Hermione explained to Rose that in the past all prefect rounds were done with the fellow prefect from your same house. Of course this changed after the war when everyone's goal was to promote interhouse cooperation as if forcing the mingling of dissimilar students would repair all that had been damaged in the real wizarding world. But it was beneficial to Rose because it meant that once a week she and Scorpius were paired up. If she were lucky, it was more than once.

With the rumors, Rose and Scorpius made a concerted effort to insist Albus was always with them when they traveled between classes or saw one another in the kitchens or on the grounds. The gossip continued but it was no longer so loud. Time had helped — and exhaustion too. It was draining to care so much but after their separate discussions with their parents it seemed both felt the need to. And though it was those conversations that motivated them, both Rose and Scorpius failed to share what it was that was said. Really, they didn't need to. It was all as expected, just fragments of a past they didn't understand blinding their still-broken parents from a more sensible reality.

Scorpius didn't wait for Rose outside of the Gryffindor common room the way he once would have. Instead the two met down by the greenhouses. It was a chance at privacy before the night dwindled to nothing and forced them into bed. It was also an easy target for students, especially couples, seeking out a similar seclusion. If Rose and Scorpius subtracted points early (and always fairly) they could spend the rest of their rounds catching up.

The pair now stood at the very top of the west clock tower and began their descension toward the hospital wing. Their feet moved slowly, realizing they'd had yet to talk of anything of substance. Rose released a heavy exhale in resolve, giving in. "So where to?"

Scorpius seemed shocked to hear her voice and it was quickly clear that her question had taken him out of whatever deep thoughts he was previously lost in. He forced a smile, a habit that bought him time as Rose's question registered. But then: "Huh?"

She smirked, staring to the floor then back up again. "If you're leaving England, where are you going?"

Scorpius grinned too. "Oh, you're back on board with me leaving now?"

Rose stopped walking. Her shoulders immediately deflated and her face seemed pained. "I've always been on your side, Scor. Don't do that…" she warned.

He gave a lopsided smile in apology and as he fell back into a stride Rose joined him, both unable to look at one another. "I don't know," he finally began in a tone that proposed a truce. "I thought New York. That's an easy one. Or maybe San Francisco."

"Chicago's branch of the American ministry is a good one," Rose pointed out.

"DC's is good too," Scorpius agreed. He wasn't sure whether her clear research offended or warmed him. She was supporting him but encouraging something he was still so anxious of.

Rose forced another smile. "So many options…" If he didn't know her, Scorpius would have been fooled by her bright features.

He sighed out, stopping them again. "Rose?"

"You said I didn't think you'd leave...well that couldn't be further from the truth, Scorpius. I know you'll leave and I don't want you to. This has nothing to do with your future and everything to do with mine."

"What?" Scorpius blinked, finally taking her in. It was the first time she'd truly looked to him and his mind needed snapshots of the rouge in her cheeks or the somewhat frizzy state of wavy hair she'd clearly attempted to brush through. "That's...you'll be okay here, Ro."

"Yes, I will," she confirmed, letting out an almost condescending laugh. "With you. Everything that scares me about next year and after graduation is okay because I know you'll be here with me. But now—"

"You don't need me here," Scorpius urged. There was a certain pleading in his voice.

"But I want you here, Scorpius," she whined earnestly, nearly stomping her foot as her body fought to contain all of its frustration. It brought the moment into sharp focus, zooming them toward a reality that demanded their honesty all at once. Neither breathed as the weight of Rose's words stunned them both. Her tiny fists were balled at her sides and he towered above her, both staring, waiting for the other to say something. When the silence continued, Rose pushed out an unsteady exhale as Scorpius shifted, seemingly to walk away.

"Scor—"

He didn't turn like she expected and the way he stepped forward simply so the two were flush against one another sent shivers down Rose's spine. She could tell he was nervous as his hand shook upon her cheek but Rose didn't have much time to examine it. His lips found hers quite easily, coaxing her hands to soften out of their strong grip as Rose's mouth fell open, releasing a contented whimper. Her arms remained at her sides, all of her still a bit frigid. Scorpius prayed it was surprise and not disgust that had her still feeling so far away. She'd surrendered to the gentle way he tasted her but when they detached and their eyelids fluttered open, he was sure she was ready to run.

