Rose, Lily and Albus were all on there way to the Great Hall for dinner. Rose was understandably upset over the past few days. As the third task drew nearer, Rose became more and more upset. Lily had tried to cheer her up a number of times, but nothing helped.

Lily and Albus were immersed in a conversation about Quidditch. Rose had learned to tune out of these conversations, she had been doing it for years. Ever since she found out the horrid news Rose had been racking her brain for a solution about James and Scorpius. She simply couldn't believe that James would cheat. It was too out of his character. But Scorpius wouldn't be as petty as that. The Scorpius that Rose had known for six years was a good loser. After any Quidditch games his team lost he never lost control or held a bitter grudge. So why would he start now?

The three turned a corner when they spotted Scorpius standing outside the Great Hall, his three friends around him. Scorpius's eyes went straight to Rose, who's eyes did exactly the same. Scorpius put on his famous Malfoy sneer and turned away from the Gryffindors.

"C'mon," Albus muttered. Lily followed Albus into the Great Hall but Rose stayed behind. Scorpius didn't turn back around, as though he knew that she was still standing there. Rose cleared her throat and proceeded into the great hall.

As they ate, Rose didn't. She stared at her cold lamb chops and vegetables. Her appetite had shrunk over the school year, not that it really bothered her. However, sitting across the table was Hugo, who was devouring his food. Lily screwed her nose at him. "The food's not going anywhere Hugo," She said disgustedly. Hugo looked at Lily with a piece of bread handing from the side of his mouth.

"I fink I deserff a proper mea'," Hugo said shoving another bread roll into his mouth. "And why is that?" Rose asked as she watched a huge bulge travel down her brother's neck.

"Since I've been studying I never got a chance to eat much,"

Lily scoffed, "I didn't see you studying during breakfast, lunch and dinner," She said accusingly. Hugo rolled his eyes, "Well I'm growing, alright?" He said forking peas into his mouth. "Isn't that right Al?" Hugo asked. Rose glanced to her side at Albus who was looking over to the Ravenclaw table. Rose looked over there aswell. She noticed that Aurore wasn't there.

"Where is she?" Albus said worriedly. Rose shrugged, "She's probably asleep," She suggested.

"Nah," Albus shook his head. "She said that she'd meet me after dinner,"

Hugo snorted into his goblet and started to splutter and choke. He always found Albus and Aurore's relationship comical for some reason. Rose shot a annoying glare at her brother and turned back to Albus.

"Come out the Beauxbaton's carriage with me," Albus said abrubtly. Rose looked at him as though he had three eyes.

"We can't go out there after dark," Rose reminded.

"Please Rose," Albus pleaded. "It'll only be for a couple of minutes,"

Rose bit her bottom lip nervously. "But what if we get caught?"

"We won't," Albus assured. "We'll only be gone for ten minutes, maximum."

Rose gulped and tried to make a decision. Thankfully, Hugo's coughing and spluttering put their conversation out of earshot to anyone else.

"Okay," Rose sad in a hushed voice. "Only for ten minutes,"
A wide grin spread across Albus's face.

"Come on then," He said pulling her by the wrist. The two quickly walked out of the Great Hall and outside of the castle. Albus knew a shorter way to the Beauxbaton's carriage so it didn't take them long to get there. They approached the carriage quietly and stood at the side.

Albus turned to Rose. "Right, Aurore said her room's at the top of the carriage," Albus said quietly.

Rose looked up. The carriage was very large close up. "How're you going to get up there?" She whispered. Albus walked further around the carriage and looked it and down. Rose watched as he looked for any way to climb the carriage.

"Why can't you just knock on the door?" Rose asked. Albus looked at her, "Madam Maxime doesn't allow visitors," He answered irritably. "Aha!" He said loudly.

"Shhh!" Rose hissed. Albus was too excited to care, "A ladder's on the other side of the carriage," He whispered excitedly.

"Are you mad?" Rose whispered frantically. "They'll surely see you... Al!"

Albus already sped around the corner and was climbing the ladder in no time. Rose huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I definitely won't be making excuses of he gets caught," She muttered to herself. "Honestly, can't they wait until morning? A few hours won't hurt-"

The sound of grass crunching interrupted Rose's rant to herself. She silenced herself and tiptoed around the carriage.

"Good evening Vicarn," Rose heard Madam Maxime purr.

"Olympe," Varkenoff greeted gruffly. "Now vat it is you had to tell me that couldn't vait until morning?" He demanded angrily. Madam Maxime narrowed her eyes at him, "I zought zat eet may interest you,"
"Vat?"

"Vicarn," Madam Maxime said lowering her voice. "Do you really want anozzer 'ogwarts student to win? Especially a Potter?"

Varkenoff shrugged, "So vat? It doesn't matter Olympe. There is nothing we can do about it,"

"Zat ees why I 'ave invited you over Vicarn," Madam Maxime explained. "You see, I 'ave a plan to make sure that meester James Potter won't get ten minutes into ze task,"

Varkenoff cocked a bushy eyebrow, "Oh veally? And how are you going to execute this fantastic plan?" He asked sceptically.

"I 'ave a student who ee's willing to do it," Madam Maxime's face grew into an evil grin. Rose couldn't believe what she had just heard. She wished she didn't. But she was glad she did. She didn't know what to feel. Sure it gave her a chance to give James a heads up but it also pushed her deeper into her web of lies. And who could the student be? It had to be someone that hated James enough to be willing to jeopardise their reputation by framing or doing whatever in Madam Maxime's plan.

