Author's Note: Once again, I'd like to give my sincerest thanks to all the kind folks who have favorited and reviewed and followed this little beast. I really appreciate it. :) Here we finally get a bit of parental input and how our heroes ended up single in the first place. For some reason, this chapter was really hard for me to title. I'm still not in love with it but c'est la vie. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy! :) Cheers~
Disclaimer: Characters mentioned are used without permission and are trademarks of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios, while Drive Me Crazy is property of 20th Century Fox. I do not own them and am simply borrowing for my purposes. Please don't sue!

How to Deal
by Bether

Chapter 5: A (Relative) Calm

Exam season passed spectacularly quickly and soon enough it was time for winter holidays. Rose and Hugo were to spend the first part with their mum and the second at the Burrow with the rest of the Weasley/Potter/Lupin/Scamander clan. The whole thing passed painlessly enough, save for one awkward conversation between Rose and Hermione that went as follows:

"So, I hear you've become mates with Scorpius Malfoy."

"What of it?"

"Well, I don't know if I like that. And you know your father won't."

"I do know that."

"It's probably best if you stay away from him."

"Mum! How can you say that?"

"What?"

"You're always preaching about equality and not judging people by their pasts or stereotypes."

"Well, I… er, that's really not…"

"And aren't you working with Mr. Malfoy on researching some of the magical objects he's found at the Manor?"

"That's my job, yes, but I hardly think—"

"So I really don't see how you can tell me to stay away from his son."

"It's just that his family has always been a bit… unsavory."

"Unsavory? Is that the best you can do?"

"Unfortunately it seems to be."

Rose just rolled her eyes and that was the end of that.

Rose was fighting a yawn as she sat in the library, her first day back after winter vacation. It wasn't even late but she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open. As she was reading a novel for pleasure and not studying, she decided to pack it in and head up to bed. She wanted to be in top form when classes resumed the following morning.

Just as she was exiting the library, she ran into a very solid something. Or rather, it ran into her. "Oh!" she gasped, instinctively bracing herself but the something—someone, apparently—caught her before the fall. When she looked up, steely gray eyes were staring back down at her. "Scorpius," she greeted breathlessly, a hand on her chest. "You surprised me!" She paused and smiled. "So how were your hols?"

"Eh," he replied with a shrug, releasing her once she was steady again and had caught her breath. "My dad and I traveled to Romania to visit our family. It was… interesting." Rose raised an eyebrow and he grinned. "We agreed to visit Vale next year instead."

Laughing, she shook her head. "Well, mine were lovely. Spent most of them at the Burrow but I did have a few days at the start with my mum." Frowning, a crease formed between her eyebrows. "She was acting a bit dodgy about you, actually."

Scorpius blinked. "Me? What did I do?"

It was Rose's turn to shrug. "I really couldn't say. Maybe your dad was telling her stories while they were working?"

"Can't be," Scorpius replied, puffing out his chest. "Dad does nothing but brag endlessly about me. I'm the Malfoy heir, you know."

Rose put on a show as if he'd shocked her greatly. "Really? You don't say! Well, so glad you've cleared that up. I'll be sure to alert the media first thing tomorrow."

He blew a raspberry at her and she laughed.

"So listen," she continued as they turned the corner, "I was thinking over break about your situation with Abigail and I came up with—"

Scorpius put a hand on her arm, cutting her off. "Rose, relax. We just got back. We can worry about all that later. What I really want to hear about are the famous Weasley antics… and if they have anything to do with Roxanne's green braids and Hugo's shaved head."

Rose snickered at the memory. "Okay. But it's a bit of a story…"

As always, Rose was grateful for the warmth the Three Broomsticks provided. She rubbed her hands together while Scorpius carried over a round of Butterbeers. She accepted her mug with a smile and salute of thanks.

He shrugged it off, sipping his own drink. He threw his free arm around her shoulders, eyes scouting the various patrons bustling about the pub. They were seated in a corner, which afforded them both a good view and gave the illusion that they wanted privacy.

The silence was companionable. Rose snuggled closer when she caught sight of Abigail and her Slytherin posse glancing their way. She turned her head and whispered into his ear, "We have an audience."

