Sunday night, I headed out to do rounds, but unlike the millions of other times I'd done it I was nervous. This time I couldn't switch it around so I could tour with someone else. Apparently this was the one weekend that everyone wanted to stay in, study and catch up on life. It was going to be just great. But I had a plan. I was going to be polite and cordial and it was going to fly by. Or it was going to go horrifyingly wrong like all of my interactions with him did.

There was that.

But I was going to be fine. So I went downstairs and waited for Malfoy. For about ten minutes, until I realized he wasn't coming. Asshole. So I grabbed my wand and went out by myself. The only people I ever caught were couples making out and all I had to do was threaten detention to get them to go back to bed. It was pretty easy, but I understood why we were supposed to have partners. Like if Malfoy got jumped I could stop them or tell the authorities who did it.

As I was about to turn the corner I heard footsteps and turned to find Malfoy behind me.

"You're late." I told him snottily.

"Sorry," He apologized quickly catching up to me. "I overslept."

I scowled, "Whatever let's get this over with."

"No, I'm serious. I'm sorry."

Did he just …apologize? I was literally stunned. I never in my life expected to hear those words escape his mouth. He himself looked surprised to have said it. His fair face was turned away from me, as he stood up straight and walked faster. What was I suppose to say to that? After everything that's happened, I'm sorry doesn't even cover it. He didn't know how much I cried over it. He didn't know how much I cried over him. And I didn't care for him to know.

But I couldn't hate him forever. Just looking at him I felt it beginning to fade. Maybe he hadn't meant what he said and he was starting to regret it. But that was a big maybe. Scorpius Malfoy, didn't elaborate such feelings to me. He just said he was sorry. So maybe I couldn't forgive him, but I could let it go. Spending the rest of the year angry would be exhausting and frankly it wasn't like I was going to be able to stay away from him. I was stuck with him and nothing I did would change that. So what was I to do?

"It's fine." I sighed braving to look him in the eye. "Let's just got on with it."

He was only a few inches away from me, but somehow even with the height difference it felt like nothing. "Okay."

We walked and the only thing I could hear was the sound of our shoes clicking on the wood floor. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to understand why he did everything he did. But the longer the silence grew the harder it became to ask the questions I desperately needed to ask. My pride had gained too much ground in the past few months and I didn't know how to get away from it anymore.

I knew him well. I knew what had caused his reaction, but I needed to hear the words. And now seemed like the only time where he might honestly answer them. Gulping down my pride was like swallowing down a vile of ipecac, it wasn't going to stay down long.

"Where did you go?" I whispered.

"What?"

"After you saw the memories," I inhaled sharply, "Where did you go?"

Clearly he thought we had a strict non-disclosure rule on that whole time period. "My parent's house."

"Oh…I was just curious."

"I'm sorry," He whispered offhandedly not bothering to look at me. "I know it doesn't mean anything now."

"No." I shrugged, holding back my judgment. "It still means something."

He stopped walking and put his hands on my shoulders.

The warmth spread from the tips of his fingers down to heels of my toes. He was looking at me, in a way I'd never been looked at before. It was a mixture of hurt and longing and despite my earlier convictions I didn't push him away.

"Rose-"

"Well isn't this touching?" A disgustingly familiar voice spoke out from the shadows.

"Rick," Scorpius spat as he lowered his hands from me and scowled. "You have detention on Thursday."

"Since when?"

Scorpius eyes dilated, as his face grew cold. "Since now."

"Fine," He seemed utterly unbothered and his eyes focused on me. "I actually fancied a chat with Rose, but I'll talk to her later."

"Whatever you have to ask me you can ask me in front of him." I replied diplomatically. "What's the problem?"

His eyes savored me like I was a delicacy he hadn't tried before. I had the sudden urge to throw up all over him, but, sadly, I reframed. "Well I'm sure you and I can find time to discuss that later."

Then he slunk off down the hall to the hole he crawled out of. I cringed and wiggled in discomfort.

"Creepy ass son of bitch! UGHHH!"

Scorpius didn't laugh. "Has he been talking to you lately?"

"No. And I wish it would have stayed that way." I glared after Rick.

"You okay?" He asked me, his tone dropping into concern.

I nodded distractedly, "Yeah. I can handle him…Did you piss him off or something?"

"Why?"

"Because. He wasn't trying to get at me. He can do that anywhere." I turned and looked up at him. "He was trying to get at you."

The tension between us had changed considerably and I was slightly taken aback by it. Now it wouldn't be unnatural for him to put his arm around me or touch me. But he didn't. This time, he stopped himself and we began walking again.

I crossed my arms a chill went up my spine. "So are you going to answer my question?"

"What?"

"What did you do to him?"

His face went rigid. "He made some choice remarks the other day, and I reacted… poorly."

"What do you mean you, 'reacted poorly?'" I mocked him openly.

