Disclaimer – I don't own anything

Life was passing by as slowly as I could ever recall. Autumn was morphing into winter at a slow, dull pace and nothing of any remarkable significance was happening at Hogwarts. Classes were ongoing and a steady routine of lessons, homework, eating and sleeping formed. My sleepless nights were steadily improving, whilst I was nowhere near to getting a full night of rest, it was improving ever so slightly. Al continued to visit the counsellor; unsurprisingly I did not return to Marjorie. Our lives were for the most part, boring. I couldn't help but compare my school life to that of my parent's – there's was so extraordinary and here I was quietly getting by. Of course, I would not wish to have a life like theirs once was (my experience over summer saw to that), but I expected school to be a little more interesting every once in a while. Since James and Fred graduated last year there had been no-one to fill their shoes in setting off pranks and making a dramatic scene every once in a while. Many a time in the Great Hall would James be having a rather public confrontation with one of a long line of girls he'd messed around, whilst I don't condone his treatment of the opposite sex, he was entertaining to have around.

I missed my elder cousins very much, though at the time of their leaving I revelled in the idea that myself and Al would be the oldest of the family in school and the idea of not being teased by James was euphoric. I began to miss them, not just James and Fred; I missed the glamour that Victoire radiated, so much so you felt that by just being with her some of it was rubbing off on you and Dom's confidence, ruthless, but confident. Of course, we had our younger family members; Lily, lovely little Lily with the fire of the world in her belly, Louis, the prettiest boy the world has ever produced and Hugo, my dopey little brother. They were all fifteen and closer in age than the younger lot of Roxy, Lucy and Molly but I still saw them all as much younger than myself and Al, perhaps with the exception of Lily who was growing up much too fast for anyone's liking, most especially her elder brother's. Lily was beginning to attract the attention of the male student body -which was no surprise- she was small, slim and sweet, the perfect combination for a lot of boys. Al did his best to fend them off when they got too close, as did Hugo and Louis, though I'm not sure how much longer their defences will hold.

"Earth to Rose," my best friend waved his cereal spoon in front of me. "are you away with the fairies again?" Al laughed and flapped his arms to mimic a fairy's wings.

"I'm a little out of it," I admitted, last night wasn't a good night. "is that your Potions homework?" I nodded down to the scribblings that Al was adding to in between mouthfuls. Al and I were in the same class and I'd finished that assignment at least a week ago. Al was far too laid back when it came to school work, I can't imagine why anyone would put so much pressure on themselves to finish work half an hour before it was due in. There are obviously two types of people in the world; those who finish things early so they can relax until it needs to be handed in and those like Al, who would rather enjoy their time until just before it needed to be finished. I am not like Albus.

"Yeah," he said casually. "nearly done, no biggie."

"No biggie," I repeated in disbelief. "I hope you have a better attitude for the end of year exams."

"I'll be fine," he flashed his teeth, grinning. "I always am, aren't I?"

"Somehow" I agreed.

The Hall was filling out now as more people arrived for breakfast. Each table becoming increasingly more crowded until almost every seat was filled with people scoffing down copious amounts of toast and cereal. I chatted away with Al whilst he finished his work, occasionally correcting his grammar and sentence structure, something which he always struggled with.

As usual, the flurry of Owls swooped grandly around the hall dropping off letters, parcels and newspapers. I always liked this tradition, I enjoyed watching the Owls fly – so free, so elegant. I enjoyed this morning's display as much as any other until I saw the ghastly front page of the Daily Prophet that landed with a thud on my lap. Smeared across the cover was a picture of me, presumably on file from the kidnapping, it was an awful photo to say the least. I looked tired, dishevelled and probably much like how I looked at this very moment. This, however, was not the worst part of the tabloid's front page – that honour fell to the boy whose picture accompanied my own. Scorpius Malfoy.

