Damn that Ravenclaw logic.


POV: Rose

"W-what?" I stammered.

"He said yes! I went up to the common room, to sulk, y'know, and then, he came in," she was breathless and talking at what seemed a hundred words a second, "So I was like, oh crap, should've hidden in the dorm because I'm all tear-stained and puffy, right, so I like, sunk down in my chair, to hide," deep breath, "Ow, stitch, ow, anyway he like stopped, and stared at me, and then he came over, and then he said 'Lily, please forgive me for earlier' so hot when he talks all formal, 'You took me by surprise' then he took this like, painstakingly long pause, and then, he said," pause for dramatic effect, "'I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you!'" Then Lily looked up expectantly for my excited squealing response.

I could feel my face readjust into a picture of pained awkwardness on which I was desperately trying to inject some form of excitement, but judging by Lily's slow dawning confusion, I was failing. So I managed to squeeze out a feeble "Yaaaay," which seemed to placate her.

"I know!" she squealed, grasping Rose's arms and jumping up and down.

"Rose!" Albus and Rowan yelled as they came tearing out of the library.

Each of them looked at each other in surprise before Rowan regained her composure.

"Rose, I'm so sorry we didn't tell you I…"

"Rowan!" shrieked Lily.

Looking perplexed, Rowan turned to Lily kindly with an expectant look.

"Scorpius said yes!"

Her eyes widened and she glanced at me briefly in confusion, before rearranging her face into a successful picture of excitement. "That's great Lily! I'm so happy for you!"

"Well I'm not," Albus interjected angrily. Yes, thank you sweet glorious cousin, stop the madness! Tell her she's too young! She is too young! She's only fourteen, and he's sixteen, its abuse! How could I have been for this half an hour ago?

He then looked meaningfully at Rowan, and said, "I'm incredibly happy for you."

Oh burn in hell you snivelling worm, what good are you.

Lily gave Albus a watery smile and moved quickly over to hug him tenderly, "Thank you, Al."

"Any time little sis," and he kissed the top of her head gently.

Could you just throw up? This was everything I'd ever wanted for Lily, but now it was like watching myself in some weird alternate universe.

I grabbed Rowan's hand and without another word dragged her off in a blur of corridors as my mind raced. Finally settling on an empty classroom, I swung her inside and closed the door.

"I'm so sorry Rose, so, so so sorry, we just weren't sure if you'd approve and it happened so fast and I…"

"Scorpius kissed me!" I burst.

Rowans face contorted in shock, "What?"

"I know!"

"But Lily…?"

"I know!"

"And Albus?"

"I know!"

"And…oh."

"I know."

We both settled into a confused and awkward silence as we processed, and then I told her what had happened.

"But I don't understand, by kissing you, it was like he was saying that you were the reason he didn't want to be with Lily."

"That's what I thought."

"And now he's with Lily."

"You are correct."

"Well now wait, did you, enjoy, the kiss?" she ventured, her blue eyes twinkling.

I literally could not bring myself to say the words, but Rowan interpreted my hesitation, and started squealing.

"What are you doing?" I said, "Why are you squealing? Stop that!"

"But, it's just, I always figured you guys liked each other!"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh c'mon, you're always fighting."

"You're logic is somewhat flawed."

"Rose, seriously, you could cut the sexual tension with a knife."

Ewwww. "Ok, these new perspectives of Scorpius Malfoy are just plain disturbing."

Rowan looked at me knowingly, then her face dropped and her hand sprung to her mouth.

"What?"

"You're going to hate me," she whispered. I steeled myself for her revelation.

"I talked Albus into being OK with Lily and Scorpius," she muttered ashamedly, she almost looked as if she were going to cry.

I took a long moment to digest this. Why did that information hurt so much? I felt almost cheated by her, but that was incredibly unfair, she didn't know, this was all happening far too quickly. A single kiss didn't mean I had any claim to him. What seemed like five minutes ago I would have been thanking her graciously for stepping in and helping Lily to be happy, but now it felt like a knife of disappointment in my stomach. But that's just it, I would have been happy before, the whole reason I went into that godforsaken bathroom was for Lily, how can I be so selfish that one awkward kiss could change my entire perspective? But it really did…

"Ok, I've thought about it, and the bottom line is, he's with Lily now, he's a no go, and he's a douche anyway, so, that's that, we leave this as a very confusing moment that we never mention again." I said bravely.

"But…"

"But nothing." I said, using my sternest Granger voice.

"Ok…" she grumbled, and we fell into silence once again, the subject firmly closed. But wait…

"Change of subject?" I ventured. Rowan nodded sombrely. Sucker.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me you were dating my cousin?"

She looked suitably shocked and distressed; that'll teach you to vouch for the wrong girl!

"I'm so sorry, we knew you'd be mad and that's why we didn't tell you and… I'm so sorry, please forgive me?"

I took a long deep breath, as if incredibly angry, and then I dropped the act to her relief.

"Are you kidding? I'm so incredibly happy for you it's unreal," moving over and slipping my arms round her outrageously slender body, feeling a pang of jealously at her relationship. I lingered in the comfort of my friend's arms for a moment too long, and then pulled away sharply as an image of walking in on Lily and Scorpius as I had her and Albus popped into my head.

I ran my hands over my face as if to clear all these new thoughts and feelings from my body, but what I quickly realised was that they weren't new at all. They'd always been there. I'd felt it when he kissed me, and it was so sincere and passionate, why is he with Lily now?

"Rose."

I turned to look at Rowan.

"I think you need to talk to Scorpius."

"No, Ro, we said this is a closed subject, he made his choice. And also that would severely interfere with my plan to never think of this again and avoid him for the rest of my natural life."

She rolled her eyes at me and continued, "But if he does have feelings for you Rose, you need to find out, or else Lily is going to end up getting hurt."

I sighed, damn that Ravenclaw logic.


Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: Thank you so much for your great responses, they make me feel warm inside... and as promised, I am continuing the story! Hope you enjoy this chapter!