A/N – Here you go. The next chapter. Yay. It seems ages since I last wrote anything, much longer than it actually is, I think. But maybe it's still been too long. Thank you to my reviewers for last chapter Lily18dm (thanks for reviewing every chapter so far and I hope I answered your question by replying to your review) trina and my completely anonymous reviewer.

In case there's ever any confusion, Rose isn't homophobic. She's just annoyed with a gay person. And sometimes irrational.

I'm seeing DH2 tomorrow (Yay). And on Wednesday I'm seeing it again. I hope it's good but if not, at least there'll still be AVPM.

Disclaimer: Guess what? I still don't own Harry Potter. Surprise, surprise.

Rose didn't think she'd ever seen Scorpius – who hadn't ever had a facebook account himself but had often been an honorary member of the extensive Weasley-Potter clan that tramped down to use the internet during Hogsmeade visits – so fascinated by a computer screen. He and Rose had never really been bothered by the craze of using muggle technology wherever there wasn't too much magic for it, but now they were both staring, unwavering, at James' facebook profile.

When they had arrived, they had quickly navigated to it and above his last status ("the awkward moment when Minerva Mcgonagall realises she has the same patronus as Dolores Umbridge", which earned an exasperated look from Rose) was the clear declaration that Scorpius Malfoy had dumped Rose Weasley because he was gay.

Quickly, Rose rounded on her cousin "You know, I had kind of hoped that you were joking. I must have been so stupid – again – to even think that-"

"Rose," James directed her to follow Scorpius' horrified gaze "Look at the comments," Sighing, she read them, relief flowing through her as she saw that Scorpius had been right: none of James' friends – except Jimmy Smith, who was an idiot and had received a very bad response – seemed to think any the worse of her. They all seemed to have come to the conclusion that she had been manipulated and it was only their opinions of Scorpius that didn't look favourable. Which might explain why he's gone so white and looks so cross. And... apprehensive. Rose hastily squashed the thoughts before she could start to feel anything close to sympathetic.

"Well, we've got more important things to do than this. We'd better go," James helpfully cut through them, reaching across Scorpius to log off and adding cheerily "I don't know why I let Rose persuade me to take you but you'll have to come now. We can't just leave you here staring at a computer,"

He received only a glare in response, but both Scorpius and Rose got up to find a deserted place to disapparate from with him.

They arrived back in Rose's bedroom with Rose and Scorpius both feeling only slightly nauseous from the unfamiliar apparition and Rose was relieved to find it miraculously empty and surprised to find James was already leaving by the time she looked up. As she watched, he turned at the door – reminding her wildly of Hugo – and spoke. "Well, I'm going to get some clothes and stuff. I would too if I were you. Then we can eat, then go." He paused and glared towards Scorpius "And did he bring anything from his house?"

"Well, I don't know, why don't-" she stopped, realising James had already shut the door and sat down heavily at her desk. Why were people always doing that? Exasperated, she turned away from the door. "Well? Did you?"

"No," she shot him a glare, realising as she did that he was still standing in the middle of the room looking awkward, "You didn't really give me the time to though. You just grabbed me and apparated. I still think..." Dammit Rose had already stopped listening. Why do idiots always have to know what they're talking about? "...Anyway, I think I left some stuff here when I stayed over Easter,"

"Well you might have mentioned a bit earlier," Lightly seething and embarrassed at not having remembered herself, Rose chucked some things into a bag for herself, found the things Scorpius had left and watched while he did the same, and rushed towards the door.

"Wait," she stopped in her tracks: Scorpius had followed her. She supposed it was just as good as leaving him in her room, but she had promised herself she'd say it, "While you're here, don't go near Hugo. Or Fred or Louis. Or Al when-"

"Wait, Rose. That's just-"

"Protective,"

"You can't- You never said anything like that about your girl cousins when you... before."

Rose was starting to think people chose to ignore the truth just to annoy her "We were in a relationship. It kind of goes without saying, don't you think? 'Don't cheat on me with my cousins'. Anyway, that was when I trusted you,"

She started to leave, but Scorpius carried on "Rose?" she flatly ignored him "Rose, this isn't all just because you're worried I'll start kissing boys you know is it?"

