QLFC - Round 1 - Captain: The Hero- Goal: change the world OR Fear: weakness
Summary: Ron just can't say no to his little girl. Whatever Rosie wants, Rosie gets. It's a real problem that may prove challenging as she gets older.
WC. 1438
Yes
She wipes her face, the purple ice-cream no longer staining her face, but her sleeve. Her bright, blue eyes stare up at him, her face stretching into a smile.
"Was that good, Rosie?" he asks, returning her smile. Saturday is his favourite day. He doesn't have to go to work, he gets to sleep in, and best of all, he gets to spend time with his little Rose.
She nods, her red hair flapping over her face. "Can I have more?"
"More?" Ron asks, laughing. "You just had a big ice-cream. Surely you're not hungry still."
Her little face - the most beautiful in all of the world, Ron says to anyone who will listen - falls. Tears well in her eyes and her bottom lip sticks out.
"Oh, Rosie," he sighs, bending to pick her up. "Please don't cry."
But it is too late. They are out the front of Florean Fortescue's on a busy Saturday morning and the wails begin.
She is loud, she is stubborn. She struggles against him.
He sets her back down and crouches to her level. "Rosie…"
She stares up, her eyes red and more tears threatening to spill.
"Can I have more?" she asks again through sobs.
He looks around. Would anyone notice? What would they say if they saw him buying a three-year-old another ice-cream? What would Hermione say?
No. And it would be so easy for her.
The wailing starts again. She peeks through her fingers to see if it's changing his mind.
He sighs. He nods. He loves her so much.
"Yes, Rosie. You can have more ice-cream."
"Daddy, I made you a necklace!"
"Rosie, thank you. It's wonderful." Ron accepts the pasta-painted necklace from his five-year-old daughter. She beams up at him, proud.
"I made me one, too. See." She shows him the nibbled-at one around her neck. "We can both wear them together."
Ron smiles. "We sure can, Rosie."
"You can wear it now."
"I will after your Uncle George's wedding," Ron says. "For now, I've got to get ready."
"But we can both wear them at the wedding," Rose protests, her bottom lip sticking out. "I made them for it."
"You… did?" Ron turns to Hermione, who has conveniently not heard the conversation despite being in the same room as them.
He knows what she will say anyway.
Just say no, Ron.
"We'll be matching," Rose continues. She takes the necklace from him and climbs onto the bed. She drops it around his neck.
"Thanks, Rosie," Ron says, hiding a grimace. "But maybe—"
"I love you, Daddy." She places a kiss on his cheek. "You'll wear it?"
Ron sighs. He nods. He doesn't have a choice.
"Yes, Rosie. I'll wear the necklace to the wedding."
Books.
She likes books. Just like her mother. She wants them all.
"You can have one, sweetheart," Hermione says. "Until you know if you like it."
Rose is clearly disappointed. What does Hermione mean by one? As if she would buy just one.
Rose turns to Ron.
Ron turns to Hermione.
Hermione rolls her eyes.
"I will like them," Rose says. "I always like them."
She has a point. She always likes books.
"Just one, sweetheart," Hermione repeats.
Rose looks at Ron again.
Ron looks at Hermione again.
Hermione walks away, muttering something about saying no.
"Can I, Dad?" Rose asks. "I'll read them all."
"I know you will, Rosie."
"Then, it's a yes?"
Ron sighs. He nods. He can't say no.
"Yes, Rosie. You can have all the books."
They have completed most of their shopping in Diagon Alley. The four of them - Ron, Hermione, Rose, and even Hugo - all carry bags filled with things Rose needs for Hogwarts.
There's just one more thing to get.
"Can you take Rose to get her owl?" Hermione asks, glancing down at the dancing Hugo, who is asking to be taken to the bathroom.
"Let's go, Rosie," Ron says. "I saw some nice owls in the window today. Let's hope they're still there."
The Menagerie is fairly quiet when they reach it. Only a few people are looking at the animals, or gazing longingly at the small kittens in the windows.
Rose looks at every single one, her eyes remaining blank each time she passes an animal.
