A/N: So sorry for the wait! School + being inept at endings = slow update.

In the pastel-grey sky an owl soared low over the castle, weaving through the many towers and turrets before making its descent over the sloping lawn. It settled on a makeshift signpost erected on a vegetable patch.

Rose watched the bird on its journey until it was out of sight. She turned her attention to the castle itself, majestic and towering and indescribably beautiful. Tears stung her eyes as the realisation of leaving Hogwartsovercame her. A place where so many friendships had been created over the years, where countless memories had been made. It was her home.

Looking at it now, squinting, she could make out the bench just off the main doors where she'd caught Poppy reading that letter about her father which had changed their relationship completely. Further away would be the courtyard where she kept seeing Scorpius and Scarlett. Nearer to her were the various trees lining the Black Lake, where she had spent hundreds of afternoons full of laughter with friends. Every aspect of the place brought back a rush of memories resurfacing for the first time in her head. She'd miss it all, right from the old stone floors to the fairy-tale turrets.

Trailing her fingers along the icy water's surface, Rose smiled and turned away.

She was in a little boat, the ones first-years are herded into when they first enter Hogwarts. But this time the boats were carting students away from the school, rather than bringing them in. It was some kind of school tradition, and Rose could see why; there wasn't a single view of Hogwarts quite like the one you got from the Black Lake. It was the perfect place to say goodbye.

Lizzie laid her head on Rose's shoulder as the school song resonated across the lake, completely tuneless, completely meaningless now, but at the same time meaning so much to them.

"We're never coming back again, ever. Can you believe it?" murmured Lizzie as she watched the outline of Hogwarts retreat into the distance.

"I know," agreed Dom. "It feels so weird that come September, when everyone else will be going back, we won't be joining them. I think I'll be in Greece by then, actually."

"Greece? That's lucky. I'll be going back to school," said Scorpius.

"To train to become the best Healer St Mungo's has ever seen," said Rose fondly.

"It's so exciting though, isn't it?" Lizzie exclaimed. "I'll be working with animals, Dom'll be touring the world, Scorpius will Heal people, Al will teach people, and Rose… you'll be just amazing in whatever you end up choosing to do!"

Lizzie's hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Rose. A few weeks earlier Rose had applied for a summer job at Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley while she waited for her NEWT results, but got no response. She felt a bit pathetic being the only one with no future laid out in front of her. She just believed that she hadn't seen enough of the world yet to decide exactly what she wanted to spend the rest of her life doing.

"They said they'd send the letters out today," Rose cut in tonelessly. "They didn't even bother sending me a letter of rejection."

"You were too good for that job anyway," stated Dom as she flicked a page of her magazine. "Stacking books all day? You can do so much better than that. It's their loss."

"I know, but you have to start somewhere," Rose replied miserably. "I don't care what I've got to do, as long as I have something to do."

Lizzie put her hand on Rose's arm. "Don't worry. Something'll come along eventually."

"Lizzie's right. Don't give up hope just yet- maybe the owl got lost," Scorpius added, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"I hope so," she said softly as she nestled into his side.

They began breaking off into separate conversations but Rose wasn't listening. She was watching each of her friends in turn, seeing how completely composed they all were; they didn't seem the teensiest bit worried about the future.

She finally turned to look at Scorpius, and wasn't even surprised when she saw he was staring right at her. He mouthed 'you okay?' to which she nodded and tried for a smile. She averted her gaze to the window and pretended to be interested in the tedious rural views flashing by.

What was going to happen next? Where would they go? Would she still be with Scorpius a week, a month, a year, a decade from now? Would they even ever see each other again, out in the real world? These thoughts kept whirring through her mind, making her dizzy, and they were so cogent, so real, that Rose was unable to block them. It wasn't fair that they were about to be wrenched apart after only just getting together. Their timing was horrible, to say the least.

Her saviour came in the form of the trolley lady's voice ringing from outside their compartment. Rose eagerly scrambled up, thankful for the excuse to leave.

"Oh, come on. Give me a break! This is seven knuts we're talking about!" Poppy hissed just as Rose approached the trolley.

"I'm sorry, dear," came the calm reply of the elderly trolley lady, "but if you don't have the money, you can't have the sweets. That's just how it works, pet."

A low grumble erupted from the back of Poppy's throat. Her eyes darkened dangerously. Rose reckoned it was time to intervene.

"Here, seven knuts." Rose reached into her pocket and dropped the coins into the lady's hand while avoiding Poppy's gaze.

"Weasley? Wh – I don't need your money. I can pay for myself." She tried to make the lady hand the money back, but Rose wouldn't have it.

"As you said, this is seven knuts we're talking about. It's nothing, really." Rose glanced into Poppy's angry eyes and watched as they softened just a little around the edges.

Poppy sighed heavily. "You know what – whatever. Thanks, I guess."

