Seventh Year. December 4th. 8:00am, Great Hall

Albus sat across from the suspected traitors. They were eating and all but this morning was…different. They weren't bickering. Scorpius wasn't talking up any sexual conquests.

They were sitting NEXT to each other as opposed to across from each other.

Albus narrowed his eyes at his plate. Sitting next to each other? Did their treachery know no bounds?

He looked up at the two of them casually. Let the interrogation begin.

"So." Albus started suddenly. "What did you two do this morning?"

Suddenly, Scorpius jerked up. " NOTHING!" He yelled. He shut his eyes quickly at how loud that was. He tried again, "N...NOTHING!" He yelped again at a failed attempt to control his voice. Rose started wringing her hair.

Albus arched an eyebrow at the two of them. They were avoiding his gaze.

"Nothing…" Albus said slowly, swiriling his food around on his plate. "Of course...of course...it's just...you were a bit late to breakfast this morning."

He looked up slyly at the two and noticed that Rose had went from wringing her hair to wringing her hands. Scorpius sat stock still, staring rigidly at his plate.

Scorpius had to get it together. He cleared his throat and laid on his best impression of carefree Scorpius Malfoy. "Albus, since when have we cared about rushing to start a school day?"

Albus narrowed his eyes at him. He sighed. "Yes, of course…"

Then a thought occurred to him. Yes, a fantastic new tactic.

"Scorpius, are your parents having their annual get together for the holidays?"

Scorpius arched a suspicious eyebrow. "I suppose...I'm not sure."

Albus nodded his head slowly, staring into Scorpius' eyes deeply. Scorpius flinched. He continued, "hmm...I see...but weren't you just telling me two weeks ago, at around 8pm, that you were going to take Chandra? I believe you said you were going to, seal the deal, with her?"

Albus eyes flashed to Rose and she looked as if she was going to explode.

Scorpius' eyes also flashed to Rose and looked terrified. Albus noticed this. Curious. He took it a step further.

"Oh look. There's Chandra over there." Albus announced in a deadpan tone. "Perhaps I should call her over and give you an opportunity. I'm your best mate after all. You've been talking about Chandra for a while...as your best mate, it would be...dishonorable not to help you, right? She's the one you want, right? What do you think Rose? Do you think Scorpius should trust me enough to let me help him? Would you?"

Rose spluttered and Scorpius arched a bemused eyebrow. Neither awnsered. Albus narrowed his eyes even harder.

Rose turned blood red and now it was Scorpius' turn to feel like exploding.

" I...I don't care." Rose muttered finally, staring intensely at her plate.

Albus stared at her for a moment. "Hmm...you don't care...well, do you hear that Scorpius? Rose doesn't care. Shall I call her?" Albus replied quietly, staring at Scorpius in a way that made his soul burn.

"I…" Scorpius started, shooting nervous glances at Rose. "...I don't...don't think that's necessa-"

Albus slammed his fork on the table suddenly, "Oi! Chandra!" He yelled and a beautiful porcelain skinned girl with hazel eyes and straight flowing blond hair turned to look at him. Scorpius briefly looked up at her and their eyes met. She quickly smiled at him and rose from her seat to join them.

Scorpius sneaked a glance at Rose. She was sitting so incredibly still that Scorpius briefly wondered if she had a heart attack and died right in that position. But as he looked down, he saw that her hands were shaking. When he looked at her face, he saw the calm sort of face she made right before she decimates someone.

WHAT WAS ALBUS DOING? HE WAS GOING TO GET HIM KILLED.

Albus observed them both as Chandra approached. It was working. He smirked evily.

"CHANDRA, HOW WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU. DONT YOU THINK ROSE?" Albus announced looking straight at Rose as Chandra arrived. Rose made a sort of gurgling noise.

And Chandra, bless her heart, played her role spectacularly. Albus couldn't have planned it better. She flounced up to Scorpius, running her fingers through his hair and somehow squeezed herself between Rose and Scorpius.

Albus found himself highly amused at Scorpius's repeated dodges of her kisses and touches and general sex vibes.

Rose looked like she was about to Avada everyone in the Great Hall.

No. Albus was EXTREMELY amused. But there was business to attend to. ,"Chandra. How have things been between you and Scorpius? I heard you two have come to know each other VERY well." He looked over at Rose, she was slightly trembling. Good. Serves her right.

Chandra smiled widely. "Oh, you know! We just can't stay apart from each other!"

"Oh is that so?!" Albus exclaimed, still staring at Rose and Scorpius. "Could this be the beginnings of young love?"

Suddenly, Rose flew out of her seat. "I...I have to…" and with that, she just left. Scorpius watched her walk out and he felt a crushing sense of sadness that soon turned to rage as he looked over to Albus and saw that stupid goddamn expression on his face. What was he playing at?!

Albus watched her go and turned sharply to Scorpius. " Hmm. Curious. Scorpius, do you have any idea what that may have been about? Any idea at all?"

Scorpius stared daggers into Albus for a moment before grinding out a slow "No."

Albus nodded. "No...no of course not...well. I'm off to classes. Totally normal day. No secrets or anything…"

"What?" Scorpius replied.

"WHAT." Albus practically yelled as he left.

Scorpius sighed hard and was temporarily paralyzed. He had forgotten Chandra was even there when she ran her fingers down his arm.

"I have first period off. Perhaps you'd like to skive off with me and show me your suite?" Chandra whispered seductively in his ear.

Scorpius blew out another hard sigh. "Actually, can we go to the abandoned classroom down the hall? I...I think we need to talk."