It was a beautiful wedding, really, when they actually went down to see it. Scorpius and Hugo had sat with Rose while she explained everything. Scorp had a hard time sitting and listening though, because even the thought of Teddy alone with Rose was terrifying enough to want to kick the groom flat on his arse.

Of course, Rose was older and wiser, and much, much stronger than she was at fourteen. At least, that's what Scorpius had come to see. He really hadn't talked to her much back then. Just in Potions and when Al made them sit together. And in the library when they studied together for end of term exams.

Had they really just begun their friendship during those few days together?

Scorp had shaken his head, instead intent on hearing how everything ended. Hugo, on the other hand, was all questions. Once he was settled down and Rose had completed her story, the three sat quietly, waiting for what came next. Whatever that was going to be.

Eventually, Rose said they should head down to the ceremony. Which they did. And they sat in the back just in time for the I-do's.

Rose had taken Scorpius's hand the moment they sat. At first, she gripped it tightly, her knuckles white from nerves. But she soon relaxed. Then they were just holding hands, peacefully. Scorpius had watched Hugo squirm on the other side of Rose, which was really Hugo squirming to get Scorpius's attention, and then the boy looked down at Scorpius and Rose's linked fingers and winked, smiling again. Always smiling.

Stupid Gryffindor.

At the reception, Scorpius and Rose had found a quiet corner to sit and talk and not worry about anything else. She was back to being herself then, and Scorpius told her so.

"Thanks?" She had said.

"I don't mean it in a bad way," he had laughed. "I mean that you're okay. That's a good thing."

"Perhaps," Rose's face started to change into a mischievous grin, "I'd be even better after a dance."

Then she had pulled him to the dance floor, where all her red-headed relatives had already taken domain. They danced the fast songs with Al and Ara and Hugo and Lily. Then the songs slowed, and Scorpius didn't even hesitate before grabbing Rose's hands and pulling her closer to dance alone.

She had smiled, giggled. Scorpius couldn't take his eyes off her. His heart was pounding in his ears. There were people all around them, but they were more like blurring dots. Fuzz balls hovering in his peripherals. There was only Rose.

Now, the Weasleys and co. were back in the reception hall celebrating New Year's Eve. Vic and Teddy had left for their honeymoon after the party the previous day. But that didn't stop the Weasleys from partying. No sir. Scorpius started to wonder if they did anything but celebrate. The adults were tipsy, the school-aged kids were running around, all smiles. The younger kids were happy eating left over cake from the night before and with little parental supervision to boot.

Scorpius was standing by the window, looking out at the Parisian landscape. There were lights lit up everywhere. Right below him was a pair of drunks singing a lively jaunt in French. Their arms were around each other's shoulders. One was quite tall, covered in brown clothes—his hat, his pants, his jacket, and his shoes all brown—and a very bright purple scarf. The other was squat, round in the middle, dressed in all black, except for the plastic party hat on his head.

Both men threw their heads back, singing the crescendo of their song, their voices clashing together awfully. Then they were hooting and howling, stumbling down the street.

Scorpius laughed.

"I wish I could understand them," Rose leaned against the window pane beside Scorpius. "They seem very happy."

"Is it bad that when I first saw them, I imagined myself and Al like that in a couple years?"

Rose looked out on the retreating figures. "Only a couple years?"

"Don't worry; I won't let myself go like that."

"That would be Al," Rose smiled.

"Where is he?"

"You don't want to know."

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "I feel like I should be upset that he abandoned me after forcing you to bring me here for him."

"Don't flatter yourself, Scor. He never wanted you. Just an excuse." Rose bumped his shoulder, letting him know she was teasing. "Besides, I wouldn't have gotten all this time with you then, and where would we be?"

"We wouldn't be dates for life, would we?" He teased back. Rose shifted her head so that her hair fell in front of her face. He knew she was blushing behind that curtain, and it made him smile. That would never get old.

"We're friends, right?" Rose asked after a little while. She was starting to peek out from behind her hair.

"I think so," Scorpius answered. But it was much quieter than he expected it to be. Of course he wanted her friendship. He bloody well fancied her at this point. But he had no idea how or what to do to breach that subject. Because this whole thing was a hoax. Because all the touching and such happened because of Teddy. Not because of anything natural between them… right?

Scorpius rested his head against the cool window. His pair of drunks was gone; the only noise creeping in from the outside was the sound of cars rushing by. The music behind them drowned out anything else Scorpius might have heard as well, and besides, he was starting to think that the rushing sound was actually the blood moving around in his ears.

