Depending on which way you looked at it, you could say that it started with an eyelash.

There I was at lunch, happily taking a gulp of my pumpkin juice when an eyelash decided it was time to fly free from its friends and descend into my eye. I choked on my juice and slammed my fist into the table, sending cutlery clattering. As I coughed and spluttered, my windpipe narrowly won the war with the pumpkin juice, but my eye was well and truly fighting a losing battle. I rubbed and tugged, but the eyelash refused to budge. With tears streaming from one eye, I launched myself from the table, ignoring concerned friends and bolted for the girls' bathroom.

As I torpedoed out of the Great Hall, I crashed into Scorpius Malfoy.

"Argh, sorry!" I gasped.

"Weasley?" I must've looked a complete wreck clutching one eye as tears streamed from it, because he actually seemed concerned. "What's wrong?"

"I'm okay, just eyelash in eye," I replied hurriedly before dashing away.

Apparently that didn't suffice as an explanation, because he immediately turned to follow me. "An eyelash, what?"

"In my eye," was all I offered him as I burst into the bathroom.

There were shrieks from the girls as Scorpius entered after me.

Was he crazy? Why had he followed me?! I didn't bother to turn to see his reaction as I rushed to a mirror and inspected my eye. Ah, there it was. The rogue eyelash. I used one hand to pry my eye open and the other to try and fish it out, but damn, it was an elusive bugger and kept floating away. I wiped away the tears with my sleeve before trying again, but only succeeded in nudging the eyelash towards my pupil and then it was a thousand daggers to the eye. "GAH," I cried, clawing at my eye and buckled over the sink.

Once I'd recovered sufficiently to reopen my eyes, I straightened up and took a deep breath. I saw Scorpius washing his hands out of the corner of my eye, what the hell was he doing? First he followed me into the girl's bathroom and now he was washing his hands?! What a creep! Please don't tell me he actually used the girls' toilets.

I leaned into the mirror to have another go when I felt a hand on my arm. "Here, let me."

My mouth fell open, but any protests died in my throat when Scorpius grasped my cheek and tilted my head upwards. He leaned in, brushing the hair away from my face. His hands were surprisingly gentle. "Do you mind?"

I shook my head, words weren't available to me in that moment. With a shock, I realised I had Scorpius' undivided attention for the first time. I stared unabashedly at him with my good eye. The usual distant look in his eyes was gone, replaced with a stormy look of intense concentration. He was so close; I could see the flecks of blue and green in his grey eyes.

Scorpius lifted my eyelid slightly and his finger descended upon my eye, but as soon as it made contact, I blinked.

"Sorry," I winced. "Go again, I'll keep my eye open this time."

"It's alright," Scorpius murmured, his lips barely moving. "Look up for me."

I did as I was told, I'd never heard him speak so softly before. I stood stock still, barely daring to breath.

"Got it," Scorpius moved away, showing me the eyelash on his finger.

I blinked once, twice, thrice. No pain. I left out a half sob, half laugh. A miracle. "Thank you! Oh Merlin, thank you!" I inspected my eye in the mirror and then did a little dance around the bathroom. "I can see again! You are a gift, Scorpius Malfoy, a gift! Thank you!"

Scorpius let out a chuckle. "No worries."

I froze mid twirl and stared. "Did you just smile? Did you just laugh?!"

It had barely been a quirk of the lips, but it opened up his entire face. He transformed from someone who I'd avoid making eye contact with, to someone I desperately wanted to be friends with.

Scorpius stared at me weirdly. "Yeah?"

"That's the first time I've ever seen you laugh," I exclaimed, my voice a little strangled. Call the Daily Prophet, Scorpius Malfoy had a dimple. This needed documenting. I needed a camera, a sketchpad, something, anything.

Scorpius gave me a look. "I've laughed before, Weasley, keep your hair on."

I continued to gawk at him.

Imagine if he smiled properly, sincerely. Imagine a full bellied laugh.

Damn.

Maybe if was for the best that he never let that dimple out.

Scorpius rolled his eyes and handed me some tissues. "Just clean yourself up, Weasley," he said, sweeping out of the room before I could make any more embarrassing exclamations about his changed disposition.

I stared at his retreating back.

And then down at the tissues he'd given me.

And then to Delia Dalrymple who was gaping at the door from which Scorpius had exited.

She turned to me, eyes wide. "Who was that handsome man with the gentle hands and voice? Who was that with the heartbreaking smile? Was…was that Scorpius Malfoy?"

All I could do was nod slowly in disbelief.

