Truth Will Out

Prologue: A Proper Introduction

It was not a dark and stormy night.

In fact it was about as far from a dark and stormy night as possible. The sun was shining merrily, uninhibited except for a few fluffy white clouds that toted along with the pleasant breeze. Birds chirped in happy melodies, singing their praises to a winter past and a comfortable summer that was surely on its way. The waves of the lake lapped upon the shore in a steady rhythm, dancing with a few of the students who celebrated the end of exams with one final dip in its cool waters. And, if one looked close enough and at the right time, one might see a delicate butterfly land gracefully on the end of a cuddly rabbit's nose.

Scorpius Malfoy could not help but sigh in disgust.

This was not the kind of weather he needed right now. He longed for a dark and stormy night, or at least a murky morning fog with that obnoxious kind of drizzle that wasn't quite rain but still left your socks damp when you walked outside and made you miserable for the rest of the day because you could just feel your feet pruning in your boots. He wanted something he could brood efficiently too. He was a very good brooder, one of the best actually, but even he couldn't help but feel stupid sulking as a pair of hummingbirds whizzed playfully around his head.

He leaned in defeat against a sturdy tree as he sighed again and gave up his practiced brood for quiet self-reflection. There had been a time where he could stand quietly in the back, looking sexy, angry and troubled in any situation and be noticed with hardly any effort. It was part of his appeal; his mystique. It gave him his edge.

But now he just felt like a glowering idiot standing there alone on such a beautiful day. Perhaps his brood was broken; rusty from disuse. Perhaps the last couple of months he had spent not brooding had dissolved his years of perfection. Perhaps since he had spent the last couple of months feeling like this very day (sunny, pleasant, happy, etc.) he had lost his uncanny ability to look dark in the brightest of lights. Perhaps he had actually lost the very thing that made the old him the old him. His outward aloof, threatening yet somehow still charming appearance had been destroyed because he no longer had a need for such a stance.

Scorpius Malfoy was in love.

And the good kind too. The kind where the girl loved you back. The kind where your stomach fluttered when she grabbed your hand. The kind where you felt like the king of the world because you knew she could have anyone she wanted but she chose you to let carry her books and your lap to drape her shapely legs over when you studied together. The kind where even though you had gone much further (all the way further) with other girls, something about successfully getting her small, perfect, befreckled nose out of a text book so it could rub against yours as you snogged madly was by far the sexiest thing you had ever experienced.

The kind where you admitted your mistakes despite claims of perfection. The kind where you went frantic when she was upset (especially when it was because of you) and you went through surprising lengths to make her smile even though that was so not what a cool person would do. The kind where you realize things are so much easier when you just tell the truth and the kind where nothing makes you feel as high, or euphoric or happy as just being around her.

Scorpius sighed redundantly for a third time, running his fingers through his once again full and lush hair. It was a recently returned sensation to be able to do such a thing after having lost all of it a few months back. He was glad he once again looked normal. Not because his hair was the most precious thing to him as it once had been (and for good reason, it was amazing hair) but because now he could look in the mirror and not be reminded about all the painful things he had put himself, his family, his friends, and his girl through this past year. His terrible mistakes that had almost lost him everything and still loomed in the darkest part of his heart were at least no longer visible on his head.

His eyes still sunk in a bit and he secretly planned to start using some concealer to hide this, but that was between him and his mother's makeup bag only.

Yes, things at this moment were perfect, much like the gorgeous summer day that lay before him. He did not sigh or attempt to brood because of what was, he did so for what was to come. Everything he had gone through in the past few years, every tear he had failed to suppress, every brick wall he had punched in frustration, every painful test and obstacle he and his love had overcome had been worth it now that they finally were together. He had told her he would do anything for her and he meant it.

But now? Now came a real test of faith. A test that he could so easily see breaking apart the strong bond they had worked so hard to forge.

He had once been told all you need is love. Whoever said that obviously didn't have parents with a history of hating the parents of their girlfriend. What the hell were you supposed to do when people you loved hated each other?

He'd have to ask Lucy one day. Maybe then she'd stop saying idiotic things like that and "I am the Walrus".

"Why are you brooding?" an amused voice inquired from behind. Scorpius whipped around so quickly he almost knocked into the tree he leaned against.

