"Come to bed," Rose whispered in a thick, tired voice from under the covers of Scorpius' bed. "We have to be up early tomorrow."

"I know. But, you know, I don't know about what Al asked at dinner tonight. I mean, should we really let Harry tell you mum? D'you think she'd be okay with it?"

Rose shifted her curly hair over her shoulder and sighed. Did she think her mum would want to know? Yes. Did she think her mum would be understanding? Yes. Did she think her mum would be able to keep the secret from her dad? That was the hang up. She wasn't sure her mother would be able to prevent her father from finding out. And she was positive that she didn't want her father to know yet.

"I think she'd be okay with it, yes," she responded as he slowly climbed into bed beside her. "And I think she's one of the allies we'll need when we tell dad." At his arched brow, she sighed. "Okay, when I tell Dad."

"I'm not going to make you tell him alone, Rosie," Scorpius said with a slight smile. "This is an us thing, not a you thing. When the time comes, you and I will tell your father together. That way, I can use you as a human shield when he starts firing hexes and curses at me," he joked as he settled down and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

The two rested in comfortable silence for a moment before Scorpius leaned over to nuzzle his lips in the juncture of her neck and shoulder. "Do we know where we stand now?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah," she breathed as she laced her fingers through his. "We'll tell Al to tell Uncle Harry that he can tell Mum."

"I meant with us," he whispered as his tongue darted out to tickle her bare skin.

"What do you mean?" she asked breathlessly as she wiggled into a position where she was laying flat and he was hovering over her.

"No more messing around, Rose," Scorpius told her seriously. "We're together in a serious, committed and monogamous relationship. You're the only one for me … and I'm the only one for you …" he finished, almost uncertainly.

"You're the only one for me," she confirmed before threading her fingers into his hair and pulling his lips to hers for a long, slow kiss. "There's no one else."

"Good," he whispered. "But I'm still feeling slightly insecure. Perhaps you can show me that I'm the only one?" he asked with a wicked yet innocent smile.

"How about you get started and I'll help you out on the way through," she suggested with a grin of her own.

"I think that can be arranged," he countered, his grin widening as he began to tickle her.

Down in their common room, Draco Malfoy stood near the couch with a look of terror etched on his face.

"Scorpius!" he heard in a shriek. Followed by a giggle. Followed by a loud moan.

He was sure he was paler than he had ever been in his life. He heard the portrait open and watched Albus Potter enter the common room.

"Professor?" Al asked, in a slightly tired voice. "Is everything okay?"

"Merlin, Rose! That feels fantastic!" they heard Scorpius shout and then he, too, moaned loudly.

"Fancy a walk to the kitchens for some sweets?" Draco asked the young Potter.

"Yes, sir," Al responded, his wide eyes directed towards the bedroom door that his mates were currently locked behind. "You'd think they would use a silencing charm. Second time today that's happened."

"Second time today?" Draco asked as they entered the corridor. "You mean to say …?"

"I guess they're opting to take advantage of the freedom they now have knowing that I am aware of their situation. As you know, sir, I am the only other student who has access to the Head Common Room, and, since I now officially know about their relationship, they can be freer in private because they know I won't go blabbing it around the castle."

Draco studied the young man who looked just like his father did without the stupid specs. Albus seemed much more mature than Harry had, but on a different level. Harry was forced to grow up too soon and therefore found himself lacking the basic maturity levels but showing adult traits in the form of leadership and determination. Albus, on the other hand, was naturally more mature than most of his mates. He would compare the youngest Potter boy with Granger in terms of maturity, he supposed. Mature because he was, not because he had to be.

"So they're really together?" Draco decided to ask.

"In more ways than one," Al said sardonically. "They assumed you knew so I don't feel in remorse in confirming your suspicions."

"Right," Draco said with a sigh. As the two reached the kitchens, Draco tickled the pear and they entered.

"Professor," Al began tentatively, "do you have a problem with Rose and Scorpius being together?"

Draco was silent after he requested pumpkin juice and tarts for the two of them. He motioned for two stools and sat, waiting for Albus to do the same.

