"Oi! Get off me, Weasley! Just because you've grown a foot taller doesn't give you the right to haul people through train compartments!"
"Give over, Malfoy. It was only three steps!"
"I'm a prefect, you know. I could write you up for this."
"You won't."
"What makes you so sure?"
"You're too curious."
"About?"
"About why I pulled you in here."
"I'm assuming it's not because you've been hopelessly pining for my company all summer?"
"Not a chance! Listen, did you read the sports section of the Prophet that came out a few weeks ago? On the twelfth of August?"
"Did I… what? The Prophet? On the twelfth? That's very specific, Hugo –"
"You didn't, then. Here."
"What am I looking at –?"
"The photograph that's smack bang in the middle of it, maybe?"
"Oh. Damn. That bloody git! What's he doing, swanning all over the social pages with – with… Actually, who is she?"
"My thoughts exactly. That's Ciara Lynch, by the way. She's on the team that Wood just joined."
"It might be nothing…"
"But it might be something."
"We can't make assumptions from one photograph… Ugh. Don't know why she's so bloody taken with him."
"Me either. Bit intense, isn't he?"
"That's one way of putting it. He's a ponce if you ask me…"
"Well –"
"Hold on – aren't you friends with his little sister?"
"Laura? Yeah, she's in my year… so what?"
"I know subtlety is a bit beyond the average Gryffindor, but couldn't you try to steer tonight's dinner conversation around to what her darling brother got up to over the summer? Then we'd know for sure."
"I can't just ask!"
"Why not?"
"What d'you want me to say, 'Pass the sprouts please, and by the way, is your brother dating anyone at the moment?'?! That's just weird! She'll think – she might think… Well, she'll get the wrong idea, won't she?!"
"For the love of Godric, you're useless. I take it she hasn't seen it?"
"Laura? Dunno –"
"No, you idiot. Rose!"
"Oh, right! I don't think so. Someone's bound to talk about it though, aren't they? I mean, the rest of our Quidditch team have been discussing the new season for the whole train journey, so it's only a matter of time."
"Well, you're obviously telling me all this for a reason. What do you want me to do about it?"
"I want you to stick to her side for a while. Er – not literally, mind! Just be around, in case, y'know…? And be supportive, alright? If she seems sad, tell her she looks nice, or something."
"Yes, thank you, Weasley. I do know how to speak to women."
"She's not a woman! She's Rosie. You can't just smirk at her and expect her to be happy with that. If you're really her friend –"
"I get the point! Sweet Merlin, you are such a Gryffindor. Look, common goal acknowledged, alright? I'll keep an eye on her."
"And I'll keep an eye on you, Malfoy. Don't forget it!"
"Does Rose know you're this protective?"
"You'd do it too, if you had a sister."
"… I suppose you're right. Can I leave now, Weasley?"
"You can go whenever you like, Malfoy. But it's nice of you to ask permission!"
"Oh, shut up! Unless you want the first detention of the term…?"
"Awh come on, Scorpius! You wouldn't do that to your best friend's little brother, would you?"
"We're back to Scorpius now, I see. Interesting how that happens, isn't it?"
"Dunno what you're talking about, mate! Better get going, challenged Joseph to a cauldron cake contest and I don't want to lose by default because I'm standing around talking to you, eh?"
"Wouldn't want anyone thinking you've defected to Slytherin, more like!"
"That too! We're on the same page, then?"
"We are. Thanks for telling me."
"Anything for Rosie! See you at the feast!"
"… Anything for Rose."