"Scorpius, you must."

Scorpius sighed. He really, really, really, really didn't want to play kingdom with his spoiled brat of a cousin. Violetta Nott was the only child he knew who had her own house-elf, and exploited that privilege (and her thousands of others) on a daily basis.

"Viola, I'm sorry, but I've got work to do. Hogwarts has really piled on the work this year...and school starts really soon. I've got to be the top of my year."

Violetta pouted. "Don't call me Viola, I'm not a musical instrument. And I have waited all day for you to come home from Quidditch Camp! I simply can't wait any longer. My new princess dress will positively wilt if isn't worn soon. It's been a whole day since Mummy bought it." She stuck her lower lip out further than Scorpius thought a lower lip could go. He was sure a Pygmy Puff could bloody sit on it. They simply weren't meant to go that far-

"Scorpius Hyperion!" Violetta screeched, her voice getting higher. "Please! Mummy won't be pleased! She said she's worried about my socialization!" This was Phase Two-slightly hysterical and bringing her mum into everything. Phase One was looking cute and pouting. Phase Three would be-

"SCORPEEEUUUSSS!" Scorpius winced and covered his ears. He had learnt a lesson from last time and warded his room with several Silencing spells so his mum and aunt won't run up here every time Viola decided to throw a temper tantrum thinking he'd locked her in the closet or something.

Violetta ran to his bed and started pulling the covers off of it. She sat down on the comforter spread all over the floor and pulled off her pink patent-leather shoes. She then proceeded to stuff them into the fishbowl sitting innocently on his desk. He didn't bother to stop her because firstly, it would do absolutely no good; he had learnt from experience that the only way she would stop is when she would run out of steam. Secondly, the fishbowl was empty. Viola had chucked its inhabitant (whom Scorpius had affectionately dubbed 'Evan') into the toilet and flushed it down when Scorpius had refused to give her his Quidditch jersey.

Viola pulled his Ravenclaw pennant off the wall and ripped it in half with surprising strength for a girl that tiny. She reached for the array of photo frames on his desk and was about to throw them at him, but paused mid-grab, perfectly glossed mouth forming an O.

Scorpius raised an eyebrow from where he was seated at his desk, enjoying the destruction of his room. "Is something the matter, Viola?"

She turned to him slowly, dark curls bouncing. "You're in the same year as Rose Weasley, aren't you?"

Scorpius kept his cool. "Yeah, along with forty other kids, why?"

Viola slid down the bed and gave a sickly sweet smile. "Well, if you know what's good for you, you'll play kingdom with me."

Scorpius did not like where this was going. "And why in the name of Merlin would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, I'll tell Uncle Draco you're snogging her."

"Snogging who?" He decided to play dumb.

"Rose Weasley, you dolt!"

"But I'm not!"

"Ooh, look, Scorpy's blushing! I'd say you are, by the looks of it." she smirked.

Despite himself, he felt the blood rushing to his cheeks. "I'm not, I swear!"

"You're a horrid actor, Scorp."

"Viola-"

"Don't call me Viola!" Oh dear Merlin, not this again.

"Violetta, listen-"

But she didn't. She grinned a wicked little smile and snapped her fingers. "Pinky!"

A wizened little house elf appeared with a squeak. "Yes, miss?"

"Build me a castle with two towers. Use no less than a hundred pillows, and make sure they have actual curtains in them."

"Yes, miss." And she scurried off, collecting the necessary materials.

"Oh, and Pinky? Bring the prince costume from my costume trunk at home. The one with the tights and the doublet. Make sure you don't forget the cap, the one with the ostrich feather in it. And remember to bring the pointy-toed shoes."

Scorpius groaned and buried his face in his hands.