AN: I apologise for a major screw-up/misspelling in the author's note in the last chapter. It will stay there because I hate resubmitting chapters. Anyway here's a long one for you :)

Common Knowledge

"Rosie what's wrong?" Hermione Weasley asked her 15 year old daughter who had a fairly pink nose.

"N-Nothing mum, I'm fine" the girl answered avoiding her mother's gaze

A single "Rose Isabelle Weasley" and a stern look from her mother was more than enough to burst the dam and her tears started flowing freely from her eyes.

"Honey, what's the matter? Come here" Hermione hugged her child. However, instead of calming the girl it seemed to provoke more tears from her. "Shhh, it's okay. Come on, everything will be fine"

"No it won't" the girl managed to get out between sobs. "I'm – I'm –" but she broke into hysterics before she could complete her thoughts. Hermione's heart broke even further than it had done when the girl started crying, as she felt her quiver under her arms. Now, holding back her own tears, Hermione slowly motioned the girl to the sofa, not letting go of her. As they sat together, Hermione stroking the beautiful and fierce red mane on her daughter's head, she kindly asked her "What happened darling?"

As Rose spoke between sobs her mother was able to catch a few words, but Scar or was it harp? was the one she heard the most.

"It's okay sweetie, it'll be alright."

Rose who was starting to calm down let out another sob. "Come on now, there's no point in that" her mother beckoned softly. As a couple of minutes went by the red headed teenager was regaining her composure. "Now, is everything alright?" Hermione inquired again.

"I'm not sure" Rose said softly "I hope it is, but I'm n-not s-sure." Hermione looked puzzled. "It's stupid mum, don't worry about it." A look only a mother could give reassured the girl that it was okay to continue. "It's just that I was with Al at Hogsmead meeting some friends" the girl flushed slightly "and all of the sudden this, this git started saying some really rude things about me. Sco-" she stopped herself "Al and the others defended me, but then they, the sodding idiots, started saying that the only reason I had gotten top marks at my O.W.L.s was because I had the instructor smitten and then they started saying that I – " the girl went from fairly pink to blooming red "they said that I was cheating on Scorpius. Of course he didn't believe them, but mum, they were so cruel!" the girl started crying again.

Cheated? Scorpius? Had Hermione heard well? Did her daughter just say she was in a relationship? Although, as Hermione's own mother would put it It's to be expected Rose will end up in a relationship with the Malfoy boy, just as it was expected you, Hermione, would end up with Ron. Common knowledge dear, common knowledge.

Taken aback by this admission Hermione was silent. Rose looked up at her; she in turn looked at her daughter, one eyebrow unconsciously arched.

"Well?" was barely heard coming from Rose's mouth.

"I just need a minute to process this dear, not that there's nothing wrong with it, it's just an overload of information" Hermione said. A mere second later she continued "Alright then, let me tell you about the time I was in fourth year and this horrible, horrible reporter, Rita Skeeter, was making up rumours about anyone she would think of, including me." Rose's eyes shone brightly, she had considered a hundred different ways her mother would react, but this certainly was not one of the ways she had thought of.

"As you know, when I was in my fourth year, your Uncle Harry and Aunt Fleur were two of the four champions of the Triwizard Tournament. This brought them, and consequently, your dad and me a lot of undesired attention, like it was in my case. The main reason I was in the eye of the public, was because Viktor Krum, another one of the champions was quite love-struck with me. I really didn't care for him as he did for me –" Hermione was cut off by a very surprised Rose

"Viktor Krum? The Viktor Krum? Bulgarian seeker extraordinaire?"

"The very same" Hermione said half amused, "anyway, I didn't really care for him as he did for me, but I knew your father was a big fan of his, and I was obviously trying to get his attention, your father's, so I had accepted his invitation to the Yule Ball, part of the celebrations of the Triwizard Tournament. Anyhow, a couple of weeks later this reporter" she said this with a harsh tone "Skeeter, published an article where she said I was toying with both Krum's and your uncle's emotions and that I was, as your grandma Molly would put it, a scarlet woman. I got so much hate mail for a while, but then the rumours passed to another topic. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter what others say, the important thing is that you and everyone around you know the truth."

Rose looked up at her mother "And you weren't bothered at all by this?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes, I was, I was angry and I also cried a bit; but truth be told I was more bothered by the fact that the article said I was infatuated with Harry and Viktor, when in reality it should've said something along the lines of 'Harry Potter's best friend' or 'Wheezy' as Dobby would've said ." Hermione let a small smile decorate her, now rosy, façade.

"Is that when you realized you fancied dad?"

"Not really, I was already quite fond of him, but that's when I became determined to find out how he felt about me."

"Are you seriously blushing?" her daughter teased "Aww, that's so cute!"

After a minute, when she had composed herself, Hermione asked "So how long has this been going on?"

"Huh?"

"Scorpius?" she arched her brow

"Oh, um, right, I-I think I'm fine now. Thanks mum." said her tomato for daughter.

"Rose"

"Oh, alright" the girl said exasperated "I think I've always found him... er, cute, not to mention kind and bloody brilliant, er, sorry, I mean really brilliant" she smiled sheepishly "and according to everyone else he was quite fond of me too. So when the first Hogsmead weekend came, he asked me to go with him and then he asked me if I liked him, and for some reason I told him the truth. Then he said 'I feel the same way' and I guess that's when we became an item or something" she finished still blushing.

"How did I not find out?"

"Well, let's say hexes were muttered until everyone got the message"

"I can imagine that." Her mother smiled

"So you're not mad?"

"Why would I be?"

"Because he's Scorpius Malfoy, mum; and I'm Rose Weasley."

"Listen Rosie, I'll be honest, I have learned so much from you and Albus, and Scorpius for that matter; I think we all have, the adults I mean. You have given us a huge lesson without even trying. I can't deny that at first I just saw Malfoy written all over him, but as you and Al got closer to him I saw him for what he is, Scorpius. I trust you, Hugo and your cousins to make good decisions, and seeing as you all continue to be his friends, and apparently a little more than that, I know that we misjudged him at first. But he quickly proved his worth, plus I have met with Astoria, but I'll tell you about that later on."

"Thanks mum, it means a lot." She hugged her mother. Suddenly her heart dropped. "Mum, what will dad say?"

"Oh Rosie, I think your father deserves a lot more credit than he receives."

AN 2: I may be getting my groove back!