Once their food and drink was delivered, Draco let out a sigh. "I don't really have a problem with my son and your cousin dating. I have more of a problem with the knowledge that your uncle with have multiple issues with it. He was angry when the three of you first met. I hear he was furious when Rose was sorted into Slytherin … I just don't want him to fly off the handle and cause irreparable harm."

"I have to be honest, Professor. You're taking this much better than I thought you would."

"My wife taught me how to be a different man, Mr. Potter. She taught me tolerance and patience before she ever taught me love."

--.--

Draco Malfoy had lain low in the years following Voldemort's defeat in 1998. He wasn't in hiding, per se, but he certainly wasn't seeking attention.

His father had been arrested in the days following the Battle of Hogwarts and he had been vindicated, sort of, because he had not killed a soul and because his father had forced him into the Dark Lord's service.

He was not without punishment, however.

Draco was given community service as a way to repay his debt to society. He hadn't been happy about it at first but he quickly adjusted his beliefs.

It was two years into his servitude that he ran into a face from his past. Astoria Greengrass had volunteered to help rebuild some of the areas of Diagon Alley that had not been completely recovered since the War.

She was prettier than he remembered. Prettier than her sister, truth be told, and Daphne was certainly one of the more beautiful classmates he'd had while at Hogwarts. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into something the girls were calling a messy bun. She was dressed in muggle clothing – jeans and a t-shirt with some sort of muggle sweet on it – and was donning a pair of gloves to protect her hands from the splintered wood.

"Malfoy! Get over there and help Miss Greengrass with the apothecary!" his supervisor, Cornish Derby, called after him.

He reluctantly dropped the bush he was planting (rather do the small stuff than the heavy lifting) and made his way over to the younger girl. "How can I help?" he asked in a bored voice.

"You can stop acting as if this is one giant inconvenience and help me move this wood into the bins," Astoria replied succinctly.

"I haven't got a wand until I'm done working at the end of the day," Draco replied.

"Guess you'll have to make do with your hands then," she replied as she grabbed some of the wood, trapped it against her chest, and walked over to the bins. She stood on her toes to try and reach them in, but she was still too short.

Draco noticed this and, without his brain telling them to, his feet moved towards the girl. It seemed, as he reached her, that she had not grown since he last saw her in Hogwarts. Or maybe he had grown more.

She was small, just about five feet three, maybe. Her long hair fell down her back in aesthetically pleasing waves (since the messy bun was messy enough to not hold strong). And it bounced each time she made a hop to try and be able to reach the boards into the bin.

"Allow me," Draco said as he approached, taking the wood from her hands and easily lifting it into the trash. "Guess I'm a little bit useful, yeah?" he asked with a winning smile.

"A little," she retorted before turning her back on him and heading back for more wood. "Cornish, could you please make a step for me so I can get the wood into the bin?"

"Of course, Miss Greengrass," the man replied before setting out to do exactly that.

"Don't want my help anymore?" he asked in his most charming voice. This girl was cute and he was going to do everything he could to make her want to go out with him.

"I neither want nor do I need your assistance, Mr. Malfoy. You can go back to your shrubbery for all I care," she informed him coldly.

He was perplexed. No girl – aside from Granger and the girl Weasley – had ever treated him like this.

Winning her over was going to be harder than he thought.

--.--

Al couldn't help but smile at Professor Malfoy's story. It sounded very much like a story that his Grandmother Weasley had told about his Grandfather Potter.

"I'm getting kind of tired, Professor, but I really would like to hear more of your story. Perhaps we can meet again and you can tell me more?"

Draco was shocked. He hadn't realized he'd been talking aloud. He was even more shocked that Potter's son wanted to hear more about his family. "Sure, Albus. We can arrange a time tomorrow. Stay after your Potions class and we will schedule a meeting."

"Thank you, Professor," Albus said with a tired smile accompanied by a yawn before heading out of the kitchen and towards his own bed in Slytherin.

