In the Previous Chapter…
"What do we do, Professor?" asked Scorpius.
"We must take Rose to Madam Patil up in the hospital wing. We should also find Professor Parkinson and see if she can determine what potion was used on Rose" said McGonagall.
With this, Scorpius stood, and then lifted Rose up onto his shoulders. "It's too much for a five-year-old to walk all the way to the hospital wing at this time of night" he explained I response to McGonagall's questioning look.
So, at 3am, McGonagall, Scorpius and an excited Rose made their way up to the Hospital wing. McGonagall sent her cat patronus off first to Madam Patil and asked her to prepare one of the examination rooms, and then sent it off to wake Professor Parkinson, asking her to come to the Hospital wing at once.
Rose sat fidgeting on the hospital bed, She was swinging her dangling legs and was humming merrily to herself whilst Madam Patil scanned Rose with her wand.
"It seems that Rose has not only physically but mentally returned to her 5-year-old state" she stated. "The effects seem to be permanent unless we can find out which potion was used and create an antidote."
"I have sampled Rose's blood and have found an antidote which will work. It will take 6 months to brew and luckily, the potion will be effective whenever it is consumed" said Professor Parkinson. "In the next 6 months, however, Rose will still be a child. Her parents both work full time at the Ministry, so we would not want to burden them with their 5-year-old daughter, so I think that the best solution would be for Rose to stay here. This will allow me to keep up to date on her progress and see how the de-aging potion works."
"I agree that Rose should stay here, it will be beneficial for her. She already has an above average IQ for a child and I think that Hogwarts will nurture her thirst for knowledge. When she returns to her normal age, Rose may remember everything that happens in the next six months, and yet she may not. In the meantime, I would like to suggest that Rose stay with Scorpius" said Professor McGonagall.
"You want me to look after Rose for 6 months?" he asked, slightly bewildered.
"She has taken such a shine to you, Scorpius, and I think that she would do well in your care. Rose will still sleep up in the Head Dormitory with you, and attend all of your lessons with you and so on. I will leave you to tell the rest of the school what has happened tomorrow at breakfast, as I shall be visiting Rose's parents to explain the situation. I am sure her mother will understand, she was always the most realistic out of her and Rose's father" McGonagall laughed. "Now, I suggest that you take Rose back to the Head Dormitory. May I suggest that for tonight you let Rose sleep in your bed? She may find it more comfortable to have someone there that she knows" said McGonagall before leaving Scorpius, Rose and the two teachers in the hospital wing.
"Come one then, Rosie, we've got to get you back to bed!" said Scorpius before lifting the tired girl off of the hospital bed and carrying her back to his bedroom. There he laid Rose down on the bed before climbing in next to her. The small girl cuddled up to Scorpius' chest and whispered "Night Night Scorp'us" before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
"Good night Rose" sighed Scorpius before falling asleep as well.
When Scorpius opened his eyes the next morning, he was momentarily surprised to feel and extra body in his bed. He then remembered the events of the night before and sighed heavily. He was responsible for a 5-year-old for the next half a year. He looked down at the tiny little girl in his arms and smiled slightly. Rose slept so peacefully as a child. She had an adorable little smile on her face.
Just as Scorpius noticed this smile, Rose opened her little mouth and yawned. She stirred and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Morning Scorp'us" she said cheerfully. "Do I get to see Hogwarts today?" she asked excitedly.
"Yes Rose, I will show you around Hogwarts later, but first we have to get you dressed for breakfast." With this, Scorpius walked through to Rose's bedroom. He picked out two sets of school clothes and shoes and shrunk them down with a simple spell so that they would fit Rose's 5-year-old body.
He helped the small girl get dressed into school uniform before quickly getting dressed himself. He quickly packed his bag for the day before turning to Rose.
"Do you want to go get some breakfast?" he asked.
"Yeah!" Rose grabbed Scorpius' hand and they walked out of the common room towards the Great Hall.