"Rose, I—"

There wasn't time. It was as if it all suddenly made sense and the cold and empty corridor the two stood in did little to dissuade their reconnection. It was Scorpius' turn to be hesitant as Rose nearly lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as if insisting that he stay close. Her mouth was so intoxicating Scorpius didn't have the mental capacity to calculate what this all meant. Instead his hands fell to her hips, one creeping up the curve of her spine as his lips fell open in sigh and Rose found her way inside. They were breathless and Rose stood on her toes now, wanting to feel all of him. He was far taller, that had always been apparent, but it was more than just Scorpius' weight that had them stumbling back toward the nearest wall. Without thought Rose wanted her best friend and she came alive at his touch as it confirmed that he wanted her too.

Her mind drifted off as his grip on her hips tightened. Scorpius tossed away one of the flaps of his robe in an attempt to have them just that much closer. The action invited a swift chill into the space that separated them — the opposite of his intention, especially when Rose immediately dropped her hands to his shoulders and gently pushed Scorpius away.

"No, no," she chanted, unable to look at him. Even so, Scorpius could see the heave in her chest and the way her lips, moderately plump, were swollen in a shade of pure scarlet.

"No?" he countered, slightly amused. His other option was one of anger and he couldn't hate his best friend for being level headed. He had attempted the very thing for many years now and only recently did he feel powerless against all of the feelings he'd so long suppressed.

"I...we can't, Scor. I'm sorry, I just…" She nearly floated away, taking small steps backward before finally feeling freed by the distance that separated them, thinking it enough to dismiss her from the moment. Scorpius didn't watch her go. Instead he collapsed into the same wall they'd moved upon, pressing his fingertips to his lips before running a hand through his hair in anger. It was only the clatter of wood upon stone that had him looking up. He must have thrown his wand before collapsing and it now rolled back toward him before landing in a patch of moonlight right at his feet.

~!~

"I can't believe she didn't wait for us," Scorpius bemoaned. The cool and slightly damp March air had his arms crossed over his chest as he and Albus passed the gates leading out of Hogwarts.

"She said she wanted time in Tomes and Scrolls without us. Apparently we aren't patient."

"I'm plenty patient I just can't stand looking at the same books over and over again," Scorpius deflected.

Albus made a mental pause before shrugging. "Well that's what she said."

The sun was continuing to rise, meaning some of the morning's chill was dwindling. Unfortunately Scorpius' posture was still stiff, showing that it was irritation and disappointment he was fighting, not the cold.

"Are you two okay?" Albus finally asked, breaking the silence.

"What? Yeah."

"I was leaving the Gryffindor common room when Rose came in last night and she was—"

"Crying?"

Albus blinked. "No..." he said, almost in question. "Should she have been crying?"

"Oh, no, I just assumed with the way you said..."

Albus shook his head. "She looked...frazzled. Her face was flushed and she just looked...out of it."

This time there were no theatrics. Scorpius just looked away, concentrating on the uneven path below. "Oh."

Albus played alone, patiently inserting his own beat of calculation. "You know nothing about that?"

"I…" All of his breath was eradicated through his nose, even as he unclenched his jaw. "We may have snogged."

Albus' stare widened considerably. "What?"

"It's happened before so it's hardly—"

"Again, what?" Albus repeated, this time in a way that was unintentionally comical.

"She pushed me away—"

"Yeah, but it happened again," he reminded.

"Well she didn't push me away the first time," Scorpius huffed. "Your aunt interrupted."

"My aunt knows you've snogged?"

Albus' volume had Scorpius quickly surveying their surrounding area, wondering who was close enough to overhead. When he found the two were alone, he softened, even giving a light chuckle. "Definitely not."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

"Well she either ignores it or runs away or runs away then ignores it so it doesn't matter how much it has happened she clearly doesn't want it to happen again. Her refusing to walk with us today is proof of that. So if she wants to ignore it then fine. We'll ignore it."

"You'll just act like it's not a big deal that you've snogged?"

"If that's what she wants then yes, I will. Some days I'm still astonished that Rose even talks to me, much less considers me a best mate. If she doesn't want to snog then so be it. I'm not going to push it."

Albus sighed, wondering momentarily where his loyalty should lie as his mind raced in calculation. "I thought...the other night I thought you meant you just wanted to shag her. I didn't get that it was more than that."

"Uh, yeah…"

Albus snickered. "Yeah? Why are you being so casual?"

"I'm just coming to terms with it!" Scorpius revealed, his shoulders shrugging and his voice going up in pitch to show how helpless his own emotions had him feeling. "I don't know when it happened or why but it's how I feel and now that I've realized that I'm working on pushing all of that down."

