ROSE LOOKED AT herself in the full-length mirror and was happy with how she looked. She curled her hair so it would lay on her shoulders softly, put mascara on her eyelashes so they feathered out, placed golden sparkly eyeshadow on her eyelids, and topped it all off with vibrant red lipstick. She looked through the clothes she had at home and the few selections she brought from school. Quickly she picked out a pair of black leggings, brown knee-length boots with white socks slightly sticking out, and a thick cream sweater that held fickles of color within then yarn.

She walked out of her bedroom (white walls adorned with posters of inspirational women, hanging bookshelves filled with different types of literature, potted plants by her window - her dad happily took care of them while at school -, clothes spilling out of her pine wooden dresser, and a queen-sized bed that had a light blue fluffy comforter on top) and headed to the living room to meet with the rest of her family.

Ghost was getting acquainted with the other Kneazles, Tituba and Chudley. Tituba was pure black, the complete opposite of Ghost, and Chudley was white with spots of orange and brown all around. Chudley had more cat than Kneazle in him.

And just as Rose expected, Ghost kept his distance. So while Tituba and Chudly were cuddled by the warm fire in the living room, Ghost stood atop the cold window sill staring at the two Kneazles who wouldn't mind if Ghost joined them.

The moment Rose walked into the room Ghost jumped off the window sill and right over to her. She bent down and placed a festive collar around his neck. Bright red with a golden bell.

"Don't worry Ghost it's only for tonight," Rose laughed at her white Kneazle trying to scratch off the collar. "You have to look presentable for the party."

Hermione quickly followed Rose after her. She wore a red turtle neck, black slacks, and silver dress flats. Her hair was put up in a near updo which allowed others to see her festive earrings. They were Christmas trees and even had blinking lights around them.

"Oh, Ghost you look so handsome!" Hermione exclaimed giving the white baby Kneazle a scratch on the head. "Oh, Tituba and Chudley shush—" the two other Kneazles were meowing loudly seeing the attention they weren't receiving.

Ron and Hugo came bundling down the stairs next. Ron wore grey plaid slacks, brown leather dress shoes, and a white dress shirt with a Christmas vest on top. The vest showed a very jolly Santa smiling and snowflakes sprinkled about. Hugo had the same idea as his dad and wore a fun Christmas sweater as well. His showed the twelve reindeer flying across the night sky over a neighboring town. Neither brushed out their ginger hair. Yet the messy hair was more noticeable on Hugo having adopted his mother's frizziness. Something Rose thanked Merlin she didn't have to deal with.

In normal Granger-Weasley fashion, the family was running late. The blame, of course, was put on anyone but themselves.

Ron grabbed the bag of presents for the rest of the family. Hermione grabbed the dutch apple pie from the counter. Rose grabbed Ghost, and Hugo... well Hugo held the door open so everyone could leave.

+++

The four stood in front of The Burrow staring at the front door. The wood was aged and cracked along with the dark green paint that layered it. 

"Ready?" Hermione asked, her quiet question barely audible from the noise emanating from inside The Burrow.  

Rose looked up at the tall house with its twisted walls and haphazardly stacked floors. If the Muggles had ever witnessed this they would think the family was playing homage to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She smiled at the image created in her head of the two buildings side by side with tourists snapping pictures. 

The family simultaneously drew in a deep breath (a calm before the storm) before they headed into the Weasley household.  

Instantly they were bombarded with hugs from the Weasley clan. Grandma Molly and Grandpa Arthur hugged each one of them, Molly cooed over Ghost in Rose's arms more than anyone. They were quickly shepparded into the house and guided towards the dining room table where food was already filled with plenty of dishes.

There was roast beef, ham, chicken, and pork. Mashed potatoes, steak and kidney pie, steamed vegetables, corn, cranberry sauce, and fresh-baked rolls. Pots were sitting on the stove that held different kinds of soup (french onion, chicken dumpling, etc) and the kitchen counter held a giant bowl of a simple house salad. On another separate table there held the drinks; butterbeer, firewhiskey, pumpkin juice, dragon blood wine, apple cider, peppermint hot chocolate. But what Rose was on the search for, along with Hugo, was the dessert table. 

Right where it was every year, the mountains of desserts were piled in the middle of the living room area. The perfect place to lay beside the fireplace and easily pick out a pastry for the liking. This year, Grandma Molly skimped on nothing. There were pumpkin pasties, canary creams, double chocolate cauldron cakes, exploding bonbons, truffles decorated as different balls from Quidditch, treacle tarts, and spotted dick.

