Chapter 3:

My life is officially over. Why? Let me talk you through the last few terrible days, I woke up the morning after Valentine's Day with a splitting headache and extremely sore eyes. Not the best start to the morning, I was grumpy, tired and on a new record low from Hogsmeade. I chucked my clothes on hoping to not have to face anyone all Sunday, unfortunately that was not the case as everyone was constantly asking me what had happened to me and where I disappeared to. I would reply I was just walking. No-one believed me, obviously and gossip flies through the halls of Hogwarts faster than the golden snitch so many stories had already been conjured up as to where I had gone and why. One of the ridiculous rumours being: I heard she ran off with that new assistant from Honeydukes, and they went out of Hogsmeade via train but then they ran into the crazy cat lady at the station and they got cats thrown at them. But the assistant used an Avada Kadarva to kill the lady so now he is on the run and he asked Rose to run away with him but she refused and came back with a shattered heart. Yep, and that's a real rumour. Of course I marched right up to these stupid fourth years and explained I had just wanted to go for a walk and lost track of time, and that the story was immature and false and that I had never even spoken to that assistant. Although when I walked away one said: That's probably what she's been told to say. I decided to just forget it. The rumours kept going of course, the weird thing was no-one had guessed the truth. To me that would be the first thing they would go for, Scorpius asks Vanessa out his best friend runs off crying to the shrieking shack. Surely it was obvious, not that she wasn't glad that no-one had got the truth but seriously some of the things people were coming up with were just impossible. Was there any evidence what so ever of a dragon rampaging through the forbidden forest? NO! The second day had not been much better, and all of this time I had not been able to look at Scorpius straight in the face once. He had no idea why I was avoiding him and when he asked me I simply said I wasn't. Wow, great idea Weasley tell Scorpius you weren't avoiding him when you obviously were. Genius! No. Every time I looked at him all I could think of was how stupid I'd been and that he didn't want to be with me. It was not good. So the next day I woke up and found that Scorpius was waiting for me and refuse to let me go. I tried to keep my cool and ask him politely but he wouldn't budge. It was getting more annoying every second, and in the end I pushed him aside and stormed out shouting that I didn't want to go to breakfast with him and I didn't want to see him. I had lost it. I heard him shouting after me asking what the hell had he done and that every since Hogsmeade I'd been a bitch towards him. And he wasn't wrong. I had been, for my own selfish reasons but he doesn't know the feeling of when you love someone so much and they don't love you back. After our argument I had run down to the lake, where I am now still trying to cool off from the argument this morning.

The cool breeze gently flowing around my face should have calmed me down, but I couldn't think about anything else. I couldn't believe how I'd shouted at him, now I felt like an even bigger idiot. Of course he would have no idea why I was avoiding him, I couldn't tell him and he would never understand. I let out a breath and looked at my watch, classes would start in an hour. Oh what was the point, I didn't want to go. One day wouldn't hurt anyone. I needed to let off steam. Suddenly I had a crazy idea, it was February and still winter and the temperature was surely near freezing. But I found my self taking off my coat, hat and scarf. I lay them on a nearby rock, I could already feel the chill but decided to ignore it. I took off my jumper and slipped off my shoes. I felt so crazy right at this moment. I walked to towards the water of the lake and stepped in. I let out a squeak as the cold rushed through my feet but I kept going until I was knee deep in the freezing lake. I giggled to myself, I was insane. I slowly put my hands in the water, watching ripple. Suddenly I pulled my hands from the water and water rose into the air showering all around me. I laughed as the water landed on me, covering me. I did it again and again and again. I was laughing hysterically as I splashed around, kicking the water feeling like a five year old in a giant puddle. I yelled at the top of my lungs: "I LOVE SCORPIUS MALFOY!" I looked up at the grey sky and yelled again. "I LOVE HIM!" I laughed and splashed and running around, completely ignoring the cold chill creeping through me.

