A/N Het all, this is your Christmas chapter so, HAPPY CHRISTMAS and probably a merry new year as well. I shall warn you all now that I will not have something up for a while because my family are down for Christmas and computers are highly discouraged when family are down-so no computer.

Rose woke up early and went to go have a shower before remembering the previous day's events. Rose was sick. Well not really Rose was just pretending so she didn't have to go with Alex to Hogsmede. She felt bad about letting the boy down but she decided he would understand the whole 'my friends set me up' story.

Rose fell back into bed and snuggled into the blankets. She glanced at her clock which displayed the time as being 7:04. In three hours' time her friends would be gone and she would be able to stop her acting but until then she was stuck in bed and Rose was hungry. This is going to be a long three hours, she thought miserably.

oOoOo

Scorpius woke up but didn't bother to move. What was the point really, the girl he loved liked someone else. Scorpius still hadn't changed positions when half an hour later his cousin came over and hit him with a pillow.

"I know you're awake," said Dolohov.

Scorpius grunted and rolled onto his side so his back was facing the annoying brat.

Dolohov pulled a pitiful face and poked the other boy in the centre of his back, "Aww…come on Scorpius, if you don't get up who am I going to go to Hogsmede with?"

Scorpius merely grunted again.

"Really, Scorpius, this is just ridiculous. Rose is going on one small date with a guy that she doesn't even like and you're going to spend the day moping around in bed. I won't stand for it!" Dolohov said and when Scorpius didn't reply continued, "If you don't get up now and come up to breakfast with me, I will take you by force, which, by the way, means you shall be going in your pyjamas."

Scorpius quickly sat up. "I'm going!" One time Dolohov had made that exact same threat to another of their mates and when the other boy thought he was joking and just went back to sleep, Dolohov had dragged the boy all the way up to the a Great Hall. The poor kid had only been wearing boxers. Needless to say it had been very embarrassing and Scorpius decided he would rather not have to experience that.

Fifteen minutes later, the two boys were sat at the table eating breakfast.

"So you coming to Hogsmede with me?" Dolohov questioned, pointing his fork at Scorpius and very nearly poking out his eye.

Scorpius reached up to push the fork away and sighed. "I guess," he said, "Hey! I might see Rose there!" Scorpius added the last with a lot more enthusiasm.

Dolohov rolled his eyes but didn't bother to dignify the remark with a spoken answer.

The two boys quickly finished their breakfast and went down to their dormitory to grab the last minute stuff they would need for Hogsmede such as money and some warmer clothes. They then raced each other back up to the Entrance Hall, Scorpius winning only because Dolohov forgot to miss the vanishing step.

There was already a large group assembled in the Entrance Hall when the two boys arrived. Everyone was impatient to leave but Professor Willmott was having none of that until the rules for Hogsmede had been once again repeated. The Deputy Headmaster was a strict man and his lips had the capability to go thinner than McGonagall's when he was angry. The rules were spoken by the professor and the few students who were late ran down the corridors and arrived puffing as the teenagers were led out of the Hogwarts grounds.

Dolohov and Scorpius walked quickly, trying to keep warm in the cold wether. Scorpius reckoned that it should be snowing but of course, that pleasure was denied. The two made it to The Three Broomsticks and hurried into the already crowded room. Scorpius went off to find a table and Dolohov went to get some Butterbeer to warm them both up.

Dolohov arrived five minutes later carrying two foaming tankards of Butterbeer. He slid one across to Scorpius before chugging down a third of his.

"Merlins furry vest, this stuff is good." Dolohov said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

Scorpius replied with a small, "Mmm…" and stared broodingly at his drink.

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" asked what Scorpius considered to be a very overly cheerful Dolohov.

"Rose isn't here. She didn't come to Hogsmede."

Dolohov shrugged, "How do you know? You probably just missed seeing her, after all her hair was probably hidden under a scarf and beanie." Dolohov couldn't help but grin at the dejected look on his friends face.

Scorpius shot him a look and replied sourly, "But now I don't get to see her and find out whether she actually likes that evil kid."

Dolohov raised an eyebrow, "Evil?"

"Yes! He took my darling Rose away from me!" Scorpius said vehemently.

Dolohov smirked and tried to stifle a laugh. Unfortunately Scorpius noticed.

"You know what, I'm going to go back to Hogwarts, do some homework or something." Scorpius said, pushing his half-drunk Butterbeer towards the other boy. He stood up, pulled his scarf tight around his neck and walked out of the pub. Dolohov stared after him for a moment uncomprehending, before shrugging and taking a sip of his cousins' drink, leaning back in his chair.

oOoOo

Scorpius arrived back at the castle his nose red and lips a funny shade of blue-red. He fiddled with his scarf again hoping to find a way to make it warmer. When he could not find a new method he turned towards the dungeons. He went to his dormitory and collected his school books, shoving them haphazardly into his bag. Scorpius pulled it over his shoulder and made his way up to the library, hoping it would be warmer in there.

