Chapter 16 – Confessions

Disclaimer- Harry Potter is not mine, but if anyone can pull it off, he's on my Christmas list.

"So let me get this straight," Nora said slowly. "The two of you were left alone for only a few hours in muggle London and yet, somehow, managed to not only run into Zabini, but get your picture taken by someone who works for the Daily Prophet?"

Rose fidgeted uncomfortably under her friends accusatory gaze. "Well when you say it like that," she replied unhappily. "You make us sound like idiots."

Nora sighed and began to pace back and forth inside Rose's bedroom; several pairs of eyes following her as she moved. After meeting up with Nora and everyone at the meeting point, Scorpius had quickly said his goodbyes and gone back home, while Rose had informed her friends of what had conspired earlier that day. Needless to say, they were all a bit shocked.

"Al," Nora said with a tired voice. "Do you know how long something like a picture of Rose and Scorpius snogging would take to be published at the Prophet?"

"Hard to say," Al replied from where he was leaning up against the wall. "My mom says that they make big news top priority, so it could be out by tomorrow. It all depends on when the bloke who took the photo turns it over to them."

"Either way," Rose said. "Scorpius and I are going to tell our parents tonight. We'll just have to worry about everyone else finding out later."

Nora exhaled noisily before giving her a small smile. "Well I am glad that the two of you grew a pair and have decided to fess up to your parents. I'm just worried that they won't take a picture of you with Scorpius plastered all over the papers very well. Your father has never been the reasonable sort."

"But don't you think it's romantic," Alice said with a pleased sigh from where she was seated at Rose's desk. "Rose is so in love with Malfoy that she's willing to risk the wrath of her parents and the scrutiny of society in order to be with him."

Rose's cheeks flamed instantly over Alice's statement, while everyone else in the room stared at Alice the way a person looked when they smelled a skunk nearby.

"Wrath?" David questioned in confusion.

"That has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life, Alice," Nora replied in disgust.

Alice huffed angrily and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I'm sorry to have offended you, but it is true. She's sticking with him, even though whatever happens next is going to be stressful."

"I agree. I would never want to have to meet Malfoy's family," David replied, backing Alice up.

Rose cringed at the thought, which Nora noticed immediately. "You idiot! Don't make her regret her decision to tell her parents about Scorpius."

David shrunk back from Nora's cold gaze and Rose, feeling for her friend, decided to save him from any further insults.

"Don't worry, Nora. I've made up my mind about telling them."

"Well that's good," Nora replied, her body relaxing. Dave let out a sigh of relief. "I'm just wondering if there would be any way to stop this article from being printed."

"We could go to the Prophet," Alice suggested.

"And do what once we get there?" Nora asked. "Have me threaten the editor with bodily harm if he doesn't listen to our demands. Yes, that will go over well."

"The story about Rose and Malfoy would probably be forgotten though," David replied heedlessly.

Al snorted as Nora shot David a withering look. "The two of you," she said, pointing to Alice and David. "Were made for each other."

Rose sighed over how easily Nora could turn a statement usually reserved for complimenting a couple, into an insult that could leave you feeling like crap for days.

"Alright, alright," Rose began. "There really isn't anything we can do about the picture right now, so everyone who doesn't live here, just go home for now and let me know by owl if you have any bright ideas. Also, inform Andy about the situation. He's diabolical enough to possibly be able to come up with a useful plan."

"Are you sure, Rosie?" Alice asked. "We can stay."

"No, no," she assured her friends, knowing that they meant to stay for the long-awaited reveal to her parents about Scorpius. "I need to do this on my own. I can't have you lot acting as my crutch."

"Well, alright," Alice replied hesitantly.

After Alice, David and Al said their goodbye's and apparated home, Rose was left alone with Nora, who wore a very puzzled look for some odd reason.

"What's wrong?"

"I have been wondering, for ages, why Zabini refuses to let Scorpius go," she replied. "And something you said about what Zabini told the photographer earlier has me thinking."