Rose and Hugo went to go fill their plates with all the goods they could, but even with all the commotion, they could hear their mother clear her throat and turned to see her nudging towards the dinner food. An actual meal. 

So the two siblings walked into the sea of family and put as much food as they could on their plate before going out back to have a proper dinner. Rose managed to get her food quickly and skillfully was able to hold her plate in one hand while making herself a peppermint hot chocolate with the other. 

Ghost followed close careful not the be stepped on or to avoid the constant admiration from the family over a new Kneazle. Rose made her way out to the backyard where the large dining room table would be to seat the whole family to dinner. It was one of Rose's favorite things about Christmas, seeing how big her family was and how many tables and table cloths were needed to fit them all. She was lucky to have such a big family.

But as she went outside her heart stopped in panic. There was a blonde-haired boy sitting next to her cousin Albus. 

"Rose!" her cousin called over and motioned to a seat next to Scorpius. "Grams put out name tags for where to sit. Said she was tired of the chaos when it came to figuring out where to sit - someone forgot to tell Grams this whole family can only function with chaos." 

Rose managed out a small calculated laugh as she made her way to her assigned seat. The whole time she walked the blonde-haired boy refused to turn to look at her and just continued his conversation with Albus as if the interruption meant nothing. 

She took her seat, but he still made no attempt to greet her and the back of his head was the only thing she could make of him. 

Before she could open her mouth to suggest she switch her name place with someone else's the backyard exploded with chatter as the rest of the family had gotten their food and made their way to sit. The sound sent Ghost running under the table. 

It was cold December night and the ground was covered in snow, but none of this mattered. Little fires were circling the area warming up the family as they sat and ate and talked. Rose wouldn't be surprised if her Uncle Percy and Uncle George had come a couple of hours earlier to help set up the tables and cast weather protection charms along the ground and in the yard. The fire was all that was needed to cast light on the meal. Rose found the flicker of light on each and everyone's faces to be very Christmasy as with keeping the snow on the ground. 

Rose began to feel more comfortable at the table. Scorpius kept his back towards her as he talked to Albus and Louis and Dominique who sat on the other side of the table, while Rose turned her own back on him and talked to James and Teddy and Victoire on her side. 

Ghost quickly lost his anxiety around the family and was even now purring as he sulked around to each and every person. He quickly learned that if he let them pet him they would give him food. This exchange he didn't mind at all and only paid Rose a few visits before continuing to introduce himself to the family. 

Something hot poured over her arm and she jumped in shock, Ghost appeared at her feet hissing at the threat, and she looked around for what had caused her pain. 

Scorpius was looking up at her, the mug of her peppermint hot chocolate in his hand, and a guilty look on his face. Ghost meowed and ran for more food and pets. Conversations around them did not stop as the two looked at each other. Rose fought the urge to hold the grey gem in her hand. 

"Sorry," he mumbled and got out of his trance. He picked up a napkin and started dabbing the tablecloth and cleaning up the mess before giving Rose a napkin to clean up her sweater's sleeve. "My elbow knocked it over."

Rose took her seat once again and took the napkin from his hand very careful to not accidentally brush her fingers against his. 

"It's okay," She dabbed away the stain off her sweater. "I um... didn't know you'd be here."

There was an audible gulp before Scorpius spoke, "Parents went to go visit my dad's mum. I didn't want to go so when Albus invited me I said yes. Surprised he didn't tell you..."

She rolled her eyes and sighed, "Probably got too distracted and assumed I already knew."

Scorpius laughed and Rose followed suit. Her shoulder sank into relaxation and let herself smile a bit more naturally. 

Rose wanted to talk to Scorpius about that night with her nightmare and the song he had sung for her. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't put it into words. There was a clanging sound and she was grateful that her Grandpa was calling for attention. She didn't know what to say to the Slytherin boy next to her. 

Arthur Weasley stood up alongside his wife at the head of the large table. Everyone put down their own food and stopped their conversations to look at the couple. The two looked at the giant table before them, filled with smiles of loved ones. 

"I just wanted to say," Arthur began, a hitch in his voice and a drink in his hand and his arm around his wife, "that I am so glad that no matter what struggles we face every day, we can come back to this house and dine together as a family." 