How insensitive could he be? "Malfoy, you dumped me! You know when girls get rejected, they get a bit upset? Of course this isn't all-"

"Wait, no. I'm sorry, I didn't mean 'all'. I just meant-"

"I've told you. I am particularly cross because of what you neglected to tell me for three years. I don't care which boys you start snogging. I just wish you'd told me you wanted to before you started snogging me, and I want to protect my family from you because I know what a horrible, manipulative... boyfriend you can be, "

She turned on her heel and left. Of course the fact that an image of Scorpius with a shady, but recognisable figure had erupted in her head as she'd spoken had no significance. Neither did the fact that it churned her brain. She really couldn't care less, she told herself, who her ex boyfriend or any of her relatives chose to date. Only she knew Scorpius should be staying away from her family after what he'd done to her.

She was only glad the image hadn't gone any further. And that it had only been one of her cousins... Scowling, she conceded that maybe she did care. A little bit.

"Rose. Rose I'm sorry," Great. Scorpius had caught up again. Now Rose regretted taking him back; she had no idea how she would put up with him constantly with her in France.

"Just stay away from my family," they descended the stairs in awkward silence "Well, except me and James because you'll be in France with us. And James is in a steady relationship anyway. And I know he'd never even consider-"

A door burst open and Hugo exploded out of it. "Oh, Rose," she glared at him and he glanced past her "Hey Scorpius," This time he received a half-smile "Anyway, Mum says James says you're back, and to tell you that there's lunch in there," he jerked his head back to the door he had come in through and left.

"Well he obviously hasn't seen facebook yet," Scorpius remarked dryly as Rose pushed open the door.

She fixed him with a warning glare, snapping in a fierce whisper "Hugo knows anyway," and he turned to her, eyes flashing, before adding "You know I'd never consider going near James either. Just because I- Well I don't want to hit on every boy I see..." he grimaced under Rose's still-unwavering glare "Rose, I won't flirt with your cousins. Is that enough for you?" Rose appraised him for a minute before whipping around, satisfied.

"Wait, Rose," she stopped mid-step, rolling her eyes in frustration. Could he not see that she didn't want to talk? And that in the middle of a doorway wasn't the best place anyway? "Rose?" he continued, speaking to the unresponsive back of her head "Hugo knows? Have you been telling-?"

"Rosie," Finally. Sanity. Rose looked up to see who had interrupted them and sighed. Scorpius' company must have got pretty bad pretty fast if she really did think James was comparatively sane. "As lovely as your romantic gathering is, Rosie, we don't have the time for it," How could James be saying that? Rose was sure that between the two of them, her cousin and Scorpius would find some way to drive her to insanity when she was forced to be with them with no break. She quickly silenced her brain before she could chide herself about bringing it upon herself. "And you two are blocking the doorway," Great. James still hadn't finished. "We really do need to be going soon, so take this, get out of the doorway and go and get your stuff," he thrust some food into their hands and gave them a little push back towards the stairs. "I'll go and tell my mum where we're going,"

"James! You can't tell her she'll-" but he had already gone and left Rose seething at his complete inability to know when to keep something secret. Sighing, she trudged wearily back to her bedroom, eating slowly and ignoring Scorpius, who was still following her and asking who she'd told about his letter.

"Rose, can you please listen? What did-"

"We don't need to talk about that now. James is going to tell his mum where we're going and she'll tell my parents and then-" There was a crack and James, once again appeared, grinning.

"Well?"

"She advises me not to bring you and she lent us this tent in case we need it. And we'd better hurry because she's going to tell your parents where we're going in -" he checked his watch "- about five minutes. Only they'd probably be fine with it anyway," somehow Rose doubted that.

"If you've been telling your whole family, Rose-"

James took her wrist and she grabbed Scorpius'. "We'll apparate to the coast and then I think I'll be able to get far enough to cross the channel."

"Wait, you think?"

"Rose, this is important. You've already got it put on facebook. If you've told your family too, then-" Just before the horrible, squashing sensation started, Rose glanced towards Scorpius and saw that it wasn't only anger in his eyes, or even the less drastic apprehension; behind it, there was plain fear. And this time, she wasn't quick enough to choke all the sympathy: some traces escaped into her consciousness.

Bleh. This is very much a filler chapter and feels very odd. I hope it's OK and sorry that there isn't very much development of characters or backstories or anything or if anything else has gone messed up.

It's all been pretty Rose-centric so far. If you think I should do some chapters from other POVs, review and tell me.

If you have any other preferences about where the story goes, review and tell me because it might affect the story. Otherwise, review if you want to make me happy and motivated or if you want to tell me what you think of the story.

Are my ANs too long? I suppose you don't have to read them if you don't want to.