I'd like to thank sgundy34, blaiseredfern, ErisedFeather (for ALL!), ColteeYT (luv uu!), altogirl156 and RH96 (for BOTH! :D) for reviewing! You guys are AWESOME! :D I'd also like to thank my beta, rokslite.

I'm seriously going to try to get out at least Chapter 56 (I know everyone's been waiting for that one) tonight. :)


Rose waited anxiously, her hand gripping Scorp's tightly as Professor Toots made his way around the classroom, passing out grades.

"We did fine," Scorp said, hugging her to his side.

"I don't want fine. I want bloody brilliant," she said, squeezing his hand harder and making him wince slightly.

"Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy," Toots said as he made his way over with a wide grin. "Best potion in the class. I've given you an O for it."

All the nervous energy drained out of Rose's body and it was instead flooded with relief.

"I also spoke to one of my friends," he said in a softer voice, for them alone, "And he said he's looking forward to your applications," he added with a wink before turning and heading to the front of the class.

Scorp and Rose remained frozen for only a moment longer before they grabbed each other in a tight hug, elated.


"Listen, Hed, my love," Al said, stroking his owl's feathers, delicately. "I'd adore it if you stayed. I really would. The only problem is," he added, sadly, shaking his head in a rather dejected manner, "you poo on everything. I've already received five letters from Alice that I've had to Scourgify and these applications are just too important."

Hedwig blinked up at him solemnly, in understanding, as he made his way over to the window. After she nipped his finger, lovingly, she flew off. He turned back, sadly.

"Hate to do that to her, but seriously. She has a bowel issue, I think."

"Can we not talk about your owl's bowels right now?" Scorp asked, rolling his eyes. "I told you, you could use Hermes if it was that big a problem."

"I didn't want to hurt her feelings," Al said, indignantly. "I'd be all but walking out on her if I did that."

"I don't think you can actually cheat on an owl, Al," Rose said, nibbling on her thumbnail as she thought of an answer for one of the questions.

"Says the bird who has to go to the post or court the wrath of Pigwidgeon, the smallest owl on earth," Al muttered, exasperated as he took a seat next to her. "Where did you get to, then?"

"They want three character references and they can't be related to you. Is there anyone we're not related to?" Rose asked, annoyed.

"Neville," Scorp suggested, already having filled his own with Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"McG will do one as well," Al put in.

"And Toots!" Rose exclaimed, grinning while the boys rolled their eyes.

They scribbled in silence for a bit longer before Rose lifted her head,

"There's so much on here," she murmured, scanning through the literal stack of papers that was the application for Auror training.

"This is going to take us all night," Al moaned, trying to change his usual scrawl into something more legible.

"Do we have to attach these recommendations from our Professors?" Scorp asked, eyes wide. "We're not going to be able to find owls to carry these."

"We can use two owls for each," Rose suggested before going back to writing.

"What's my best characteristic?" Scorp asked, staring at the parchment in horror. "How the bloody hell am I supposed to know that?"

"Your arse," Rose quipped, grinning at him and he snorted out a laugh in return.


The trio were sprawled across the sofa in their common room, exhausted after filling out the entire application.

"I wasn't sure about my answer for the Disguise bit. My best cloaking charms would be my Disillusionment Charm, but I'm also pretty good at Human Transfiguration. What did you put?"

"That question asked for Charms, so I put Disillusionment," Scorp said, pulling her closer so that he could smell her hair.

"Good," Rose said, head on Scorp's shoulder and feet on Al's lap.

"Do you think dad's going to pull strings?" Al asked, turning to look at them, worried.

"No. Uncle Harry knows how you feel about that," Rose said, reaching out to stroke his hair back from his forehead. "He wouldn't do that to you."

"I bloody well hope not," he muttered, contemplating the fire.

"Don't worry, Al. Even my dad won't do something like that. They know how much this means to us."

"That's what I'm worried about," Al murmured before he sighed, getting up and letting her legs drop to the floor.

Rose made a small sound of discontent before curling them under her and snuggling closer to Scorp.

