Enclosed

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Finally

It took promising to write every three hours to convince her parents to let her return to the safe house after she was discharged nearly a month later. They'd been against it at first, insisting Rose come home with them so they could protect her. Rose almost gave into their pressuring. Her Dad's pleading eyes and Mum's comforting back rubs were almost enough to make her will break down. Then she thought about the constant inundating that was sure to come and immediately turned them down.

Her family insisted they be present for her discharge, but Rose wasn't ready to say goodbye to them again, so she'd lied and told them she was being discharged tomorrow. They'd be furious with her, but they'd forgive her. Eventually. It wouldn't be long before they saw each other again. Unlike the last time she was put under witness protection; this one had an end date.

Now that she was a primary witness on the case, Al insisted she go back under protection until the trial date. The minute it was suggested, Rose knew what she needed.

There was only one place she wanted to be and only one person she wanted there to 'protect' her.

Rose finished packing the last of her things, heedfully stuffing files into a safe space. Admittedly there wasn't much to pack. With all the flowers, get well cards, and gifts carted off to her parent's; the only thing Rose had left to pack was the clothes the Malfoys brought, the files Helene continued to bring over, and the books she'd read in her leisure. 

"Are you ready?" A patient voice drawled. 

Rose surveyed her home for the last few weeks. She wasn't going to miss being cooped up in the pristine white room that seemed to shrink each day. She wasn't going to miss the bland food. She wasn't going to miss the constant fussing. 

She was going to miss some of her healers, especially the ones that had encourage her during the recovery and seeing her family everyday. That was what she'd miss, but it wouldn't be long before she saw them again. If luck was on her side they'd have the cure ready soon and Rose would get her magic back.

"I'm ready." Rose informed Scorpius, slinging the bag over her shoulder. She winced at the weight. She brushed the pain aside quickly, hoping Scorpius didn't notice, but of course he did.

Scorpius stepped forward to take the bag. She waved him away.

"Afton said I need to push myself a little bit. If I want to heal I've got to work for it."

"She meant doing your leg exercise, going on walks, and taking your potions. Not to damage your shoulder again."

"Carrying a bag isn't overdoing it."

"It is when it weighs half of you."

"You're exaggerating." Rose huffed, leaning against the doorway across from him. "It's only a few files and books. Hardly enough to get me bed ridden again."

"Stubborn arse." Scorpius muttered, as he headed down the hall to the healers desk.

Before he turned, Rose noticed the amused smirk he tried so hard to hide. 

Rose trailed after him slowly. Her legs were feeling a million times better than when she first woke up. The couple rounds of skelegrow did wonders to the broken bones, but they were still shaky. She felt like a baby thestral trying to walk around. 

She approached the healers desk, smiling sweetly at the old healer. Scorpius was already there; his arms crossed as he leaned over to talk to the man behind the desk. 

"Leaving today?" The healer asked, blinking swiftly behind his large oval glasses that made his eyes triple in size. 

"That's the idea. Got my discharge paperwork for me?"