Last time on Growing Up, Moving On, and Other Things Rose Weasley Sucks At: Rose thinks back to when Vic helped her move into her dorm and meeting Scorpius on her first day at Cindy's. She worries that an incident that happened in the present might strain her friendship with him, and decides to make things right.

Chapter 4

2026

Rose sighed, staring at the e-Owl chats between herself and Scorpius. She began to type.

"Hey Scorpius, I'm sorry about what happened today. It won't happen again."

Backspace-backspace-backspace

"Hey Scorp, you are one of my dearest friends and I shouldn't have made you uncomfortable like that."

Backspace-backspace-backspace

"Dear Scorp,
The truth is, I have been in love with you for several years, but that does not mean I can kiss you out of the blue, I am sorry.
Rose."

Wait, what?

Backspace-backspace-BACKSPACE

"Hey Scorp, I'm sorry for what happened earlier today. I misread the situation, I never meant to make you uncomfortable. I'm so sorry. Hope we can move on from this as friends."

Rose took a deep breath in and hit "send" before she could overthink it. Stowing her e-Owl away before she could obsess over what Scorp's reply might be, she continued her task of clearing out her locker.

-x-

2022

Al, Scorpius and their questionable friend, Trobe, sat at a table in the library, and Rose sat at an adjacent one, reading a Giant Squid comic book. Laughter from her cousin's table made her lift her head and look at them.

Straining her ears, she heard something about Scorpius being the last virgin in the fifth year class. And the fact that school was ending in a few days meant that there wasn't much time to do anything about it. Rose's eyes fixed on the back of Scorpius's head. She thought she saw the tips of his elfin ears tinge red, but she wasn't sure, in the library's dim lighting. When she heard more raucous laughter from Al and Trobe (what kind of dumb name is "Trobe" anyway?), she closed her book and stepped over to their table.

"What's the big deal about losing your virginity anyway? Sometimes, it kinda sucks. You of all people should know that," Rose said. Though her remark was aimed at Al – whose girlfriend had cried after their first time and didn't talk to him for a week – Trobe too looked uncomfortable, fixing his gaze on the centre of the tabletop and swiping a hand across his face.

Deciding her work here was done, Rose picked up her book and left the library.

Later that evening, Scorpius found Rose on her way to her common room.

"Hey, about today," Scorpius said, scurrying to match Rose's pace, "I can fight my own battles, okay? I don't need your pity."

Rose stopped in her tracks. She had thought for a moment that Scorpius was going to thank her.

"Um, what makes you think I was pitying you?" she said, stopping to cross her hands over her chest, "Maybe I was just standing up for a fellow virgin."

Scorpius frowned.

"Now hold up, I thought you and Mike would've, you know," Scorpius was tilting his head and Rose didn't quite understand what this elaborate choreography was for. "I thought you two would've had sex already," he said finally.

"Oh. No, we didn't," Rose said.

"Oh," Scorpius said, now looking deep in thought.

"Well, I have to go pack, see you around!" And with that Rose continued walking towards the portrait hole.

The next day, when Rose was sitting in one of the cushiony windows in the library, Scorpius plonked down next to her and said absolutely nothing, seemingly waiting to say something. About a minute later, Rose rooted for a bookmark in her bag and set her book away.

"What's up, Scorp?" she asked.

"You said you've never had sex before," he said, wiping his palms on the knees of his pants.

"Yeah?"

"Well, aren't you ever curious?" he asked, leaning forward just a little bit.

Rose was curious. As most people her age were. But she was "curious" behind the curtains of her four-poster bed. She wasn't sure how to discuss this with her cousin's friend.

"Um, yeah?"

"So am I. And so, I have a proposition for you. We should have sex." Rose wasn't sure she heard right. She turned Scorpius's words over in her head a few times before thinking of speaking again.

"You're saying that you and I should have sex, together? With each other?" she asked finally.

"Yes! It will be perfect – we're both interested in sex and we know each other for years, so it'll be a safe space for both of us – and the best part is, since neither of us have done it before, we won't be embarrassed with each other! What do you think?"

All Rose could think about is how shiny Scorpius's eyes looked. And how adorable that was, for whatever reason. Shaking her head, she focussed on his words instead. What he said seemed to make sense, but also it seemed too good to be true.

And what about The Talk her parents had given her, about waiting for the right person, and not feeling rushed by others around her?

Then again, Rose found it difficult to make friends. Meeting the "right person" did feel very distant.

But.

In the love stories Rose had read, one's first time was supposed to be romantic. Or special at least.

Scorpius was peering cautiously at Rose, waiting for her answer.

"I kinda want it to be special, you know?" Rose said.

Scorpius smiled.

"Me too. And I think it will be for us – we've known each other for ages, and now, we'll learn this stuff together." Scorpius placed his hand over hers, and Rose liked the warm weight of it. But some part of her mind said the entire scenario shouldn't be as simple as Scorpius was putting it. Shaking her head slightly, she said, "Can I think about it?"

Scorpius patted her hand softly and said, almost in a whisper, "Sure."

