Chapter Six

"Oh Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. I'm so sorry sweet heart. I'm so, so, so, sorry. I should have been there to protect you. It's my job to keep you safe, and I wasn't there to protect you. Can you forgive me Baby? Can you ever forgive me for putting you through this?" Rose sat on the hospital bed in her room at St. Mungo's, head cocked as she listened to her father cry.

"Daddy, I did this. I chose to do this Daddy. I wanted to be like you, I wanted to protect Mum and Hugo. I wanted to protect Aunt Ginny, James, Albus, and Lily. It was my choice Daddy," Rose stated quietly, cerulean blue eyes watching the anguish on her father's face. Tears were rolling down Ron's cheeks, his eyes falling to the bite on his daughter's shoulder.

"My sweet girl," Ron's voice broke as he pulled his daughter to him, hugging her tightly as he continued to cry, knowing his daughter would never have a normal life now.

"Rose, Healer Patil said you can go home now. You're only mildly infected. And by mildly infected she means you won't go through the actual transformation," Hermione spoke obviously annoyed by the healer's choice of words. She moved closer to see her husband still crying as her daughter nodded in understanding. Hermione offered her daughter a small smile before tugging her husband away while their daughter changed from the hospital's gown to the new clothes Ron had brought with him.

"Ron, you are not going to lock her away," Hermione warned, watching his mouth open to argue. However that conversation had been halted as Rose came from around the curtain, eager to leave the sterile environment she had been forced to endure for the last three days.

Rose sat on the fifth step of the staircase, listening to the argument between her mother and father.

"Why the bloody hell not 'Mione? That bastard attacked our daughter!" Ron had practically shouted the words, forgetting for the moment his daughter and son were sleeping. Rose heard her mother sigh before a shuffling of feet to stand in front of her father.

"That man was targeting Ginny and myself. The only reason he went after Rose was because she ran. She enticed the beast in him to draw him away from us. Rose isn't an idiot Ron. She has your courage as well as my intelligence. Those combined make our daughter unique. She knew what she was doing the moment she ran into the forest. She knew he would chase her, she knew because she talks to Bill, who happens to have the same condition as her. It was a big decision she made, one that happened in a matter of seconds. But I know our daughter. She's logical. She thought this choice through. She weighed her options before she acted. You need to trust your daughter, Ronald. You will not lock her away. You will not treat her any differently. She is our daughter Ron. She is our brave, intelligent, sweet little girl who was only trying to protect her family," Hermione spoke, voicing reasoning when her husband couldn't think straight. Rose couldn't help the smile that stretched her lips, couldn't help silently praying for a relationship similar to one her parents possessed.

Rose sat on the mattress of her room, knees drawn to her chest as she replayed the day she had been attacked through her mind, reliving every moment until that final day when she had been released from St. Mungo's. She hadn't cried when the monster had attacked her. She hadn't cried when she felt the swipe of his claws down her back or the sharp pain of his bite. She hadn't cried when Healer Patil diagnosed her. She hadn't cried when she felt the desolation heavy in her stomach. Yet here she sat, tears silently rolled down her cheeks for the first time since her mother's letter. She couldn't face Scorpius. She couldn't meet his gaze knowing she had allowed the she wolf to attack him. A sob broke past her lips as she buried her face against her arms that were resting atop her knees. She cared too much for him to look at her with disgust, he was the one person who would be able to destroy. That was the reason she was hiding in her room, feigning illness to avoid facing anyone that day.

A knock on the portrait door caused Rose to lift her head, cerulean colored eyes drifting towards the sound before choosing to ignore it. However the person on the other side had a different idea. Another knock followed forcing Rose's brows to furrow slightly at the insistency of the sound before giving in to her insatiable curiosity and walking to the door to her room. Inhaling lightly, the familiar scent drifted to her nostrils. With a groan, Rose pulled the portrait open, eyes refusing to meet the stormy grey that would be watching her.

"We need to talk Rose," Scorpius didn't bother with pleasantries, knowing she would try to find some excuse to avoid him. He wouldn't allow that to happen. He needed to speak to her, get her to see what he saw.

"No, no we don't Scorpius. If you don't mind, I was just getting ready to take a nap. The day after the full moon as always been exhausting. It drains me both mentally and physically. I'm in no mood to talk, to discuss, just go," Rose moved to close the portrait, however Scorpius took a step closer, eyes narrowing with determination to speak to the stubborn witch who held his heart.

"We need to talk Rose. I'm not leaving until you listen to me. After you hear me out, you can toss me out on my arse. Until then, I'm not leaving," exhaling a breath, Rose stepped aside, allowing him enough room to enter. Scorpius brushed past her, pausing in the center of the room to take it in. It was big, and warm. He decided, he liked it. It suited the young witch.