--

The next morning, Rose and Scorpius woke to the sound of his alarm. "Okay, love. Time to get up," he said through a yawn, voice scratchy with sleep. "We've got class today."

"Mmm," she groaned as she stretched out like a cat. "History then Potions," she said with a sigh. "And we have to tell Al to owl home."

"Right," Scorpius muttered as he rolled out of bed, pulling his robe on as he did so. "You taking a shower or bath?"

"Shower. I want to get to breakfast in time for a full meal. Worked up quite the appetite last night," she informed him.

"I'll join you then. I'll start the water up. How hot?"

"Oh, it was hot …"

"I meant the water, love," he chuckled.

"You choose. Not too cold though."

"Right," he agreed before disappearing into the bathroom. She followed a few moments later.

--

"You can write back to Uncle Harry and let him know that we agree, but only if Mum is the only one he tells," Rose said as she sat beside her cousin at the breakfast table.

Al nodded and pulled out a sheaf of parchment and a quill. He penned a quick note and put it to the side. His owl came in every morning at breakfast just in case he wanted to send something out when the mail came in. "So, how was your night?" he asked.

When his cousin and his best mate both shrugged noncommittally, he smirked. "Hey, Scor, heard you say something was fantastic. Want to share with the class?"

"What?!" Scorpius cried, his eyes darting wildly around, landing on a group of Fifth Year girls who started giggling and whispering amongst each other. He was going to kill that little git.

"I was popping by to ask you something about rounds and I heard you yell out that something was fantastic. What was it?" Albus had somehow inherited his namesake's notorious twinkle.

"He had the Wasps game on the wireless last night," Rose said. "Monroe pulled off a spectacular Wronski Feint. Wish I could have been there to see it."

Al had to hand it to her. The was a Wasps game on last night and, from what Nabeer told him, Monroe did pull off a fantastic Wronski Feint. He narrowed his eyes at her and then nodded slowly. His eyes told her all she needed to know: You win this one.

She smirked at him. "Quidditch today?"

"Yeah. You don't have Runes, right?"

"Nah. Dropped it. Not interested in it anymore. Why?" she asked.

"Well, practice is going to be at four and your Runes class wouldn't have been let out until five. Had to make sure my star chaser wasn't going to miss the first hour of the first practice," Al responded.

"Nope," she smiled. "All yours."

"Relatively speaking," Scorpius laughed.

"Prat," she muttered as she cuffed him on the back of his head.

"Unnecessary!" he cried out.

"Oh Merlin," Al muttered as he watched Flitwick whisper something to Professor Malfoy. "Please don't let him come over here. Please don't let him come over here …" he whispered to himself.

"What are you on about?" Rose asked as she broke her tiff with Scorpius. She followed Al's line of sight to the Head Table and sighed. "I hope he doesn't come down here. We'll have enough of those looks in Potions today. You're working with Emma again, you think?" she asked, he last question directed at Scorpius.

"Yeah," he replied dully as the girl in question entered the room.

Emma Forsey made her way down the length of the Slytherin table to take her seat next to Scorpius. "Morning, Al. Scorpius," she said with a smile. "Here a bit early, aren't you?"

"Was rather hungry this morning," Scorpius replied as he glanced over at Rose who rolled her eyes. "Where're Marcy and Brooke?"

"Oh, they've found themselves alternative entertainment this morning," she smiled as she motioned at the two girls giggling at the Gryffindor table.

"Wish you would too," Rose muttered before digging in to her eggs. She quickly kicked Al under the table as he began to chuckle.

"Will you still work with me in Potions this year?" she asked with a tiny pout. "Or is your father going to assign us partners?"

Scorpius internally brightened at that thought. Maybe his father would assign partners. And then he wouldn't have to work with her. His eyes raced to meet his father's, silently begging him not to force him to work with the twit beside him.

Draco met his son's eyes and sighed. He knew what that pleading look meant. He had done it his third year to Snape, begging him not to partner him with Parkinson. Fat load of good that did. His eyes wandered to Rose now, who was angrily eating her eggs and soldiers. Uh oh. Jealousy. And she was a prime mix of her mother and father. This would be bad if he didn't diffuse the situation. He suddenly was glad that he was free until he had his Seventh Years. He would have to make up a roster of partners. And, in the spirit of Granger, make sure they were from different houses.

