The new year had dawned, and I was headed back to England. It was not an altogether eventful journey; apparition rather reduced the likelihood of problems with international travel. Still, the preparation for the thing itself had been substantial, and when I reached home I was quite happy to lay down in my own bed and sleep for some time. 

When I woke, it was mid-afternoon on 2 January, and there was a steaming cup of tea on my nightstand, left by either my father or one of my grandmother’s solicitous house elves. I drank it before dressing, and then stood idly at my window wondering what I was going to do with myself for the next few weeks. I had an interview on the 12th for an apprenticeship, but until then I was quite at a loss.

Albus, who was working as a glorified errand boy for the Auror’s office, would not be available for my constant entertainment. It sounded sad, but I didn’t really have other friends. Hanging around with a Potter didn’t exactly make me popular with the Slytherin crowd, excepting those who wanted me to fuck them. That went for more than just Slytherins - the only ones who wanted to talk to me were the ones who wanted to have sex. 

In conclusion, I was rather short on friends. Discounting Al, as well as my former shagging partners, left only one person… A person who I knew I should probably go and see, but to a certain extent didn’t want to. 

Despite the fact that our meeting in Diagon Alley had gone well, I was hesitant to approach Rose again. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to get her back or something. Besides, although I had been okay, there was still something lost in our conversation, and it made my heart ache. We’d both been restrained, in one way or another, and it had been painfully obvious that this was so. It was too different from how things had been before. I hated it.

Still, I knew I ought to see her. The due date was only a few weeks away now… But then, she was probably anxious, and an unexpected visit from me would only make her more so. I sighed. Why bother arguing with myself? I was going to go. It was just a matter of when. 

What time of day would be the best? Rose was a morning person, so perhaps some time before lunch? Which would mean putting the visit off until tomorrow. Or perhaps just after supper? Or, I thought dryly, I could do it now and get it over with. Might as well...

I proceeded to change my shirt five times and my trousers twice, before settling on a button-up under a navy sweater paired with khakis and some nice-but-not-too-nice dark coloured shoes. After running a comb through my hair to cure my bedhead, I was sufficiently satisfied with my appearance and made my way downstairs and out of my house.

I was ready to apparate, then realized that I hadn’t actually been to Rose’s house before, so I had to run back inside to look up the address in this fancy Wizarding address thing that had been my mother’s. Now confident of where I was going, I straightened my collar and disapparated.

Rose's family lived in a decent sized house just outside of Godric's Hollow - perhaps a ten minute walk from the Potter's. It looked nice, but seemed to have been slightly neglected in recent days. The grass needed cut, and there were a few decaying newspapers strewn about in the flower beds. Al had mentioned that he and Rose's grandfather was ill, and the family had been spending a lot of time attending him, which seemed the probable explanation for this minor neglect.

Some of the windows were open and there were lamps on inside, so someone was probably home. Without giving myself time to second-guess my actions, I ascended the steps and knocked firmly on the door.

After a wait of no more than fifteen seconds, the door opened, revealing a redheaded girl who was not Rose - in fact, I wasn't quite sure who this was. She looked about fourteen, and vaguely familiar. 

The girl stared at me, looking startled. "I- I'm Lucy Weasley," she managed.

I grinned sheepishly. "Sorry to bother you, but I'm-"

"Scorpius Malfoy," she said plainly. "I know who you are."

I blinked. "Do you go to Hogwarts, then?"

Lucy shook her head. "I'm a squib. But I've seen photographs of you… besides, I ought to know who you are, considering Rose is having your kid and all."

"Oh. Yeah. Well, I guess you know why I'm here, then."

She smiled, almost mischievously. "I hope you're here to beg her to take you back. Between you and me, I think she'd accept the offer."

What? She was kidding, right? I cleared my throat, not wanting to touch on that subject. "Well, no, I'm not. I just wanted to check up on things. She's doing okay, yeah?"

The redheaded girl shrugged. "She seems to be. Only…"

I frowned. "Only...?"

I heard the sound of someone walking down the stairs. "Luce?  Who was that at the door?"

At Rose's call, Lucy ducked her head, then looked back up at me. "She misses you," she whispered hastily. Then she turned and scrambled over to the bottom of the staircase as my former lover came into view.

The day I’d met Rose in Diagon Alley, she'd had a charm on her stomach, so the size of it was a momentary shock. But once I processed it, I couldn't help thinking that she was more beautiful than ever. Her hair had grown a bit since I last saw her. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle even brighter than they had before. And she was smiling at me.

"Scorpius." She said my name like it was the first breath of fresh air after a long confinement, and it pulled on my heart strings. 

"Hey," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. 

Lucy was looking back and forth between us, smirking. "Merlin, the sexual tension is maddening! I don't know how Lily stood this for so long. Will you two just kiss and make up already?"

Rose glanced at the floor, blushing deeply, and I was sure I was sporting a similar hue. "Lucy, please go check on the food in the kitchen," Rose said through clenched teeth.

"Okay!" The girl said cheerily, shooting me a wink before disappearing down a hall. Before either of us could speak, we heard a call from the other room: "Use protection this time!"

The remaining girl visibly sighed. "I'm sorry about her."

I managed an awkward grin. "That's alright. Whose kid is she?"

"Uncle Percy's youngest. She goes to a school with a weird holiday schedule, so she's always come over here when she's off and her parents have to work."

"She seems nice."

Rose nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. "She is. She's had issues, though, mentally. With depression and stuff. She's doing well right now, but… who knows if it will last."

I sighed sadly. "I've been there."

"I know. I wonder…"

"What?"

Rose frowned. "Nothing. Never mind. Do you want to sit down?" She motioned to what looked like a living room on her left. 

"Sure." We went into the room, and she sat down in an armchair. I took the couch.

"So," she said, "what brings you here?"

I shrugged. "I just wanted to check in. Make sure you were doing well."

She smiled. "I am. Thanks for coming. I… it's been quiet around here. I don't get many visitors."

"I'm always happy to see you." I kicked myself as soon as I said it. That sounded too eager.

Rose's smile changed. It looked less certain. "I… Me too," she said at last. 

I bit my lip. “Are you? Honestly.” I found it harder to trust her words than I once had.

She glanced down. “Yes… Maybe I wasn’t always, but I’ve moved past that.” She met my eyes. “You mean a lot to me, Scorpius. I think you always will.”

It was my turn to look away. Her saying that was too… too intimate. It hurt. “Rose, I-”

Before I could finish what I was going to say, she gasped, and I looked at her in confusion. “What?”

Rose was pale. “I… I think my water just broke.”