Taking A Risk

Mum and Dad,

It's been a year and a half now since Rose and I got back together. She's still sharing a flat with Ruth and I'm still with Al, but with the amount of money the Ministry's paying me now I've been thinking about buying my own flat, rather than just renting, or possibly even considering taking out a mortgage on a house. I can more than afford to.

That takes me to my other decision. I'm considering asking Rose to marry me. I know we're fairly young, and a year and a half doesn't seem very long, but we went out for a while before that, and we've known each other since we were eleven. Besides, I know that no matter how long I wait my decision's not going to change. I want to spend my life with her, and I don't see why we should wait any longer to commit to that.

I suppose the only problem is that Rose has never really approved of people rushing into stuff like this. She was really surprised when we met one of our friends last year and discovered that she was already married with a baby daughter. I just feel like we're both ready. I guess we'll have to see what she says.

I wanted you to know that I'm thinking about this, and I also wanted your advice. Do you think we're too young? Do you think I should go ahead with it?

Scorp


Scorpius,

Your mother and I are flattered you wanted our advice, but we don't feel we can make this decision for you. You're certainly old enough to know whether you're ready and to be able to commit to something, and you and Rose have generally struck us as a particularly mature couple for your age, apart from that one argument of course. But marriage is something between two people, so I suppose if it's something you want then you're just going to have to ask her and see if she wants it too.

This isn't a match I would ever have imagined my son making, but I couldn't be more pleased about it. I don't think I could think of a better daughter-in-law than Rose if I tried. She's a wonderful girl and will make you a wonderful wife.

You have our full blessing in this.

Dad


Mr and Mrs Weasley,

I know I normally call you Hermione and Ron, but it doesn't seem quite right for a letter like this. I'm writing to inform you that I plan to ask Rose to marry me, and to ask for your blessing. I assure you I love her more than I can begin to explain, and that I will take very good care of her. I know Malfoy may not be exactly the surname you imagined for your daughter, but I hope that will not prevent you from giving us your blessing.

Yours truly,

Scorpius

P.S. I'm hoping to propose to her on Saturday, so I would be very grateful if you could avoid letting her know in advance that anything unusual is going on.


Scorpius,

Hermione is making me write this cos she says it's my duty as Rose's father, so just bear in mind I'm not very good at letters.

No, the last thing I ever wanted was to join the Weasley and the Malfoy family, and for my daughter to take on the surname Malfoy. You're a good kid, though, and I couldn't choose better for Rose. It's going to be hard to give her away to you, but I suppose she has to get married sooner or later and better you than some of those other idiots she dated.

Though a little reluctantly, I give you my blessing and wish you luck for Saturday. As I know from experience, proposing is one of the most terrifying things a man ever has to do, but I'm sure you'll do great.

Good luck.

Ron


Al,

I'm going to ask Rose to marry me tonight. I know it sounds like a sudden decision, and I know there's every possibility that she won't feel ready and will turn me down, but the more I think it over the more I know it's what I should do. Maybe she'll reject me, and I guess that would probably hurt a lot, but I've spent years of my life getting absolutely nowhere and making myself completely miserable because I was scared that Rose would reject me, and it's time I stopped.

I wanted to take her to somewhere where we can dance, because we've never properly had the chance to do that as a couple, and a few days ago I found the perfect solution. I've been invited to some ball that's being held by an old family friend, and I'm allowed a plus one. I think she'll enjoy it. She's always loved balls, and you know how much she loves dancing, so we're going to dance for hours and hours until we're too tired to carry on. And then we're going to sneak out of a little side door that I know leads out onto the lawn, and I'm going to surprise her with a bunch of flowers (though no roses; never any roses) and we're going to lie and stare at the stars and talk, and then I'm going to ask her to marry me. I want it to be as romantic as possible, because she's always been crazy about romance, and I know she'd want the most romantic proposal possible.

I know you probably don't want or need to hear every little detail of how the evening's going to go, but I'm nervous as hell and this is calming me down a bit. Rose is meeting me here at the flat and then we're apparating there, and she's going to be here fairly soon, so I won't actually get a reply from you until I get back and it's all over, but that doesn't matter. Right now I just need someone to ramble to, and I'm afraid as best friend you're the main candidate.

I don't know how this is going to go. She might say no. She might say she's not ready yet. I guess we're just going to have wait and see.

I just heard the doorbell – she must be here early.

Wish me luck!

Scorp