Author's Note: I'mma go ahead and get the soppy stuff out of the way up here. So... three years, 935 pages, 200 chapters, and my story of Rose and Scorpius has finally come to an end. Honestly, 'Rose and Scorpius: A Forbidden Love' has been such a huge part of my life, and I can't believe it's over now. When I started writing this story I had no idea how big it would become (both literally and in success!), I'd never written fanfiction before, and I didn't even know what this website was.

All I know is that one summer, a combination of JK Rowling's creation (world and characters), song lyrics, and my wild imagination, began to form a story about a young couple with a relationship the world was against. I'd been fascinated by the idea of Rose and Scorpius ever since reading the epilogue in Deathly Hallows, and without JK Rowling telling me their story, decided to write it myself. I never had any intentions of publishing this story - I set out to write it for my own pleasure, to be read by my eyes only, but on 1st September 2012, I went ahead and uploaded the very first chapter to ffn. (Almost) three years, 199 chapters, and over 2000 reviews later, and here we are.

I've had overwhelming support from the fanfiction community over the years, and I want to thank my readers for allowing me to share my work with them, and for being so supportive and encouraging. Like I said, I never expected to get so much recognition for this, but I'm deeply grateful. I don't know if anybody's still here who was back in 2012, but I know a lot of you have been faithfully reading each week for around six months or something crazy. There are so many reviewers I'd like to thank in person, and give a shout-out to, but I'm wary of forgetting someone important - you know who you are ;)

But yeah, thank you so much for supporting me - I only hope I've done Rose and Scorpius justice :)

It's been a huge story, with a lot of drama, and a lot of twists and turns, so I hope I've ended it in a way that answers all your questions and leaves you feeling satisfied. But I guess I'll just let you go and ahead and see for yourselves. So, without further ado, the 200th, and final chapter of Rose and Scorpius: A Forbidden Love...

I sincerely hope you enjoy it!

200 – Vows of Love

2nd September 2023

James Potter was late.

Rose's whole body was tensed, as were most of the people's in the Great Hall. It was as though everybody was collectively holding their breath, waiting him for to announce his arrival – both out of elation at his presence at the venue, and also out of anxiety that his chosen time of arrival would be nothing more than a disruption in the ceremony.

Everybody had heard it. Even Rose, stood in the very front row, as far away from the commotion as had been possible, had heard it all.

Ebony's hurried assurance that he would be there, he was just running late; her pleas that they wait just a little bit longer, quickly subsiding into shouts of fury that she would not, under any circumstances, walk the aisle without James by her side.

That, combined with Professor Bobbin's angry dismissals that it was her wedding and she was not going to wait around for James, pleas that Ebony just suck it up and get on with it, and gentle assurances that whatever his delay happened to be, he'd show up soon enough, had provided the hall full of students, professors, and guests alike, with quite the audial show. The acoustics of the Great Hall, even though the doors were only slightly ajar, had amplified it all to the patiently waiting guests.

Moments later, Ebony had begun her procession down the aisle alone.

Flawless as ever, Ebony floated down the aisle in a satin dress of deepest green that clung to her body as effortlessly as water trickling over rocks, head held high, with a forced sort of smile. Rose had tried to catch her eye as she passed in order to offer her a reassuring smile, but Ebony kept her head fixed firmly on her waiting father-in-law as she strode down the hall, as though to look away would cause her to crack and break down.

Rose felt angry at James on her behalf – all Ebony had wanted was for him to accompany her down the aisle, but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

She'd put on a brave face though, and Cepheus Roberts, from his place of pride at the front of the hall where the high table normally resided, offered her the warm, reassuring smile that Rose had not been able to offer her.

Lone bridesmaid, daughter of the bride, and newly appointed Head Girl of Hogwarts, all eyes were on Ebony, full of awe and respect.

It was only a temporary setback, Rose assured herself – Bobbin and Ebony's hushed argument. They had made huge progress in their relationship as mother and daughter over the summer, the three of them (Bobbin, Roberts, and Ebony) living together, planning the wedding like a proper family. It had been a mutual decision that James would get himself on his own feet before trying to provide for his bride.

Ebony living with Bobbin and Roberts, and at Hogwarts, of course, she would complete her final year of education whilst James, despite his former insistence on moving out, was continuing to live in his parents' house whilst he got himself a job and started life in the real world. Both sets of parents had agreed that by the end of the year, if that's really what they wanted, James and Ebony could have the freedom to do what they wanted.

Ebony had kicked up quite the fuss over trying to get James permission to live at Hogwarts with her, which Rose was glad Bobbin had refused. As much as Ebony had needed to open her heart and learn to trust and let people in, she was showing frightening signs of becoming almost too dependent on James. Rose thought it had been a wise decision to make Ebony Head Girl, and for Bobbin to be firm in her insistence on separation from James.

It would give Ebony a greater sense of purpose away from her life with him. Which in itself, Rose noted thoughtfully, was not strictly a problem – that Ebony had found happiness and found herself through her life with James didn't make her any less worthwhile – it didn't strip her of her identity – but Rose could see that Ebony needed to stand on her own for a bit. It was all changing for her, and she needed to find her own strength after it had been so cruelly stripped from her.

Rose was deeply proud of her.

As Bobbin too floated down the aisle, Rose was hit with a wonderstruck sense of awe as she always was when observing a bride in action. Five colours leapt out at her.

Black: the thick, loose waves that shaped Melinda Bobbin's face.

White: the colour of her porcelain skin and the simple, yet beautiful, princess-style dress she wore with pride.

Pink: the rose-coloured tint in the bride's cheeks, her bashful smile creeping out as she greeted spectators and beamed at the love of her life – a groom she had always dreamed of, and never expected.

Green and silver: The colour scheme for the Bobbin-Roberts wedding. Despite his Hufflepuff roots, Roberts had insisted on the Slytherin-themed wedding his bride and future daughter-in-law had envisioned.

The Great Hall had been transformed. Stripped of the four house tables and the staff's high table that had been in place for the Sorting Ceremony the night before, rows of church pews were lined up along either side of the aisle, all the way from the broad oak doors to the shimmering glass window that overlooked the hall, and which thankfully (as British weather in September was always unpredictable), the sun could be seen gleaming through, like a blessing on the happy couple.

And filling these pews were all number of magical folk – the Hogwarts' students and staff, naturally, but also witches and wizards from all walks of life, significantly more for Bobbin than for Roberts.

The Hall had been decorated overnight, flowers, ribbons, hangings, all of the traditional silver and green hues that were associated with Slytherin house – of which both Melinda and Ebony belonged. Ebony's bridesmaid's dress reflected this scheme, as did Bobbin's bouquet.

And Rose thought it all beautiful.

She had always adored weddings, and with each of the three she'd attended – Teddy and Victoire's, James and Ebony's (from within the Pensieve), and now Bobbin and Roberts' – she fell even deeper in love with the idea of love.

She could not help but steal a glance at the groom whilst people marvelled at the bride in her procession. Cepheus Roberts, as handsome as ever, had a look on his face that suggested he was both the happiest and luckiest man in the world.

And as Rose's heart swelled, she realised she was seeing that look for the third time. Three times she had seen the very definition of love defined in a single look – eyes gleaming, breathless smile, un-suppressible dimples. On Teddy Lupin's face, on James Potter's face, and now on Cepheus Roberts' face.

And, Rose acknowledged, with a nervous flutter of butterflies in her stomach, on one Scorpius Malfoy's.

But only ever in her dreams.

Yes, Rose unabashedly longed for little more than to one day see that look on someone's face – that look of uncontainable, unending love and warmth – put in place by nobody other than herself. How many times had she closed her eyes during white-veil occasions and envisioned Scorpius looking at her like that? How many of her wildest dreams had seen that smile shine through, clear and bright, intended only for her?

And how many times had she broken her own heart by sliding back into reality and realising it was not real; it was not yet her time to be graced by such an honour?

As though reading her thoughts, Rose felt a gentle squeeze of her right hand. Dragging her eyes away from Roberts with a heavy heart, Rose squeezed back and turned to face Scorpius. His eyes were not watching either of the betrothed, nor Ebony – his close friend and ex-girlfriend, now in place at the front of the hall.

In fact, he could not have looked like he cared less about the wedding that was in progress around him.

Scorpius Malfoy, in that moment, had a look on his face that Rose had only ever seen in her dreams, and on the faces of those deeply in love with the woman walking down the aisle towards them. Had she not felt the pressure of his hand in hers, felt his glassy green eyes bearing into her soul, shining with warmth, and happiness, and uncontainable love, for no one other than her, then she would not have thought it anything more than another hopelessly wild illusion.

