Thanks for being so patient ! I hope you like the end to their fifth year.. leave a review and tell me what you think, I'd love a second opinion :)

The first thing that Rose noticed was the lights.

Hundreds of students were pooling into the ballroom and squealing with delight at the lavish decorations, piles of intricately iced cakes, and floating quartets. Most were overwhelmed by the sweet violins swelling into their ears, or the knights walking stiffly through the thin aisles separating tables, offering drinks. Their armour was scrubbed to perfection, and made a rasping noise with each jerky movement. Or the posh, snobby looking paintings no one had ever seen before, who munched on pheasant and discussed the Minister of Magic from the eighteenth century.

But Rose saw the lights. She saw the magnificent chandeliers hanging majestically from the ceiling, throwing the candlelight into odd shapes across people's faces, making the effect spectacular. Short people looked taller, plain people looked beautiful, boys looked more handsome, and Hogwarts looked like a surreal dream. Mirrors reflected unrecognisable girls and boys, shuffling about awkwardly in their heavy clothes.

"Rose?" a fuzzy voice said. It was a familiar voice… Blonde hair, sea grey eyes, lean and understated, quietly handsome-

"Scorpius." Rose glanced up at the cascading beams of light. Scorpius had seen nothing but Rose since the moment she'd walked out of the common room. The ballroom paled against her. Rose ignored his constant gaze, but twirled around the room, slices of Scorpius's face intermitting with her faraway glaze. She stood at the top of the ballroom, near the stairs, many eyes upon her strange choice of dress. Her feathers flared out with a spontaneity that made her look alien, but as recognisable to a peacock as was possible. Scorpius had his arms wrapped around her waist.

Now everyone was in the ballroom, as the doors had been firmly shut and guarded by two more knights. The dancing space was barren and ghostly. Music played eerily, but no one danced. They watched, and waited for someone to make the first move. Rose looked at Scorpius and smiled.

The communication wasn't needed; he knew her. He knew her every impulse, her every desire and repulsions, and she him. Now was the time for laughter, and boldness, and a silent middle finger to those who scoffed at traditional dancing.

Scorpius took Rose's hand, and they walked into the middle of the dance floor. All was silent as the invisible orchestra took a few seconds break to start the next dance. Every eye was glued to Scorpius and Rose in those few seconds. Every breath held, waiting for something to happen.

And then the music began.

Rose took his hand, and he held her waist lightly. She could feel McGonagall's eyes on her, and for some strange reason, thought the old woman might actually be smiling. They began to move in graceful, sweeping circles. Rose's feet were lithe, moving in perfect time with Scorpius's. Her eyes were on his face in a cold mask. Circle after circle, she felt him twirl her in the melancholy notes, until more pairs of feet began to join them. Couple after couple followed their footsteps, until the hall was full of dancing girls and boys. When the dance was reduced to its final, pealing chords, Scorpius pulled them off.

Rose brushed past awestruck fourth years and envious sixth years until she found her friends sipping on lemonade that Tommy had most definitely spiked with alcohol. He had pulled his shirt loose, and his robes billowed behind him in a black cape. He was watching someone in the distance with anguish.

"Tommy, who are you-?" Rose stopped talking as she saw Holly Blackshield kiss a Ravenclaw sixth year, her hair was in flattering waves, and her dress was yellow, short and flowing. She looked like a dandelion after a spring shower.

"Why don't you just talk to her, Tommy?" Rose said quietly enough so as that only he could hear. He half glanced her way, but his face remained towards her.

"Rose, you've seen me. When was the last time, bar now, that I have not had a girl by my side?"

Rose thought of all the times since third year, every event, every party…

"I dunno Tommy. What has that got to do with you sniffling over Holly Blackshield?" Rose watched the girl dance and laugh with her plain date. She was much more beautiful when she smiled.

"Because, Rose, everyone wants to be with the whores, but no one wants to marry them, do they?" Tommy said gloomily.

Rose suppressed a smile. "You're a bit young to be talking about marriage, Tom."

"I don't think so. How cliché is this, no seriously, listen! Back a few months ago, during that Quidditch match with Slytherin, I was sick. Everyone thought I was off having sex with some seventh year bird. I have, by the way, but that's another story. And I was lying in the library by the fire in a disgusting blanket yoke, reading a history book, dozing off to the smell of age spotted paper. When this girl stumbles in. She was curtained with her dark hair, and her eyes held something hidden. Have you ever seen her eyes Rose? They're so blue. Bluer than the sea. And she's not too pretty, nothing spectacular, until she starts talking. She picks up the books she knocked, swearing colourfully with the old librarian in plain sight (she's an awful bitch), and she had an accent. A familiar accent. Turns out she's from Ireland too. The librarian fucked her out of it, and what did Holly say? "Ms Ripken, I think you should invest in some perfume. The books have now taken over your smell, as well as your hair and face…" And hidden in the folds of that minging blanket, I laughed. She made me laugh! No girl apart from you has ever made me laugh Rose! I'm miserable. Watching her. Miserable." Tommy spoke quietly, his words only for her.

"Ok, you fancy her. Just go talk to her you wet turnip." Rose shrugged.

