Oh my god. I feel horrible. I just forget to regularly update. The absolute worst part of this is that I've had this think finished since I first published it. Agh. So, for that, I apologize. Nevertheless, here we finally are. Enjoy.

On September 1st, the Weasleys took Rose for the last time to Hogwarts Express. She was excited for the year to come. She wouldn't miss Hogwarts, but Hogwarts would miss her. Rose felt accomplished in her studies. She considered not returning, but figured it would be best to go take her NEWTs.

Rose sat with the prefects. Lysander and Lorcan were both prefects, though Lorcan decided to enjoy time with Albus in another compartment instead of in the prefects'. The train ride consisted of conversation about transfiguration and charms. Rose wanted to catch up with Lysander. She had missed half a year of time with him, and she wanted to make up for it now more than ever. This was her last year at Hogwarts, and she knew that meant leaving him and Lily behind.

The hours flew by faster than Rose could imagine. She seemed to have closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them again, she was in the Great Hall watching the sorting. Once more, and there she was approaching the Head's Dormitory. The password had been given to her. All she had to do was enter. She gave herself a moment, before entering the dormitory.

No one was there. The place was large, divided in half. There were two fireplaces and two sets of furniture, one on each side. There were also two large windows, reaching the ceiling. There were two doors on the lower level, one on each side. These were the bathrooms. Both sides had two staircases, curving against the walls and down into the living area. The room was evenly decorated in green and blue.

This was the most Rose ever had to herself in her life. She took in every second of it, enjoying all of the wide space. Rose's books were organized on a bookcase in the stairs. Rose figured this meant it was her side. She walked up the stairs, where there were double doors. Rose opened the door to see the bedroom. She walked in tentatively to observe all of the detail inside of it.

"Rose?" She heard from downstairs. The voice belonged to Scorpius Malfoy, and before she could think, she closed her door, and sat down on her bed.

x

Rose slept restlessly. She had nearly forgotten about their incident, and it was just reminding her of how confused she had felt. She checked the time; it was only three in the morning. She sighed, and got up from her bed. There was no point in staying in her room when she could be exploring her new dormitory. Rose opened the door, and looked down across the common area.

"You're still awake?" Scorpius asked. He was lying on the couch on her side. Rose swallowed. She noticed the way he laid back and the way his hair fell around his face. She noticed how he had one leg atop the couch and another over the armrest. His right hand was tangled in his hair, and his left rested on his chest.

Rose saw him and immediately considered going back into her room. A voice in the back of her mind made her stop and think. She spent two months ignoring him and her own cousin for reasons she was unsure of. She ignored her best friend for half a year because he hurt her feelings. It had been over a month since she talked to Scorpius. What more did she want? Running from her problems made her more hurt. Rose's bravery overcame her, and she decided to face this conversation.

"Yeah," she said, walking down the stairs. His features loosened at her words. He seemed relieved that she was speaking to him again. She sat down in the armchair adjacent to the couch. He sat up on his elbows and opened his mouth to say something, before closing it again. Scorpius sat up all the way. He did not lean back, like he usually would, confidently. He sat forward, positioning himself towards her.

"Did you… Get my letter?"

"Yeah."

"I can't give you a perfect explanation of all of my feelings or whatever you want. I just want to know what you think." Rose paused. She went over every moment. The way he spoke about her, insulted her, the way he kissed her. She looked him straight on.

"I think you're right," Rose said. Scorpius blinked.

"Did you put a confundus on yourself, Weasley? Did you just say I was right?"

"Yes, I did."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I think I am pompous and oversensitive and self involved."

"I didn't mean that-"

"Yes you did," Rose finished for him. "I am all of those things. However, when you said them, I think the only retort I can give you is 'hypocrite.'" He looked down. "You are arrogant and privileged and spoiled and argumentative. You're the most impatient person I've ever met. You're judgemental and-"

"I get it. Alright? I'll just stay out of your way from now on. This year will be the easiest year for you."

"Let me finish," she said. "I think you're all of those things and more. And so am I. You got jealous of Nott, so you yelled every flaw of mine that came to mind. I got jealous, and I ignored you for two months. You're right. I did overshoot my abilities in knowing people. I did get jealous."

Rose stood, and then sat back down, next to him. "Malfoy, I can never say I'm indifferent towards you, but I don't know if I love you." Scorpius looked away and got up. Rose followed. "For the last time, let me finish. I don't know if I love you, but I don't think I've ever felt closer."

Scorpius turned to Rose. He didn't get much of a chance to look at her, because she pulled him down to kiss her. And they did. They kissed, and she let him press against her. She let his hands touch her waist and her neck and her legs. It felt nice to know that the hands she had been staring at since she was eleven were not off-limits anymore. Scorpius broke apart to say one thing.

"Dominique is going to lose her mind. She's been trying to make this happen forever." Rose laughed.

"My dad is going to lose his mind, but probably not in the same way." They laughed together and kissed some more. Everything was so sudden, but it happened. Rose wasn't sitting back. She wasn't hiding from issues. She was facing her feelings. She was done noticing; Rose Weasley wanted to experience. Scorpius Malfoy was providing the best experience one could get.