Saff's party is loud and crowded. There are people from every house. I am hanging around in the corner hoping that Scorpius will turn up soon. I look around the room and see that Saff is dancing with Lorcan. He can't keep his eyes off Saff, but Saff keeps glancing across at Albus who is dancing with some Ravenclaw girl from sixth year. Saff looks gorgeous. She is wearing a fire truck red dress that stopped mid thighs and is wearing black tights underneath it. The dress has thick straps black straps and a black ribbon tied around her waist. Saff's lips are painted bright red and she has a red ribbon tied into her dark, cropped hair. She is dressed to get people's attention, and that is exactly what she is doing.

I look away from Saff and begin to scan the room for Scorpius again. I notice Lucy and Tate in another corner laughing and doing awkward smiling. I smile slightly and see that Aisling is heading my way. She reaches her hands forward and I take them. Holding her at an arm's length I look down at what she is wearing; a simple pale blue dress with a modest neckline. It flows to her knees.

It is as if Aisling knows what I am thinking; "I know, I know!" She laughs, "I don't want to attract too much attention, you know, I mean I'm not like Saff."

I snort.

"What desperate to hook with my cousin?" I snicker. Aisling laughs.

"No I'm not, but that's not what I meant," Aisling laughs, "I don't want to attract attention because I already have a boyfriend."

"Ah, yes, the infamous Owen," I laugh, "and how is Owen may ask? And how are you keeping up with him."

"Owen is good, and we write. Well I send my letters to Ma and she sticks them in the post box. I told him before I left to hand the letters to Ma and she would send them to me with her letters, like to save money; well that's the reason I told him anyway."

"And your ma doesn't mind?"

"No, we just don't tell Da," Aisling giggles. I feel a tap on my back and I turn to see Scorpius standing behind me. Impulsively I throw my arms around him and pull him into a tight hug. I inhale his scent, nice cologne, and then I let go quickly realising that was kind of creepy. Scorpius didn't seem to notice my awkward sniffing so I act like nothing happened.

"Have you seen Issy?" Scorpius asks. Oh right. He's like dating Issy now.

"Issy Boot?" Aisling asks from behind me. Scorpius nods. Aisling jerks her finger towards a cluster of Ravenclaw girls, "she was over there last time I saw her." Aisling shrugs and Scorpius smiles at her.

"Well see you later then Rosie?" Scorpius asks. I manage a nod but nothing more, "Aisling," he smiles and nods his head at her. Aisling flutters her fingers at him and gives him a dazzling smile. Scorpius makes his way over to the Ravenclaw cluster. I watch as Issy emerges from the cluster and grabs Scorpius' hands. She gives him a peck on the lips and then says something to him. They both laugh and head into the middle of the room to dance.

I feel Aisling's hand on my shoulder but I am already heading for the door. "Rosie," I hear Aisling's voice call after me but I ignore it. I hate this stupid lump building in my throat and I despise the bloody twist growing in my stomach. I cross the room and fill grab a paper cup, full to the brim with fruit punch. I take a sip; it's the best I've ever tasted. Each gulp brings with it a warm, fuzzy feeling that slides down my throat. After I down the rest of the punch in my cup, I refill and turn back to the rest of the room. Beside me a seventh year is smirking at everyone who is getting punch; what the hell? Aisling glides up to me and frowns.

"Rosie, hon…" She murmurs softly. I reach out and cover her mouth with my hand. I feel the end of her tongue draw a circle on my hand and I cringe. I wipe my hand on her shoulder as she giggles.

"Bugger off," I mutter and she gives me a disapproving frown, paired with a sigh, before continuing around the room to Lucy and Tate. I, once again, scull the remaining punch in my cup and, once again, turn for a refill.

"Enjoying the punch?" The smirky seventh year asks me slyly. I widened my eyes and him and flip him off. I spin around and suddenly my head is spinning. I look down at my cup, of course, that's why he's so smirky. He's loaded the punch with fire whisky, that's why it felt so lovely and warm as it ran down my throat. I've never drunk a thing in my life and I can feel the alcohol buzzing in my head. Fire whisky does this; you won't notice it all, and one sip later, you're pissed. I drop my cup onto the table and stumble across the room in the general direction of my friends. The world spins around me and, suddenly, I'm down. A seventh year guy from Hufflepuff, a friend of the other boy, grabs my wrists as I fall.

"Hey," he slurs at me. His mates all smirk down at me too. My palms feel sweaty and I shake my wrists to break his hold.

"Let go," I mumble.

"What's that?" He laughs. Sheesh, I thought Hufflepuffs were supposed to be nice.

"Back off dick!" Someone snaps. The seventh year lets go of my arm and I slump to the floor. Ben Jordan squats down on the floor beside me and stares straight into my eyes. He grimaces and looks as if he is containing a laugh. "Come on Rose, I'll take you to bed."

