Scorpius and Rose were sixth year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They were both insanely competitive in athletics and in class; always tied for top of the class. Both were MVP of their respective quidditch teams and competed roughly in games when they faced off on the pitch. When they started their first year of school, Scorpius Malfoy, Rose Weasley, and Albus Potter were a big subject of gossip. Everyone wondered if Rose and Albus would continue the feud between their families and the Malfoys. But no one was prepared for the strange turn of events, Albus Potter sorted into Slytherin, and quickly befriending his housemate Scorpius.

Gossip columns bombarded the family with questions on how they were reacting and how the rest of the Weasley and Potter children would respond to this new addition to the already robust group. As the year wore on Scorpius was eventually accepted into the group, through the usual hazing that went along with the close-knit family. As the years went on it became clear that Albus, Scorpius, and Rose were seemingly closer than the rest of the group. By the time the three had begun their fourth year of schooling the three were known as "the next golden trio" the legacy of their parents following them through their school years. While Rose and Albus got the positive fame from their parents' actions during the Second Wizarding War, Scorpius received harsh and close-minded remarks and actions by many who blamed Draco Malfoy for the destruction of that war. It had always been a sore spot for Scorpius, seeing this Albus and Rose used their reputations and their family to try and stop the harsh reaction many had towards their friend. In their sixth year of schooling the trio were nearly inseparable, all three prefects and upstanding students in their year. As they grew older Albus began to notice little things that would pass between Rose and Scorpius, he wouldn't say anything but he suspected something more was going on.

Rose, Scorpius, and Albus were all packed up and ready to board the train home, they dropped their small trunks off and rushed onto the train, a cool wind raising goose bumps on the bare skin of their forearms. They strode down the small corridor to their usual cabin; just before they entered Rose was pulled away by her cousin, Roxy Weasley, and dragged down the corridor with a group of girls from her house. Scorpius and Albus were left confused once again by the opposite sex. Quietly pondering what they could want with Rose the two boys relaxed in the soft cushioned seats.

ROSE

Rose obediently followed her older cousin, used to being dragged off on one random occasion or another. Roxy stopped at a group of seventh and sixth year girls from Gryffindor house, Rose knew most of them from sharing a common room but was not friends with any of them. They were all talking animatedly about a Christmas party that the Trombelii sisters were throwing New Year's Eve; discussing who would be there, who would be there as a couple, who they should bring as their dates. All the gossipy girly stuff that Rose usually tried to avoid, she had always been more interested with her Quidditch team or school work to pay much attention to boys; well, until recently that is. She was suddenly drawn into the groups conversation as the girls all looked to her waiting for an answer to a question she must have missed. Rose gave the surrounding girls a confused look,

"They asked you who you are going to bring as your date to the New Year's Party." Roxy filled in, having noticed her cousin's deer-in-headlights look.

"Ooooh," Rose began, understanding dawning on her, "Well, I…I don't know really who I would take. I guess I'm just not interested in anyone really."

The girls all gave her puzzled looks, confused as to why the gorgeous, brilliant girl before them hadn't already been snatched up by one of the boys in her year. Immediately they all started to rattle off names and reasons why those would be good choices. This was a bit too much for Rose to take in all at once and wasn't quite sure how to handle this situation. Not wanting to have to face all these questions or make up a reason for why she couldn't possibly take any of those boys. She began shaking her head no and trying to stop the rapid fire of names being aimed at her. She tried to laugh it off but she was a bit awkward and was soon forgotten by the group and allowed to wander off with Roxy following close behind.

"Soooooo…" Roxy began, dragging out the o, "what was so wrong with any of those guys they suggested, Rose?" she finally asked, wanting to get down to the nitty-gritty of it all.

"Yeah," Rose, trying to sound nonchalant and not give away what was really running through her head, "I'm just not interested right now. I mean after all that drama that happened with Longbottom and his feelings for Lilly, who could blame me for not wanting that type of drama back in my life." She tried to play it off like she wasn't still a little bit annoyed by that whole drama.