"He said something and instead of ignoring him…I snapped."

I grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Wait what?"

"He was absent for a few days last week…" He scratched his neck, "I may have hexed him."

"This seems highly suspect. What could he have said to get under your skin?"

"It was nothing." Swiftly he changed the subject, "Are we alright?"

Biting my lip, I glanced and him and shrugged. "Yeah… I guess we are."

I couldn't believe it was this simple, but it was. All of my hate didn't vanish, but it faded into something else. Something not as strong or as consistent as hate, but much more satisfying, acceptance.

We didn't walk hand in hand. We didn't make any sweeping declarations of love, or passionately snog in the corner, but we weren't at war anymore. And as we flippantly talked about the odds of Slytherin winning the Quidditch cup, I felt lighter. We were going to be okay. Maybe we wouldn't be together, but at least I could still have him around. Even if he only was a friend. This was better. I needed a guy that would fight for me. So maybe this just means he isn't the guy for me. And that happens. But as we talked I couldn't help wishing he would prove me wrong. He didn't.

The next day I woke up, but didn't drag myself out of bed right away. It was my first day back with Rachel and Albus…Who's excited? Not me. I lowered myself out of bed when it occurred to me that I had nothing to worry about. Albus knew well enough to stay the hell away from me. And if I saw Rachel, I was no longer angry. She really had nothing else to do to me. She had no position of power anymore. So really the only thing she could do was say mean things about me and even if she did they wouldn't have any weight anymore anyway. I mean after I saved her from getting expelled what's the point? She had nothing to gain.

So, I was determined to get out of my slump. I was not going to be in a feud with anyone anymore. And even if they come banging on my door, I'm just going to push through it. Feeling my new tattoo I felt bolder and stronger. I could do this. I had this.

Lauren was most likely off somewhere with her boyfriend and Kelly was probably sitting in the library with that ridiculous smile she's had on her face since her last date. It was funny. She was so nervous before their first date she was practically shaking and on the second she kept second guessing what she should wear and what she should ask him. Now she was in the blissfully happy. Sure she still studied like crazy and made sure to schedule in time with Lauren and I, but she couldn't hide the fact that she used hearts instead of dots above her, 'I,'s.

I was surprised however to find Lily waiting downstairs for me. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm breakfast with you." It was a statement not a question.

Rolling my eyes, I hiked my bag over my shoulder. "Alright…I guess that's happening."

"Are you still mad?"

"No. Of course not... I just love that you don't ask me to go to breakfast, you just inform me as if it's already decided."

Her arrogance was back in place. "Well it is isn't it?"

Laughing at her, I linked arms with her. "Yes, I suppose it is."

Lily and I walked to the Great Hall and for once she didn't talk about her love life. She actually talked about this internship that she thinking about trying out for, which I couldn't be prouder about. Lily had never been one to think about a job. She always has been too busy worrying about what she was wearing and what boys were looking at her. I was happy that she was branching out.

"Well if you need any help with the essay, I can help you with it."

"With all of things you do you think you have time?" Lily scoffed cynically.

I nudged her. "I think I can squeeze that in. Now that Lauren and Kelly both have boyfriends I have a little more free time."

"He's Kelly's boyfriend now?"

I shrugged. "They're on their way."

"Are you happy Rose?"

"What?" I asked taken aback by the question.

She stopped me and asked again. "Are you happy?"

"Yeah."

"Well what do you think it is that makes a person happy?"

I felt like she was having a mid life crisis at the tender age of 15. "I don't know. I think if you can look at your life and say that it isn't bad then you should be happy with it. …Why?"

"I don't know…after all the stuff that's happened with you in the past few months I've been rethinking my own life."

"In what way?"

She paused, "Well when you were dating Aiden you seemed like you were trying to be happy, but not actually happy. And it didn't make sense to me. You had everything going for you so why weren't you happy? And then when you were with Malfoy, your life was trashed and yet I'd never seen you happier."

"So what are you getting at?"

"I'm thinking maybe I should start trying to get deeper goals. I mean I want to stay most popular girl, but…I'd also like to do something that means something to me. You know?"

Unlinking our arms, I pulled her into a hug and forced myself to reframe from mocking her. "I'm proud of you."

"Rose."

"Yes."

"You're messing up my make up."

Rolling my eyes, I released her. "So much for being deep."

"Well I can't just become another person overnight."

Laughing we moved into the Great Hall and sat next to each other. I only had two classes today. So the only thing I had to focus on today was making the flyers for the seventh year trip. Across the room I caught Scorpius's eye. That familiar feeling crept up on me, but I didn't fight it. I couldn't change the way I felt, but that didn't mean I had to act on it. So instead I gave him a nod, which he returned with a smile. He needed to stop that. Civil was fine. Civil worked. But being nice to me was different. Being nice made me hope for things. Things I had no right to want. As soon as I turned away though I saw Rachel walk in and instead of getting angry I had to fight off laughter. She had the biggest black eye I'd ever seen mixed in with shiny blonde hair and porcelain skin. Lily, being a Potter, stood up and started applauding.

