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Chapter 24 - foretold future

"'Firstborn daughter of the brightest witch of her age'...that's fairly obvious, Rose is my firstborn," Rose's mother said as she read the prophecy out loud.

"How humble of you, Hermione," Rose's dad said, attempting to break the tension, but with next to no success. We were sitting down in the Weasley's cosy living room. I sat in between my parents. Rose's dad was pacing up and down whilst Rose and I had an arm chair each. Rose's mother shot her husband her usual scolding look and turned back to the parchment.

"Only death or heartbreak," she read slowly, "Only son of the man with a change of heart," we all automatically glanced at my father, who kept an emotionless expression as he stared forward, averting everyone's looks. "Murder and despair brought by their tormentor a girl of malice & hate, with a name so pure,-" "White," Rose stated, her voice sounding rather hoarse. I looked at her properly for the first time after we arrived from my grandfather's apartment. She was pale and her eyes were a bit puffy. She must have been crying when she excused herself to go to the bathroom, before we regrouped in the livingroom. "Her surname's White - Alessia. 'Name so pure.' That's what it means." Everyone in the room quietly nodded in agreement to her conclusion. The prophecy wasn't that hard to understand. "Being together tears the girl apart, her soul gone from the earth with only more death from there," Silence. "...unless her love is satisfied and the daughter of a pure blood and the fair child, are no longer united."

And silence ensued once more. It was my mother who spoke up first. "It's pretty straightforward," she said quietly. Rose wasn't even trying to stop the tears that were pouring down her face. Her dad had stop pacing, and was looking at the group his arms crossed and a look of sadness etched on his face - he might act over-protective or be extremely sarcastic - but I could see that he genuinely cared and was sorry when it came to the situation Rose and I found ourselves in. It was here that I realised that he had come to accept me as Rose's boyfriend and that he was ready to put the past behind us - even though Rose had said that he might never do that. And with this revelation what little control over my emotions had finally left me. I buried my head in my hands, grabbing onto my hair with my fingers in despair, anger, misery...not only was I to supposed to not be with Rose, on top of that I had to be with a potential monster? I hated this. My life was basically already laid out for me. And what a horrible life. I blindly got up, and within a couple of strides I reached the fireplace. I roughly grabbed a fistful of floo powder, knocking the jar over onto the floor and screamed into the fireplace to take me home. The dark and swirling journey replicated the void feeling in my soul.

"So, Scorpius, how was your Christmas vacation?" Alessia purred, slinking next to me on the leather couch in the Slytherin common room.

"It was good, how was yours?" I answered, a fake smile plastered on my face. Knowing that someone was destined to be a serial killer really put your actions into perspective. I sighed, absentmindedly running a hand through my hair. I knew I had to accept that I had to be with Alessia, but Rose wouldn't get out my mind. The night we first kissed, the Yule Ball, the night she fell asleep in my arms…

"It was fine, but I missed you," she pouted, moving closer to me. Her face hovered just inches from my own, and I could feel the stares of the others in anticipation. Well, they needed to get back to their lives, because nothing was going to happen.

"I… missed you too," I managed, trying to sound convincing. How could I miss her? She was the cause of all of my problems, and I had to resist the urge to strangle her right then and there. "I know how you can make it up to me," she purred, placing her hand teasingly on my thigh. For once, her advances weren't completely revolting, they were almost… I shook my head. No, I couldn't do that. I had never truly wanted to before, and I wasn't going to start now. Sure, we had made out a few times, but that was before Rose, before I knew what love was. And now, with Alessia…

"I have to go now," I started, rising from the couch, knowing that I couldn't stay if my thoughts continued to stray. I forced myself to think of Rose, how sad she had seemed when we read through the prophecy… Alessia grasped my hand and pulled me back down onto the couch.

"Leaving so soon?" Her eyes, wide and innocent (although she definitely wasn't) stared up into mine and she ran her fingers purposefully through her dark hair. She was everything Rose wasn't, she was against my morals, and yet… Suddenly, she leaned over and pressed her lips against mine hungrily. It was then that it hit me; I could never be with Rose. It felt like a huge gaping hole in my chest, but I knew it was true. If I couldn't be with her, then I had to protect her, and this is what I had to do. Alessia pulled away and grabbed my tie, grinning mischievously and leading me into the boys' dormitory.

"It's more private," she whispered seductively into my ear. She grabbed my hand and I trailed behind her in a hormone-induced daze. When we had finally climbed the stairs, she pushed me up against the wall and I began pressing kisses against the hot skin of her neck. The pulse of my heartbeat reminded me of what I was doing, how wrong it was that I was enjoying it, but I couldn't and wouldn't stop myself. She moaned and started unbuttoning the front of my shirt, but I moved her hands to around my neck and pulled her closer. I wanted, needed her closer, and I wrapped my arms around her waist and did just that.

"You're so beautiful," I groaned, my eyes looking over her hungrily. Her pale green eyes met my own and I knew I was done for.

"Scorpius, I've never seen you so-" Alessia started, but I stopped her with my mouth. The next few minutes were a blur of mindless longing and passion, and the world promptly came into focus again.

"Whoa, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt…" Austin said as he walked into the room, putting his hands up defensively. Still, I saw a flicker of something deeper in his eyes, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for him. "Rose is looking for you."

"It's fine," I growled, my teeth clenched, after pulling away from her. Merlin, what was getting into me? "You're not still with that git, are you?" Alessia whined, tugging on my hand. Still, undisguised fury was in her eyes as she glared at Austin, for interrupting us I presume. I bit my lip and shook my head, knowing that she couldn't know. A wave of guilt washed over me as I realized that Rose probably wouldn't want me anyway, after what I had just done.

"Tell Rose I can't talk to her right now," I muttered, feeling more and more guilty. What had I just done?

"Dude, we've been gone for a bit, but have you already forgotten? You have rounds with her," he rolled his eyes. I clenched my fists and tried to ignore his attitude; I couldn't really blame him. He had it bad for Alessia and I had just… I didn't want to think about it. Maybe that would make it go away.

"Bye Scorp," Alessia pouted, kissing me quickly. My whole body froze in response. Without returning her goodbye, I headed down the stairs and to meet Rose, for better or for worse.

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