Yes, at the time, Rose had been rather annoyed when the whole thing had gone down. She had only dated Longbottom for a month or two when he'd admitted to her that he wanted to be with her younger cousin, Lilly Potter. At first the trademark traits from her parents, her father's jealousy and her mother's rage, both flared inside of her. She had been venomous and bitter for nearly two weeks after but had eventually come to realize that it was for the best anyway. She promptly swallowed her pride and apologized to the new couple. She was telling the truth when she said she didn't want that drama back in her life, which is why she was in the situation she was in now.

"Ok, Rose," nodding along with her words, "I can understand not wanting to 'date' but how about just for the party?" she asked, an evil glint in her eyes.

Rose knew at that moment that Roxy had figured her out and would soon get the truth out of her, giving up she relented, "Ok Roxy. Sheesh, I'll tell you just… just don't tell anyone else. EVER!"

Roxy nodded excitedly as she sat on a bench in an empty cabin. She patted the space next to her, motioning for Rose to sit down and spill her guts already. Reluctantly, giving the exit one last look as she contemplated the likelihood of getting out of this, she sat down and started telling Roxy everything.

"About a month or so ago Scorpius and I were in the middle of one of our 'debates' over how exactly to do whatever it was we were trying to accomplish. And well we had left the library, trying not to make a scene, and had started down a little used corridor, still arguing. Like always we started getting personal with our insults and he said something that made me stop in my tracks and look directly at him. I tried to look threatening though I don't know if it's possible being so much shorter than him. He just looked down at me with that smug little smirk of his that drives me crazy and I couldn't stop myself, I pushed him as hard as I could. What I didn't count on was him grapping my wrists and pulling me down with him when he fell. He hit the ground and I fell right on top of him, he tried to brace my arms but it was a bit too late, our lips connected and that was it. We were suddenly kissing, I didn't even notice his one arm wrapped round me or the other hand that was pressing against my back, pushing me tighter against him. Well, it must have been a few minutes before our brain turned back on and we both started blushing bright red. We quickly untangled ourselves and quietly walked back to the library, acting like nothing had happened." Rose stopped to take a breath, only to be smacked in the arm by Roxy, who hated waiting in anticipation like this, so she continued on.

"We didn't talk at all the rest of the day but that day after he found me reading in the corner of the library near the restricted section. He sat down and we just tried to talk about what happened. He said that he had wanted to do that nearly every time we argued, just to shut me up. We decided to try it out, secretly of course. We knew that if anyone found out that our families would both find out immediately and the pressure would really be put on us. We agreed that the best way to start out was without all the family drama, which would come about one way or another but not immediately. So, we've been secretly dating, I guess, for a month now, and well, yeah…" Rose trailed off unsure how to end her story.

Looking up she was met with Roxy's look of pure excitement. Rose was surprised; she knew that her family had generally accepted him but she didn't realize that he had actually become an extension of that family until just now. She began to feed off of Roxy's excitement and the two girls talked about how things were going and what would happen as they got more serious. Rose honestly couldn't answer that one; one of her biggest fears was that he was just looking for a quick shag and they'd never be anything more. Roxy quickly defended Scorpius and offered up numerous logical reasons, knowing exactly how to comfort the overly rational girl, for why Scorpius just wouldn't do that; chief examples being the risk of their friendship, and the threat of her entire family. Rose felt better with someone knowing about them. Checking her watch she knew she needed to get back to Scorpius and Albus soon or she would lose her seat to one of Albus' crazy fan girls.

SCORPIUS

The boys were left in the cabin, wondering where Rose could have gone and what could be taking up so much time. They talked quietly about what they would spend the holiday doing. Scorpius was always invited to the Wesley Christmas dinner at the Burrow and had been present at every one since his second year of school, his parents always traveled during the holiday so he'd be left alone otherwise.