The entire next day, Rose watched Scorpius more closely than she ever had. She had always found him attractive, with his long, elegant fingers and floppy blond hair. But now, she noticed small things that made him even more desirable – like the way he rolled his shoulders back after writing for a while. Or the way he bit at the end of his quill when he was concentrating.

If she didn't know earlier, she was sure of it now: Rose had the hots for Scorpius Malfoy.

Add to that the fact that Rose was indeed curious about sex and that she really did trust Scorpius – having known him for so many years – Scorpius's proposition was looking better and better by the minute.

The very next day, she slid into the seat next to him at the Slytherin table. Scorpius turned around in surprise.

"Let's do it," Rose said in a whisper with an excited smile. Scorpius knew exactly what she was talking about and his face mirrored hers.

"My room, tonight?" he asked, drawing closer.

"Okay," Rose replied, unable to keep the grin off her face.

"Meet me outside my common room, I'll let you in," Scorpius said, the plate before him forgotten.

"Okay, see you later." And then she stepped over the bench and ran for the Gryffindor table.

-x-

That night, Rose stood with her back to the wall in the corridor leading to the Slytherin common room. She watched Slytherins stream in, some throwing her curious looks, before Scorpius finally emerged.

"Sorry Rose, was taking care of something. Shall we go?"

"Sure," Rose replied and Scorpius took her hand, leading her through the crowd and then through the entrance. Rose looked around at the green and silver landscape with her mouth agape. She'd always thought Al was exaggerating when he described the Slytherin quarters to her, but it was every bit as imposing and grandiose as he'd said.

"This way," Scorpius said, tugging at her hand. Rose looked down at their linked hands and smiled almost involuntarily. And her reaction confused her.

Soon, the two were walking up the flight of stairs that led to the fifth years' dorm, ignoring the inquisitive looks thrown their way.

"Here we are," Scorpius said, pausing before the door, like he was giving Rose the opportunity to back out now.

"Let's go," Rose whispered back, a mixture of excitement and nerves.

Pushing the door back, Scorpius led Rose to his four-poster and parted the drapes for her. Rose climbed in and sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, with Scorpius following suit. With a whispered spell from him, fairy lights lit up all around them, causing Rose to look around in surprise.

"What's this?" she asked, smiling.

Scorpius followed her gaze and said, a little shyly, "You said you wanted it to be special."

To Rose, it felt like a spark had been lit in her chest and was spreading warmth throughout her being.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, shifting closer to Scorpius. Somewhat uncertainly, he cupped her face.

"I'd like to kiss you," he said softly, looking between her eyes and lips.

In answer, Rose leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his.

Eventually, as things got more heated, contraceptive spells were murmurred and then, the "act" had been done.

It was somewhat terrible.

When shifting positions, Rose accidentally elbowed Scorpius in the ribs. When he tried to brush her hair out of her face, he nearly poked her eye out. And when it came to the actual sex, Scorpius finished early, and then was too apologetic about it. On the other hand, when it was Rose's turn, she was overly conscious that she was taking too long.

And yet, somehow, it was perfect.

When one of them fumbled, the other always laughed playfully, so they both felt warm and safe, instead of embarassed. When Scorpius came, he settled next to Rose and mumbled a "sorry" that broke her heart – because Scorpius coming apart like that had been one of the most exhilarating things she'd ever seen. She said that to him, and the smile that broke out across his face made her insides tingle pleasantly.

"You didn't, y'know, did you?" he asked. Rose shook her head.

"Well, we need to change that, don't we?" he replied, a small smile playing at his lips. When he tried to get her off, and she felt embarrassed because it was taking too long, he guided her fingers to herself and asked her to show him.

A few minutes later, Scorpius was replicating what he'd seen, and Rose found her release. The satisfied smile on Scorpius's face made her pull him up and kiss him hard.

When their racing hearts had slowed down, the two of them put some of their clothes back on. Scorpius squinted at Rose through sleepy eyes, before pulling her to his pillows and wrapping a lazy arm around her. Rose couldn't remember when she fell asleep, but she knew she must've had a goofy smile on her face, because it didn't seem to budge.

In the wee hours of the next morning, Rose got up to leave, even though she didn't want to.

Scorpius led her out of the Slytherin quarters and they stood a moment outside the door. Rose wanted to say a great many things, like "Thank you for making me feel so good," or, "I can't imagine having done this with anyone else," or even, "I don't want to say goodbye just yet, can I come back in?"

But Rose spotted a Slytherin Prefect striding up to the door, and so she left with a hasty, "I had a good time!"

Soon, school was done for the year. Rose only saw Scorpius a few times when she was at Al's place, and whenever their eyes met, they'd both turn a deep shade of red and try laughing their awkwardness away. Rose looked forward to school, thinking that there, she would have more opportunities for some alone time with Scorpius.

But then the sixth year began, and sex with Scorpius Malfoy was the last thing Rose could think of.

-x-

Rose sat at her favourite spot in the Gryffindor common room, the warm flames of the fireplace dancing across her face. The room was nearly deserted, what with everyone in separate locations, celebrating the end of their final tests as sixth years. Rose, however, stared at her Herbology theory paper, the first one to be graded and sent out, not even a day after the last test.