--

Later that afternoon, Al, Rose and Scorpius filed into the Potions classroom. They were shocked to see little name cards on each desk. With a frown, Scorpius noticed his near the back of the room. The one beside him, however, was not Emma Forsey – thankfully. But it was also neither Rose nor Al. He was being partnered with Carlotta Yenger from Hufflepuff? What was his father on about?

"Who in the name of Morgana's knickers is Paddington Humphrey?" Rose asked loudly.

"I am, Miss Weasley," a snobbish, ridiculously pompous looking Ravenclaw said as he pulled her seat out for her. "And I must say, I am quite looking forward to being your partner for the year. I imagine we'll need to set up a time away from class. How about every Friday night at eight?"

"Friday night is date night," she responded as she shooed him away from her seat and sat down.

"Precisely," he responded with a wink. "I never said we would be working on potions."

Uh oh, Al thought as he took his seat beside Michelle Bingsley from Gryffindor. This is not going to turn out well.

"Sorry, Paddy," Rose responded dryly, "but I don't date."

"What do you call what you were doing with George Byron last year on Friday nights?"

"First, it was Brian George. Second, it was only two Fridays. And third," she smirked. "I call it having fun."

"Have fun with me," he said as he pulled his chair closer to hers.

"Have fun with yourself."

"Rose …" Al tried.

"Honestly, Miss Weasley, I believe you and I would be a most advantageous match. Your father has been in touch with …"

"My father!" she screeched as she shot from her stood, the wood banging loudly on the cement floor.

"Miss Weasley …" Draco began.

"What the hell does my father have to do with anything?"

"He met my father at a Ministry function and they became fast friends. I was to instruct you upon my arrival that our fathers feel we should, as they say, give our romance a chance to blossom," Paddington replied.

"We have no romance," she told him strongly.

"We shall, Miss Weasley. I shall court you for the year and then we shall be engaged upon graduation."

Everyone in the room, including Draco, knew that the punch was coming. Unfortunately, he still had to give her detention for it. Not that the stupid little git didn't deserve it.

"Miss Weasley …"

"Yes, I know. One month of Friday and Saturday detentions," she said as she righted her chair and returned to her seat. "Well worth it."

Draco had to cough to hide the chuckle that threatened to escape. She sure was a spitfire.

"Shall I contact your parents as well?"

"Only if I can be in the room when you do, Professor," she said sweetly, but the malice towards her father shone brightly in her eyes.

"Come by my office tonight and we shall call them in. I have the connection set up."

"Of course, Professor," Rose responded, already mentally making a list of things she would shout at her prat of a father.

--

Later that night, Rose was pacing Draco's office as she waited for her parents to arrive. When they did, her mother began talking before she got a chance to lay into her father.

"Detention for punching someone. Honestly, Rose …"

"It was well deserved," the young brunette responded as she crossed her arms defiantly.

Ron simply stared at Draco.

"Granger, don't forget you hit me pretty hard in our third year …"

"But I didn't get caught. And if you're so bent on defending her, why did you give her detention?" Hermione asked, her hands going directly to her hips in a gesture Draco knew oh-so-well.

"Because she did it in a room full of students. I didn't want to give her detention; I thought the prat got what was coming to him. Now, if you'll relax for a minute, Rose requested you come here tonight for a specific reason. Miss Weasley …"

"Thank you, Professor," she said cordially. Ron nearly fell out of his seat.

"You're here so I can explain, in person, why I punched that pompous git. His name is Paddington Humphrey, by the way. You see, he's gotten it into his mind that he's been given permission to court me." Ron's face paled. "Oh, and after we're done at Hogwarts, he's been given permission to get engaged to me."

