Title: A Study Break
Characters/Pairings: Rose Weasley/Scorpius Malfoy, Albus Weasley
Forum/Challenge: The Golden Snitch 'Light it Up Like the Fourth' challenge (Mahoutokoro, House Mizu)
Prompt: (word) parade
World: Next-Generation
Word Count: 617

"…and so we can see that the accent on Ingwaz effects the translation how?" Rose looked at Scorpius.

He stared back at her without answering. Rose got the feeling he wasn't really listening.

"Scorpius? Scorpius!"

The blond shook his head. "I'm sorry, you were saying."

Albus chuckled to himself.

Rose huffed. "Look, if you're not going to take this seriously, you should just go." Scorpius's face grew red and became increasingly redder as she continued. "You're wasting my time and Albus's time and it's not fair that we have to slow our studying for you, especially if you're not going to pay attention…"

"Well, what do you expect when you parade around looking the way you do!" he finally yelled.

Rose glanced down at the old, tattered jumper she had stolen from her father and her jeans, which hung just a bit loose on her frame. Her auburn curls were thrown haphazardly in a pony tail and she had yet to put on any make up.

"Just what is wrong with the way I look, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy?" When she said his full name, her voice dropped, and Albus's eyes went big. That was the voice Aunt Hermione used when they were in big trouble.

Scorpius threw up his hands in frustration. "Like that! Effortlessly beautiful! How am I supposed to focus on my OWLs when you look like a damn siren wearing a tattered old Weasley sweater? All I can think about is that stupid curl that's hanging by your ear and how much I want to push it away and snog you bloody senseless! You can't yell at me for being distracted because it's all your fault!" His chest heaved from his outburst, and a blush slowly crept up his cheeks.

There was a moment of silence before Scorpius gathered his books in a quick sweep. "I'll just go study in the common room. Maybe I'll get some work done there."

Rose watched the open door of the abandon classroom long after Scorpius had disappeared.

"Well?" Albus said.

Rose turned to look at him. He was immersed in his book, as if nothing had happened.

"Well what?" she demanded.

"Well, are you going to stand there gaping like a fish or are you going to go after him?"

Rose looked at her cousin for just a moment more, and then she shot off toward the dungeons.

She overtook Scorpius on the east staircase. "Scorpius!" she cried, grabbing his arm.

He stopped, but he didn't turn to face her; he just stared at the ground in front of him.

"Just leave me alone, Rose," he said softly. "I'm quite aware that you barely tolerate me, and only because Albus insists, so I imagine you want to keep my embarrassing little outburst between the three of us." He shrugged off her hand. "Not a problem. It's not as if I need another reason for people to make fun of me."

He tried to keep walking, but Rose reach out again, more forcefully, and turned him to her.

He looked up.

She dropped her bag and flung herself at him. She threw her arms around his shoulders and pressed her lips to his. His eyes widened in shock, his mouth unmoving against hers.

But only for a moment. He admitted he never thought this would happen, but he was a Slytherin and he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by. He circled his hands around her waist and pulled her closer, and his tongue tentatively pressed forward to explore her mouth.

After a moment, they pulled apart, breathing heavy.

Scorpius's eyes were wide. Rose grinned at him. "I think we've earned a study break, don't you?"