Rose kept her promise, of course. Within two days of his parents' news, a parcel arrived by owl. Scorpius opened it with deft and quick fingers. Inside the wrapping was a knitted white onesie. No house allegiance, he noted. Scorpius gave Diao a treat and then headed downstairs to the kitchen. His mother was sitting at the island, sipping plum juice and reading the Daily Prophet. In the past year, she had to purchase tortoise-shell reading glasses, and they sat high on the bridge of her nose.

"Scorpius," she said tentatively when she saw him, folding the newspaper and setting it aside. The rest of their dinner at Figworth's had been fine. Once he had returned to the table, they lapsed into conversation after a pause. But the subject of his mother's pregnancy had been avoided—much like how his father avoided walking by the Potter/Weasley table on the way out of the restaurant. "Are you hungry? There are scones and fruit in the fridge."

"I actually wanted to give you this." Scorpius held up the onesie. His mother's face blushed prettily, and her mouth fell open into a shocked smile. Scorpius cleared his throat. "I didn't make it, Rose did. She knit it herself…she's tried to teach me a million times but I can't…anyways. She made it."

"That is terribly sweet of her." Scorpius approached the island and handed his mother the little onesie. She held it against her belly, as if picturing the baby wearing it already. "You'll give her my thanks, won't you?"

"Yeah, of course." Scorpius rapped his fingertips on the granite countertop. "Mum, I just…I'm sorry for how I took the news the other night. I am really happy I'm going to have a sibling."

"Thank you. But it came as a shock. I can understand why you became upset." Celia took off her glasses and set them on the countertop, next to the folded up paper. "Did you want to talk about it?"

"Actually, no." Scorpius shrugged. "It was just a momentarily reflex. I talked to Rose about it. She calmed me down."

His mother smiled softly at him with a little more wisdom in her eyes than he was comfortable with.

"When do you and dad find out about the sex?"

"Er…" Celia shrugged and looked down at her stomach. "We could find out at any time. All I do is drink a tonic, and it turns my fingernails a certain color for a boy, and a different color for a girl. God it's been so long, I can't even remember what the colors are…"

"Is that what you did with me?" Scorpius propped his elbows up on the counter.

"No." His mother shook her head. "I didn't need to. I just knew."

"Do you know now?"

"A girl," Celia blurted. "I told your father, as soon as we found out. I just…I know it."

"A girl?" Scorpius smiled. "I'm going to have a sister?"

"I'm almost certain of it." His mother cocked her head. "You're going to be such a good big brother, Scorpius. She's going to be very loved, and very protected."

"Yeah, well…" Scorpius went to the fridge and pulled out a blueberry scone. He nibbled on the edges, and then poured himself a cup of coffee. He suddenly felt lighter than he had in days. "Mum, I think I might go into Diagon Alley today."

"Oh?" She asked.

"Yeah," he said in an off-hand sort of tone. "I…I wanted to buy some new broom polishing materials. For summer upkeep."

"Do they sell that at the Weasley store?" She said it with such a cadence that it took Scorpius a full moment to understand what she was implying.

"No," Scorpius said in a slightly defensive tone. "Why? They sell jokes. Prank stuff, really. I don't know."

Celia smiled that smile again. The one that told Scorpius she knew exactly why he was nervous.

"Don't," he murmured, looking down at the counter.

"Oh, Scorpius." She sighed. "How long has it been?"

"6 months," he whispered, refusing to look her in the eye.

"And you haven't told her?"

"Mum!"

"Is it possible she already knows?" Celia asked gently. "You're blushing all over the place."

"She doesn't feel like that," Scorpius said briskly. "So it doesn't matter."

Celia cocked her head to one side. "Is that so? She told you? Or she told someone else?"

"Well, no…"

"You don't know for sure then. Gryffindor may be the brave house, but I do believe they may falter when it comes to matters of the heart. It's different than going into battle or getting into a heated confrontation or playing a game of Quidditch…you're more vulnerable, aren't you? Maybe she is too scared to tell you."

"Rose isn't scared of anything," Scorpius sulked. "She always says what is on her mind."

"Scorpius." His mother laughed. "No teenage girl is going to say exactly what is on her mind. Especially if she thinks there is even a chance her feelings will not be returned."

"Well I can't say it. I just can't. She's Rose…she's my friend. And I can't lose that." But already, he was growing a little bolder. Perhaps it was just the words of support that had begun to spur him, given that he hadn't heard them from anyone else but Al. Somehow, hearing the words from someone who had already found their soulmate, as opposed to his best friend, gave him some strange sense of reassurance.

"Hmm." His mother placed her chin in her hand and stared at him. Scorpius stared determinedly at his coffee. "Well, it's your decision. But what you gain could be the greatest thing in your life." He looked up at her, remembering suddenly, the story of how his parents met. Best friends since childbirth, best friends at Hogwarts, until they realized they loved each other in a very different way than their other friends…

"Right. Thanks mum." Scorpius felt something steel within him. He could talk to Rose about this, he could! She was all he wanted in this world, and even a chance at that could be…well…he would get to admit every thought that had rushed to the forefront of his mind in the past half-year. He could hold her; he could kiss her. The very thought sent a shock down through his hands and made his hair stand on end. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, mussing it just slightly.

