Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me.

When Scorpius tells his dad that he is dating Rose Weasley, his father heaves a heavy sigh and says, "Of course. Your first year you tell me your best friend is Potter's son, who somehow managed to make it into Slytherin as well, and now you're dating Weasley's daughter. I suppose it's too much to hope this is all some form of adolescent rebellion?"

Scorpius rolls his eyes. Sometimes his father likes his dramatics; Albus says his dad's the same way—never quite grew out of the teenage angst stage.

"Sorry to disappoint," Scorpius says dryly.

His dad has a weary expression on his face, but Scorpius can see his lips curving up a bit. He's not really as tough as he likes to think he is. "Anything else I should know about? Not planning on running off and joining the circus?" his dad asks, arching an eyebrow.

"I'm afraid my sword-juggling skills aren't quite up to level," Scorpius says, pulling a mournful face.

His dad chuckles softly and says, "Well, at least it's the Weasley girl. For some time there I was afraid you would be bringing home Potter's son."

Scorpius rolls his eyes again.

Rose's conversation with her parents goes something like this:

"…Scorpius Malfoy?"

"Ronald, how many other Scorpius's do we know? Rose, darling, you are old enough to make your own decisions now, and I know you're a sensible girl. That being said, I—"

"Malfoy's kid? You couldn't pick someone else? Anyone else?"

"—get out of hand, and you could end up somewhere you don't want to be. I would rather you wait, but I should be realistic. Just make sure that whatever you do, you be careful doing it. A pregnancy could severely impede your future plans."

"…What? She won't be doing anything that could get her pregnant. She won't be doing anything that could get her pregnant until she'sfifty!"

"Ronald, I'm just trying to be rational."

"Hermione!"

"Ronald!"

Albus grins at them when they tell him, and slaps Scorpius on the back.

"Honestly, I don't know why it took the two of you this long. A year earlier, and I would have won the pool."

Rose looks a little scandalized, but Scorpius hides a smirk.

Albus gets a sly look, and says, "Say, do you think you could maybe tell them that youhave been dating for a year, just keeping it under wraps? I could give you a cut of the profits."

When Scorpius looks like he is considering it, Rose hits his arm, and he hastily schools his face into a more appropriate expression.

Albus smirks. Whipped, he mouths, and Scorpius shrugs.

Yeah. He's whipped.

"Um, okay," Lily says slowly.

"You weren't dating before?" Hugo asks.

Rose stares at him. There's a silence.

"Can we go to class now?" he asks. Scorpius waves them on their way.

"That was the easiest yet," Scorpius says, sounding satisfied.

Rose looks like she is having a small existential crisis.

"I'm the smartest witch in our year!" she hisses. "How is it everyone saw this before me?"

Scorpius decides the best thing to do is to keep silent and usher her off to class. She always feels better after a good hour or two of Transfiguration.

"I actually think telling you how I felt was infinitely easier than telling everyone else, which is strange, if you think about," Scorpius says thoughtfully, hands clasped behind his head, stretched out on the grass.

"That would be because you didn't tell me. I told you," Rose says, sounding amused, and (thankfully) more relaxed.

Scorpius grins at her. "See? Easy."

Rose huffs fondly and leans down, brushing her lips over his. When she pulls back, she has a sweet smile on her face.

"We're dating," Scorpius says quietly, trying to wipe the foolish expression he can feel away.

"We are," Rose agrees, and leans down again.