"Thinking what?"

"You said that she asked him for money in compensation for giving him the chance to snap a few photos of you and Scorp," Nora explained.

"Yes," Rose replied. "She did."

"But my question is," she began. "Why the hell would someone as rich as Zabini, ever care about getting a little loose change for a few embarrassing photos of you two, when we both know she was more interested in making your lives miserable then getting any cash reward?"

Rose frowned at her friend. "You're right. That doesn't make any sense."

They were both silent for a moment before Nora asked her another question. "How much do you know about the Zabini family?"

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "All I know is that they're one of those old money families, like Scorpius'. And they live on some estate in the middle of nowhere."

"Has Scorpius mentioned going there recently?" Nora asked.

"No. I'm positive he's been avoiding contact with her for close to a year now," she answered.

"Hmm," Nora muttered in contemplation.

"This reminds me of something," Rose said suddenly, recalling the day she had overheard Zabini and Anwar Knight talking in the empty classroom.

"What?"

"About a month ago," Rose explained. "I was alone in an empty classroom when I heard people walking in my direction. I'm not sure why, but I dove under a desk in order to hide myself. At first I didn't know who they were, but I figured out after that it was Zabini talking to Knight as if they had some sort of deal."

Rose saw a spark of interest light itself in her eyes. "What kind of deal?"

"Well since I couldn't see, I can't be sure," Rose replied. "But it sounded like she was exchanging sexual favours for something."
"What kind of something?" Nora asked again.

"I don't know. But when he handed whatever it was to her, it jangled a bit in whatever it was being held in."

Nora's face broke out into a wide grin before putting her hand into her pocket and pulling out a few sickles and knuts. Cupping her hands around the coins, Nora shook them lightly and audible jangling noise resonated from her clasped hands. "Did it sound something like this?"

"Yes," Rose exclaimed. "It did. Only it sounded like there was more and it might have been in some sort of bag or pouch."

The grin that broke out on Nora's face made Rose lean back in apprehension. "Do you know what this means, Rose?" Nora replied with a slightly maniacal laugh.

"It looks like you're going to tell me," Rose replied nervously.

Nora grinned giddily. "Zabini is flat broke."

Rose was silent for a moment before responding. "Huh?"

"This isn't that hard to understand, Rosie," Nora replied with a snort. "Why would any girl willingly sell herself for money? She's hard-up for cash."

"She could have just gotten a job after school and that would have changed that," Rose replied in confusion.

"Remember, Rose. This is Zabini we are talking about. Her morals are a bit backwards. She's probably never worked a day in her life and I doubt she ever wants to."

"Well, if what you are saying is true," Rose replied thoughtfully. "She only stayed with Scorpius because of his money?"

"Exactly. She's a gold-digging hag."

"But we don't have any proof, aside from what we've happened to overhear," Rose replied.
Nora lifter her hand to her chin; cupping it as she put on a thoughtful expression. "We know that Scorpius knows where she lives, right?"

"Yes."

Nora grinned down at where she was seated on her bed. "Then, how about I go pay the Zabini residence a visit?"

Rose was silent for a moment as she tried to register what Nora had just said. "Wait, what?"

"I should probably go ask Scorpius where she lives first, though," Nora mused, completely ignoring Rose's question.

"You're going to go over there now?" Rose asked in astonishment.

"Why not?" Nora asked with a wave of her hand. "Shoot. I shouldn't have let Al go home. I don't think I should go alone anywhere, lest the Ministry, who could be watching me, starts to think I'm plotting some sort of evil conspiracy."

"Do not go to Zabini's house, Nora!" Rose practically commanded.

"Fine, fine. But I'm still going to go over to Al's and tell him what we've figured out. We have all winter break to pay Zabini a visit."

"You're going to go now? But what about when my parents get home?" Rose questioned anxiously.

