The lamp flickered precariously, a few more feeble attempts then it settled for dead.

Rose sighed, late night Library visits seemed to be becoming her thing. She gathered her books and slid them into her bag.

Creeping quietly between the back bookshelves she stopped suddenly, dodging back behind the nearest one.

There was a figure ahead.

Carefully she peered back around, the figure was still there, and Rose could tell it was a student.

The figure beckoned. Rose hesitated, and then thought, at least she could try and convince them to not rat her in if she knew who it was.

The beckoned again, silently Rose hurried to them, ducking down behind the shelf with them.

"Malfoy!"

"Yes Weasley," he put his hand over her mouth, "Now shh or we'll both get caught."

Rose lowered her voice to a whisper, "Of all the people I'd imagine meeting in the Library after dark, you'd be my last choice."

"Shows how little you know," he grinned, "and I thought you were clever."

"What? Really what are you doing here?"

"Obviously, studying, how else do you think I nearly beat you on that last potions quiz?" he smirked.

Rose was astounded, "as much as I'd like to stand, I mean squat," she indicated to the position they were in, "here with you all night and discuss your secret studying habits, we have only a few minutes before Filtch does his rounds, we need to get off this floor."

Scorpius grabbed her wrist and looked at her watch, "three minutes," he said urgently. Under a silent mutual agreement, they straightened up and ran for the door, slipping through it and taking the left turn and the hidden passageway. They emerged on the fourth floor.

Breathing heavily Rose dropped her bag and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. To her surprise, so did Scorpius.

"Malfoy?"

"Hm?"

"Where do your friends think you are?"

He shrugged, "with some girl, never need to specify, you?"

"Most are my cousins so aren't even in my dorm, but Prina, I just leave her to make her own mind up."

Scorpius grinned, "Prina, as in Stokesly?"

"Yep, what's wrong with that?"
"I've never met anyone who can turn a rumour like her."

"See what you mean, I should probably tell her the truth." Rose found herself smiling.

Scorpius picked up Rose's abandoned bag and held it out to here, "I heard Flitwick say he's setting us a pop quiz for Friday, so I suspect I'll see you again tomorrow night." He smiled.

Rose felt her stomach flip, she took her bag, "yeah, I'll see you then."

He grinned once more and turned to head off to Slytherin, he called quietly over his shoulder, "Oh, and call me Scorpius, night iRose/i"

Rose just about managed to call softly, "Night," before he turned the corner.