But he was real. And so was she. And so was their love.

And Rose knew that now, more than she ever had before.

Had they not been in the midst of somebody else's wedding, and if Rose's parents had not been sat directly in the row behind the young couple, she would have kissed him.

But all Rose could do was peer at him beneath long lashes, knowing as well as anything that the look on Scorpius' face – the same look that was currently on Roberts and Bobbin's, and everybody else she had had the honour of seeing walk down the aisle – was reflected on her own.

But now the ceremony had been going on for almost twenty minutes, the couple were united at the makeshift altar, all eyes trained on the front of the hall, and James Potter was still nowhere to be seen.

Ebony, stood slightly behind her mother and clutching her bridesmaid's bouquet to her chest, had been checking the door every few seconds with a heightened sense of panic as she, along with everybody else in the hall, anticipated the arrival of the elusive boy. Bobbin had fleetingly offered her daughter a look of apology before taking her place.

But now the wedding was in full swing and Rose could not help but have her heart reach out to Ebony. That lost look of longing was not unfamiliar to Rose. It took her back to her fifteenth birthday party, eye on the door, waiting for a certain boy to arrive, and knowing that when he did, it would feel like pieces slotting into place, like a million little shining stars had just aligned.

Rose only hoped, for Ebony's sake, that James would not disappoint.

"If anybody present knows of any reason why these two should not be wed in holy matrimony, ye art to declare it now. Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Rose closed her eyes in despair as the silence rang through the hall following those words –a beautiful, sacred pause, heightened with tension for all those present. Bobbin's eyes flickered nervously around the room as though somebody was about to stand up and protest, declaring it absurd that the Headmistress be allowed to get married, or that Cepheus Roberts was far too young to be her husband.

Rose recalled a dream in which she'd burst into the chapel during Ebony and Scorpius' wedding following those oh-so important words…

The reporters on the other side of the aisle in the front row were poised eagerly, because wouldn't that just be the juiciest scandal to go with the story of the juiciest, most scandalous wedding of the year?

Bobbin had been adamant to have any news coverage of her wedding, thinking it a gross violation, but Kingsley had had to make a compromise with her. This was huge news. Never before had a wedding taken place at Hogwarts castle, much less the wedding of the current serving headmistress – the most controversial Head of Hogwarts the school had ever known, according to a certain Rita Skeeter. The fact that the woman in question was marrying one of her former students and current employees was even more scandalous.

Whether Bobbin liked it or not, her wedding was going to be covered in the media – Kingsley had only pointed out that, by inviting the reporters into the castle, she was being given the choice of whether the coverage was truthful, or artificially constructed through wild speculation. Only then had Bobbin reluctantly agreed.

But it wasn't for any of those reasons that Rose had dropped her head and forced her eyes shut in despair. It was for the reason that wouldn't it just be so like James – wouldn't it be such a perfect irony for now to be the moment that he –

"HAVE NO FEAR, JAMES POTTER IS OFFICIALLY HERE!"

Hurried murmurs, and the frantic clicking of camera shutters. Rose forced herself to look.

James Potter, dressed to the nines (God forbid he'd interrupted the wedding of the year in his normal, casual attire), had burst through the doors of the Great Hall wearing his custom grin, and with all the excitable, boundless energy he constantly exerted.

"Sorry I'm late," he cheerily called out as he sauntered down the aisle, revelling in the attention.

Several expressions leapt out at Rose from amongst the wedding party. Harry and Ginny Potter, in the row behind, looked absolutely mortified at their son's exuberant arrival, Roberts looked greatly amused by the display, and Bobbin looked like she'd enjoy nothing more than strangling the former Head Boy.

But Bobbin's dangerous look of disapproval couldn't help but be overshadowed by the look on the girl's face that stood behind her. Ebony's entire being had lit up.

James stopped in his descent down the aisle, noticing Ebony for the first time. "Merlin's Beard!" he exclaimed with great enthusiasm to nobody in particular. "Is that my wife?"

Abandoning her bridesmaid's post without so much as an apologetic glance at the bride herself, Ebony had run to meet him in the centre of the hall. Flinging her arms around his neck, the bouquet still clutched tightly in her hand, James swept Ebony quite literally off her feet, and spun her around in a movement that would have been the most soppily romantic reunion ever had it not been during the middle of somebody else's wedding.

Looking back to Bobbin, now watching her daughter with endeared fondness, she broke out into a smile and rolled her eyes as James innocently asked her, "Did I miss anything important?"

Vows made, rings exchanged, Melinda Bobbin and Cepheus Roberts were married. And as the beaming newlyweds made their way down the aisle to great applause, Rose found herself slipping her hand into Scorpius' and leaning into him.

"This is the first wedding I've ever been to," he murmured to her quietly.

"Seriously?"

She felt him nod. "And the consensus is…?"

"S'alright," he teased. "A much happier occasion than the last service I was at."

The atmosphere was suddenly sombre.

Rose turned to look at him with sad eyes, knowing he was referring to his mother's funeral. It had taken place the weekend after they'd broken up for the summer – only about a month ago, though now they were officially back at school it felt like an eternity.

It was a delicate, painful matter for them both. Rose had wanted to be there with him, to support him during such a difficult time, but she could not bear to attend the funeral of the woman she felt partially responsible for in death, even though Scorpius had begged her to come.

And it was more than that. Rose felt to attend Astoria Malfoy's funeral would be the greatest dishonour to the late woman in question. After devoting her whole life to actively keeping Rose at bay (even though they now knew it had been Lily who had been the threat Astoria had so feared), publicly loathing the girl, and devoting her final, dying breath to forbid the girl from interacting with her son, Rose felt it would have been more respectable for her to spit on Astoria's remains and dance on her grave than to pay her respects at her funeral, and comfort the woman's mourning son.

It had been difficult for her to refuse Scorpius' request that she accompany him, but he had been understanding. And, much to Rose's surprise, Ron and Hermione had both attended.

The dynamics between the Malfoys and the Weasleys had all been distorted since Astoria's death. There was tension there – there always had been and there always would be – and that had been reignited at the trial all those years ago, when Rose and Scorpius had first entered into their then forbidden relationship.

It was difficult for them all, but mostly Ron. The unspoken words of love that had once flowed from Draco to Hermione remained a secret never to be dwelled on. But Ron, as prejudiced as he had always been, could not help but admit his heart had been softened. He was slowly starting to see Scorpius, and indeed, Draco, in a new light.

Seeing Scorpius' selfless defence of Hermione during the battle at Rosewood, and the courtesy he showed Ron with regards to his request not to pressure Rose and give her her space, had started to open Ron's eyes to the idea that Scorpius Malfoy might not be so bad after all – or, at the very least, that he had grown up a lot since his last encounters with the family.

Ron too, though initially reluctant to accept it, was starting to realise that perhaps what Hermione and Rose had been trying to convince him of all along – that Draco was a changed man since his days as a ruthless bully at Hogwarts – might also have some truth to it. Seeing the man lose his wife, the loving relationship he had with his children, and his repentance of the darker side of magic and pure-blood ideals that Astoria had been so in favour of, was enough to crack the shell Ron had so firmly encased his heart in.

He was starting to realise, though it greatly pained him to admit it, he might have been wrong. Rose was greatly moved by his attendance of Astoria's funeral.

But despite Ron's change of heart, that by all means did not mean Rose was comfortable enough yet to be flaunting Scorpius around him. True to his promise, Rose and Scorpius had kept their relationship light-hearted and non-committed throughout the summer.

And what a beautiful summer it had been.

Although it had begun painfully for the likes of the Malfoy children, as they both adapted to life without their mother, and came to terms with her loss, slowly but surely, after the dismal start with the funeral, summer had perked up.

Leaning into him, breathing in his smell, hundreds of beautiful summer memories came back to Rose, and she found she couldn't help but smile as she recalled them all. Summer of love, indeed. From start to finish it had been nothing but fun, friends, parties, sunshine…

The whole gang reunited, James and Ebony as newlyweds, and Sam and Janey with their brand new official relationship. The Gryffin-Girls had been fully reunited with the Slytherins, Jinx and Janey adapting to their newfound sisterhood.

James, Mason, Albus, Sam, Janey, Rose, Gwen, Taylor, Ebony, Jinx, Albireo, and Scorpius at the heart of it, sometimes they'd been joined by the younger ones too – Lily, Serephina, Hugo, and Ben. And sometimes Albus' unofficial girlfriend joined them too (he didn't want to rush things, he had insisted to Rose and Scorpius when they'd challenged him about it).

