Scorpius reached home at 5:00pm and took a shower. He had a hard day mainly because he couldn't concentrate on his work. He was dreading meeting Rose's father. He heard about his terrible temper from Albus and Drake since they were his students at Auror training. Rose always downplayed her father's mood and blamed it on either the students or their way of exaggerating.

Scorpius walked out of the bathroom in his robe and was toweling his hair. He was greeted by Rose's voice,

"I'm here so don't jinx me," Rose said. She was lying in his bed. "I'm so tired. I'm going to sleep for 5 minutes. Wake me up."

Scorpius laid down next to Rose and asked, "Hard day?"

"I hate people. I'm serious," she said as she saw Scorpius smile. "They are rude and crude and everything else nasty."

"Why?" What happened?"

"We had about 20 people come to the store today who made us run around and search for things and complain about the color and how the size was wrong. The size isn't wrong? You've gained weight! But could I say it? No! Why? Because the customer is always right. I had to smile at them till my cheeks started to pain. And finally, they did not buy a thing? After 3 long hours- nothing! Nada! Zilch!" Rose fumed.

Scorpius hugged Rose tightly and kissed the top of her head. Rose snuggled closer.

"But looking at the bright side, I gave my 2 weeks notice today," Rose said, her voice a slight bit more cheery than before. "I can't believe it! 6 weeks and I'll be in Healer school. I'm so excited."

Scorpius's face scrunched up. He had to tell Rose that he had changed his mind and was not going to Auror training. He wasn't sure how she would take it.

"Let me nap for three minutes," Rose said.

"Sure," Scorpius said, his mind on when and how he would tell Rose about his decision. But before he knew it, he fell asleep. A deep sleep just like his girlfriend next to him.

Astoria and Draco apparated in front of Ron and Hermione's house. They were a little nervous about meeting Ron. They had bumped into him at Ministry parties and other formal occasions but he always made cocky remarks. Draco never said anything back to Ron but it bothered Astoria to no end.

Hermione, on the other hand, was quite nice. She was polite and always remembered the Malfoy children's names. She had an important position in the law enforcement department at the ministry but never had any airs about herself. That Ginny Weasley on the other hand….

The door opened and Hermione Weasley opened the door with a big smile.

"Come in, come in," Hermione said warmly. As the Malfoys entered, she hugged them both and ushered them into their living room.

"Beautiful house, Mrs Weasley," Astoria said with true admiration.

"Thank you and please, call me Hermione."

"And you can call me Astoria"

Hermione made sure her guests were seated and comfortable. Then she excused herself to drag her reluctant husband to the living room.

"But I don't want to welcome them," Ron wined. He sounded more like a 5 year old than a grown man.

"I'm going to count till 5 and if you don't get your ass into the living room and be polite to your guests, I will hex you so you can't sit for a week," Hermione threatened.

"Fine. I'll go and be polite but I won't like it," Ron stomped down the stairs. Hermione followed her husband into the living room.

"And you know, my husband- Ron," said Hermione.

A few mumbled "Hellos" and everyone seated themselves again. Hermione and Astoria made small talk mainly about Hogwarts and the kids, while Ron was staring angrily at Drake.

"Excuse me, let me get the appetizers," said Hermione

"I can help," Ron said quickly.

"No. That's OK. You keep our guests entertained," Hermione said firmly.

"I'll help," Astoria said and got up but Draco was holding on to her hand for dear life. She turned around and mumbled for him to let go, which he did reluctantly.

The women left the room leaving their husbands behind. Draco cleared his throat and looked around the room for the hundredth time.

"So, your daughter and my son?" Draco said bravely.

"Yeah," Ron grumbled.

"I was so shocked, weren't you?" Draco asked hoping Ron wouldn't lung across the cocktail table and kill him.

"Yeah."

"I can't believe they kept it a secret for so long," Draco continued.

"Yeah."

Draco gave up and slouched in his seat. After a few minutes, he decided to try one last attempt at a conversation.

"How did you find out?"

"Rose didn't come home one night. She told us, the next morning," Ron said bluntly.

"Oh. Well, I would have had a heart attack if that's the way I found out," Draco said.

