These wonderful characters and this magical universe were created by JK Rowling and Jack Thorne. I own nothing.

Rose Weasley fought back another yawn. She glanced at the grand clock across the ballroom and inwardly groaned. Only forty-seven minutes left until she could apparate home and exchange her uncomfortable heels for slippers.

Every year, she was required to attend the Ministry of Magic's Yuletide Gala. In previous years, the event hadn't been so dreadful. Typically, Rose would spend the evening drinking, laughing, and dancing with her cousins and friends. But this year, Rose was quite alone. Lily was working an overnight shift at St. Mungo's and Roxanne was visiting Uncle Charlie in Romania. Her best friend Alice Longbottom was in attendance, but she spent the night waltzing around the dance floor with Albus.

Rose was overjoyed when Alice and Albus finally started dating in August. Alice had pined for Albus since fifth year when they were both made prefects and assigned to do rounds together. Albus, like many teenage boys, was oblivious to Alice's feelings and treated her only as a friend. Six years later, Alice, with a little liquid courage, took matters into her own hands and planted a kiss on him at her twenty-first birthday party. After Albus got over the shock, he enthusiastically returned the kiss. Rose was thrilled for her friend and favorite cousin, but she missed having her allies at events like these.

Instead, Rose spent the evening making small talk with some of her coworkers. Although they worked in the same department, she knew next to nothing about her colleagues' research. Such was the way with the Department of Mysteries. Rose's own research involved animagus transformations.

While at Hogwarts, Rose read every book she could get find on the subject in the hopes that she would become a registered animagus upon graduation. Her dream had been to join her Uncle Harry in the Auror Office. Being able to include animagus as a special skill on her application to the department would have helped to jumpstart her career as an undercover operative.

Rose studied animagus theory and followed all the proper legal channels. She held a mandrake leaf in her mouth and endured quite a bit of teasing from the Head Boy when she recited the incantation (Amato Animo Animato Animagus) in their common room every night for a month. She properly brewed the potion and considered what her animagus form might be. However, she was never able to achieve any form of transformation. It infuriated Rose to fail at anything.

She had earned 10 N.E.W.T.s her final year at Hogwarts while serving as both Head Girl and the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Rose had been told for years that she took after her mother, the brightest witch of her age and current Minister of Magic. Failure just wasn't in either of their vocabularies. Rose was compelled to delve deeper into the magic behind animagus transformation and determine why some witches and wizards were able to achieve it while others weren't.

Upon graduation, Rose accepted a position within the Department of Mysteries. She was given great leeway as to the direction of her research. So far, she had been unable to find a discernable reason for why she was unable to transform. She was, however, making progress in her research on animagus forms and their relation to the witch or wizard's patronus. Last year, Rose reached out to the Transfiguration Professor, Faso, at Uagadou, the Ugandan School of Magic. Many students their chose to become animagus and Rose was allowed to study their transformations.

Rose wished she was able to share her worked with her friends, family, or even her colleagues. The Department of Mysteries was shrouded in secrecy and all work must remain unspoken until there are conclusive results. Even Professor Faso was required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement about Rose's work.

So tonight, instead of discussing the interesting and complex work of the Department of Mysteries, Rose and her coworkers were reduced to small talk and office gossip. Rose was not a heartless person, but she just didn't care that Gwen from the Department of Magical Transportation was sneaking around with her married boss or that Unspeakable O'Brien's niece's best friend had lost her first tooth.

Rose tuned O'Brien out while she scanned the room for her parents. She located them standing next to her Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry. The four were laughing along with Draco Malfoy. Ten years ago, that would have been an absolute shock, but things had changed after her fourth year.

Rose was aware that Albus and his best friend Scorpius Malfoy had stolen a time turner and accidentally disrupted the past in progressively cataclysmic ways. Rose never found out exactly what had occurred, but that was the turning point. Albus and Uncle Harry strengthened their relationship that had been on unstable ground since Al was sorted into Slytherin. Further, her parents and Uncle Harry developed an odd sort of friendship with Draco. Her father still referred to the man as ferret, but now insisted that it was for old time's sake rather than malice.

Rose's thoughts wandered to the younger Malfoy. When she observed her parents letting go of their past resentment of Draco, Rose decided to give Scorpius a chance to be her friend. Fifth year was enlightening as she discovered that she and the blonde boy had many things in common. Both strove for perfection in classes and were therefore assigned many school projects together. She found that Scorpius could be a kind, thoughtful, and generous friend. He quickly became one of Rose's best friends and her main confidant.

Scorpius was appointed Head Boy for their seventh year. Despite his slight mockery of her ability to recite the animagus incantation with a mouthful of leaves, Rose could not have asked for a better co-head. Scorpius was gracious in dividing their responsibilities equally, respectful in the use of their common room, and a great study partner. He earned almost as many Os and Rose did, falling short only in Astronomy.

Rose missed Scorpius greatly. He left for Ilvermorny shortly after graduating from Hogwarts. Higher wizarding education was available in the United States, and Scorpius wanted to study to become an advanced healer specializing in genetics. Scorpius still carried the emotional scars from his mother's early death and wanted to find a cure for the disease that took her too early.

The Ilvermorny Healer's Program was intense and prevented Scorpius from returning to England. Rose and Scorpius corresponded regularly via email. The distance was just too great for owls and many witches and wizards of Rose's generation had adopted muggle technology. The emails were wonderful, but Rose wished her friend would finally return home.

Once again, Rose glanced at the clock and breathed a sigh of relief. The Gala was set to end in five minutes. Rose bid goodnight to her coworkers and made her way across the room to her family. She noted that Albus and Alice had already disappeared for the evening and the crowd had thinned out.

"Well, I'm knackered. I just want to go home and pop in 'It's a Wonderful Life' and sleep until noon," Rose joked.

Hermione Granger-Weasley rolled her eyes. "You know Grandma Weasley expects everyone at the Burrow by 7am to open presents. She'll be disappointed if you are late like last year."

Rose grinned, "I know. But I'm just bloody exhausted. I'll be there, I promise. Goodnight and Merry Christmas everyone." Rose gave her mom a quick hug and pecked her dad on the cheek.

"Has anyone told her yet?" Rose heard Draco ask as she walked away. She wondered what he was talking about but was just too tired to find out. She hurried to the transportation room, pictured her flat, and twisted on the spot.

With a small grunt she landing in her living room and kicked her shoes off.

"OOF!"

Rose whipped her head around with shock and met a pair of icy gray eyes.

"Scorpius?!"

AN- This is my first attempt at writing anything. I've had this story floating around in my head for about a year now and figured it was time to put it (and myself) out there. I hope you enjoy.