So: another post, another chapter. I'm having problems with writing at the moment. There's just some personal problems that I'm working through at the moment, plus two dance exams this Monday - so it's hard to find the time, and motivation - to sit down and write :-/ But reviews keep my morale and motivation here, so keep doing what you're doing!

Disclaimer: I don't actually know the point of disclaimers, it's kinda obvious that I don't own Harry Potter (being a 15 year old girl and all) but if I did, I'd like, rule the world practically!

[Oh gosh, that reminded me of an interview with Daniel Radcliffe I once saw, where eh said at the DH2 premier he looked out across the millions of people there and thought he could start a rvelolution right there

"March of to the castle, soldiers!"

Just thought I'd share that with you, I found it funny :P]

.

So get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
And you've got that one thing

.

"Look at this."

Scorpius looked up from where had been staring at the desk; to see Rose's fair hand resting on a letter. He immediately glanced to see who it was from but it wasn't signed, it was addressed to "Fillius Flitwick" which he recognised as their teacher.

"Yes? It's a letter?" He replied, shrugging his shoulders as he settled back in his seat.

"No!" She spat, but seeing his raised eyebrows she softened her tone, "I mean, yes. But this is the reason we're sat next to each other for everything!"

"Huh?" He grabbed the letter without waiting for consent and scanned the paper, picking out words like "Scorpius Malfoy" "Rose Weasley" "Seat" and "Together". As he looked at the neat, lavish handwriting, Scorpius felt like he had seen the writing before; he just couldn't remember where. But he had a feeling the resemblance was with someone who was considerably close to him.

"It was sent to all our teachers," Rose said quietly, watching his expression.

"Weird," He muttered in reply, placing the paper back onto the desk, "Can we leave?"

"Leave? The lesson only just started!" She said, gesturing to their teacher and rolling her eyes.

"I wasn't asking Professor Flitwick's permission," He answered, wiggling his eyebrows, "I want to know if you would like to leave early."

"You mean skive off lesson? That's against the rules!" Rose raised her voice shrilly.

"Keep your voice down!" He retorted quickly, nodding his head towards their teacher, "He'll hear you!"

"I can't skive of lesson; I told you its O.W.L year!" She whispered in a frantic tone.

"Live a little Rosie, I've told you we've got ages 'til then!"

Rose just gave a little huff and turned her head back to where Professor Flitwick was describing cheering charms.

"Come on, you know all of this! I bet you've even done this week's homework already!" He coaxed, trying to make her look at him.

She quickly jerked away from where his finger touched his chin, furiously scribbling down notes on this work that she had indeed already learned.

"Fine," He said, standing up, "But if you want to have some actual fun, you know where I'll be."

Silently, she watched as he walked over to their teacher; asking for permission to "use the toilet". He brushed past her on his way out, shooting her a glance before closing the door behind him. Rose looked down at her notes, reading the familiar words until they were no more than squiggles on a page. She glanced out of the window that led to the corridor outside and saw his distinctive dirty blonde hair. She suddenly found it very difficult to grasp what words were spewing out of Professor Flitwick's mouth.

.

Scorpius wandered slowly down the corridor, deciding whether to contact Albus or spend some time on his own since it was obvious Rose wasn't coming any time soon. He was just about to turn the corner when he heard a door close quietly behind him.

He spoke without bothering to turn around, "I told you, I'm going to the toilet Professor!"

"Strange, I was under the impression you were just ditching the lesson for some fun."

His head whipped around quicker than a house elf confronted with socks; that voice was not male. There, in all her "good girl" glory, stood Rose Weasley; her head tipped to the side kind of curiously. He would have said she looked cute if she was anyone else.

"Rose! You came over to the dark side!" He cried jokily, opening his arms as if to welcome her into an embrace.

"I'm giving it a go," She replied breezily, acting as though it wasn't a big deal when it so obviously was.

They stared at one another for a moment, each daring the other to say something; anything at all. Scorpius stuck his tongue out at her and wiggled it, causing a delicate giggle to escape her lips.

"So, what do you want to do? You have my expertise on stuff to do in this castle to hand!"

"Hmm, show me something fun you like to do," Rose answered, tapping her chin; slightly curious as to see what he did around the castle when he wasn't annoying her.

"Right this way m'lady," He said, putting on a fake accent and extending an arm to direct her the right way.

.

"This is fun?"

Rose sat on a grassy bank, looking down to where Scorpius stood and shaking her head disapprovingly. He was bent over the lake, gently tickling the giant squid; which had conveniently poked its head out of the water just as they had walked by.

"Yeah, you just gotta get stuck in!" Scorpius replied enthusiastically, beckoning to her wildly.

"I don't want to get stuck in thanks, that thing could pull me in there in an instant!" She said dismissively, "I don't really want my drowned body to be dragged out of the lake tomorrow morning!"

"Don't be such a spoilsport!" Scorpius said, before putting on his most "charming" and "macho" voice. "But don't worry; I'll save you if she does."