Scorpius smiled, leaning his chin down to return the favor. "So I noticed. Didn't spot any blokes with them, either."

Rose smiled at him and shook her head. "Nope. Guess Abigail wanted to give us her undivided attention." She nuzzled his neck. "Definitely a good sign."

"Maybe," Scorpius conceded. "Or he's working." Off her furrowed brow he explained: "Prat's a Healer-in-training."

"Mmm," Rose hummed in understanding. "She still came out to watch you, though, didn't she?"

That made Scorpius chuckle into her hair. "Point."

While Abigail's glare grew more heated, Rose could only smile wider. She lifted a hand and waved her fingers at the girls. That was apparently all the younger girl could take. She didn't bother finishing her drink before leading her crew out in a huff.

Rose laughed lightly as she pulled away from Scorpius enough to look at him. "See? Definitely not over you."

Rubbing a hand over his face, he didn't look nearly as amused—or convinced. "Maybe not…"

Her brows furrowed. "What happened between you two?" she asked before thinking better of it. Which led to a hastily added: "I mean, if you don't mind my asking."

"Nah, it's fine." Scorpius slouched in his chair. "Abby's gran fell ill over the summer. I visited with her when she was at home but when they transferred her to St. Mungo's…"

Rose's hand went to her mouth and she let out a small, "Oh!" Her expression was all sympathy as she patted his arm in an attempt to comfort him. "Scorpius, I—"

He held up a hand to silence her, shaking his head. "So while I was made excuses and avoided, that Healer bloke was all understanding and helpful and blah-blah-blah." There was no mistaking the disgust in his tone. "She owled a couple weeks before term began to break it off. Said she needed someone who would be there for her and that I'd proved that wasn't me.

"I tried to explain," he gave her a meaningful look and Rose knew he was talking about the conversation she'd overheard on the train, "but by then she wasn't hearing it." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "And I guess I can't really blame her. If I'd just explained…"

Rose put an arm around his shoulders now and leaned in to give him a (only slightly awkward) half-hug. "Hey, don't do that. You'll get her back and then all this will be water under the bridge, yeah?" She nudged his shoulder with his. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he agreed, though she suspected it was more to placate her than from actual belief in what she was saying.

Rose poked him in the chest. "I'm serious, Scorpius. You're a good guy. So you made a mistake—it happens. You should hear about all the dumb stuff Dirk did while we were dating." She shook her head. "At least you had a legitimate reason."

The firm line of Scorpius's mouth relaxed a bit. "True." He threw his arm around the back of her chair again and reclined. "So now you know my story—what about you?"

"What about me?" Rose returned innocently.

Scorpius poked her side. "What happened with you and Dirk?"

Rose wrinkled her nose. "It wasn't anything."

He lifted his brows. "Right."

She released a long-suffering sigh. "Fine. But I'm going to need another Butterbeer for my trouble."

There was laughter in Scorpius's eyes and a smirk on his face. (An expression Rose never thought she'd be glad to see but here they were.) "Sold." He waved at the bartender to indicate they needed refills. "Now spill."

Suppressing another sigh, Rose shook her head. "It was nothing, you know? He went on holiday in the French countryside, met a bird and fell in love. Flooed me a week before the new term began and broke it off."

He winced. "That had to hurt…"

"Honestly? I think it hurt my pride more than my feelings. I liked Dirk—he was a good snog and a decent enough friend—but, even though we were exclusive, there was never anything more than caring there." Which, truthfully, was exactly the way Rose had wanted it. For some reason, though, she didn't want to admit that to Scorpius. "Does that make sense?"

"No." He nodded his thanks to the waiter as he handed over some money to pay for their drinks, while Rose gaped at him. Scorpius grinned. "Joking."

She punched him in the arm. "Ha-ha," she said sarcastically, sipping her drink. "I swear, you are so annoying."

He smirked. "You love it."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Don't make me come over there, Malfoy."

"Promises, promises, Weasely."

Rose punched his arm again, giggling. "You're ridiculous." When he opened his mouth again, she shook her head. "Don't start! Otherwise we'll never get to Honeydukes."

Scorpius rolled his eyes but acquiesced: "Yes, dear."