She grabbed her confectionaries, flipped her hair over her shoulder and began retreating down the corridor – but came to a halt halfway down and called, "Have a good summer, Weasley."

"You too, Parkinson."

For the second time and second time only in Rose's life, she was given a genuine smile by Poppy Parkinson.

Eventually the Hogwarts Express rolled up into King's Cross station and a quick glance out of the window let Rose know that both her parents had come to collect her. At least she would only have to drop the bomb once. Everyone had a good stretch before collecting their luggage and shuffling towards the platform to say their final goodbyes, something that Rose had been dreading for a while. Goodbyes were always so depressing and awkward.

"Well," said Dom, as she reached up to get her trunk. "I guess this is it, you guys."

"Yeah," Lizzie sniffed. "Time for us to leave."

Slowly, they began to make their way out of the compartment – and a second later thought better of it, flinging their arms around each other in a group hug.

"I'm gonna miss you both!"

"I love you guys!"

"Promise to meet up soon!"

Rose only let go of them when Albus's voice floated through the doorway. "Are you lot coming or what?"

"Al!" Rose cried, voice coming out as a breathless whisper, as she pounced on her favourite scruffy-haired emerald-eyed boy. He was knocked backwards from the force (not that it took much to budge Al's skinny frame).

"Oh, hey Rosie. Er, what's this for?"

"I miss you already," she mumbled into his shoulder. How long would it be before she saw him again, now that they'd be going off on their separate ways?

Her brows knitted together and she refused to let him out of her grasp.

"Aw, don't get all sentimental on me. C'mon, we'll see each other tomorrow at the Burrow. We'll survive till then, yeah?"

Reluctantly she let him go, but only because Lara was watching them from a few metres away looking anxious and upset, obviously waiting to speak to Al.

Scorpius took Al's place and offered his hand for Rose to take. "Ready?" he asked.

"No," she sighed, but slid her hand into his and allowed him to lead her off the train anyway. With his free hand he waved his wand and both of their trunks began trailing after them.

Her mother was standing nearby coddling Hugo while her father was grinning at him with an arm placed proudly on his shoulder. Nervously she approached them, gripping onto Scorpius's hand as if it was her safety anchor.

"Mum? Dad?" she began quietly.

Their faces lit up when they saw her.

"Rosie!" She was engulfed with warm squishy hugs, the kind that only parents can give.

But before she could get a word in, a tawny owl swooped onto the scene and dropped a letter into Rose's arms before flying off again.

"What the..?" Rose mumbled, turning the envelope over. It was addressed to her.

She looked up disbelievingly, first at her mother and then at Scorpius, before tearing it open and scanning the contents of her letter.

Rose placed a hand over her racing heart.

"Well?"

"I've got it," she whispered. "I've got the job!"

A cheer erupted from the small group, attracting a few curious looks from nearby families.

"I knew you would," Scorpius whispered in her ear.

She grinned up at him. "Maybe it did get lost after all."

"Hi, Scorpius!" Hermione beamed and gave him a quick hug. "Lovely to see you." She raised an eyebrow at their intertwined hands, ever the perceptive parent.

"And you. You too, Mr Weasley." Scorpius put on a brave front and held out his hand to the older man, shaking his hand jovially.

Well, it was now or never. If Scorpius could be so brave, then surely Rose could too.

Gulp.

"Mum, Dad… Scorpius and I are going out now," Rose announced with as much confidence as she could muster. Inwardly she braced herself for an explosion, a volcanic eruption; the Third Wizarding War…

"About bloody time, isn't it?" her father said immediately, much to her surprise, at the same time her mother cried, "Congratulations!"

No grumbles of disapproval? No angry rants full of expletives inappropriate for innocent ears? Rose was speechless. Maybe she'd underestimated her parents' tolerance.

There was actually a hint of amusement in her father's voice: "Even I could sense the tension between the two of you over the last few years; it was getting quite frustrating actually."

"Dad!" Rose spluttered, flushing the colour of beetroot.

"Ron!" her mother hissed.

Hugo was doubled over with laughter, unable to contain himself. Even Scorpius, whose eyes had also widened in alarm, was at least a little amused, sporting a small smirk.

"What? It's true! Nevertheless, Scorpius, I'll be having a little chat with you very soon."

Rose tried to laugh it off but still squeezed his hand a little tighter.

"Rose, love, we'll wait over there while you say goodbye to your friends, alright?" Hermione said kindly, and with a roll of her eyes, she shepherded her husband and son away before they could humiliate Rose further.

Scorpius didn't waste a moment before springing on her. "So what was up with you on the train? Are you okay? It wasn't just about the bookstore job, was it? It's not like you to be so… broody."

"It's nothing," she answered, biting her lip. Her thoughts were silly - inconsequential. She'd get over it soon enough. Wouldn't she?