He said this every year they came together for Christmas Eve. It was the only mandated day required to come to The Burrow as a whole family. All the other times were either happy accidents or impulsive planning. He said this line every year at Christmas during dinner, but this year the words held more than they usually did. This year, her Grandpa's eyes bore into Rose's as he lifted up his glass to family. 

Rose looked back at her Grandpa, and as everyone lifted their glasses into the air in reply she realized that everyone must know about her sight. Everyone at this table must know about the danger they were all in. That they knew Rose could see the dead and that her dead Uncle Fred had visited her and that Harry's parents had watched over her. That three mysterious figures were coming for her. That Ravana and her shared something...

"Rose!" 

She jumped in her seat, the icy feeling in her chest melting away, and looked over to see Lily smiling at her offering her a part of a turkey bone. "Want to split a wishbone with me?"'

+++

The only time anyone went into The Burrow when the whole family was all together was to either gather more food, go to the bathroom, or settle down for bed. 

Presents were exchanged and opened on top of the snow. Eventually, someone got annoyed walking in and out to eat treats and enchanted the platters to float around, right beside the fires, for easier access. 

Fire whiskey and dragon blood wine was being quickly downed by the adults while the children got toasty with hot chocolate and butterbeer. 

Snowballs were thrown, carols were sung, and Christmas wishes were shared. 

But Rose was inside for most of this.

She sat in front of the fire, eating the pumpkin pasties that someone had forgotten to enchant, and stroked Ghost's white fur as he napped on her lap. 

Usually Rose loved the chaos of her large family, but right now she needed peace. Yet, alone with her thoughts, she couldn't attain the peace she craved. 

They know, she thought looking into the flames. Her eyes were beginning to hurt from the heat but she didn't look away. They know it all. They know about the danger. They can protect themselves... Why hasn't anyone said anything to me? Are they too afraid to talk about it? To question it? She thought about how Uncle George barely looked at her tonight. To know that I can see the dead and talk to them... Why are they pretending everything is okay? That everything is normal?

Ghost meowed and Rose finally looked away from the fire to see the pumpkin pastie in her hand, now smashed.

"Can't believe you wasted that."

Rose whipped her head around and saw Scorpius standing a little bit away from her. His hands in his pockets and his mouth half turned into a smile. She couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked today. His blonde, almost white hair combed nicely to the side. He wore a dark green button-up shirt and dark black slacks with a silver belt. He was handsome without even trying. 

He laughed as Ghost ate the crushed pumpkin pastie out of her hand. 

He nodded to the space next to her, a question to join, and Rose nodded.

Scorpius sat down next to her and took a pumpkin pastie from the table and began to eat it. 

"Was wondering why I couldn't find these out there," He said after swallowing his first bite. "Should've known they were in here with you." Rose didn't respond but went back to looking at the fire. "Why are you in here?"

"I needed a break," Rose simply said, continuing to stroke Ghost who was now falling back to sleep after eating. "It was all too... jolly..."

"Didn't take you for the Scrouge type." 

"They all know," Rose said, ignoring his attempt of a joke. "They know about the curse I have and they say nothing about it. They just carry on as if everything is normal." 

"Curse? Since when did you look at it like that?"

She laughed at the question. "It's a burden I didn't ask for."

"But this all could've gone to Ravana if planned correctly," Scorpius simply stated, and took a final bite of his dessert. "I find it a blessing you have this. You can restore peace to the dead. To the ones you love."

Rose again stayed silent. 

"They all went through a war that left them broken, Rose. None of them, I don't think, have actually recovered from it. I know my father certainly hasn't. He still holds the guilt of the pain generations of Malfoys have caused... what he allowed himself to cause. This is a new threat. An unexpected one that has been building up for years. That the actions of Ravana would soon explode in their faces... but they had no idea it would affect someone so dear to them..."

Rose bit her lip, trying her hardest to breathe normally. 

"You can talk to those who they lost so quickly. Too quickly. Who they thought would be at peace but now know they have been living in fear for all these years in between the world of the living and dead not being able to be heard, Rose. But you can hear them. It's a scary thing to think about and it's no secret this is a situation that will take a while to resolve. That lots of hard work and sacrifice will happen again. I don't blame them for not wanting to taint a family gathering like this with fear before we all must face reality. To feel happy and be normal before chaos in the wizarding world happens again. I mean... can you blame them?"

