The Intelligence of Love

“Rose, I missed you!” Hugo Weasley threw his arms around his older sister.

“I missed you too Hugo.” Rose said as she returned the hug. “Where is everyone sitting?”

“We have a compartment further down on the train. Everyone is waiting for you!”

“Okay, just give me a minute.” Rose stepped back into the compartment that she had just come out of. Scorpius sat inside surrounded by a few other Ravenclaw seven years. “Scorpius, I’m going to see my cousins. I’ll meet you when we get back to school, okay?”

He looked up at her with questioning eyes. “Okay love, but if they give you any problems come back here.”

“Okay.” She kissed him quickly on the forehead. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

She followed Hugo down the train and into another compartment, one full of loud voices.

“Rose!” Lily rushed her with another hug. “You have to tell us everything!”

“Lily, I-“

“Rose, common, you have to tell us about the Malfoys!” Albus said from the corner.

“At least tell us about your Christmas.” Hugo said quietly.

“Hugo, I’m sorry I was not with you for Christmas, but dad, he…” Rose said apologetically. “We had a big fight.”

“I know Rose,” Hugo said rolling his eyes. “I was in the house.”

“The Malfoys were nice.” Rose answered quickly.

“Nice?” Albus echoed scathingly.

“Yes, they were very kind to me. Astoria, Scorpius’s mom, even took me shopping to buy all the stuff I had to leave behind.” Rose said simply.

“That was nice!” Lily said excitedly. “I know Aunt Hermione was nervous that you would not have what you needed.”

“Mom was worried about me?” She asked guiltily.

“Yeah. She was even crying when they came to our place for new years.” Albus supplied.

“Is dad still mad at me?”

“He won’t even let me and mom say your name at home.” Hugo responded very seriously.

“I hoped that he would come around.” She said sitting.

“I did too.” Hugo said. “Mom is not completely okay with it either, but she misses you more than she is mad.”

“I’m going to write to dad as soon as we get to school. Maybe I can change his mind.”

“I don’t think so Rose.” Albus said shaking his head. “But just so you know, we are all on your side.”

“We think you should be able to be with Scorpius if you really want to.” Hugo confirmed.

“Do you love him?” Lily asked excitedly.

“Ugh.” Albus said standing quickly. “I’m not sure I want to hear all of the sappy stuff. Hugo, lets go find the snack trolley.” They left the room, leaving the two witches behind.

“So?” Lily asked her insistently. “You love him?”

“I do.” Rose answered with a blush and a smile. “I love him more than I can explain.”

Lily looked up at her with huge eyes, a smile spreading across her face. “Did you kiss him?”

“Yeah.”

“And?!”

“It was great.” Rose replied with a short laugh.

“Did you guys do anything else?”

“Lily!”

“Well? Did you?”

Rose said nothing, but her small half smile revealed more than she would have liked.

“Ah!” Lily gave a delighted squeal. “I thought there was something different about you!”

“Lily, having sex does not change how a person looks.” Rose told her.

“Well I think it does. You look more radiant!”

“More radiant?”

“Well, yeah.” Lily said shaking her head vigorously. “Was he good in bed?”

“You little tramp!” Rose remarked, amazed at her cousin’s easy going attitude towards sex. “I don’t know. I don’t have anything to compare it to.”

“You know, Rose.” Lily said deviously.

“Yes Lily, he was amazing.” Rose answered hastily. “And before you asked it was big.”

At the last, Lily gasped and covered her face with her hands and squealed again. “Rose your boyfriend is just too hot.”

Suddenly the door slid open Scorpius leaned into the compartment. “You girls should get dressed, we’re almost there.”

“Hi Scorpius!” Lily said.

“Uh, hi Lily.” Scorpius replied with a raised eyebrow.

“Rose says that you two had a nice Christmas.” She said in a high pitched voice. Everyone in the cabinet immediately understood what she was hinting at.

“Best ever.” He replied with a wicked smile, never missing a beat. “See you ladies at the feast.”

**

Tired, and with a full stomach, Rose sat in the common room. She had just finished a letter to her parents. It was not as long as she would have liked, but it said all that she needed it to.

“Rose, are you okay?” She felt a strong hand on the nape of her neck.

“I’m fine.” She lied. “This letter was just really exhausting.”

“What did you tell them?” Scorpius asked as he began a slow massage of her neck.

“I said that I love them and I miss them.” She said. “I also told them that I love you, and that your family is really good to me.”

“That was brave.”

“It’s the truth.” She said, sealing the envelope.

“I’m sorry that you are hurting right now.” Scorpius said, kissing the top of her head. “I know you miss them, and I know it’s my fault.”

“No Scorpius. It’s not your fault that my dad can’t let things go.”