For Danie.

Also For-

Pocket Morty Competition: Spooky Morty (write about someone pretending to be a ghost)

Gringotts Prompt Bank:

Celestial Words: moon

Words instead of said: growled

Feelings and Emotions: afraid, annoyed

HP Locations: Forbidden Forest

"Can't we turn back?" Scorpius groans when he realizes where Rose is leading him. "The Forbidden Forest is haunted!"

"It's not haunted," Rose corrects matter of factly. "Just giant spiders, werewolves, and the like."

Scorpius swallows hard, shaking his head. He is not a Gryffindor like Rose. He doesn't do the whole bravery bordering on stupidity thing. He prefers saving his own skin. "I think I'd prefer ghosts. You know what has ghosts? Hogwarts! Let's go back."

Rose turns to face him. He wishes she wouldn't wear that grin that says that she's ready to face the world. It makes her look so beautiful that he could never tell her no. "Come on, Scorpius," she teases. "There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Giant spiders hardly count as nothing," he says dryly, but he allows her to lead him into the pass between the trees.

"Can't even see the moon anymore," he whispers, looking up at the thick mess of branches that obscure the night sky. "Why here, of all the bloody places?"

"Because no one comes here."

"Maybe because it's forbidden," he mutters.

Rose just laughs. "Which means my nosy cousins won't be here," she says simply. "We can finally just be."

In the distance, a twig snaps. He moves closer to her, his hand resting near the wand in his pocket. "You're insane. My girlfriend is insane," he says.

Rose wraps her arms around him. "Thank you," she says, pressing her lips to his.

He wants to tell her that it isn't actually a compliment. But her kiss is too distracting, and he begins to relax.

"Who dares enter my forest?" an airy voice calls.

Scorpius breaks away, eyes wide. "I, uh, I-"

"Leave," a second voice adds. "Leave, or you'll end up like me!"

The color drains from Rose's face. She's just as afraid as he is, but she still stands tall.

"I told you! I told you it was haunted, but no one ever listens to me!" Scorpius says, unable to hide the panic in his voice.

"Slytherin blood tastes so sweet," the first voice says, and Rose narrows her eyes into dangerous slits.

"Ghosts don't drink blood!" she calls. "You'd know that if you actually read a book, James!"

"James?"

"I'm not James. I'm-"

"Who's with you? Fred? It has to be Fred. Louis isn't that stupid."

"I'm not Fred."

"No one is here, Rose. It's not your cousins. It's-"

"It's two idiots under the Invisibility Cloak," Rose interrupts.

There's laughter, and then James pulls the Cloak away. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he says. "But you should have seen your faces!"

"Slytherin blood tastes sweet?" Fred demands, rolling his eyes. "You ruined it, mate."

Rose folds her arms over her chest. "Can I just have a moment alone with my boyfriend?" she growls, annoyance dripping from each syllable.

James holds up a bit of parchment. "Not as long as I have this," he answers with a smirk. "Imagine my surprise when Rose, my sweet Rosie, appeared on the map with Scorpius."

"Not terribly unusual," Fred says. "But in the middle of the night, leaving the castle? Oh, that's fair game."

"I hate you both."

The cousins grin and high five one another. "That's the twelfth time she's said that this week," James chuckles. "I think that's a record."

"Third time in twenty-four hours," Fred agrees proudly.

"I'm telling Uncle Harry that-"

A twig snaps in the distance. Rose rolls her eyes. "Don't tell me. You bullied Louis into joining your stupid game?"

James holds open the map. Scorpius sees Louis clearly in his dormitory, very much not here.

"I, uh… I think it might be a good idea to get out of here before giant spiders and the like get us," Scorpius suggests.

Rose grabs his hand. "Agreed."