Chapter 10

Exam time was maddening, at least, for those who took their grades seriously. Rose refused to study with Scorpius after they'd gotten absolutely nothing done Thursday night except kiss and stare lovingly at each other in one of the study rooms in the library.

"So, you won't see me again until the exams are over?" Scorpius exclaimed.

"Correct. We can't lose our places. Well, maybe you don't mind being chucked down to number 2," Rose teased him.

So they studied hard—and separately– all weekend long. At night, they took turns owling each other back and forth late into the night.

If I were with you right now, what would we be doing? Rose

She knew just what she was doing. She knew, must have known, how badly he was starting to want her. Scorpius bit his quill, grinning as he scribbled back, You don't want to know.

Of course I want to know, that's why I asked.

I'd read you a book. And then we'd discuss it.

You're a prat, Scorpius. I'd throw the book down and demand that you kiss me.

Isn't that what happened Thursday? And you punished me for it?

I didn't punish you.

Not seeing you is a punishment.

For me, too. It'll be over soon. It'll be worth it when we've both made all Outstanding grades. P.S. We should stop writing for tonight, the owl is getting tired. This last time, he bit me.

And so the two of them carried on through the last of their exams, which fell on a Wednesday. They found they were lucky, because most of their friends and family had exams on the last day, Thursday. The Hogwarts train left at midday on Friday.

After not seeing each other for nearly five days, Scorpius wanted nothing more than to spend all the time he could before the break with Rose. Immediately after breakfast in the Great Hall on Thursday, which was spent in Hogwarts tradition by eating a gigantic holiday breakfast with members of your own house, Scorpius made his way over to Rose, who was sitting in the thick of nearly every member of her family- her brother Hugo, Roxanne, and her brother Fred; James and Albus. Only Lilly Potter was separated; being just a second year, she sat with some friends some ways away and pretending not to see her older brothers, who occasionally sent pelts of balled up napkin flying at her face.

"Hi, Scorpius," Rose breathed, blushing, as she stood up. She gave him a kiss, then hugged him, which surprised him because she was in front of her family. She really must have missed him.

Roxanne looked around eagerly. "Where's Colt?"

"I don't know, actually. He may have an exam," Scorpius said.

"No, he doesn't, not until this afternoon," Roxanne said as she took off, heading in the direction of Hufflepuff.

Scorpius laughed, but stopped short when he saw the looks of almost loathing coming from Albus and James.

"Let's go," Rose said quickly; she must have noticed too.

"You know, Al, I'm still trying to figure out how two barmpot Hufflepuffs managed to make off with our promising cousins? The fuck is Roxy thinking, with that twat she's with? And Rose, well, she plain deserves better than the son of a failed Death Eater," James said with a smirk.

"James!" Rose gasped, her face going pale.

Scorpius felt a wave of both shame and belligerence wash over him. "My father has made his amends. In fact, if I remember correctly, he saved your father's life."

"That's bollocks. You haven't got the story right, but then, I'm not surprised, seeing as how–"

"Shutup, James," Rose hissed. James brushed rudely by her, stepping in between her and Scorpius. He and Scorpius stood eye to eye, neither boy backing down. James got closer to Scorpius' face. "I don't like you with Rose. None of us do. You don't belong with us."

"Shutup, James! You're hateful and a liar!" Rose hissed, tears brimming her eyes. She turned desperately to Scorpius. "Don't listen to him, he's just jealous because I'm happy and he's not! He got ditched and didn't study for any of his exams! He probably failed all of them–"

"Rose, you're being foolish. It won't last. His family's got a long history of prejudice against half bloods. Just ask my parents or even your aunt and uncle about his family and the shite they've been involved in."

"Haven't you got anything better to do than sit around with your folks and talk about the Malfoys? You pathetic arse."

"Better an arse than a Malfoy. A family of cowards and ex-felons–"

Scorpius suddenly shoved James hard, knocking him totally off balance and sending him flying backwards down the aisle. Everyone gasped, and faces turned towards Scorpius, who had drawn his wand, and had it pointed at James. "Say another word about my family, and I'll hex you so terribly you'll be spending Christmas at St. Mungo's in a body cast."

James had leapt to his feet, his wand drawn, his face dark with anger. "Don't you dare threaten me, you son of a bitch."

"And what are you doing to do about it, Potter?" Scorpius said, holding his wand more firmly still. He could hear Rose stifle a sob, but he was too angry now to pay her attention.

"I'd put it down if I were you," Albus was now saying. His wand was pointed at Scorpius. "Two against one, mate."

