Having hugged both her parents and various aunts and uncles on the platform, located an empty compartment near the middle of the train, and hauled her trunk into the overhead storage space, Rose Weasley retrieved a well-worn paperback book from her shoulder bag and curled herself comfortably into a seat near the window. September the first had arrived once more and Rose was returning to Hogwarts for her fourth year of magical education.

Rose had only just found her place and begun to become immersed in the story when the door slid open and the sound of masculine laughter jarred her senses back to reality.

"You should have seen the bloke's face!" Al Potter was exclaiming through laughter to someone just behind him. "Hi Rosie. Thanks for saving a compartment for us."

Rose smiled back at her cousin as he dragged his own trunk into the small room. She and Al, being only a couple of months apart in age, had been best friends more or less since birth. When they had come to Hogwarts for their first year, fellow Gryffindor Scorpius Malfoy had joined their group, forming a virtually inseparable trio. Uncle Harry often laughed about how much the three of them reminded him of himself and Rose's parents during their own school days.

"I wish I could have been there, mate. I really do." Scorpius chuckled as he appeared in the doorway. Rose smiled at him briefly before returning her eyes to her book, which she nearly dropped as she jerked her head up and stared at the blonde boy in front of her.

When they had gone their separate ways in June, Scorpius had appeared just as he always had: short and skinny with very pale skin and straight blonde hair that he'd kept neatly cut. Although only two and a half months had passed, it seemed to Rose as if an entirely different person was now standing before her. He was noticeably taller and although his frame was still very lean, his shoulders had broadened and there was muscular definition in his arms that Rose was sure had not been there before. His face had also matured. The smooth, boyish roundness was gone from his cheeks, replaced by the faintest hint of blonde stubble. Finally, his hair had apparently been left uncut through the summer and was now hanging carelessly in his grey eyes, which were currently focused on her.

Rose felt herself blushing as she quickly tore her eyes away to stare at the book in her lap. She could feel her pulse racing and the compartment suddenly seemed uncomfortably warm. She bit down on her lower lip and attempted to steady her breathing but the sharp, tingling sensation in her upper abdomen continued. Rose was a very astute witch and she knew exactly what she was experiencing. What she was unsure about was how she ought to react to this new situation.

Scorpius cleared his throat. "Err, Hello Rose. Good summer?"

"Yes, thank you," she answered, focusing on keeping her voice steady. "How was yours?"

Scorpius shrugged. "Rather dull, to be honest. I wish I'd been allowed to stay at Al's again this year, but my mother complained that they hadn't seen enough of me and insisted that I come home. Next year, though, right Al?"

There was a moment of silence and Rose glanced up at Al, who was looking between the two of them and wearing an odd expression. Suddenly he blinked, shook his head slightly, and responded, "Right, mate. Next year."

The trio fell silent again as Al and Scorpius stowed their trunks and took their seats. Rose looked back down at her book and pretended to read as she allowed her thoughts to wander. How was she supposed to act normal around her friends if her breath hitched every time she looked Scorpius in the eye? It would be easy enough to hide an attraction to someone she only saw in certain classes or during occasional meals, but it would be quite another matter when she spent nearly every waking moment with the boy. Surely, she would give herself away sooner or later and then what? Would the boys take the mickey out of her? Would her interactions with them become awkward and uncomfortable? What if Scorpius didn't fancy her back? What if he did?

Rose was very much in need of a sympathetic ear and some good advice and it seemed all too obvious who she should ask. She decided she would owl her mother as soon as she'd settled into the dorm that evening, since she couldn't very well write the letter while sitting in the compartment with the boys. After all, her own Mum had fallen for her best mate in school - and ended up marrying him! Rose blushed even deeper as this thought crossed her mind. Merlin, this year was going to be difficult!