Chapter Twenty One

I feel as if the wind has been knocked out of me as I watch Rose- my Rose, the girl I love more than anything in the world- hold hands with Sam Atkinson, the boy who has spent the best part of this year trying to ruin our lives.

What on earth is going on? Rose hates him as much as I do, perhaps even more considering the fact that he used her to get his father promoted and then got his dad to tell Ron about mine and Rose's relationship.

And then, without really thinking about what I'm doing, I find myself sprinting towards them, running quicker than I've ever ran before. Quicker than that time I ran away from home aged twelve, quicker than I've ran on the numerous times Al and I have been chased by Filch or Mrs Norris.

A few yards behind me, I hear Al and Lysander yelling at me to stop, to calm down, but I don't even register the meaning of their words. I reach Rose and Sam, and find myself pinning Sam up against the castle wall by his throat, something which surprises me because he's a bit bigger than me. I can only assume that he was caught off guard and hadn't expected someone to take a running leap at him.

Rage pumps through me as Sam struggles under my grip. I can hear Al and Lysander shouting at me, and Rose joining in as well, her voice the loudest and the only one I understand properly. For the first time in my life, as I look at Sam, I understand hate.

And it is the fear that this realisation provokes that makes me release Sam who falls to the ground panting before picking himself up and running into the castle.

He leaves perhaps the worst silence that has ever occurred in his wake.

I look down at Rose who is staring at me as if she's never seen me before.

'What the hell is wrong with you?' she shouts.

Calm down, I tell myself, don't say something you'll regret.

As per usual, however, I ignore the voice of reason.

'Wrong with me? You were holding hands with the guy who's desperate to split us up!'

'Scorpius, that is not a reason to attack someone! If you'd have asked me I would have explained!'

'What explanation is there?!'

Rose is looking beyond annoyed now, in fact her face displays nothing but pure rage. It makes me feel slightly ashamed of myself. I have, after all, just manhandled someone she was talking to.

Albeit someone who is an infamous psycho and established enemy of mine.

'What's going on, Rose,' asks Al as he and Lysander reach us, 'What were you doing with Atkinson?'

Rose rounds on him as well, 'If you let me explain Albus, you'll find out!'

Al backs away, holding his hands up, 'Okay, go on then.'

Rose shoots him a final glare and then turns to me, her face softening slightly, 'Sam was apologising for everything that has happened. He's really messed up at the moment, Scorpius, but he is sorry.'

I stare at her for a moment, watching her beautiful face for any signs that she's about to burst out laughing and shout 'got you!' There is no way that Sam apologised for his actions; the bloke makes Lucius look kind and easy going.

I raise my eyebrows, 'he apologised?'

'Yes!' exclaims Rose in frustration.

'It's another part of his plan,' I say quickly, 'The evil relationship wrecker personality didn't work, so now he's moved onto Mr Good Guy.'

My God I'm paranoid. Is that how it starts for Malfoys? One moment they're jealous of another guy being near their girlfriend and next thing they're declaring allegiance to Voldermort?

Rose shakes her head, her glossy hair swinging in its ponytail, 'No, Scorpius, he's serious. We all just need to move on.'

Now this would be the perfect time to wrap my arms around her and kiss her, as well as promising that we can forget all about Sam Atkinson. But if I did, then all of those things would be a lie, and I could never lie to Rose.

'This is too hard,' I mutter, wishing that Al and Lysander weren't standing right behind me probably listening to every word.

'What?' gasps Rose, her beautiful blue eyes, identical to Ron's but so different somehow, widen as she takes in what I've said.

'You heard me,' I murmur and head into the castle.

Five hours later and I'm sitting in the Gryffindor common room watching the flames flicker in the grate of the fireplace. The area is pretty much deserted since most people are down at dinner, enjoying a delicious meal after a fun day at Hogsmede without a care in the world.

The portrait hole swings open and Al walks in, thankfully without Lysander or any of the other Gryffindor boys for once.

'Hi,' he says shortly, sitting in an armchair opposite mine.

I glance up at him briefly, 'hello.'

'For God's sake, Scorpius! Can't you just go and apologise to Rose? Then it'll all be over.' He's clearly been desperate to say this for the past five hours, and once he has, he sits back in his chair, crosses his arms and glares at me.

I shake my head, 'No, I can't, it's already over. It's too hard.'

Al watches me for a moment before shaking his own head disbelievingly, 'You're a fucking idiot.'

Yep, sounds about right.

But I know that what I've told him is true. Whenever Rose and I try to be together, just like normal teenagers, there is always something in the way whether it be my family, her father or an ex-boyfriend of hers who deserves to be sectioned.

'Scorpius.'

I look up so quickly I hear a click in the back of my neck. I would know that voice anywhere. And, sure enough, there is Rose, standing before me looking resigned.

Al clears his throat uncomfortably and mutters something about getting an early night, despite it being only six in the evening.

'Can I speak to you?'

I nod and she sits in Al's empty chair once he's disappeared up to the dormitories.

'I think you're right,' she says briskly, with a similar tone of voice to the one she uses when discussing homework.

I shouldn't be surprised really; Rose is nothing if not level headed and rational.

'It is too hard,' she continues, 'I think we should just be friends.'

I reach over the space between us and take her hand, rubbing my thumb along her warm palm.

'Yeah, I think so too,' I mutter, 'I love you, though.'

She smiles at me, a warm smile that I realise with a shock I haven't seen for some time, 'I know. I love you too.'

'I know,' I repeat and we both laugh quietly.

'Well, look on the bright side,' she laughs, 'You can tell Lucius that we've broken up. I'm sure he'll put you back into his will.'

'Oh no,' I shake my head furiously, 'I'm going to lead him to believe that we're getting married, there is no way I'm giving him the satisfaction of knowing we've ended things. Besides, apparently he's leaving all his money to a cat charity.'

'I'm sorry?' splutters Rose.

'I'm not kidding. He's fallen out with my father as well and wanted to spite him apparently.'

'Oh that is funny.'

We both chuckle to ourselves for a moment. It's true that Lucius is giving everything to an animal charity; I can only suppose that he's going slightly unhinged in old age. I mean it's hardly standard Death Eater behaviour, leaving a fortune acquired through centuries of bullying and theft to a bunch of cats.

'Promise me that we'll stay friends?' I say suddenly, knowing that I cannot lose Rose completely.

'I promise,' she says sincerely, 'Besides, I want to pretend to my dad that we're getting married as well.'

'Good plan.'

And so for the next few hours, we sit opposite one another and talk about every topic under the sun. We laugh for what feels like an age. And I realise that we are perfect together, but just as friends.

And that's how we stay.

Okay this isn't the end of the story! Rose and Scorpius have split up but the story is continuing for a bit longer (sorry if anyone is getting frustrated by me drawing everything out so long!)

Please review and let me know what you think! I'm a bit worried that this chapter made them both seem like idiots!

Thanks to everyone who's been reading/ following/ favouriting/ reviewing!