I sat down in my normal seat in History of Magic class, beside Sira Howard. She was a close friend of mine, one of the few people outside of my family that I could really trust, but there were many things I didn't know about her. She was a Gryffindor, though both her parents and her brother had been Slytherins, and as much as she refused to talk about it, I knew she hated being the odd one out. If she got the chance to join Slytherin today, I have no doubt that she would. She was a social nomadic, never staying in one place, never talking to the same people. She seemed to spend a lot of time with Lorcan and Lysander, though. She probably knew my cousins better than I did.

I saw Scorpius walk into class, shooting me an undetectable warm look. I smiled, raising an eyebrow. History of Magic was a fun class, simply because our current topic was The Second Wizarding War, which, incidentally both of our families had been a part of. We could recite the stories instantly, with better sources than a textbook, most likely. This class was just another friendly competition. James sat close to me as well, and I immediately felt guilty for now talking to him the other day. We made small talk for a while, but I couldn't bring myself to focus.

"So you know Evan right...and then he the whole thing spilled! Professor...so mad and I just...HAHAHAHA!" I smiled and laughed having no clue what he was talking about. I made a mental note to sit by him at dinner, and really spend some time with him. He was my best friend for Merlin's sake.

"Today, class..."the thin, tall Professor Retworth began. "We will be having a discussion about a serious topic that I know you all are very interested in. We're going to be discussing Lord Voldemort's horcruxes."

The classroom chattered excitedly. "Easy participation grade." Sira murmured to me. "Like always." I replied. Professor Retworth raised a hand. "Now. Let's begin. Can anyone tell me why you think Voldemort chose to use seven horcruxes?." James looked bored. He hated learning about the War Era. He told me once that it felt like the entire class was gossiping about his family.

Scorpius raised his hand. "History tells us that he chose things with meaning to him. But I personally think that there could have been more than seven. Why not eight, or nine?"

"He couldn't possibly have had more than seven. It's splitting your soul for Merlin's sake." I interrupted. "It's painful and difficult."

"Are you assuming that Voldenort was weak? I don't think someone inherently weak would be able to accomplish all that he did."

"Horcruxes are a weakness themselves, Malfoy. He used them out of fear of his own death."

"Then why would he stop at seven, Weasley?

The class continued at a less exciting pace after that. Both Scorpius and I left the class first, leaving the rest of the students in behind.

"Good argument." he complimented me. "If I wasn't smarter than I am, I would've believed you." We both stared straight ahead. "Bullshit. You know I'm the most persuasive person you've ever met."

"I still won the argument though."

There we were, laughing like today was the best day ever. It might as well have been. That's just what we were, broken people that weren't really broken at all. Who loved each other as complete opposites, and I swear to you, the world could have fallen in on us and I would've still been smiling.

I was the girl who wanted to be Queen of Everything and he was the boy that no one really knew, and we both had ingenious families but we were just normal.

Normal in a legendary place, with no one to witness the horrible beautiful people we were in that moment. We kissed. It was better than any secret kiss, better than anything really. It was just us, in a complete state of utter mania that I liked to think was love.

And it was. I loved him more than I could tell you, or show you. I decided that, if I was going to believe in love, it might as well be for him.

But just like everything else, the kiss ended when reality and fear reminded us that an us does not exist.

"Rose?" Our secret was no longer our own.

"How long 'as it been then?"

"Sneaking about the fucking castle for who knows how long-"

"You didn't think we'd find out eventually?"

I stood in the hall with Scorpius, Albus, Sira, and James. Nothing was going to stop them, I new we had to let them ride it out.

They'd discovered us just after class.

"How long has this been going on, Malfoy!" James demanded.

"What's the matter, Potter? Mad you didn't have the brains to figure out before now?" he shot back, shoving him.

"You're lucky I don't hex you right here-"

"Boys, shut up!" Sira interrupted. "Rose. Explain this." her stone cold, expressionless stare made me even more terrified.

"Sira...I love him."

Four pairs of eyes stared at me. "No, you don't." Sira said quietly, pained.

"You can't." Albus said with finality.

"Listen." Scorpius said. "We're not stupid. We know that there's a history to our families. But that's why we kept it secret. We been together since third year, and no one's ever gotten hurt because of us."

"And no one's going to." I said. "Right? Can I trust you not to say anything in order to keep people safe?"

"I won't tell anyone." Albus said.

James sighed. "Merlin. Neither will I." Though, I didn't doubt their grudges would last for some time.

After another poisonous glare, Sira turned as if to leave. "Don't count on me to keep quiet." she said. "I don't owe you anything."

"Sira, wait!" I called after her. She kept walking. James and Albus turned away, leaving us.

Scorpius looked at me, pure worry in his eyes. "I'm-" I was beginning an apology, but his lips stopped me swiftly. My favorite type of interruption.

"Don't tell me you're sorry, Rose. Not now, not ever." He says and I realize, right in the middle of this chilled, shadowy corridor, that I know exactly what he means.

"I love you too, Scorpius."