Albus chuckled. "Yeah? And how's that going?"

"Like shit," Scorpius deadpanned. Soon though his features intensified in self imposed worry. "You can't tell her!"

"Of course I won't tell her. But how do you know she doesn't know? Or even feels the same way?"

"All signs point to her not liking me as anything other than a friend."

Albus paused. "I don't know," he stated, his voice slow. "I always kind of thought she fancied you."

"Really?" Scorpius' attempt at hiding his feelings was a poor one, as already his tone brightened at the mere thought of those feelings being reciprocated.

"Well, to be honest...no," Albus returned, causing Scorpius to sink back into himself. "For as nice as Rosie is she holds her cards close. Even with me. But it's...you're going to laugh but it's the way my uncle Ron looks at you."

Scorpius didn't laugh. Instead, his mouth twisted and his eyes narrowed. "What the fuck does that mean?"

"It means that he can see through Rose. He knows something's up."

"No, it means he can tell I have feelings for her—"

"Yeah but if he thought she didn't return those feelings, he wouldn't care. But it's like...you worry him."

Scorpius' attention was on the space in front of them where all at once Hogsmeade had materialized, revealing an already busy Saturday morning on the town's main street. "Bloody hell."

"I don't know. Maybe I'm thinking too much into it."

"Yeah, Maybe." Scorpius agreed, defeated. He was hopeless and somehow revealing all of this to Albus, something Scorpius assumed would be liberating, had only made it worse. "What?"

"Do you know how many times I've had to listen to all of your shag tales? You're always so confident and—"

"What are you saying?"

"She makes you nervous."

"Rose has always made me nervous. Have you met the girl? She's bloody terrifying."

Albus laughed. "She can be."

"Thanks for the support, mate."

"Hey, it's a good thing," Albus assured with a firm tap to his best friend's shoulder. "Everyone else sees sweet, calm Rose. You get the version the rest of us get...the version her family gets. The passion and the opinions and the stubbornness. I love her but she's honestly a right pain in the arse."

~!~

All week the boys had discussed their need to head to the sporting goods shop to have their quidditch gloves stretched. A rather nasty practice held in the rain had the leather feeling tight. It also gave the pair an excuse to look at all the newly released quidditch memorabilia while they waited. Scorpius didn't need to feign excitement as he thumbed through the latest team roster books where inside photos of players, new and old, graced each glossy page. It was a good distraction but soon Scorpius' mind was wandering again, wondering not only where Rose had disappeared to but if she'd talk to him when he finally found her. The thought that perhaps she wouldn't had his mind teetering between hopeful and terrified. He also felt bad, thinking now about all that he and Rose kept from Albus, the same person that had always linked them.

Apparently Scorpius didn't need to feel bad. Albus told Lily Luna he'd see her at Zonko's and he used the meeting to separate himself from his best friend, essentially inviting a now impatient Scorpius to seek Rose out. He was understanding and unsettlingly so, forcing Scorpius to examine the possibility of all Rose had shared with her cousin. Or, even more unnerving, it was possible that Rose would continue to be incensed at him, now because he decided to share their private moments with someone else.

Only an hour or so had passed since his arrival, meaning it was likely Rose was still in the bookshop. If he and Albus let her, she'd use all five allotted hours to pick through the store's new deliveries: dusty textbooks on herbology, counterspells, and the history of cauldrons. Each Hogsmeade visit saw the redhead shrinking a large stack of books into her bag for her to devour once she made it back to her dorm.

A bell floating overhead signaled Scorpius' arrival and he immediately stepped aside to let several classmates out the door while he stood, his hands stuffed into his jeans as he craned his neck in search of Rose. His inattention and the sometimes disadvantageous nature of his height had Scorpius nearly barreling into a knot of Slytherin girls. He didn't see them but it was all too clear that they had seen him.

"Hey Scorpius," the blonde said casually.

He let his steel colored orbs float down to the group, taking each of them in: Francesca Tutt, Grace Selwyn and Gianna Russo. "Oh, hey Frankie," he attempted in equal parts apology and disregard.

The girls were all dressed as if they were out in London and not enjoying an unrealistically cold day off in the quaint village near their boarding school. But Scorpius knew each of them and on any other day he might have stopped to talk to them, maybe even followed them as they headed to lunch. But the more he felt himself falling for Rose Weasley the more he seemed to need to prove himself worthy of his last name as if fighting for something you were unsure of was enough to grant you freedom from it.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the way Wyatt lied about you and Rose. Such a tragedy. It's really unfair."

