–You’re WHAT?†bellowed Ron Weasley, standing up so suddenly that he knocked his chair over. Rose distinctly heard her mother muttering, –Oh, Ron,†from the other side of the table. –I knew you moving in with him was a bad idea. You’re not even married! And now look at what he’s done.â€
–I’m sorry, Daddy. It was an accident.â€
–Accident? I’ll give YOU an accident. No, better yet, I’ll give HIM an accident,†Ron exploded, pointing accusingly at Scorpius.
–Dad,†Rose said in exasperation, –it wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I…â€
Scorpius cut in smoothly, putting a restraining hand on her knee. –Mr. Weasley, I know you don’t really trust me, but I promise we were trying to be safe. We were on the potion; Rose took it regularly. But sometimes things go awry.â€
Rose saw her mum frown at this statement, but fortunately she didn’t comment. Her dad righted his chair and sat down again, thumping his hands on the table and breathing heavily. –Well?†Ron asked belligerently. –What will you do?â€
–What do you mean?†asked Scorpius in confusion. –We’ll have a baby. Well,†he amended, –actually we’ll have twins.â€
Rose’s mum and dad were stunned into silence.
Rose was quiet, remembering her own shock after they had enlisted her cousin, Lily, to help with the diagnostic spells. Lily was a trainee Healer and a lot more discreet than they could count on anyone else being if they went to St. Mungo’s. As Harry Potter’s daughter, Lily had been dealing with the press and the effects of famous parents for her whole life and knew when to keep her mouth shut.
Lily had taken Rose and Scorpius’ little announcement with great composure and promptly had Rose lie down on the bed and lift up her shirt. After a few muttered incantations with her wand gently poking different parts of Rose’s belly, Lily had straightened up, frowning. –That’s strange,†she had said. –I would swear it’s twins, but I don’t know how that could have happened on the potion. You are on the potion, right?†She raised her eyebrows at Rose.
–Yes, yes. But we think some of the ingredients must have been bad.†Rose had given Lily the line that she and Scorpius had decided upon the night before, knowing that Lily would ask. Rose had splayed her hand over her belly button. –Twins,†she said.
When Lily left, Rose and Scorpius had sat in silence on the living room sofa.
–Well,†Scorpius said after an interminable silence, –it could have been triplets.â€
Their hysterical laughter had relieved some of the tension they had been carrying for days.
Now at Rose’s parents’ house, the silence following Rose and Scorpius’ announcement stretched on and on. At last, just as Rose was considering jumping out the window, the reminder clock that her dad had always hated chimed, –Don’t just sit around. It’s time to start tea!†All of them jumped.
As if the clock had also reminded her to speak, Hermione said, –Congratulations. This…this wasn’t necessarily how we had envisioned having grandchildren, but you two have proven your self-sufficiency, and,†with a stern glance at Rose’s dad, –we firmly believe you’ll rise to the occasion of being parents.â€
–Thanks,†said Scorpius, obviously surprised. –We’re a little bit stunned about all this ourselves, but…we’re just going to do the best we can.â€
Ron not-so-subtly asked Rose to come to the kitchen to help him get the tea things. When the two were alone in the kitchen, he took Rose by both shoulders and looked at her searchingly.
–Rosie, are you sure this is what you want?â€
Rose sighed. She knew that she had options, but what Scorpius had said about this not being a tragedy had been churning around and around in her brain. –I’m sure that it’s the best thing I can choose at the moment, even if it’s not what I would originally have chosen to happen.â€
–I just thought…I can’t believe this is happening with him,†Ron said, gesturing towards the door.
Rose drew back. –Dad, not again! I thought you were over your hatred of Scorpius.â€
Ron shook his head. –This has nothing to do with hate.â€
–No? Then why are you so prejudiced against him?â€
–I know I haven’t been convinced about Scorpius in the past—too much history with the Malfoys—but this isn’t prejudice. It’s common sense.â€
Rose was exasperated. –Dad, I love Scorpius. That’s final. There’s nothing else to say about it.â€
Her father responded, –Rosie, I know you love Scorpius. But raising kids requires more than love.†He thought for a moment and then continued. –It’s a partnership. It’s working together every day. It’s agreeing about money and time and so many other things.â€
–Like you and Mum ever agree.â€
Grinning briefly, her father corrected her. –Your mother and I fought about hundreds of tiny details every day. But,†here his face sobered, –we agreed on the values behind things. We agreed about the important things. Like equality. And bravery. And standing up for what’s right.â€
–Scorpius and I do, too!â€
–Do you really? How was Scorpius raised, Rosie? How will he want to raise his children? Do you really think that half-Weasley grandchildren are going to be invited to spend time at Malfoy Manor?â€
–Yes!†Rose flashed defiantly, but inwardly she felt flickering of doubt. It was true that Scorpius had been given every material advantage as a child while Rose and Hugo had learned to save and to wait. It was also true that Scorpius’s grandparents wouldn’t even speak to Rose, so visits to the Manor were painful and brief. And it was true that Scorpius’s grandparents, at least, had continually talked about the superiority of magical blood, even though his parents had tried to balance this out with respect for Muggles.
