A/N: I do not own the Next Generation characters in this chapter or this story. Nor do I own the magnificent world JKR has created. I only own the characters I have created personally. With that said, happy reading!

Chapter 3: I Screwed Up…Again

Scorpius

I wanted to take it back the moment I said it, but even more so when I saw Rose's face. She looked a whole mess of things—hurt, angry, murderous…

When she stood, I knew I had the full brutal force of a Rose-Rant—as Al had affectionately nicknamed her little outbursts.

"Scorpius Malfoy," she called out to me, making me wish I could slink under the table I was seated at. "I could never love a boy like you. You're so pathetic, it's not even funny! I want you to know that I was only your friend out of MERCY! I FELT SORRY FOR YOU! Well, no more. Have fun with your sad little life!" With that, she stalked out of the common room.

I couldn't help but notice the tears that were already starting to roll down her cheeks. Now I'd really done it.

"Well, aren't you going to go after her?" Al's voice was at my ear—the only way he could be heard over the chatter that had resumed mere seconds after Rose left.

"I don't think she wants to see me right now." I felt awkward having this conversation. I mean Rose IS Al's cousin. Wouldn't he want me to stay away? Wouldn't that make our friendship weird or something?

"Scorpius, if you don't go talk to her and make this right, I'll sick James, Hugo, Fred AND Louis on you, under the guise that you hurt her feelings. And, trust me, mate, you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of that lot." He finished with a gentle push towards the door. "I'll even help you look."

Resigned, I agreed to TRY. I seriously doubted anything I said would make a difference, though.

As soon as we left the common room, we ran into Rose's best friend, Samara or Samantha or something. I couldn't recall her name for some reason—probably the fact that, apart from Rose, girls weren't really on my radar. I only had eyes for her.

"Hey, have you seen Rose?" I asked her.

She looked up at the sound of my voice. A slow, lazy grin split her lips—what was that about?

"I've been looking for her as well," replied the girl who now gave me the creeps.

"Well, have you found her?" Al asked. I glanced sideways at him. The boy was bloody brilliant at Quidditch, and even Charms, but when it came to everything else, he was a tad on the thick side.

"Obviously not," she snapped. "Do you see her here now?" Her tone was like acid, but when her focus returned to me, all of the bubbling tension melted away. "Shall we look together, then?"

"Huh, um, yeah, sure. I guess." I shrugged.

I swear, if her face was a light, both Al and I would have gone blind.

"Do you have any ideas as to where Rose would go?"

"Not really. Rose is rather private about her favorite places."

"Well, okay, then. I guess we can just pick a place to start." We started walking down the corridor leading from the common room. The girl, Sammie—I finally remembered her name—kept inching closer to me. I watched her do it from the corner of my eye. This girl was really starting to give me the creeps! I knew I needed to get away from her before she kissed me or something.

I cleared my throat. "Hey, Al, do you reckon we should separate? To cover more ground?" I sent him messages with my eyes—ones I wasn't sure he got.

"That's a really good idea, Scorrrrrpius," Sammie purred. "Albus, you go that way, and we'll go this way."

My eyes screamed the words I wouldn't say in front of Sammie: DO SOMETHING!

"Scor, let's go this way. Samantha, why don't you go check downstairs?"

I swear, her face literally fell. I thought it would hit the floor! She hurried off, clearly annoyed.

"Thanks mate!" I said, sighing in relief. "There's just something about that girl that gives me the heebee jeebees."

"I hear yah, man."

"Do you think we'll find her?"

"I don't know, Rose is. . .Rose. She's stubborn, like Uncle Ron. We'll find her, but only if and when she wants to be found." Al shrugged, and we set off again.

I don't know how long we searched for Rose—was it minutes? Or hours? Time dragged, melted together. I knew we had better get back to the dorms—it was bound to be morning soon.

We rounded a corner near the kitchen only to find a tearful Sammie. Unable to help myself—for I did not like when people cried—, I tried to comfort her. That only resulted in her launching herself into my arms. I hugged her awkwardly.

"There, there," I said, patting her back. When she calmed down, I asked, "Now, what's wrong?"

Sammie looked up at me, fiery passion in her eyes. The next thing I knew, her lips were on mine. WHOA! TIME OUT! Just when exactly did I okay this?

Sammie's lips were wet on mine, salty from the tears. Before I even had a chance to register what was happening, I heard a voice to my left—the last voice I wanted to hear in that moment.

"Well, well. Look what we have here." Rose!

Oh my luck was just PERFECT today! I pushed Sammie away, causing her tears to renew, and her to run off.

"Rose-" I started.

"No, don't, Scor. You don't like me, remember? And I've moved on already. It's perfectly fine if you do, too. Even if it IS with MY BEST FRIENDS!" She started to laugh. A lot.

Moved on? What was that supposed to mean? My eyes wandered to the older boy who was standing close—much too close—to MY Rose. Who the bloody hell was he?

"Let's get out of here, Rose," the boy murmured.

"Okay, Killian," Rose agreed. They continued off down the hall. "I'll be seeing you, Scor."

As they walked away, my eyes kept darting from Killian's green robes—how could she like a Slytherin?—to where his hands was placed—on the curve of her backside.

"I'll tell you one thing," Al said, through gritted teeth, "I definitely don't like that guy."