Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter.

Scorpius blinked against the blinding white light, his vision adjusting as the sterile scent of St. Mungo's filled his senses. Slowly, awareness crept in—he was alive. His body ached like he'd been hit by a rogue Bludger, his limbs heavy and uncooperative. He tried to sit up, but even the effort to move his fingers felt monumental.

"Don't even think about it, Malfoy," came a soft, familiar voice.

He turned his head, wincing at the stiffness in his neck. There, in the corner of the room, sat Rose. Her red hair was a disheveled mess, strands falling into her face as she leaned against the armrest of the chair. Dark circles underlined her tired eyes, but there was a steady resolve in her gaze that stirred something deep in his chest.

"Rose," he croaked, his voice a shadow of itself. He swallowed, his throat dry and scratchy, but his concern overrode his discomfort. "Are you… alright? Did it hurt you? Did I hurt you? Did they—"

"Scorpius," she interrupted softly, standing and crossing to his bedside. "I'm fine. You didn't hurt me, you idiot."

Her faint smile betrayed her exhaustion, but there was something else behind it—a flicker of worry she couldn't quite hide.

"What about you?" she asked, folding her arms as she looked down at him. "Still in pain? Or just regretting your idiotic heroics?"

Scorpius groaned, attempting to shift himself upright but failing miserably. "More the latter," he admitted with a strained chuckle. "But seriously, did I…? I didn't…" His voice cracked. "Did I hurt you?"

"For Merlin's sake, Malfoy," she said, exasperation bleeding into her tone. "You just… saved me. Like you always do."

Her words were meant to comfort, but Scorpius's heart twisted. "I didn't want you to see me like that," he muttered, his voice heavy with shame. "The way I turned—ugly, uncontrollable…"

Rose sat on the edge of his bed, her tone soft but firm. "You think that's what I care about? Scorpius, what matters to me isn't how you look or what you turn into. It's that you didn't trust me enough to tell me."

He closed his eyes briefly, guilt washing over him. "It wasn't about trust," he said quietly. "I didn't want you to suffer because of what I've become. That… thing inside me, Rose—it's a monster. And you… you deserve better. Not a life spent cleaning up my messes."

Rose's expression softened as she leaned in slightly, her fiery hair brushing against her shoulder. "Scorpius Malfoy," she said, her voice shaking just a little, "what I deserve is someone who loves me enough to stop shutting me out. And that's you. Monster or no monster. I don't care what you've become. You're still you, and you're all I want."

His breath hitched, and he stared at her, disbelief etched into every line of his face. "But you hate creatures, Rose. Ugly, beasty creatures," he whispered. "You always said—"

"I hate arrogant gits," she interrupted, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "And yet here I am, stuck with you. Turns out, you've managed to make me love all sorts of things I never thought I could."

Scorpius's laugh was shaky, his chest rising and falling unevenly. "You're mad," he murmured.

"I'm Weasley mad," she corrected with a playful raise of her brow. "Which means I'm just stubborn enough to stick with you, no matter how hard you try to push me away."

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the silence between them thick with unspoken words. Then Rose leaned in, her lips brushing against his in a kiss that was both gentle and fierce, as though it carried the weight of everything they'd never said.

When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and her smile was softer now, tinged with affection. "Now," she said firmly, "you're going to rest. I need you out of this bed and back on your feet. We've already wasted too much time, Scorp. I'm not wasting any more."

Scorpius closed his eyes briefly, but when he opened them, doubt flickered in his gaze. "What if this is just a dream?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "A good one, but not real?"

Rose stood and leaned down so their faces were inches apart, her smile steady. "If this was a dream, I wouldn't be telling you to rest, would I?" she teased, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. Her voice softened. "When you wake up, I'll be here. By your side. Always."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Scorpius felt a sense of peace wash over him. "You're infuriating, you know that?" he muttered, his lips curving into a faint smile as his eyes fluttered shut.

"And you're impossible," Rose replied, her tone light. "But that's why we work, Malfoy. Now, get some sleep. You're no use to me all banged up like this."

As Scorpius drifted off, a small smile remained on his lips, and for the first time in a long while, his dreams were filled with hope.

As Rose stepped out of the Ministry, the crisp evening air nipped at her cheeks, carrying with it the muffled buzz of bustling city life. She wrapped her cloak tighter around her, ready to make her way home. But her steps slowed as she caught sight of a familiar figure lounging casually against the wrought-iron gates of the Ministry.