Scorpius stopped, seemingly unaware that he was still close enough to the girls for one of them to call on him. "Uh, yeah, thanks," he muttered with a smile as fake as it was wide.

The voice belonged to Frankie and he remembered how unbelievably sweet the girl could be when hidden away in her own world. The real world, or the microcosm of it that existed at Hogwarts, prompted a certain nastiness from her, one that was previously so easy to ignore. Something today had her feeling bold as if she had forgotten that her family's side of things no longer came with any power.

"I mean, I know you're friends but I just wanted to let you know that none of us believed it. How could we?"

Scorpius' gaze narrowed in slight offense. "Well, like you said, she's my friend so—"

"Yeah but she's a Weasley and a Gryffindor."

"Alright well—"

"I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm glad the rumors are just rumors because—"

"Francesca, I know where you're going with this so I'm going to stop you before you embarrass yourself," he managed plainly before putting his hands back in his pockets. "Have a good day, ladies." He nodded in their direction then disappeared behind the nearest shelf of books, hoping he'd done so with a convincing amount of purpose.

"That wasn't very nice."

Scorpius turned around at the sound of the voice, one in a much softer tone, gaining his attention. Rose stood at the end of the aisle, a smaller book opened in her palms. She didn't look up to him but Scorpius saw the way her avoiding glance rested comfortably above a pouted smirk.

"Me?" he asked instinctively as he took only two strides to settle in beside her. He leaned against the bookshelf, using his elbow to hold him up while Rose continued to read. "Did you hear what she said about you?"

Scorpius studied Rose's features, becoming endlessly distracted by the intense ruby shade of her lips while he waited for an answer. Her usually messy waves were subdued by a slouchy knit cap and a similar wool jumper drowned her upper half. All of her blended into the stacks of textbooks that surrounded them but her skin was still impossibly pale beneath all her freckles and when she finally turned to look to Scorpius he believed, if only momentarily, that she'd completely forgotten about their kiss.

"She doesn't know me and she clearly fancies you," Rose explained simply. "I don't care what she thinks."

"She was being offensive."

"Perhaps." Rose didn't even shrug. Instead she returned her attention to the book in her hands, slowly clasping it shut and putting it back before side stepping away from Scorpius to explore another.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" His voice was nervous — desperate.

"I didn't wait for Albus either. I wanted—"

"Time to look at books. I know."

"Time to clear my head," Rose corrected, her eyes still trailing from line to line as she read. "Everyone has so many opinions lately. I just wanted some quiet. It's nothing personal."

Scorpius nodded slowly. "Right."

Rose took the book in her hands and closed it but unlike the previous one she added it to the pile levitating near her hip. In all of his haste Scorpius hadn't seen the stack but he wasn't surprised to find it contained many books, each leatherbound script in varying sizes and colors.

Finally, Rose looked to Scorpius. She blinked and he swallowed but when her eyes fluttered shut for just a moment too long she sighed, inviting them both back to the present. "I'm going to pay for these and then I was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat."

"Yeah, sure." Scorpius brightened considerably. He pointed over his shoulder toward the door. "Albus should be—"

"Alone."

Rose's voice made no apologies, leaving Scorpius no other option but to raise his brows and nod. "Oh...yeah. Sure."

Scorpius wished he could say that Rose disappeared but instead she made a rather clear path toward the register where a small queue had formed, weaving through mismatched tables piled high with new releases. Even as Rose made it to the register to pay Scorpius couldn't take his eyes off of her. When a patron would pass in front of him, blocking his vision, he'd make a small step in Rose's direction or straighten his posture to get a better glimpse of her. It was almost as if Scorpius had feared Rose would vanish the second he took his eyes off her.

It was just the back of her form but Scorpius knew by the look on the shopkeeper's face that the two were deep in a clearly animated conversation, likely about one of the books Rose was purchasing. She extended a handful of galleons but her delicate hand remained suspended as she listened, likely hearing the older woman ask about her mother and father. For only a brief moment Scorpius wondered what that was like, for the judgement cast down upon you to be positive in nature. But Rose deserved it regardless and she always handled it so graciously. She'd brush off the infamy in her last name but she was just as proud of her parents as they were of her.

Scorpius managed to make his way outside, deciding it was more sensible than the alternative he had considered which involved him meeting Rose at the registers and offering to take her parcels then. A similar dance occurred when she finally greeted him, where the two exchanged bags: Scorpius in an instinctual show of gallantry and Rose out of curiosity for what had been purchased at the sports shop in her absence.