"No, you don't get it Rose. She's obviously heard of my whore-ish ways, and if I talk to her, she'll see that I'm not that cool, that I'm just a prick and that I do care. About school and life and girls. Just not about the ones who have less brain cells than the average chicken. She'll see me for who I am. Maybe it's best just to fantasise… safer." He lied to himself.

"Tommy," Rose interrupted him. "Just go talk to her. There's no illusion. Just say hi or something, I dunno." Rose patted his knee. Scorpius sidled up to them, and plopped down next to Rose, squashing her between the two boys. "Enough of this moping! I want to dance. Scorpius?" Rose said, trying to keep the restrained emotion from her voice. He didn't seem to notice her hand twitch when he took it in his. Blood boiled where their skin touched, and Rose's cheeks turned a delicate shade of beetroot.

Although they both laughed and twirled in the magnificent hall, surrounded by their friends, and closely knit teenagers, there was a tension between them. A brick wall, blocking Rose from him and his warm interior. She wanted the wall to be torn down brick by brick. But instead, she built a wall of her own.

The faster the beat of the song, the more she thrust up her wall. And the higher the wall, the closer he latched onto her. His hands ripped off feathers and pulled her waist into his. Her body moved with his, but she refused to look into his eyes.

The night wore on, and a light sheen of sweat prickled at her hairline and on the back of her neck. Scorpius was practically kissing her his face was so close. As the music calmed to a slow song, he growled into her ear, "We need to talk."

She ignored him, but followed amiably when he grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the toilets. The teachers were long gone from supervision. Half were either pulling rowdy teenagers apart, or too tipsy to care.

No one noticed wen Scorpius locked the bathroom with a silent flick of his wand.

"What's wrong-?"

"You know very well what's wrong Rose. Don't fuck with me." Scorpius snapped. Rose folded her arms and stared at a grimy spot on the floor.

"I don't think I can do this. Maybe we should talk when things aren't this loud… and confusing." Things were very loud. Music was still ringing in Rose's ears and her head spun with exertion.

"No." Scorpius said, and then dropped his hands to his sides, trembling. "Rose, do you realise what you're doing to me?" his voice cracked. "Shutting me off, kissing me in the dark, hurting me, kissing other lips, touching my hand, talking to me, hating me, loving me…"

Oh no, no, no, no!

"Do you realise that I have been in love with you since I was twelve? And when you reject me… I cry? I fucking weep! Do you know many fifteen year old boys that cry about a girl?" he snarled.

"I could name a few." She replied quietly. She adamantly kept her eyes away from his face.

"Fuck you Rose." He said, his voice heavy. "You see this shit?" he shouted, gesturing at the space between their bodies. Rose didn't respond. "I would, no I will take this utter shit, if it means I'm still with you. No matter how little, I'd still touch you, and see the sun light your eyes, and your absent minded smile when you sing to yourself, and the way you move. So strong and daring. And when you talk to animals; gentler than the eyelashes that fan your eyes. I will take this shit, just to see these things cross you! I won't leave Rose." He half sobbed.

"But…" Rose gaped. "I don't understand-?" she lied.

He took Rose's strong, lanky build, and shook her. "Look at me Rose!" he said, his breath flecking her face. And finally, she raised her eyes to his. Rimmed in pink, tears overflowing, but his steady, warm grey still loving. She could see nothing but his crystal, pale face. "I love you Rose. I fucking love you!" he cried. Rose's heart crunched and squeezed at his pain.

"Sh-h." she held his face with her long fingers. "Scorpius," she said his name in a coarse whisper. Their lips met in a salty embrace. It sealed them to this white washed bathroom. His skin threw fire across her body, warming her until she thought she might explode.

When he pulled away, Rose nearly screamed. "No!" she croaked. "Stay."

"Always," he sniffed. And his hands wrapped around her and held her to him, like the anchor he always was. Her simple stupidity seemed laughable. How could she have thought separating them would help? What good would that do either of them?

"Scorpius?" Rose said, emerging from their age-long kiss. It could have been minutes, hours, or several sunlit days. His eyelashes clung together with drying tears.

"Yes, Rose?"

"I love you."

The month of May was spent in the crook of blackened trees, drinking cherry water and listening to the soft sound of Scorpius's even breathing. With the blooming sun, came freckles that dotted across her shoulders and nose, and dusty books scattered along fresh grass.

Time moved like a steady hand. The clock kept ticking, and Rose kept breathing. She was crammed full of spells and ingredients.

On the 3rd of June, three examiners came to Hogwarts. They arrived during breakfast, with bright eyes and blank faces. The first was a large, round man, with whiskers and pointy ears. His eyes were slits in the rough folds of his skin, but he didn't seem to blink. At all.

The next was a beautiful Indian woman. She had a nose that was large and carved beautifully, joined with prominent eyebrows over hazel eyes. There were wrinkles dusting her mouth, and a groove going down her long neck. She looked like an African princess in her brightly coloured robes.

The last was a wheezing, red headed fellow that Teddy greeted enthusiastically. His laugh reverberated and rang like bells, and he had a kind smile.

