A/N: Sorry! It's another short chapter, but I needed to add this before the Yule Ball! Also, I've had so little time to write now I'm away! But I hope it gives you something to think about! It may be short, but it is rather important.

"Mr Malfoy!"

He groaned as someone shook him awake. Opening one eye, he saw Timmy's face hovering over him. He yelled and sat up, nearly knocking the kid out. "What the hell are you doing in here?"

Timmy stumbled back, his bottom lip wobbling. "I only came to tell you that Miss Weasley is here to see you."

Scorpius hoisted his legs over the edge of his bed. "Why do you call everyone Mr and Miss? You're not a bloody house-elf." He secretly added that he should expect to be treated no different.

"No, sir, but it's only polite. You should come right away. She's impatient." Timmy held his robes out for him.

Scorpius shoved him promptly out the room, feeling a little disgusted. It was rather obvious that the boy liked him...but Malfoy wasn't like that. He contemplated why Rose wanted to see him. Rub it in his face that she wasn't going to the Ball with him, probably. Then he grinned to himself. When he told her, he'd see who was laughing.

"He's coming, Miss Weasley." Timmy approached Rose hesitantly. She smiled warmly at him, and he couldn't help but reciprocate.

"Was your detention all right?" She asked, leaning against the wall and surveying the little boy. On close inspection, she saw he looked exhausted. His small face was pale and gaunt, and there were dark circles under his eyes. She hoped it wasn't because of Scorpius.

"Oh, yes, thank you, miss. But I've been far too busy helping Mr Malfoy prepare for the tasks." He stifled a yawn. Rose's eyes narrowed. He shouldn't have been getting help. Then she remembered that her dad had helped her uncle an awful lot.

"Why don't you ask him for a break?"

"Oh, no!" Timmy looked aghast. "I didn't mean I don't want to! No, I like helping him!"

Rose sighed. This boy gave far too much, and Malfoy gave far too little to their 'friendship'. Speak of the devil. The portrait leading to the Slytherin Common Room burst open and Scorpius sauntered out. He stopped short as he saw Rose glaring at him.

"Go, Timmy." He commanded, and the boy scampered away. Rose watched him go sadly then turned back to Scorpius. As she opened her mouth to speak, he interjected. "No, I won't be nice to him. He's never yet complained."

She shook her head. "That's not what I'm here for."

"No, I know what you're here for. Well, you can save it. I'm going to the Ball with Rhea."

She raised her eyebrows. "Who?"

His smirk faltered. "A girl. She's a Slytherin, and really pretty..." he said it very half-heartedly.

"Well, good for you."

"Don't talk like that. I've had a lot of offers, she's just who I chose."

"Offers? Really?" She snorted.

"I'm the Hogwarts champion." He had placed himself on a very high pedestal and nothing she could say would knock him off. "Although...some of those who asked me I rather wish hadn't."

"What do you mean?" She was secretly feeling extremely envious, but did her best to mask it.

"Well...let's just say our dear Vladimir hides a lot of secrets under those bushy eyebrows."

She burst out laughing. Malfoy's jaw hardened. Why did everyone think it was so hilarious that many guys liked him? First Timmy, now Vladimir...he hoped he wasn't sending off signals. "I suppose you'll be going alone?"

"It's not really any of your business, Malfoy. Anyway, that's not what I came here for." She fished in her pocket and handed him several pieces of parchment. "These anonymous letters...I think I've noticed a pattern."

He thrust them away from himself. "They're obviously just some stalker. I'd ignore them."

"A stalker who knows a lot about me!"

"I'm not going to lose sleep over it."

"At least let me see your letter!"

He took a long time considering, then delved into his pocket. As he withdrew a piece of parchment and unfolded it, a puzzled expression crossed his face. "I've never seen this one before..."

I know exactly what you've done.
Somehow, I don't think Rose does.
It wouldn't take much for her to find out...
Should I tell her?
You decide. Do what I say.
Or else.

-Anon.

Rose saw his eyes widen and he shoved it in his pocket. "What did it say?"

"N-nothing."

"Scorpius, you have to tell me! There's more to these letters than it seems! Look!" She pushed a letter under his nose. It was the first one she'd ever received. He read it, perplexed. She pursued with her theory. "Read the first letters of each sentence!"

His eyes travelled down it. "Teddy?"

"Yes!" She nodded vigorously.

"As in, Teddy Lupin?"

"Yes." She took the parchment back, and he saw her fingers were shaking. He knew why it said that name. But she didn't know he knew.

He tried to muster up his old drawl. "Why on earth does it say the name of our old Defence Against the Dark Arts professor? Did you have a crush on him or something?"

She threw him a disgusted look. "No, that's my cousin! It's because-" she stopped, realising she'd never told anyone this. "It's about that night."

He had to do his best to pretend this was new news to him. Fortunately, he fancied himself a very good actor. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...I can't say. But that's all I can get from the letters. Teddy. I don't even know if I'm right."

Scorpius shook his head. He thought this was stupid. He didn't want to think about the contents of his letters. He wanted to lock them away in some deep cavern of his mind and never contemplate them again. He gave her a cold goodbye and left.

Rose watched him leave with a heavy heart. She'd hoped he would understand.