'Get off me!' Rose exclaimed. She looked in shock at Scorpius who was still lent forward, lips slightly puckered. 'How dare you touch me!'

'B but I thought it would prove I'm not adverse to having you touch me, l..like I normally act' stammered Scorpius, even as the words left his mouth he realised how stupid it sounded, this girl hated him. As he looked at Rose he started laughing.

'what's so funny?'

'I just heard it! How stupid am I?' he laughed harder un able to say anything more. His laughter was infectious however and for the first time Rose could see that here was a truer image of the boy and started to laugh along with him. Soon they were both crying with laughter and unable to remember why they started.

'Ow, oh that hurts so much!' cried Rose holding her stomach and willed herself to stop. After a few moe minutes she had managed it enough to get out

'for what it's worth, I believe you now. No one who's that much of a dickhead can laugh at themselves like that' she said smiling. Scorpius blinked and looked towards her. His mind went into overdrive, someone could know the real him; which is something everyone wanted he knew but everyone had at least one like that.

'Thank you' he replied, then hoping it didn't sound as stupid as he knew he acted 'you wouldn't mind keeping it quiet would you? I know as soon as we leave here I'll go back to being a git to you, but please believe me when I say I won't mean any of it'

Rose glanced at him a second before replying, he seemed in genuine need of a friend, and that would take time, but Rose liked what she had seen of the 'real' him so she decided to help him

'okay I can handle that, just so long as I can give as good as you do, I ain't going to take crap you know'

'sounds good to me' he said with a smile, 'it can be our secret, I don't want to push things but if you wouldn't mind joining me here sometimes. It would be nice to have someone to talk to'

'Sure, but we can't be seen talking to each other if you want this kept quiet, I suggest we come up with a password or something' Rose put forward. They spent the next half hour conspiring, Rose loved the intrigue of it and much as she adored her friends it would be cool to have something that was her secret alone. Between them they came up with a way of telling the other in fights where and when they would meet, the starting word would be different each time, discussed when they met.

It was dark before Filch finally left, distracted by the yells of students in a corridor upstairs.

' good he's gone' said Rose, 'man I'm hungry now though'

'Pity there's nothing can be done about that' moaned Scorpius holding his groaning stomach.

'Don't be so sure about that,' replied Rose, 'think you can be yourself a bit longer?'

'think I can manage that'.

With that they snuck out the cupboard and Scorpius followed Rose further up the corridor to a portrait of fruit, Rose tickled the pear and snuck down the corridor into the kitchen. At that time it was quiet as dinner was finished and the house elves had yet to start on the cleaning. They immediately bustled around Rose, who requested two plates of the leftovers from the meal, of which there was a fair amount. Along with two butterbeers, and the two enjoyed a companionable meal.

'time to go I think' said Rose, 'wanna practise being a git?' she added with a smile

'Always muddy,' he said with a wink. As they exited into the corridor Rose hurried up a set of hidden stairs, avoiding the main staircase where the teachers patrolled occasionally. While Scorpius headed down towards the basement, a genuine smile on his face, which he quickly formed into a smirk before entering his common room.

Okay i know this one was short but a lot happened really, do you like? The next chapter's going to be a real good 'un =)