"I know so, actually," he said finally. "We're friends, Rose, because I really like you and we get on just—we get on fine."

Stupid. Bloody. Just.

"So, yes. We're friends… that okay with you?"

"Of course!" She smiled. Scorpius looked into her eyes, relieved that he said what he did, because he didn't want her thinking they weren't friends at all. But then he saw the hint of disappointment he too felt thinking about friendship with this girl. Because there was definitely room for more. He wanted more.

But how?

The music was slowly fading out now until it stopped completely. "It's thirty seconds to the New Year, you beautiful people!" George Weasley could be heard around the room. No doubt a Sonorus Charm. "Count it down with me, my brothers! Oh, and you too Ginny!"

Scorpius watched Rose's face as she turned to look at the center of the room. Immediately she began cracking up. Scorp looked too. There they were, the five Weasley brothers dancing around, counting down, with boas around their necks to boot. Rose's own dad was linked arm in arm with his older brother Charlie. Mrs. Potter was standing to the side while George and Percy tried to pull her into the spectacle. Then Al jumped in in her place, and the whole crowd was roaring.

He had lipstick marks on his face and chin and neck.

"Perfect little lip-prints from Ara, no doubt," Rose was holding her sides form her giggles. The three beauty marks on her nose were scrunched up, which made Scorp smile even broader. He started walking closer to the group, but Rose grabbed a hold of his sleeve. "I like where we're standing."

Scorpius looked around them. Alone, by the window. Just him and Rose. Everyone away, laughing, and them together. Facing each other. So close now that Scorpius felt his chin touch his chest from having to look down at her. He took a small step back, but not too far. Just enough so she wasn't straining her neck to look up at him.

"Thanks," she whispered, "for being my date for life this week."

"Anytime," he searched her face. Waiting for something. But she didn't say anything and this was getting ridiculous so he went for it. Because, screw it. That's why. "I mean, I'd do it again, if you'd ask. I liked being your date. Not the 'for life' part, since that was all just—it was an act. A ruse. But the other stuff. The actual date-like stuff. I liked… it."

"Ten… nine…" echoed around them.

"I really appreciated it, you know," she leaned in closer. "I'd do it again, too."

"Six… five…"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Could I…" Was he really going to ask permission for that?!

"Two…"

Screw it. "I would very much like to kiss you."

"One…"

She rose up on her tip toes, her eyes fluttering closed and her lips finding his own. Scorpius leant down, letting Rose stand on her flat feet, because he wasn't going to break apart due to silly balance issues. Because this was Rose. He was kissing Rose.

She was kissing him.

And was that her tongue? Merlin save the Queen.

Shouts of "Happy New Year!" rung around the room, like an uproarious lion herd celebrating.

Scorpius wrapped his arms around Rose, gently pulling her closer to him. Her own hands snaked around his neck and into his hair, pulling him closer, deeper.

"Oi!" Scorpius pulled away first. He didn't want to, but that sounded an awful lot like her father, and he didn't want to be caught in a much worse position than an innocent snog. It was innocent, right? He instinctively started to pat his mussed up hair down. Rose was looking over at their interrupter.

"Hugo, you little demon!"

Hugo Weasley began to dance around them. "Oh, you should have seen your faces!"

He quickly left once Rose threatened to Bat-Bogey Hex him every week until he graduated from Hogwarts. Scorp did a scan of the room, looking for anyone else who might have been watching him feel up Rose. Couples were all over the place, dancing again. George Weasley gave his brother Percy a smooch on the lips, much to the latter's chagrin.

Scorp felt a hand on his arm, and he finally turned to look at Rose.

"Happy New Year," he managed weakly. She started to laugh then, and he couldn't help but join in.

"Best New Year in a while, if you ask me," she smiled. And then she was kissing him again.

The Hogwarts Express rolled into King's Cross Station, letting off a puff of smoke. Rose was scanning the crowd for Scorpius, because it had been three days since she had saw him last and it was starting to drive her batty.

They had returned home on New Year's Day, and shortly after, Mrs. Malfoy stopped by to pick Scorpius up. She had driven and all, which nearly sent Rose's dad into hysterics when the door closed behind their guests.

"Imagine it, Hermione!" Ron had slumped into their couch, clutching his side. His cheeks were turning a magnificent shade of red from lack of oxygen. "Draco Malfoy car shopping. And his wife—his wife—making all the negotiations. I can see his scowl now!"