Scorpius had always enjoyed the time he spent with the Wesley-Potter families, but he couldn't help the jealousy he sometimes felt when everyone would gather for the holidays or a birthday. The family was so large and everyone so warm and inviting, even Rose's and Albus' fathers had welcomed him, although with a bit of surprise and unmistakable caution. Scorpius knew that his parents loved him but they were never quite able to show that emotion. His father was hardened from years of being labeled a traitor and his mother icy from always having to defend her husband and family. The two worked hard to keep up the extravagance of the Malfoy lifestyle after the Ministry had seized nearly everything. Draco had managed to keep the house by working anyplace that would hire him. Scorpius had grown up knowing exactly who his father had been, a thick skin made the judgment from others less hurtful over time.

The two were now on the topic of a party they had heard of in passing earlier that day. It was to be a Gryffindor affair but the two Slytherins were interested in crashing it, maybe they could convince Rose to sneak them in. Albus noticed something when the topic of Rose was brought up. Scorpius shifted in his seat and couldn't really meet his friend's eyes. Albus decided now would be a good time to find out if his suspicion was right about what was going on between his two friends.

"Oh, Scorp." He started, innocently enough, "Rose will probably take some guy as her date to the party anyway. I don't think we'll be able to convince her."

Scorpius started at him for a moment, thinking, "Who would she even take, Albus?" he tried to scoff the response but it came off a bit strange and awkward. Albus saw another opening and decided to push a little.

"Well I mean I know that a lot of the Slytherin guys talk about her when they think I don't notice and it's obvious that a lot of the Gryffindor guys have tried to make a move on her, even some of the Ravenclaw guys have made a pass at her. She really does have her pick of the lot. Problem is she would want the guy to make that first move, someone who wouldn't worry about all her family." Albus finished with a smug look as he stared Scorpius down.

"What are you looking at ME for, Al?" Scorpius asked, feigning innocence and confusion, not convincingly however as Albus saw right through the ruse.

"Why don't you tell me?" Albus countered, raising an eyebrow and doing a pretty spot-on impression of the glare his mother would often give to his brother, James, and his father. Scorpius looked back at him, lost for words and unable to defend his situation.

"Well, I…I…we. Ummm, we were arguing, she pushed me, I pulled her down with me, on accident, and suddenly we were kissing. I don't know how it really happened but when it did neither of us pulled away. When we finally did, well, she blushed that Wesley red and I didn't want to make her any more embarrassed so I let her alone the rest of the day. I was also trying to figure out what had happened. And the next day when I talked to her we decided to try dating, but we didn't want everyone knowing so we…we just didn't tell anyone." Scorpius stopped and looked at Albus, a bit wary of how his best friend might react to him dating his cousin. He didn't see any anger on his face, but Scorpius still felt guilty for keeping something from his friend.

"We were gonna tell you," he tried to amend, "actually we were gonna tell you when everything had settled and the train had left Hogwarts." He gave his friend an apologetic smile, still waiting for a reaction from the dark-haired boy.

Albus was enjoying making Scorpius squirm, it was amusing to see the normally cool and collected guy he'd grown up with get all flustered over something.

"Alright, so I guess my hunch was right." Albus laughed, making a face at his friend. Scorpius relaxed immediately and the two joked lightly until the doors of the compartment slid open and Rose entered.

The train was about an hour from platform 9 ¾ and most of the students had already changed back into muggle clothes. Rose, Albus, and Scorpius had been engrossed trying to figure out the best way to tell the family about her relationship with Scorpius. Scorpius wanted to tell everyone all at once, making a joke that there would be witnesses if Rose's father decided to kill him. Rose liked the idea of getting it over with but she also didn't want to be questioned the entire time, she'd rather tell them right before getting on the train back to school. Albus actually was very helpful, he suggested that Scorpius and Albus come over to Rose's house the day before Christmas dinner would be held at the Burrow and tell just her family first and then they could work out whatever issues and her parents and Hugo could help with the rest of the family in that following days. Scorpius didn't like the idea of being in close proximity to her father; the hulking Auror had many scars and war stories to go along with each one. Rose promised Scorpius he'd be fine, her mother would never let Ron loose his cool like that; Hermione Wesley had always been able to calm her husband's temper. After they were done planning Rose left to change in one of the lavatories and the boys slid the blinds shut and changed in the compartment.

