Lily Potter, in her 3rd year, was already an accomplished gossip. Her voice was already clocked past Firebolt 2020 airspeed and much to her parents' dismay, she was already making it known that her idol was Rita Skeeter. That was only part of the reason why Rosie showed up at breakfast with her collar turned up. She didn't exactly want questions asked about the love-bites around her neck. But she had caught a bit of a chill from being outside so long with Scorpius. Not that it wasn't worth it, mind you.

"And then Lola said-" Lily said, making a funny mock-whining voice "'you're just jealous because I'm prettier than you are!' And then Gabriella said 'At least I'm not a slut!' And-"

"Oh, shut up, already," Rosie said, taking a sip of tea.

Lily leaned over towards her cousin, eyes wide and sly. "You came in late last night…" she said, self-satisfied tone to her voice.

"I had detention with Professor Longbottom."

"With Scorpius…" Lily sing-songed. Rosie shot Lily an angry look. She was looking rather smug, leaning her elbows on the table, supporting her head in her hands. "Oh come off it, Rosie! He's hot!"

"He's also the son of your dad's enemy."

"Doesn't mean he's not hot," Lily replied, plucking a strawberry from Rosie's plate. Rosie batted her hand away. She really didn't want to deal with Lily right now.

The door flung open as Scorpius entered the hall. Goyle, Zabini and some younger Slytherins followed.

"See!" Lily said with a sigh.

Scorpius stopped to talk with a student near the door. Rosie was in his line of vision, but she knew that he would never acknowledge her here. She knew that it was nothing personal. They had both agreed that it would be important to keep their affair a secret. Scorpius was engaged to some pureblood in Albania who he had only met once, and Rosie was, well… A Weasley. It still hurt, though.

"Well, gee!" Lily said, nibbling on the stolen fruit as Rosie grimaced. "Somebody is crabby this morning."

"I'm not crabby!" Rosie said. She grabbed a couple pieces of toast. "I just have some studying to do. O.W.L.S. are coming up."

"Pft." Lily sat back in her chair. "That's all you ever talk about. Blah blah blah O.W.L.S. Blah blah blah studying. Blah blah blah O.W.L.S. Blah blah blah studying. Geez! Change the bloody record already!" Rosie blinked. Lily rolled her eyes. "My dad grew up with muggles, Rosie. I know what a record is! I'm not THAT stupid. DUH!"

Rosie rolled her eyes and stood up from her chair. It only took her a moment to register that she had tripped over someone. It took another moment to register that a pair of pale hands caught her by the shoulders, softening her blow against a familiar chest. Her toast fell with a muffled crunch.

"Watch where you're going, Weasley."

Rosie looked up at his cold, gray eyes. She wanted so badly to just to kiss him right there. She almost did, until she felt his warm hands squeeze her shoulders in warning. Not here. Not in the common room. Later.

"Well, if your big feet weren't in the way," Rosie grunted, loud enough for any witnesses to hear, "then it wouldn't be a problem!"

Scorpius' sneer gave a hint of a smile as he released her shoulders, letting her stumble onto her feet. He gave her once last look before walking to his normal spot at the Slytherin table.

"Hm…" Lily hummed under her breath.

Rosie looked back to find Lily with her head tilted in her hands. Maybe if she looked hard enough, Rosie would see little floating hearts and cupids flying around her head.

"Yea," Lily sighed dreamily. "Nothing sexy about that."