A.N -Hello... i know, i'm still alive! its been awhile but here's (a very late) chapter 10... i hope you can all forgive me!

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It was Wednesday. Wednesday lunch time. Sick was rising in Scorpius' throat as he made his way up the vast staircase to the Library. What if it was a trick, what if James was there and not Rose?

Under these circumstances he wouldn't have normally gone. He stopped. Why was he going? He turned slowly to go back down and took one step. He glanced over his shoulder, then at the bottom of the stairs then back toward the library. He was nearly there… No. He should leave while he still could. Slowly, cautiously he took another step downward. He hovered there a second, two seconds, ten. He closed his eyes. This was ridiculous and stupid and… and… oh what the hell! He spun round quickly and sprinted up the steps before he could change his mind.

Rose had already started research. She knew Scorpius wasn't coming; she was certain. Despite this she kept finding herself glancing over at the door. He wasn't going to turn up, she thought sternly, as if it would calm the butterflies in her stomach.

Her finger traced down the index of the thick, heavy book before her. "g, g." she muttered searching for gillyweed. She quickly glimpsed back at the door. "Stupid Malfoy." She muttered before returning her attention, or at least part of it, to the book.

"Hello." She practically jumped out her skin as she spun to face a rather sheepish looking Scorpius.
"Sorry, I mean, hi, I didn't see you come in." Had he heard her call him stupid?
"I came in the back door in case and don't worry I'm used to it." Yes he had heard her.
"Sorry." She said again, not feeling brave enough to ask "in case of what?" He sat opposite her, examined the books she'd chosen and picked one up. "We're doing gillyweed aren't we?" he asked her without looking up.
"Yes, unless you want to do something else." He looked up, slightly shocked she'd asked for his opinion before saying "no, no, that's fine with me, are you happy with it?"
"ermm… yes, yes I suppose I am."
"Good."
"Yep."
"Good." He said again. Rose laughed; she often did when she felt awkward, she tried to stop herself but it bubbled up her throat and came out her mouth in a desperate chuckle. Malfoy jumped, and looked up, seemingly worried. She laughed more; really, she was trying not to. "I'm sorry." She muttered but didn't stop.

"What's going on?" Scorpius asked hurriedly, the look in his eyes turning to panic as they searched the room.
"Nothing; it's just... I don't know really. I just can't help it sometimes."

He look down to see her staring quizzically back at him. It took Scorpius a moment to realise he was standing and in a position which was quite obviously ready to run. He sat abruptly. "Sorry I thought maybe Potter was going to..." He stopped speaking as he realised he had said too much. Rose's large blue eyes widened further. "You thought, no, I wouldn't of, I'm not like that." She seemed to be struggling to finish her sentences but he knew what she meant. He believed it too, in a weird kind of way.

They both continued to read, making notes occasionally, in silence. The uncomfort of the situation slowly evaporated and an air of calm settled itself gently over the pair. "Thank you." Rose suddenly said quietly and without looking up. Scorpius didn't bother hiding his confusion. She looked up "for coming I mean. I didn't think you would."

God; why did his eyes have to be such a startling colour? It did hell to her concentration. In fact his appearance in general was slightly distracting. Not that he was good-looking, she told herself, well not that he was that good-looking, he was just very… umm… striking.
"Neither did I." Damn. What had they been talking about? Maybe it would just be best to nod and smile, that usually worked. "I nearly turned back at one point." Oh yes, that was what they were speaking about. Malfoy smiled apologetically at her.
"Well, you didn't so, I guess that it doesn't matter." She blinked several times lowering her head before being able to make the same commit action with her eyes. Scorpius tried to subtly wipe his face, worried he had something on it that was making her stare. She glanced up again blushing as he spotted her doing so. She seemed to do it a lot; blush that is, he thought, apparently it was a family trait or at least he had heard her friends teasing her about the "Weasly blush". The red nearly covered her freckles, which was a shame. He rather liked freckles.

He shook his head dispelling the thought. He simply meant that he had wanted them as a child; he reassured himself, and nothing else. Though, there was something about ginger hair that seemed to that seemed to long for freckles, together they made a perfect combination which… "Gillyweed" he muttered to himself, trying to control his thoughts.
"Pardon?" Rose questioned.
"Nothing." He quickly replied feeling as though the relevant statement he had made was something she should not have heard.

He pretended to read through the book even though he already knew most of the stuff written there. Weasley probably did too; to be honest the whole thing was a little ridiculous. He didn't mind though. It beat sitting on his own he guessed.

Suddenly a loud, rumbling sound broke the quiet. Scorpius jumped, Rose gasped, "I'm sorry." She stuttered "I haven't eaten…" another large rumble "yet." She stated as though no more explanation was necessary. Scorpius laughed. He truly laughed. It felt good doing so; it had been so long. Rose glared, but it was different this time, he could see her biting back a giggle. "Scorpius Malfoy!" he liked the way it sounded when she said his name, even if she was feigning horror, "Are you laughing at me?" He looked her in the eye raising a single brow in an isn't-it-obvious? gesture. Her stomach roared again and this time they both burst out laughing.

"Should we go and get lunch?" she barely managed to ask. "We" Scorpius thought his smile broadening further. Rose pushed her chair back and stood slowly recovering from her hysterics. Scorpius joined her and, together, they walked towards the great hall. It was only when they reached the bottom of the library steps and Rory Bogg, a first year, watched them chatting with a look of utter disbelieve on his face that they realised what they were doing was a bad idea.

They both stopped in their tracks "umm…" Rose mumbled trying to think of a nice way of saying it.
"This isn't going to work." Scorpius was looking determinedly ahead as the words left his mouth. He turned to gauge her reaction. Wide eyes, mouth in a small "O", she was simply surprised, he quickly analysed.
"No, no you're right it's not." Her lips turned slightly down at the corners; either she was disappointed or a very good actress. "unless…" she let her words trail off. Her eyebrows were knitted together and she was biting her bottom lip, her eyes searched his face as if looking for the answer there, working out whether or not she could trust him. He shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable under such close inspection. "No. It won't work." She said bluntly "we'll have enter the hall separately and eat separately too. I'll see you in care of magical creatures I guess." The whole while she spoke she didn't take her eyes off the floor. And then she went. She left.
"yeah, see you then." Scorpius sighed into the empty hall.

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