Quidditch games, road trips, campfires, trips to the beach… it really had been a beautiful summer. And Rose felt a deeper, private smile adorn her face as she thought of the memories she shared with Scorpius alone. Late night walks, hand-in-hand, stolen kisses…

But no labels.

No labels, no attachments, just fun.

And boy, had it been fun.

But now things were different. After the celebrations surrounding Bobbin's wedding, it was properly back to school for all of them. Ebony was going to have to cope on her own without James; Albus, as Head Boy (it had taken them all by surprise) was taking on his own responsibilities; James and Mason would no longer be part of their group; Scorpius had only one year to make a name for himself as the new Slytherin Quidditch Captain, as did Gwen for the Gryffindors; all of them had their NEWTs.

Everybody was preparing for their future, and although Rose still didn't know what lay ahead in the long run, she wanted to give herself the best opportunities she could. She felt nostalgic at the thought that she had but one year left with her Gryffin-Girls before they truly went their separate ways after seven whole years of sisterhood and friendship. The thought of not waking up every morning with Janey complaining about the lack of reception, Taylor lecturing them all on the inner workings of the political system in magical Bulgaria, and Gwen freaking out about someone having moved her training schedule, made Rose feel somewhat empty inside.

Good grief, they had driven each other mad at times! Rose would never be able to shake those first impressions – those first strained months of arguing and bitching. Janey had been a selfish, spoilt brat, Taylor had been a pretentious, stuffy know-it-all, and Gwen had been a stubborn, self-righteous workaholic.

And Rose had loved them more than words could possibly describe. For all the drama, through all the arguing, there was not a single thing she would change. She vowed, in the year she still had them to herself, she was going to make the most of it. She was not going to question their value as friends, no matter how strained things got.

She couldn't afford to waste it.

And with that in mind, her attention wandered back to the boy on her arm. Before the summer, she had offered him a proposition. She had laid down her offer with clear rules – a relationship of sorts throughout the summer, no labels, nothing intensely emotional, both committed and non-committed, just fun. And upon their return in September, after their trial run, they would make a decision.

Would Rose and Scorpius, twice bitten and unlucky in love, after a year and a half of separation and maturation, once more dive into the treacherous, passionate affair of officially dating?

Rose still had the same doubts and fears that she'd had before. Yes, she cared deeply for Scorpius Malfoy, she enjoyed spending time in his company, she felt safe with him, she felt like she could finally trust him, but could she really put herself through the pain of losing him again?

Twice he had broken her heart. Twice she had lost him.

And each time she did it broke a little bit more of her; she lost a little bit more of herself. She did not want to get him back only to have him fall away from her again. If they went into it again, they were in it for good.

But was that too big a commitment?

It wasn't like they were getting married or anything – not like James and Ebony! But Rose knew it was cruel to string Scorpius along any further. He had made it perfectly clear where he stood when it came to them, and he had done everything Rose had asked of him, without complaint.

She either needed to step it up or break it off altogether. It was cruel to keep him in the zone they were in now – not officially dating, but not free enough to be dating other people without hurting the other. They weren't really a couple, but at the same time, they were far from just innocent friends.

Rose tried to force it from her mind. She had to make a decision, that was compulsory, and soon too. But not just yet. Perhaps Scorpius would forget. Perhaps he'd be too caught up in the excitement of the wedding to think about his own relationship, and where it may or may not be going.

The whole hall had broken out into conversation following the newlyweds' departure, people starting to shuffle from the hall into the grounds for photos, and so that it could be transformed into a suitable venue for the reception.

But something was wrong. People were talking in hushed whispers, watching something with wide eyes. Rose eased her way through the crowd, leaving Scorpius behind in the process.

The couple had stopped about halfway down the aisle. Professor Bobbin, whose face had moments ago been shining with joy and love, now appeared angry by something, exhausted even. Her lips were parted in surprise, and her eyes had drained of all happiness.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded in a breathy, accusatory whisper.

Cepheus Roberts looked none-the-wiser, and he and Rose both followed Bobbin's gaze with curiosity and confusion.

A somewhat elderly man, no longer in his prime, but with defined traces of youthful handsomeness still deeply embodied in his face, was on his feet before the headmistress, looking like he'd intended to slip out without notice.

Upon being caught by the bride he eased into a taunting sort of smile, fixing her with a smirk that made Rose feel indescribably angry. She felt like she knew who this man was – like she'd seen him before. But no names sprang to mind and she couldn't place it.

"I brought him." A middle-aged woman rose to her feet besides the gentleman, fixing Bobbin with a meek, apologetic look. Soft blonde hair pulled into a casual up-do, also with strong traces of youth and beauty, Rose realised who they were.

She had seen both of these people before, just twenty years younger. This was John and Emilie Snow – Bobbin's younger sister, and her ex-husband.

"Neither of you were invited," Bobbin said coolly. "Neither of you are welcome here."

"I'm your sister," Emilie protested. "You invited Mae!"

"Mae never stabbed me in the back," Bobbin hissed, quickly losing all the enviable grace with which she always held herself.

John, Emilie, and Bobbin both made to say something, but it was Roberts who stepped in first. "Is there, err, a problem here?" He took a step forwards, placing a protective hand on his new wife's back, and regarded her warily. Rose noted the way John eyed him up from head to toe. It was Bobbin's first husband who took the slight height advantage.

"Cepheus," Bobbin gulped, regarding the unwelcome couple with as much hostility as possible, "this is my sister, Emilie. And this" – she threw John a particularly dirty look – "is both of ours ex-husband, Jonathon Snow."

Realisation flickered into Roberts' eyes. "The Muggle?" he asked confusedly.

John looked both amused and offended by Roberts' address. "By Muggle I assume you mean –"

"Non-magical," Roberts explained with amusement.

"Yes, he's a Muggle," Bobbin said with slight alarm. John scowled, like he didn't appreciate the reminder that he didn't possess magic. "Which begs the question – how in Merlin's name are you here?"

"I brought him," Emilie replied on John's behalf, still looking meek and apologetic.

"Emilie, there are strict laws about bringing Muggles into Hogwarts – don't you understand how serious a violation this is?" Bobbin looked around nervously, as though Kingsley would overhear, or even worse, one of the reporters.

"Yes, but I figured because it's a special occasion – a wedding –"

"That you were not invited to!"

"But I'm your sister," Emilie whined.

"That doesn't give you the right to crash my wedding!"

Emilie rolled her eyes in a very Janey-esque way. "Don't be so overdramatic, Melly, I did not crash it – you didn't even know I was here!"

"Well, why are you here?" Bobbin demanded viciously. "And why did you bring him? Why are you even together at all – it doesn't take that long for the divorce papers to come through, surely!"

"Well, if you'd bothered to keep in contact with me over the past twenty years," Emilie said indignantly, "you'd know that John and I are back together." She looked proud by this, smug even.

Bobbin just looked horrified. "You're back together?" she repeated, eyebrows raised.

"We decided we'd give it another go," Emilie explained with tight lips, clearly not appreciating her sister's lack of support. "We've come to realise that it was because of your guilt hanging over us that we couldn't be happy together. And now, with you re-married, we figured you'd moved on, and we'd be able to be happy together again."

"You think it's taken me twenty years to move on?" Bobbin asked in disbelief. "You think I actually care whether you're together or not? Is that why you're here? To show him off right under my nose again?"

"No," Emilie denied unconvincingly, "I wanted to support you – my sister."

"Oh, support?" Bobbin asked sarcastically. "Like when you slept with him, three years into our marriage?"

"See, you're not over it!"

"Ladies, please, this is ridiculous," John laughed patronisingly, clearly enjoying what appeared to be a feminine squabble over him. "We're all adults here, we're all mature – we can talk this through like –"

"I really don't think there's anything that needs to be talked through," Roberts cut across him with firmness, much to John's revolt. The older man looked at him like he'd just suggested they bathe themselves in mud, or something equally vile.

"Just admit it to yourself," Bobbin hissed at her sister, ignoring both her current and former husband. "You're jealous of me, Emilie, you always have been. You were never happy in your marriage to John – you admitted it to me. You told me you knew he could never love you like he'd loved me, and it killed you inside. So when the news got out that I was engaged, that despite my failed marriage I'd moved on and reinvented my life, you were insanely jealous once more, because you could only dream of that kind of closure."

"That is not true!"

"And I don't know why you went crawling back to John. Maybe it was because you knew he was your only shot at getting married again, so late in your life. Maybe it was because you thought it would make me jealous – that you'd be able to dangle him in my face like the last time."

