Chapter 2: Learning the Truth

Easter Break came too soon for the clan. But, nobody tried to weasel out of the event, not even Ron.

However, as the Weasleys and Potters (who had agreed to accompany Rose's family as moral support) approached the Malfoy Manor, Rose noticed that her parents were growing increasingly on edge. They had been ever since they had Apparated at their destination, and were even more so now that they were past the black iron front gate. At one point, her mother suddenly keened like she was going to faint.

"Mum!" Rose cried, shocked, but her father and Uncle Harry caught her.

"It's all right, Hermione. We've got you," Harry told her. But his voice was shaky and even he was not trying to hide the obvious fright on his face. And Harry Potter being frightened was a very rare occurrence indeed. Rose had always thought of her uncle as so tough, brave, the Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One who had defied death numerous times. Now, a simple walk up a driveway was leaving him literally quaking in his boots.

Her father, meanwhile, kept rubbing his eyes and holding a hand to his head, like he was trying to shake off a bad memory or something. Little did Rose know at that moment how eerily accurate that guess was.

The two families finally reached the front door. Ginny took the initiative to knock, as she had probably surmised none of the Golden Trio was in a state to do so, or even want to do so. After a moment, a thin woman with black hair opened it. Astoria Malfoy, Scorpius' mother.

"Wonderful. Come on in," was all she said.

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked as though she had announced they were going to be executed; Ginny and Hugo had to guide the three across the threshold. Up a long staircase they climbed, and with each step, Rose was starting to regret more and more that she had brought her family here, especially her mum. The three most important adults in her life were jumping at every sound, their eyes darting frantically about like caged animals. When they approached what looked like the dining room, Hermione cried out.

"No! Not in there! Please, anywhere but there!" Astoria looked at her, confused.

"It's our dining room, Hermione. Where else do you expect us to get acquainted?"

Ron now looked like he wanted to punch Astoria in the nose as he held his wife and began to stroke her hair, even as he was trembling himself. Astoria awkwardly threw open the doors, and the guests had no choice but to follow.

They were in what may have previously been a drawing room. Tapestries hung against black walls, furniture was in the corners, and a dining table stood in the center. The only lighting was enchanted candles floating in mid-air. Rose thought the place looked creepy.

She quickly found her boyfriend and greeted him with a hug, then introduced her family. Harry and Ron shook Draco and Lucius Malfoy's hands stiffly; James, Albus and Hugo did it to be polite. Ginny and Hermione didn't move and in fact glared in the mens' direction.

Dinner was practically thrown on the table to diffuse the awkwardness of it all, but the meal turned out to be no better. Finally, there was a crash as silverware splattered everywhere; Hermione was rocking back and forth, hands over her ears and screaming. "No! Please! Stop! Stop!"

Everyone stood frozen in shock and/or terror, and only Scorpius had the decency to speak up. "Help her, Dad!" But Draco stayed frozen in his chair as if anchored to it, the look on his face clearly demonstrating that he had no idea what to do.

Ron finally jumped out of his place, circled the table, and scooped his wife up in his arms like she was a rag doll. He rounded on the Malfoys, fury blazing in his eyes.

"How could you ask us to come back here like this? Have you no heart? How dare you make us meet here, of all places!"

"We didn't ask you to come. Rose arranged it," Astoria tried to explain patiently.

"Oh, right!" Ron realized and he cackled with derisive laughter as he rounded on his daughter. "You don't have a heart, Rosie! No, you made us come back to the house - the very room - where they"- and here he pointed a finger at Draco and Lucius - "tortured your mother!"

Lily screamed. Hugo looked like he wanted to cry. Rose looked stunned. "What?" she breathed. Her eyes darted about the room, horrified, then her jaw set in anger as realization dawned.

"That's why you hate Scorpius! Just because of who he is and what his family did to Mum?!"

"Bingo! We have a winner!" Ron shot back sarcastically, the sneer on his face almost disturbing. "But not just what they did to your mum! What they did to me! And your uncle!" His expression now crumbled as tears began to fall freely. "What they did to me!" he cracked with emotion. "To all of us! Listening to your mum screaming - and there was nothing, nothing I could do about it! That bitch Bellatrix Lestrange left her scarred for life!"

If there was any doubt left about Rose bringing her parents here, it was gone now. Her eyes glistened with tears, and she reached for her father, but he twisted away, sorrowful anger returning.

"No, don't you dare say how sorry you are for me!" he roared. "It's too late for that!"

"What do you expect me to say?!" Rose cried, tears of anger and despair falling now. "How can you ask me to choose between him and you? I wish I was never in this family!" She shoved her father hard and ran from the room, sobbing.

"ROSE! ROSE HERMIONE!" Ron roared, but she did not even look back. His fury escalated as he watched Scorpius follow his daughter, also ignoring his parents' calls. Ron made to go after them both, but Harry intercepted him.

"Don't. You. Dare." the Chosen One growled. "If anyone is going to talk to them, it's me, not you. Take care of Hermione, you understand me?" He turned tail and raced out of the room before Ron could even respond.

"Nice going, you idiot!" Ginny snapped at her brother as he turned back to the chaotic table. Lily and Hugo crying, James and Albus appearing shell-shocked, and the Malfoys refusing to look anyone in the eye. Worst of all was Hermione sobbing into Ron's shirtfront.