Nora grinned. "What happened to telling your parents without anyone's help?"

"I need at least one person on my side," Rose protested.

"You'll be fine," Nora assured her. "Hugo's here after all."

"He has no idea what's going on," she replied scathingly.

"Then go tell him now," she replied, as she opened the door to Rose's room. "It'll be good practice. Tell your parents I'll be home late."

Before Rose could say anything else, Nora hurried out of her room before Rose heard the audible crack of someone apparating out of the house.

Rose huffed in indignation. "Bollocks."

"So, how was shopping today, Rosie?" her mother asked.

Rose looked at her mother in surprise from across the dinner table. Shopping? She hadn't gone shopping today.

"What?" she asked in confusion.

"How was shopping with Nora?" she asked again. "Did she find something for Albus?"

Shit. She was talking about the excuse Nora had made up, so that she could meet up with Scorpius without her parents becoming suspicious. She had entirely forgotten to come up with a fake story about what she was supposedly doing that day, since she had been so caught up with figuring out how to tell her parents she was dating Scorpius. Something she still hadn't gotten around to telling them since they'd arrived home.

"Oh," she replied. "It was good. Nora was able to find something."

"That's good. I'm glad Nora's been so relaxed with everything that's coming up in the next couple of weeks," her mother replied with relief.

"Have they scheduled a day for that bloody test of hers?" Her father asked.

"From what I've heard, it's not set in stone," her mother replied. "But Sampson told me it's going to be scheduled for the 5th of January, which just happens to be a Friday."

"All he told me was that representatives from several countries are coming to watch and see Nora for themselves," Her father replied angrily.

Representatives from other countries? She hadn't heard about that before. Were people actually coming from around the world to confirm that Nora was actually all that the British Ministry of Magic was bragging about?

Her mother sighed before turning back to look at Rose and her brother, who was seated beside her. "Changing the subject, what did Nora buy for Albus, Rose?" she asked.

Shit. She had forgotten about coming up with a lie for that as well. "Um... I'm not really sure what she got him," she replied.

"How can you not be sure?" Hugo asked his tone patronizing. "You were there with her when she bought the present."

Rose fixed her brother with a murderous look, before turning back to look at her mother. "I wasn't in the store when she got it, I was grabbing some coffee."

"And she didn't tell you afterwards?" Her mother asked in confusion.

Rose knew she was digging herself into a hole that she had no hope of ever getting out of, which meant the only way she was going to save herself was if she told the truth. It was now or never and she did not want to face Nora's wrath when she got home and found out that she hadn't gotten around to telling her parents what was going on.

"She didn't," Rose replied quickly. "Can I talk to you two about something?"

Her parents immediately stopped eating upon hearing her question, both of them now wearing their 'we're serious parents' faces.

"What is it, Rosie?" Her father asked worriedly.

"Did something happen at school?" Her mother said.

"No, no," Rose said with a shake of her head. "Nothing's happened at school. I just need to tell you something about me."

Hugo stared at her with a curious expression on his face, as he slowly chewed a piece of meatloaf. "Did you get a boyfriend or something?" he asked, still chewing.

"Hugh!" she protested

"What?" Her father bellowed.

"Hugh," her mother scolded. "What have I told you about swallowing before you talk? No one wants to see what's inside of your mouth."

"Who gives a bloody damn about our son's manners, 'Mione," her father hissed. "Did you hear what he said?"

"Yes," her mother replied with a sigh. "But your daughter has yet to actually confirm her brother's statement. You and I both know she probably just wants to talk about school."

Her father stared at her mum for a moment; slowly processing what she had said before he let out a sigh of relief. "That's right," he said before turning to look back at Rose with a smile on his face. "So what did you want to say, Rosie?"

Rose just stared at him with an exasperated expression on her face. He truly was convinced she could not have a boyfriend. How horrible was that? For Merlin's sake, even her mother hadn't really believed Hugo. Did they both think it was that impossible for her to get a boyfriend? She'd gone out with Darren last year and they had known about him. So how was it that only her brother could entertain the idea that she was dating someone?