"ROSE!" I turned to see Albus and Scorpius running down the path from the Castle and running across the stones to the edge of the water. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Albus shouted from the stony edge.

"I AM LETTING OFF STEAM, JOIN ME THE WATER'S FINE!" I said, in dramatic, high-pitched voice. I was so hyper and it had come out to nowhere, I was suddenly so hyper I didn't realise how cold I was or how I couldn't feel my hands or feet.

"ROSE COME ON! YOU'LL FREEZE TO DEATH!" Albus yelled again, I ignored him and carried on. I was doing what I wanted, I wasn't going to stop for anyone. I turned to see Albus and Scorpius standing at the edge frantically debating whether to come in and get me or leave me to freeze. I didn't really care to be honest. I crept up to the water edge slowly, feeling really like my namesake. A ninja. "Oh good, you're coming out now! Thank Merlin. Rose do you know how cold-" But I splashed him, in the face. Everything was dead silent as Albus wiped the water off of his face, I slapped a hand to hold in my giggles. Scorpius just stood there looking at Albus with caution. "Oh no, that's it!" Albus pulled his jumper over his head and rushed towards me through the water. I screamed and tried to run but I felt water splash all over my back. " I turned my hair sticking to my face, I was drenched.

"ALBUS!" Scorpius shouted.

"OH COME ON SCORP! IS WASN'T LIKE SHE WAS COMING OUT ANYTIME SOON!" Albus rolled up his trousers and splashed me again, I returned his splashes as I ran a screamed as more water covered me.

"SCORPIUS JOIN US!" I shouted to him, he scratched his chin and coughed awkwardly. "LOOK I'M SORRY I SHOUTED AT YOU, OK? I WAS JUST GRUMPY!" He stood for a second looked at the water and then at me. He rolled up his trousers and flung his jumper on the rock next to mine and ran into the water.

"Oh Merlin, it's cold!" he said, shivering. I looked to Albus and he looked at me, we were both thinking the same thing. We both frantically splashed Scorpius drenching him in the freezing water. We would get in so much trouble if we got caught, but at that moment I didn't care in the slightest. Scorpius recoiled as we splashed him, when we were finally done he was completely soaked. Although I didn't mind at all, it meant his top was see through. Tee-hee. I felt myself blush, I tried to hide it by splashing Albus. We all started to splash each other and laughing hysterically, I couldn't really believe this was real. It was so much fun! I then realised Scorpius and Albus looking at each other, the same glint in their eyes. I backed away slowly.

"Guys... Guys...Guys! Ahh!" I screeched as they lifted me up and chucked me into the deeper water. I was engulfed by the freezing water, I rose to the surface and gasped for breath. My hair was all over my face and I slicked it back. I could see Albus and Scorpius laughing their heads off and I strode over to them. "OH MY GOD!" I screamed, pushing them both. I splashed both of them multiple times, but they were stilling cracking up laughing.

"Come on" Albus suddenly said. "We really should get out now before we get hypothermia." I chuckled and followed Albus out of the water. I looked up at Scorpius who was smiling down at me, I smiled back. But as I got closer to the edge, I felt that feeling of idiocy creeping back in. I wanted to stay in the water forever, so I would never have to be reminded of the stupid thing I did. I finally got out of the water and walked over to my clothes, not feeling anything in my feet. I found myself shivering and finally letting the chill catching up with me and my adrenaline. I desperately tried to button up my coat but my fingers were so numb I couldn't even grasp the buttons in my fingers. I sighed, my heart sank another level.

"Here" I heard I voice next to me, I looked up to see Scorpius. He turned me to face him. "Let me." He slowly did up every button on my coat, I tried to look away but I watched his face as he focused on the buttons. I couldn't take my eyes off his amazing face and wet hair falling into his eyes. My heart was beating wildly in my chest when he looked up at me, he must've seen something in my face because he stopped. "You OK?"

