singing me to sleep…"
"I had no idea you craved to hear lullabies, Albus Severus. I'll be sure to make a list over Christmas…" Scorpius shot back slyly.
Albus groaned. "Alright, alright! I take it back! Just don't call me—" Their voices echoed down the dungeon stairs, Scorpius' laughter mixing with Albus' whinging.
Rose gazed after them fondly before making her own way up to Ravenclaw Tower, the last of her obligations before the winter holidays complete.
Epilogue
One week later, Rose sat squished from all sides on her grandparents' sofa at their home in Ottery St. Catchpole. The extended family, upwards of thirty people, including guests, all gathered at the Burrow for Christmas, a three-day sleepover lasting from Christmas Eve through Boxing Day. (Grandma Molly insisted the family stay together for the holidays.) Opening presents was An Event and lasted much of the day, pausing only for meals or showing off one's gifts.
In the week since her return from Hogwarts, Rose had spent most of her time finalizing and shopping for gifts for friends and family. Just yesterday, she'd mailed out the last of the packages for those people she wouldn't see at the Burrow. She'd sent one such package to Scorpius, too, wishing him a happy Christmas and thanking him once again for performing with her. She'd gifted him with new Seeker's gloves and a pair of weather-proof goggles, charmed for clear vision in rain or snow. She'd received no reply yet, but she imagined Christmastime was still difficult for the Malfoy family, three years after they'd lost Scorpius' mother and so, didn't expect one.
It was dark outside already, but the blazing fire and close company kept away the chill. Rose and her cousins were listening to Grandpa Arthur's tales of Christmases past, with interjections from Uncle George about what their parents hadn't known about various Christmas mishaps. Aunt Ginny patted Rose's head from behind the sofa and handed her a gold wrapped box, saying, "This just came by owl for you, Rosie."
By owl?, she wondered. Rose shuffled around and grabbed the box with two fingers. In the process, she dislodged her fellow sofa companions, who grumbled loudly but didn't give her any more space to maneuver.
The package was a small square wrapped in shiny gold paper and topped with a navy blue bow. Rose carefully slipped off the bow and peeled off the paper to reveal a red box with a stylized 'R' on top. Puzzled, she pulled off all the wrapping paper and opened the box to find a circular device with holes embedded along the edges. Although she'd never owned one before, Rose recognized it as a pitch pipe. Beneath it, there was a note:
For next year's Showcase, and all other future performances.
:-)
It was unsigned, but the handwriting was vaguely familiar. Confused, Rose dug through the packaging once more. When her hand shifted, she saw there was another message on the other side:
Thanks for the Quidditch gear. Merry Christmas.
—Scorpius Malfoy
Rose smiled and admired her gift a while longer. She desperately wanted to play with it.
Lily called to her from across the room. "Who's the present from, Rosie?"
Rose grinned back at her and replied, "A friend."
A/N: We have reached the end! Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed the story; I'd love to hear what parts you liked the most.
Happy New Year 2021! :-)