AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fanfiction was not a one-woman effort. I'd like to credit one Miss Cassiopeia Khizana, AKA Macbeth99, for all of her invaluable help. Once you're finished with this, you might want to check out some of her stuff too. It's that good.

"Hey, Rose! Wait up!"

Albus ran after his cousin, who stopped and turned. "Hey, Al. What's up?"

"Nothing much," Al said casually, as he fell into step beside her. "So, you got a date for the ball yet?"

"No…" Rose replied slowly. "Why?"

"Just wondering," Albus stated. "Out of curiosity, has anyone asked you?"

"Yeah, a couple of boys," Rose sighed. "Maybe I'm being picky… but. How about you?"

"Nah." Al replied. "Not yet, anyway?"

"Not yet?" Rose grinned. "Okay, out with it. Who've you got your eye on?"

"All right," Albus conceded. "This may be a while. Don't get offended."

"Okay…" Rose said dubiously.

"You know Scorpius is my best friend, right?"

"Vaguely."

"And you know he likes you, right?"

"He does?" Rose asked, a little too quickly.

"Oh, yeah," Al confirmed. "Big time. So, I figured, since you weren't going with anyone else. . . ."

"Are you crazy?"

"No."

"You want me to go to the Yule Ball with him?"

"No, he wants you to go to the Yule Ball with him."

"Then why," Rose demanded, "are you asking me?"

"Doing a favor for a friend," Albus responded innocently.

"Then let him ask himself, then! This whole thing is a joke, isn't it?"

"Got it," Al said genially. "Why are you getting so mad?"

He wiggled an eyebrow. "You're pleased, aren't you?"

Rose went crimson. "I am not!"

"Sure, sure, whatever you say."

"I am not. And you haven't even gotten a date yet."

"Not yet, Rosie. Not yet."

"My dad and mum are the only people who can call me Rosie. Everyone else gets their face punched in. And would you care to elaborate on this 'not yet' business?"

"Nope."

"Albus!"

"Okay, okay. But you aren't going to like this. Scorpius and I bet that if I got you to go out with him, he'd get Polly Chapman to go out with me."

"So I'm just a pawn?" Rose sputtered indignantly. "In your grand plans? I'm just a pawn?"

"A very desirable pawn," Albus said reasonably.

"Very funny."

"Aren't I just, though?"

"No."

"Seriously, Rose, he really wants to go with you. We didn't really bet - just a stupid joke, really. But we were sort of serious about asking you and Polly."

"Like I said, he can ask me himself if he's so interested!"

"I'll let him know." Al grinned slyly. "You'd love that, no?"

"Albus!"

"Okay, okay, fine. You hate Scorpius Malfoy with every fiber of your being. Now what do you say we get some lunch?"

"Now you're talking sense."
"I always do. I think we're having Pretty Princess Penelope Pink Glitter Crunch Cereal with Fairy Dust and Marshmallows, as seen on TV."

Rose slapped him as they walked into the Great Hall.