Author's note: I'm now up to 69 reviews! That makes me happy. :)
If I get 100 reviews by the end of the story, the 100th reviewer will get a prize (I'm not sure what yet, though, I'll have to discuss it with whoever the 100th reviewer is.) Now there's some incentive… hopefully. :)
Chapter 18: Gryffindor Courage
(Rose's pov)
By the time Christmas holidays came, I was still not talking to Alana or Sahara, and Albus was still avoiding Luke and Ben at all costs. That was why on the way home, Albus, Scorpius, and I sat in one compartment, and Alana, Sahara, Luke, and Ben sat in another.
As we passed through the Scottish countryside, as I've had so many times before, Albus was silent most of the trip. In fact, he hadn't been speaking much at all lately. After awhile, he closed his eyes, and not long after that the slower-paced rise and fall of his chest made it clear that he was asleep. Scorpius and I whispered in hushed voices from that point on, careful not to wake him.
"We can't keep this a secret forever, you know that, right?" Scorpius asked softly.
I hesitated. "What do you mean?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
Scorpius sighed. "We have to tell our parents. About us, I mean. Because, really, what if we want to continue our relationship after Hogwarts, as I want to, and I'm sure you do too? What then?"
I didn't reply, causing Scorpius to sigh again. "Please, Rose. You need to tell your family about us. Will you do it for me?"
"Scorpius, I can't." I whispered. "My family would never accept you, especially not my father and grandfather."
"My family's not particularly fond of your family either. But I'm still going to tell them, because they'll love me no matter what, and yours will too. You have to trust me on this, Rose. Please?"
I sighed. "Alright." I whispered. "I'll tell them."
"Thanks, Rose. You won't regret this, I promise you." Scorpius said before leaning forward to give me a light kiss.
What had I gotten myself into?
(Scorpio's pov)
Although Rose and I were planning to tell our families about our love for each other, we didn't want them to find out by seeing us kiss each other goodbye, so we said our goodbyes before getting off the train. Rose and Albus got off first, and after gathering my stuff together, I quickly followed them.
As usual, my mother was overexcited to see me and fussed over me for as long as I could stand it before I pushed her gently away. My father gave me a less-embarrassing one-armed hug and the usual "Welcome home, son," greeting before latching on to his arm so that we could apparate back home to Malfoy Manor.
Malfoy Manor had apparently changed a lot since my father was young. When my grandparents, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, had given the Manor to my parents as their wedding present, the ancient house was in the same state it had been approximately thirty years before. It was dark and gloomy, a house fit for death-eaters. In fact, as I later found out, it was previously home to death-eaters. My mother, Astoria, was a Ravenclaw born into a Slytherin family, but she herself had never had any connection to the Dark Lord as my father and grandparents had, so she had never seen a place so dreary. Nearly as soon as she had moved in, my mother redecorated the entire Manor, bringing a lot more light and cheer in the place. Soon, the Manor had been transformed into a homey, more cheerful place to raise their only son in, instead of the gruesome, death-eater meeting place it used to be. Now, my grandparents lived in a smaller – but still quite large – mansion about two miles away from us, which was certainly close enough for my liking.
My mother always had a big Scorpius-is-back-from-school dinner whenever I came for Christmas or summer holidays, and tonight was no exception. On tonight's menu was steak done just the way I like it, mashed potatoes and gravy, wild rice, and Caesar salad.* The dining room was light with not only the bright light from the overhead chandler, but the curtains that covered the large dining room window were drawn, allowing light from the setting sun. My father, Draco, was already seated at the table when I came downstairs, and was reading the Daily Prophet. I did my regular duty of setting the table for my mother and then joined him at his right. Mum soon joined us and we all began to eat her fabulous mood.
Dad was in a great mood. Apparently, there was an article in the Prophet that had actually pleased him for once. I figured there was no better time than then to tell him about my relationship with the one and only Rose Nymphadora Weasley. I was going to need a lot of luck, and a lot of Gryffindor courage, to follow through and actually survive this one.
"Mum, Dad…" I began nervously. "I wanted to tell you that… that I'm in a relationship with someone. A romantic one."
Dad smiled at me. "That's wonderful, Scorpius. What's the lucky girl's name? She better be a pureblood". He laughed, as if making a big joke, and ignored my mother's glare.
"Dad… it's Rose Weasley."