"You can't get into the girls dorm!" I slur at him. Ben laughs.

"No I can't, can I?" He frowns as if working something out, "do you want to sleep in my bed?" He asks gently.

"That's blunt."

"No, not with me, Rose, I'll sleep somewhere else!" Ben laughs. I reach up my arms and he pulls me onto my feet. He takes my hand and I can't help feeling self-conscious about the fact that my hand is all sweaty against his. Ben doesn't say anything. I look across the room and see Scorpius still dancing with Issy.

Ouch. Talk about a slap in the face. That's one way to cure drunkenness.

Before even I know what's happening the words fly from my lips, "dance with me!" I laugh flinging myself at Ben. He catches me and doesn't let go, but his face shows disapproval.

"Rosie, you're pissed; you're going to do something you'll regret."

"Haven't you ever been told not to go to bed drunk?" I giggle at Ben. He smiles and holds out his hand. I take it willingly and do a little spin under his arm. We giggle and dance for a while, but I hardly notice Ben. Instead all I see is Scorpius' hands on Issy's waist, Scorpius' eyes glued to her eyes, Scorpius lips pressing down on hers. My vision goes blurry and I'm too frozen to even blink. That should be me.

"Rosie?" Ben looks at me with real concern and something evil forms in my head. All my movement is suddenly restored and with a look towards Scorpius, and not a moment to spare. I grab Ben's collar and smash my lips into his. He's surprised, I can tell, and to be honest, I have no idea what the hell I'm doing, but he doesn't break away. His hand presses into my lower back and I push myself up higher onto my toes and wrap my arms around his neck.

How long have we been kissing? How many people of seen? Oh my God. I'm kissing Ben Jordan in front of half the school; in front of my friends and his friends and Scorpius. What am I doing?

I'm a horrible person.

I break away from Ben and he smiles down at me; into my eyes. My lip trembles and I turn and run away from him as fast as I can. Ben calls out my name and I'm sure he's following me. I push past the partygoers and throw myself out of the common room and past the tutting Painted Lady. I stumble on the steep, shifting stairs. Reaching the next floor I turn down the corridor and run into the first classroom I reach.

"Oh!" I gasp in shock.

"Shit!" Albus stumbles up off the ground and holds his hands in front of him. He's wearing nothing but his boxers. I turn bright red and look away. Saff tugs her dress down and shifts awkwardly. I hold a hand to my mouth and, without looking at either of them; I slowly back towards the door.

"Rosie, are you crying?" I touch my wet cheek and turn my back to both of them. I leap through the door back into the corridor.

"Rosie?" Saff and Albus both yell from behind me, but I'd rather not go back in there. Ben is standing in the archway to the corridor frowning. I turn away from him too and cover my face with my hands. I can't look at him. I can't believe I kissed him. It was cruel, I used him. I don't want to be that girl.

"Rose."

"Ben."

"I…"

"I shouldn't have kissed you." Ben sighs and I feel him grab my wrist and pull to the edge of the corridor. I hadn't realised he'd even crossed to where I was standing. He always could walk silently and gracefully.

"Sit," he whispers. I sit down and lean against the wall. Ben slides down the wall and sits beside me. He folds his arms over his knees and curls up like a child. I hold onto my feet and pull my legs up into my torso.

"I like you, Rosie, but that wasn't real, was it?" I shake my head. Ben nods. "Scorpius?"

"How do know?"

"Everyone knows," Ben laughs, "bloody hell, Rosie, you practically whip your knickers off every time you see him." I raise my eyebrows and Ben grins at me. I roll my eyes. "Okay, so maybe you don't whip your knickers off, but you definitely go all swoony."

"Great."

"He loves you"

"Sod off."

"He does, Rosie, do you really think he'd ever go for Issy Boot?"

"Then why is he snogging her?"

"The same reason you snogged me, I'd say, to make you jealous." Ben sighs, "listen, Rosie, I know you may not believe this, but you're amazing, intelligent and so very beautiful. Every boy in schools knows that. Why do you think that wanker from Hufflepuff was so pleased that you fell over pissed in front of him?"

"Can I still sleep in your bed tonight?" The question is just a whisper. Ben nods.

"I'll take Albus' bed. I reckon he's off banging Saff somewhere right now anyway." I point towards the classroom across the hall. Ben laughs, "point made."

"You can stay in your bed," Ben shoots me a confused look, "no banging; just, not lonely." I push myself back up the wall so I'm standing and turn to Ben. I hold my hands out to him and pull him up. Ben wraps his arm around my shoulder and I lean into him.

"Did you know you're an amazing friend?" I ask him.

"Why, thank you." We laugh. "You're just plain amazing." He sighs. I pull myself closer into him and smile.

While this story isn't my best written, it's definitely one of the best to write. I hope you're all enjoying as much as me :)

The Black Rosette