Title: Scars

Rating: T

Characters/Pairing: Rose/Scorpius

Summary: Scorpius knows Rose's secret could kill her, but he can't figure out how to save his best friend.

Disclaimer: Rose and Scorpius do not belong to me, but the idea for the story does.

Author's note:Written for hpgirl4ever's Teen Issues challenge. My prompts were divorce and addiction. Teen issues are serious. Cutting especially. As you might be able to tell from this, I've never personally experienced cutting, but it has had a huge impact on my life and the lives of some people that I love very much. My friend once said "Cutting is an addiction just like drugs." Please, if you're dealing with ANYTHING, talk to people. We won't judge you and it will help.

She pulled her sleeve up over her arm, trying not to draw attention to herself as she walked across the common room towards the portrait hole. She was just close enough to reach out and touch thedoor when someone stepped in front of her.

"We need to talk."

The boy grabbed her wrist and saw her wince. Loosening his grip, he pulled her gently through the portrait hole. Both were silent as he led her down the corridor. Eventually, they reached a spot here all that could be seen was a small door. The boy opened it.

"Get in, Rose." Rose walked into the broom closet and he followed her, shutting and locking the door so that no one could interrupt them.

"A broom closet, Scor? Really?" Rose said mockingly.

"Shut up," Scorpius replied. "Why are you doing this?"

Rose widened her eyes and tilted her head. "Doing what? I don't know what you mean."

"I'm talking about this!" Anger in his eyes, Scorpius yanked Rose's arm towards him, this time ignoring the look of pain that crossed her face. He pulled up her sleeve and stared; it was worse than he thought. Rose's arm was decorated with scars. He looked into her eyes, hazel being clouded by the tears that were about to fall.

"Why?"

There was a moment of silence in which Rose tried to stop her tears. After minutes had passes and Rose's sobs had settled down to gentle breathing, Scorpius asked the question again.

"Why?"

"Because..." Rose looked up at him and, seeing the concern in his eyes, continued. "Because my mum and dad are thinking about getting a divorce."

"Divorce? But, Rose, why?"

"I don't know!" Rose yelled, angry now. "All I know is that that's what I overheard and neither of them will listen to me and it was the only thing I could do!"

Scorpius was silent, not knowing how to respond. Rose followed his lead and sat down on the floor, not saying anything while Scorpius paced back and forth.

"But why-"

"Why did I continue doing it?" Scorpius nodded. "I have no idea. At times, I wanted to stop, but I couldn't. I feel so much better whenever I cut myself. I have power over it. I control how much or how little. It's exhilarating, this control."

"But Rose, you could die! One aciddental slip... a bit to far... and..." Scorpius pleaded with his eyes, unabled to continue.

"You don't get it Scor. I can feel again. There's still blood inside of me; there's still a person. It reminds me that I'm not just a soulless corpse."

The two looked at each other. Scorpius didn't know how to react, he didn't know how he could save his best friend.

"God, Ro. You're in Ravenclaw, you should be smarter than this," He said, unable to come up with anything else.

Rose smiled sadly. "I know. Sometimes, I want to stop, but I don't know how." Scorpius sat down next to her.

"You're not alone anymore, okay? We'll get through this, somehow." Rose leaned into Scorpius' chest and he wrapped an arm around her. "We'll get through this."