She let her head drop, breaking her gaze with her father. "Oh, what the hell," she said with a tired voice before raising her head to look at both of her parents. "Mum, dad," she replied. "Hugo's right. I have a boyfriend." She exhaled suddenly in relief, a weight lifted off of her shoulder. "Well," she smiled to herself. "I feel better."

Hugo stopped eating upon hearing that he had been correct, while her parents stared at her in surprise; however, her father's face had quickly gone from its usual pale shade to a slight pink colour.

"Really," Hugo said with a laugh. "I was right?"

"Yup," Rose replied as she took a sip of her water. This was dangerous. She wasn't in a good mood right now. Her parents acting as if it were impossible for her to get a boyfriend had turned her mood sour, which meant there was a danger of her blurting out something stupid.

"But who is the lucky bloke anyway," Hugo asked jokingly, nudging her in the side, while still being completely unaware of the situation.

Rose gave her brother a small smile. "Guess."

"Well," Hugo mused. "The only single blokes I ever see you hanging around with are Andy, Malfoy and all the other prefects. I know it's not Andy. The idea of you two together kind of freaks me out."

Rose snorted.

Her mother seemed to think that this was the best point to step into the conversation. "You should bring whoever it is over to dinner sometime over the holiday, Rosie," her mother replied, while shifting her gaze warily in her father's direction. "Your father and I would definitely like to meet him."

Rose stared at her mother for a moment before responding. "I was thinking about inviting over to the Burrow for the Christmas dinner," she replied. "But only if it was alright with you two."

Her father opened his mouth to say something but her mother gave him a sharp look, effectively silencing him. "It's fine with us, dear," she said with a smile.

"You're inviting the bloke over for a Weasley family dinner?" her brother questioned in surprise. "You never even invited White here when you two were together."

"Ya, well," Rose said with a sigh before giving her brother a smile. "I'm in love with this guy."

Rose noticed both of her parents blink in astonishment at her statement before their expressions became unreadable. Now, she had not expected that kind of reaction from them.

"Blimey," Hugo exclaimed. "Now I really want to know who this bloke is. If he can get my sister to say she loves him in front of our dad, he must be bloody brilliant."

"Ya," Rose replied. "I would have to say Scorpius is bloody brilliant."

The room suddenly went deathly silent.

Rose's eyes widened in shock. Shit! She'd been so at ease talking to her brother Scorpius' name had slipped out by accident. Hugo was now staring at her with eyes as round as the plates they were eating off of and Rose was terrified of the looks that were now gracing her parent's faces, especially her father's. But she had no choice but to turn her head and face them properly. In Rose's mind, the two of them resembled what someone looked like when they had been knocked in the side of the head by a beater's bat, which was good because it meant she could say something before either of them started losing it.

"That's right," she replied with a voice that sounded far more confident then she actually felt. "Scorpius Malfoy is my boyfriend and I'm in love with him. And now I want you all to be okay with that."

Her mother was the first one to say anything. "Well," she said giving her father a worried glance. "This is quite surprising and I'm not sure what to say."

Rose blinked. Her mother not being sure what to say happened about as often as a blue moon.

"However," her mother continued slowly. "You aren't a child anymore and can make your own choices. So, if you say you love Scorpius Malfoy, then I will accept that."

Rose knew that her mother's answer meant that she truly had accepted it. However, she also knew that didn't mean she agreed with her just yet.

Rose looked over at Hugo, who only stared at her for a moment before realizing that she wanted him to say something as well. "If you want to date Malfoy," Hugo replied hurriedly. "I'm fine with it. I know you know him better than I do."

She smiled at her brother before turning to look at her father, his expression still unreadable. "Dad?"

"How long?" Her father blurted out suddenly.

"How long, what?" she asked in confusion

"How long have you been in love with him?"