"Two against two," Marcus interrupted, his wand drawn at Albus. "I've seen your spell work. It's pure rubbish."

"You, there! Boys!"

It was Professor Flitwick, coming towards them quickly.

"Don't get expelled before the break! Please! Let's go!" Rose whispered to Scorpius, tugging at his hand. So angry he could hardly speak, he allowed Rose to drag him away through the crowd that had formed. Once outside the dining hall, he pulled away from her roughly, shoving his hands angrily in his pockets, trying hard not to show how upset he was over what had just happened. The freezing cold air helped to calm him, and that was fortunate. His mind was jumbled with nerves and rage. He wanted it to be untrue, all of it. He'd fought so hard his whole life not to be anything like his father, who was cold, arrogant, too proud for his own damn good. He'd been taunted early in his years for the crimes of his father and grandfather, before he'd learned to fight back. He could see now he'd never fully live it down. It wasn't fair. He had nothing to do with Voldemort or Death Eaters. He'd been so ashamed that everyone seemed to know how his grandfather had been to prison for his involvement with the Death Eaters. He'd heard the hushed whispers about how his father had tried to kill the old Headmaster. His father still bore the mark on his left forearm, and spent far too much time downing tonics and ale alone in his study.

"Scorpius, please! Talk to me!" Rose said, as she gulped in her breath. He hadn't realized he was walking so fast, and that she was practically running to keep up with him. "Please!"

Rose grabbed his arm, stopping him, pulling him towards one of the corners where they wouldn't be so obvious. Scorpius didn't look at her; couldn't. His jaw clenched with things he wanted and didn't want to say.

"I'm just so sorry. I'm so humiliated! They had no right! James had no right! I-I-I'll never speak to him again!" Rose said, her voice high, trembling. She gasped in her desperation, then threw herself against Scoripus, burying her face into his neck.

He just couldn't find it in him to return the embrace, not after what had just happened. He'd been provoked. He'd wanted to kill James with his bare hands.

"Won't you hold me? Won't you even look at me?" Rose said, leaning up at him. She reached up to him, turning his face towards hers.

Such a beautiful face…and her incredible blue eyes…

It only made Scorpius hurt even worse. "He was right. My family is prejudiced. They won't accept you. My father warned me to stay away from your family."

There. He'd said it. Now she could just get angry and end it with him, and he could spend the holidays nursing his heart back to health and trying to forget her.

Rose sniffed, shaking her hair out of her eyes. She stepped closer to him, looking into his eyes, searching beyond his words to find the real meaning. "And what of his warnings? Did you heed them? What about you? Do you accept me as a half blood?"

Her tears spilled over as she watched him, waiting.

"I do...but..." he shook his head, looking away from her. He'd never be able to walk away with her watching him the way she did now.

"You're worth it to me. You're worth giving us a chance," she said. "If you...if we care enough...if we love each other. And I do love you." She wiped her face, and took a step back. "But if you don't feel the same, if you don't think so, then you're right, it can't work."

She turned to leave when he grabbed her. "Don't walk away. I love you," he told her. "I want to be with you, Rose."

Rose let out a noise that sounded like a mix between a laugh and a sob. She lunged into his arms, and there in the corridor, they held each other, Scorpius pressing his face against the soft silk of her hair, breathing her in. "We mustn't let them come between us. Not anyone, not ever. They can't break us apart," she whispered.

"They can't," he agreed. They sealed their promise to each other with a kiss, then two kisses, then three, when Rose stopped suddenly, took a deep breath, then grabbed his hand. "Let's go somewhere. Now."

"Where?"

"A place I know about. Come with me."

And Scorpius' heart beat now to a different rhythm as he allowed himself to be led by Rose back into Hogwarts, up several flights of winding staircases, and finally down a long hall before they stopped in front of a brick wall, covered by a large tapestry.

"Close your eyes," Rose instructed once they'd stopped. "Don't open them until I say."

Obediently, he did as he was told. He heard what sounded to be her pacing back and forth, and mutter something under her breath. Then, he heard the sound of a door being opened.

"You can open your eyes now."

Scorpius was in a warm, cozy room. There were several windows, each with breathtaking views of the snow falling outside. Large, vanilla scented candles were neatly arranged against the wall. There were bookshelves, and thick rugs on the floor. In the center of the room was a giant mahogany poster bed decorated with elaborate bedding. Off to the left, he could see a small bathroom.

"Bloody hell! What is this? A secret prefect room?" Scorpius asked in amazement.

"This," Rose said, "is the Room of Requirement."