"What did you wish to talk about Malfoy?" Rose's voice was devoid of any emotion, the sound cold. Scorpius decided, he didn't like it. Rose often sounded cold, callous even, yet that always suited her. That was just the way Rose was. However, now it seemed to bother him.

"Why did you run away? Obviously you feel attracted to me on some level. And it isn't just the she wolf. You, your human half, feels this pull to me as well. Just stop fighting it," Scorpius stated, arms crossing over his chest as his eyes narrowed to slits.

"No, I really don't," Rose argued, crossing her own arms. Scorpius breathed a sigh, running long fingers through silky strands of his platinum blonde hair.

"Quit fighting it Rose. Dear Merlin, you have got to be the most bloody stubborn witch I have ever met. I want you to stop fighting this attraction, this pull. I want…" Rose shook her head, throwing her arms down as her temper got the best of her.

"It doesn't matter what you want Malfoy. It's my choice as well, not just yours. And I don't want you," Rose snapped, shaking from repressing her temper. Scorpius's face fell at her words, not expecting the harshness to truly hit him until he glanced in her eyes. They were cold, icy to meet and he felt chills racing down his spine. Slowly he nodded, his fists clenching at his sides before turning his head away from her.

"I see. So it was just the wolf that wants me," he stated, venom coating his words. Rose refused to back down, no matter how much it hurt to say these words to him.

"Yeah. She likes challenges. Give into her to soon, she'll lose interest," Rose stated, refusing to allow the tears that were burning her eyes to fall, knowing Scorpius was going to hate her for every lie that left her lips. Slowly he nodded his head, replaying the words in his head before barking out an unamused laugh. He turned his storm grey eyes to her, a spark of anger lighting them before taking a step towards her. Every muscle in Rose's body tensed, the wolf in her recognizing the challenge on Scorpius's face as he took another step towards her. He was backing her towards the wall, and Rose didn't realize that until her back was pressing against the cold stone of the wall. Scorpius allowed his fist to hit the wall, his temper controlling his actions for a moment as he glared at the young woman staring defiantly back at him. She wasn't afraid, she knew Scorpius would never hurt her. However, the she wolf was enticed, pleased by the display of dominance.

"I know you're lying Rose. I know you want me just as much as the she wolf in you wants me. I'm willing to wait, I can be very patience. However I won't listen to you lie to me or yourself," before Rose could react, Scorpius was pressing his lips to hers, ending any further discussion. Rose attempted to fight, struggling against the aggressive pressure of lips before simply melting against the firm body pressed against her own.

Scorpius didn't let up, kissing her almost viciously. He was trying to prove her attraction to him, as well as prove his own attraction to her. Rose moaned softly as Scorpius nipped her full bottom lip, pressing herself harder against him. Scorpius couldn't fight the smile that stretched across his lips as his hands ran up and down her sides before settling on her thighs. Rose wrapped her slender arms around Scorpius's neck, pulling him closer to her. He picked Rose up, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist. The kiss was quickly becoming heated, and Scorpius knew she would argue and hate him. He pulled away from her lips, almost chuckling as she tried to follow his movement. He lowered his head to her throat, suckling on the junction where her shoulder and met for a moment, grazing his teeth against the sensitive skin.

"I want you Rose. All of you. I want your snarky comments. I want your dry wit. I want your encyclopedia knowledge. I want your moods. I want your temper. I want your she wolf. I want all of you Rose. When will you realize that?" He whispered, his lips brushing her skin with every word. Rose tensed, slipping her legs from around his waist and sliding to the floor.

"Leave," she spoke the one word quietly, waiting. Scorpius didn't pull away from her. He placed his hands firmly on her hips, holding her in place.

"No," he refused, his grip tightening to an almost possessive level.

"Scorpius, leave. I can't do this," Rose whispered, watching as he shook his head.

"No, Rose. I'm not leaving. When are you going to realize I don't care about your fucking curse? I only care about you. I want you," Scorpius growled, frustrated with the witch before him. Her eyes widened at his words, lips parting as a rush of air escaped her kiss swollen lips.

"Please Scorpius. At least give me time to process this," she pleaded, watching as he turned her words over in his head.

"Fine. Only to process. I don't want you to over analyze this. Please promise me you will not over think this. Just let it unfold on its own," Scorpius whispered, leaning forward so his lips grazed her own with each word. Rose was almost hypnotized by the simple action, a fog settling over her mind. Slowly she nodded her head, dazed. Scorpius chuckled before pulling away from the witch he was madly in love with. He left the room, leaving Rose to her thoughts.

"That girl, was more than just the pull of the mate's bond," The she wolf stated, pleased with the sly cunningness of her mate. Rose breathed a shaking breath, sliding down the wall of her room. This was going to be interesting, as long as she didn't fight it.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was interesting to write. Feel free to let me know what you thought. Reviews are much appreciated and keep me motivated.