Challenge: 90's Nostalgia, Love Is All Around — Wet Wet Wet

Prompts:

(dialogue) "Pay attention to me."

(genre) family

Word Count: 1,650 (excluding A/N)

Beta(s): Verity

A/N: Written in Rose Weasley's POV

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PARENTAL GUIDANCE

My dad was dead silent. I was trying not to lose my nerve in front of him, but his silence made me fidget in my seat and pull at the loose threads of my shirt.

I knew I shouldn't be this nervous, after all, dating Scorpius Malfoy wasn't a crime. Nevertheless, it was a well-known fact that Weasleys and Malfoys didn't get along… until now. Well, it was more than getting along, really. Just yesterday, Hugo caught me snogging Scorpius near the lake. My pure, innocent brother went ballistic; not so much because it was a Malfoy I was kissing, but more due to the fact that I kissed a boy at all. The look on his face was just precious and I would have teased him if he hadn't gone straight to the Owlery with a lengthy letter in hand, all so he could tattle-tale to our parents. The letter in question was now sitting on top of the table, looking for all the world like a verdict straight from hell.

My father, having read the letter whilst minding 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes joke shop', left work earlier than planned and headed straight to Hogwarts, demanding to see me. I guess I was just lucky that he was the available parent this time. Usually mom took care of any school-related issues, but she was busy. And, usually, I wouldn't mind it too much. Dad was usually the cool parent; he was laid back and annoyingly sweet. My mom was more on the strict side, but she was the one I would've preferred to talk to right now. Talking to my dad about boys was guaranteed to be an uncomfortable discussion, and looking at him right now, silently assessing me from across the table, it didn't appear to be easing up anytime soon.

My dad sighed heavily. I looked at him from the fringes of my lashes and decided to defend myself before he could lecture me, or Merlin forbid, started talking about the birds and the bees.

"Dad, Scorpius and I did nothing wrong. We were just kissing, nothing more, I swear," I rambled. "It was a chaste kiss," I lied. "Hugo was just exaggerating, you didn't have to come all the way here-"

"Scorpius?" my dad asked drily, ignoring my excuses. "You're kissing Scorpius Malfoy?"

I frowned. "What do you mean? Do you have anything against him? Is this about him being a Malfoy?"

"Well, that's definitely one of the things I'm not happy about," he replied. "Just thinking about Draco Malfoy as a potential in-law makes me break out in hives," he shuddered at the thought.

"In-law?" I snorted. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we? But, really, why don't you like him, dad?"

"I don't dislike him, Rose. It's just... he's such a good kid, an anomalous trait for a Malfoy I'm sure, but I thought that he'd be more of a gentleman. You're just fifteen. Don't you think it's too early for you to kiss?"

Ugh, typical parent. "Dad, do you really expect me not to kiss boys until after I'm thirty?"

"You pinky swore!"

"I was six, dad. It doesn't count," I countered.

"Well I say it does! A pinky swear is a sacred contract, young lady!" he insisted, then sighing dramatically he continued, "where did my innocent little girl go?"

"I'm not a baby anymore. Besides, uncle Harry told me you started kissing when you were fourteen!"

"He's lying," he coughed. "And I am a guy, so it's entirely different: I don't get pregnant."

I scoffed. "Don't worry. My boyfriend and I aren't doing anything that would jeopardize our studies." The guy just won't put out. Scorpius was uptight and frustratingly moral about the whole dating thing. It took me months to finally get him to kiss me- months! I might just die a virgin.

"Uh-oh, you're frowning," my dad observed, narrowing his eyes. "Are you disappointed that nothing has … happened... between you two?"

"Dad!" I protested, my face flushing a healthy shade of scarlet. Was I that easy to read? Gah, parents! "Would you please mind your own business?"

"You are my business! Wait till your mom hears about this…" he threatened.

"Oh? What're you even gonna say? 'Honey, our kid is kissing a boy! Check her for cooties!'"

"No, I'm going to make her give you 'The Talk'!" he yelled smugly, noticing my horrified expression. "That's right. You're going to know all about the diseases and all the dirty, icky stuff!"

"Eew! Stop painting pictures in my precious, INNOCENT mind!" I emphasized the word innocent to mask the fact that I was actually sexually frustrated. Damn Scorpius.

"Or better yet," he threatened, "I'll tell you all about it right now-"

'Oh please, Merlin, no!'

Things got awkward fast.

