Chapter 9 - Confessions

The next morning, Rose put extra care into her appearance in preparation. She tamed her hair more than she normally would, put on her best school robes, and even dabbed a bit of makeup onto her face before heading to breakfast, nerves and excitement pulling at her emotions. Should she not go through with it? What if he laughed at her? Every step she took towards the Great Hall only increased her silent fears and allowed more to appear.

By the time she got to the hall, they almost suffocated her, but everything vanished besides the love she held for Scorpius as she reached the Great Hall and found the Slytherin resting on the door casually, his hair falling in his face in such a way that her heart clenched. A wide grin broke across her face as she closed the distance between them.

Alaine, who had been walking with her the entire way, walked past her into the hall with a wink, and Rose was dimly aware that she sat with a smirking Albus at Gryffindor table before her attention refocused on Scorpius.

"Morning," she greeted in a soft voice.

Scorpius was a bundle of nerves as he leaned against the door to the Great Hall. He knew he looked calm and almost casual on the outside, a teaching that Draco had learned as a child that he actually agreed with and taught to his own son.

But, it seemed that when Rose entered his line of sight that every bad, unsure emotion disappeared and was replaced by love, hope, and joy. He grinned as he took in her carefully put together form, it seemed like she had put more effort into getting ready this morning, though to him she always looked beautiful. Maybe Albus and Alaine had planned this, telling both of them to get up the nerve to confess to each other in case one lost their nerve.

A thrill ran through him at the grin she bestowed him with, "Morning", he heard her greet in a soft voice.

His own smile widened as the space between them was narrowed, "Morning Rose," he stated, "Lovely morning, don't you think? Almost as lovely as you." He had no clue where that last bit came from, but he must have been right in stating it as a blushed crept up Rose's pale cheeks.

"I disagree with you on the topic of me being lovely, but it is a fine morning.", she stated, her voice wavering just slightly.

Scorpius smiled still at his friend, "Well, we'll have to agree to disagree, because I do find you lovely. But, there is something I have to tell you besides informing your loveliness."

Rose looked a mixture of excited and nervous at that, "Oh?", she questioned, her voice coming out an higher octave than usual, "And what is that? Because I to have something to confess."

Scorpius took a deep breath, and let in flow out, "I've liked you since our fourth year Rose, and finally just got the courage to tell you about it. If I haven't just made a fool of myself and ruined our friendship, would you like to go out together our next Hogsmeade visit?"

All the air seemed to leave Rose as she looked at him, her bright blue eyes shining as she said, in the same soft voice she had early greeted him in, "I've personally just recently discovered the depth of my own feelings for you, and would love to go with you to Hogsmeade. "

Scorpius quickly crossed the left over space between them and crushed her to him in a hug that was not the friendly sort they had been taking part in since first year, but more the type of hug that Albus and Alaine took part in, a hug filled with the love that had been repressed for all too many years.

But, they did not kiss, silently agreeing that their first kiss, together and first kiss ever, would take place at a more special, more romantic time. They did, however, walk into the Great Hall, hand in hand, and sat to eat together at Ravenclaw table.

When they entered, the room went silent, all eyes fixed on their joined hands. Then, a loud cheer echoed through the hall as most of the students, and staff, yelled their support of the couple they had been waiting to happen for years. The students that didn't cheer were the ones that wished to have Rose or Scorpius to themselves. The boys glared at Scorpius with building rage, and the girls, mostly at Slytherin Table, sent Rose looks of spite, jealousy, and malice.

Various handing of money over to others occurred for much of the rest of the day, the winners of the various bets smirking, while the losers scowled and grumped about with lighter pockets. Owls the next day came streaming in with owed Galleons and a letter to Rose and Scorpius from Hermione, who as always knew everything, even before it was told to her. Both letters sent her congratulations on their new relationship, and cautionary words of about telling Ron when he was in a very good mood, least he blow up on Scorpius and try to kill him. She also sent an invitation to have the Malfoy's over for Christmas at the Weasely house.

Rose, still in the daze of happiness that follows a new relationship, sent her mother back a letter, with Scorpius's approval, inviting both of her parents to met them that next Hogsmeade weekend, when they were to go out on their date, to the Three Broomsticks so to tell them. Scorpius sent the same letter to his parents. They knew that it would be a mad house within their families (mostly Ron) with the news of their relationship, but they were happy and in love, and that was all that mattered to them.