Pfft. So I got impatient because I've started on another story and wanted to get this one out into the open before I lost interest in it. Thanks so much to everybody who favourited/alerted/reviewed! Also, did anybody notice that the names of the chapters are mentioned in the chapters themselves :). And I got the 'Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Cashews Are Nuts, And So Are You' from the internet - which is really sometimes quite a cool contraption.

Sunday 14th February 2021

"Do you want to go into the Three Broomsticks?" Scorpius asked her as they walked down the street. A small flurry of snow flew past them, and Rose closed her eyes, breathing in the cold, fresh air.

"Mmm... I don't know. I thought we could maybe go to the Shrieking Shack?" Rose opened her eyes and glanced at Scorpius to see what he thought. It felt so natural to be doing this, walking down the street with him. It was almost as though it weren't a date - they had been so many times before together as just friends that it was difficult to break that habit. In fact, Rose was sort of glad that they hadn't actually treated each other as anything but friends yet. Somehow, the idea of them dating each other wasn't something she could quite get around her head yet.

Scorpius shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

They began to steadily walk out of the town and towards where they knew the ancient-looking shack was. Rose reached down and scooped up some snow in her hand then hurled it at a tree that was obstructing their path. The snow splattered beautifully everywhere, contrasting sharply with the dark brown wood of the tree.

"Did Albus ask you anything yesterday?" Scorpius said hesitantly once they passed the last line of buildings in the town. He was looking at Rose in part-curiosity, part-nervousness. The chilly wind caused them both to shiver slightly, although they ignored it in favour of the question at hand.

Rose chewed her lip as she thought about what Albus had said to her the day before, finally alighting on what Scorpius might have meant. "He asked me whether I had ever tried seeing my own... love life or whatever, in the tea leaves."

"Did you?"

"Yesterday evening, yes," Rose said, half-embarrassed although she wasn't sure why. To cover it up, she grabbed some more snow in her fist and threw it at Scorpius, sticking her tongue out at him. At first, he looked shocked and then he started laughing. For the first time, Rose actually noticed the way her stomach quivered at the sound, and she wondered how she could have been so blind to it before.

Lost as she was in her admittedly rather pleasant thoughts, she didn't see the snowball coming until it hit her on the shoulder. She ran some way up the path and gathered more snow, then straightened up and threw it directly at him. He continued to walk more sedately his hands behind his back until he caught up with her. Then he raised his hands and threw some of the powdery white snow into her hair.

The cold seeped through her hair, turning some parts of it wet. Strangely enough, Rose found that she didn't mind at all. Instead she flashed a smile at him and said conversationally. "You know what else I read in the tea leaves last night?"

He fell into step beside her as they started to walk again. "Um... Filch's cat found a mate at long last?"

Rose giggled. "Nope. Actually, I read that Slughorn and Trelawney are going to get married."

"Wow, that was quick."

"Not now, obviously. I meant in a year or so," Rose snorted, poking him in the ribs. She leapt over a large branch that had fallen down, her feet sinking several inches into the snow when she landed. She plowed through the snow as she continued. "And it's going to be here at Hogwarts, because I remember Trelawney telling me once that her wedding would be next to the lake on the grounds."

"So, let me guess, we're all invited?" Scorpius raised his eyebrows at her.

"Yep, you've got it."

Scorpius furrowed his brow in thought as his mind travelled back to what he had intended to ask her before she had hit him with a snowball. "Rose... what did you see in the tea leaves, if you don't mind me asking?"

Rose flushed slightly. "No... it's okay, you asking, I mean. I... I saw a rose."

"And?"

"A scorpion," Rose whispered, finding this more embarrassing than she had previously predicted it would be. Oh, she had planned on telling him one day, if everything worked out. But somehow the real thing was a lot more embarrassing.

Scorpius digested that for a moment. They stopped as they reached the Shrieking Shack, both pausing for a moment to take in the rickety old building. So many life-changing events had happened here that it was hard not be in awe of it. Then Scorpius turned to Rose, staring at her for a second before he asked softly. "Did I ever tell you that you're beautiful?"

Rose's breath caught in her throat. "Would it be really horrible if I said 'and so are you'?"

"Really cheesy and I would prefer the word 'handsome', but it's not that horrible," Scorpius smiled at her, his hand reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Rose faintly wondered how strange it was that every time a moment like this happened in movies, books and whatnot, hair was conveniently out of place. Then she inwardly shrugged; she really didn't care.

"Good, 'cause I think it's true anyway," Rose grinned as he leaned forward and their lips met.