"I'm off to bed," Al said, tugging on her hair and flicking Scorp on the forehead.

"G'night," they said, simultaneously.

There was a small period of comfortable silence before Rose asked,

"Do you think Al and Alice are going to move into a flat when they leave Hogwarts?"

"No. Al asked if I wanted to move in with him. He mentioned something about it ruining her reputation if they weren't married but living together."

Rose nodded and said,

"That's too bad," with a sleepy yawn.

"Why?" Scorp asked, tilting his head up to the ceiling.

"I was going to ask you to move in with me," she said, yawning again.

His head snapped up, finding her eyes closed and her breathing evening out. He stared at her for a moment before he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.


Scorp was racing towards the goal post, Quaffle under his arm, when he felt a Bludger pass close to his face. Ignoring the near-miss, he shot the ball towards the left goal and scored. He grinned as he turned back and the Quaffle was tossed into the game once more.

He snatched it from an opposing Chaser and hoped that Al found the Snitch soon. They were pretty far ahead in their score, but Scorp didn't want to take any chances. One of the Beaters dropped in front of him, making him pull to an abrupt stop, dropping the Quaffle, while an opposing Chaser snagged it under him.

Scowling, Scorp turned his broom to rush in the opposite direction. He signalled for the other two Chasers to flank him, ready to grab the Quaffle. A Bludger hit one of them, however, making them scatter. Cursing in his head, all he could do was watch as the Chaser in possession neared Rose. She was entirely focused and when the Quaffle was thrown her way, she knocked it straight into Scorp's arms with the tail of her broom, sending a cheeky wink his way.

Grinning, Scorp had just turned to race forward to the opposing goal posts when he heard a loud cheer and glanced up to see Al with the Snitch in hand. He hooted along with the rest of the team, dropping to the ground and getting lost in hugs.


"I was expecting James to be here," Rose said, moving to sit between a snogging Al and Alice and Scorp.

"He's busy studying, I suspect. He stopped by earlier in the changing room to say congratulations," Scorp said, "You'd already left. Something about smelly socks?" he added with a grin.

"I'm telling you, Al doesn't wash them! He says they're lucky, but they're not! They're just disgusting!"

"Don't blaspheme against the socks!" Al called from where he was snogging Alice, making Rose roll her eyes.

He would choose to hear that. Rose rolled her eyes, leaning her head against Scorp's shoulder.

"You were great today," she said, smiling.

He felt pride swell inside of him at her words. No one else's praise affected him quite so much.

"Thanks," he said, "As were you."

"I didn't need to be," she said, turning so her head was in his lap and her feet were folded neatly against the back of Al's head. "You had the Quaffle about ninety percent of the time."

Al tried to reach behind him to swat her away, to no avail.

"I don't think it was quite ninety," Scorp said, still grinning, stroking her hair.

"For the other ten, you were trying to get the Quaffle back, so it doesn't count," she said with a small wink. "Have you thought about what Dom was saying? You'd be perfect for Puddlemere."

"I gave it a thought or two," he said, shrugging, curling a lock of hair around his finger, "But I don't think I want to play for a living. The Aurors have more what I'm looking for."

"A chance to get yourself killed?" Rose asked, smirking.

"That and the chance to finally get the Malfoy name back to where it used to be," Scorp said, softly.

Rose's gaze locked with his.

"You don't have to prove yourself to anyone."

"I do. You might not understand it, but I do," he said, shaking his head as his fingers massaged her scalp.

"You're not your father," she whispered, reaching up to caress his cheek.

"I know," he said, quietly, but she knew she wouldn't be able to change his mind.


"Do you think it hurts to splinch yourself?" Al asked, making his way towards the Apparition test area.

"No," Scorp said, "Being ripped in half and having your innards spill out is painless."

"You don't have to be sarcastic," Al muttered, worried.

"We'll do fine," Rose said, rolling her eyes.

"I know you three will. I'm just worried about myself," Alice said, biting her lip.

Al leaned over to press a kiss to her hair, but that didn't seem to alleviate the tension.


"Let me see it, then," Rose asked Al.

