Standard disclaimer applies.
After winter holidays, you double your focus on studying for N.E.W.T.s, Al doubles the intensity of Quidditch practices. The only thing that hasn t changed is your Head duties with Scorpius, but even this feels cut down in comparison. You are surprised to find that you look forward to the time you spend with Scorpius as Heads; it's a break from the insanity of studying for N.E.W.T.s and the rest of your days. You enjoy spending time with Scorpius; you never feel like you have to do or say anything in particular; it's a very comfortable feeling.
Your days before N.E.W.T.s fall into a routine of class, study, Quidditch. The only break from the torturous routine comes in twice-weekly, hour-long organizational meetings with Scorpius, a.k.a. a half an hour of chatting and another half hour putting up a pretense of doing work. Somehow you still manage to come up with stuff for monthly meetings with Headmistress McGonagall.
You take N.E.W.T.s, execute several narrow saves with some fancy flying in helping Gryffindor to the Quidditch Cup (again) against Ravenclaw, and all of a sudden you find yourself staring at a half-packed trunk. It finally hits you as you stand there, staring, that you are never coming back. So you finish packing, applaud as Ravenclaw wins the House Cup, fidget with uncomfortable anticipation as you pile into the horseless carriages toward Hogsmeade station.
In the carriage with Dom and Al with his arm around Alice, it hits you again that you haven't spent any significant amount of time with Scorpius since your last Heads meeting the day after the Quidditch Cup.
You stand on the platform, unwilling to board the train before you say goodbye to Scorpius, when you see him making his way through the crowd. He's seen you and is making his way toward you. You grin widely and he returns the gesture. He stops in front of you.
You poke your tongue out at him and say, "I was looking for you."
"And now I've found you."
"I've enjoyed the last couple years, particularly this one. It's been nice, getting to know you, finding that my dad is entirely wrong in his perception of a Malfoy. I'm glad I got to know you." You hesitate before sticking out your hand, but instead of taking it, he wraps his arms around you in a hug, completely taking you by surprise.
He releases you, but still holds you by the shoulders as he says, "It's been nice getting to know you, too. Stay in touch, Rose!"
You watch as he walks off, then join your cousins and friends in your annual end-of-year tradition, Exploding Snap and endless snacks. But still, by the end of the train ride, you are not over your surprise at Scorpius' hug. You knew you were friends, but you had no idea that he thought you were close enough to hug.