Rose gave an exasperated sigh before picking up her bag and turning to leave. But as she started to walk back in the direction of the castle she felt something touch her shoulder.

"That's not going to work Scorpius, I'm leaving and there's nothing you can-" But before she could finish her sentence she caught a glimpse of a slimy, black tentacle resting on her school robes. She screamed as loud as she could, attempting to flick the tentacle off with her charms textbook. However, as she yelled, more tentacles rose out of the water and tried to stoke her; possibly venturing to console her and calm her down.

Scorpius watched in shock as Rose's face turned as red as her hair, until he realised he should do something and quickly shoved the squid's wet appendages off of her. He pulled her swiftly into his arms, rubbing comforting circles on her back while she tried to pull herself together. After a few shaky minutes of embracing, Rose pulled away hesitantly; reaching for her bag that was strewn on the ground where dropped it.

"Thanks," She said awkwardly, trying a small smile.

"No problem," He replied, lightly patting her on the shoulder.

"I'm never going near that thing again," She said quietly, before hurrying away.

Scorpius slumped down on the grass verge where she had occupied just moments ago; pushing away the tentacles that were now attempting to console him. There were just so many questions running rings around his head: what just happened? He had no idea, one moment they were fine; she had even willingly skipped class with him! But then he came up with the stupid idea of visiting the giant squid, how was he supposed to know she was scared of it? Did she just hug him because she was scared and he was the only one closest, or was it something else?

He let out a groan. Girls are confusing.

.

That night, because of their little deal, Scorpius and Rose met just outside her common room. There was an awkward pause while they decided if they were at the hugging stage, or if it was just a one off; they both just shook their heads and set off walking. But the silence seemed more tense than comfortable and Scorpius could see something in Rose's eyes that suggested something was on her mind.

"So… What ya' thinking about?" He asked, trying to make it sound more jokey than stalker-ish.

"Nothing." She said defiantly, not looking at him directly.

Rose was most definitely not thinking about nothing. Her thoughts were firmly back in the common room where Valarie had commented; "You look like… Scorpius Malfoy kissed you or something." But there was no way she could tell him that he was what was on her mind.

The nearly silent walk around the empty corridors was awkward to say the least. Scorpius was left wondering what he had done wrong, besides the squid incident, and Rose was speculating why Valarie's remark had bothered her so much. Each time their hands brushed one another they were jolted to opposite sides of the corridor; before slowly merging closer to each other again with every step they took.

Suddenly, a face that was familiar to the both of them turned the corner, "N'aww my best friend and my cousin in an awkward silence together; how cute."

This sentence earned Albus two glares strong enough to burn a hole in any normal person. But this was Albus, so he just laughed.

"So, what's so awkward? And why are you two together this late at night, you're not even in the same houses!" Albus asked; oblivious to the silent corridors and ghostly echo.

"Shouldn't we be asking you why you're out of bed this time in the evening?" Rose retorted, finally finding her voice.

"Just going out for a stroll," He replied casually, "But from what I've heard, I'm not the only one breaking school rules."

Rose's face burned red, "What?"

"Well, let's say the two of you were spotted by the lake when you were supposed to be in charms, with me," Albus elaborated, putting on a fake disappointed voice.

"I w-wasn't by the lake, I went to the bathroom," Rose stuttered, jerking her head towards Scorpius so she could glare at him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa; you two were in the bathroom together too?" Albus joked; laughing at Rose's shocked face and Scorpius' strangely calm one.

"Shut up," Scorpius said, shoving Albus good naturedly, "And do what she says, go back to the common room!"

"What am I supposed to do there without my main man?" He replied, raising his hand for a high five which was rejected.

"Just go."

Albus gave a loud, very fake, sigh and walked down the corridor with the grace of an elephant. But just as the pair let out a breath of relief his head popped around the corner again.

"I get it! You want alone time with the girl!" Albus shouted, winking very obviously, "Good on ya' man!"

The air he left behind was even more awkward than before, if possible. The dark corridors seemed darker, quieter; you could have heard a pin drop and it would sound like an explosion. They didn't even look at each other for four whole corridors of walking, until Scorpius couldn't take anymore.

"What is going on here?" He inquired. Rose's head snapped up from examining her robe buttons and her brow furrowed.

"What?"

"Why is it awkward? Other than my prick of a best friend – and your cousin – what's going on?" He asked, stumbling over his words a little too much for the "confident" "cool" guy he was.

"Er," She said, biting her lip in a way that drew Scorpius in to her, "I don't know; we're friends. Just friends."

Even though it was her that said it, Rose couldn't help but feel disappointment invade her perfectly organised head, she could se something cloud over in his icy grey eyes too. However, she ignored it for the sake of their… Friendship.

"Friends?" He asked cautiously.

"Friends." She confirmed, more confidently than she felt.

Don't you just love Albus?

That's not really how I pictured him when I first read the book and the character was mentioned. But in this story he's developed and developed until I got this; and I let him loose in this chapter. :D So, more or less Albus? Same with Rose's friends. Also, anyone else from the epilogue world you'd like to see?

Thank you all, and be patient with my updates