Emilie spluttered, patches of red making her skin look unflatteringly blotchy, as she struggled to defend herself. Rose glanced at her headmistress, now looking triumphant, with deep pride.

It was John who jumped to Emilie's defence. "Look, Melly, it's –"

"Don't call me that."

He snorted in amusement at her interruption. "You used to like it when I called you –"

"I never liked it," Bobbin interrupted, as coldly as before. "But you listen to me, John. I don't know why you're here. I don't know if it's to support Emilie, or to somehow get back at me, or if it's just twisted curiosity to find out what it's like for me to fall in love with a real man."

John glowered at her words, whilst Roberts seemed torn between wanting to look smug and concerned.

"I came to support you," John said curtly. "I care about you, okay? I was curious, I'll admit it. I know I screwed you up, so when I heard the news that you were getting married again, so long after we separated, I wanted to check your heart was really in it – that this wasn't just some desperate, self-destructive attempt to get over our divorce."

Professor Bobbin looked like she was on the verge of explosion. Rose bit her lip in preparation, embarrassed on Bobbin's behalf for her confrontation with her ex-husband being so public.

"You are so full of sh–"

"Melinda," Roberts coughed awkwardly.

"You did screw me up, John!" Bobbin yelled, fighting against the protective arm Roberts had put around her waist. "But you honestly think after twenty years I'm still not over you? You think this is some ridiculous attempt to get back at you? And for the record, we did not separate – I left you!"

John pursed his lips. "Look, I was young back then," he tried to apologise.

"You were thirty-one!"

"Alright, but –"

"You want to talk about young?" Bobbin went on, that fire burning in her eyes that Rose had always so admired. "I was nineteen when you screwed my life up. That is young."

"I never forced you to marry me."

"Don't you think nineteen was too young to be messed with, John?"

"You think nineteen's too young?" John asked coolly. He glared at Roberts in disdain. "Exactly how old is your new little play thing?"

"I'm thirty," Roberts said furiously.

"You're seriously grilling me for marrying a girl twelve years younger than me when you've just gone and done the same?" John was hissing at Bobbin again. "Is that what this is? You're trying to recapture your youth after accusing me of stealing it from you? You're just trying to get a kick?"

"Unlike you, I don't need to do anything of the sort," Bobbin retaliated bitterly. "Admit it, you're not in love with Emilie, and you were never in love with me. You've only ever been in love with yourself – in love with magic, and in love with the idea of feeling young."

"So, you're trying to tell me you love this man?" John demanded. "This little school boy?"

"I am thirty!" Roberts growled again.

"Cepheus and I have far more in common than you've had with all of your pointless flings combined. This is real love," Bobbin said firmly, grabbing hold of Roberts' arm a little aggressively.

"And I suppose you'll be taking his name, will you?" John asked sulkily.

"No, actually. I'm keeping my maiden name, just as I always have."

"So he's taking your name?" John looked thrilled, like this somehow emasculated Roberts.

Again, Bobbin said calmly, "No, neither of us are changing our names."

"Wasn't he a student of yours? Aren't there laws against this type of thing?" John was back to eyeing up the man who was twenty years his junior, trying to assert himself as dominant alpha male.

"Look," Roberts cut in calmly, though still fiercely protective of Bobbin, "thanks for stopping by, but I really think –"

"Don't patronise me." John took a step towards his rival so he could look down on him, but Roberts wasn't dissuaded.

"This is a pleasant occasion, we don't want any trouble here, and I really don't think you have any business here."

"You think you're superior to me because you're a magician or something?"

"A wizard," Roberts corrected him, snorting with amusement. "And no, that's not what I meant. What I meant is you are clearly not over whatever pathetic feelings you may have had for Melinda, and perhaps you thought in coming here she might have a change of heart, or you might see her miserable, or anything that would put your restless mind at ease. Clearly, you were wrong."

"Oh, really?" John asked, trying to act like he wasn't intimidated. "Listen here –"

"John, please," Emilie cut in with a whiny voice, looking embarrassed by the impending man brawl.

John ignored her. "I hope you're happy together –"

"Oh, we will be," Bobbin assured him smugly.

"– and that when the babysitting has lost its charm and you find yourself bitter and alone, longing for a real man –"

Roberts looked on the verge of punching John Snow, and Rose rather wished he would. "Why don't we show some respect and let Melinda enjoy at least one of her weddings, shall we?"

John fell silent, his threatening words lost in his throat. He regarded Cepheus Roberts incredulously, mortified at being belittled and undermined by a man twenty years younger than himself. He was about to continue arguing but a new arrival distracted his attention.

"What is going on here?" James Potter demanded of the gathering with great amusement. "Don't tell me a fight's about to go down without me?" He looked John up and down, trying to figure out who on earth he could possibly be. "Who are you?"

But John Snow didn't even look at James. His mouth was hanging down as he observed the shy girl by his side. "Ebony?" he asked breathlessly. Emilie let out a gasp by his side. "I, err, I don't suppose you remember me…"

"I remember you," Ebony said quietly, regarding him with deep sadness in her eyes. Of course, Rose thought – Ebony had been Ebony Snow for the first five years of her childhood – the adopted daughter of her aunt and her husband.

But no, Rose further realised, it wasn't just as simple as that. It wasn't just that Emilie Snow was her aunt; John Snow was Ebony's biological father. The poor girl had not seen the man in twelve years.

"Ebony," Emilie whimpered, reaching out a hand as though to touch the girl. Ebony recoiled, and James put an arm around her to calm her. Emilie retracted her hand, blushing. "You're – you're so grown up," she gulped. "You're so beautiful…"

"She looks like you." John nodded to Bobbin humbly. "She, err, she looks just like you."

Melinda Bobbin looked proud of John's words, but defensive at Emilie's. "Did you forget about her?" she demanded of her sister in an accusatory whisper. "Once you'd loaded her off on the Darkbrows did you forget she existed? A burden you no longer had to bear?"

Emilie looked offended, and her guilt quickly turned to anger. "You mean like how you loaded her off on me?"

Bobbin took a threatening step forwards. "Don't you dare –"

"I'm sorry," James interrupted, still deeply amused, "who exactly are you?"

"I'm Ebony's father, John."

"You're not Ebony's father," Bobbin said defensively. "Perhaps by blood, but never by nature. You never did anything for her, you never cared for her. In twelve years you never thought of reaching out to her – of checking on how she was doing."

"And how was I supposed to do that exactly, Melinda? It's not like I could come to this bloody school, is it?"

"Don't pretend like you ever wanted anything to do with her."

"Well, maybe that ought to change," John said sadly. For the first time that afternoon he actually sounding genuine. "I – I'd really like to make up for those years I lost." He stole an awkward look at Ebony. "If you'd like to, that is?"

Ebony looked between Bobbin, James, and John in a panic.

"Who would have known my daughter would grow up to be so beautiful," Emilie said wistfully.

"She is not your daughter," Bobbin growled.

"She was my daughter more than she ever was yours! I raised her, I cared for her –"

"Until you got bored and packed her off in the blink of an eye."

"At least I gave five years of my life to her," Emilie bit back. "Exactly how many years did you care for her?"

"Hey, look, this isn't fair," Roberts leapt to his wife's defence. "Giving up Ebony was the hardest thing Melinda ever had to do."

"Let's face it, when it comes to Melly, she only cares about this bloody school. She gave up her daughter for it, she gave up her husband and her marriage for it, she gave up her family business for it, and I'm assuming she's not giving it up for you, is she?" John looked down his nose at Roberts.

Roberts had gritted his teeth. "We made the decision together –"

"That's what she'd have you think now, isn't it? No, let's face it, she'll never have time for anybody whilst she stays here. She couldn't care less about you, or me, or Ebony, or –"

"She's the best mother anybody could ever have."

The arguing adults fell silent, all eyes turning to where they assumed the quiet voice had come. Ebony looked terrified.

"What?" John asked.

"Professor Bobbin," Ebony said in a shaky voice, "is the best mother I could have asked for." Bobbin looked like she was about to cry. Rose felt like she would cry. "Nobody has ever loved me like she does," she whispered.

Emilie and John had both gone pale. "That's not true, sweetie," Emilie said, as though Ebony was still five years old. "Your father and I – we loved you."

"No you didn't," Ebony said firmly, slowly gaining confidence. "You didn't even love each other, there was no way you could have loved me. We were a broken family."

"We had our difficulties," Emilie gulped in agreement, "but we weren't broken. We didn't not love you…"

"You're the reason I've never felt accepted," Ebony accused. "Seeing your love for each other fall apart when I was only five made me think that's all that love was – made to fall apart. I've learnt love from a lot of people, but never from you."