Dad dropped his fork and began to choke on his firewhiskey. "Did… did I hear you correctly, Scorpius?" He asked once he had recovered.
"Yes, Father, you did." I replied boldly.
"That's funny, because I never would have thought you would actually lower yourself to a Weasley." My father snarled.
"Draco –" Mum warned, but we both ignored her.
"I'm not lower myself to her." I replied calmly. "If anything, she's lowering herself to me."
"That's preposterous!" Dad bellowed. "That Weasley girl is the daughter of a mudblood and a blood traitor! You are a pureblood, Scorpius, and can do much better than that filth. In fact, I forbid you from dating that girl."
"Draco, would you listen to yourself!" Mum exclaimed!
"Astoria, I am listening to myself, and I mean every word of what I say." Dad snapped.
"No, Dad, Mum's right." I argued. "You're the one that's being preposterous, not me!"
"I only want what's best for you, Scorpius! Ever since you were born, I promised myself you would have a happier childhood than I did, and that I would be a better father to you than mine was to me. And that is what I intend to do."
"You always say that! You say that you're going to be a better father than yours was, because you're not like him! Well, you know what, Father, you are just like him, an arrogant, narrow-minded, pure-blood!" Leaving the rest of my food to get cold, I stormed up to my room and slammed the door behind me.
My room was the second largest bedroom in the house, after my parent's bedroom. It belonged to my father's when he was my age and younger and had a large window that looked out into my mother's treasured garden. My dresser, couch, and other furniture were on one level, and my bed was hidden in the loft up above. There was plenty of room to pace around in anger in there, so that was what I did.
As I paced angrily around, I could hear my parents arguing downstairs, about me most likely. My father loved, and still loves, my mother just as much as I love Rose, and he never argued with her. Well… almost never. A few minutes later, I heard the front door slam, signaling that my father left to go where ever it is he goes when angry or stressed, somewhere he has gone since he was a child. I climbed my ladder to my loft and flung myself on my bed, punching my pillow in the process. What an idiot I was. I wanted so badly for my father to accept Rose, that I didn't think about it thoroughly enough. Now, he probably will never accept her as the Rose I love, instead of just another "filthy Weasley".
I laid there in silence for about an hour until I realized that I was still hungry. Deciding it was safe, I made my way back to the dining room, where I found my mother reading a book. She glanced up at me as I came in and said, "Your dinner's in the refrigerator."
Mum watched me as I scooped my food on to my plate and used my wand to heat it up again. I actually smiled as I did so because my first time using a wand somewhere other than Hogwarts – while actually using it correctly – was to reheat my dinner. I sat my plate down on the table and began to eat in silence until my mother said, "He doesn't mean it, you know."
"Yeah, I'm sure calling my girlfriend 'filth' was a total accident." I muttered.
Mum sighed. "Your father's family has been old enemies with the Weasley family for decades, and there's nothing you or I can do about that bitterness."
"I understand that, but he doesn't even know Rose. Why does he think he can judge her without even meeting her first?" I asked.
"I didn't really know the Weasleys in school very well, because they and your father were in my sister's year. But I do know that your father and Rose's parents did not get along well." Mum replied. "Your father just doesn't like the idea of you dating the daughter of one of his long-time enemies. He'll come around eventually though."
"Right," I sighed, still unconvinced.
"So, since we're on this topic, Scorpius, are you in love with this girl?"
I looked at my mother in surprise. "Yes…" I said slowly, but not because I was hesitant.
"And do you see a future with her?"
I never thought about that question before. Normally, my mind was always focused on past and present memories with Rose, not the future. But once I did start thinking about it, I immediately knew what my answer was. "Yes," I said softly. "Rose means everything to me. If I couldn't have her… I wouldn't want anyone."
"Then I will support you no matter what." Mum replied. "And your father will too."
I wasn't too sure about my having my father's support, but at least my mother was on my side. It was then that I decided that I didn't need anyone's approval. I was going to date Rose and love her forever, no matter what anyone, not even my father, said.
Author's note: * first, I don't know what people in the UK eat for a fancy meal (American here! :) ), so sorry if I got it totally wrong and let me know what I can replace it with.
Second, sorry if it's getting to angsty. Please let me know if you're tired of the angst after two whole chapters of it and I will definitely cut down on it. Please review! Thanks. :)