Chapter 5

Rose apparated to the front of her house and walked through the gates. With all the security measures that her parents had placed on the house, no one could apparate inside the house. She usually went in through the back door but this was one time that she wished she could enter the house by climbing the drainpipe to her room.

"Face the music, Rose," she told herself.

Rose placed her hand on the door knob, took a deep breath and she turned it. But the door flung open and startled her.

"Dad," Rose shouted. " you scared the crap our of me?"

Ron had opened the door. His nostrils were flaring and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Where have you been? You have totally disregarded your curfew and worried your mother half to death." Rose looked at her mom who was sitting at the kitchen table calming eating toast and jam.

"Dad, we need to talk."

"You bet we do. What the hell were you thinking staying out all night?"

Rose moved past her dad and sat next to her mom at the table.

"Breakfast, dear?" Hermione asked.

"No thanks. I'll have a cup of coffee though," said Rose.

"What's going on here? How can you be so calm?" Ron asked his wife. Then realization hit him. "You knew!" she accused her. "You knew where she was last night."

Hermione returned to her daughter with two cups of coffee and turned to Ron who was still standing by the door holding it open.

"Darling, close the door. You're letting in the morning chill. Here have some coffee," Hermione said and placed one of the cups on the table near an empty chair on the other side of her. Ron obediently closed the door and sat next to his wife.

"Let's hear what Rose has to say," Hermoine smiled encouragingly to her daughter.

Rose told her dad an abridged version of what happened carefully avoiding his name. Finally, she finished.

"I wish you had told me and trusted me to react well," Ron said. "I know I have quite a bit of a temper but I do love you and want what's best for you and Drake."

"Drake? I didn't say his name, did I?" Rose asked confused.

"No. But a father knows. I've seen the looks that have passed between you two," Ron winked.

"Yuck! Dad! No. Not him. Never him. Lily would kill me," Rose realized her slip. "Oops!"

"Lily and Drake? Wow! But if not Drake who is it?"

"I want to remain calm, Ronald," Said Hermione looking at her husband.

"You said "Ronald"," Ron groaned. "I'm going to hate him, aren't I?"

Rose took a deep breath and let it out. " It's Scorpius."

Ron's face went from his usually pale complexion to a fine pink and finally became red like his hair, as his mind slowly comprehended the entire situation.

"SCORPIUS MALFOY! That boy is bad news. I told Harry to cut Albus's and his friendship short but no. He just refused to listen. 'He's a good kid, Ron. Don't worry, Ron.' " Ron said in a voice that was so unlike Harry's.

"I knew you would react like this. Give him a chance. He's important to me." Rosed begged.

"NO. NO. NO. Absolutely not. How could you do this? I thought you were smart," shouted Ron, standing up.

"Mom!" Rose whined.

"Hermione!" Ron said.

Hermione took a bit of her toast and calmly looked from side to side at the two red heads staring at her.

"Honey," Hermione said looking at her husband, "she's of age. You have no right to tell her whom she can see and not see." Hermione's look stopped Ron from voicing out his thoughts on the subject.

"And you," Hermione said looking at Rose, " should have told us what was happening between you and Scorpius. We're your parents and you've totally disrespected us by lying even if it was by omission."

"Now that we know," she continued, "I'd like to invite him for dinner along with his parents."

"OK, Mom. I'll ask them." Rose said.

Hermione walked out of the kitchen while Ron slid back into his chair.

"This is going to end very badly," Ron said to his daughter.

"I agree," Rose said.

"Toast?" Ron asked passing his daughter the plate of toast. " So, Lily and Drake. I'm going to love seeing the fireworks at Harry's place."

--

A few weeks later in Scorpius's room, Rose was sitting on the floor leaning against the bed painting her toenails. She was wearing Scorpius's "Go Slytherin" T-shirt. Scorpius was sitting on the sofa opposite her reading a letter that his parents just owled to him.

"Well, I told my parents to check their schedule and they sent a list of their available dates," Scorpius said handing a paper to Rose.

"And they couldn't owl my parents directly?" Rose asked while taking the paper.

"Because," Scorpius drawled, "we needed to check our dates and make sure they coincide."

"Oh," Rose said. "I'm sorry. I hate this. They are going to kill each other."

"Look at it this way. That would solve our problems," Scorpius smiled at Rose and stretched his arms out to her.

Rose went to him and sat on his lap. She ran her fingers through his hair while Scorpius was busying himself rubbing her thighs.

"Aren't you glad you didn't inherit your dad's hair," Rose asked.

"I'm blond," Scorpius said.

"But not platinum blond. You're a darker blond," Rose said. "So, how's Drake doing?"

"Better. I still can't mention Lily's name without him staring daggers at me."

"Lily is so upset. She did not want to breakup with him. She was angry about something else and took it out on him. Does he even read any of her owls?"

"Nope. He just burns them." Scorpius leaned towards Rose and pushing her hair back, he started kissing her neck.

"I wish he would listen to me. Every time I try, he walks away." Rose said.

Scorpius started to move his mouth lower. Rose got up. "Nope. I have to get ready and go to the botique."

"Fine," Scorpius answered. "I have to go meet my dad anyway."

Rose walked out of the bedroom after she got ready. Albus and Drake were eating breakfast.

"Waffles?" Albus asked.

"No thank you," Rose replied. Her dad was willing to overlook her "overnighter". After all in 5 months, she's be in healer training.

"So, Drake, Hear from Lily recently," Rose asked Drake.

"Not that it's any of your business but "NO". She has not owled me in three days."

"You're being tough on her. What do you think Albus?"

"I'm not involved. I refuse to take a side when it comes to my best friend and my sister."

"I'll be sure to mention that in my next owl to Lily," Rose told Albus. "And you," she said pointing to Drake, "read one of her owl, please?"

Drake gave her a drop-dead look. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

Rose left the two of them to their breakfast. Albus turned to Drake. "I know I told you that I'll butt out but," Drake rolled his eyes, "you need to straighten this out. She misses you."

"It's not just her. I have stuff going on," Drake said. "I have to go to work."

"You've been working a lot lately. Saving up for something?" Albus asked.

"Saving something is right."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," Drake said shaking his head.

Drake walked back to his room. He took his backpack and looked inside to make sure he had everything he needed.

"I'm off," Drake said to Albus.

Drake walked to the fireplace and used the floo system to go to Diagon Alley. He walked all the way down the street and with his head low, ducked into Knockturn Alley.

Knockturn Alley was a scary place where the scum of the wizarding community gathered. He held his wand tightly just in case he needed to use it. He walked into a bar called the Grudge Mug. There he saw the person he was to meet at a table in the corner. Drake walked over and placed an envelope from his backpack on the table.

"It's all there, I hope," the stranger said.

"All 500 galleons." Drake said impatiently.

"Maybe next time, we'll make it 750 galleons,"

"Oh come on. I'm working my fingers to the bone here plus going to auror training. Cut me some slack,"

"I'm not heartless. I'll give you 40 days instead of the usual 30 days."

"I can't!" Drake said tiredly.

"If you don't, your secret will be out. And I'm sure you won't want that,"

Drake signed and nodded his head dejectedly. "I'll be here in 40 days," he said.

The stranger looked at Drake's retreating back. Then, she picked up her bright green bag and walked out. Rita Skeeter was back!