Rose was dressed in a pair of brown skinny jeans that hugged her curves and showed off her as sets, and a long-sleeved green blouse with a V-neck neckline that showed off just the slightest hint of cleavage. She wore a pair of low cut black boots with a small heel, adding two inches to her previous 5' 2' height. She took her hair out of the bun, letting the auburn curls loose and fall down to the middle of her back, and her blue eyes were accented by the light mascara and liner that she wore. She put on some chap stick before leaving the lavatory, noticing the looks she got by some of the boys she passed on her way back to the compartment she shared with the boys.

Scorpius and Albus had once again unconsciously brought nearly matching changes of clothes. Both wore black trainers and blue jeans. Scorpius had a brown button-up shirt that strained against the muscles in his arms when he moved a certain way. Albus had found a random jacket and now wore a white t-shirt with a blue and black stripped zip-up sweatshirt. They would never live down another instance of them matching. Scorpius had the Malfoy grey eyes and blonde hair, his was in need of a trim, the fringe handing just above his eyes. Albus was a spitting image of his father, with messy black hair and bright green eyes, all that was missing was the glasses. Both boys were rather handsome, muscular from year of Quidditch and each with the wit and cunning to charm their way through most situations. As they finished changing they unlocked the door and opened the blinds to see a patiently waiting Rose leaning against the opposite wall.

Albus, Rose, and Scorpius had already greeted their respective families and were now picking up their luggage before heading home. Now that Albus was in on the secret he offered to cover for Rose and give the two of them some time for a real goodbye. As Albus had left with his stuff, promising to tell the family that Rose's luggage was buried under some other stuff and it would take a little longer than expected. Rose and Scorpius went to a small culvert that hid them from the general public on the platform. Situating their luggage against the wall the two shared a certain playful look. Rose leaned back against the brick wall as Scorpius came and stood in front of her. He placed a hand on either side of her face and leaned in close, their noses brushed but there lips were still separated. The two stood there for a moment, just sharing the same space of air, Rose was the first to speak.

"I… I'll miss you." She stuttered, a little flustered by the intensity of his stare, "I know it is only gonna be a day or two but I'll miss you anyway." She broke eye contact, blushing from her expression on emotion and suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable. Scorpius held her head firmly, all but forcing her to look at him. Hesitantly he lowered his head, pressing their foreheads together and bringing their lips even closer than before. He paused for a beat but when he felt her breath slide over his lips he leaned in and pressed his lips fully to hers. It was a tame kiss comparatively, but there was strong emotion fueling it, making it somehow more intimate than the mostly hormone fueled snogs they'd shared briefly in the last few weeks. Scorpius tried his best to convey just how much he needed her, his longing very apparent in the desperate way his lips clung to hers.

The couple didn't know how long they'd been standing there when they broke apart, they really weren't concerned either. Rose pulled back just a bit, severing their lips and looked up at him from beneath her lashes with her bright blue eyes. Their foreheads were pressed together once again; Scorpius' hands had wandered down to her waist, where one was dangerously close to her bum. Scorpius was first to speak this time.

"I'll miss you too." He stated simply, as though it were fact, "I'll miss you the second I'm not holding you, Rose." He smiled, trying to squash the vulnerability he was now feeling.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy," she was teasing now, "once we tell everyone you can hold me as long and as often as you want." She promised him.

"Hmmm, I rather like my limbs attached," he thought out loud, "so I think the touching will be kept to a minimum while your family is around. Probably best anyway…" he stated, smiling down at her confused face, "if I had the chance I'd never let you go. You'd get frustrated by my clinginess in less than a day I guarantee." He finished, his hands moving to hold her much smaller ones.

"Don't count on it." Rose didn't look at him when she said this, she wasn't even sure she'd said it out loud. But she whispered, just loud enough for Scorpius to hear over the busy platform noises.

The two were soon forced to face that facts that they would need to leave soon, rejoining their families and having to pretend once again. Neither could wait for the day when they didn't have to sneak around, when they could walk, holding hands like any other couple, as they headed home.