"Yes," Rose's mum had rolled her eyes. "How completely amusing, Ronald. Doesn't sound a bit like when we bought our Bentley ten years ago."

Ron Weasley shut up after that. Rose smiled at the memory. After Scorpius left, Rose had spent her final three days of break studying and catching up on other school work. Something kept distracting her though…

Maybe it was Hugo blasting awful and loud techno-pop music down the hall or maybe it was her parents laughing at the telly too loudly.

Or maybe it was the constant tapping at her window from Scorpius's owl, Podge.

Who really knew, anyways? And besides, she still got her work done.

Mostly.

Hugo nudged her side. "Loverboy's over there."

Rose turned her head toward a trio of people, the head of the triangle a beaming Scorpius. Behind him, flanked on either side, were his parents. Astoria looked almost regal, dressed in all black with lace sleeves and lace hemming. Her dark hair was pulled up into a tight bun, which made her face look sharper. If Rose hadn't met the woman just a few days earlier, she'd have felt her stomach hit the floor for sure.

The words "Audrey Hepburn" ran through Rose's mind suddenly, and she smiled at the approaching mother.

Now, Scorpius's father on the other hand. Draco Malfot was dressed in fine-tailored materials, which appeared darker than black. Rose would bet her entire life savings the word "onyx" was used in th fabric's description at least twice. He looked like his mind was on anything but where his son was leading him. Scorpius gave her a lopsided grin and stopped in front of her.

"Hi."

"Hey," she smiled back. They stood there, just looking at each other.

"Stimulating conversation. Quite a loquacious and vibrant vocabulary you've got there," Hugo pushed past Rose and Scorpius, chortling to himself like he was oh so clever. Rose scrunched up her nose and Scorpius smiled wider at her.

"Hello again, Astoria," Rose's mum extended a hand to Mrs. Malfoy. The other woman took it and looked genuinely pleased at the gesture. When they dropped their hands, Hermione Weasley turned to the other adult. "Draco."

He nodded. Rose's dad repeated the gestures, and soon they were standing in the most uncomfortable silence Rose had ever endured.

"So… we should probably head back to school now, yeah?" Scorpius gently took Rose by the wrist and pulled her away from the quartet of parents. The only person who still looked genuinely happy was Mrs. Malfoy, who Rose knew was younger than the other three. "That could've been worse."

"Worse? Not much happened, Scor," Rose laughed.

"True." He slugged his bag over his shoulder. The train let off a long horn blast, signaling it was time to get on board and head out to Hogwarts. Hogwarts and their final few months as students. Rose took a deep breath. "So, you want to sit together?"

She looked up at Scorpius, and for the first time since she'd kissed him, she started to panic. Why wouldn't they sit together? Was everything that happened just a result of being close together for such a long time? Weren't they together now? He asked to kiss her.

Though that could have been a direct result of too much butterbeer and the whole "kiss someone on New Year's" tradition…

"What are you thinking?" Somewhere in the depths of her brain, Rose heard Scorpius. They had entered the train, walked toward her family's normal compartment, and were standing just outside the door. Rose placed her trunk down in front of her, mentally exhausted from her own thoughts. She could see Hugo and Lily inside, playing Exploding Snap already. Albus and Ara were there too.

"I really like you Rose."

She turned back to face Scorpius, her heart thumping in her ears. Of course she didn't imagine all of it. Of course it wasn't just the week or the fact that it was New Years. Her cheeks started to feel flushed, so she shook her hair into her face.

"Hey," he laughed. His hand pushed back the fallen curls. "I want to see where this goes, so if we could, possibly, would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me? Whenever the next visit's planned?"

Rose smiled back. "Yeah. I'd like that."

He opened the compartment then and motioned for her to enter first. Over her shoulder, she added low enough just for him to hear, "You know, I really like you too."

His perfect green eyes lit up like stars.

"It's summer!" Ara sprawled out on the grass next to Rose. They were seated by the lake, both already had shed their winter coats. They had been in Charms together, and Ara suggested taking a break outside. During the course of the past few months, Rose began to really like spending time with Ara.

Well, when Rose could get her alone.

"It's not summer quite yet, darling," Al leaned down and laid a kiss on Ara's lips. He sat down beside Rose. "The snow just melted, you know."

"Okay, fine. It's spring. Which means it's almost summer." Ara propped herself up on her elbows, challenging Al with her eyes. They did that. Flirted through petty things, like which season it was or who ate the last cookie or when they should get up in the morning. It was disgustingly sweet.

