At long last things get interesting ;) I've been waiting too long to do this!

But while Albus was testing the demons inside him, stranger tests were threatening to pull the epic three apart.

Test number seven bloomed in the third month of term. Rose should have been patrolling the Hogwarts halls, as a good prefect would. Instead she was hiding in a broom cupboard with a not-so-good Slytherin.

"Rose?"

"Uh hu?"

"What are we doing?"

"I figured that was kinda obvious"

"No I mean us. What's the deal with us?"

Rose leaned back to look at him. "What deal? I think this is a pretty simple arrangement here."

"Then why are we hiding in a broom cupboard?"

"Cause it's after hours"

"And?"

"And what Scor?"

"And you don't want everyone seeing us."

"Scor this is-"

"Why can't we just tell people?"

"Tell people what? That we're…."

"What are we?"

"Exactly"

"Rose you're not-"

"Are we gonna make out or not?"

And so it was for many weeks. But Scor was getting frustrated. He was tired of hiding in broom cupboards with the one girl he liked more than anyone. But Rose wasn't budging.

"No Scor I can't. Not yet."

They were patrolling the halls, Slytherin and Gryffindor prefect. That's when they did most of their talking, out of earshot of Al who, like his father, was not a prefect.

"Why not?" Scor demanded.

"Shhh, keep your voice down," Rose said, looking around. "Scor I just got out of a really bad relationship- my boyfriend cheated on me in America! And the last thing I need is people thinking you're a…rebound."

"Who cares what people think? I just don't like hiding."

"But what about our parents?" Rose asked, wide eyed.

"They don't have to know yet," Scor said gently.

"The minute it's public James will write home, make no mistake. Look Scor, why can't we just be casual?" Rose begged.

"Because I really like you okay!" Scor said and then he stopped himself. The look on Rose's face made his heart sink and then shatter. "You don't feel the same."

"No Scor I just, this is all….very fast," she said, scrambling.

"Not for me. I've liked you for ages," Scor said looking down.

Rose registered this with a bit of shock. "Well Scor I'm still new to this. Just give me time, okay?"

Scor said nothing. Rose glanced around quickly and kissed him. "Okay?" she said again.

"Okay," he said grudgingly and Rose erupted into a huge smile.

But it was not okay. And what kind of friend would Al have been if he didn't notice his best friend brooding more?

It was late on a Tuesday night. The boys were alone in the shack, Rose had a potions club meeting.

"So the book says we should start studying the animal we want, seeing the way it moves so we can- Scor are you listening?" Al said and Scor zoned back in.

"Sorry Al I'm just…miles away."

"Are you okay Scor, you've been so…off lately?" Al said with concern.

"Yeah I'm just conflicted is all."

"Is this about you and Rose?"

Scor's head shot up and he turned a beautiful shade of vermillion. "N-n-o!" he stuttered.

"Scor you two are my best friends. It's my job to notice when you two are unhappy. Did something happen over vacation?" Al asked

"I told Rose I liked her," Scor confessed. He never could keep secrets from his best friend.

Al dropped the book. "And?"

"And we kissed but she said she doesn't want it to go public," Scor said miserably.

"Oh wow that sucks," Al said softly. "So what's the confliction?"

"Should I keep trying Al? Or should I walk away with just a shred of dignity?"

Al sat for a moment, deep in thought. "Love makes fools out of all of us. But sometimes we have to stand up for ourselves."

"So you're saying…"

"I'm saying go with your gut. Girls love that," Al said smiling. "You have my blessing in any case."

"Thanks Al," Scor said, and meant it. He'd been scared Al wouldn't approve of the relationship. "I'm gonna run, okay?"

Al nodded. "I'll finish the chapter and tell you later. Go!"

So Scor ran out of the shrieking shack and back into Hogwarts, down the stairs into the dungeons and ran smack into Rose.

"Scor! I was just heading over to the clubhouse, what are you doing here?" Rose said.

Scor grabbed her by the shoulders. "Rose I like you and I'm not hiding it anymore. You need to choose. Either we do this thing officially or we don't do it at all."

Rose looked up at him, eyes wide. "I need to think about this Scor. Give me a week, please. And then I promise you'll get your answer." And with that she walked off to the shack.

It was one of the worst weeks of Scor's life. The silence between the two was felt all through Hogwarts and Scor feared what her answer would be. What if he'd made a mistake, pressuring her this way? Was it worth losing her forever?

On the Friday that was the last day of that week Scor was sitting at the Slytherin table, eating breakfast- his hand shaking.

"You okay mate?" Sam, his bunkmate, asked.

"Yeah, just a bit jittery is all," Scor confessed, eating his cereal.

"Hey look, that Gryffindor chick is coming over," Sam said and Scor looked over his shoulder to see Rose coming over.

"Rose hey," Scor said turning around. But Rose started talking in a rush.

"Scor this was the worst week of my life, not talking to you. I guess I didn't realize what a void you filled and I can't afford to lose that. Not ever."

Scor stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine Rose, I get it. I'm still your best frie-" he stopped talking as Rose got on her tiptoes and kissed him.

It seemed like the whole great hall stopped talking. Scor stopped thinking, stopped feeling, he was floating. He heard a catcall and he broke the kiss off and turned. Al sat at the Gryffindor table, looking smug.

With a smile Scor turned back to Rose. "I don't ever want to lose you," Rose said softly.

"Like I'd ever let myself lose you," he replied and, bringing his hand around her waist he kissed her deeply.

"That's quite enough Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Weasly," The two of them broke apart, still holding each other, at the sound of McGonagall's voice.

"We do have a some semblance of a physicality code children," she said but she was smiling. The whole head table was. It was the first Gryffindor/Slytherin kiss in their memories. "Ms. Weasly kindly go back to your table."

"Yes Headmistress," Rose said, blushing slightly. But as she turned to leave Scor said,

"Actually I don't think we're very hungry. We'll go get a head start to class if you don't mind Ma'am. Albus?"

Al got up and the three of them left the hall, Scor's arm around Rose's waist, to the catcalls and wolf-whistles of the whole hall.

The second the door closed behind them Scor hugged Rose who hugged Al who hugged Scor.

"I'm so happy for the two of you," Al murmered.

"Do you think we shocked everyone in Hogwarts?" Scor said into Rose's shoulder.

"I think we should be prepared for the incoming howlers," she replied.

But there were no howlers. Instead, both children got letters from their parents hinting they knew but making it clear they'd rather hear it from them. Which they did which led to congradulations and smiles all around.

And so it was that the three passed the seventh test and their friendship stayed strong, relationship or no.

And the fangirls squee! Please leave comments on what should happen next- I'm running into new territory here.