Scorpius woke up the next morning at 7:00 AM; he wanted to make sure he had everything ready for Rose's present long before she woke up. He yawned as he turned over in bed to look at her, only to realize that she wasn't there!

He shot up in bed, his mind immediately going to the worst possible scenario (i.e. Kidnapping, illness, etc.). He sprung out of bed and raced to the kitchen, expecting to find signs of a struggle, but all he found was Rose - standing in the kitchen and . . . Making breakfast?

"Good morning, sunshine!" She said cheerily as she flipped a pancake. "Someone's up late."

"Rather someone's up early!" He replied, aghast. "What are you doing out of bed at 7:00 AM? I usually can't drag you out from under the covers with an industrial crane."

"First of all," she said, licking a bit of stray batter off of her finger. "You've never done that. Second of all - it's Christmas! You know I love Christmas, Scorpius."

"Indeed," he laughed. "I guess I just underestimated how much."

"Plus I had to go pick up your present," she smirked. "You're going to love it!"

Scorpius seemed skeptical - how many times had Rose given him a present that he "would love" that ended up being some sort of crazy prank or useless trinket? Not that he didn't love every gift he'd received from her, but he wouldn't mind getting something he could actually use for once. Also, she was still in her pajamas, so chances are she went out in them and was going to catch a cold in the near future. Scorpius made a mental note to call Papa Mario and order a pineapple pizza for dinner.

"Sit down," she demanded. "I'm about to serve you the best breakfast of your entire life."

Scorpius obeyed, somewhat warily, and waited for Rose to make a plate for him.

"Something's different about you today..." He mused as she sat down across from him and took a generous sip of coffee. "What's going on? What did you do?"

"Nothing!" She exclaimed. "Why is it that I can't do something nice for my boyfriend without having done something terrible? It's Christmas for Merlin's sake!"

"Don't go getting defensive, love," he laughed through a mouthful of bacon (a habit he'd picked up from Rose). "I'm only teasing. And this breakfast is delicious."

"Thank you." She smiled back at him and Scorpius could feel his heart skip a beat.

Sitting there under the warm glow of the kitchen light with her eternal bed-head and a blueberry stuck in her teeth, he was struck by how beautiful she was.

"Scorpius?" He snapped out of his daze when he realized she'd been calling his name. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"No reason," he shrugged. "Just thinking about how lovely you are."

"Don't be a prick," she laughed. "Do you have all of our gifts wrapped for this afternoon? Mum said to be there by 11:00 so I can help her make the food . . . So I was thinking we could leave here around 1:00 so I don't have to do that."

"Everything is wrapped and ready. And I'm elated to be spending my first Weasley-Granger Christmas with you, although I'm sure Albus and the Potters will miss me terribly."

"We can stop by on the way home - I wouldn't want to keep you lovebirds apart." She rolled her eyes playfully. "I will never understand your borderline obsessive relationship with my cousin."

"What can I say, Rosie? We've been best friends since first year, whereas you and I only became friends in fifth year."

"Well I'm your girlfriend now so I win! Oh, look, Scorpius! It's snowing!" Rose's train of thought changed courses as easily as the breeze as she leaped from the table to the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony. She watched, captivated by the fat white flakes that coated the streets below.

"It snowed last night as well, Rosie . . . Or where you so tired that you've already forgotten?" He joked, following her to the doors where she was now pressing her nose and palms against the cool glass, her warm breath fogging up the space in front of her.

"It's different when it's Christmas morning," she insisted. "It's more magical."

Scorpius decided to refrain from reminding her that she was, indeed, a magical being, and therefore could cause it to snow in the middle of July if she so desired. Instead, he watched as she childishly drew a heart with her finger on the fogged part of the glass. He had always wondered why Christmas seemed to have this affect on her, and all he could seem to come up with was that Rose Weasley loved snow more than quite possibly any other person in the entire world.

As much as he wanted to enjoy this moment, his mind was miles away from window pane hearts and copper colored bed-head. He'd planned to have more time to prepare the gift he'd bought for her in Luna's shop. There was so much more he wanted to do, to say, to think about . . . Scorpius wasn't one to do without a plan, but it was starting to look like he might have to. He liked organization and thoughtful consideration; there was absolutely nothing he hated more than unpreparedness. Why did Rose have to choose today of all days to wake up early?!

Rose.

Of course.

Rose never had a plan for anything. Rose always did what felt right in the moment without a care of what might happen next. She said what she was thinking and she meant every word, and if there was one thing that Scorpius had learned from all the years he'd known her, it was that she made him want to be the exact same way.

"I'll be right back," he whispered. "I have to go get something." She waved him off with a kiss on the cheek and continued to watch the falling snow.

Quickly and quietly, he pulled the case out of the drawer in his nightstand and put it in his robe pocket as he went back into the living room.

She looked even more lovely with the first lonely rays of sun cascading through her curls. He still couldn't believe that she'd chosen him - Him! - out of any of the many boys (and she could have had all of them) who vied for her attention. He wondered, briefly, what his life would be like if she hadn't chosen him. He didn't even want to entertain the idea for more than a second.

He cleared his throat.