Bobbin's eyes glimmered with tears.

"I learnt it from seeing my friends," Ebony went on. She looked at Rose who nearly choked. "I learnt if from my mum – my real mum. I learnt it from seeing her with Professor Roberts, and I learnt it from the way she made me feel. And I learnt it from James." She looked at the boy in question with adoration-filled eyes, which he happily returned.

John looked like he'd been slapped. "Who exactly are you?" he demanded of James, struggling to think of a response to Ebony's biting words.

"This is my husband," Ebony announced proudly. "James Potter."

"Your husband?" John and Emilie asked in unison.

"You let her get married?" Emile asked accusingly, glaring at Bobbin.

"You mean to tell me you married my daughter without asking for my permission?" John demanded, looking furious.

Unfortunately for him, James now took the height advantage, and wasn't swayed in the slightest by the overprotective dad façade. "I certainly did," he replied with a wicked grin.

"This is absurd!"

"No," Bobbin interrupted, "it's not."

"After all you gave me about pursuing you when you were nineteen, you think it's okay for our seventeen-year-old daughter to get married? And you're okay with this?"

"I am," Bobbin said confidently. "Because if I thought for a second that James and Ebony loved each other half as much as you and Emilie supposedly love each other, I'd still know that was more love than most couple will get in a lifetime."

"No," John shook his head furiously. "No, okay, I might not have been the most active father figure in her life, but this is just ridiculous. I am her father and I –"

"You're not my father," Ebony piped up.

John floundered for a second. "Excuse me?"

"You're not my father," Ebony repeated. "Cepheus Roberts is."

John Snow pursed his lips, glared at the man who had taken both his wife and his daughter from him, and asked with aggravation, "So you're taking his name then? Ebony Roberts, I assume? Because it was my understanding that you went by 'Snow.'"

"Actually, she's Ebony Potter now," James smugly announced. He turned to Ebony. "Isn't that right?"

Ebony looked guilty, unable to look him in the eye. "Actually, James, I… I don't think I want to be Ebony Potter."

James' face fell. "But you're my wife," he pointed out in a sulky manner. "I thought you wanted to be married to me."
"I do," she insisted. "It's just" – Ebony paused to sigh – "I've had so many different names. Ebony Darkbrow, Ebony Snow… I don't want to be Ebony Roberts, or Ebony Potter. None of those sound right – none of those sound like me."

"Then – what?"

Ebony bit her lip in a bashful way, and stared up at her mother – her birth mother – from beneath her hair, as though shyly seeking approval. "If it's alright," she said quietly, "I really think I'd like to be Ebony Bobbin."

A single tear slid down Professor Bobbin's porcelain cheek, as she glowed with all the love and pride any daughter sought to see on their mother's face. "I'd really like that," she said breathlessly, as the two shared a tender mother-daughter smile. She reached out a hand, and for the first time, Ebony did not recoil. She took it gratefully.

"All settled then," Roberts announced cheerily. "Now" – he beamed at a now scowling John Snow in the most patronising way he could – "if you don't mind, me, my beautiful wife, and my beautiful daughter, have an appointment with a photographer. I trust you can see your own way out?"

Rose knew Ron was watching her. She knew, as she swayed on the dance floor, safe in Scorpius' arms, and with a laugh full of love, that Ron was watching their every move. And she could picture Hermione telling him off light-heartedly.

Rose had never felt more safe, more at home, than she did in that moment, her head pressed against Scorpius' beating heart, one arm snaked around his waist, whilst the other hand was clasped in his own.

"This is the third ball we've been to," he murmured into her hair.

"This isn't a ball," Rose pointed out. "It's a wedding reception."

"Alright," Scorpius laughed. "Same thing."

"No." Rose shook her head firmly, leaning away from him to look him in the eye. "Our history with balls hasn't been too successful."

"What are you talking about? We met at a ball."

"Both intoxicated by potions…"

"Ah."

For all intents and purposes, it was a ball. The Great Hall was decorated as it had been for every ball that had taken place at Hogwarts, with Bobbin's Slytherin colour scheme still in place. There were no tables save for the elongated one with the beverages. Couples were locked in romantic embraces, swaying beneath the floating candles, Bobbin and Roberts at the heart of it.

"I hope you haven't forgotten about our agreement, Freckles," Scorpius murmured.

Rose's heart skipped a beat. She quickly recovered. "Did I not mention that the terms of our agreement become void if you refer to me as 'Freckles?'"

"You just made that up," he protested.

She grinned at him. "Perhaps."

"Well, in that case" – Scorpius grinned back – "the original agreement still stands. Now, I've followed all the rules you set out for me, and I've respected your father's wishes as well, so that means, if I'm not mistaken, a decision has to be made."

"You reckon?"

"Mhmm," he agreed.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Rose teased.

"Rose Weasley, if you break my heart…"

"I'd only be repaying a favour."

"Okay," Scorpius laughed, "I deserve that." They were still swaying around the dance floor. "But Rose, in all seriousness, if your heart isn't completely in this – if there's anything I can do or say to reassure you that I –" He stopped abruptly.

"That you what?" Rose urged.

Scorpius shook his head. "No, no, no, I'm not falling for that."

"Falling for what?" Rose asked innocently.

"You tricking me into saying the thing I'm forbidden to say, and thus compromising the agreement we had, meaning you get out of making your decision."

"Why is it my decision?"

"Because you know full well that my feelings haven't changed," he replied. Rose felt herself blush. "You know I would do anything and everything to be yours again, Rose Weasley. And yet all I can do is wait for you to either crush me into a million pieces or make me the happiest man in the world."

"Is that so?" Rose asked in a low, flirtatious voice, peering up at him beneath fluttering eyelashes.

Scorpius bit his lip. "You have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now."

"I'm not stopping you."

"Your dad's watching us."

"So?"

"So, he told me I'm not allowed to act on my feelings when it comes to you unless you give the go-ahead, and I'm sure he'd love nothing more than to have a valid reason to beat me up."

"My dad is not going to beat you up, Scorpius," Rose laughed. "He likes you!"

Scorpius raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Well, you know, he might not adore you, but he certainly doesn't hate you anymore."

"I suppose that's better than nothing."

"Why don't you go talk to him?"

Scorpius looked like he couldn't be sure whether she was joking or not. "Are you kidding?" he asked uncertainly.

"Absolutely not. If you go talk to my father whilst I go and get a drink, I might just be prompted into making a certain decision."

Scorpius cocked his head. "In that case, it better fare well for me, otherwise that's just cruel."

"We'll see," Rose teased.

"What am I supposed to talk to him about?" Scorpius asked, suddenly nervous, but Rose was already gone.

Teetering on her high heels, Rose felt more confident than she ever had done in her six years at Hogwarts. She felt, for the first time, like she really knew who she was.

She was dressed in a chiffon summer-style dress, both casual and elegant, white in base, but with brightly coloured floral patterns over it – Janey had helped her choose it. And her hair was the way she liked it, long and loose, gently pulled to the side. Scorpius had told her she looked beautiful upon seeing her for the first time that morning, but Rose had not needed his approval to feel it.

Rose paused in the centre of the hall on her way to the drinks table as something caught her eye. James was racing around with a squealing Serephina on his back whilst Gwen, Taylor, Albus, Mason, and Lily laughed uproariously.

Her heart filled with warmth as she continued on her way. She was not surprised to find Janey and Sam there in the midst of an argument, naturally. "Trouble in paradise?" Rose teased.

Sam let out a long sigh whilst Janey folded her arms. "He still won't get me an audition with this film producer," she said with a pout. "Like, I'm his girlfriend, and this could set me right on the road to fame and –"

Ah, that long-standing argument.

"He's not a film producer," Sam protested. "He knows a film producer – I can't just get you an audition."

"You could try."

"Why – what have you ever done for me?"

"I've done a lot for you," Janey said fiercely.

Sam went red. Rose didn't dare ask.

Just because Sam and Janey were now officially dating – two months and counting – it didn't mean they didn't still argue. There's was certainly a very passionate love affair in all aspects. But it was right for them. Brave and wild, challenging – Gryffindor through and through.

Rose didn't know how long it would last – whether it would fizzle out in time like a firework, whether it would always burn strong and bright, or whether they'd dip in and out like Jinx and Albireo. But despite their frequent differences in opinions, Sam and Janey were right for each other on so many levels.

Just like James and Ebony, they needed each other for different reasons. Janey had needed to know love, and Sam had needed to give away unfaltering love. They made each other better.

