"So anyway, Albus and I poured the potion all over his chair in the dungeons. Next morning, I hid under the desk during the sixth year Potions class and halfway through, I set it off with the spell. His chair erupted in a shower of sparks- with him still sitting on it." James leaned back against the wall as her described his latest prank with his brother, Albus. Then Albus continued, "As soon as the sparks cleared, the professor started changing colors, first slowly, but then it started speeding up and soon enough, it became all sorts of patterns."

Scorpius, Hugo, Roxanne, and I all exploded into hysterical laughter. Once we calmed down, James added, "And Fred, being the ever-so-courteous student that he is, kindly helped the poor git to the hospital wing."

"That's my brother," Roxanne chuckled. "Always coming to save the day."

Fred shoved her playfully. I glanced at my watch.

"We'd better get going, curfew's in about ten minutes."

Albus glanced at his bare wrist. "Yeah, looks about right," he said. Everyone laughed. We had this ongoing joke about non-existent watches.

"Come on, guys," James said. "See you, Al."

Albus turned to go. "Bye, all."

He headed toward the Slytherin common room in the dungeons. The rest of us headed upstairs to the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Towers.

"So, when are your detentions?" I asked.

James thought for a second and said, "I don't know. Hope we get something easy, like detention with Neville."

We climbed the stairs in silence for a few more minutes. Just as we parted ways (Roxanne to Ravenclaw, James, Hugo, Scorpius, Lily, and me to Gryffindor), I felt my foot hit something hard. I tripped and stumbled into a nearby classroom. The others walked on. I glanced up and saw Hugo's Potions book lying innocently on the floor.

Just then, Scorpius poked his head inside and said, "Rose?"

He walked in and held out a hand. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I replied, taking his hand and standing up. "Thanks."

"Let's go," he said, heading for the door. Even as he said it, there was a bang and a click as the door closed and locked. I reached over and wiggled the doorknob.

"We're locked in!" I said furiously. "Oh damn, I forgot about the bloody curfew!"

Scorpius took out his wand, pointed it at the doorknob, and said, "Alohamora."

I tried the knob again. Nothing happened. I took out my own wand and tried, "Bombardo Maxima."

Nothing happened. Scorpius tried to burn it with Incendio, but the flames didn't even leave a mark on the door. We tried some other spells. Same effect.

"It's completely hopeless," I burst out, sitting down on one of the desks. "Why do I get stuck with the stupidest cousins? Two months into school, and they've already done enough to make the teachers enchant the doors so they lock at curfew! If we ever get out of here, I'm going to kill James Potter!"

"Sounds like fun," Scorpius commented. "Can I help?"

"Not helping!"

Scorpius stepped back. "A simple 'no' would have been fine."

"Look, I'm sorry. You must think I'm the worst git in the world."

"No," he grinned. "My father has that title down."

I had to smile. "Good point."

"Very good point. Ask your mother for details if you don't believe me. I doubt she'll give them to you, though."

"Why not?"

"Oh, I don't think you want to know."

"Try me."

"Well, when they were at school, they fought. A lot. I think she actually punched him in the face one occasion."

"Really?" I was finding this hilarious.

"Really. I think he actually had a -okay, fine- well, sort of a crush on her."

"Wow," I commented. "It runs in the family."

"Oh, shut up," he said, punching me playfully on the arm.

"You imitate your dad, I'll imitate my mum," I deadpanned.

"I said shut up!"

"Nothing doing, lover boy."

"Alright, that's it!" he exclaimed, heading for the opposite side of the room. "I'm not talking to you!"

"Suits me fine," I called after him.

Not thirty seconds later, just as I had taken out my wand to enchant a desk to start climbing the walls, Scorpius walked over and sat down on it.

"Rose? Can I ask you a question?"

I smirked. "I thought you weren't talking to me."

"Oh, yeah. But anyway, if you could go back in time to watch any important event, what would it be?"

I rolled my eyes, pretending to think about it. "Easy. I'd watch my mum hitting your dad."

Scorpius chuckled. "I guess that's one thing we have in common."

"That, and the fact that we are both stuck in this stupid classroom because of my stupid cousins and their stupid prank!"

I reared back and kicked the door. Shockingly, it did nothing to improve my mood. I grabbed my foot, hopping around for a few second before I was caught awkwardly by Scorpius, who was standing behind me.

I steadied myself on a desk and walked to the window.

"We could jump," I suggested.

"Scratch that," he replied. "We're right above the lake!"

"We could jump and swim back," I suggested. I was bored.

"I'm not sure," he said nervously. "I don't think we'd be able to, even with a spell. And the front doors are locked."

"Well, we could try sending a message," I said.

"I guess." Scorpius looked unsure of himself. "I mean, I could probably send a Patronus, but I'm not very good at it."

"Try."

Scorpius pointed his wand at nothing in particular and concentrated. Then he lowered it.

"It's no good," he said, looking at the floor. "I don't exactly have many happy thoughts."

That was the saddest thing I had ever heard. I thought about this for a second, and then I had an idea.

"Maybe this'll help," I said.

Then I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. I stayed there for a few seconds, and then pulled away. Scorpius looked on the verge of passing out. For a moment, I thought he had, when he staggered back and hit the wall. He touched the place carefully, in a dreamlike state.

"Try it again," I ordered.

"Wha?"

"Try it again. The spell."

He didn't answer. I was beginning to wonder if my idea had been a bad one, because I didn't know how to do a message, and Scorpius didn't look like he was capable of it.

"Hello?" I said, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Xpictu Ptronm," he slurred.

"Uh, Scorpius? You know that isn't the spell, right?"

"Uh huh."

"Scorpius," I said firmly, slapping him lightly. "Expecto Patronum!"

He shook his head, trying to clear it. Then he grinned broadly, pointed his wand again, and said confidently, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

A large, silver lion burst from the wand tip. It opened its mouth wide, roared, and soared right though the door.