Disclaimer: JKR owns all the characters here.

2.

The rest of the trip is going to be horrible, I think to myself as we sit in a little compartment, with nearly no windows. The cracked leather pushes into my back when I sit down. I didn't know what to do with my legs. I try to cross them but they come out all silly. Why is this happening? Did I do something wrong last year? Is the headmaster punishing me for Kurt's mistakes?

Across from me sits Scorpious Malfoy. Head-boy. I try to avoid eye contact but it's hard to not look. His icy blonde hair has gotten longer this summer; he looks like the surfers I saw in our vacation in Australia two years ago. He seemed more mature somehow, his skin wasn't pale like mine, it was glowing. He had gotten some tan this summer. His features had gotten stronger; he looked like a Greek god. His tall frame is lounging on the other end of the cabin, with his head turned to the only window in the room. I was afraid to admit it, but he looked amazing.

The last time I saw Scorpious was the last day of year 6. The final party was thrown for all the older students in the school, by James and my cousin Fred. They wanted to leave this school with a bang, and didn't disappoint. The room of requirement was used under the whole thing and everyone was having a blast. Scorpious was there with his older friends, yet he seemed to be the one in control. Every girl at the party wanted to talk to the golden boy, that's what we called him behind his back, but I knew he knew about the nickname, and I think he liked it. That night Scorpious had been watching me, staring at me and I must say, I was into it. I liked the attention the golden boy was giving me and I knew I needed to make the most of it. Drunk on fire whiskey I stumbled outside the room of requirement, looking for nice place to sit. I knew he'd come and talk to me sooner rather than later. After few minutes I hear a person walking behind me and I turn around and notice it's not Scorpious, it's a bloke from the Huffelpuff, 7th year, who I wasn't so familiar with. We started talking and since there wasn't any sign of Scorpious I said I needed to go to sleep, I wasn't feeling so well. He offered to walk me to the Gryffindor tower. I didn't mind, just wanted to get away, felt silly thinking that Scorpious Malfoy would ever want to speak with me. He had his Veelas, they were stunning and the best part, not a Weasley. The walk seemed to last hours and I got drunker every minute of our talk. The guy was really nice to begin with but then became more aggressive. He started hugging me and at first I didn't do anything but then he went in for a kiss. I told him to stop but he wasn't going to. I felt alone and couldn't defend myself. He shoved me into the next closet and started ripping my clothes of. I felt sick to my stomach, because I couldn't move an inch. The guy was so strong and in my state, I couldn't do anything. I tried screaming for help but nobody seemed to care. I thought this was it, but then I saw the grey eyes again, the ones that had been staring at me all night. Scorpious yanked the guy off me and punched him multiple times in his face. When the guy was out, he looked at me with this complex face. I wasn't sure if he was disgusted in me or worried. There was no way to tell what he was thinking. He dragged me up from the floor and that's where my memory goes blank. The next day I wake up in the Slytherin dorm, surrounded by past out guys all around me. I freaked out but saw Scorpious lying next to me, his face covered in blood and all bruised up. I felt so guilty I ran out of the room. I never thanked him for saving "my life", at least my innocents.

Watching him now I wondered, did he still remember? Of course he did. Who wouldn't remember fighting a guy who is forcing himself on a girl and then carry her half naked body to his bed. I feel like I owe him. I don't like to owe people ever.

I whip my feet again after getting a muscle spasm in it but my aim was a little off. My foot landed in Scorpious lap-area. Fuck my life.

"OH my god. Are you okay?"

He doesn't reply but his face says all I need to know.

"I'm so, so, so sorry, I didn't mean to, you know I was just…."

"It's okay, I'll live" he snapped still holding his hand in his crotch.

I just stare at him while he holds his hands in his crouch. Then I burst. I start to giggle and then real laugh at his experience. I cover my mouth but this is just so to perfect. He watches me with a confused look but then joins in the laughing, easing the tension in the room.

When the moment passes we look at each other. I can't help but smile a bit. He also cracks a little smile but then goes blank. Then I feel his grey eyes examine my face. I look at him puzzled, I wanted to say something, anything, to get the conversation flowing.

After an awkward silence I said: "So how was your summer? Did anything fun?"

He looks at me with those damn eyes and replies after a moment of thinking: "No, yours?"

"Mine was alright" I say right away. Silence.

Few minutes pass until he speaks again.

"Did you get hung over?"

"What do you mean, hung over?" I was shocked, such a random question. Was he talking about the night we last saw each other? Fuck, I thought he wouldn't talk about it, this is so awkward.

"I mean, did you party a lot this summer?"

I'm relieved.

"Well, I went to a muggle bar one Saturday with my friend. We drank fruit flavoured drinks out of tall glasses, it was weird. So yes, I did some.." I say with a small voice.

