Chapter Eighteen

Rose meets Mrs. Malfoy

"Come in," said the headmistress' voice from behind the heavy oak door once Rose had rapped lightly. Rose had only even been in his room twice and both times in broad daylight in the dark the room looked different the stars on the ceiling really twinkled at her. Some of the instruments on the desk lit up and there was a floating chandelier of candles in the middle of the room to illuminate it. But she could not see all the portraits that sat behind the headmistress desk.

Professor McGonagall herself was bent over some parchment making neat notes of some description but Rose couldn't read it in the dim light. She paid little attention to the other person in the room. The woman had blonde hair that was curled just past her shoulders light streaks of grey ran through it. The woman was dressed about as neatly as the average minor royal or politicians' wife. She was wearing complete black save a single green broach on the front of her black robes. She wore black court heeled shoes and a hat that hid most of her face from Rose. Her body was positioned like someone who had the best training in a Swiss finishing school.

"Rose," Professor McGonagall said "this is Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy she would like to talk to you about something that she will not disclose to me.

"In private," said Narcissa her tone sharp and clipped.

"Yes you can use the empty classroom two doors down."

Narcssia's face showed she very clearly did not think a disused classroom was adequate for her but she bit her tongue. Rose led the woman to the classroom and before she had even shut the door the woman began.

"You can have no illusions Miss. Weasley to why I am here."

"I am afraid that I have no idea I am not even sure why you would want to talk to me aren't you Scorpius' grandmother?"

"Yes I am I see then the rumours are not completely untrue you have met my grandson."

"Yes we have been in the same classes for seven years."

"But still you know of him more than you know most your peers."

"His best friend is engaged to my cousin Lily."

"Yes," she said wrinkling her nose "I have heard of this most unfortunate occurrence Charlie is so obviously simple at least the family have Anya a most sensible girl. Still we digress Miss. Weasley."

"I don't think so seen, as I have no idea why you were here."

"Because I have heard that you are dating my grandson Scorpius Malfoy and I want to hear from yourself that this is untrue."

"And why do you object to this so much?"

"Miss. Weasley your family is made of the most disagreeable people why I have heard that you were raised with the son of a werewolf. Your mother is muggle born. Miss Longbottom has already taken my stepson away to France."

"Max eloped with Abi," Rose interrupted caring very little for manners now.

"Answer me Miss. Weasley are you or have you ever dated my grandson."

"No," Rose replied simply the feeling in her heart heavy like a stone of regret was placed there.

"And do you promise never to enter into any arrangement."

"No," Rose repeated, "I do not."

"You obviously hold contempt for my family."

"On the contrary I respect your family but you have insulted me and those I love. I do not hold respect for a woman like that. I have answered the questions that you placed before me madam now please leave."

With this Rose opened the door of the classroom and when Narcissa made no move to exit the room. Rose herself swept out of the room leaving a shocked Narcissa Malfoy in an abandoned classroom. Rose felt for some inexplicable reason tears threaten to pour down her face. Shaking her head to clear them she entered Gryffindor tower.

"So?" Asked Lily sat beside the fire. Rose had failed to notice the time and it seemed the entire of Gryffindor tower had gone to bed with the exception of Lily, Charlie, Albus, Marianna, Fred, Alizia, Roxanne and Hugo all of whom looked up at her as she entered.

"So what?" Rose replied remaining stood up despite the armchair that had obviously been left for her.

"What did the Professor want?"

"Narcissa Malfoy, Scorpius' grandmother was there she had come all the way from Wiltshire seemed to think that I am dating Scorpius that I would dirty their family line or something to that effect."

"She came all the way from the other side of the country just to check that?" Marianna asked skeptically.

"Yes didn't have a high opinion of any of our family apparently."

"You're not dating Scorpius though are you?" Albus asked.

"What does that mean?" she asked turning around from staring at the fire to her cousin stood behind her.

"Well he's a Slytherin Ro,"

"And?" Rose asked in a loud voice as she once again felt her Weasley temper bubble up in her. "Just for once in my life I want everyone to leave me alone can't I get a moments peace." During this her voice crescendoed up so the word peace was ironically shouted. With this Rose turned on her heal and made her way down the corridor swiftly taking just two minutes to reach the head boy/girl study. She was eternally gratefully that the head boy one Scorpius Malfoy was nowhere to be found and rushed into her empty room locking the door behind her flopping onto the bed. It took her hours to get to sleep. At one point she even heard Scorpius come in and shut his own bedroom door.

Rose had realised that after all her had said to her just four months ago she grown to love him. She knew his heart now he may be quiet to he was kind, truthful and devoted to her. When she thought his name her heart skipped a beat when he had opened the door of the common room she had just wanted to open the door and kiss him right there and then. But there was no guarantee his feelings had not changed since that soaking wet day by the lake. So instead she early in the morning fell asleep and gave thanks that the next day was Saturday when she could sleep in to her hearts content.