Hey guys, so here's the last year. I'm still thinking about the epilogue, but I'm still not really sure. Post-Hogwarts isn't really my style. The door's still open for it though, which is why I still have this under 'in progress'. But anyways, just on the chance that this is my last update, I just wanted to say again how much fun I had with this, and how much your love and support means to me. Honestly, you guys are amazing. And to you lovely people who send me those sweet reviews, I can't thank you enough. (And I'd name you, but you and I both know exactly who you are. Ily.) It's been a good run guys. So thank you.

~Dani

Year 7

"It was the end of a decade,

But the start of an age"

It's almost funny how things tend to come full circle. For instance, I kind of felt like a first year with my face pressed against the train car window, trying to catch my first glimpse of Hogwarts castle. Except I wasn't a first year, and what I was craving was not a first look, but a last. As the train rolled down the tracks, I stared out through the glass long after the castle had disappeared from sight, just humouring myself that I could still see it.

"You okay, Rose?" Scorpius asked, and I nodded, although I felt far from okay. I had never been the sentimental type, really. I never saw the point. Being upset about something ending didn't fix the problem. It just made you- well- upset.

But I couldn't help myself now. This wasn't some summer camp or a vacation to some exotic resort. Those I could get over. But this was Hogwarts. It was where I met my best friends, made my happiest memories. This was where I grew up.

"This is our last time, Scor," I whispered, and he understood. He understood that this was different, so different, than anything else that had ever happened before.

He stood up and crossed the train compartment to sit beside me. "Let's not talk about lasts," he said, "Okay? Let's talk about firsts."

"Firsts?" I asked, my eyes still on the window.

"Firsts," he repeated. "How about," he paused, "That first Charms paper."

I smiled, in spite of everything, because I remembered what he was talking about.

I was sitting in first year Charms, one the only classes that year I'd had with Scorpius. We were getting back our first paper of the year, and my father's words from the platform were ringing through my ears. ' Make sure you beat him in every test.'

My eyes found him across the classroom , talking to Albus, looking like he didn't have a care in the w- wait. Talking to Albus? My cousin, Albus? I was so stunned I couldn't even look away, and seemingly feeling my gaze on them, the two boys turned to look at me.

Al shot me a curious look and raised a hand in a sort of half-wave. 'What's wrong?' he mouthed, and I shook my head dismissively. I forced my eyes back down to my desk, but through my peripheral vision, I could still see Scorpius whispering something in Al's ear and the two of them sharing a laugh.

I sat still until my name was called to get my paper, trying my best to ignore the undeniable friendship forming between my cousin and the boy who was destined to be my greatest rival.

After class, the two of them approached me, Albus a few steps ahead. "How'd you do, Rosie?" he asked, but I didn't want to say anything before I'd heard Scorpius.

"How'd you do?"I retorted. I could hear how childish I sounded, but neither of them reacted, so I didn't care.

Albus said "Eighty-four" at the same time Scorpius said "Ninety-four".

Al snorted, "The guy's practically a genius," he started to explain, but I was too busy sighing with relief.

"Ninety-six," I said, and Al stopped in his tracks.

"Bloody hell, Rose," he said, and Scorpius let out a low whistle.

And he didn't say anything, but the challenging smirk in his eyes said it all. 'Next time.'

"I can't believe you beat me," Scorpius chuckled, and somehow, the story raised my spirits just a little.

"I can't believe you kept trying," I countered, laughing, "You beat me, what, twice in seven years?"

"Three," he corrected, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Apologies."

But against both of our best efforts, my mood dropped again all too soon. Scorpius noticed.

"What about the first-" He cut himself off, sighing. "It's really over, isn't it?" he said, not even bothering to keep up the pretence of nonchalance.

I nodded, "It's really going to suck that we won't be able to see each other that much anymore."

"I don't know," he said, pausing, "Maybe-" Another pause. "Maybe we could still see each other." His voice trailed off unsurely. He wrung his hands together in his lap.

"That depends on what you're implying, Scor," I said, trying to keep from smiling at his discomfort. Besides, Scorpius Malfoy struggling for words? That had to be a first.

He looked up at me, "You're laughing at me, aren't you?"

There was a full blown grin on my face now, "What gave you that idea?"

He mock shoved my shoulder and I laughed, just soaking in the feeling of these last moments.

"Remember when you used to be the one teasing me?" I ask him, and he snorts.

"Those were the days."

We lapsed into silence, and an almost tangible tension started forming in the few minutes before he spoke, "Rose, if I asked you an honest question, could you give me an honest answer?"

"Okay," my voice was barely audible, but he seemed to hear me.

"Rose, I've liked you since third year, and last year, when we set off those fireworks, was when I realized it was so much more than that. I'm in love with you, Rose Weasley, so can you just tell me now, is there any chance you feel the same way?"

His eyes had a wild, lost look in them, and I could tell hadn't planned on saying as much as he did. "I-" I tried to respond, but the words got caught in my throat.

"An honest answer, Rose," he said quietly. He looked almost pained, and I took a deep breath, knowing that I at least owed him that much.

But I was never good with my words the way he was. I couldn't improvise a speech to show all of my feelings. I was never one for dramatic monologues, I was just simple. So after thinking a moment, I said: "Yes."

And somehow, that one word conveyed so much meaning. It was a finale to the love/hate relationship we'd had since day one, the on-again-off-again friendship that had always frustrated me so much. It was everything I couldn't say, but everything I meant, and somehow, miraculously, he understood.

His smile brightened, and he didn't even get a word out before the train slowed to a stop. I looked out the window, recognizing Platform 9 3/4, and sighed. This was it.

But looking at the now-at-ease blonde beside me, I decided it would be alright. Because after all, an end of one thing is the beginning of another, and by the looks of it, this new beginning wouldn't be all too bad.