That night I went with Sebastian to that bar and he ordered the drinks for us. It was a good night and I got hit on a lot, which boosted my confidence. Sebastian didn't like the attention I was getting and called it an early night. I wanted to stay longer and he didn't care. As I was leaving the bar I saw a thing I'd never forget. Hugo. Drunk out of his mind, he was smoking a cigarette, talking to some muggle boys about something. They were really loud. I walked to him and confronted him. I could see it in his eyes that he was drugged up, probably by the same herb that James and Fred buy on the black market and bring to school. They smoke it and get pretty hilarious, at least to them self. Hugo started to scream at me to leave him alone but his "friend" kept touching me and touching my bum. I snapped at him to stop and he shoved me. That's when Hugo attacked the guy and they started fighting. That night I walked home with Hugo, my younger brother, all beaten up. He was on a path to self-destruct and nobody could stop him. Not even me. We didn't speak of this night but he knew I didn't approve. And he didn't care.

"So are you going to the big welcome back batch Al is throwing?" I say, trying to change the awkward subject. He seems to be interested in the subject but says: "I thought greens weren't allowed into a Potter party."

I knew this was a joke, our parents didn't like each other very well and James tried to make it a "tradition" but never really worked. All this unwanted hate was tiresome

"Well he doesn't have a say in this, I think you should come."

"Why? We aren't friends" he says with a cold voice.

I didn't know how to respond but I caught a break when I heard the flutes on the train. I look out the little window and see my beautiful home away from home, Hogwarts. The beautiful landscape and the lake were like a fairy-tale to me.

We are the first to step out of the train, me first and then him. At the platform, standing there in the bright nature, he towered over me. He had changed so much this summer, hopefully his personality did the same. Scorpious wasn't the nicest boy on the block. It has been said that he got his father's arrogance and his mother's charms. Combining these "qualities" we got a real bad boy on our hands, one that the girls lusts after. I never paid any that attention to his personality. We were often paired up together in classes, we were always the best in every class so they always made us team up. It was awkward at first but over the years we had gotten used to it, never spoke, ever. Scorpious always got what he wanted. That was for sure. But then again, he never had wanted me, so I stopped making an impression on him long time ago.

We lead the students to the carriages that go from the station and to the castle. Uncle Harry told me that there wasn't much magic behind the carriages dragging themselves, it were in fact Thestrals, magical creatures who only appear to those who have witnessed death. When everybody had gotten into a carriage I turn around to look were Scorpious was doing. He's standing in front of the carriage, starring at it with his mysterious looks. I walk slowly up to him and wait for him to react. He stood still for a while.

"Can you see them?" I ask quietly. No response.

"Scorpious…" I try again.

"No, why would I see something?" he responses quickly, too quickly.

"No I just thought…."

"There is nothing there Rose, nothing to see. Come on, let's get the fuck out of here."

I wonder what the fuss was about. It wasn't common knowledge that Thestrals pulled the carriages but it was sad to see some faces when we arrived, the faces who had witnessed death. I always thought it was strange that some people disown this idea, think it's ridiculous that something invisible would be dragging them from the train station. I knew better. I had never witnessed a death but I knew that my family wouldn't lie about something like this. They have witnessed more deaths than anyone should in their lifetime.

At the castle we needed to turn ourselves in to the headmaster's office. I walked with hurried steps to his office but Scorpious walked slowly, yet somehow he was always just few steps behind me. We arrive at the big owl statue and I stop. Bloody hell. I forgot the password. I find my tote bag and start looking desperately for my head-girl letter. The password was there somewhere, I just had to find it in all this mess.

"Peppermint bark."

I look up at his face and then at the owl, it started moving and then the staircase started moving. He smirks and walks ahead. I stand up and dust my robes and walk the stairs.

The headmasters office hasn't changed since we have been here, in fact mother says everything is the same since her headmaster was here. The smell of caramel was in the air and in between the books in the endless bookcases around the room where plants in all kinds of coloured pots. In front of us was the headmaster, not looking like the headmaster.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Longbottom." I say, dragging the Mr. part for my amusement.

"Oh wonderful, always so wonderful Rosie. Welcome to your final year here at Hogwarts. You too Mr. Malfoy." Scorpious face was priceless there. He didn't seem to like social encounters with anyone, what alone somebody who's this happy all the time.

Neville was wearing purple pants with a purple west over it. He looked like a worker from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, beautifully ridiculous looking. I often help out there over the summer with Roxy and let me tell you, she did not approve. Neville takes his robes and dresses. He then twirls around the room like he's looking for something.

"Are you looking for this" I say and points to the hat that was covered behind books.

"Ah yes thank you. Are you ready for this?"