Her father finished softly, –You marry the whole family, you know, not just the person you’re dating. And it’s even more complicated when you’re raising children. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.â€
–Excuse me,†Rose gasped as she fled to the loo to throw up for the sixth time that morning.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Scorpius was trying to pretend he wasn’t aware of the conversation happening in the kitchen. He couldn’t hear the words that were being said, but he was pretty sure it wouldn’t be anything favorable about him. He was wondering if he should go in and interrupt when Hermione broke the silence between them.
–Scorpius,†she said, –help me out here. I’ve taken that potion, still do, in fact.â€
Two bright red spots appeared on Scorpius’s pale cheeks. He did not want to think about Rose’s parents needing the potion now or at any other time in their lives.
–Er,†he muttered awkwardly, but Mrs. Weasley was already carrying on. –I did a lot of research on it, you know, before using it.â€
He smiled feebly, knowing what the next question would be. Sure enough, Mrs. Weasley continued. –And what I’m wondering is how, when the potion is 100% accurate when brewed and ingested according to direction, it is possible that you and Rose conceived not one but two babies?â€
Scorpius had a sudden flash of sympathy for all the defendants that Hermione Weasley had questioned or sentenced throughout her career in Magical Law.
–Umm,†he mumbled, wondering how it was that Rose’s parents reduced him to a stammering twelve-year-old. –Well, some of the ingredients in the cupboard were out of date, and…â€
He trailed off, pinned by her skeptical gaze. –Scorpius, you’re a potions master. You’re not seriously telling me you keep bad ingredients in the cupboard.â€
–Fine,†he sighed –Now mind you, what Rose and I agreed to say in case anyone asked was that we were trying to be careful but that there were some potions ingredients that had gone bad without us realizing.â€
–But?†prompted Hermione.
–But the truth is that with certain substitutions, a contraceptive potion can easily become a fertility potion.†Mrs. Weasley’s eyes narrowed. Scorpius hastened to explain about the rosemary and the feverfew. When he was finished, Hermione was nodding thoughtfully.
–Thank you, Scorpius. I appreciate your honesty.†She hesitated, looking as if she were weighing her next words. Finally, she said, –You have to understand that, in the past, your father and grandfather have acted in bad faith. There hasn’t been a lot of honesty between our families in the past, and I knew you and Rose were hiding something, so I assumed the worst.â€
–I’ve spent my whole life trying to make different choices than my grandfather’s. And my father has spent the rest of his life trying to make up for choices he made in the past.â€
–This is probably a case of me judging you based on past experience rather than on what is in front of me,†Hermione admitted.
–We really weren’t trying to be dishonest,†Scorpius protested. –Rose was just embarrassed about the mix-up, even though it was an innocent mistake. She tries so hard to get everything right, and she didn’t want to tell anyone she had brewed it wrong. You know how vicious the press is, how Rita Skeeter would twist the situation to make us look foolish. Better to blame it on bad ingredients.â€
–I’m glad to know that it really was an innocent mix-up.â€
Relieved, Scorpius leaned forward. –Mrs. Weasley, I want you to know that I really will take care of Rose and that I want to have children and that it’s really okay, I mean, I’m okay, and we’re okay, I think, that all this is happening.†As the words tumbled out of his mouth, Scorpius was aware that he sounded absolutely inane, but he was relieved that Rose’s mum was being so reasonable, and he wanted to reassure her somehow.
His relief ended abruptly when she responded, –I just hope this doesn’t cause major upheaval in your family. It’s going to be hard enough on Rose to feel like she let us down without having to face accusation and anger from the Malfoy side.â€
Scorpius and Hermione's conversation ended as Ron appeared with a tray of tea things, followed by Rose, who still looked a bit pale.
After an awkward and rather hasty tea punctuated by conversation about the weather, the Ministry, anything but the babies, Scorpius and Rose Floo-ed home. Scorpius flopped down on the couch. –It could’ve been a lot worse,†he said, rubbing a hand over tired eyes. Neither of them had slept well the night before.
–I think I’m going to be sick,†said Rose as she headed for the loo again.