Rose could go into a long and gory description of her OWL's. But it's easier just to simplify and say that they were inconvenient. Not torturous, just wearying. Her hand ached after each inch of parchment, and ink spattered her pale hands. The practical OWLs were actually a bit of fun, and the Marauders put not a foot wrong in their smooth DADA spells.

The 19th of June was a sultry day, with students sprawled outside. Tomorrow was their last day in Hogwarts, and Rose could feel a prank forming. She could tell it in the fidgety, eager stride of Scorpius and the evil glances exchanged between Albus and Tommy.

The night was no less warm, and students were shredding their uniforms off with ecstasy. Exams were finished. They were free. Excitement fizzed through the air like a firework. Whispers of names such as "Tommy's so mint." And "I hear they've put an exploding cake in the Great Hall!" and "I hear they're burning down O'Donnell's office!"

Not one of these was true. Well, the first couldn't be true, it was an opinion that Rose rolled her eyes at, but what actually happened was something far more dramatic. And beautiful.

Dinner was uneventful; no exploding cakes. Merely some creamy treacle tart and lemon ice cream. But Scorpius, Tommy and Albus rose the minute dinner was cleared. Scorpius bent over to grab a spare cupcake, and whispered swiftly into Rose's ear, "Outside in five minutes." Rose gave the smallest small that Scorpius knew she was ready. He kissed her mouth before hurrying after Albus and Tommy. People watched them go, and waited. Rose caught McGonagall looking at her fondly, and she squirmed uncomfortably, smiling back.

Five minutes ticked by with little words exchanged. Rose left the table with brisk strides, careening outside into the night air, where stars winked and owls hooted. Nessa was on her footsteps.

"You think I don't know they're up to something?" she laughed when I raised an eyebrow. "The whole bloody school knows-"

Nessa was cut off by a deafening BOOM!

"Oh my god!" Rose gasped. "They've gone and fucking blown up Hogsmeade the twats!" she shouted, clutching Nessa. A second BOOM sounded, but this time, bright, fluorescent lights streaked across the sky, so bright it illuminated the two girls' like a candle pressed to their faces.

"Wow." They both whispered. The lights gleamed a crimson pink, forming a love heart. Sparks flew and boomed in the distance. Crowds of people pooled outside and watched the sky with cooing wonder. Silly words such as 'Poo' and 'Nobbeen' were spelt out. All undoubtedly Tommy's choice. Dragons roared flames and women danced with aggression; the fireworks lasted maybe a half an hour, with a beautiful finale of 'I love you bitch!' Rose and Nessa laughed until tears ran down their face. The teachers were scowling, students "Oooh!"-ing and "Aaah!"-ing, and Rose knowing the true implication behind each new image. She waited for his blonde head to appear, and it did, creeping up on her. He kissed her under the halo of fire and noise that he'd created. Rose felt her skin tingle and her throat close with fresh tears.

"I'm going to be in so much trouble." Scorpius whispered into her ear, his boyish smell toxic to her lungs.

"And I'm going to wait for you. After detention. Waiting." She kissed his bottom lip, and he made a little moaning noise.

"I have to go now. Serve my punishment and all that." He sighed. Rose stroked his cheek, and watched him go, his kisses still burning under her skin.

"Mum!" Rose shouted. Hermione swivelled around and beamed. Rose flew into her mother's arms and pressed her head against her bushy hair. Sometimes, Rose would lay awake at night and wonder how her mother and father fell in love. It was no secret they were still mad about each other; their memories from Hogwarts knitting them together in a bond thicker than blood. She would wonder if she'd ever find someone like that.

"Rosie!" Ron smiled goofily and wrapped his lanky arms around his daughter.

"Your letters were too vague about the exams, Rose. Give us some details!" Hermione wrapped a comforting arm around her daughter who was now several inches taller than her.

The Weasley's waved off the Potters who were returning to Godric's Hollow for a few weeks before coming back to The Burrow. Albus hugged Rose close to him, and said into her ear, "I'll miss our runs." And by that, he meant our 'midnight wanderings'. Rose patted his back, and hugged a tearful James. His graduation hat covered his tear stains. Rose caught a glimpse of Scorpius and waved mischievously. Tommy swung her around like Ron did when she was a toddler. They made plans for the summer, and Rose promised to give him girl advice.

The Weasley's piled into Ron's little car. Hugo was just putting his earphones in his ears, when he looked at Rose, and smiled toothily.

"So how was this term guys? Any news?" Hermione asked.

"Bloody horrible for you I'd imagine, Rosie." Ron guffawed.

"Ron!" Hermione hit her husband affectionately. Ron pulled out of King's Cross Station and into the colourful world of London.

"Oh yeah, Rose has a boyfriend." Hugo said conversationally. "If that counts."

Rose had never shot such dirty looks. Hermione took a sharp intake of breath, and a smile grew on her face, making the wrinkles around her eyes crinkle.

Ron, unfortunately, had a slightly different reaction.

He slammed the car to a standstill, earning him many middle fingers and angry Londoners. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

WOO the ongoing saga of ScoRose has finally ended!