As Bobbin had suggested, Rose had told Janey over the summer about how her message paper invention could be developed on a wider scale, perhaps earning her fame and success in the wizarding world, and although the girl had been flattered, she had insisted on continuing to pursue her life of Muggle stardom.

"Isabella," Sam suddenly gulped.

Janey's eyes widened, and she looked furious. "Did you just call me –"

"No," he hissed at her, nodding to something over her shoulder. "Isabella."

Janey whipped around, and Rose saw what Sam meant. Isabella Fontayne, Sam's Ravenclaw ex-girlfriend had approached the drinks table, stopping in amusement to observe the squabbling couple.

"What do you want?" Janey demanded.

"I came to get a drink."

"Get on with it then."

"Excuse me?"

"I said –"

"Janey, please," Sam begged, turning red.

Janey fell silent obediently, glaring at Isabella as she poured herself a goblet. When she was finished she straightened up, took a sip, and observed Sam with clear intent.

"What are you still doing here?" Janey demanded.

"It's none of your business," Isabella replied curtly. "I was just going to ask Sam if he'd like to dance."

Sam suddenly choked.

"No, he bloody well doesn't!" Janey shrieked at her.

"Since when is it any of your business?"

"Since I'm his bloody girlfriend!"

Isabella nearly dropped her goblet. Her widened gaze flickered from Sam to Janey in disbelief. "You're dating her?" she accused. "Please tell me that's a joke…"

"I –" Sam spluttered.

"Tell her!" Janey ordered, rounding on him. "Tell her it's true!"

"Sam?" Isabella prompted. "Seriously? You're trying to tell me you rebounded from me with her?"

All traces of nervousness had drained from Sam's face. "Rebound?" he asked dangerously. "Isabella, Janey is not my rebound."

"But you are dating her?"

"Are you really gonna let her talk about me like that?" Janey asked.

"Yes, I'm dating her," Sam said fiercely, glaring at his ex-girlfriend in disdain. "And that might come as a surprise to you, but it doesn't to me. I am lucky to be dating Janey – she's got more courage, more intellect, more fun in her little finger than you do in your whole body."

Isabella looked mortified whilst Janey looked smug, but Sam was by no means done. "Janey makes me laugh, Janey makes me smile. She's fun to be around – she challenges me, she supports me. And let me tell you something," he exclaimed with pride, "the whole time that we were dating, it was Janey who I really wanted to be with!"

Janey and Sam high-fived him without even looking at each other.

"So, no," Sam finished smugly, "Janey's not my rebound. If anything, you were just a consolation whilst I waited for her."

"But I – I –"

"Hey!" a new voice called out. Rose was not surprised to see Jinx storming her way over to the commotion, Albireo in tow. "This bitch giving you a hard time, J?"

"Not anymore, my guy just wiped the floor with her arse."

The sisters high-fived whilst Isabella continued to look appalled. She gave a final flustered look at them all before flouncing off, leaving them all to dissolve into fits of giggles.

Nobody had been too surprised by Jinx and Janey's quick fondness for each other. Janey had confessed to the Gryffin-Girls that during the time they'd spent in the cell in Rosewood, even though they hadn't known they were half-sisters at the time, they'd actually realised they had a lot in common, and she wasn't too bad.

It had taken them mere seconds to go from nemeses to partners in crime, a relationship that had grown ever stronger over the course of the summer. Rose only prayed for the rest of the school now they had to withstand the reign of the 'Double J's for the next year.

"Did you really mean that, Sam?" Janey asked coyly, staring up at him with awe-filled eyes.

"Of course." He beamed back.

"So…"

"So what?"

"Does that mean you'll talk to this producer guy and get me an audition?"

Sam rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling. "I'll see what I can do, under one condition."

"What's that?"

"Come dance with me."

And together they departed. Rose began filling her own goblet, carefully avoiding the Firewhisky. After the Veritaserum incident she wasn't sure she could ever trust drinking that stuff again.

"So how's it going, Rose?" Jinx asked, as she too began helping herself to a drink. "You and Scorpius back together yet?"

Rose snorted. "Always straight to the point, aren't you, Jinx?"

"Hey, you should know that about me by now."

"To answer your question, no, Scorpius and I are not 'back together' yet."

"Well, get a move on!"

"What makes you think –"

"Oh, please." Jinx rolled her eyes. "It's gonna happen," she informed the redhead knowingly, taking a sip of her drink. "I'm still waiting for my revolution." She winked at her.

Rose smiled at the thought. The memory had stayed with her over the years – of an excited Jinx's eyes lighting up as she spoke of her revolution – the unity of pure-bloods and Muggle-borns, of Slytherins and Gryffindors, all stemming from Rose and Scorpius.

"All in good time." Rose smiled, she too taking a sip of her drink. "But really, Jinx, I don't think you need me and Scorpius to lay the path for your glorious revolution. I think you can do it pretty well by yourself."

"You think?"

Rose nodded at her encouragingly. "I don't believe for a second that Jinx Capella couldn't do something she put her mind to."

The Slytherin girl glowed with pride. "Alright," she agreed, "but I'm still not going to go easy on you during Quidditch matches."

As Rose laughed, the rest of the excited party bounded over to the table. James was out of breath, now having returned 'Seffie' to her feet. As he, Mason, Taylor, Albus, Annabel, Serephina, Hugo, Ben, Gwen, and Ebony began helping themselves to drinks besides her, it was to Lily that Rose gave her attention.

"You alright, Lils?"

The young redhead smiled up at her. Lily had grown a lot since she'd been that pixie-like little girl, her hair for one thing now trailing down her back like her mum's, but Rose still saw her youth, her vulnerability and fragility.

Rose had been making a special effort to look out for Lily since her life-changing confession, determined to support her in as many ways as she possibly could. It had been with Rose's hand in hers that Lily had told her parents the truth about her gift.

Just as Rose had known, despite Lily's fears that it would isolate her, Harry and Ginny could not have been more supportive. Albus and James too had been making a special effort to involve Lily as much as they could.

Rose had always pitied Albus the most when it came to the Potter children. The middle child, lacking in James' boisterous confidence or Lily's calm intelligence, she had always assumed his insecurities about being unworthy of the Potter name to be the most significant. She had never considered just how deeply those insecurities ran through James and Lily too.

And thus Rose vowed to do all she could to support and encourage each and every one of them. Harry and Ginny too, with the realisation that their children felt overshadowed, had been doing all they could to let them know how loved they were.

Lily was beaming. "I'm great," she assured Rose, and the older girl knew it was true.

"Glad to hear it," Rose said with a smile. "So, tell me… Ben?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "He's not so bad."

"That's what I thought. So are you and him…?"

"I'll make a deal with you," Lily said mischievously. "You get back together with Scorpius properly, and I'll ask Ben out."

Rose bit her lip. "That's not fair!" But before either Lily or Rose could say anything more, Gwen and Taylor were demanding their attention.

"So we got a letter from Evangeline!" Gwen declared excitedly to the present members of Bobbin's Army.

"Really?" Rose asked excitedly. "What did it say? Is she alright?"

"She'd doing great," Taylor answered for her. "Says it's weird being back in Russia after so much time in England, but it feels good to be home. And it's weird without her parents, but she's got a lot of support. Oh, and she says she misses us all."

"Did she say anything about Piper?"

"Yes" – Gwen grinned – "that she adores playing in the snow and curling up by the fire."

"I seriously hope that's in lynx-form," Albus snorted, whilst the rest of them giggled.

"Well," James exclaimed, slamming his empty goblet down onto the table. "I'm refreshed now. Let's dance!" He extended a gentlemanly hand towards Ebony. "Wifey?"

"Only if you promise never to call me that again!"

"Fair enough." He grinned. "Shall we?"

Ebony slipped her hand into his and soon enough he'd whisked her off to the dancefloor.

"I could dance," Jinx piped up, grinning at Albireo. They too disappeared, quickly followed by Albus and Annabel.

"You wanna go find Ben?" Rose suggested to Lily.

Lily raised her eyebrows. "You wanna go find Scorpius?" But she disappeared to find him, with Hugo and Serephina shrugging and heading to the dancefloor too.

Mason, invited back to Hogwarts for the wedding like James had been, beamed down at Gwen, and held out his hand. "For old times' sake?"

She responded with a bashful smile, slipped her hand into his, and allowed him to lead her away, leaving only Taylor and Rose behind.

"Well, that's just great, isn't it," Taylor sighed. "Story of my life!"

"I'll dance with you, Taylor," Rose giggled.

