A.N- I'm really sorry for the delay! I had a little writer's block and then got caught up with things, but I'll try to get back to updating sooner.

Disclaimer: I wish there was a more creative way to say it, but I don't own anything

The next few days were torture. They weren't arguing, or not speaking to each other, although that would have been better. Instead they were completely polite to each other. Maddeningly polite. They only spoke about trivial things, like homework or class, and only when Albus was around. If Albus wasn't there, they would make a pathetic excuse and run away, both thinking that the other was mad at them and wanted to avoid any kind of confrontation.

One day, the three of them were in the common room, talking – or rather Albus was talking and they volunteered monosyllable responses – when Albus stood up and said "I think I'm going to turn in early" and walked upstairs, giving Scorpius a pointed look.

Rose and Scorpius were on the couch; the tension so think you could cut it with a knife. "So…" Scorpius began, when suddenly, Rose stood up. "I think I'll go to bed too, I'm really tired," and she ran off up to her dormitory.

"This is getting ridiculous." Scorpius said, as he walked into his room.

Albus looked up from Quidditch Through the Ages. "Why are you here? I left you guys alone for a reason" Albus asked.

"Because Rose ran away the second you left. Al, I don't know what to do, she won't look at me, let alone talk to me. How am I supposed to apologize? Even if I can't have her as a girlfriend, I still want her as a friend." Scorpius replied.

Albus stood up. "You just have to find a way to tell her. Make her listen."

"How? No offense, we're only in the same room when you're with us, and I can't really bring it up then, the only time we're together and she can't run away is Muggle Studies and – "

Scorpius stopped midsentence and stood up. "That's it! Muggle Studies!"

"You're going to have a heart to heart in the middle of class?" Albus asked.

"No, I have a better idea" he said with a small smile.

"Good, because I'm tired of all the awkwardness. It's like I can't hang out with my two best friends anymore."

Scorpius noticed the tone in his voice. "Al? You don't …mind all of this do you?"

Albus sighed. "I'll admit, I do miss how our friendship was before this whole thing started. But you guys need to get your act together soon otherwise I will go crazy. Just promise me something? If you guys do get together, include me every once in a while, and save all the lovey-dovey stuff for when I'm not there. I may approve, but she's still my cousin."

Scorpius smiled. "Deal. And you know what? Tomorrow is Sunday, let's forget our homework for the day and play some one-on-one Quidditch. We haven't had a – as Rose calls it – "guy's day" in a while.

Albus smiled. "Good. It'll be nice to chill for a day, there's only so much romance I can take.

The next day, Albus and Scorpius were flying on their brooms, playing catch with one of the spare Quaffles. It was nice for them to hang out, they really hadn't done it in a while.

"You know what?" Albus said. "We should do this over the summer. Come over for a month, you can keep me sane around James and Lily, and the rest of the family when we go to the Burrow for a week."

"Really?" asked Scorpius, his eyes shining. "That'd be awesome, you have no idea how boring it is being alone all the time. And Grandfather Lucius is staying with us for a while, so the less amount of time I can spend with him, the better."

"Perfect" Al replied. "You can see first hand what it means to not be alone. Ever. When you have so much family, you sometimes forget everyone's names, and which kid belongs to whom."

Scorpius chuckled. "I guess it must be hard, not having any privacy or down time."

"Oh yeah" Albus said laughing. There are virtually no secrets because there are too many people around, and the Weasleys are notorious for having the biggest mouths ever. You really should be careful about what you say or don't say to people. Especially Uncle George, he'll take anything you say and hold it against you for the rest of your life. I should know, he's been blackmailing me since I was thirteen, when he found out that I was the one who took the Marauder's map and used it to spy on Bonnie Jenkins in our third year."

Scorpius laughed. "I forgot about that! She was so freaked out, I heard she almost went to McGonagall claiming you were stalking her."

"Oh, she did." Albus replied. "I just told McGonagall that it was total coincidence I kept running into her. But I know she didn't believe me. She knows about the map from when my dad had it, but she let me off with a warning."

"Man, you're lucky she likes you." Scorpius said. "Anyone else would have had their butt kicked for doing that. Good thing you've known her forever."

"I think it's more the fact that she knows my mum and Aunt Hermione, and what they would do if they heard. Not to mention my dad's reaction to hearing that I stole the map." Albus looked thoughtful. "Although, Uncle George did tell me some things about dad that if mum found out, she would hex him mercilessly."

Scorpius shook his head. "With a family like that, it's a wonder that you still like them."

Albus smiled. "Trust me, they grow on you. You learn to love them." Albus got a cheeky grin on his face. "And hey, maybe someday they will have to grow on you… as family."

He ducked and laughed when Scorpius threw the Quaffle at his head.

A.N 2- I know there wasn't much Rose/Scorpius moments, but I figured it was time to let Albus in the story again. Let me know what you think! Sorry about the delay again, I'll try not to let it happen in the future.