He grinned, flashing his Apparition License, the picture of him winking at them. He was the only one old enough to take the test.

"I can't wait until Next month," Scorp said grinning.

"I have to wait two months," Rose said, pouting.

"I have until August, thank Merlin," Alice said, tugging at the short lock of hair on her head.

She had managed to splinch it during practice.

"You were all perfect," she said, sadly.

"You'll do fine with a few more lessons," Al said, hugging her to his side as they made their way to the Great Hall. "Won't she?"

Scorp nodded, absently, while Rose rushed to reassure her.


"Which page is Multicorfors on?" Rose asked Scorp from where she was leaning against his shoulder.

They were out by the beech tree, trying to review a chapter of Transfiguration before class. Scorp took the book from her and flipped it to the page she wanted, pulling her closer with his arm around her waist. His stomach clenched painfully as she sighed softly and snuggled into his side, her leg sliding against his.

"Do you think we'll get to practice it today?" she asked, her voice low and intimate.

"I doubt it," he whispered, leaning closer to inhale the scent of her hair. "The others will probably jinx themselves if they tried."

She laughed softly and turned to look at him. It was then that he realised how close they were. She was all of an inch away from his. His gaze instantly dropped to her lips. He saw her eyes do the same and he wasn't sure what possessed him, but he found himself leaning closer.

He saw her eyes slide shut and he was millimetres from finally having what he had been hoping for so many years when he heard Al call,

"Rose? Scorp?"

Their eyelids flipped open at once and they scrambled away from each other instantly. Rose fell backwards, her leg having snagged on a jutting root of the tree.

He would have moved to help her but he didn't dare to as Al came up to them, laughing.

"What's going on here, then?"

"W-we were studying," Rose said, her face scarlet as she righted herself.

Scorp tried not to notice that her skirt had shifted up her legs, but he was hard pressed not to.

"Transfiguration?" Al asked, grinning and they nodded. "I haven't been able to practice Multicorfors. Can I use you, Scorp?"

"No," Scorp said, gruffly.

"Fine. Rosie?" Al turned to her with an endearing smile. She shook her head, nervously, shoving her hair behind her ear.

Confused, Al looked between them both. Scorp was apparently absorbed in the textbook he held while Rose had taken a decided interest in the grass.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, worried.

"Fine," Rose said, quickly and shot up to her feet. "I have to get my things before class," she added, hurriedly, running off.

Scorp stared after her, wondering if he had been dreaming or if she had really been about to kiss him. Deciding abruptly that he needed to speak with her, he got up as well.

"I've got to go."

Without waiting for a response, he shot off after her.


Rose was mortified. She had been about to kiss Scorp. She hadn't even given the poor bloke a chance to defend himself. She had instead, acted like a complete slag, and almost thrown herself on him. She slowed as she made her way to the common room and buried her face in her hands.

Why did she have to ruin everything?

Her head shot up as she heard running footsteps behind her. She swung around just in time for Scorp to slide to a halt in front of her.

"Rose," he said, breathing heavily, "I wanted to-"

"I'm sorry," she blurted out, "I don't know what happened. I think it's probably seeing Al and Alice all the time," she added, gesticulating wildly. "Of course we don't feel that way about each other, and I was about to snog you. I'm so sorry, Scorp. Forgive me?"

Scorp was frozen, his expression unreadable.

"So," he said, slowly. "You didn't want to snog me?"

Rose shook her head, lying to herself and him.

"Of course not! I was just... in the moment, I suppose. Please forgive me."

She grabbed his hand now, her eyes imploring. He nodded, awkwardly.

"Of course I forgive you, Rosie. You're my best mate," he said with a nervous chuckle.

Instantly relieved, Rose grabbed him in a tight hug.


Scorp felt his hope shatter with her words. She didn't fancy him. He had been imagining it. Of course he had. Why would Rose fancy him anyway? She was... perfect. He was a git. He took the moment to inhale the scent of her hair and feel her against him, knowing that was the most he would ever have of her.


Thanks so much for reading! :D Next chapter in a bit! Please review with questions, comments or feedback! :D