Thankfully, it was dark. The cloak was thick around her shoulders, but it protected her from the evening frost.

It was late, but then, what did it matter to Rosie if it meant that she could see Scorpius; even if he couldn't see her?

Creeping around to the small cottage near the greenhouses, she could hear Professor Longbottom talking. Feeling brave a curious, she peered into the window, watching Scorpius blink slowly and nodding off, as if about to fall asleep into his desert.

The image made her giggle, despite how drawn Scorpius obviously looked. The idea of Scorpius, her Slytherin, her lover, nodding off like a 1st year, seemed unbearably cute. Part of her almost expected to see fluffy pajamas, a teddy bear and some thumb sucking; but her cheeks flushed at the thought.

Leaning against the wall, she gazed on she watched Longbottom shooing Scorpius down the hall, cleaning up the evening's dishes. Glancing over to the clock on the wall, she noted that 10:30 was too late to be out and about, even for a 6th year, but reasoned that going back in now would mean that she would definitely get caught. Best, she would decide, to stay out here. At least for a little while.

And so for the next half hour, Rosie stood by and imaged life with Scorpius once he was well again. She imagined a life without parents, without expectations. Perhaps they could live in the country, riding horseback around the fields. Or in London- she could pursue her career in Muggle Relations there. She thought of Scorpius trying to operate a television and a remote control, and didn't bother to stop her laughing, although she kept it quiet.

She knew they were just dreams- perhaps they would never come true- but those thoughts kept her warm. The one thing she couldn't bring herself to imagine, though, was the idea of children. The thought excited her and terrified her all at the same time.

Going back to Scorpius living as a muggle, she settled with imagining his trying to operate vacuum cleaners and toaster ovens. It wasn't until she saw Neville looking up from his stack of dishes did she realize how late it was getting. Surely, how long had Scorpius been in the washroom, getting ready for bed? Half an hour?

The professor, a look of concern written across his face, went down the hall. She could hear his muffled voice, quietly at first, and then yelling in panic.

Rosie drew her wand and clenched it in her hot fist. Her breath lingered on the window. Did she dare to go in?

Neville's voice drew louder, then there was a bang. Bits and pieces of wood flew from the hallway, hitting Rosie's window and causing her to flinch away, as if they could get through the glass. She heard a sharp, female voice crying out 'stupefy.'

Rosie fell out of sight when she saw Scorpius came into the sitting room, heading out the door. As soon as Scorpius was outside, she felt the locket against her skin prickle, as if it were waking up. She thought of calling out to him, making him explain what just happened, but then she noticed how Scorpius was moving. He was taking great, purposeful strides, much unlike his current methods of a slow, careful pace; as if he didn't want to further upset his delicate state. Even when he was completely healthy, he always kept a serenely commanding stride, calculating and never rushed. There was only one way to describe his current walk and posture: determination.

Keeping her distance and glad for the lack of snow, Rosie crept along the shadows. If it ever crossed her mind to go check on Professor Longbottom, she showed no guilt in not doing so. She followed Scorpius over the grounds, and it wasn't until they reached Hagrid's hut did she realize that he was heading directly for the Forbidden Forest.

Rosie stopped dead in her tracks. The Forbidden Forest was frightening to her in broad day-light. But in the evening? So close to midnight?

Maybe she should send sparks or wake up Hagrid. She was in over her head on his one. What sort of monsters lurked in there?

But the thought of Scorpius, in there, alone, was enough to push her forward. Scorpius was going in, still sick. If he collapsed or became ill and she had not been there to rescue him, how would she be able to live with herself?

The decision was made. She was going in.

Scorpius did not make it easy on her. The dark seemed to be his element. He did not light his wand and Rosie did not dare to light hers. The full moon provided a little help, but as the forest grew denser, so did the darkness.

They trudged on.

More than once, Rosie was regretting her decision. Scorpius, for all intents and purposes, seemed fine. Maybe she just imagined the scene in Neville's cottage. Scorpius didn't seem ill at all, just unnaturally focused. Maybe his illness and removal from the other students was just an act- a way to get rid of her.

She felt a surge of anger; first at Scorpius and then at herself for thinking anyone would ever spend that much time in hospital, just to get rid of a love-sick girlfriend.

This distracting argument quickly vanished as they came upon a clearing. How long had they been walking? How far? For the moment, it really didn't matter.

Scorpius went to the center of the clearing and bent down. He dug through a pile of leafs with his bare hands, searching for something.

The locket stirred against Rosie's chest, her breath coming out hot and fast. There was something about this that felt wrong, very wrong.

She ran up, feeling her heart pounding off-beat with the locket.

Scorpius looked up as Rosie was almost on top of him and he let out a squeak of surprise. His hand was poised over a half-exposed tin bucket.

"Scorpius-" Rosie cried as she lost her balance and fell forward. He tried to catch her, landing them both on the bucket at the same time.

Feeling a tugging sensation behind her belly-button, they spun out of the forest.