SUMMER ROMANCE – MALFOY BOY AND WEASLEY GIRL

A source has exclusively revealed to the Daily Prophet the intimate details of a secret relationship that developed over what was a tragic summer for the pair. Rose Weasley, 17, and Scorpius Malfoy, 17, entered a relationship over the summer months whilst Weasley resided at Malfoy Manor under orders of the Ministry of Magic during the rebellion that eventually led to the pairs kidnap along with, Albus Potter, 17.

"They are or were definitely dating." our well informed source reveals. "Definitely a couple."

That was all I could read up to until Al snatched the paper away from me, a look of sheer horror plastered on his face. I didn't say anything as the word rapidly spread around the room. It was like a ripple in water; people told the person next to them and so on and so on. For me, it felt more like a tsunami washing over me, knocking me off my feet with every look and murmur in my direction. I could hear tiny snippets of conversations all blending into one big violent mess inside my head "Is it true? How? He's out of her league. Poor Scorpius. I can't believe it. Rose. Scorpius. Weasley. Malfoy".

I couldn't help it – I looked. I looked at him and immediately wished I hadn't. Scorpius' face was contorted angrily; shouting at people, staring at me.

The room was spinning, Al was in my face and all I wanted to do was for the ground beneath me to open up and swallow me whole. My whole life I'd felt invisible and now I hated myself for every damn time I wished that people would notice me, for now I wanted nothing more than to be invisible.

"Is it true, Rosie? I need to know," Al practically shook my shoulders, desperately urging me to speak.

"No," I said, not really recognising my own voice in a trance-like state of disbelief and confusion. "it's not. I promise you, Albus."

"That's all I needed to know," Al said softly before grabbing my hand tightly, pulling me out of my seat.

"Al, I don't understand," I stuttered as we made our way through the hall, trying my absolute hardest to block out any passing comments. "nothing happened."

"What did you just say?" Al stopped dead just in front of the door, bringing me to a standstill with him. Al let go of my hand and placed me just behind him defensively.

"You heard, Potter," Scorpius spat. Of course it was Scorpius, of course. I hated to see him like this – the Scorpius I met over summer would not speak to anyone this way. "your cousin is a complete psychopath."

I was numb. Completely and utterly numb.

"Say that again, Malfoy. I dare you." Al squared up to Scorpius, shoving him slightly.

"You do, do you?" Scorpius smirked, stepping backwards as he did so, clearly not wanting a fight with Al. Scorpius began to address the people around him, the majority a congregation of his Slytherin pals. "I could never like somebody like her, whoever sold that story to the Prophet is delusional, speaking of – it was probably Rose who sold the story herself. The delusional little girl is obsessed with me. We're not even friends."

"Fuck you, Malfoy," was all Al said before punching him square in the jaw. "that is for my best friend. Come on, Rosie."

I don't remember much between leaving the hall and getting to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where I now lay with Al. Al had convinced me that we needn't go to the morning's lessons, he said that he would have ended up murdering somebody – plus I knew he hadn't finished his assignment yet. Normally I would be totally against skipping lessons without permission but this time even I couldn't face it. I could barely face this.

For as long as I lived I would never forget the words that came out of Scorpius' mouth and if there was life after death, I would still remember with a painful clarity.

We're not even friends.

Delusional little girl.

Psychopath.

"Rosie," Al said quietly. "what happened? Between you and Scorpius? I mean the guy risked his life for you over summer and then, well, then that."

"I don't know," I answered honestly, fighting back the tears as I remembered some of the times me and Scorpius had shared over summer. "I wish I knew."

"Rose?" I heard the door creak open before I heard Scorpius calling for me. How was I going to explain this? I wiped at my face furiously trying to disguise my tears to no avail as he rushed into the room asking what had happened. I didn't know what to say so I just shrugged. Where was I meant to start? I didn't even know where the start was anymore.

"Rose, don't cry. I don't like it when people cry."

"I'm glad you're getting to know the nice Scorpius, the one that goes to school is a bit of a ponce."

"He doesn't have to be," I reassured. "and the only Scorpius I want to get to know is the real one."

"How did you know I wouldn't be dressed?" I asked, slightly offended that he assumed by 11am I would still be in my pyjamas. He was right, of course, but that isn't the point.