Rose didn't have a definite answer to that question but she knew she needed to give her father the best answer she could think of. "I'm not sure exactly when I started liking him or even when he started liking me. We were lying to ourselves for awhile."
"And why were you lying?"
Rose laughed awkwardly at her father's question. "To be honest, I think we both didn't think the idea of fancying each other was possible. We'd been at each other's throats for so long that acting any differently towards each other was hard to imagine. And then when I realized how I felt, I was terrified, so I tried to turn how I felt about him off. As you may have noticed, that didn't really work out."

"Why were you terrified, Rosie?" her mother asked worriedly.

"Well I was worried about what you two would think," Rose confessed.

"Why were you worried about what we would think?" her mother asked in confusion.

"Probably because dad hates Draco Malfoy's guts," Hugo muttered under his breath.

"Hugh," Rose hissed. "Could you please shut it for a little while?"

"Well," her mother replied while clearing her throat. "It is true that we have not reflected the Malfoy family in a very good light over these past few years." Her mother then sent a very sharp glare in her father's direction.

"How is that my fault, 'Mione?" her father whispered harshly. "Malfoy was a right ass to you, Harry and me all through school and yet we still saved that git in the end. And did he ever show us an ounce of appreciation or at least give us a bloody thank you?" He paused before continuing his rant. "No, he didn't."

Her mother sighed in exasperation. "That's beside the point, Ronald. Draco Malfoy's son is not Draco Malfoy. And until we meet him ourselves, we have no right to assume that they are similar in any way."

Her father remained silent for a moment before he responded to her mother's statement. "You're right," he sighed. "As always." Her father then turned his head back in Rose's direction. "Alright, Rosie. We want to meet him. Bring him over for dinner sometime over the holidays, so we can get to know him."

"Can I bring him to Christmas dinner at Grandma's and Grandpa's?"

Her father made a face that reminded Rose of what a person looked like after sucking on too many lemons, before giving her an awkward smile. "Of course," he replied. "I'll have to let your grandparents know to expect another guest."

Rose smiled broadly at her parents. "Okay," she replied in relief, courage to continue telling her parents what was going on spinning around in her head like a whirlwind. "I have something else to tell you."

"What is it?" Her mother replied.

"I didn't go shopping with Nora today," she replied. "I met up with Scorpius instead."

"What?" her father exclaimed.

"Now, Ronald," her mother replied calmly, placing a hand on her father's arm reassuringly. "Let's hear her out." Her mother then gave her an encouraging smile. "Go on, Rose. Why did you meet up with Scorpius today?"

"Thanks, Mum," Rose replied gratefully. "We met up today to talk about when we should tell you two and his parents about the two of us."

"And you decided to do it today," her mother finished.

Rose hesitated slightly before responding. "Yes and no."

Both of her parent's expressions fell in unison.

"You see, we did decide to let both of our parents know about the two of us around this time, but the need to do it by tonight was... hastened by unseen forces that we weren't quite prepared for," Rose explained.

"What kind of unseen forces?" her mother asked, her expression turning dark.

Rose noticed her brother shift uncomfortably beside her and he had every right to feel uneasy. They both knew that, between their two parents, their mother was the one who should be feared the most.

Rose cleared her throat nervously but continued. "While we were discussing when to tell you about us, I may have kissed him and that kiss may have been caught on camera by a photographer who, possibly, plans to sell those photos to either the Daily Prophet or Witch Weekly, which could result in the two of us winding up in the paper, sometime, as early as, tomorrow morning."

Her parents just stared at her in stunned silence, while her brother stared at her with eyes as round as the plates they were eating off of.

"What?" Her family questioned in unison.

Dinner at Malfoy Manor was, once again, passing in relative silence. Scorpius looked up from his plate to stare at his family members. His mother was eating her dinner with the grace and dignity of a swan, his father was frowning in distaste at something that had probably happened at work as he ate, his grandmother was frowning as well, but most likely just because her frown was permanently attached to her face, and his grandfather, who, as usual, just looked simply displeased with life. And Nora wondered why he didn't talk to his family about how he was feeling on a regular basis.

