7th year - April

Scorpius snuck out of the bustling Slytherin common room. He hadn't been back there in a while because he had been spending much too much time in the presence of a certain red-headed girl in the confines of their own private common room, but tonight was the night Albus was throwing a celebration on their acceptance into the Auror program. Scorpius was officially going to be an Auror, and he'd never felt so accomplished in his 17 years of life. Because when he entered Hogwarts, Scorpius had been an eleven-year-old with so much to prove. And now he was seventeen and had proven to most people who met him that he was much more than they ever expected him to be.

However, Scorpius left that glorious celebration early. Not because it wasn't amusing to watch Albus try to flirt his way into Betty Thompson's bed. Nor was it because it wasn't exciting to boast about his accomplishments for one night. Scorpius was only leaving because he had seen a certain red-headed girl leave early after barely having a sip of firewhisky. Which was unlike her because Rose Weasley usually breathed life into every party she attended. But she left. And he couldn't have that.

So he slipped out when Albus and Damian were distracted chatting up two Ravenclaw girls and ran after the girl.

He didn't know quite what to do when he found her crouched in a lifeless corner of a corridor, half hidden behind a nearby statue, looking more solemn than he'd ever seen her.

"I know you hate the Slytherin common room, but I'm sure it was better than this dreary place. Are we really such terrible company?"

Rose looked surprised to see him. He pretended not to notice the sadness in her eyes and the crinkle of her brow.

"Scorpius… I was just a bit tired."

"Then, why are you here instead of in your own bed?"

Scorpius stooped down and sat on the cold stone floor beside her.

"I just… I don't know. I really am happy for you and Al, and I want to celebrate you two. You know I do. I just suddenly felt … unaccomplished? I don't know how to describe it."

Rose buried her head in her hands. Scorpius would have laughed at her if she didn't look so serious.

Rose Weasley was everything but unaccomplished.

"Rose, we both know you're more accomplished than the entire population of Hogwarts."

Rose blushed at the compliment, a sight that was no longer as rare to Scorpius but just as incredible as always.

"I know that word isn't the right way to describe it. Let me try again. It was just that seeing you and Al complete the first step to accomplishing your dreams really put into perspective that I don't have something to look forward to like that. I don't know what I want to do. I just have these grand ideas of making a difference in the world and nothing to show for it."

"It's ok, Rose. We haven't even graduated yet. You've got plenty of time."

Scorpius had never seen Rose so troubled before. Rose Weasley was confident, maybe even borderline arrogant, for most of the time he'd known her. She was proud and fiery and oh-so-sure of herself. She had always held her head high in every room and never let anyone have the last word. She was a Gryffindor through and through. But this Rose was unfamiliar to Scorpius.

She was vulnerable.

"It just feels like I'm waiting for my life to begin, and I don't even know where to start. You know I love having a plan, and I just don't have one. I've never felt this uncertain in my life."

Rose buried her face in her hands, hoping that these words escaping her lips wouldn't cause tears to appear in her eyes. She felt pathetic admitting this all to Scorpius. And she felt terrible venting her insecurities at the boy when it was supposed to be his celebration night.

"Well, it starts by taking it one step at a time and not beating yourself up about it, Rose. Al and I are lucky that we had this plan that worked out, but I know with full confidence that you of all people will make a mark on this world, with or without some concrete to-do-list. While everyone's taking baby steps, you'll be the one making strides. You're Rose Weasley, after all."

Rose didn't know how Scorpius of all people seemed to have more confidence in her than she had in herself.

"I have a secret, Scorpius. You can't tell Al, or anyone else for that matter."

"What is it?"

"I got an offer to be on the Harpies."

"Rose, that's amazing! They haven't gotten a new recruit in years. They're one of the most selective teams in the league."

"I know, Scorpius, but I don't know if I should take it."

"Why?"

"I just always wanted to make some sort of difference in this world, and I don't really know how Quidditch will help me do that. I know it will be fun and I'll get to travel the world, but it's just not my calling or anything like that. I thought it would be easy to find this calling of mine, but it isn't."

