The delivery

Rose and Scorpius appeared in a dark forest, apparently deserted.

"Where are we?" Rose asked, "Where are we going?" She realised that they had not really discussed what they would do if the plan worked, and they were able to leave. She looked around, slightly nervous. A dark, quiet forest at night was not a place she wanted to be any longer than necessary. Why had Scorpius Apparated them here of all places?

"Just over here," Scorpius said, walking her over to an open space.

"I know this place. We go camping here in the summer. We're in the forest of Dean," Rose realised. What was Scorpius up to?

"Yes. Glad you recognise it. Now, I just need to say something." Scorpius hugged her tight and whispered "I love you Rose Weasley. I want you to know that. That part is not an act. And you can find me at the place where I first disappointed you, if you wish."

"What do you mean? Where are we going?" Rose wanted to say so much more, but it was like her brain had frozen. She had known Scorpius loved her, but this was the first time he had said it like that. She probably should say "I love you too" but the words caught in the back of her throat.

Just as she was about to open her mouth, they heard movement. Scorpius had his wand out in a flash. Suddenly, Harry came out of a nearby bush, wand at the ready. Rose looked from one to the other. She had to prevent this from turning violent.

"Uncle Harry!" Rose shouted, running towards Harry, but she made sure that she was between him and Scorpius, so that they couldn't send any spells at each other. Harry gave her a hug but kept his eyes and wand on Scorpius.

"One niece. Delivered as promised. Sorry for the delay." Scorpius let his wand drop.

"Albus will have gate duty at the manor tomorrow between 10am-3pm. There is a chance that most of the Death Eaters will still be quite hung-over from today's feast. Albus can let you in through the gate."

Harry nodded. He also let his wand drop.

"There are about 30 people in total. About 15 of them are well-trained wizards and witches, but the rest are not easy prey either. There are a few servants, but they will probably not fight you. They are not there voluntarily, I think. You need to bring a strong guard either way. And don't leave the boundary unwatched. They can all escape through that barrier, even if you cannot enter."

Harry nodded again. "And where will you be?" he asked.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I am on my honeymoon. We won't be missed for three days. By then, I hope this will be all over."

"Honeymoon?!" Harry repeated.

"I will go now. Best of luck tomorrow. Take good care of her, please," Scorpius said.

"No! Scorpius. Don't go!" Rose pleaded. She tried to run over to him again, but Harry held her back.

"I have to. I promised to keep you safe. This is the best way I can think of for that. This way, you don't have to escape from me, and I keep you safe. We can both keep our Vows," Scorpius told her. "I am sorry about that part; I should have seen it coming."

"But you could stay!" Rose pleaded. "You will be safe here with us as well."

"I don't think so. And I doubt she will want me around." He pointed further into the wood, where Ron and Hermione came running.

"Enjoy your freedom and family Rose."

With that, he was gone. Rose yelled after him, but of course he couldn't hear her anymore. Ron and Hermione arrived quickly.

"Rose! Oh, Rose. Rose, are you okay? I am so sorry Rose," Hermione cried as she embraced her daughter.

"Mum! Mum! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell them anything, please forgive me," Rose cried back.

They cried in each other's arms for a while, with Ron embracing them both. Harry just kept staring at the place where Scorpius had been. Could he trust him?

"Please don't be mad at Scorpius and Albus," Rose pleaded. "They did all of this to keep me safe."

Hermione's eyes darkened. "If they tried to keep you safe, they did not do a good job."

"What? Of course they did. I am here, safe, and they did not hurt me," Rose protested.

"NOT HURT YOU?" Hermione shouted. "What do you call what happened a week ago then?"

"That was not their fault. They didn't have a choice. Scorpius prevented Voldemort from killing me in that graveyard. Scorpius was supposed to torture me, but he only pretended to do it. And when we were still in the dungeon, he was the one who came with food. And then slipped the guard a sleeping draught so Albus could come and open the door."

"And then Scorpius moved you up to his room so that you weren't in the dungeon when Albus came to rescue all of you."

"That wasn't his idea. It was Voldemort that decided it was to be that way."

"You keep defending him. He was holding you captive. Just because he was kind to you does not change that fact. Don't let him manipulate you any longer," Hermione demanded.

"He is a good man. He tries to do the right thing. But he is fighting an evil that is bigger than himself. And he brought me here tonight. He could have taken me anywhere."

"What did he mean, he is on a honeymoon?" Harry asked. There was anger in his voice too.

"Oh, that. Well…" Rose said, hesitantly. She hadn't really wanted to mention that part.

"What?" Ron pressed.

"That was to be our excuse to get out of the manor. Scorpius tried to convince Voldemort to let me go unchained, but Voldemort didn't want me to consider running away. As if I would manage that, with that barrier. Anyway, it was the only way he would accept. He thought that that would be the one thing that would prevent me from seeking to run away to my family."

"What thing?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"A wedding. Voldemort thought that if I were bound to Scorpius, I would not be welcome in your house anymore."

"A WEDDING?!" Ron asked, almost shouting.

"It was only supposed to be pretend! We both agreed on that. But…"

"But?" Harry asked.

"Voldemort made us make an Unbreakable Vow," Rose said, almost crying again. She didn't like the look on her mother's face when she said this.