Draco’s reaction was as icy and quiet as Ron’s had been loud and heated. –Excuse me,†he murmured, eyebrows raised. –I’m quite certain I didn’t hear you properly.â€
Draco, Astoria, Rose, and Scorpius were seated on the silken sofas and lounges of the elegantly-furnished drawing room in Malfoy Manor. After having visited at Malfoy Manor for a few weeks, Lucius and Narcissa had gone back to the Paris flat that they owned and lived in most of the time. Draco and Astoria were always in much more buoyant spirits after the elder Malfoys had left, so the moment for Scorpius and Rose’s visit and revelation was as favorable as possible.
Unfortunately, Draco’s good mood seemed to have evaporated with Scorpius’s announcement.
–Oh, please, Father. You heard just fine. You just would rather not deal with what I said,†challenged Scorpius immediately. His father’s disdain always made him want to engage in direct confrontation.
–That is correct,†Draco affirmed. –I would rather what you said not be true at all.â€
–Well, interestingly enough,†said Scorpius, matching Draco’s haughtiness, –it’s doubly true. Rose is having twins. We’re having twins,†he added quickly after catching an elbow from Rose who was sitting next to him.
Rose and Scorpius were becoming resigned to the long silences that punctuated this announcement.
–You have options,†Draco said at last.
Rose felt Scorpius stiffen beside her. –That is not something we are going to discuss,†he said firmly. –We are having twins.â€
–That’s wonderful, love!†exclaimed his mother, merrily recovering her composure as Draco glowered from the other end of the drawing room sofa. –I’m so pleased. I’ve been looking forward to grandchildren for ages!â€
–You have not,†Draco contradicted. –Just the other day you said it made you feel old to have a son who had graduated from Hogwarts five years ago.â€
–Well, yes,†Astoria admitted, shrugging her shoulders, –but I’ve had at least four minutes now to think about the idea of grandchildren, and the more I think about it, the more I like it."
When Draco didn't respond, Astoria chattered on, "I plan to spoil them rotten, fill them full of sweets, and send them home to you.†She waved her hand grandly. –It is, above all else, what grandmothers should do to avenge all the trouble their children caused.â€
Rose and Scorpius sagged against each other in relief. Winning over Astoria was halfway to winning over Draco.
–You do realize that you are not married?†Draco attacked again, ignoring his wife’s humor.
–Obviously we are not,†Scorpius said through gritted teeth.
–Well, that is hardly a problem,†Draco continued. –After all, though it certainly hasn’t been the case in the Malfoy family, I do believe numerous people settle down happily in marriage even after having children with someone else.â€
It took Rose and Scorpius a moment to digest this, but when they had, Scorpius leapt to his feet, Rose restraining him with a hand on his shoulder. –It’s okay,†she murmured.
–No it is not!†Scorpius burst out indignantly. –Rose and I are planning to settle down happily in marriage. Right, Rose? Will you marry me?â€
–Not exactly how I had imagined the proposal,†Rose said, frowning and collapsing back onto the beige chaise lounge. She intercepted a look from Astoria that clearly communicated Mrs. Malfoy’s frustration with the behavior of her son and husband.
–Son, I just don’t want you marrying—or proposing—hastily because of an accident,†Scorpius’s father said flatly, –especially if you’re not well-suited.â€
–Bullshit,†Scorpius said flatly, ignoring his mother’s look of disapproval. –Bullshit. We are well-suited. I don’t want to marry anyone but Rose, no matter how many pure-bloods Grandmother has introduced to me.â€
–That will hardly be acceptable to your grandparents,†Draco threw in the closer.
–Frankly, Father, I don’t give a damn.â€
Rose giggled suddenly, drawing everyone’s eyes. She blushed. –Sorry. Muggle reference.â€
Draco raised his eyebrows at Scorpius as if to say, ‘You see?’ –Scorpius, this is about culture, family culture. For us this isn’t about blood status.â€
–No?†Scorpius asked, disbelieving.
–No. I realize it might be that for your grandparents, but that’s not how your mother and I raised you.†Astoria was nodding gently.
–For us, it’s about family history,†Draco finished.
–Well,†Astoria corrected, –your family history. The Greengrasses never really came out for or against Potter.â€
–It’s not just about Potter!†Draco’s volume increased. –It’s about Weasley and his family never trusting us. It’s about things that happened in the past not being forgotten.â€
–So we’re to just let our children grow up in two different homes because of something that happened in the past?†asked Scorpius sarcastically. –Sorry, Father. That’s not an option.â€
Draco threw his hands up in defeat. –I’m just asking you to think through this decision carefully.â€
–And I just think you’re blinded by what Grandfather and Grandmother have said about the Weasleys all these years.†Scorpius sat back down.
–If only that were it,†Draco muttered darkly.
–So when is the wedding to be?†asked Astoria in a blatant attempt to redirect the conversation.
Rose and Scorpius glanced at each other, suddenly aware that they were in for yet another ordeal. –We’ll get back to you, Mother,†Scorpius said in a strangled voice.