She would always hold a special fondness for the girl, even slightly more than her other Gryffin-Girls, though she'd never admit it to them. Taylor had been her first friend at Hogwarts, and despite their fallout during the end of Fourth Year, had remained one of her closest and truest throughout. Oversized glasses, supposed descendant of Merlin himself, bushy hair, and more interest in wizarding politics than Rose thought was healthy – she would always treasure her.

"No thanks," Taylor rolled her eyes. "You're not my type, Weasley."

"Is that true, McAdams?" Rose teased back.

"There's only one guy I need in my life anyway," Taylor declared.

Rose looked at her in surprise. "Professor Longbottom?" she guessed.

Taylor snorted. "No, you idiot, I meant my father!"

"Ah. Any luck on your plan to prove his innocence and bust him out of Azkaban?"

"I'm working on it," Taylor replied thoughtfully.

"Well, you know, I happen to have some experience in court," Rose said matter-of-factly, "and as it stands, I have no plans for the future. If you ever need any help perhaps we could collaborate?"

Taylor looked honoured. "Really?"

"Sure."

Her eyes suddenly widened. "We could become, like, badass wizarding crime-fighters – you and me! McAdams and Weasley!" she declared with great enthusiasm.

Rose humoured her. "Not Weasley and McAdams then?"

Both of theirs eyes lit up at the same time, as they said in sync, "McWeasley!" The girls burst into fits of laughter, so much so that Rose felt tears prickle her eyelids.

"Seriously though," Rose sighed through her laughter, "as we're talking about collaborations – it's a wedding! You need to dance with someone. How about Henry Fontayne?"

"You know there are other guys in the school, don't you?" Taylor asked. "It doesn't always have to be him – there are other options for me!"

"Well," Rose said smugly, "there you go then – go and ask one of them to dance."

Taylor realised what she'd said and scowled. "But Rose, I couldn't possibly leave you," she said dramatically.

"Hmm, somehow I think I'll be alright."

"Fine then," Taylor sighed in defeat. She gave Rose a departing grin and hurried off into the mass of dancing couples.

And Rose was left alone.

She began to pour herself another drink, but before she knew what was happening, strong, masculine arms had wound their way around her waist. Rose only needed to feel the comfort of his arms, feel the tickle of his chin on her head, and inhale his deep, musky scent to know it was Scorpius.

A smile crept out.

"Mission accomplished," he murmured.

"Have fun?" she asked, setting her half-filled goblet down.

"Oh, tonnes," Scorpius said sarcastically. "Your father is a barrel of laughs."

"Well, he thinks he is."

"No, seriously," Scorpius laughed, "it was fine actually. We had a very civil, polite conversation – your mother too."

"I'm glad to hear it. And how's you dad?"

"Surprisingly merry," Scorpius said in amusement. "He was talking to Professor Longbottom last time I looked."

"So what did you and my parents discuss?"

"You."

"Me?" Rose turned around in his arms so she was facing him. "Good things, I hope."

"Of course."

"And he was really okay?"

"He wanted me to tell you that he's proud of you – for everything you've done, and everything you will do."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He said you'll know."

And Rose did know. At least, if she wasn't very much mistaken, she thought her father had just given her permission, and his blessing, to go for it once more with Scorpius Malfoy. Rose smiled at the thought.

"Rose, can I ask you a question," Scorpius asked, finally unwinding himself from her and taking a step back.

Rose's smile fell. If he was going to ask her what her decision was…

"May I have this dance?"

She was delightedly taken by surprise. "Of course." She took his hand just as she had done two and a half years ago, the first night she had properly met him. Just as easily as he had done that night, Scorpius took her into his arms, and soon enough the couple were amongst young and old lovers alike.

He did not pull her in so her head was placed on his chest, but rather kept her firmly in front of him. "So," he announced with a grin, as they moved in time to the music. Rose's heart soared as it did whenever he aimed that charming smile at her. "Happy endings all around?"

"Seems like it," she humoured him.

All around her were lovers, friends, families. Bobbin and Roberts, James and Ebony, Ron and Hermione, Ginny and Harry, Sam and Janey, Mason and Gwen, Lily and Ben, Hugo and Serephina, Jinx and Albireo, Albus and Annabel, Taylor and some boy Rose didn't recognise – all swaying, laughing, glowing.

Even Victoire, quite literally glowing, six months into her pregnancy, was there, safe in Teddy Lupin's arms.

Rose's heart soared as she looked around the room, but she could have sworn it stopped as she settled back onto the face she saw in her most wild of dreams. He had that look in his eyes again, dimples beautifully displayed.

"Lily," Scorpius suddenly demanded. The confused girl on his left looked up. "Did you slip anything into my drink?" he asked with great amusement, never breaking eye contact with Rose.

Lily only looked more confused, even slightly offended. "No, of course not!"

"Good," he said in a low, sincere voice, meant only for Rose, "then I must really be in love."

Rose felt butterflies in her stomach; she felt music in her heart.

"I'm sorry," Scorpius murmured with a boyish grin, "I had to break the rule, and I don't even care, because I've never been more certain of anything in my whole life.

Rose watched the twinkle in his eyes glow brighter, wondering if hers were doing the same. "You know what?" she asked coyly, "when have we ever played by the rules?"

He cocked his head. "You're not going to condemn me? I've not forfeited the oh-so important decision?"

"Love is a ruthless game," Rose explained, not really answering his question "unless you play it good and right, and we've gotten it so wrong in the past."

Scorpius nodded along thoughtfully.

"But I don't believe, for a second, that there's a couple out there who haven't had to go through struggles. Maybe not quite so many as we have," Rose considered, "but hey, we're not like most couples."

"Absolutely not," Scorpius breathed. "And you know, in a way, I think it's made us stronger."

"I agree."

He didn't say anything, just held her in his arms, not wanting to ruin the beauty of the moment by bringing the decision up again.

Rose took a breath to steady herself. "Scorpius, I know for you it's always been me. And you have to know that for me it's always been you – that it will always be you."

Scorpius didn't dare let himself believe it. "What are you saying, Rose?" he asked breathlessly.

"It's always you," she repeated urgently, before bringing her mouth to his in one of their purest kisses yet.

In that moment Scorpius could not know he was in the middle of his school hall, surrounded by his closest friends and family. He could not know both Draco and Ron were watching him with pride, or that a silent tear had fallen from Hermione's eye. He could not know that Sam and Janey were grinning with pride, or that James gave him a wink he would never see.

He could not know anything but her. He could not know anything but Rose.

She had her forehead pressed to his, one arm cradling his cheek. He smelt the soft vanilla of her hair, could feel her eyelashes tickle his skin.

"We're really going for this?" Scorpius whispered, unable to contain his excitement. "Properly again? Officially? Labels and everything?"

"Everything," Rose whispered back. "And we're going to do it right this time."

"I believe in you, Rose, I believe in us. I need you to know how important this is to me – how important you are to me. I will never leave you in times of trouble," he vowed. "We never could have come this far if this wasn't where we were truly meant to be – ours is a love that can withstand anything."

Rose clung to his words, knowing in her heart they were true.

"I'm gonna stand by you through everything," Scorpius continued to murmur to her. "I took all the good times – I'll take the bad times too. I want every single aspect of you, good and bad, easy and difficult, beautiful and ugly. Every single insecurity, every single flaw, every bit of darkness.

"I want you when I'm losing my mind, when the world is full of darkness.

"And I want you when I'm flying, when life is never better, and everything is bright, and beautiful, and pure."

"You can have me," Rose whispered back, pressing a fleeting kiss to his lips.

"You'll be mine" – Scorpius kissed her forehead – "and I'll be yours."

And as he made his vows Rose knew the same applied to her. No matter how much she tried to deny it, no matter how much she tried to fight it, the story of Rose and Scorpius was one of love, and she would lose him a hundred times, she would break her heart a hundred times, cry a hundred tears, if only she got to love him pure and true each time.

Somehow she knew they would always find their way back to each other. Maybe they were young and foolish – maybe they always would be – but it was a risk she was willing to take. And if Scorpius Malfoy had given her anything, it was a sense of recklessness, of fearlessness.

The future was unclear, but when was it ever not? With Scorpius set on training as a Healer, which they both knew would provide difficulties within their relationship, and with Rose still unsure about her future, which could very well lead her down a road riddled with complications, in that moment it didn't matter.

They had one beautiful year left at Hogwarts before venturing into the unknown, and Rose intended to make the most of it. As much as Scorpius Malfoy was her past, and her present, she knew he would be her future too.

And they would face any obstacles and difficulties in the only way they knew how.

Together.

"So, do we have to do that thing again?" Scorpius grinned at her. "Together, forever, wherever, whatever, and all that?"