Rose pushed her sleeves up. It was pretty darn hot for spring, but it was spring nonetheless. Three months had passed since Teddy and Vic's nuptials, and according to Teddy's latest later, things couldn't have been better.

Rose had made a point to check in with him. She had long since forgiven him and felt like she owed it to herself to return their relationship to some level of normalcy. It was Scor's idea, really, but she liked it enough to follow through. He said it would be cathartic, if anything. She said it would start to heal the rift in the Weasley-Potter tribe.

She felt mostly right about that last bit.

Pulling herself out of her own thoughts, Rose rejoined her friends outside, sitting in front of the lake. A breeze rustled past her face like a cool whisper left over from the winter months.

"Well, at least the wind's still—" Al and Ara were snogging animatedly beside her. "Right then."

And she was up, rolling her eyes, heading straight for the castle. Those two idiots could get caught by Filch if they wanted to. In fact, she secretly hoped Professor Hagrid would catch them first. She could just imagine the look on Al's face, all red from embarrassment.

"What's so funny?"

Rose turned to see Scorpius just feet from her. He fell in step with her as they entered the castle.

"Oh, nothing. Just some couple eating each other's jaws down by the lake."

"Ah, young love," he rolled his eyes.

"Yes, young love," she giggled. "No better definition for it other than gross, unnecessary snogging mid-conversation with your cousin."

Scor slid his hand into hers. He did that now, now that they were dating. That had started relatively soon after the wedding, though both agreed to go slow about it. After all, they hadn't really had a chance to fancy each other long before they first kissed.

But it was turning out better than Rose had hoped. She loved being with Scor. He was easy to talk to, fun to joke around with, and there was something about his presence that made her veins light up inside her.

She still felt electricity when he touched her.

And when they kissed. There were no words to describe the lightning she felt in her chest.

"I've got some news," he squeezed her hand.

When she looked at him, she noticed that Scor was looking anywhere but in her direction. "Is it the good kind or the bad kind of news?"

He quickly glanced at her, and then away. "Depends on perspective, I suppose."

"Then you should say it, so I can see it from my own perspective," she squeezed his hand back.

He stopped their walking, pulling her in front of him. Suddenly, she was reminded of when they had to get that ruddy balloon across the room. She really thought he was going to kiss her then, but then Al had to go and be all Al about it.

Rose stopped her train of thought. She had to listen to Scor now in that moment. Because he had since kissed her. Hundreds of times.

"St. Mungo's wants to take me on as a Junior Researcher after graduation."

"That's brilliant!" Rose beamed. "That's amazing, Scor. You'll be working with your father, right? That's—researcher?"

"Yeah," he placed a quick peck on her forehead, "they want me in the Potions department, working on new mixes. I wouldn't… I don't think I'd be with the patients."

"Is that what you want?" Rose took his hands.

"Honestly? I don't know. I thought I wanted to be a Healer, but when I started reading the letter, I got really excited." Scor smiled now, extra wide. "Like really excited, Rose. I couldn't believe it at first. They don't usually take on someone straight from school."

"Well, then I don't think there's much to worry about," Rose continued. "Can you move up though? Become a Healer with time if you wanted?"

"I don't know," he said. "Maybe. I can ask. Either way, though, I think I want to do this."

"I think you should," she smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Because you won't know until you try it, and you said it yourself," she squeezed his hands again, "you're really happy over it. Even I can see that just standing here."

He kissed her then. He did that now, now that they were dating. It was probably the best addition to her daily routine, kissing Scorpius Malfoy.

"I love you, Rose."

They both paused. He looked like he had been stricken across the face with a slap so hard, it took his voice with it. Rose was blushing furiously.

"Uh, I mean that, um, if you don't say it, that—wait—you don't have to say anything that you…" he was slowing becoming more and more tongue-tied. Rose wanted to laugh, but thought better of it. After all, this was the first time he'd said the L-word in regards to her, and laughing might come off a bit insensitive.

Rose's insides felt like they were vibrating with excitement, however, that it didn't matter to her how fast it may have seemed for him to say such a thing so soon. So she placed one finger over his lips, stopping Scor in his tirade of nervously strung words, and said "I love you, too, Scor. Let's get lunch."

She promptly stood on her toes, kissed him gently, and pulled him toward the Great Hall, all while watching the triumphant smile grow on his face.

Yeah. Things were pretty damn good. And she owed it all to giving Al a favor.

(Though she'd never tell him that.)

A/N: Annnnnnd... it's done. Thanks for reading and reviewing, everyone! I really appreciate it. I hope you liked it!