"How was work today, darling?" His mother asked his father, breaking the silence in the room.

"Oh," his father mumbled in surprise, startled from his thoughts. "Fine. Nothing of importance happened today."

Scorpius knew he would tell his mother the truth later that night when his grandparents weren't around.

His mother smiled gently at his father before turning her head to look at him. "How was your day in London, Scorpius?"

Before Scorpius could respond, his grandmother cut him off. "London? What did he need in Diagon Alley?"

"He didn't go to Diagon Alley, Narcissa," his mother replied in a gentle voice. "He went into muggle London."

His mother's response quickly made his grandfather interested in the conversation.

"Muggle London? What did he need to do there?" His grandfather questioned with displeasure.

"He was meeting with a friend," his mother replied, her voice becoming cool. "Weren't you, Scorpius?"

If there was one thing Scorpius' mother and his grandparents did not agree on, it was how much his mother encouraged him to go into the muggle world and interact with people who could not use magic. His grandparents considered going into muggle London to be the equivalent of walking through the slums. His father, smartly, had long ago decided to be a neutral party in that argument. Malfoy's were excellent at self-preservation.

"Yes," he replied.

His grandmother pursed her lips in displeasure, while his grandfather frowned in discontent, before they both continued to eat their dinner.

"So how was your day, dear?" his mother asked again.

"It was good," he replied. "My friend and I ended up going to one of your favourite restaurants for lunch."

His mother smiled. "That's lovely to hear. But I was surprised that you weren't with, Tatiana. After she came looking for you today, I've been wondering who you were with all day."

"I still don't know why you ended your relationship with Miss. Zabini, Scorpius," his grandmother replied in disappointment. "The two of you made a lovely couple."

Scorpius gave his grandmother a fake smile, knowing full well how fast his grandmother would turn on her if she knew that Tatiana had slept with several different people while they were together. "We just drifted apart," Scorpius lied.

"But who did you meet today, Scorpius?" his mother questioned again.
Here was his chance to ease his family into the news that he was dating a Weasley as smoothly as possible. Bracing for the storm he was about to unleash, Scorpius decided to answer his mother's question.

"I went to lunch with, Rose Weasley," Scorpius replied clearly.

The silence in the room turned from somewhat comfortable to stifling in less than a second, as all four sets of eyes belonging to his family members turned to look at him in surprise.

"Rose... Weasley?" His mother repeated astonishment.

"As in Ronald and Hermione Weasley's daughter?" his father asked, his face void of expression.

"Yes," Scorpius replied, staring at his father directly. "We're also in a relationship and have been for about a month now."

His father remained silent, while staring at Scorpius as if he had never seen him in his life. His mother stared at him in shock, but, Scorpius noted, that it wasn't a look of alarm she was giving him, but one of shocked excitement. He knew just how much his mother had always wanted him to be his own person, and to get out of the shadow that the Malfoy family name cast upon him, which meant she was already on his side.

His grandfather, however, was the first to make his opinion known.

"Absolutely not," he replied sharply. "A Malfoy will not consort with a Weasley as long as I am still alive."

"That is not your decision to make, Lucius," his mother snapped.

"I beg your pardon," he replied angrily.

His mother straightened in her seat and gave him a sharp look. "You are not his father," his mother shot back. "You have no right to decide what he can or cannot do."

"Astoria, Lucius," his grandmother replied soothingly. "It's clear he's not being serious. He's merrily telling a joke." She turned her attention towards him. "Come now, Scorpius. Enough of your teasing. Who were you with today?"

"I am being perfectly serious, Grandmother," Scorpius replied in a steely voice. "About seeing Rose today and of my feelings towards her. I am in a relationship with her because I love her and that is the honest truth."