The score on the top made her heart clench with panic. Rose had passed by exactly two marks. If she'd forgotten the crop cycle for gillyweed, or the chemical composition of Mandrake sap, she would have failed.

But what made it even worse was the fact that Rose knew that this score would be sent to her parents, like so many had this past year. And then she'd receive two letters – one from her mother, asking her to pay more attention to her studies and to actually make an effort and I don't understand why you are doing so poorly in your schoolwork.

And then Rose would have to face the answers that came up within her.

I am paying attention to my studies, I am making an effort, it's just not enough. It never is.

Rose sat back against the plush couch and sighed.

And yet, the second letter, the one from her father, would be even worse. Because it would be full of hopeful words of encouragement, to try harder next time, that she'd do better on the next test and I know you can do it, Rosie, you just need some time to figure yourself out.

And Rose would have to confront what she feared to be true.

Maybe this is all I am, all I'll ever be.

Tears filled Rose's eyes and she hastily brushed them away when she heard a familiar voice.

"R-o-sie!"

It was Scorpius, looking a bit loopy and flushed.

"Scorpius!" Rose replied, as he jumped onto the couch next to her.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, kicking his feet up and folding them underneath him.

"Oh, nothing," she said, folding her paper in half, "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Wood's having a party upstairs," he replied cheerfully when Rose figured it out: Scorpius was a little drunk.

"Oh okay, heading back then?" she asked.

"Naw, getting some cauldron cakes from my room. Say, you look a bit strange. What's up?" Scorpius was peering closely into Rose's eyes and she had to look away.

"It's nothing, Scorp. Go get your cauldron cakes." Rose hadn't meant to sound so bitter, but she was. Just a little. Scorpius could celebrate because he'd topped the Herbology paper.

"Rosie!" Scorpius whined. "What is it?"

Rose shook her head and stood to leave.

"Come on, Rosie. You can tell me."

Scorpius was the last person she wanted to tell. After their night together a year ago, she wanted to still look desirable to him, not stupid. But Scorpius's fingers, now gently wrapped around her wrist, told her that he wasn't going to let her go too easily.

She sat back down.

"I nearly flunked my Herbology paper," she whispered, as if she didn't want the shadows too to hear of her shame. Scorpius took a moment to reply.

"Oh Rosie, it was really hard – I mean, I had to study all night for it," Scorpius said earnestly.

Rose gritted her teeth together, "Me too."

Scorpius winced, realising what he said hadn't had its intended effect.

"It's okay, Rose. Maybe Herbology just isn't your thing?" he said finally.

Rose let out a humourless laugh.

"You know, Scorpius, I'm finding out more and more this year, that most things are not my thing. Herbology! It used to make sense to me! We'd go down to the greenhouses, follow some steps that each had their own logic, and then, if we did everything right, we'd have a healthy plant. Now, there's a theory paper, and we need to remember crop cycles and growing seasons and chemical compositions – and I just don't get it! Arithmancy too! I used to be good at arithmancy, with all the numbers and symbols and formulae. And then now, there's zintegrals and distributions and now – now, I suck at that too."

Scorpius seemed to be waiting for his chance to interject.

"But you're good at Charms and Transfig!"

Rose pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes.

"I do okay at those. But I guess that's doing pretty well by my standards."

Scorpius spluttered, scrambling for something to say.

"But – but Rose, you're the only person I know who can make up spells!" he said exasperatedly.

"Well, I wish there was a exam for that." Her afterthought was that, if there was, Scorpius would still find a way to top it. Rose shook her head; there was no reason for her to be resentful of her friend.

"Rose – Rose, I still think you're brilliant," Scorpius said. Rose gave a weak laugh, he was grasping at straws now. It was sweet, but it only made her feel worse.

"Okay, Scorp," she said, getting up and smoothing down the front of her jeans.

"I really do think that," he said, standing up with her.

"Thanks. And I'm sorry I bummed you out with all this, when you were celebrating," she said, rubbing the back of her neck as she took a step backwards, "I'll see you later." And with that, she expected to have her exit. But as she walked towards the flight of stairs that led to her dorm, Scorpius called out to her.

"Rosie, wait!"

"Yeah?" she asked, turning to face him.

"You have an amazing body," he said.

"Wha – what?" Rose asked.

"I remember it from, ahem, our time together and it's really nice."

Rose let out a surprised laugh.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she asked.

"Well, I made you laugh, didn't I?" he said, the smile on his face making her own grow, just a tiny bit.

"Yeah," she said, laughing again, "Thanks, Scorpius."

"Sure, Rosie. And you really are incredible. You'll believe me one day."

-x-

2026

Rose's eyes teared up remembering Scorpius's words. She didn't quite believe she was "incredible", but at least the crushing insecurity from earlier wasn't as crushing anymore. And Scorpius… Thinking of her last encounter with him made her cheeks flush. Her eyes drifted back to her closed e-Owl and she shook her head.

She stuck her hand into the rucksack full of her locker's contents and felt the corner of an envelope. She pulled it out and smiled at the words sparkling on the front.

Great job, Rose Weasley!

From,
Arnold Shine

Rose opened the cover and read, a sense of pride trickling into her being.