"Malfoy," she called out, her tone laced with a blend of surprise and dry amusement. "What are you doing here? Lurking like a proper creep or waiting for me?"

Scorpius pushed off the gate, his hands sliding into his coat pockets with practiced ease. "Weasley," he drawled, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Don't flatter yourself. I just happened to be in the area."

"Right," Rose said, arching an eyebrow. "Because it's completely normal for you to loiter outside the Ministry at this time of night. Purely coincidental, I'm sure."

"Absolutely," he replied, his voice deadpan, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of amusement.

She shook her head, unable to suppress her smile as she strolled toward him. "Fine. I'll play along. Coincidence it is."

"Since fate has so graciously brought us together," Scorpius said, his smirk deepening, "how about I walk you home? Maybe even buy you a butterbeer along the way. You look like you could use one."

Rose let out a light laugh. "Oh, is that so? Generosity from you? What's the catch?"

"No catch," he said, patting his pocket for emphasis. "Unless, of course, you were expecting me to let you pay."

"Merlin forbid." She grinned, gesturing down the cobblestone path. "Fine, Malfoy. Lead the way. But don't think for a second I'm not keeping score."

As they walked side by side, their hands occasionally brushed, sending an electric undercurrent through the otherwise lighthearted conversation. When they reached the Leaky Cauldron, the warm glow of its lights wrapped around them like an embrace.

By the time they reached the Leaky Cauldron, the warm, golden glow spilling from its windows felt almost like an embrace. Seated at a small table near the fireplace, their butterbeers steaming before them, the teasing continued, peppered with laughter and shared glances that lingered just a beat too long.

But then, as Rose sipped her drink, the laughter faltered. Her gaze drifted to the table, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the mug's handle. Memories she tried to suppress bubbled to the surface—the last time they'd sat here. The day he told her he loved her, right before he left. Before the attack. Before everything shattered.

Scorpius noticed. He always did. His hand slid across the table, covering hers with a warmth that steadied her. "Rose," he said softly, his voice a blend of concern and regret.

She blinked rapidly, forcing a tight smile. "I'm fine," she murmured, though the crack in her voice betrayed her. "I didn't mean to—"

"Don't," Scorpius interrupted, shaking his head. "Don't apologize. If anyone should be sorry, it's me." He exhaled sharply, his regret etched into every line of his face. "I thought leaving would make things easier for you. That you'd move on. Find someone better. Someone normal."

"Normal?" Rose snorted, though her voice wavered. She squeezed his hand, her thumb brushing against his knuckles. "Do you think I'd ever settle for 'normal'? Scorpius, there's no happiness for me without you. There never could be."

For a moment, the world around them seemed to fall away. It was just them, suspended in the quiet warmth of the Leaky Cauldron, tethered by the weight of everything left unsaid.

Later, as they strolled toward her flat, the crisp air wrapped around them once more, though this time it felt less biting.

"So," Scorpius began, his tone deliberately light, "did you… date anyone? You know, after I left?"

Rose smirked, glancing sideways at him. "Why? Jealous?"

"Maybe," he said, too casually, though his hand brushed against hers again.

She let the silence stretch, her smirk widening. "I tried," she admitted finally, her voice laced with mock solemnity. "But no one quite measured up to the arrogant, blond git I couldn't stop thinking about."

Scorpius chuckled, though a faint blush crept up his neck. "Good to know I'm unforgettable."

When they reached her doorstep, the teasing gave way to something softer, heavier. He hesitated, his hands fidgeting slightly before he finally spoke.

"I've been offered a job," he said, his voice steady but his eyes searching hers. "Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It's… a fresh start. A chance to build something. If you'll have me."

"Have you?" she repeated, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Rose, I mean… if you're really sure. About being with someone like me. It's okay. I totally understand if you don't want me, someone who—"

"Stop," she said, her voice firm as she took a step closer. "I don't care about anything, if you're with me. All I care about is you, Scorp. Just you. Nothing matters"

Relief flooded his features as his hand came up to cradle her cheek. "I love you," he said, the words soft but steady, like a vow.

Rose smiled, her eyes glistening as she touched the scar on his face, her fingers featherlight. "I love you too, you absolute idiot."

When their lips met, the kiss was slow and deep, layered with every emotion they'd carried for years—pain, longing, love. For once, the world outside could wait.

THE END

A/N: Thank you everyone for reading and supporting. Hope you enjoyed the story 'Shadows of Us'.