"Yeah" I whispered. "I'm fine" I turned away from him to put my scarf and hat on. I slipped on my shoes and hugged myself. Ugh. I hated this feeling, of complete helplessness. He didn't like me. I had to repeat it again and again to remind myself that I shouldn't take anything to heart. I looked up to see Albus running up to the Castle. "AL! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

"I GOTTA... DO SOMETHING FOR... SOMEONE!"

"WHAT?" But he was already gone. I sighed, he had done this on purpose. Leaving me alone with Scorpius. This just made me feel even more crappy. "Well, Albus has decided he is going to do something."

"Vague" I hummed in response. "Look, you aren't going to go to Charms like that are you?"

"No" I laughed, sitting on the rock. He sat next to me. I couldn't stop myself from shivering, my wet clothes still clinging to my skin.

"Are you cold?" he said, concerned. "I would offer you my coat but I've lost it." I suddenly remembered, whilst in Hogsmeade I let Scorpius coat in the street. Oh no. Don't say anything Rose.

"It's fine really." The awkwardness had returned. The awkwardness that he didn't understand.

"Rose I-"

"Look, we need to get somewhere dry" I said, cutting him off not wanting to know what he wanted to say. "How about the Gryffindor Common Room? Everyone will be at classes, what do you say?" I asked, standing up and looking at him. He sighed.

"Yeah sure, plus we can both get changed." he said, standing up. We both walked all the way to the Gryffindor Common Room, careful not to get caught. We each went to our separate dormitories and got changed, I changed into my pyjamas knowing I wasn't going to lessons that day. Why bother? I went to sit on one of the chairs by the fire to see Scorpius in the other one smiling. It seems he felt the same as me in trackies and a T-shirt. I smiled and he smiled back. I felt the warmth of the fire filling me. I closed my eyes and let it warm me up. I sighed contently.

"Rose" My head snapped up to see Scorpius looking a me seriously. My eyes widened and my breath hitched.

"I'm gunna go upstairs" I said, jumping out of my chair.

"Rose, no" I felt his hands on my shoulders stopping me. He turned me to face him. "What's going on here?"

"What do you mean?" I said, putting on a fake smile. There was no escape now.

"I mean," he said. "The way you have been acting towards me. Ever since Hogsmeade you're avoiding me and then shouting at me when I want to walk with you to breakfast. I just don't understand what I've done." He said, waving his arms in the air. I sighed. I was trying desperately to hold in my tears. I couldn't tell, I just... couldn't. I'd look like a total idiot and it would only make me feel worse. If that was possible. Oh God... I let out a choked sob and my head fell into my hands. I felt my body shaking from he tears, I couldn't believe I was letting it all out, in front of him. "Rose?" I felt his arms hug me, I wanted to hug back but I just couldn't. "Please tell me."

"I can't" I whispered and I cried into him.

"Yes you can" he said, his head on top of mine stroking my hair. Why was he my best friend and why did he like Vanessa?

"No I can't!" I said, pulling away from him. "You don't get it..."

"Help me to get it then!" He said, his voice raised. I sighed again turning away from him. "Look, I've not been feeling to great recently either. I got rejected by a girl who I really liked, turned out she just wanted to be friends. I felt rubbish." He felt rubbish. He felt rubbish! "I just can't seem to find that girl, you know?" I turned to him, feeling my face flush with anger. He had sat down and was staring into the fire. "I just want to find that girl who likes me for me and isn't too clingy or needy, but doesn't distance herself. She knows what I like and don't like. She's there, you know? God, I have so many romantic troubles..." I thought I might explode at any second. I clenched my fists trying to stop it, knowing it would only cause pain on both sides but I couldn't help myself.

"Romantic troubles" Scorpius snapped his head around to look at me, obviously seeing the anger there as his face seemed to go limp. "ROMANTICS TROUBLES! TRY BEING IN LOVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND!" I slapped a hand over my mouth. Oh My God. I can't believe I had just said that. Oh No. Dear God, NO!

