AN: Reminder: This story updates biweekly.
Anywho, this part has changed /so much/ since the first iteration. I'm much happier with the balance that was found with Hermoine as a character. I hope you guys enjoy the interaction - there's a lot of love there. :) Take care of yourselves!
Scorpius had offered to be gone for the conversation with her mum. Rose had insisted that he didn't have to. It was his home, after all. Scorpius had just given her an unimpressed look before telling her he would be upstairs with a book if she needed him. Later on, she had registered just how uncomfortable being a part of the conversation would be for him. She didn't begrudge anyone wanting to remove themselves from that type of situation.
Merlin, she sort of wished she could remove herself from it.
As it was, studying with Scorpius had kept her distracted enough from the upcoming chat. There had been more than a few interesting conversations about the fine points of various subjects (only a few getting heated when opposing opinions refused to give ground) and, truthfully, she felt like she already had a head start on classes for the year. Her friends at school were brilliant, but the sheer scope of understanding that Scorpius had on the various subjects was staggering. She had thoroughly enjoyed their debates the past couple of days and was even finding herself looking forward to the next week or so of being able to study with him before school started.
"Hey, honey."
Rose jolted upright in her chair at the familiar voice. She smiled cautiously at her mother's (literally) fiery countenance. Her stomach was in knots. "Hey, Mum. Um...how are you?"
The ember that was her mother's eyebrow lifted, "I could be better, Rose."
Rose deflated slightly, "Right." The dark tendrils that she'd been keeping in check started exploring again. What a stupid question to ask.
"I'm more interested in how you're doing, honey."
The voice was soft and worried and it had Rose rubbing at her eyes roughly. "I feel pretty terrible. About...everything." She took a deep breath, "I'm so sorry, Mum. I'm sorry for scaring you. For scaring everyone. I didn't…," she couldn't think of the right words, "...I just am sorry." Covering her eyes, she took a few more fortifying breaths.
"I hate that I can't hug you right now without burning you," came the slightly frustrated response, emotion tugging at the edges of her mother's voice.
A watery laugh escaped Rose at that, "Same, Mum. But...I do like not being on fire, so...rain check?"
Hermoine's countenance smiled softly at her, "Deal."
The silence stretched as Rose wiped the remaining tears away. There was a part of her that had immediately relaxed upon hearing her mum's voice. She'd felt so guilty about leaving as suddenly as she had, but she didn't regret it. It had been...too much. But she missed them so much after her grandfather's disappearance. It hurt to have them out of sight, but it had hurt to be there, too. She looked back to her mum, "How is everyone holding up? Things were...tense when I…"
The sentence never finished, but her mum picked up the train of thought and sighed, "Things are still tense. Gran is putting on a strong face, but I've found her a couple times staring at the clock…" she paused before moving on, "Your father has been working overtime with Harry to try and track down any leads, but so far they've been unsuccessful."
The tired notes in her mother's voice had worry crawling up Rose's spine, "Has there been...anything?"
"Not yet."
Rose nodded, pulling at the ends of her curls to keep her hands busy, "Is the Ministry…?"
Hermoine shook her head, "Business as usual, I'm afraid. With Merritt Coil's death I've been pulled in for coverage in the Beast Division until they find a replacement for him so I've had less time than I'd like to try and follow leads." Her expression told Rose exactly how her Mum felt about being held back from investigating more fully. Hermoine took a deep breath before shaking her head sadly, "But...it's ne. Merritt was a good man."
Rose vaguely remembered him. On the short side, an impressive moustache, and a kind smile for a young girl feeling out of her depth at her first Ministry function with her parents.
"But, as I said, your father and Harry are doing their best."
"Has anyone responded to the article in the Prophet ?"
Her mum gave her a small smile, "Ah, you saw that?" Rose just nodded. Her mother didn't need to know about her small breakdown in the kitchen. "Unfortunately, no. I've been fighting with the publisher this entire week to try and get it closer to the front page. At least a more central placement, but…"
Quiet fell, the soft crackle of the fire filling the space around them.
After clearing her throat, Hermoine's voice lightly ventured, "The den turned out nicely."
Rose blinked at her mum in surprise, "Uh...yes?"
She watched as Hermoine's gaze traveled around the shelves, "It wasn't completed the last time I visited. It's been a while," she sighed, "Too long, I should say."