"Rose, you can always find whatever calling you want along the way. You're allowed to do something because it's fun while you find what you truly want to do. Not every step or decision has to be some grand thing. No one said life is a straight line. You're allowed to find yourself."

"My mum would disagree."

The look of disapproval on Hermione Granger's face was one that would haunt Rose to the end of time. Because her mum had never looked at her like that since she accidentally gave Hugo the scar above his eyebrow.

"She wouldn't. You know she wouldn't, Rose."

"How would you know that?"

Rose squinted at Scorpius, wondering what kind of secret understanding he had that she didn't. Scorpius sighed because Rose Weasley was anything but stupid, but she was quite dense sometimes when it had to do with herself.

"Your parents grew up during a period when they didn't have the privilege of time. They weren't allowed the flexibility to have fun or even choose what to do. They had to be what they were because the world needed them to be. Their circumstances demanded that they sacrifice the best part of their youth to fight a war. Your mum would be happy that you are in the position to be able to explore. This is what they fought for - for the future and for the potential in our futures. For us to be able to find ourselves and our way in the best way we can. Because this world they built for us is one where we don't need to be anything other than what we want to be."

Rose hadn't thought of it like that. She had always thought she had the biggest shoes to fill because her parents were Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They were two thirds of the Golden Trio. Her mum was brilliant, accomplished, and strong. Her dad was passionate, funny, and warm. They had saved the Wizarding World when they were just 17. She had always thought she needed to be like them to be something in the world, to make them happy, to make herself happy.

But, hearing Scorpius' words, she realized that her parents had never done anything to make her feel that way. They had never compared her experience to their own except to celebrate Rose. Hermione had cried the day Rose had gotten her Head Girl badge and excitedly helped her pack for her final year. Ron had made a joke about his daughter completing more schooling than he did. They always eagerly asked about her daily school experiences and laughed with her about the simplest of happenings. They delighted in the everyday stories, no matter how boring they seemed to her. But, now that Rose thought about it, they loved hearing about her experiences partially because their school experience had been so heavy in comparison.

She was just now realizing that Scorpius was right. This was what they fought for. For her to be able to spend time worrying about what teenagers worry about instead of a war or risking her life fighting an enemy. To be able to contemplate her career choices, to be sad about the end of her school years, to enjoy friendships, to worry about boys, to make mistakes, to explore, to grow. They had fought so that she would be allowed the privilege of being a teenager and growing up. Because, in her age, her parents were forced into adulthood by outside forces that demanded everything from them.

She looked at the blonde boy next to her. For the first time in her life, Rose felt like she was lacking in intelligence. She suddenly felt like a child - immature and naïve. Because how could Scorpius know more about her parents' true thoughts than she did?

But, even if she was feeling so small, she also felt so incredibly comforted.

She didn't know what to say, so she said nothing. Instead, she leaned on Scorpius' shoulder, acknowledging his words. She felt at peace for the first time in weeks as she snuggled up to his warmth and inhaled his scent.

And she felt even more comforted when she felt his arm wrap around her shoulder. His hand stroked her hair softly before he turned to kiss the top of her head.

"It's going to be alright, Rose. We're all proud of you." She felt him whisper into her hair.

"Thank you, Scorpius"

And they stayed like that a little bit longer than would be appropriate for friends.

…

And Scorpius smiled the next morning when he saw the Weasley-Potter clan surround Rose with excited cheers and hugs when she shared the news that she was recruited by the Harpies.

And Scorpius smiled again the next week when she cried after receiving a letter from her parents filled with nothing but praises, excitement, and pride. He bit back the "I told you so" that tingled the tip of his tongue. This was a great decision on his part because he earned himself another hug by the red-headed girl, which most definitely would have been a smack if he had not held back the phrase.

And, suddenly and not so suddenly at the same time, they had both taken steps toward their futures.

A/N: I'm getting quite sad that they will be leaving the security of Hogwarts soon.

Let me know what you think. Appreciate you all.