Chapter 30

Three Years and 6 Months Later…

"So…how is he?" Hermione asked her husband as he lifted up the covers and joined her in their bed. She closed the book she had been reading while he had got ready for bed. After placing the book on her night stand, she rolled over to face her husband.

"He is great," Ron replied. "He looks happier, older, and wiser and just…I don't know…free."

"Where is he staying? With Albus and Alison?" Hermione asked.

"No, he's staying with Hue," Ron answered. "I think he wasn't to keen about going back to his old flat, something about how he's different now… I don't know," Ron explained with a sigh.

"That's good, Hugo looks up to Scorp. He probably wants to hear about all of his adventures," Hermione said.

"More like he couldn't wait to show off his pinball machine," Ron chuckled. Hermione let out a small giggle with her husband.

"Is he coming tomorrow?" Hermione asked, her serious tone returning.

"Of course," Ron answered. "Said he can't wait to see everyone."

"Does he know Rose isn't going to be there?"

"I don't know," Ron replied. Hermione could hear the frustration in his voice and she knew why. "We never really talked about Rose." Ron raked his hands through his hair and sighed as he sat up. Hermione wrapped her arms around her husband's bare shoulders, placing small tender kisses against his skin. "I am just so angry with her," he spoke with regret and frustration. Hermione knew that it was very hard for Ron to feel this way. He felt betrayed and cast aside by his daughter and he was angry, but she knew he didn't want to be. "Since when is it appropriate to miss a family gathering for some Ministry function? We didn't raise her that way."

"I know, honey," Hermione reassured as she massaged his shoulders where she knew he held most of his tension. "But she is in a serious relationship and isn't that what it is about, compromise?"

"You're just saying that because you are just as chuffed with the bloke as she is," Ron snapped back, shrugging off her hands and moving to sit out of her reach, on the edge of the bed.

"Excuse me?"

"Hermione, I know you think he is perfect."

"Nobody is perfect-"

"You are," Ron cut across her in a slightly raised voice. He stood up and turned to face her. "And so is Rose."

"I can assure you neither Rose nor I are perfect," Hermione said.

"Fine, but that doesn't change the fact that you like her new 'boyfriend'," Ron spat the word as though it deeply offended him.

"I think he is a respectful gentleman, yes," Hermione reasoned.

"Gentleman, ha, right," Ron said sarcastically. "He's a ponce!"

"Ron, I am not having this conversation with you again," Hermione said strictly. "It's been a year and Rose is serious about him. So, I don't care whether you like him or not, but you will respect Rose's decision." Ron huffed and shook his head in disagreement.

"He's not right for her," he muttered, as he got back in bed. "And I know you don't agree with me, but that's my opinion."

"Who said I don't agree with you?" Hermione asked as she turned off her lamp.

"But you said-"

"I said he is a very nice, respectful gentleman. Not that I think he is the one for my daughter," Hermione clarified, sharing a cheeky smile with her husband as she scooted down closer to him, resting her head on the pillow. Ron closed the gap between them, pressing a tender kiss on her lips. "However, it's not our opinion that counts," Hermione said sternly as she broke the kiss with a small push on his chest. She never broke their eye contact, as she spoke. "It's Rose's life and only her opinion counts."

The Next Day, 11:30am

Rose had never been so busy in her life. She had graduated from culinary school with honours and thanks to years of hard work and saving, not to mention a little help from her parents, Rose had brought her own gourmet café and bakery. She had been open for business for about a month and it had been hectic. However, at the moment Rose was in the kitchen of the Burrow putting the final touches on the cake. However, this wasn't just any cake; not only was it was the first specialty cake she had made as a part of her new business, but more importantly it was the cake that was going to feed the large crowd in attendance for Victoire's baby shower that very same day.

"Morning Rose," Dominique entered the kitchen, pleased to see her cousin. "Where have you been hiding for the last couple of months?" she asked. Dominique had temporarily moved back from France on Teddy's request, to help Victoire prepare for the baby. However, everyone knew it was to keep Victoire sane while on leave from work and from their mother's constant harassments.

"Oh, I've just been so busy lately," Rose replied apologetically, but never taking her eyes off the cake. "I barely have time to myself anymore."

"Hmm, I understand…I mean who could have time between starting up a successful business and dating the youngest Head of Department of International Magical Cooperation ever," Dominique commented with a smirk as she poured herself a glass of red wine. Rose smiled slightly, but decided to ignore her cousin's comment.

"I see you're starting early today," Rose said, nodding to Dom's wine. Dominique, who was for the most part the good girl in school had taken a liking to wine, much to her mother's chagrin, while in France amongst the fashion atmosphere in which she worked. Bill and Fleur talked all time about how the fashion industry had changed her, but Rose and all the others who went to school with her would know that she had changed in her last to years at Hogwarts. In fact she was very similar to Lucy until about half way through her 6th year. Rose suspected it had something to do with Bradley Vixen saying she was too nice and goody-goody to go out with him. It is not that she is bad now, but just that she was never quite the same.

"Yes, Mum has been driving me up the wall," Dom remarked. "I swear she is more stressed than Victoire, which is stupid considering she's the one who's actually pregnant." Rose shared a laugh with her cousin. "Care to join me?"

"No, I'm fine thanks," Rose replied, casting some cooling charms around her masterpiece to keep in from melting in the June heat.

"Oh, trust me; you will definitely need some after the afternoon with a pregnant lady and her crazy mother," Dominique chuckled as she topped up her glass.

"Actually, I can't stay," Rose said moving around the kitchen, packing up her equipment into a bag and looking at her watch. "In fact, if I don't get going now, I am going to be late."

"What do you mean, you can't stay?" Dominique asked, confused. "What about the baby shower?"

"I am sorry Dom, but Ben and I are going to the Gala and-"

"Why?"

"Why? What do you mean, why?"

"Why are you deciding now to attend a Ministry Gala over family?"

"Look, I have already spoken to Teddy and Vic and they are okay with it," Rose explained. "Dad wasn't too impressed but this is important to Ben and I am going to be there to support him."

"It's not because Al told you he's coming?" Dominique asked suggestively. Rose knew exactly who she was referring to and in all honestly she had planned on skipping the Gala until Albus let it slip Scorpius was back in town.

"It has nothing to do with him," Rose lied. "It has everything to do with supporting Ben."

"Right," Dominique said clearly not convinced and a little disappointed. Rose sighed, knowing she couldn't convince Dominique that it had nothing to do with a certain blonde, when she could not convince herself. Gathering her things, Rose walked passed Dominique, both of them avoiding eye contact, on her way to the back door. Just as Rose was about to leave she turned around.

"Say hello for me," she said to her cousin's back. There was no need to communicate who, both cousins knew who they were referring to. Rose watched Dominique heave a sigh, before she turned and faced her.

"I will," Dominique replied with a smile, raising her glass. Rose smiled in return before she turned and walked away clutching her bag to chest.

Sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I really need to write quicker :) Thank you all for your reviews, I have reached well over 100! Yay! Thank you so much. I hope this gives you an idea as to where the Rose is in her life at the moment. You will get to here more about Scorpius and what he has done in the next one. If there is anything you'd like to hear about Scorpius doing while on his trip, let me know :)

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