"I'm sure walking on them kissing wasn't exactly fun," Ron said.

"That's not how I found out," Draco said.

Ron sat up in his chair. "But Rose told us that you walked in on them kissing."

""Oh ya! You're right. We did." Draco lied.

"You're lying!" Ron, his eyes narrowed.

"Me and my big mouth. Don't tell the kids, as far as they know that's how we found out but actually we read Scorpius's diary," Draco whispered the last few words.

"You did?" Ron's eyes were full of excitement.

"They were teenagers and my kids don't tell me anything. So occasionally- very occasionally, I read their diaries. You know- just to know what's happening," Draco said, defending his actions.

Ron laughed out loud. "I thought I was the worst parent for not knowing what my daughter was up to. But you beat me."

"I did nothing wrong and as long as they don't know what I did, I avoid getting into trouble and I'm still in the loop. They just don't know I'm in the loop," Draco said.

That was the icebreaker. Draco and Ron's conversation was easy flowing after that. Hermione and Astoria walked into the room half expecting them to be at each other's throat. Instead, they were laughing and joking around.

The 4 adults moved from the living room into the kitchen where they had dinner. Draco refused the formal dining room and fancy napkins. They sat around the kitchen island discussing their children's supposedly "secret" exploits.

"Darling, did you tell Ron about the time you planted a bug in Sage's room?" Astoria asked her husband.

"A bug? Priceless, why didn't I think of that?" Ron asked himself loudly.

"The bug was temporary. I thought Sage was going to get those muggle ink things on a skin. Those ridiculous taboos," Said Draco.

"Tattoos," Hermione corrected.

"Whatever," Draco said. "They are just so weird. Anyway, she didn't get one and I took out the bug."

"You act as if you removed it willingly," Astoria said exasperated. "I had to threaten to tell Sage otherwise he would have bugged all our kids rooms indefinitely."

"Well, kids cannot be trusted," Draco said.

"Hear, hear!" Ron said.

Draco and Ron clicked their glasses together and gulped the firewiskey in one go. They were halfway through dinner when the door of the kitchen opened suddenly with a loud thump as it hit the wall.

"I'm so sorry. We overslept. We were tired and slept and …" Rose blabbered.

Rose looked like she had dressed up in a hurry. Her hair was in a mess and her clothes seemed like she just threw them on. Scorpius was right behind her and was in the same state.

"Scorpius, You're 2 hours late. You can't keep people waiting for you," Astoria admonished her son.

"I'm sorry," Scorpius said to his mother and then turned to Hermione Weasley. "I apologize. I'm never this tardy."

"Oh son. Sit down and join us, we were just talking about you," Draco said casually pouring his son a much needed firewiskey.

Ron chuckled at Draco and pulled a seat next to him so that Scorpius could sit. Rose and Scorpius seemed taken aback by their parents' behavior. They looked like they were actually getting along.

The rest of the evening passed with the men talking about golf and the women about the latest gossip of the wizarding world. At one point, the subject of Drake came up. Astoria and Draco assumed that Hermione had told Ron about Drake's grandmother.

"Well, how did you react when you found out about Drake's grandmother?" Draco asked Ron.

Ron looked puzzled. "I'm not sure I know who she is," Ron said.

Hermione quickly interrupted them. "We have yet to discuss this but for now I'm trying to get Drake out of his current predicament."

Ron pouted and gave his wife a sad look. "Everyone at the table knows. Please tell me. I won't tell anyone else."

Hermione thought for a second and looked at Scorpius for a sign. After Scorpius nodded to indicate his approval, Hermione looked at Ron.

"Well, I don't think it's too juicy as you imagined." Hermione tried to downplay the situation. Drake's grandmother is Bellatrix Lestrange."

Ron chocked on the water he was drinking. "What? She had kids. Does Harry know?"

"No. I'm sure he'll be upset but knowing that his grandfather was Snape, should make him feel better,"

"What?" Three adults voices chorused.

Hemione looked at Astoria and Draco. "You didn't know?"

"About Snape! No. Scorpius? Why didn't you tell us?" Astoria looked at her son.

Scorpius sat with his head hanging. He slowly raised it and looked at Hermione. "Nope. I was waiting for the right moment to tell them," he said.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione said. "I thought they knew."

