Chapter 4: Forgiveness and Acceptance

As soon as Rose felt the basement floor beneath her feet again, she collapsed in a heap of sobs. Her uncle's arms were around her the next moment.

"What…what happened to the knife?" she whimpered.

"Oh, it found a mark - unfortunately."

Rose gasped sharply. "Mum?" she cried, staring up, stricken, into Harry's face.

He shook his head. "No. Dobby."

"The house-elf died?!" Harry nodded.

"He was so brave. A hero. He's buried on a dune just beyond Shell Cottage."

"W-what about the others? Auntie Luna and Mr. Ollivander-?"

"They preceded us there. Recovered there with us for a few days, then left."

"And what about her?" Rose snarled. "That tramp, that…that monster!"

Harry actually grinned. "Dead. Killed in the Battle of Hogwarts by none other than your Grandma Weasley."

Rose laughed through her tears until she hiccuped. "Really?"

"Uh-huh."

Rose looked up at Harry again, her face full of admiration now. "You and Daddy were so brave. You saved Mummy. You're heroes!"

Harry chuckled. "Well, I was a younger man then. And I definitely couldn't pull stunts like that today. It's funny you say that, because your mom calls Ron and I her heroes now and again in private. I think she even nicknamed your dad her 'Knight in Shining Armor.' And that's more than just a nickname, you know. It's actually an inside joke - but that is another story."

The pair knelt there for a while, until Rose's sobs turned into sniffles.

"And now," Harry said as she calmed, "why don't we let the others know we're alright?"

As soon as they reached Malfoy Manor, there was a yell of "Rose!" Scorpius nearly ran her over with a bone-crushing hug. "Where were you? I've been worried sick!"

"I'll tell you later," Rose whispered to him. The pair looked back to see Harry smiling softly at them.

"Rose, go on in 'n let your parents know you're alright. I want to talk to young master Malfoy here." Rose's eyes filled with apprehension and she did not move.

"Go on, I said," Harry said, mock-sternly. Rose trudged up to the manor. Harry turned to the young blond-haired boy.

"Now, you listen to me, Scorpius Malfoy," he drawled. "If you hurt one little hair on that girl's head, you'll have more than just her mum and dad to answer to. And they'll be the least of your worries, trust me, because if I get wind that you have done anything to my goddaughter, I will hunt for you, I will find you and I will kill you. Understood?"

Scorpius' face went white at the reality of being threatened by the Chosen One himself. "Yes sir," he squeaked, and ran for the manor. Harry softly laughed and followed the boy inside.

When the Boy Who Lived reached the drawing room, he found Rose and a clearly-recovered Hermione wrapped in a tight embrace.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Mummy! I -I didn't realize that….that you…" and Rose broke off into a hysterical round of crying before she could finish.

"Oh, sweetheart," Hermione breathed soothingly and she knelt before her daughter. "Daddy and I are the ones who should be sorry. We never should have put our past feelings and experiences ahead of what makes you happy. But-" and here she sighed heavily - "now you know. Rosie, your father and I just want you to be happy, whatever you decide." She kissed Rose on the forehead, and Ron, who was smiling softly, patted her on the head. Rose turned to him.

"Rosie, I'm…" but Rose silenced him by stepping into his arms. Ron froze, startled, but eventually hugged her back as Rose streaked tears against his shirtfront.

"I'm sorry I didn't understand. But I do now. I love you," Rose said softly. Ron looked up over her head to his best friend, who was leaning against the wall.

"Do I have anything to be sorry for?" Harry inquired. It was a loaded question, going beyond asking if he had been out of line to tell Rosie before her parents had the chance. Harry was also asking if it was his fault for saying Voldemort's tabooed name, which had gotten them into the mess at Malfoy Manor in the first place. He was asking if he should blame himself for Hermione's torture. Understanding all of this subtext, Ron shook his head.

"No way, man. Never." Harry smiled. Draco now approached the group from where he and his family had been standing in the corner, trying to act invisible.

"Harry…Ron…Hermione…", and from his discomfort, Rose wondered if this was the first time Scorpius' father had actually said their names. "I just want you to know that your daughter will be welcome in our house."

"And your son in ours" Ron replied automatically. Hermione turned to him, surprised at her husband's admission, before she smiled warmly and gave him a tender kiss on his cheek.

"I love you, my Knight in Shining Armor."

"I love you too, every day and every hour," Ron smiled at her.

And with that, the three families sat down for a proper meal, friends for the first time.