A/N: I don't know what happened, but suddenly I wrote this. Also… it may or may not be a two (three?) shot, so let me know if you like it, and I'll write up something to follow up (I've got a whoooole bunch of ideas!) Also, Aya Diefair once wrote a non-binary Albus, and I loved them so much I wrote them like that here too!

WC: 3,251

~~ pure gold (that's what you are) ~~

It had seemed like a perfectly good idea, at first.

They were both plagued by the press and paparazzi, and they were absolutely sick of them. All of them were constantly so involved in their romantic lives, and they were basically begging the two of them to get together. So, they had figured, why not give it to them? Pretend to date for a while, kiss a couple of times in front of a camera, have a messy break-up and be finally rid of them. It would all be right, if they worked together. After all, two minds are better than one.

All of this seemed perfectly reasonable, right?

Wrong.

This was a terrible, terrible idea.

Scorpius knew from the moment he stepped into the ballroom that this was possibly the worst decision he had ever made in his life. He glanced at Rose next to him, and he could read the exact same sentiment in hers eyes.

"This was a terrible idea," he murmured.

"I can tell!" Rose whispered back. "Why did you ever suggest this?"

"Please, I distinctly remember you suggesting it!"

The camera flashed in front of their eyes, and they both quickly put up their best smiles, faking it till they made it. Hopefully, the picture would show what they were trying to achieve: a perfect couple. They'd dressed with matching colours: blue, because it complimented both of their eyes—and brought the gold flecks in hers—and if Scorpius was being perfectly honest, they looked really good together.

"Miss Weasley, Mr Malfoy, can you confirm you two are now an item?" one of the journalists yelled from the crowd.

"It would appear so!" Rose said gracefully, and with just enough humour for them to burst out laughing.

"How long has this been going on?" another asked.

"Long enough," Scorpius replied. They'd rehearsed this before, going through questions people might ask them. This was a teaser, trying to keep them guessing, and letting the press go wild. Give them something to write about for a while.

"And, how did this happen?"

"I guess you'll have to find out," Rose told them. See, mystery. They loved it. "But, now, you'll have to excuse us. We don't want to keep the line up!"

They pushed through the crowd of demanding journalists and into the ballroom. 'Rosie Posie' and 'Scorpion' were both extremely famous pop artist, with just-as-famous parents. This was the sort of thing they did.

"Do you know where we're sitting?" Rose asked.

"I suggest we split up? Go hunting for the table?"

Rose smirked. "Send me a message when you find it!"

"Will do!"

"Oh, look! There's Teddy," Rose exclaimed and rushed away to meet her half-cousin, who was big in fashion at the moment.

Scorpius wandered through the tables, greeting other celebrities he was supposed to know but spent most of his time forgetting their names. They all seemed so aware of all of his life, and were all prying into his relationship with Rose.

Finally, he saw a truly familiar face at a table near to the edges of the room.

"Albus!" he exclaimed as he saw his best friend. "I didn't know you were coming!"

"Yeah, well, Rosie did have a plus one she didn't know what to do with," Albus told him. "You finally managed to ask my dearest cousin on a date?"

Scorpius shifted uncomfortably. "Not really…"

"Not really?" Albus echoed incredulously. "What does that mean? Are you just each others convenient arm candy for the evening?"

As usual, Albus was spot on., and they had a very good way of putting thing. "Well…"

Albus looked like they were about to face-palm themselves. They didn't—though the only thing that was stopping them from doing just so was probably their intricate make-up. Once again, Albus had absolutely outdone themselves with their eye make-up. "Oh, no. You didn't," they exclaimed.

"We… kinda did," Scorpius admitted.

"Scorpius!"

See, there was the actual issue with this whole fake-dating thing. He could handle the crows; he'd been handling them since literal birth. The real problem was that Scorpius was actually desperately in love with Rose, and had been since they were eleven when they had met on the train to the ridiculously elitist school that all celebrity parents sent their kids. It didn't matter that their parents had famously hated each other, he only had eyes for her.

So, when she'd suggested that they try their hand at fake-dating, it had been a mixed blessing. Being able to hold her hand was the most wonderful thing ever, but at the same time, it killed him knowing that it was all only for show.

Merlin knew how many of the songs he was singing were actually meant for her.

"Look, I know it's a problem, but I'll figure it out later," Scorpius told him.

"You should just tell her." Albus was endlessly suggesting he come clean, but Scorpius just couldn't do that. They'd built a strong friendship over the years, once they'd both realised family enmity was just ridiculous. A declaration of love would ruin everything.

"That's not how fake-dating works, Albus." Scorpius changed the subject, "Do you know where you're sitting?"

"No idea!" Albus laughed.

Suddenly, Scorpius noticed Rose waving at him from across the room. She was next to Teddy, and she was pointing wildly at a table, right in the middle. Scorpius and Albus walked towards her.

"Oh, you found Albus!" Rose exclaimed. "That's great!"

Teddy, Rose, Albus and himself were all sitting at the same table, conveniently in the middle and easily photographed. Scorpius sighed as he took his seat next to Rose. There were a few people he didn't know, but he didn't let that bother him, until they started asking questions.

"So, how did this start?" someone who'd introduced herselfas Anastasia 'Ana-chroma' Stevens asked him.

"This?" Scorpius echoed.

"Your relationship, of course!" Anastasia—what an obnoxious name—exclaimed, with an even more obnoxious laugh. He had no idea who this woman was, or why she was famous, but immediately he knew she didn't like her at all.

"It just happened. We've been friends so long, when Scorpius suggested it, it was just natural," Rose told them.