THUD!

Rose felt the vibration at the bottom of her feet. It felt as though someone hit the ground with three shovels.

"Vat was that?" Varkenoff demanded.

Rose's eyes widened. Albus! Rose ran around the carriage, ignoring the noise she made, and gasped when she saw Albus lying flat on his back at the bottom of the ladder. Rose looked up and saw Aurore looking down at them out of a window. She had puffy red eyes and in an instant she pulled the window shut.

"Ooh!" Albus groaned. Rose saw the approaching shadows of Madam Maxime and Varkenoff. Without thinking Rose grabbed Albus's arms and dragged him around the corner.

"Eet came from over 'ere," Madam Maxime recalled. Varkenoff grunted in agreement.

"It vas probably a vild beast in the forest. That oaf Hargrid can't contain them anymore,"

Rose bit her tongue to refrain from blowing their cover. And to stop her saying something that she'd only heard out of her drunk uncle George.

"I'll tell you tomorrow," Madam Maxime said.

With another grunt, Varkenoff stomped back to his ship. Rose let out a breath of relief and looked down at Albus who was slowly beginning to wake up.
"Al' are you alright?" Rose whispered. Albus blinked his emerald eyes several times before he could keep them open.

"Aurore?" He croaked. Albus sat up and got to his feet. "She..she...she,"
"What?" Rose asked, not knowing if he was stammering because of his fall or from shock.
"She..s..said we can't see each-other anymore,"
Rose's jaw dropped, "How come?"

"She said that Madam Maxime doesn't want her mingling with anyone, especially me."

"The task?" Rose guessed. Albus nodded and held his head in his hands. Rose looked at him sympathetically and rubbed his back. For a moment Rose thought he was crying. He let out a shuddering breath every couple of minutes. Rose brought him into a one-armed-hug.

Soon Albus and Rose walked back to Hogwarts castle. They didn't say a word to each-other but Rose made sure he knew she was there for him.

--

The next morning Albus was back to his gloomy self. His eyes never left the table as they all ate breakfast. Rose filled Lily, Hugo, James and Fred in on his breakup with Aurore. Hugo was the most quiet he'd been all morning. Which ticked off Rose who had to put up with his annoying comments when she broke up with Scorpius.

"Are you sure your not hungry Al'? Lily said pushing a plate of kippers towards him. Albus barely shook his head before snatching up his bag. Rose grabbed hers and followed him out of the hall.

"Albus," Rose called. Albus didn't stop. He walked out of the hall very quickly. Rose caught up to him down the corridors. She stretched out her arm and grabbed him by the shoulder, "Albus!"
Albus turned around and looked at Rose. His emerald eyes were like she'd never seen them before, they were almost in a glare.

"I..I know you're ...angry about Aurore," Albus turned away again but Rose pulled him back. "Will you listen? I know your upset about Aurore but you know I'm here if you want to talk about it-"

Suddenly a chuckle was heard behind Rose. She spun around and saw Scorpius coming towards them with a ear to ear grin on his pale and pointed face.

"Heard about you and little miss Veela," He smirked. Rose heard Albus's hand reach for his wand. Before he had his hand in his pocket, Rose grabbed it. "He's just egging you on," She whispered.

"How does it feel to be dumped by Xavier Martin's sloppy seconds?" Scorpius jeered. Rose glared at the Slytherin. Albus pulled away from Rose and continued down the corridor. Rose turned back to Scorpius, who was sporting a triumphant smirk.

"What's wrong with you?" Rose asked acidly. "Do you get pleasure from ruining people's days?"

"Did you expect me to feel sympathetic towards him?" Scorpius retorted. "Like I'm going to be nice to the brother of the guy who took my spot in the tournament,"

Suddenly something in Rose's head clicked. Scorpius was the student helping Madam Maxime. Her hand twitched for her wand, "It's you isn't it?" She said dangerously low.

Scorpius cocked a brow. "What?"
"Don't act dumb Malfoy!" Rose barked. "I know it's you helping Madam Maxime,"
Scorpius scoffed, "Like I'd help that old French bag,"
"You are the most bitter, foal, loathsome person I have ever met," Rose said before roughly pushing past him. Scorpius watched her until she turned the corner of the corridor. Rose clenched her fists tightly as she stormed through the corridor. She knew it was Scorpius. Oh how she was wrong about him. It turns out he was a bitter, loathsome...

Rose's thoughts came to a halt when she crossed paths with Aurore Deluc. Again she had a shawl wrapped over her head but Rose could tell it was her.

"Rose," She greeted croakily. Rose crossed her arms, "Have you any idea how distraught Albus is?"

"I..I just saw 'im," Aurore exlpained. Rose looked at her expectantly.

"I do not need a lecture from you Rose," Aurore snapped. "Believe me eet ees 'ard for me aswell," She said before walking away.

Rose wasn't angry at Aurore. Well..she wasn't as angry as she thought she'd be. It's not as though Aurore just dumped Albus for no reason whatsoever. It was normal that Madam Maxime didn't want Aurore to speak with the brother of one of her competitors. Rose felt horrible now. She fixed up her bag and went on to look for Albus.