"Because I know you Rose," he smiled before heading toward the door. "now get dressed, do you want your present or not?"

"And this," he outstretched both hands towards a beautiful view of a lake and the fading sun creating a magical mixture "is the Scorpius Malfoy Birthday experience, phase two. Do you like it?"

"I love it," I answered genuinely, taking a seat next to Scorpius who'd perched himself on the edge, dangling his legs off the small drop. "it's beautiful."

"Because, believe it or not Rose, I care about you. I don't want you to die. You can't go walking into their trap, not alone." Scorpius' tone changed. "You're going to go anyway, aren't you? There's no way I can stop you?"

"Not at all" I confirmed.

"Then I'm coming with you." he said sternly, looking me straight in the eye.

"No, you can't, I don't want you getting hurt for me," I said, the thought of Scorpius dying for me sending a shiver down my spine.

"If you're going Rose, I'm going with you, I can help. You know I can help." He was right. I knew he was right.

"We've got to leave now, as soon as I step outside the charm they're going to come and take me. Stick with me when it happens. Don't let go." I told him before we apparated to the edge of the charm on the far end of the grounds of the Manor. "Don't let go, Scorpius."

"I've got you, Rose." Scorpius said, squeezing my hand tighter than ever.

The memories that once comforted me now cut like the hot blade of a knife slicing directly through my heart. I care about you...we aren't even friends. How could both be spoken by the same person?

"It's fucked up Rose," Al shook his head. "What is his problem?!"

"I have no idea," I pulled by knees up to my chin, resting my head on them, facing Al. "I didn't sell any story and now everyone will think I did."

Al shook his head, idly plucking pieces of grass. "No they won't, I'll make sure of that. I wish James was here, he'd have handled that better."

"You were great, Al" I said truthfully. I didn't think my cousin had it in him to punch somebody, much less on my behalf. "James would have just gotten himself expelled."

I imagined how James would have reacted to Scorpius' harsh words about me – there was little doubt in my mind that Scorpius would currently be occupying a bed in the hospital wing, perhaps even St Mungo's. As much as I should loathe Scorpius for his treatment of me, I simply didn't. I couldn't bring myself to hate him. I hated what he'd said and I hated how he'd acted but, no, I didn't hate him.

"You like him, don't you," Al commented my heart momentarily pausing at his words. Do I tell him? Should I tell him? It wasn't as if he was going to be gossiping to Scorpius about me any more. There was nothing left for me to lose because it already felt like I'd lost everything.

I took a deep breath, ready to finally open up to the best friend I've ever had and will ever have. "I didn't always like him, it happened slowly at first. I began to enjoy his company, I'd look forward to spending time with him. Then he started to speak to me, you know like, really speak to me. We would talk and talk, for hours sometimes, I though-I thought we were friends." I took a second to swallow as hard as I could, gently biting the inside of my lip to stop myself from bursting into what would inevitably be uncontrollable sobs. "Somewhere along the way, I fell for him, stupidly fell for him. I knew I could get over that eventually, as long as we could be friends but then – then he has completely ignored me ever since we got back, not a word. He couldn't even look at me."

Al grabbed my hand and squeezed it, comforting me. "I was sure that he liked you. You didn't see him when you were, you know, er, being tortured. He was devastated, completely devastated."

"It doesn't matter now, does it?" I said hopelessly. "Scorpius hates me."

"It is impossible to hate you, Rose," tell that to Scorpius. "there's nothing to hate. You're wonderful and no guy is ever going to be good enough for you in my eyes; I'm not just saying that because you're family and I have to, I'm saying it because you're my best friend and to have you as my best friend is a choice."

"Thankyou" was all I could say to the only person in the world I wanted to be with right now. If the world was throwing me rainstorms, Al was my umbrella – he couldn't make it go away, but he protected me until I reached the sunlight.

A/N – any comments? :) I thought this was a good insight into the Rose/Al friendship. What do you all think about Scorpius? Hate him yet?