"You didn't get anything?" she inquired upon only seeing his freshly stretched gloves wrapped in paper inside the crisp paper bag.

Scorpius shook his head. "Nothing caught my eye."

"Did you see the rosters? I haven't made it over yet but I know the Cannons actually have a chance of winning something this year with their new beater…" Her voice trailed off, all of her waiting for Scorpius to poke fun at her inherited taste in quidditch teams. Her deliberate words were met with silence. The pair was almost to The Three Broomsticks so she stopped, grabbing for Scorpius' wrist in the middle of the town square. They were exposed for all the village to see but this made more sense, as the excitement of a day off school grounds made for a muffled conversation not promised to them by the pub they'd soon enter.

"Why are you being weird?" Rose questioned.

"I'm...I'm not."

"Where did cocky Scorpius go?" she pushed. "I miss my arrogant best friend."

Scorpius paused, mustering up a courage that seemed so unfamiliar with Rose around. Then again, her fingers still circled his wrist and the pair stood rather close despite the looks they were starting to receive. With a heavy sigh, he spoke. "He was knocked down a few pegs when his best friend snogged him and pushed him away."

Rose flashed a smile before brushing past him, stepping forward to open the door to the pub. Scorpius shuffled in behind her and as they were greeted by the noise and stuffiness of a crowded bar, Rose made her way for a small table tucked away in the corner, one that required the friends to walk past several occupied booths where male Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws studied Rose in the very same way Frankie had done to him earlier. But there was more reverence; more curiosity and wonder but the very same disappointment when their eyes cast upon Scorpius as if witnessing the errors Rose made when deciding who was worthy of her time.

The silence continued as they shrugged out of their jackets and took a seat. Thankfully two menus already existed upon the table meaning it was easy for Rose to distract herself and for Scorpius, once again, to be lost in her presence. It was only when they looked up to order that Scorpius realized Rose was not avoiding him but instead ignoring the stares thrown their way. The discovery had him shrinking down upon his seat but also provoked a calm within him. It helped when Rose finally spoke up, interrupting the internal argument he had started where he challenged himself to do the very same.

"I'm sorry. About last night," she clarified.

"Sorry for...kissing me?"

"You kissed me, actually."

Rose's slight grin gave Scorpius the confidence to counter. "And you kissed me back. At first."

"I...I froze."

"It's happened before." Scorpius shrugged, assuming that maybe it was indifference Rose wanted from him.

"Yeah and we ignored it then."

"I didn't ignore it. I wanted to talk about it but then you left dinner angry and then we were back here and people were talking..." Rose stirred her lemonade with her straw. "We don't have to talk about it. I just...I'm confused."

"So am I."

"You are?"

"Why does that surprise you?"

"I just feel like you regretted it. You...you fucking ran away."

Rose scoffed out a laugh, seemingly weighed down by a similar amount of disbelief. "Yeah I just...I didn't know how to react."

"It's okay if..."

"I won't be one of your girls, Scorpius." Her tone was serious and her gaze demanded his attention as all signs of jest immediately vanished.

Scorpius sat forward, clearly moved by his discomfort. "Excuse me?"

"I told you that. I know you're trying to be mature and limiting the girls you shag—"

"Not limiting." He was offended now, but also angry at himself for all he'd done to make Rose see him just as everyone else did. "And it's not an attempt if I've been successful. I've stopped completely."

"Yeah and maybe you miss it. I don't know. But I can't be your fill in."

"Rose, that's...is that really what you think?"

"Yeah. A bit."

"Well I'm sorry," he almost laughed, sitting back in defeat.

"Because it's true?"

"No, because it's not true. At all. And I get it, I'm a cad, but I'm a bit offended you'd think I'd do that to you."

"I just...I don't know."

"Do you...do you regret it then?"

"I don't...no, Scorpius. You're my best friend."

"But that's it?"

"I don't know." His silence has Rose on edge, her voice pleading in a hushed tone as she attempted to drag from him the things even she wasn't ready to confront. "Why is it up to me? What about you?"

"I don't think my opinion matters if you're saying what you're saying."

Rose didn't know what she was saying and that was precisely the problem. There had always been an unspoken attraction between the two, one that exhibited itself as a mere pull for them to be friends, even acquaintances, for reasons neither understood. Then one day it turned into more and Rose found herself so comfortable with the shift she was too terrified to acknowledge it for fear it would go away. Perhaps that was how they'd always be; somewhere between friends and more where the way the other poked fun at their strange habits was made to feel comfortable and even warm because of the sheer amount of trust behind their playful words.