Scorpius dropped his stuff on a desk at the front of the library with a loud bang and received a sharp glare from the strict librarian. He ignored her look and ventured into the library trying to find a book that would help him with his homework. The books he needed seemed to be hiding from him and he wandered further and further into the forest of shelves before stopping suddenly when he noticed a familiar head of red hair.

"Rose?" Scorpius asked, surprised and more than a bit happy.

Rose spun around quickly, looking at the person who had found her secret refuge. "Oh, Scorpius, it's just you." She sounded quite relieved.

"Er…yes? Who else would it be?" questioned Scorpius, pulling on his scarf. He was getting a little warm with all these clothes on- whether from the library's warmth or the presence of Rose he was unsure.

"I don't know." She sighed.

They stood together, slightly awkward, both unsure of what to say. Scorpius reigned in some courage and told himself to get a grip, the worst she could do was confirm his fears. "Aren't you supposed to be on a date in Hogsmede?"

This caused rose to smile slightly and she explained cheekily, "I'm sick."

"You are? You don't seem so." Scorpius face had confusion written all over it and he reached up to ruffle his hair.

This time Rose really did smile. "No, I just didn't want to go on a date with Alex. He's my friend but I don't like him in that way."

Scorpius face lit up and he looked hopefully at Rose, "You don't?"

"No, there is someone else that I like though." Rose said her face alight with mischief.

"Oh," Scorpius said face falling but hope still shining in his eyes, "Who?"

Rose grinned and stepped forward so that their chests almost touched. She stood on tiptoes and whispered into Scorpius' ear, "You'll have to work that out yourself."

Scorpius expression was one of total puzzlement and he stood looking at Rose, searching for clues in her expression for several minutes. He sighed not understanding what she was trying to suggest. The pale boy looked at the girl opposite him, smiled and asked, "So what are you doing here?"

"Homework," Rose replied, sounding slightly bitter maybe because it was homework she was talking about but more likely from the fact that Scorpius was so oblivious.

Scorpius lips pulled up in a lopsided smile, "Well maybe we can work together. I have some stuff back at a table somewhere."

"I was planning on finishing up. It was boring me to hell."

"Right," Scorpius said, his smile slipping away. Why does she seem to constantly avoid me? "I'll see you later then."

"Why don't you come? We can go find some place and just chat or play a game or something." Rose suggested, slightly hesitant but still fairly confident he would say yes.

Scorpius quickly agreed, proving Rose correct and helped the red head to pack up her stuff before the two of them went to search for all of Scorpius' possessions. Together they tidied them away and exited the library both trying to think of a place where they could go.

Rose voiced these thoughts out loud, "Where should we go?"

Scorpius thought for a moment ruffling his hair again and unthinkingly reaching out to take Rose's bag and carry it for her. Rose smiled at the kind gesture. "We could go to the Astronomy Tower," Scorpius said slowly, unsure how Rose would react to such a suggestion, after all that's where many multi-house couples went to have sex. "And I don't mean that we have to do anything, it's just I like it up there, you can basically see all of Hogwarts and it's so high up you can sometimes reach the clouds."

Rose searched his face carefully and found it without guile so she quickly agreed to the plan. They walked up the many steps, often taking shortcuts that Rose had never seen before. They reached the Astronomy Tower and with a few, quick unlocking charms made their way out onto the balcony there. Scorpius quickly took a seat on the stone wall but Rose was slightly hesitant thinking about how she could fall from the ledge so easily.

Scorpius quickly smiled encouragingly and took her hand, "You won't fall, the wall is really wide and well," he continued shyly, "I wouldn't let you."

Rose smiled softly at the sweet boy in front of her and jumped up onto the wall, gripping tightly to the stone. Scorpius couldn't help but smile at her nervousness and asked quietly, "Do you not like heights?"

Rose shrugged and flushed a light pink, embarrassed, "When I was little, I was visiting my cousins and James thought it would be fun to go climb this great tree in their yard and I agreed, totally in awe of the older boy. So we went out and he helped me to the top but when we got there he scurried back down saying something about going to get our parents to show them what I had done. I stupidly believed him. Anyway I sat there for about half an hour waiting for everyone to come outside and see how well I had done but no one ever came. I tried to climb back down but I couldn't reach the branch below me. I started screaming and crying but no one could hear me. I was stuck up there for another hour before anyone came looking for me. By the time I got down, I had sworn never to go anywhere high again."

"I can understand that," he said honestly though his voice was laced with amusement. Scorpius gazed at her, his curiosity sparked. The pale boy decided he wanted to learn as much about Rose as he possibly could. So for the rest of the afternoon the two sat up on the edge of the Astronomy Tower learning as much as they could about the other. They talked about their families and music, they shared past experiences and their hopes for the future but most of all they just mucked about and teased each other, laughing and having fun. By the time they left the tower the sun was completely set and they were late for dinner. They wished the other good evening and hurried away in opposite directions both hoping to see the other again tomorrow.

A/N Hope you enjoyed, review please?