Then we both squealed and dissolved into a fit of giggles.

"Rose!" Delia exclaimed when we'd both recovered. "Is there something going on between you two?"

"No, nothing!" I cried, "Nothing at all!"

"I have never seen him talk or act like that, ever. He actually seemed like a normal human being for once! Merlin, has he always been that attractive?"

"Right?" I replied incredulously, "It's not just me?!"

Then we just beamed at each other.

"Damn," Delia breathed, "If I wasn't with Arthur…"

I laughed. "Who knew all that was hiding behind that scowl of his!"

"I know…" Delia sighed longingly, "I've always thought his bone structure was to die for, but who would want to approach him when he looks like he's about to strangle you with his bare hands?"

"Way too scary," I agreed.

Delia turned to me with a gleam in her eye. "Girl, you better lock that shit down."

"What?"

"He's clearly interested in you; I've never seen him act like that around anyone else. Start dating him before word gets out that he actually has a functioning heart." Delia looked meaningfully at the fifth years gossiping by the cubicles.

"But…what?" I gasped, "You can't put that kind of pressure on me! I don't even know if I like him or not! I don't know if he actually even likes me either!"

Delia just beamed at me. "Eee, I'm so excited for you!'

"What, why?!" I cried, "Delia, you're moving way too quickly for me! I can't deal with this!"

She hugged me.

"Oh my God, Delia, stop!"

So Scorpius Malfoy had a shred of humanity in him after all. But had that been a rare display of compassion or just a momentary lapse in sanity, a glitch in his system?

Delia clearly thought he had a heart underneath all those layers of contempt, but she was a hopeless romantic.

I watched him now as he waited for the rest of the group to arrive. He was punctual if anything else. I observed him reclining his long body in his chair, flipping idly through his notes, trying to find a glimpse of the person I witnessed yesterday. But his eyes were as apathetic and aloof as they always were. No hint of the stormy intensity from yesterday. No shadow of a smile in sight.

Looking at him now from two tables away, he seemed as imposing as ever. Perhaps I dreamt the dimple.

"What are you staring at, Weasley?" Scorpius asked without looking up from his notes.

Busted.

How did he do that?

"Looking for your long-lost dimple," I replied, the shock of getting caught loosening my tongue.

That caused him to look up. "You sure you didn't imagine it, Weasley?"

I approached him, trying to discern whether it was amusement or irritation in his eyes. Possibly a mixture of both. "I've been asking that myself," I admitted. "But I don't think my imagination is that robust. Scorpius Malfoy and a dimple? You can't make that stuff up."

"It's been plaguing you, hasn't it," A statement, not a question.

It was definitely amusement dancing in his eyes.

"It just doesn't make sense," I continued, unabashed, "I'd greatly appreciate if you could confirm its existence."

If it was possible to grin without actually grinning, Scorpius was executing it perfectly. "I'm sorry, but that won't be possible."

"Why not?!" My exclamation contained more outrage than the situation warranted. Tone it down, Rose.

"Because then people might actually think I'm…"

"Nice?" I supplied incredulously.

"Exactly," Scorpius let out a long suffering sigh. "What a waste of this carefully cultivated image. No more first years scuttling out of my way, no more reserved seating in the Great Hall…they might not even save any croissants for me in the morning."

I stared at him.

"I'm joking, Weasley."

A small part of my soul detached itself from my body and drifted away. "Hah, right, yeah." I laughed weakly. "You jokester, you." I waggled my finger half-heartedly at him.

"Except for the croissants, I do love croissants," Scorpius continued, graciously ignoring my poor attempt at laughter.

"Me too," I couldn't help piping up.

Scorpius looked at me sardonically. "I know."

"What, how?"

"Did you forget that time you stole two croissants from the Slytherin table because Gryffindor had run out?"

I grinned sheepishly at the memory. "Oh yeah, right."

Scorpius looked out the window wistfully. "Poor Mindy Foskett had to go hungry that day. She did butter her croissant so nicely as well. Perfect croissant to butter ratio." He sighed, turning his gaze back onto me. "Alas, such is life."

I can't believe he stole a third year's food. I can't believe he was making me feel guilty about him stealing a third year's food.

"A joke, Weasley."

I slumped backwards into my seat and shook my head at him, the light in my eyes extinguished. I couldn't take this guy. Scorpius Malfoy was too much. Too bloody much.

"Jeez, maybe I should smile more often."

"You really should," I croaked, a shadow of my former self.

"But it's so amusing watching you try and get it out of me."