"Where in the name of …" Hermione began but her voice trailed off as she followed her daughter's eyes to her husband. "Ronald Billius Weasley!" she shouted. "Please tell me that this Paddington fellow is not the son of Preston Humphrey, that elitist git from the Improper Use of Magic Office!"

"He seemed like a nice guy and I think his son will be just what Rosie needs!' Ron tried to defend.

"What I need?" Rose screeched. "What I need is to be allowed to live my own life! You can't just set me up with some ponce because you and his father made nice at a Ministry party! That's not how love works!"

"Rose, be honest with me," Ron said slowly. "Do you really find the idea of a healthy, safe marriage so unappealing?"

"I'm seventeen, Dad! I don't need to be thinking about that. I have enough on my mind. Now call off Mr. Collins and let me be."

"His last name is Humphrey," Ron said, ignorant to the reference. "And I won't rescind my offer. You have to give him a shot first."

"I'm already seeing someone," Rose replied strongly. "And I have no intention of stopping any time soon." She crossed her arms and stared at her father. She was not going to back down from this fight. Not now, not ever.

"Who?" Ron asked with a snort.

"None of your business."

"Ronald …" Hermione began. Harry had told her just before she left that day that he was correct in his suspicions and that she was permitted to know with the stipulation that no one else found out. "Just leave it."

"Tell me immediately, young lady. You may be at school but I am still your father and I demand to know who you're dating."

"No," she snorted. "I won't tell you."

"Tell me!"

"No."

"Tell me, Rose!"

"Ron … Rose …" Oh, if only her daughter wasn't so stubborn …

"No!" she shouted back at him, ignoring her mother.

Draco couldn't hide the smile on his face. Rose was so strong and so stubborn – just like her mother was back in Hogwarts. He could tell the girl was getting angry enough to completely lose her mind. He thought about intervening when …

"Tell me right now, young lady!"

"Scorpius Malfoy!" she shouted with all the anger she possessed. "I'm dating Scorpius Malfoy!"

In one swift move, Ron was out of his chair and heading for Draco.

Oh shite, the blonde thought. He's going to kill me.

"Ronald Weasley, you sit down right now. I'm not kidding!"

Ron froze in his tracks and was sitting before he even knew what was happening. He frowned to himself when he realized what he had done. "What, Hermione?"

"Getting angry isn't going to change anything," she told him. "If Rose wants to be with Scorpius then you will say nothing about it."

Ron stared at his wife for a minute before turning to his daughter. "First you're in Slytherin and now you're dating a Malfoy?" He shook his head in an overly-despondent manner.

"You said you were okay with me being in Slytherin," Rose replied nervously.

Ron, it seemed, either didn't hear her or chose not to acknowledge her. "You're to stay here over all holidays, Rose. I don't want to see you again until you straighten yourself out." He then rose from his chair and walked to the fireplace, flooing out without a backwards glance.

"Daddy …" Rose whispered, tears welling in her eyes. She turned to her mother.

Hermione rushed to her daughter and held her close. "We'll fix this, angel. I promise."

"You should go home," she whispered. "Don't need him mad at you too."

"It's all going to work out in the end, Rosebud," Hermione whispered before kissing her daughter on the forehead. "Write to me. I'll talk to your father."

Rose just nodded and sat down in her chair. The tears did not fall but her eyes remained slightly wet. "I'm ready for my detention now, Professor."

"Rose, it's not Friday yet," Draco responded in a gentle voice. The display he saw reminded him so much of an exchange he'd had with his father that it ripped at his heart.

"Please, Professor. Give me something to do. I …"

"Here, Miss Weasley. You can help me revise the seating chart for your class and then help me establish them for the others," Draco said.

"Why are you redoing the one for our class?" she asked him.

"Because as much as I enjoyed the right hook you landed on Mr. Humphrey, I don't believe we should repeat that during the next lesson. And I will make sure he doesn't go near you. And I will inform Professor Longbottom as well … I know Humphrey is in Herbology with you."

"Thank you, Professor," she whispered.

He nodded slightly and gripped her shoulder in silent understanding. After their eyes met for a few moments, they both set about arranging seats in all of the Potions classes.