Chapter 2

Rose took a seat at the kitchen counter while her mom took out all the ingredients needed for hot chocolate.

Rose was fidgeting in her seat and playing with a strand of her red hair. The silence was uncomfortable but more welcome than the screams that she was sure would soon engulf the kitchen.

Finally, Hermione Weasley sat down opposite her daughter. "Start from the beginning. And don't leave out anything." Then she took out her wand and cast the muffillo spell.

"It just happened mom. He's Albus's friend and he was always around. He was just so nice. Not just to me but everyone including the Gryffindors. He's smart and …' Rose was talking at lightning speed.

Hermoine placed her hand on Rose's. "How did it start, honey?" Hermione asked gently.

"It was so sudden and so unplanned. We were in the great hall decorating for Valentine's day and…

Flashback

"Hey, Ginger! Do you want me to alternate the red and pink hearts or red and white hearts on these ceiling hanging things?" Scorpius said waving his wand around.

"I hate the name "Ginger". So, I beg you, stop calling me that or I'm going to change the color of your hair to the exact same color as mine and I'll make sure that to make the spell extra strong so that it will not fade for at least a month."

Rose took a deep breath. " And can you alternate all three colors? Red, pink and white and make sure there is only one row over each house table. I don't want to overdo the hearts"

"Fine." Scorpius said in a bored tone. He muttered a few spells and the strand of hearts magically appeared above each house table.

Rose completely missed Scorpius checking out her posterior as she added the final touches to the punch fountain.

"So, whom are you going with?" Rose asked oblivious to what his eyes were feasting on.

"No one."

"Poor you." Rose said faking pity. She released small flying harps from a box near the fountain. "Got turned down by every girl in Hogwarts. I'm not surprised."

Rose picked up her wand, whirled around and pointed it at him. "You-are-the-most-arrogant-self-centered-boy-ever-to-set-foot-in-Hogwarts." She puctuated each word by shooting out baby cupids from the tip of her wand. "James excluded."

"I can have any girl I want. I'm just keeping my options open. You never know who's going to break up with their date and need a shoulder to cry on."

"You're preying on the misfortunes of these heart broken girls. Nice. Can I add "cad" to your never-ending list of qualities?" She directed the baby cupids to the front of the great hall.

Scorpius smirked at Rose who laughed at his expression. That's when it happened!

Rose tripped and would have fallen but Scorpius's quick reflexes took effect and his hands moved to grab her waist and pull her back on her feet. Her back hit Scorpius's chest hard.

"Oh! Thanks. That was close." Rose turned to thank him. But at that moment, something happened.

With the musical mini harps slowly floating past them, the sound of the punch fountains, the smell of hundreds of red roses in vases all over the great hall… Rose was not sure what triggered her feelings or who made the first move. All she knew was her hands were around Scorpius's neck and her lips were on his. He tasted like pumpkin juice and chocolates.

One of them moaned. Rose was not sure who it was but she did not want this to end. She opened her mouth and deepened the kiss. Scorpius's hand was on her lower back and the other in her hair.

"WHAT THE ….?" Albus's voice sliced through the air.

That ended the magic of the moment but it was the start of Rose and Scorpius.

--

Of course, Rose deleted all the finer details. She told her mom how they started dating in her 5th year and how every Weasley, Potter and Malfoy of her generation knew. She told him how his parents walked on them kissing on the train and how they were ready to accept their relationship.

"I love him, mom. I really, really love him." Rose ended her story.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked.

"Because I was scared."

"Scared of what exactly?"

"Of how you would react. How dad would have totally blown his top off and yelled at me."

"I hate to tell you this. But you're a big girl and you should have told us regardless of how dramatically your dad reacts."

"I know" Rose said sullenly.

"But I don't think that's the reason you did not tell me."

"What?" Rose frowned "What do you mean?"

"I know that you know how I would have handled it. I also know that no matter how much your dad rages and screams, you are as stubborn as him and strong, like me. You could have handled it. You just wanted to enjoy yourself"

"What do you mean?"

"If we all knew, this relationship would become "real". A real relationship. You would have to make grown up decisions. You would have to stop sneaking around and finally, be mature. You did not want that."

"No. I mean…No. I …I don't think so. I mean, I know…"

"Think about it." Hermione said, as she rose from her seat. "It's after midnight. I'm going to bed. Goodnight, honey. I love you." Hermione went over to her daughter and kissed the top of her head. She took her hands and placed it on her daughter's cheeks raising it up and looking into her blue eyes. "If you love Scorpius, you have to tell your dad. If not, why give your dad a stoke."

Hermoine walked out of the kitchen leaving her daughter to think things over.