"What?" Scorpius said, in disbelief.

"I- um... I-" I stuttered, feeling my face go red and my palms starting to sweat. I turned away feeling the tears starting to come again.

"Rose, what did you say?" I looked at Scorpius, who was slightly blurry in my vision but I could see the seriousness on his face as he rose from his seat.

"No, no" I said, almost to myself. "I can't do this" I turned to run up to my dorm but his hand grabbed my wrist.

"Rose, stop!" I looked up at his serious face as tears fell down mine. "What did you say?"

"I said..." I stopped, I couldn't do this. I let out another sob. I took a deep breath, I had to carry on I was in too deep. "I said I'm in love with my best friend." I whispered, I pulled my hand from his wrist and went to stand over the fire resting my head on the mantle piece. "I'm in love with you." I heard nothing from behind me, and I didn't want to look up. Should I just spill everything? Go for it? What's the point in keeping it in now? "The reason I was so upset and cranky was because I thought you were going to ask me on Valentine's Day." I sighed and watched the flames flicker and spit. "You asked me about it and then I heard you and Al taking about it, so I got all dressed up- I even straightened my hair" I said, with a chuckle. "Then you offer me your coat and tickle me, my heart was soaring" I smiled at the memory. "But then... well you said it. Turns out you want to ask out another girl. Vanessa, perfect Vanessa. I was so ashamed and humiliated that I even thought..." I sighed. "I couldn't even look at you, I felt so embarrassed and idiotic." I shook my head, my tears slipping off my nose. "I took it out on you, I shouted at you. I know you'll probably never wanted to speak to me even again now." I finally look up and into the mirror on top of the mantle. I see him over my shoulder staring at me, a serious look on his face. His grey eyes full of deep thought. I sighed again. The silence was dragging on, I was so embarrassed. "Look, I'm going to go upstairs. I think I understand-"

"No" he said, grabbing my wrist, preventing me from leaving. I turned to him a confused look on my face. "Wait." he whispered, I looked up at him. He looked at me, almost studying me, trying to work out if I was real or not. It was unnerving.

"Scorpius-"

"You're her" he said, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"What?"

"You're that girl." My heart started to beat like crazy, what did he mean? My eyes darted around his face, trying to get more from him. Although one of his hands gliding up my neck to cup my jaw was distracting me. "You've been here all this time, right under my nose." He smiled down at me. "I was so blind, I didn't have to go looking." He shook his head. "I just needed to see what was right in front of me." He paused. I could here my pulse in my ears, my stomach was flip-flopping all over the place. "You."

"Scorpius-" but he cut me off by lowering his lips to mine. I had been waiting for this moment for years, and it was better than I had imagined. His lips were so soft and gentle and I couldn't help the way my hands moved to his neck to draw him closer. His hand was in my hair, feeling the curls. I pulled away, and looked up at him. He had a smile on his face and his eyes sparkled, he looked as happy as I felt. I couldn't help the quiet giggle that escaped my lips, my giddiness taking over.

"What are you laughing about?" he whispered, his forehead coming to rest on mine.

"I'm just happy" I sighed, dreamily.

"You know what Rose" he said, his arms coming to circle my waist. "I can't believe this didn't happen sooner."

"You're telling me!" I laughed, but to be honest I couldn't believe this was happening at all.

"You're my best friend but subconsciously" he said, his fingers running through my hair. "I think I always knew you were more. All this just made me realise." My heart skipped a beat. This was absolutely perfect. I had to pinch myself just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I hugged him closer, just wanting to hug him forever. I thought to myself, maybe I was too quick to say it was all in my head. Maybe it was real all along. But for now I just smiled and kissed Scorpius again, just happy to finally be more than just his best friend.

A/N: Just a little thing I needed to get out, hope you enjoyed it :)