"Your hair is getting long," his mother noted, returning her attention to the paper.

"And messy," Scorpius agreed, heading into the next room. He walked over to the fireplace, his momentum carrying him. He was not about to turn around now. He was going to march right up to Rose Weasley and tell her that he couldn't think about anyone else, how much he liked her. Scorpius reached for a handful of floo powder and threw it into the fire, stepping into the green flames without a second thought.

Diagon Alley was bustling, despite the June heat. It was muggy out, and the sun was shining brightly, but there were people wearing their long robes just as if it were any other day of the year. Scorpius felt slightly out of place—he wore a white t-shirt and black pants and a light jacket, and he was fairly certain if he exited the Leaky Cauldron, he might have blended seamlessly into the muggle world, had it not been for the wand in his jacket pocket.

Scorpius squeezed his way in between a group of people who appeared to be American tourists and made his way towards the Weasley building. He had just opened the door to the store as a firework zoomed past his head and made a loud popping noise as it exploded into pink sparks behind him.

"Scorpius?" It was James who greeted him into the store. He was standing on a tall ladder, overseeing the crowd as they made their way into the store and funneled throughout the shelves and around the displays. He was holding a pygmy puff in one hand, and wearing a set of magenta robes.

"Nice robes," Scorpius said lightly, and James rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Al and Rose are at the counter," he grumbled, and let the pygmy puff hop up onto his shoulder.

"Thanks." Scorpius dodged a set of young twins playing with fake wands, and then a group of girls who were huddled, giggling, by the love potions. He strode up to the counter, just as Rose popped up from behind it, her hair pulled back into a thick braid. She wore tiny pearls in her ears.

"Scorpius!" She beamed. "What are you doing here?"

"I…" he faltered slightly. "I came to see you. See you work. My mum says thank you for the baby clothes, by the way. She thinks that is very sweet of you."

"It's nothing," Rose replied, waving a hand. "I've been trying to knit new things all year and I—"

"Rose!" Scorpius heard someone hollering from overhead. A man with strikingly ginger hair and one ear appeared on a platform over their heads. Her uncle, whom Scorpius remembered meeting at the World Cup a year prior. "Where's Albus?"

"He was supposed to be organizing the Snackboxes!" Rose hollered back, just as loudly. Scorpius put his hands in his pockets. Behind him, a line of people, their arms heavy with products, had started to worm its way through the store.

"I need you to do inventory," George commanded, walking down from the platform and coming behind the register. "I'll take over here." He looked at Scorpius with a certain air of familiarity. "Can I help you?"

"It's Scorpius," Rose reminded him. "He just stopped in to talk to me."

"Oh."

"Sorry," Scorpius said hastily, looking at the line growing behind him. "I'll just…er…" His heart sunk as George's expression changed into a look of skepticism and perhaps, amusement. "Rose, I'm just going to write you, okay? I'll see you later."

"Oh," Rose said, looking slightly taken aback. "Okay. Did you want to stay?"

"Inventory," George said gently. Rose nodded, but looked to Scorpius. He felt, all of a sudden, choked up, but he forced a smile and raised a hand at her, and then turned to go.

He had just taken a few steps out the door when he heard someone calling his name. He turned to see Rose running at him, her braid slapping her shoulders. Her hair clashed with the color of the robes, but he was sure she hadn't noticed. She had a funny look on her face, one that he hadn't seen before—her mouth was pursed, her brows furrowed, but something in her eyes reflected worry and strength, all at once. She flew at him in a blaze of red hair and contradictions, coming to a halt right before she knocked him to the ground.

"Rose?"

"Are you going to come back?" She asked, planting her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, I'll come 'round at some point. We should get dinner soon, you, me, and Al?"

"Yes," she said quickly. She put her hands in her pockets and then drew them out again. "Did I tell you that we're going away for a few weeks though? In July."

"No…whereabouts?"

"New Zealand. Mum is giving a lecture, so my dad is bringing Hugo and I once she's finished up. I'll be gone almost the entire month."

"Oh." Scorpius' heart sank. "I thought you'd be working."

"It's last minute," Rose replied, shrugging. "I'm working while I can. I'll be back August first though. Will you be here?"

"Unless my parents have something planned, yes."

"So, will you come to Teddy's wedding with me?"

"Isn't your family going?"

"Yes, but you'll come too? You'll come as my guest."

My guest. Guest. Not a date, a guest. A plus one. A plus friend. A plus acquaintance, even. Scorpius' stomach turned cold and his mouth felt dry. He nodded.

"I'll be there. Of course I'll come."

Rose grabbed his hand and flipped it over, extending his palm towards her. She pulled a market from her pocket and wrote a date and time on his hand.

"They're getting married on a beach," she told him. "I'll tell you where later, I'll write. Or I'll have Al write."

"Okay," Scorpius said. "Yeah. I'll be there."

"Okay." Rose tugged on the end of her braid, and it struck him suddenly, why she had that look on her face. She was nervous. "Okay. It's a date." And with that, she spun on her heel and began to walk back to the store. She turned around to wave and smile before she ducked back inside. And it took all Scorpius had not to laugh with glee.