That's another thing you've zapped from me, Woman. My brood and my grace.

"I'm not brooding, I'm ruminating," he replied, showing off his smirk that was as much a part of him as her cinnamon curls were a part of her. She let out her infectious laugh as she placed a wicker basket at her feet.

"Then why are you ruminating?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck. Scorpius replied by engulfing her in a hug and burying himself in her hair. He then began to groan in verbal response causing her to laugh again.

"I honestly don't know what you're so worried about," she stated, giving him a kiss before setting up their breakfast picnic.

"There a plenty of things to worry about this summer," he retorted. "West Nile, Dragon Fires from the drought, telling our parents about us dating…not in that particular order either."

"Scorpius," she sighed in exasperation, though with not nearly as much annoyed gusto as he was accustomed to. This exhalation was actually remarkably endearing, prompting him to drop his sarcasm and his ass to lie next to her on her blanket.

"Sorry," he grimaced, grabbing her hand and squeezing it before she started setting out the food. "It's just not going to be easy."

"And since when have you shied away from something just because it wasn't easy?" she asked with a smile.

"All the time!" he answered quickly. "I always go the easy way out. I have rich parents. I don't have to do anything I don't want to according to my mother."

Rose shot him another skeptical look, both over the ostentatious statement and the blunt lie that it was his mother who taught him such a thing.

"Getting together with me wasn't easy," she replied as she set out a thermos of tea.

"Yeah, but I wanted you. I don't mind hard work when I want something," he implied strongly.

"You don't want our parents knowing about us?" she asked with a hint of trepidation in her voice as she stopped arranging their breakfast.

"Not…I mean…" Scorpius felt stuck. They had already had this conversation a dozen times in the last fortnight. Rose and Scorpius (well, and Albus and James and Hugo and Lily and Lucy and pretty much the whole blasted Weasley clan) had been mates for years. Though after time Scorpius had come to see Rose and Albus as his true friends, his family demands and position in his House made being completely open with them difficult. He refrained from being with them as often as he wanted and always kept up a half-hearted space of distance. Rose and Albus alternated between annoyance and amusement at his pretense (or more realistically she was annoyed and he was amused). But in the end they more or less understood his situation and respected it. And though he was never told such a thing he felt it very likely that Rose and Albus downplayed his effect on their lives to their parents, if they even mentioned his friendship at all. It was just easier that way.

But now that he and Rose decided they wanted to be together it became clear that all of that had to change. Though they were only at the end of their 6th year they both had hopes that this match would be a long term commitment. Scorpius knew nothing had ever come close to what he felt for Rose and he knew that he had to make some changes to keep her. So he "came out" in front of his Slytherin peers and dropped his pretenses of liking or disliking things he really didn't.

Which was really no big deal, as those that really cared about him and those things were all scum-guzzling cunts who he would rather hex than associate with.

As for telling their parents…well, he and Rose seemed to differ on how they would react.

"I honestly think you're making a bigger fuss about this than you need to be," she stated factually, pouring him a cuppa.

"What, you think they'll be thrilled to hear you're dating Draco Malfoy's son?" he asked, eyeing his laudably full plate with a curved eyebrow. "You think your father will start a jig and your mum will call us Malfoy lot over for dinner?"

"No," she answered with a hint of offended snap. "I'm not stupid or naive. I just think our parents will give us more credit than you believe. We're both responsible, hardworking students at the top of our class. We're both prefects…"

"I'm a suspended prefect, if you recall," he added, knowing he was pushing her good graces but finding it necessary to do so.

"Yes, but you've already done so much to prove yourself," she urged, mindlessly stroking his hair at the comment. "And McGonagall has already said she plans to reinstate you next year, maybe even as Head Boy…"

"I just really don't think some community service is going to please your parents after what I did. Not to mention who I look like…" He tried hard to fight off his instinctual sarcasm, hoping she would notice and really hear what he was trying to say.

"Look, I don't know about you and your parents, but I have a real solid relationship with Mum and Dad. They know me and respect my decisions. They treat me like an adult. They may not be thrilled about it at first but I know they'll come around," she cooed with reassurance.

Scorpius held his breath to keep another sigh from escaping.