Ron looked dazed and Rose was sure he was going to pass out.

"Dad?" Rose asked as she came over to him. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. In a bit of a shock," Ron told Rose.

"I don't have to tell you all the importance of keeping this matter quiet, for Drake's sake." Hermione said looking at everyone in the room.

"Of, course."

"Yes."

"Ron?" Hermione asked.

"I won't tell anyone. Not even Harry. But he has to know at some point because of Drake and Lily," Ron told Hermione.

"I don't think that will be an issue. They broke up," Rose said.

"I think Drake is trying to patch things up now that he feels Rita Skeeter is being taken care of by Mrs Weasley," Scorpius said.

"Oh? When did you talk to him?" Astoria asked. "I thought he was angry with you."

"He was but he owled me this morning and told me that he understands what Albus and I did was for him and he feel just by telling us, the weight has been lifted off his shoulders. I think he was also imagining the worst-case scenario and needed a little reassurance that people will stand by him if this comes out," Scorpius said.

"This is far from over. I did have to twist Katie Flint's arm into giving me some scoop about Rita that was bad enough for her to leave England. She's gone for now but I never found out how she found out the information. She cannot turn into an animagus anymore without the ministry's knowledge so I'm sure someone told her and that's what irks me. Who else knows? Drake has to be prepared that this could, and I'm pretty sure it will, come out in the future." Hermione said to Scorpius.

"I'll let him know. He'll be glad to know that Rita is no more in England. Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. Albus did the right thing by suggesting that we come to you," Scorpius stated.

"I hate to break up the party but it's almost midnight," Astoria said.

Everyone was surprised at how fast time had gone by. Everyone got up from their seats to say their goodbyes.

"I have to be at the club at 9:00 am sharp. I have a tee time reserved," Draco told Ron.

"Really? I never play at the club. Snotty brats," Ron said.

"True but I play alone. Nobody likes to mingle with me after business hours. Bad for their reputation."

"You know my reputation is squeaky clean. I need to have a dark spot on it just to liven things up. I can join you tomorrow," Ron invited himself to Draco's tee time.

That surprised and pleased both the wives. Rose leaned over and whispered to her mom, "Mom, someone has placed dad on a cruciatus curse."

After all the Malfoy's left, Rose helped her parents clean up the kitchen. Not that it was hard. The three of them sat down and drew their wands placing several cleaning charms.

"I like Scorpius. He seems like a good kid," Ron said quite suddenly.

"No. You like Draco," Hermione teased.

"I actually do. He's changed a lot since our Hogwart days."

"Well, the last time you spoke to him was when he was 18. He was a kid. He's bound to change a little," Rose said practically. She was happy that Scorpius got her parents stamp of approval.

"I'm off to bed," Rose said and kissed her parents.

"It's true. In 25 years, everyone is bound to change," Ron said sadly.

Hermione knew what he was talking about. She reached over and touched Ron's hand. Ron and Harry were best friends and always will be. But Ginny had changed considerably which had put a strain on their friendship. Hermione rarely spoke to Ginny and if she did, it was usually for birthdays, anniversaries or other such formalities.

Ginny had grown from a pretty girl to a beautiful woman with gorgeous red hair and creamy white skin. Add that with being married to the most famous wizard of all time plus being an ex-Harpies Quidditch player really made Ginny feel like she was perfect. It did not help that she was the only girl in the original Weasley gang of seven and was pampered as a child.

Harry had thrown all his energy into the Ministry and his children. One could see his sadness on losing his wife to the world of glamour and excitement but he still loved his wife.

"Let's go to bed," Ron said. "When does the train come in tomorrow?"

"3:00PM. Why don't you meet us at the station after the golf game?"

"Good idea."

Hermione and Ron walked up the stairs to their room and making plans for the weekend.

Drake sat looking at the Owl Lily sent a few days ago. It read:

"Don't ever talk to me again."

Drake wasn't going to give up without trying. He knew Lily was angry with him and had every right to be but he was going to make sure that she understood his reasons and forgave him. He was planning on going to the station tomorrow to receive Lily. He was hopeful that she would at least talk to him.