He stared at her in that way again, as if he was trying to decode her mind. Unsurprisingly he found he was having a hard time; she could hardly sort out her thoughts herself. Luckily for her, he was no Legilimens.

"What are you thinking?"

She was caught off guard by the question. "I… I'm scared. I don't want to go."

He smiled sadly. "Me neither. I'll miss it. But it won't be so bad. We'll have each other, won't we?"

She bit her lip. "That's what I've been wondering about lately… we'll be so bogged down with starting our new jobs – that is if I ever manage to get an actual job – and, oh Merlin, what if we live really far away from each other? We'll never get to see each other. I don't want to go into a future without you in it, and that scares me." She willed herself not to cry, swallowing the lump quickly forming in her throat.

"Is that what's really worrying you?" he asked, startled. She nodded feebly, embarrassed, and he took her hand. "Rose, I won't be letting you get away from me that easily. We can always apparate, remember? We're free from Hogwarts, now – we can do whatever we like! Whether you like it or not, despite whatever may happen, I'm here to stay. Alright?" One side of his mouth was quirked upwards in a half-grin in a way that made Rose's stomach fill with butterflies.

She smiled, but still wasn't wholly convinced.

Scorpius took her chin gingerly in his hand and turned her head to look at him, her blue eyes large and vulnerable. "I don't want us to rush into things, and I know it's way too early to even think about moving in together, but if you want… we could, er, get apartments real close. In the same town or city. Merlin, we could move into the same building if that's what you want. It doesn't really matter where; as I said, we can apparate to work. You can choose the area, if you'd like," he said gently.

"You'd let me choose where you live?" she asked, voice barely audible, heart skipping a beat.

"Sure, I'll go wherever you go. There's no need to worry about never seeing each other, okay?" he said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

A wide smile spread over her face. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest, clutching him so tightly that she thought they might get stuck together permanently. On second thoughts, maybe that wasn't such a bad idea; she'd certainly not have to worry about never seeing him again if that were the case. She inhaled deeply and he held her tighter, assuring her that everything would be okay.

She decided to take his word for it and just enjoy the present, accepting that whatever would come, would come.

"You're amazing, do you know that?" she said, sighing in contentment.

"Not as amazing as you."

She rolled her eyes and grinned. Then he kissed her softly on the nose and grinned back.

"This is just the start, y'know? It doesn't all end here."

"I couldn't agree more. You've gotta owl me every week, alright? Or even more often – I mean, only if you feel like it, I don't want to be overbearing… and you could come round to mine, or I could go to yours – I'd love to see your parents again – or we could meet up somewhere and –"

"Rose, calm down," he said, firmly grabbing her shoulders in an attempt to soothe her hysteria. Her mouth clamped shut. "Worrying won't change anything. I'll owl you in a few days, okay?"

"Okay," she breathed, and he leant in to kiss her on the cheek.

She rapidly felt her old self returning, and teasingly she said, "A peck on the cheek? Is that all I get to remember you by?"

Scorpius raised his eyebrows and smirked, leaning forward to whisper into Rose's ear. "I'm afraid that's all I can offer you right now. Your parents are watching and I think we've given them enough excitement for one day."

Rose pouted, but then thought better of it and nodded in understanding. "I'll miss you."

"You too."

"Even more than Al, your – what do you call each other again – 'bro for life'?" she laughed.

"Even more than Al," he confirmed. "Though, don't tell him I said that."

"I will. Bye, then."

"Bye, Rose."

She nodded, turned around, and began walking away – and was soon pulled back towards him, his mouth on hers and her hands in his. She felt herself relax completely despite her heart hammering just as hard as it had the first time he'd kissed her, any anxieties washed away by the heat forming between them. There was no urgency or hunger; they knew it wasn't really goodbye. It was sweet and gentle, more of an 'until next time'.

"I couldn't help myself," Scorpius admitted sheepishly once they'd pulled away, running a lazy hand through his hair.

She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes, listening to his steady heartbeat and feeling the tension she'd been carrying in her shoulders since waking up seep away. "Thank you, Scorpius," she said softly, just loud enough for him to hear. What exactly she was thankful was, she wasn't sure. Perhaps just for always being there whilst everything around her was changing; for being her friend. She tightened her arms around him.

"Sure," he eventually said, twirling a coppery chunk of hair around his fingers. If the earnest expression he bore as he looked at her was anything to go by, he knew exactly what she'd meant. "Anything for you, Rose."

Author's note:
And we have finally reached the end of my first story ever. I hope you liked the ending! I can't believe I got this far, and it's all down to your lovely, encouraging reviews. Thank you so much, especially to those who have been around for a while!

At the moment I've got no plans for a sequel or anything, but who knows? Currently I'm working on 2 other stories that will get a lot more of my attention now Oblivious is over, so if you're interested check 'em out ;)

Special thanks to all the readers who've read up to this point!

Review one last time?