Neither had time to explore it any further. Their food arrived and they both thanked the barmaid, possibly for the interruption and not the steak and ale pies they quickly poked at and began to devour. Somehow their conversation meandered back to quidditch then to the exams they had in classes they didn't share. When it was time for the pair to leave they realized much of the pub had cleared out. Rose's worry over being tardy had her failing to notice Scorpius grabbing her parcel of books to hold with his gloves. They wordlessly made their way out of the establishment, following all of the students as the last of them headed back toward Hogwarts. Already the sun had begun to set, meaning that familiar chill from earlier was rushing back in, forcing Rose and Scorpius to walk nestled together for warmth.

The entrance hall was already bustling with pupils likely planning the rest of their night. Before they could go in and essentially separate, Rose pulled Scorpius back to her. Her features were still of worry, this time because her heart hurt and she didn't know how to fix it. "I...uh, I don't think I've made myself clear. Actually, I know I haven't."

"Huh?"

"Because I don't know. I don't know how I feel or what it all means. I just know since I kissed you I've wanted it to happen again. Even that night on the tube. It's the only time I'm not thinking, Scor. I don't have anxiety over an exam or the stress of letting everyone down. I'm not thinking and for once I don't mind. I don't know. I don't know what changed it's just...it's like this thing I can't control."

"That's not...that's not a bad thing."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Yes, because you've snogged loads of girls and I have not."

"Snogged girls? Well I'd assume not."

Rose smirked, tossing a fist toward his side. "Don't make fun of me you prat."

"Well for a girl that thinks she doesn't have much experience I'll say you snog just fine."

"You're my best friend. You have to say that."

"I really don't. If you were rubbish at it I wouldn't want to do it again."

"What?" Again the light air was gone, replaced by an almost oppressive mood that left both breathless.

Scorpius waited, studying Rose before exhaling. "Does that scare you?"

"If you mean it as more than just a shag—"

"Rose, stop saying that. I'm serious."

"But why? You could have anyone! What changed? Why me?"

"Because you're my best friend!" he tossed back, meeting her in volume with ease. "Because I came to my senses and realized it was time to grow up and face my feelings instead of always burying them in some random bird."

"Choice wording."

He ignored her, not wanting his bravery to escape him before he had the chance to tell her how he felt. "All I know is...I'd be fine snogging you. Just snogging you. If that's all you ever wanted. And trust me, I have never felt that way about anyone, Rose. You know that. Actually...usually I'm fine skipping the snogging—"

"Don't remind me."

"I only meant—"

"You don't do well talking about your feelings, Scor. I know. You're trying to lighten the mood and I get that."

"You just sound like you're frustrated. Like you don't want to feel how you feel—"

"I don't know how I feel, remember?"

"I can respect that."

"You do?"

"Respect that? Sure," Scorpius reasoned.

"No, I mean...you do know how you feel?"

He sighed, taking one last step toward her. This time it was his turn to grab for her, to keep her close and feel her pulse beating underneath his fingertips. "I told you, it doesn't matter if—"

"It matters to me, Scorpius."

They were frozen, made immobil by the freezing temperature and all they still had yet to say. "Then yes," Scorpius released. "I do know how I feel. And it terrifies me because you terrify me and we were only ever supposed to be friends."

"We're still friends, Scor."

"Yeah well lately I don't know if that's all I want to be. I will," he assured firmly. "But I don't...I can't lose you, Rose. So if you just want to forget all of this then that's fine. I'll ignore it and we can just act like it never happened."

"I don't know what I want."

"Then we can ignore it."

"I know what I don't want. I don't want to ignore it."


A/N: Hi! I don't know many of you the way I usually know my readers so I just feel the need to explain myself. I'm so excited about this story but I've been extremely self conscious of my writing lately meaning that not only am I not wanting to post but I'm finding it hard to even write without hating myself. The last chapter also barely received any attention so it did nothing to help me get over that. For those of you who do know me you know that when my readers are energized I am too and I'm posting weekly, if not more. I'm going on vacation at the end of this week meaning I have the opportunity to knock out several chapters. So review please? Let me know what you like! What you didn't like! Let's be friends! Hearing what you think fuels me and encourages me to be better so please share your thoughts!

x. Elle