"When you love someone, you open yourself up to the opportunity for pain. You give them the power to hurt you, because no one can hurt you more than someone you love, someone you trust, someone you put your faith in."
Rose's voice quivered slightly as she took a deep breath in, quieting her nerves as she looked out over the huge well-lit room filled with dozens of family members and friends.
"I think at the end of the day though, I believe that it's worth it. We all do. We have to believe that intimacy and care, and sharing your life with someone makes all that vulnerability, the risk of pain, worth it. Because the pain is coming. Whether it's when someone passes away or leaves you or breaches your trust, or admits that they've had a partner the entire time they were falling in love with you…"
.
Rose paused and laughed, "And after every, crazy thing that we've been through Sam, including all the pain and hurt, I have realised that I would do it all again. Okay maybe not being obliviated or your near-death experience, but pretty much everything else. If I could go back, I would open myself up to that pain every single time because being close to you, loving you and letting myself be loved by you, is a risk I am willing to take. I didn't always feel that way, I didn't want to let you in or confront my feelings for you, I was too young and too immature, and honestly quite a bit more vindictive than I am now - I know, if you can believe that was possible."
She waited like an expert for the laughs to roll in, then continued.
"I know that there are better ways to deal with conflict now, healthier more sustainable ways of being, and you've taught me that. You have shown that love is not selfish or possessive, that love is not limited or finite. You have proven each and every day that we have been together, just how much love we both have the capacity for and I am so fucking thankful that we finally got our shit together enough to actually live that truth."
.
She turned away from the audience and finally locked eyes with Sam next to her.
"I trust you with my whole life. I have complete faith in you as a magizoologist, as a partner, as a wizard, as a quarantined patient," she paused again for her own laugh and the laughs of everyone in the room.
"And so does everyone else here. You have shown exactly what it means to move people on from old prejudices, to build new lives and new ways of doing things, of new ways to love. You have given a whole new meaning to the name Malfoy and you should be so proud of yourself. Happy Birthday Sam."
.
With that she raised her glass, eyes still locked with Sam's and as everyone in the room toasted to Sam's 25th birthday she sat down and gave him a sly kiss on the lips which quite a few people saw and cheered.
Al and Alice seated next to them exchanged an eye-roll, Corey and Adam whooped, Jen, Annie and Bee laughed but looked away (no need to gawk at that!), Greg focused on sculling his fire whiskey and the entirety of the young Potter-Weasley clan pretended they couldn't see - the Astoria and Draco didn't need to pretend because they were cleverly discussing how delicious the food was and staring at their plates.
Sam's 25th had gone off without a hitch, with everyone enjoying a beautiful sit-down dinner in the ballroom, colleagues, friends and family all attending to celebrate a birthday people weren't quite sure if Sam would make after his Scrofungulus scare.
.
It had been by no means lavish, but of course still held up to Astoria's standards and although Sam had wanted to attend in his work robes Rose had made him put on a pair of dashing deep purple dress robes.
As chatter resumed after the toast, Sam kissed Rose again and smiled ruefully, "Rose, that speech was too much. Poetic, funny and meaningful? And all about me? Ugh it was awful, by which I mean amazing."
They both chuckled.
.
"I meant every word Malfoy, if you hadn't almost died from it I'd thank that particular bout of Scrofungulus every day till the day I either die or you break my heart."
Sam scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous Weasley, I will definitely be the first to go considering my less than perfect record regarding health, although it's fair to say you would be more likely to die than have your heart broken by me again."
He pulled her close and grabbed her hand loosely, "May I have the honour of this dance to prove as much to you?"
Rose grinned in delight, "Of course."
.
It wasn't anything as spicy as a tango, thankfully, but a serene waltz.
Rose let herself be comforted and swept off her feet, literally, by the warm and soothing arms wrapped around her.
This time, there was no competition, just a wonderful sense of togetherness.
The moved in perfect step with each other and the string quartet of instruments Sam had charmed to play.
As everyone gathered to watch them and take joy in their young love and frankly very technically proficient dancing, Rose and Sam sunk into each other, eyes, souls and bodies.
.
They didn't think of their future struggles, the people they would lose, the mistakes they would make, the amount of times they would hurt each other and have to figure out a resolution.
The friends they would support or the lives they would save, the darkness they would survive and the power they would give each other to hurt and be hurt, while always carrying through the faith that this was something worth hurting for.
They danced their way to another beginning, a dance so different from the tango in the Great Hall at Hogwarts; no tension, or frustration or anger to fuel them.
This dance, was the dance of their lives, finally leading each other the way they were meant to.
Faithfully.
/ A/N /
Thank you to everyone who has stuck through this story, either from HPFF or as a new reader! This is the last chapter of You Gotta Have Faith and is definitely the last of this particular ScoRose storyline for now - I hope you enjoyed it and liked my take on my two fave next gen characters. Until next time, Witching World.