I crossed my arms petulantly. "It's not fair, you've seen me smile tons of times!"

"It's not my fault you give it up so easily," Scorpius scoffed, returning to his book. "I never asked you to smile at me."

"Who said I was smiling at you," I sniffed. "You were clearly just spying on me as I smiled graciously at other people."

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "I've still seen you smile though and I'm sure I will again before the day is out."

"But I've never smiled at you, for you, because of you," I retorted, "and you have therefore never known the feeling of having such grace bestowed upon your miserable self."

That put a frown on his face. Hah, take that, Malfoy.

"Well, I've never properly smiled at you, for you, because of you either, and perhaps I never will."

My eyes glinted. "I'll take that as a challenge."

Scorpius regarded me, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. He reached out his hand. "First one to make the other smile."

I grasped Scorpius' hand and gave it a firm shake. "You're on."

"We're ten minutes late and you guys suddenly have a secret handshake?" Fenton asked, dumping his books next to me.

"Yes, we're extremely close," I replied seriously.

"How could we not be when we both love croissants?" Scorpius agreed.

I glanced at him and my face twitched. His eyes gleamed bright and I forced my mouth into a frown. It was weirdly thrilling to see an expression other than disinterest and disdain adorn his face. And for it to be directed at me.

I had to win.

"So Weasley," Scorpius continued as Roy left to borrow a book in a huff, "how's that eye of yours?"

"Good as new, thanks for asking," I replied, sending him a saucy wink to prove my point.

I was rewarded immediately, Scorpius' eyebrows shot upward. But he recovered quickly, "Did you just wink at me, Weasley? I think that's worth twice as much as a smile."

"Life's all about give and take," I responded coolly.

"You'll never get a wink from me."

"Only because you can't wink."

Scorpius narrowed his eyes at me. "That is a baseless assumption you'll never be able prove."

I leaned forward in my seat and met his gaze squarely. "I will prove it, just like I'll prove that dimple."

"Scorpius has a dimple?" Fenton looked up from his book.

"Spread that rumour around and neither of you will ever find out," Scorpius threatened, his voice icy.

"Nothing to be ashamed of," Fenton remarked, "I find dimples quite attractive. Don't you, Rose?"

I did, but how could I agree without letting Scorpius know that I found him attractive? I mean, IT attractive. IT being dimples. Merlin, help me. Even my own brain was rebelling.

"I don't mind a dimple," Great work, Rose. Short and simple. "In fact, I love dimples!" Oh bloody hell. "Especially ones on the right side of the cheek, just by the corner of the mouth." Loud ERROR foghorns blasted through my brain, but it was too late. The damage was done. I sealed my coffin with a second wink.

Why.

Why was I like this.

Scorpius was looking at me as if I'd gone crazy.

You and me both, buddy.

Please take it as a joke. Please. I was clearly joking. Rose Weasley, the class prankster. Common knowledge, right? RIGHT?

"Been dreaming about it, have you, Weasley?" Scorpius' pale eyes bore into mine, an eyebrow raised.

I thanked my lucky stars that he'd said 'dreaming about IT, and not me'. Small blessings.

I sighed deeply. "You got me, best night of sleep I ever had."

Scorpius' gaze intensified. "Care to share?"

I bit my lip. "I would, but…" I flicked my eyes sidelong at Fenton.

Fenton's eyes were practically bulging out of his head at this stage as they darted between us, his mouth hung slightly ajar.

It's okay, Fenton. I couldn't believe how audacious I was being either.

I looked back at Scorpius to see his stormy eyes alight, a fire on low heat simmering behind his pupils. My stomach dropped and I prayed that the warmth I was feeling behind my skin didn't transfer through.

A new expression yet again, I couldn't look away.

"What are you guys doing?" Roy returned with a stack of books, his presence dousing the fire immediately.

I tore my eyes from Scorpius and flushed a deep red. I released a breath I didn't realise I had been holding.

"Long story," Scorpius dismissed, the usual disengaged expression back on his face as if it had never left.

A bloody confusing story was what it was. One that I myself would've loved a detailed explanation on.

"Right, well here's a book about Wendelin the Weird that I thought might be relevant to your research, Rose." Roy handed me a heavy book.

I looked up at him in surprise. "Oh, thanks." I took the book, giving him a small smile.

My eyes darted to Scorpius to see him scowling at Roy and I quickly erased the smile off my face.

Maybe it would be wiser to continue the game at a later date.

I snuck a look at Roy who was scribbling rather furiously on his parchment.

Or perhaps not continue it at all.