A/N: Scorpius has been conveniently standing outside the breakroom every time Rose goes to get her morning tea, but today deviates a bit from the routine. Scorpius/Rose. Office!AU. I do not own Harry Potter.

Submission for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Care of Magical Creatures Assignment #5 -Write about someone stalking someone to gain either information or to attack. Prompt: hide.

Fanfiction Marathon Competition/Challenge: Scorpius/Rose

LIFE: Lawsuit - Scorose. Office!AU

The clock on his desk reads 9:32, causing the young man to throw back his head with a groan. It is still too early, but time seems to be moving slower today.

He has developed a routine of sorts to garner information on the 'new girl', Rose Weasley. He had known her from before but he hadn't really noticed her until she started working at his office.

Every day at 9:45, she makes her walk to the breakroom for a cup of tea, which usually takes about three minutes. At that same time, he ensures he is conveniently leaving with his mug of coffee, allowing them to exchange pleasantries as he makes his way back to his own desk.

However, Wednesdays are special, for on this day, he can usually count on Jessica to enter the breakroom after Rose. Jessica is known for being the office gossip, knowing everything about everyone and how best to get that information. Rose has been a tough cookie for Jessica to crack, ever since she started here about two months ago. But Jessica doesn't give up and she has gotten some useful information for Scorpius regarding the new girl with the auburn frizzy hair.

While Jessica chats up Rose, Scorpius usually hangs out by Thompson's desk which is nearest to the cracked breakroom door. They talk about the score of the latest football match or the upcoming meeting with their supervisor in a few days, but Scorpius doesn't really care about Thompson's opinion. His ear is trained on the conversation between the women. Jessica's voice is always loud but the new girl's is quiet, but Scorpius doesn't have to worry. Jessica will repeat anything worthy of a second take.

When the breakroom door opens, Scorpius refocuses his attention on Thompson as Rose walks past. He lets Thompson finish his last sentence, and heads back to his cubicle, always within 10 feet and just close enough to smell her citrus-scented shampoo and the steam wafting off her chamomile tea. He takes a seat at his desk with a smile on his face and eagerly awaits the next time he'll see her again.

It's the same routine every Wednesday, but today is a different Wednesday.

He bolts out of his chair at 9:42 and heads to the breakroom to pour his cup of coffee. He smiles at Rose as she pushes past him with her empty teacup. 9:45, right on the dot.

As Thompson rattles on about Manchester City, Scorpius listens in to the breakroom conversation.

"So when you gonna actually talk to him, Rosie?" Jessica asks as few minutes after she enters. Her words are followed by soft murmuring, much more delicate and thoughtful than the blonde girl's.

"What!" Jessica screeches, loud enough to even grab Thompson's attention for a moment before he continues his sentence. "You can't not tell him!" Jessica cries.

There are more murmurs, the whistle of the kettle and the pouring of water.

"You went to school years ago. That's water under the bridge now, Rosie. You should tell him how you feel," Jessica says.

Tell who how she felt? Scorpius wonders. Rose had feelings for someone?

The sound of footsteps approaching the door causes Scorpius to return to his conversation with Thompson, moving a bit to hide behind the plant that blocked Thompson's direct view of the breakroom.

Rose steps out of the room and down the passage and Scorpius bids Thompson farewell as he walks behind the short girl. Her citrus shampoo makes him feel giddy and he begins to imagine the two of them sitting beneath a large orange tree, holding hands as they watch the sun sink below the horizon. All around them is bathed in a yellow glow, but yet her eyes still shine the deepest brown.

She opens her mouth to say something, her plump lips stretching across her perfect teeth.

"Why have you been stalking me, Scorpius Malfoy?"

Scorpius shakes his head and takes in his surroundings. He is not sitting, admiring the sunset on a red blanket with Rose Weasley but in their copying room under the white glow of fluorescent lighting.

"What are you talking about?" he asks, tilting his head down to avoid her annoyed gaze.

"You have been stalking me," she repeats. "Every morning, I go to the breakroom, you just happen to be leaving at the same time."

"I need a little pick-me-up in the mornings, just like you," he defends.

"And then on some days, you're actually still out there," she continues.

"Well I'm sorry that my conversations with my colleague bother you, Miss Weasley," Scorpius says again, stepping closer to her to stand a bit taller. But she does not fall for his intimidation tactics, she does not bow down.

She stands at her tallest as well and says, "You hardly talk to Thompson in a day if I'm not out there as well."

Scorpius gives her a smug smile. "Stalking me, are you?" he asks.

Her eyes sparkle, their hardness falters and she looks down for just a moment but that's all Scorpius needs to turn the tables. "You've been watching me just as much as I've been watching you. How long has this been going on? Last week? Last month?"

She takes a step back and deep breath before saying, "About two years ago."

Now it's Scorpius' turn to step back. His shoulders slump as he looks at her quizzically. "But you just started here a few months ago. Two years ago, we were both in school."

She nods. "We were in Maths, Chemistry and Business Studies. I usually sat in the first few rows and you sat in the back, but I've always seen you."

He is at a loss for words. Rose Weasley, the smartest girl in class, maybe even his entire year, had been watching him for two years. "Rose, I-"

"I'm sorry," she says suddenly. "Just forget I said anything. I'll stop and we'll pretend this never happened."

She makes to walk out the door of the copy room but Scorpius grabs her arm to stop her. She looks into his face, her eyes full of sorrow and regret though there are no tears. She is too strong for that.

"I don't want to pretend this never happened," Scorpius says. "I've noticed you at school as well. I mean who didn't notice Rose Weasley, though it wasn't until you started working here as well did I realize I wanted to know more about you. Yes, I did start following you to learn more about you, and it was more than convenient that I was always there at the breakroom when you were."

There is a pause and now Scorpius worries he has said to much and probably scared her. It's one thing for you to admit something but still another to find out someone's been creeping around you.

"I'm sorry about that, I-" he begins to say but she interrupts him with a light laugh and a smile stretches her mouth wide. Her mirth is infectious and soon they are both laughing, leaning on each other for support.

"This whole thing is a bit silly," she eventually says when she's calmed down. "We could have stopped the whole stalking and admiring by just talking to each other."

Scorpius chuckles and says, "Like we are now."

She nods and then her eyes move to his hand still holding her arm in place. He sees as well and lets her go hastily. He scratches the back of his neck before asking, "So Miss Weasley, wanna go get something to eat after work then and we can get to know each other the right way?"

"Sounds like a plan," she says before making her way out of the copy room.