His grandmother's reaction to his response reminded him greatly of what someone looked like after they had been slapped.

"This is outrageous," his grandfather hissed furiously. "The boy must have been seduced in some way. Otherwise he would never speak to his own grandmother in such a way."

"Believe me, Grandfather. I've thought far worse things then what I just said," Scorpius replied bitterly.

His grandfather's head whipped around to face him, his expression filled with rage. "If you continue to speak to me in that way, boy, you will regret it."

"Excuse me?" Scorpius' mother exclaimed.

"You heard me, Astoria," his grandfather continued, getting himself into a rage. "This boy has been given far too much freedom and –."

"Father," Scorpius' father exclaimed loudly. "I think we have all heard enough of what you think."

"Draco," his grandfather replied, his voice holding a silent warning. "Your son needs to learn who he is and who he should be associating with, before he leads the family down a road he cannot return from."

Scorpius snorted.

Scorpius' father sent him a warning look, before turning back to face his grandfather. "While I appreciate your opinion father, it is up to Astoria and I who Scorpius is allowed to associate with. Therefore, Scorpius," his father returned his attention back to him. "I would like to meet Miss. Weasley at some point in the near future. I am sure your mother feels the same way."

His mother nodded her head with a broad smile. "I would love to meet, Rose."

"So," his father said, clearing his throat. "Perhaps you could invite Miss. Weasley to dinner here at the house sometime over the holiday?"

Scorpius stared at his father in appreciation. It was not often that his father openly defied his grandparent's wishes but when he did, Scorpius could never help feeling a large amount of respect for him. "I believe I can do that."

"Draco," his grandmother exclaimed, voicing her alarm. "You're inviting the girl here?"

His father sighed. "Where else should I invite the girl, mother?"

His grandmother spluttered, as Scorpius mulled over what had just happened in his head. His father had just given him permission to invite Rose over for dinner. While that didn't mean he approved of her just yet, it did mean he had a chance to convince him why he should accept her as someone he was planning on keeping in his life for awhile. However, he still needed to tell his parents about what had happened earlier that day, which was not going to be a pleasant task.

"Well, if you plan to bring that girl into this house Draco, Narcissa and I refuse to meet her," his grandfather snapped.

His father merrily gave him an exasperated look. "Your feelings have been heard, father."

Judging by the look on his grandfather's face, that had not been the reaction he was looking for.

His father's turned his head to look at Scorpius. "Is there anything else you would like to tell us, son?"

He wasn't sure if his father had predicted if he had something else to say or he was just being polite, but Scorpius decided it was best to steer this conversation to a matter which he unfortunately could not ignore.

"There is one other thing," he replied hesitantly.

"What is it, dear?" His mother asked.

"Something happened today that may be bit of a pain later on," Scorpius replied.

His father's expression instantly turned stony. "Pain? What kind of pain? A pain that I could take care of with just an owl to the Ministry or a pain that will give me a headache for weeks?"

Scorpius gave his father an awkward smile. "The latter."

His father groaned and rubbed his temple wearily. "What happened?"

Scorpius took a deep breath before continuing. "Today, during lunch, a photographer managed to snap a photo of Rose and I together and there is a chance that picture may make its way to the Daily Prophet."

The stifling silence returned to the room and Scorpius fidgeted in his seat, bracing for the oncoming storm.

"What?" His grandfather and father exclaimed.

A/N- Helloooo all. I have no idea how I managed to finish this chapter at this point during the school year, since I'm currently a step away from death's door due to stress from essay writing, but it is here! Rose and Scorpius have come clean to their families about each other, Rose and Nora have theories on what Zabini has been up to and Nora is planning on bringing the hag down. Over all an eventful chapter. I will try to have the next chapter out before the new year but I give no promises. With exams coming up and then Christmas and my birthday right after (Turning 20, gotta love it), I may not have the time. Please read and review as always. Cheerio!