Scorpius Malfoy looked over the top of his book to see Rose Weasley enter the library. She was wearing a grey skirt today, with knee-length grey socks and a grey pull-over with a red and gold trim over her white shirt. Her cloak was slung over her bag, the Gryffindor emblem flashing in the evening sunlight.

Despite the fact it was only six o'clock, the sun was setting, lighting the room with an orange glow that reflected her hair, making her look more ginger than normal.

She caught my eye, smiling and I nodded, in acknowledgement, before she wandered over to sit beside me "Evening, Scorpius."

"Evening, Rosie."

"Revising? Didn't think it was your thing."

A smile played on Scorpius' lips as he said "What is my thing then?"

"Your thing?" She asked innocently "I don't know, but I'd love to find out."

"You want to find my thing?"

"I'd love to find your thing." She smiled, pulling out an un-finished essay and licking her red lips "Just love to."

Scorpius smiled "And how is my favourite member of my rival house?"

Rose sucked on the end of her quill absently, before scribbling down some dates "Fine, thanks. How are you?"

"I was talking about your cousin." Scorpius grinned "How is Albus?"

Without taking her eyes off the thick parchment in front of her, Rose smirked "In that case, Albus is perfectly fine."

"Glad to hear it. Nice boy...amusing."

"Yes, he is rather funny."

Scorpius leant back in his chair, closing the book in his hands "What are you doing?"

"Homework."

"Subject?"

"Care of Magical Creatures."

"Remind me, why is it that you took that over Muggle studies?"

"My granddad is Arthur Weasley. I know enough about muggles to last me a life-time."

"Okay then, but what about Astrology? That's got to be better than looking after an aggressive, fire-breathing, lobster."

Rose smiled "I happen to like Hagrid."

"Oh ha, ha." Scorpius said "He's hardly fire-breathing."

Rose laughed "He's lovely – don't start, Malfoy."

"Ooh, back to surnames are we, Weasley?"

"Shut up."

"I'll pass."

"Seriously, I'll punch you."

Scorpius moved his foot, kicking her with his emerald-green converse. "Do it."

Rose pulled out her wand and, before he knew it, Scorpius Malfoy had been amazingly transfigured into a small white mouse.

"My Dad was right; Malfoy's do make amazing small, furry pests."

The mouse squeaked indignantly, jumping and knocking Rose's ink over, right onto her essay.

Rose swore and transformed the mouse into a teenage boy again, clearing the ink with a swish of her wand.

"Thanks, Weasley." Scorpius snapped, checking over his robes.

Rose smiled "You're welcome, sweet-heart."

He rolled his eyes, sitting before her again "Have you got any tattoos?"

Rose looked up, a quizzical look on her face "Random question."

"Just wondering." Scorpius smiled "Go on, have you?"

Rose put down her pen "What's that to you?"

Scorpius didn't tell her that he'd always found tattoos strangely attractive and couldn't quite imagine Rose not having one. He simply shrugged, smiling.

"Why?"

"I don't know, I just probably think you will have."

Rose grinned "Then yes, you're right."

He smirked proudly "Knew it. Where?"

Rose winked "Somewhere."

"What've you got?"

"Something."

"Come on, Rosie, I'm trying to make conversation."

Rose laughed "Strange conversation, but fine. I've got a gun on my hip-bone."

"What's a gun?"

"A hand-held muggle wand short of thing. They shoot people with bullets and kill them."

"Oh yeah, we did about muggle wars in Muggle Studies."

"Strange, I don't think you'd go for muggle studies."

"Why?"

Rose scoffed, as if the answer was obvious "You're a Slytherin."

Scorpius rolled his eyes "Where did you get it done?"

"Get what done?"

"Your tattoo."

"Oh, Knockturn-Alley when I was getting my stuff for fifth year. Albus, Lily, James, Dominique and Teddy are the only ones who know, though."

"Victoire...she's the blonde one, isn't she?"

"Yes. Please don't set off about how gorgeous she is. She has a boyfriend, you wouldn't stand a chance and I hear it enough."

Scorpius grinned, standing up "I'll let you into a secret."

Rose watched him carefully as he placed his book back and then stood behind her chair, leaning over her shoulder so his breath was on her ear "I prefer brunettes with a bit of ginger."

Rose turned around and grinned at him "Really?"

"Yep."

"Well, we'll have to see what we can do about that one, Malfoy."

Scorpius leant towards her, millimetres away from her lips, when they were interrupted by a loud voice saying "Hi guys, oh hi Rosie...wasn't interrupting anything, was I?"

Tom had wandered into their section of the now-darkened library, stacking a pile of books on shelves "I figured I'd better start bringing these back. I have a pile from first year under my bed!"

Scorpius had backed away and was leaning against the stone wall by the window. Outside, autumn leaves were dancing and twirling in the air, happily oblivious to what was going on just metres away.

"We were just talking about tattoos." Scorpius said, messing with the edge of his green and silver tie.

"Oh," Said Tom, grinning "I have a giant S for Slytherin on my left bum-cheek."

Rose laughed "Lovely thought, Thomas. Just lovely."

Tom smiled, sitting beside the curly-haired girl "Tell her about yours."

"You have a tattoo, Malfoy?" Rose asked smiling.

"I have several, Weasley." Scorpius replied coolly.

"Where?"

"I have a small snake on my shoulder blade and the incantation 'Expecto Patronum' on my wrist."

"Your wrist? I've never seen that."

"Invisible ink, Weasley. Watch this." He pulled out his wand and tapped it twice on a protruding vein. The words 'Expecto Patronum' appeared beside a small black butterfly. He tapped it once more and it was gone.

"Why a butterfly?"

Scorpius laughed "That's my Patronus."

"A butterfly?" Rose's eyes widened.

"Yup. Want to go? I'm kind of bored."

Rose laughed "Sure. Bye Tom!"

"Bye, Rosie." He winked "See you later."

Rose laughed and walked out after Scorpius, smiling slightly to herself.

"What are you grinning at?"

"Why Expecto Patronum?"

"It's my favourite spell."

"How come? Why's your Patronus a butterfly? I'm confused." Rose rubbed her head, as if the many thoughts were causing her pain.

"It's a happy spell...my happiest memory is being sat in my garden jumping at butterflies with my Mum when I was little. I don't have many of those memories, have you met my Granddad?"

Rose winced, placing a hand on his arm "No, but I've heard things. I'm sorry. You're right, you aren't a typical Slytherin."

Scorpius smiled "I know."

They reached the entrance hall and Scorpius winked "See you around, Weasley."

"See you around Malfoy."

They both turned to go their separate ways – one to the dungeons, on to a very high tower, one to a room filled with scarlet and gold, the other to a room filled with emerald and green, one to her family, and one to his friends.

Whatever their differences, something made them both turn around as they reached their first step and smile, somewhat awkwardly, in each other's direction.

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