"What about this owl?" Ron asks, standing before a tawny brown one. It looks young and is probably quick with mail delivery.
Rose barely glances its way. She shakes her head.
He sees her eyes brighten at the sight of another pet. For the first time since entering, she smiles.
She points. "Can I have a snake?"
"A… snake?" Ron asks. His gaze falls on the creature in the glass tank. It's green, rather short, and sleeping.
Rose looks up at him. "Please, Dad?"
Technically, snakes are not a Hogwarts pet. He is about to tell her as such, but the shopkeeper comes over and takes out the snake. It immediately curls around his daughter's neck and settles back into sleep.
Rose beams. She looks up, pleading silently. Her eyes sparkle and she's just about dancing at the idea of having a pet snake.
Since when did she like snakes? He's never seen her more excited about anything before.
"Ollie," Rose whispers. "That's your name." She looks up at Ron again. "Can I, Dad? Please?"
Ron sighs. He nods. He just wants her to be happy.
"Yes, Rosie. You can have a snake."
Ron notices she's agitated. She's thinking. He knows her so well, and something isn't right. He can always talk to her.
"Rosie? Is everything okay?"
She pauses. She looks up at him and smiles. It's a genuine smile. "It's fine, Dad."
"You seem restless. Are you sure everything's okay? School okay?"
Rose nods. Another smile. She doesn't seem to be lying. He can usually tell.
He sees the parchment in front of her. "You writing a letter?" He wonders if it's to Malfoy's kid. They're friends, apparently. Hermione says maybe even more than friends. He prefers not to know.
"Yeah. To Lucy."
"As in… your cousin?"
She nods. He never realised they talked beyond family gatherings.
"Well… that's nice. How's she going?"
This is when she falters. The smile vanishes. He waits.
"I'm not sure I should say, Dad."
"Why?"
"She asked me not to tell anyone."
"Then you don't have to." Though, he's curious as to what secret two fifteen-year-old girls could possibly be sharing.
"It's kind of big, though."
He sits on the couch beside her. "What do you mean?"
She hesitates. He can see her uncertainty on whether or not she should tell him. He doesn't want to push her, but this is also unusual ground. She tells him everything.
So, he says, "Is Lucy in trouble?"
She shrugs. "A little, I guess."
"And she asked you not to say anything?"
Rose nods.
"Do you think she needs help?"
"No."
It is strange, for Lucy is the least likely out of anyone to get herself into trouble of any kind. A studious kid, quiet. Innocent, really.
Rose says nothing for some time. She stares at the letter in front of her. Then she looks up.
"Do you promise not to tell anyone?" she asks.
He's promised to keep many secrets for her over the years, but this time he says nothing. Not until he knows.
"Dad?"
"Is Lucy in trouble?" he asks again.
But it seems she's desperate to tell someone, because Rose waits no longer for a promise.
"Lucy is pregnant."
Oh.
"You can't tell anyone, though," Rose hurries to add. "She doesn't want anyone else knowing. Not even Mum. And especially not Uncle Percy. She didn't mean to. It was an accident. But it's good, isn't it?"
No, it definitely isn't good.
She seems to sense his shock. His hesitation.
"Dad, can you promise you won't say anything?"
There have been many times in his life that he's told her yes when he should have said no. But they had been little things. Can I have more ice-cream? Can I have a snake instead of an owl? They weren't hurting anyone.
"Dad? Please promise me! She's happy, you know! Kind of, I guess."
"She's fifteen," Ron says.
"I know." She looks at him pleadingly. "Please promise."
Hermione's words from a long time ago ring true in his mind at this moment.
One day, you're going to have to say no to her, Ron. For her own good.
He sighs.
He shakes his head.
He loves her so much, but it's the right thing to do.
"No, Rosie," he says. "I can't keep that promise."
Woo, the first round has begun of the new season, and I was incredibly inspired by it. Hooray! Many thanks to my amazing team for beta-ing this for me and helping me to get it here. Your suggestions, thoughts and opinions are much appreciated. Also, thanks to anyone else (including the husband) who read over it before I published it.
I hope you enjoyed it, and your reviews would be greatly appreciated.