Rose was smart. Brilliant. Frightfully so. She could do things with a wand and a quill that blew his own remarkable skills out of the water. Rose worked hard for the things she wanted. She studied furiously and protectively. And yes, her passion for excellence and her Weasley inclination to see things in black and white sometimes alienated her from a few people at first. She had to work to tone things back and step out of her head upon occasion for her best side to shine out. The compassionate, funny, totally enchanting side that would make anyone's life incomplete without.

Rose was not perfect nor had life exactly been a cauldron cakewalk for her. However…

She was the daughter of Ron and Hermione Weasley. The niece of Harry Potter. Her whole extended family were bloody living heroes. Though all the Weasley and Potter children were fairly down to earth considering such linage there were a few things they never had to experience. They were all immediately loved by association. Peers wanted to be friends with them, Professors wanted to examine their skills. Rose was well loved by her parents, well-liked by others and very, very sheltered.

Scorpius' life had not been as pleasant. Scorpius…well, it was safe to say he knew a thing or two about biasedness and the fact that his mere presence tended to bring out the worst in (supposedly) good people. Rose had a belief that with hard work and passion she could attain any goal. Scorpius knew that no matter how hard you tried some impressions and ideas could not be undone.

But Scorpius swallowed his point as the gracious sun rose higher in the sky. Soon they would have to make the trip to the Hogwarts Express to once again embrace summer, their parents, and that "real world" their professors were always yammering about. Soon perfect, simple moments like this would be hard if not impossible to come by.

He expected the worst and it terrified him. It shook him deeper then when he almost died. It stuck with him as much as when he wish he had. But he would not let it show. Not to her. Not when this could possibly be the last time he got to enjoy her.

"You're right. I'm sure they will," he smiled, throwing in a convincingly sarcastic "eventually" so as not to rouse suspicion. Usually instant in recognizing when he was holding back, Rose accepted the statement and beamed happily in victory.

"You have enough to eat?" she asked, eyeing his plate eagerly.

"I don't understand how you expect me to eat all of this," he replied, staring at his plate piled high with egg whites, whole grain toast and fruit.

"I just want to make sure you get your appetite back!" she exclaimed, though she did smile sheepishly just the same. "I want you to be healthy."

"I'm Qudditch-fit!" he answered back. That is if they'll ever let me back on the team…

"I know! But I want you to…stay that way." Rose spoke those last three words hesitantly, knowing they opened the door to treacherous grounds.

"Rosie, you don't have to worry," he exclaimed softly, grabbing her hand in his and rubbing his thumbs across her knuckles. "I'm okay, honest, and I'm not going to do anything stupid…"

"I know, I know," she replied, though even more worry had seemed to slip into her voice. "It's just its more dangerous for you now than ever if you go back and…"

"Rose, believe me, I know," he urged, allowing an ounce of his own weighted fear to slip through to ensure her he was very aware of the life threatening damage that lay ahead of him if he chose to once again wander down that dark path.

"But honestly I'm not worried. Between you and my mother I have more than enough noses in my business."

Scorpius could tell she wanted to say more, but like he she seemed to swallow her usually uncensored words for prosperity.

"It's starting to get late," she stated, a trace of sadness in her voice. "We should probably head back to the castle…"

She started to rise up but was impeded by Scorpius' hand quickly grabbing her arm. She turned to face him quizzically, frowning in confused protest.

"You didn't honestly think you'd get away that easy, did you?" he growled, smoothly gliding on top of her as he slowly kissed her neck.

"Scorpius!" she protested, with far too much of a happy giggle for him to even consider stopping, "We can't do this now! We'll be late!"

"No we won't," he stated simply, burying himself in her sweet smelling hair as he continued to kiss her. "It can wait."

"No it can't! Trains have schedules they work to adhere to. The whole reason standard time was even created was because of trains…oh."

Oh. That simple, perfect little sound that started a chain reaction leading to her body melting into relaxation, her hazel eyes to close, and her lips to part and easily and so eagerly synch with his was what it was all about. That little moan shut out the rest of the world so there was only them and there was only this.

It changed everything. It turned he, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy: Slytherin Seeker, Master of Beasts and Plants, three time Fantasy Qudditch Champion, match-maker, Local God…descendent of the despicable, manipulator of the innocent…liar…drug addict…

…well, it made him none of those. It made him everything and one thing only.

Hers.

And that made what was about to come not only tolerable, but bloody well worth it all.