"Oh...I forget sometimes that you would have been here since…"
Hermoine smiled, "Of course. Draco and Astoria are very gracious. I've enjoyed my visits. Now if I could just get your father to come with next time, I'd consider it no small victory." Her mum rolled her eyes, "But, I'm working on him with that. Besides, I'd hardly say the manor is the same place it was when we...visited all those years ago. This room in particular I'd love to investigate on my next visit."
Rose leaned forward, "Mum...this room has shelves that always have you finding the book you're looking for right away and they never run out of room for new ones."
Hermoine's face lit up (more than it already was, of course), "Oh, that sounds delightful . I'll have to pester Draco on the enchantment for that."
"Scorpius said his parents designed the room just for him. I think it's my favorite room in the place."
Her mother's gaze landed back on her with amusement, "Is Scorpius being a good host in his parents' absence?"
Rose frowned, "Of course. I worry that their house-elf doesn't care for me much, though. Scorpius says he likes me, but...I dunno."
"Ah, Skilt is still keeping the place running smoothly?"
At the subtle note of disapproval in her mum's voice, Rose rolled her eyes, "Mum, please no S.P.E.W. talk. If Skilt could be left alone by unexpected visitors, he would be the happiest of house-elves here with the Malfoys. They even got him a little apron he wears in the kitchen and it's so precious."
"An apron? So he is a free agent?"
Rose frowned, "I really don't think Skilt would consider himself an agent of anyone besides himself. If he happens to use his agency for a family he cares about...then I'd say that's accurate?"
Hermoine sighed, "Well...I'm glad he is happy. I still have trouble understanding the house-elf/wizard relationship, but...I know Draco and Astoria treat Skilt as a member of their family."
Leaning forward and cupping a hand to block her lips from the doorway, Rose whispered, "I heard Skilt laugh this morning, Mum. Scorpius made a joke and it was miraculous."
She wished she could have captured the incredulous look that crossed her mum's face. Then they both devolved into a fit of laughter. She missed this. She felt like she hadn't had a laugh with her mum in forever, though it had only really been a week or so. She tucked the warm emotions away to remember when she was feeling lost again.
The laughter died down and Hermoine smiled at her, "So, Scorpius. Where is your consummate host, then? It's been quite a few years since I've seen him."
"He's upstairs studying," Rose offered cautiously.
Her mum smiled innocently, "Well, I would love to speak with him."
" Mum …"
"I reserve the right to speak to the young man who you're taking refuge with."
Rose felt her cheeks warm up, "Oh my god, Mum. Don't say it like that!"
"Like what, dear?"
She scowled at her Mum for a beat before standing abruptly and grumbling, "I'll go get him."
"Thank you, darling!" was called after her in an amused tone.
Rose moved toward the foyer and up the stairs, mumbling about how ridiculous her mum was being. As she got to the landing, she hesitated. She knew which room was Scorpius's by now, but she hadn't ventured near it. There really hadn't been any reason to. Moving forward, she noted the door was ajar, a warm glow spilling out onto the floor beyond the threshold.
Standing in front of it for a moment, she frowned at her own hesitance. Now she was being as ridiculous as her mum. Knocking, she called quietly, "Scorpius?"
There was the sound of a book snapping shut and the rustle of fabric before the door was pulled open. Scorpius looked slightly rumpled, his hair sticking up in places. Rose glanced down at the book held in his hand before her gaze drifted to the room behind him. It was spacious with a comfortable looking bed that had definitely been recently vacated.
She looked back at Scorpius, doing her best not to picture him curled up comfortably in his bed with a book. So engrossed in a book that he'd been in one position long enough to develop…
"Bedhead."
Scorpius looked at her in confusion.
Oh, Merlin she'd said it out loud. She ignored the heat across her cheeks and cleared her throat, "Your hair is...it's messed up. A bit." Gesturing her hands vaguely around her own hair, she hoped he'd say something and save her from her own mortification.
He blinked at her before registering what she was getting at. A small laugh escaped him as he quickly ran his free hand through his hair, calming some of it down. She was immediately jealous that his hair was so forgiving.
"Is everything alright?"
"Oh, right," she recalled why she was knocking at his door, "Mum wants to say hello to you."
A slight frown slipped across his face, "Really?"
"Something about not seeing you in a while and wanting to make sure you're not a random crazy person that I've decided to hide out with."
He huffed, "Well, I can't make any guarantees…" at her glare he grinned brightly, "...but I think I can manage an appearance." He turned to set his book back on his nightstand before he was back and offering for her to lead the way.