Rose snorted at their ridiculously soppy vows. "Merlin, no," she said in disgust, "look how well that worked out last time. We need a new motto," she decided.

"Okay, how about this? Rose Weasley," Scorpius announced sincerely, gazing deep into her eyes. "I told you I love you, and that's forever, alright? And this I promise you from the heart – I could not possibly love you any better than I do right now, in every single possible way there is to love a person."

"That's good" – Rose nodded – "though perhaps a little long."

"And what would you suggest?"

"How about this?" Rose took hold of both sides of Scorpius' face, her lips just a breath away from his, so much so that he could taste the champagne on her breath, and count each beautiful freckle dotted on her face. "Scorpius Malfoy, I am desperately, hopelessly in love with you."

There was a pause.

"That's it?" he asked after a while.

Rose raised her eyebrows. "What, that's not good enough for you?" she snorted.

"Well, you know" – Scorpius shrugged – "it's not as poetic and heartfelt as mine was, but I suppose it's alright."

"Yeah?" Rose asked with a laugh. "How about this then?"

She kissed him firmly, passionately, beautifully – birds, butterflies, fireworks and all number of sappy clichés. They'd shared plenty of kisses, and they would share plenty more.

The good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly; in sorrow and joy, in darkness and light; through trouble and strife; magic, madness, heaven, sin; grief and loss, pain, danger and passion – the story of Rose Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy was one of something that overcame every obstacle, and overshadowed every darkness in the world.

The story of Rose and Scorpius was one of love.

THE END

Author's Note: Well, I don't know if that's the ending you were expecting, or the one you wanted, but that's the one you've got ;)

I know a lot of you wanted an epilogue - a confirmation of what would be happening in my characters' futures - but I wanted to keep it open. I wanted to end it here with their seventh year of Hogwarts to go, so you can write their own futures in your head. That being said, I have thought long and clear about what happens after this story. I hope everything has been suitably summed up, and all your questions answered. Please, please, please leave me feedback. If you have any queries about the story, or you want to know what I have in mind for the characters' futures, please leave a review or send me a PM, and I'll be happy to give you an answer.

This may be the final chapter of Rose and Scorpius: A Forbidden Love, but it's by no means the end. I have several 'spin-offs' I intend to write, some just one-shots, and some more lengthy (but when I say lengthy I mean 5, 10 chapters at most - not 200!) I will not, however, be writing an official sequel. Again, please say in a review, or PM me, if there's anything you'd particularly like to see. This doesn't necessarily mean I'll write it, but I'm curious as to what you guys would like to see, and I need new projects now, after all XD

Spin-offs I'm considering are: A 10-ish chapter story focusing on Sam and Janey's lives post-Hogwarts, a reunion of the main characters, perhaps a year or so after leaving Hogwarts, Rose and Scorpius' first night together (all in good taste of course ;), and a prequel of Piper's life leading up to the events in which we meet her in this story (that's the only question I left purposefully unanswered - why Piper's an outlaw on the run - and that was because I felt it unnecessary for this story, but is something I've planned in extensive detail). Oh, and perhaps a glimpse into Piper and Evangeline's life after returning to Russia.

I don't know, but please let me know what you'd be interested in seeing. But please respect the fact that I only want to write fairly short stories, and I don't want to write anything that would have happened during the timeline of this story, nor the main characters' seventh year. I only want to write in their future, so no, like, the whole story but from Albus' point of view or something.

UPDATE: I've now published (and am still working on), a 10-chapter spin-off about Rose and Scorpius' wedding, which is titled 'The Delightful (and Disastrous) Wedding of Rose and Scorpius.'

Okay, I promised myself I wouldn't ramble, but it goes against everything I am XD

I thought I'd share some random facts about the story just in case, y'know, you happen to care.

*Obviously my main inspiration for the story was the work of JK Rowling. The world, and a lot of the characters of course came from her. And as you should all know by now, my other influence is music. This chapter in particular is a massive game of spot-the-Taylor-Swift-reference (with a lil' bit of Billy Joel's 'Just The Way You Are'). I've tried to credit all my influences as I go along, where it's been significant, but sometimes it's literally a single lyric or a character's name or something bizarre, which I've tended to leave unacknowledged. Again, if you have any questions about my musical influence, hit me up with a review or a PM.

*In terms of plot, a lot was developed before writing. I've always had a very clear structure for how I wanted the story to pan out, and some of the huge reveals you'll have noticed have been worked into the whole story - my attempt to reflect JK's style. Other times random plots and ideas have come to me as I'm writing, and I just throw them in and see where it takes me. Lily's gift? Planned from the beginning. The character of Piper? An impulse I happened to have when writing.

*The characters too have really come to life as I've gone along, and even if I haven't written it, I've developed some pretty detailed back-stories for them all. If the names aren't canon from JK, they're either influenced by Astronomy (Cepheus, Albireo, Lyra, Deneb etc.), music (Janey, Ben, Gwen, John etc.), they're names I intend to name my children (Taylor, Ebony, Evangeline, Piper, Sam!), they're named after people I know (Annabel is my cousin, and Tom, who's a character you probably don't even remember, is my best friend), or they're just completely random. Oh, and Mason was named after the 'Wizards of Waverly Place' character XD

*Personality-wise, the characters are me, or else people I know. I have put a lot of myself into nearly all of the main characters, giving certain traits and emotions to each of them (so be nice when you critique them XD) A lot have also been influenced by people I know, some more favourably than others ;) Several of the situations are things, or variations of things, that I've actually experienced (the relationships rather than the magic), and even some of the quotes are things that have been directly said to, or by me.

So that's how the structure of my story came about. Some random, fun things I thought I'd share:

*I initially intended to put both Rose and Scorpius in Hufflepuff. I know, crazy, right? Hufflepuff is my house and I wanted to explore both of them being sorted and feeling a sense of disappointment, because let's be honest, Hufflepuff has sadly been given a rep as the 'lesser' house (which is totally wrong, of course), and I was going to have them bond over their mutual sense of disappointment, and then bring in the family conflict.

*I did not start this story from the beginning. The first scene I ever wrote for Rose and Scorpius, handwritten I might add, was Scorpius first seeing Rose for the first time at the ball (Chapter 9). I'd been playing with the characters and stroryline in my mind for a couple of months without actually having physically written anything, and I was walking home from school one day, thinking of Taylor Swift's song 'Enchanted' when it came to me. As soon as I got home I wrote it down. I then had a really clear, vivid idea about how Scorpius would meet Lily Potter, on a different occasion. I went home, typed it up (chapter 13), typed up my handwritten chapter 9, filled in the story from 9 to 13, then went back to the very beginning and wrote the first eight chapters. I then wrote from 14 to 200 in chronological order.

*For the first ten chapters, Sam's character was called Jack (after a song). It was not until writing the line, "You're too good to me, Jack," in that chapter (I don't even know why) that I realised I had a redheaded girl named Rose, far out of the league of a boy named Jack, and thought it far too similar to Titanic for me to happily continue. I went back through the story to change it, and from then on Sam was born.

*Gwen and Janey were never supposed to be significant to the story. Writing the chapters between 9 and 13, I referred to them simply as Rose and Taylor's roommates. They were not supposed to be significant in the slightest. They were minor characters I initially couldn't be bothered to give proper identities. They of course have become highly important to the story, though, and their own stories and developments have become indispensable.

*Ebony was supposed to be nothing more than a nemesis for Rose. Right from the start I knew Rose and Scorpius were going to break up twice in quick succession. Firstly because of the 'Other Woman,' then after a brief reconcilliation, one would break up with the other. I used to refer to Ebony in my mind as 'Pansy Parkinson' because she was supposed to be equivalent to Pansy's character in the original Harry Potter. Basically, she was supposed to be a horrible, bitchy Slytherin girl who wanted to date Scorpius and hated Rose. Almost immediately, however, even before I began physically writing the story, upon hearing the song 'Reflection' by Christina Aguilera I decided to make her the tormented, unsung hero in the story, with a whole lot more depth behind her antagonisination of Rose, and who would eventually become a friend to her.

ANYWAY

I shall draw it to a close now. Again, thank you so much for supporting me throughout the whole story - PM me or drop a review with any questions you might have about the writing of the story, anything you feel hasn't been resolved, or questions about the future of my characters. Or anything you want to really XD

It has been an honour sharing my story with you. I'll be sure to leave references for my spin-offs at the end of this story. But you can always follow me and get updates about it ;)

Anyway, disregard this awful ramble, read the last few paragraphs of the story again, and for the very last time...

Review?

Thank you!
Ever
xx