"Well done!" She announced without a care in the world.

"Lily!" I laughed trying to pull her down. "You shouldn't support that."

"Oh please!" She pushed me away. "Quit acting like you don't approve. Besides I'm Lily Potter, what can she do to me? I run this school."

Lauren and Kelly jumped into the seats next to me with the most pompous looks on their faces. I tried not to ask why. I wanted to stay out of whatever chaos Lauren convinced Kelly to join her in, but my curiosity couldn't be helped.

"Okay I can't hold back any longer! Why are you two are grinning like idiots?"

Lauren shrugged, "No reason."

Looking over at Rachel, I felt an excitement build up in me. "Does it have anything to do with Rachel?"

Kelly blew on her little fist with an arrogance I'd never seen on her tiny face.

"No!" I gasped in shock.

Lauren couldn't look prouder; "Kelly walked up to me and told me to throw her at Rachel. And of course I did. I thought she was just going to run into her," She lowered her voice, "But instead she lunged forward and clocked her in the face! Professor Lipnick came out and looked at Kelly's innocent little face she told them to get to class."

"Seriously?" I beamed, "No way!"

"Way!" Kelly squealed.

"I LOVE YOU!" I hugged Kelly happily.

"Well, she had it coming. Where justice fails." She got this wistful look on her face. "I don't."

"I can't believe you did that!"

Suddenly guilt settled on her features and she asked me in the smallest little voice, "Do you think I'll get in trouble?"

"No!" I laughed.

"Are you sure?" Anxiety built on her face. "What if they put it on my record? Oh Merlin-"

I grabbed her face and forced her to look at me. "Kell. I assure you. If you didn't get in trouble then you won't get in trouble now. Rachel was almost expelled no one will believe a word she has to say."

"Good."

For the rest of breakfast I sat half stunned half admiringly with Lauren and Kelly. It was by far the best breakfast I'd ever had. Later on I sat in the middle of my common room, with a bunch of papers on the floor.

I just finished my last class of the day and I had three hours till dinner for the wedding. Instead of studying for my potions exam I decided to knock out the sitting chart. The problem was I had no idea where to put Aunt Edna. She was this batty second cousin who always sent me strange smelling hand me downs for my birthday. Aunt Edna tended to creep people out, but we couldn't snub her and not invite her at all. The problem was who was I going to stick her with?

So I sat there, with my hair-pilled on top of my head, in my shabbiest sweats in a conundrum. Sucking on a sugar quill I tried to see the solution I was missing. I heard the door open and I let out a sigh of relief. I wrote Lily begging her to help me.

"About time! I need your help, I have no idea where-" I stopped speaking once I looked up and realized it wasn't Lily. "Oh." I breathed dumbly as I looked up at Scorpius's impassive face.

"What is that?" He pointed at the spray of parchment.

"My cousins wedding." I explained blankly, nervous as his proximity. How had he gone from hating me to being calm and collected?

Scorpius moved around the couch and squatted down next to me without a thought of hesitance. "So what's the problem?"

"Um uh…" I stammered unnerved by his swift mood change, "I can't figure out who to put my Aunt Edna next to…. she's really weird."

"Why don't you put her next to Potter?"

I laughed awkwardly knowing exactly which Potter he was referring to. "He's a groomsmen he has to be at the head table."

"Too easy of a solution." He grinned.

"I know. I just don't know where to put her. If I weren't Maid of Honor, I would take the bullet, but I can't."

Straightening up he moved towards his staircase. "Good luck."

"Thanks."

My stomach tingled at our words. It wasn't a serious conversation, but just being near him, talking with him made me happy. And right now that was enough. So I whistled to myself as I finished the wedding seating and all my homework. It took forever, but I didn't mind. Today, the stress didn't get to me like it usually did.

A few hours later I left my stuff in my room and walked to dinner. I finished a large bulk of my homework and I just had to work on Headgirl stuff. I would worry about it all later. Since I was probably going to skip the game I would have time to get everything done in the lovely solitude of my room. All the rest of the team was going to the game, so later I would grab all of them and shove their memories into a pensive and show the winning teams weaknesses' play by play. That way I can have more time and not have to deal with anyone else all at the same time. When I reached the Gryffindor table I sat next to Hugo.

"So have you-" I started with a barely concealable grin.

"Seen Rachel's face," Hugo finished with an identical smirk. "Yes I have….I can believe Kelly did that. I thought she was a pacifist."

I beamed. "I know…damn."

"You seem to be in a good mood. Are you coming to the game tonight?"