She couldn't help but let tears fall down her face. Yes, that's what she wanted. That was her whole life plan to live a normal and successful life as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley's daughter. Their firstborn. To live up to the expectations the wizarding world placed upon her because of her parentage and to blow those expectations out of proportion. She became Prefect. Normal. Three upper-level classes. Normal. Chaser in Quidditch. Normal.

But Rose was never normal. Not just because of this power she held, but because of how she lived and how her mind worked. No matter what, Rose knew this. She would never be normal. 

Her head turned towards the Slytherin boy and grey eyes melted into hazel eyes. 

"You make me feel peace," she said as another tear fell down her face. 

The two looked up and saw mistletoe growing from the ceiling and continuing growing until it stopped just above their heads. They looked back at each other. 

"Rose you don't -"

But Rose's lips interrupted Scorpius's sentence as she leaned in close and kissed him. 

It was a kiss in the making. Both kissed each other with such passion, such emotion, such need to have the other's lips intertwine with their own. 

Scorpius placed his hand gently on Rose's face making her lean in closer and harder into the kiss. 

Peace. Calm. Comfort.

These words echoed in Rose's head as she continued the kiss. Her own hand was placed on his thigh, her head tilting slightly to deepen the kiss. She was about to run her fingers through his blonde hair when Ghost let out a loud screech and a deep voice boomed across the living room. 

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY GRANDDAUGHTER!"

The kissing couple separated instantly and looked over at Grandpa Arthur, his hands in tight fists, his face red in anger, and eyes popping out of his head. 

The Gryffindor and Slytherin stood up facing him. 

And making the situation worse, The Burrow began to fill with the rest of the family. 

"What's going on?"

"Why are you yelling?"

"Rose? Scorpius?"

The last was Albus, and Rose saw his calculating eyes look them up and down.

"HE WAS VIOLATING MY GRANDDAUGHTER! THAT MALFOY BOY. KISSING HER RIGHT HERE IN MY HOUSE!"

The room grew silent and then just as quickly erupted into commotion. 

Rose could barely keep up. 

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?"

"Wait! Stop-"

"GET OUT!"

"Calm down Ronald-"

"How could you..."

Harry grabbed Scorpius's arm and escorted him out of the house. It wasn't out of anger but of fear of what the family would do to their guest knowing he had just kissed Rose, precious Rose, the family's fragile and doted upon Rose, in the house where the Malfoy name still held venom. 

Scorpius kept his head down, his thoughts only on how Rose was handling this when crisp cold air woke him into the reality of where he was going. 

"I'm taking you back to the house." They stopped a few yards away from The Burrow and Harry took into account the scared boy's face. Thankful no one chased after them. "We'll tell your parents what happened in the morning." 

"I can't..." Scorpius's voice was filled with panic. 

"How could you..."

That question had come from Albus. Albus his best friend, practically a brother, who had invited him to this celebration knowing he didn't want to visit his cold grandmother. Albus who had told him to stay away from Rose. Albus who didn't want to complicate the flow of their friendship. A complication Scorpius had just caused. 

"I can't go back to your house," He said breathlessly as if he had ran a half marathon. "Albus... he'll be pissed at me... I can't go back..."

Harry took in a deep breath, the commotion hindering him as well. 

"I'll... I'll take you back to your house and send a Patronus to your parents. I'll wait with you until they come home."

"Mr. Harry... it's Christmas tomorrow you shouldn't -"

"I'll stay with you until they come home." He repeated slowly and sternly looking at Scorpius. "I'm not going to leave you alone, especially on Christmas." 

"Mr. Harry -"

"He shouldn't have yelled at you like that," Harry's gaze on the boy turned softer. "You and Rose shouldn't have been - he shouldn't have embarrassed the two of you like that." 

THAT MALFOY BOY. 

+++

It was 2 in the morning when Draco and Astoria came home, rushing from Belgium after getting Harry's Patronus. Nothing was said about the kiss in the message only that Scorpius's needed them. When they came in and saw Scorpius sitting on the couch, his head in his hands and Harry consoling him, was when the story was unfolded. 

When Harry left there were short words between the two men and a soft thank you from Astoria. 

Draco took a seat where Harry had just been, calming down his panic-stricken son, and placed a hand on his back. 

"I fucked up dad," Scorpius muffled into his hand and his body began to shake as tears were brought to his eyes. "I-I really fucked up this time."