She turned around and her ready smile almost made him lose his courage again.

"Rose?" He said slowly, seemingly unsure of himself.

"Are you alright, love?" And just like that, hearing her voice brought him back to the surface. He felt as though he'd just taken his first breath in ten years and Merlin it felt good.

"I'm perfect," he grinned. "You're perfect."

Rose rolled her eyes but he continued.

"Rose Weasley, I met you in first year on the Express when I told you you looked like a bunny. I meant that as a compliment and I maintain my innocence to this day," Rose chuckled softly at this but allowed him to continue. "In second year you told everyone that I was in love with Cassandra Nott, who then proceeded to trail after me like a lost crup for two years."

She didn't even bother trying to hide her laughter on that one.

"In third year, we became potions partners. In fourth year, I visited you over the holidays when I was with Albus. In fifth year, we became friends. In sixth year, I realized I wanted to be more than your friend." Here, Rose ceased her light laughter and suddenly turned serious, wondering what the deeper meaning in all of this was. Scorpius continued.

"In seventh year, you kissed me in the corridor when we were supposed to be on watch and then you asked me to Hogsmede and I thought it was a dream. The year that we have been together has been the . . . Most amazing year of my life. I honestly mean that. You have completely changed me, Rose, and I'm glad for it." His voice broke but he knew he had to continue or else he wouldn't be able to finish what needed to be said.

"I fell in love with you, not because of your status or your looks or even your smarts - I fell in love with you because you make me feel like me. I fell in love with you because you are everything I never hoped I could be worthy of. You make me want to be crazy and loud and spontaneous when all my life I've taught myself to be quite and courteous and to disappear into the crowd. You make me want to be someone new and someone better. You make me want to hold you in my arms and never let go."

"Scorpius -" she whispered. Her eyes grew impossibly wide and her hand came up to hold tightly onto her old Quidditch tee, right over her heart.

"You make me feel so sure of myself, and that's why I'm sure I can do this -" and with that, Scorpius got down on one knee and pulled the box out of his pocket, opening it to reveal the beautiful, simple ring he'd picked out in Luna's shop. The ring that had called out to him from within the display case and assured him that it was the only ring that Rose could ever wear.

"Rose Nymphadora Weasley, I quite honestly cannot live without your blanket hogging, crisp eating, late sleeping, and whatever else you can throw at me - so would you please do me the honor of marrying me?"

The flat was overcome with pin-drop silence that made ten seconds feel like ten hours as Scorpius waited for her reaction.

"Scorpius . . ." She breathed. "Are you serious?"

"More serious than I've ever been about anything, Rose. I love you."

Just as suddenly as he'd said the words, Rose was in his arms and kissing him soundly.

"Yes, yes, yes!" She exclaimed, the sound muffled by his shoulder. "Oh, Merlin, yes!"

Scorpius let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding as he wrapped his arms around her. For the first time in his life, Scorpius felt as though he finally had everything he could ever want, and Rose was the center of it all.

"I just feel so awful." Rose said after a moment. Scorpius's breath caught in his throat - what on earth could she be talking about?

"What?" He breathed out, pulling her back to look into her eyes.

"It's just . . . My present for you could never be this good."

They both laughed as he lifted her from the floor and pulled her toward the couch.

"I have a feeling that it will be wonderful," he smiled. "What is it?"

"Well . . ." She grinned impishly, wiping away a few remaining happy tears. "You have to promise me you'll love it."

Scorpius suddenly remembered why he needed to be nervous - what would it be this year?

"I promise . . ." He said warily.

"Wonderful!" She ran to the tree and pulled out a large, colorful box. "I had to wait until this morning to wrap it because, well . . . You'll see."

That didn't help to assuage Scorpius's fears at all.

Slowly, Scorpius lifted the lid off of the box to find a small, mewling kneazle kitten. He lifted it up out of the box and the tiny orange beast instantly started to purr.

"Rose Nymphadora -" he began.

"I know! I know I told you when we went shopping that I hadn't gone anywhere else, but that's because I didn't want to ruin the surprise!" She looked at him with the biggest smile on her face. "Surprise!"

"Rose . . ."

"You already proposed! We're engaged! You can't take that back! And I can't take the kneazle back because the guy at the Menagerie was a total prick and in my defense -"

Scorpius cut her off with a kiss.

"I love him," he said. "Thank you."

Rose smiled against his lips, "I told you you would." Just as Scorpius was about to kiss her again, Rose shot up with a sudden burst of energy. "We have to go! I have to tell Mum! And Daddy! What will Daddy say? He'll kill you! And Hugo . . ."

Scorpius once again cut her off with a kiss.

"Stop doing that!" She exclaimed.

"Stop panicking!" He laughed. "I asked your father for permission last night, so I doubt he'll kill me. Your mum on the other hand . . ."

"Oh, Scorpius," she sighed. "I love you, y'know? Always."

"I know," he kissed her gently on the forehead. "I love you more and more everyday, Rose. And I don't plan on ever spending another without you."

The sun rose higher and higher in the sky as Rose and Scorpius fell in love over and over again - every time they looked into the other's eyes - just as they would for years to come.

The End