Shaking my head I slid some food on my plate. "Too much stuff to do. But I want all of you to watch the game like hawks. Don't go get food. Don't go to the bathroom. In fact use the loo before you go."

"Why aren't you going then? An extra pair of eyes will be good and then you can keep us all in line."

Smiling at him, I shook my head. "I would love to, but I seriously can't. I don't even have time for a break."

"I know you love Victoire and it's a honor to be asked and all that. But I think you took on too much."

"I couldn't turn her down. Besides I won't have nearly as much Head Girl duties as soon as the 7th year trip is over."

"When is that?" He asked before he sipped his drink.

"Two weeks from Friday."

He nodded absentminedly. "Well I better go gather the troups and get ready for the game. Are you sure you can't come?"

"Yes I am. But thanks." I told him as he bent down and scooped me in a hug.

"See ya sis."

I was almost finished with my plate. In my head I was already planning which things I would get done first. While I was planning I didn't notice the whispering around the hall get louder. I just was zoned out, wondering how long my Transfiguration paper would take. That stopped when someone slid into the seat next to me.

Albus sat right fucking next to me. There were three open seats and he had the audacity, the nerve to sit right next to me. Sighing, I could feel the whole hall buzzing, poised for the verbosity of my response. I had none.

I was at the point where I honestly didn't care. I'm just trying to graduate. Of course I'm still going to all the Head meetings, doing all my homework and running the Quidditch team but other than that, I just don't care. I'm not involving myself in anything that I don't have to. Everyone else can have his or her Hogwarts sponsored drama, but I just don't care anymore. So I literally didn't even acknowledge his presence and it was everything I thought it could be. He kept waiting for me to respond to him, and that moment never came. Instead I just ignored his annoying persistent stare, finished my food and went back to my room.

It was so new and freeing to not be so angry. Is this what actual pacifists feel like? So warm and relaxed. I snuggled with myself as I finished everything I had to do. And I mean everything. I even had the time to fill in my planner for the rest of the week. That's the kind of happiness money can't buy. At one o'clock I fell into a deep meaningful sleep. It was great.

The next day I felt like I was walking on air, was this what it was like to not care? It was beautiful. I went to all my classes in a happy fog. Then when I was done I walked to the back of the library and just read. It was wonderful. I haven't read in ages. It was so nice. When I was done I met up with Lauren for dinner.

"What's new?" I asked her.

"Nothing that I know of, but I do know that Kelly is on a roll this week."

I blinked in surprised. "She didn't hit someone else did she? I'm going to have to give her detention if she does it again you know."

"No," She grinned, "She didn't. I meant with her life. She got the job."

My jaw dropped. "NO WAY! SHE DID?"

"It's an internship, but she definitely on her way."

"This calls for a celebration!" I reveled excitedly. "Oh Merlin….What about you?"

Lauren shrugged, "I won't hear till Graduation."

"Don't worry." I clapped her on the shoulder supportively. "You'll get there."

Leaving, I walked back towards the library, fully intending to finish my reading when Scorpius walked into the empty corridor I was in. I opened my mouth to say a pleasant hello, when he stopped me with a look. For the past two days, I've been trying to just be his friend. We had been cordial enough and I didn't want that to fade into hatred. Did I want him? Yes of course i did. Even in my blissful mood, I still ached to be with him. But I had been trying to make peace with this. Now, it was clear, our calm alliance was over.

"What?"

"What's it like?" He spat, his eyes filled with pure agony.

I was taken aback. Where the hell did this come from? "What's what like?"

"DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE!"

Bewildered I looked around trying to see if there was someone around me to explain why I was being yelled at. There was no one. "Scorpius….Why are you yelling at me?"

"Have you heard a single word I've said?"

"Yes," I made a face. "Kind of hard not too…what with the yelling, but I'm confused as to why you are yelling."

"It must be nice," He snapped hatefully.

"What are you talking about?" I questioned not understanding his harsh tone it all.

"To not care about anyone else. It must be nice. Convenient."

Taking a literal step back, I stared at him baffled. "What is your problem?"

"You are fucking ridiculous!" He was about to storm off but then he doubled back seeming unable

"Okay," I frowned. "If you would fill me in me in on the topic here…"

"You hate me for two weeks. Two weeks. Your cousin comes back after he tried to total your entire life and you just forgive him?" He raged.

Blinking, I gaped at him. "You think I forgave him?"

"You didn't do anything when he sat next to you!"

"What was I supposed to do?" I breathed throwing my hands in anger. "I'm tired! Everyone takes turns starting shit with me and you know what? I'm not giving him the satisfaction of getting me angry."

"So you just don't care about anything anymore then?" He questioned me crossing his arms.

"What are you really mad at me about? I honestly have no idea what you are so angry about. I've done nothing wrong."

"You would think that."

My mouth gaped open and I was about to say something, when he abruptly turned on his heel and left.