Breaking the News
"Well, I suppose that's decided then," said Harry Potter with a weary sigh, and then regarded her affectionately, his expression softening. "But only if you're sure."
"I am, Uncle Harry," Rose said firmly. "I've always known it."
"I am definitely happy for you, Rosie though I had hoped-"
"I know, Uncle Harry. I am sorry. But this is something I cannot compromise on."
"I understand," Uncle Harry stood up, and Rose stood up too, relieved to see the disappointment fade from his eyes. "When will you break this to your parents?"
"As soon as I go home," replied Rose, quaking inwardly.
Rose fiddled with the gloves on her hands as she waited for Mum and Dad to settle down. Hugo sat on the floor, setting up a game of Wizarding Chess, and as soon as he could catch Rose's eye, he mouthed: "Are you going to tell them now?"
She nodded. How she wished Scorpius were here to help her out. No, she couldn't depend on him to sort everything out for her. Besides, he was probably dealing with the same thing at home, right now. His father would probably be harder to convince than Rose's own parents. But you never knew.
"Well, Rosie," Mum said as she sat down, "you said you had something to tell us."
"Yes, Mum," Rose replied, smoothening out the letter on her lap, as if drawing courage from it.
"Have you met some nice young man?"
"Wha-at!" Dad chocked on the dry biscuit he was munching. "Hermione, you don't say- Rose!" He glared at her. "Tell me it isn't one of those Quidditch players on Roxanne's team! I knew we shouldn't have allowed her to go to their party last-"
"No, Dad, it isn't that." Hugo interrupted, eyeing Dad's expression interestedly.
"What? Then is it one of those airheads at the Ministry? I told Percy just last week that-"
"No, Dad. Listen to me," broke in Rose, with mounting desperation. "This is a decision that I have made, and whether you approve or not, I'm going ahead with it."
Dad sputtered, but at a look from Mum, subsided.
"But I would ever so much prefer it if you both approved," Rose added as she handed Mum the letter.
A light frown creased Mum's brow as she scanned the letter, but she said nothing as she folded it up and handed it to Dad. Rose watched in apprehension as Dad read the letter through half- aloud, half to himself. Then his mouth fell open.
"Blimey, Rosie," he said, running a hand through his shock of red hair. "You're not serious?"
Mum seemed unable to speak. "When?" she asked, pointing to the letter.
"A month ago." Rose looked down at her hands. "Are you okay with this?" she asked, slowly raising her head to look at her parents.
Mum was standing, her arms held out. Rose hugged her thankfully. "Of course," Mum said. "I must admit I was a little disappointed at first, but you were right, Rosie. This decision is yours to make, not mine."
Rose hugged her tighter, and looked at her father anxiously from over her mother's shoulder.
"Your Mum's right, of course," he said, shrugging. Then his face split into a wide smile. "But I never thought that one of my children would ever end up teaching Potions!"
"Well, that went well," said Hugo later as they played one last game of Wizarding Chess before turning in. "I thought Mum would kill you for quitting your job with Uncle Harry."
"It was better than I thought." Rose said, as she moved her knight forward. "I wonder how Scorp is faring."
"Why?"
"He is going to break it to his parents that he wants to train at St. Mungo's instead of joining the Ministry or playing Quidditch." Rose pulled off her gloves and admired the diamond ring on her left hand in the firelight.
"And when are you planning to tell Mum and Dad that you and Scorpius are engaged?" asked Hugo. "Check."
"Well," laughed Rose, as she caught her fast escaping queen. "Not until I've earned enough money at Hogwarts for Scorpius and I to live on, in case Dad disowns me."
"Rose will marry eventually, you can't freeze time and have her stay your little girl forever." Hermione was sitting at her desk, scribbling away at her new manifesto.
"I know." sighed her husband, drawing the covers up to his chest. "I wish I could though." Then he looked suspiciously at his wife. "Has she mentioned any boy to you?"
Hermione shook her head.
"At moments like these," continued Ron fondly. "I'm so proud of her that I'd probably let her marry anyone she wanted to. Even Scorpius Malfoy." He grimaced. "But thank Merlin, she doesn't want to marry him."
Hermione Granger smiled to herself. Evidently she knew more than she let on.