We looked at each other, rapidly turning red. My dad, lecturing me about safe sex… I nearly hurled my breakfast. We can't keep the disgust leaking from our faces as we looked away from one another. Please, Merlin, make him go away now!

After a moment, when we finally composed ourselves, he said, "Hey, let's not make this awkward." He kept on looking at the ceiling and continued speaking gruffly, "I know you're a teenager now and I'll need to stop being so overprotective someday. But, not now, okay? You're still my baby girl and I don't want you to do something you might regret later."

Oh my God, I swear, if he's still bent on giving me 'The Talk' himself, I'll rip my scarf into pieces and start stuffing wads of cloth in my ears and sing loudly.

"Oh, come on, Rose, talk to me," he wheedled, practically begging for me to understand his duty as a parent. "I know you are a smart girl, and Scorpius… he's a good lad. I trust you to, umm, to use precautions…"

I didn't let him finish and started singing loudly while covering my ears with my hands. I didn't care if I looked like an immature brat right now (which wouldn't help my case any), but by sweet Merlin, this conversation should never happen.

"Rose-"

"… Lalala lalala lalala… " I sang louder.

"Pay attention to me!"

"… Bababa babanana nanaba…"

He threw his hands up in defeat and said, "Oh, alright, alright. I won't say anything more about the topic."

I stopped singing and sighed in relief, "Oh, thank goodness!"

"Still," he continued, "I need your word that you would use protection if you can't wait-"

"…Badum bum parampam pam param-"

"Alright, I'll stop! I'll stop!"

I glared at him, not trusting him to end the damned Talk.

He rolled his eyes at me. "Have a daughter, they said. They're sweet and cuddly, they said."

"I'm sorry if I disappointed you, dad, but you really don't have to worry," I explained patiently this time. "Scorpius likes me, I like him, it's as simple as that."

"I know," he sighed, still concerned. "Just be careful, alright? And I'm not disappointed in you, Rose. I'm just a little shell-shocked right now. I never thought you'd be dating a boy this early. I mean, I should have anticipated it, but… just don't get hurt, okay?"

"Hurt? With Scorpius? Be serious, Dad," I sniffed. "Scorpius cares for me, like...a lot." Sometimes, I was frightened by the degree of affection he had for me; sometimes I even pushed him away just so I could catch my breath. I had a feeling that he and I would go a long way together and it scared me. It still does, but now, I'm more thrilled at the prospect of forever. I loved him, and I knew I always would. Man, I got it bad. Ugh, if he'd just do more than kiss me, showed me just how much he loved me…

"Just 'cause a boy likes you doesn't mean he won't hurt you, kiddo. I was a teenage boy once… I know," he added with that same worried look in his eyes.

"Dad, Scorpius would never, okay?"

"Okay," he relaxed a bit. "But if he hurts you, just tell me. I need a reason to hamstring his father."

"Dad…"

"I was just kidding, Rose," he chuckled lightly. "You know I love you, right? I'm your dad and I'll protect you. That includes jinxing any boy who'd ever hurt your feelings- or worse." He smiled just a little too much for my liking.

I'm pretty sure that Scorpius and my numerous cousins would get to them first, but I nod anyway. "I know, thanks, Dad," I beamed, sincerely pleased. Dealing with my dad was easier than I thought it would be. "I really thought that you'd be more angry about me and Scorpius dating. You know, because he's a Malfoy, and his dad and granddad were like evil or something."

"His granddad was," he said, scrunching his nose slightly. "But Scorpius' dad isn't so bad, not nowadays at any rate. We're still uncomfortable around each other, but he's making up for all his past mistakes. Anyway, it's not like we're going to be meeting each other anytime soon, right, Rose?" he asked sternly, raising an eyebrow. "You're not in the 'introduce-your-boyfriend-to-your-family' stage yet, are you?"

I forced myself to laugh at that. I had already met my boyfriend's father twice. "No, no," I assured him, making a mental list to tell Scorpius that he had to wait till the next summer to introduce himself formally as my boyfriend to the family. Clearly, my dad wasn't ready just yet.

"Good," he nodded. "You're way too young for family meetings. Who knows? You might not even end up marrying him."

I gulped, promptly hiding my left hand, where a promise ring was wrapped around my finger. It wouldn't do to give my dad an apoplexy. I'd need him to walk me down the aisle eventually. I hope he'd be ready by then.

.o.O. END .O.o.