Scorpius raised an eyebrow. This was not what they'd agreed on. They had said Rose had been the one to ask him out, something about feminism and other things she was extremely vehement about. He shot her a curious look, but she simply smirked.

"So, you're the Casanova here, Scorpius!" the woman said, in what was supposed to be a sensuous way. This was making him rather uncomfortable. She batted her eyelids at him. Merlin, was this woman flirting with him? Hadn't she just asked him about his girlfriend?

"It would appear so," he said through gritted teeth.

"He's… quite romantic," Rose said, clearly unsure of her reply.

"Tell me more!" Anastasia sighed. "Is he good in bed?"

Rose and Scorpius both coughed. Alright, this conversation was getting far, far too personal, and this woman was clearly weird. Thankfully, Albus intervened.

"Or maybe not, we don't all need to know about our cousin's sex lives," he said.

Teddy laughed heartily and most people joined in. It broke the awkward atmosphere, and the dinner conversation steered back to much more child-appropriate subjects, and though Anastasia was still just as forward, at least everyone found her uncomfortable to be around.

"This is actually going pretty well," Scorpius whispered to Rose just as desert was being served.

"I'm relieved, I didn't think Albus would buy it!"

"Ehm… about that," he started.

"Yes?"

"I may or may not have told them," he admitted.

"Scorpius!"

"What! They asked, and I just couldn't lie."

"We agreed on telling absolutely no one." She crossed her arms.

"I'm sorry," he told her genuinely.

She smiled at him, a little, then added in a small voice, "I suppose this would be a good moment to tell you I told Teddy."

Scorpius looked at her in disbelief. "And you tell me off for Albus?"

"Sorry… But you love me anyway, right?" she asked, teasing in her voice.

"Of course, darling."

She laughed, but once again, something broke a little bit inside him. Clearly, this was supposed to them acting again. But Scorpius meant every word of it.

Dinner continued uneventfully. Once again, Scorpius wondered what the point of this event was. Throwing these large get-togethers where you never actually met the host was something typically celebrity-ish—hell, his father had thrown more than just a couple when he was younger—but it just seemed like a gross display of wealth. Either way, they had to be done, his producer insisted upon it.

Finally, the moment most people had been waiting for arrived, and people were invited to leave the dinner tables and make their way onto the dance floor.

"But I'm not done with desert!" Rose wailed.

Scorpius laughed. "I'll wait for you."

"Really?"

"Well, I am supposed to be your dance partner."

"You're the sweetest," Rose told him before digging back into her strawberry parfait.

Rose always ate ridiculously slowly, like every bite had to be savoured. Scorpius found it quite funny, because Rose was actually the sort of person to rush through literally everything, as if she was constantly on the run. Apart from food. He knew it was kinda creepy, but he could watch her eating her deserts forever.

"You done?" he asked.

"Yep!" she exclaimed, dabbing her lips.

"Would you care to dance, perhaps?" he offered.

"Of course."

They made their way onto the dance floor as an upbeat, rock-style song began to blast from the speakers. Rose laughed as they started dancing. Everyone was having a good time, and this was absolutely wonderful. It reminded him of that once time in Fourth Year when they'd been paired together for dancing lessons—yes, it was that kind of elitist snob school where they taught the kids to waltz—and he'd thought he was simply going to die. He hadn't, if you were wondering, but it had been pretty close.

There was literally nothing similar about that day and now. The music was completely different, the clothes were nothing alike, and they were far less awkward than when they were 14. But still. Something about dancing with Rose always brought him back to that very moment when he'd held her hand for the first time.

Of course, he heard the cameras click several times as they probably captured pictures of him. It was inevitable, but for some reason, it wasn't driving him crazy. At least, he was sure he was going to be able to keep a picture or two of the event before all of this was over.

"This is really fun!" Rose yelled, with childish glee.

"I know!"

But soon the song ended, and it only seemed polite to invite someone else to dance. As a matter of fact, Scorpius barely danced with Rose during the next couple of hours. They were together when their small group was just bobbing along to the music, enjoying the feel of the beat, but apart from that, Rose was out of his sight.

While listening to the music, Scorpius couldn't help but want to change some of the chords, add a coda, modify the rhythm here and there, but he did his best to ignore it. It was the trouble with being a musician, you had to turn that part of you off, from time to time.

The hours passed, and soon the party was diminishing. Most of the paparazzi had left, though a few tired—or hellishly determined—ones were still hanging around. But, Scorpius knew what came at the end; slow dances.

Anastasia unfortunately managed to nab him while he wasn't paying attention, and he spent the most awkward five minutes of his life, trying to get as far as was socially acceptable away from her during the entire dance.

Finally, when the last couple of chords rang through the dance-floor, Scorpius spotted just who he was looking for, and detached himself from Anastasia's lecherous arms.

"Thank you for the dance, Anastasia. It was lovely," he lied through his teeth.

"You're welcome, and you can dance with me whenever you want," she flirted. Merlin, she truly was pathetic.

Scorpius made his was through the thinning crowd to his 'girlfriend'. He saw that she was talking with Albus, and hadn't noticed him yet. He made his way towards them. Albus was apparently talking actively about something, and Rose was shaking her head.

"Hey," he greeted them.

Rose almost jumped out of her skin. "You scared me, Scorpius!"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

She laughed. "No, no! Don't worry about it. You're just so quiet."

He smiled, before turning to Albus. "Do you mind if I steal your cousin for a dance?"

Albus snorted. "As if you needed to ask me."

"I'd love to!" Rose chimed in, and Scorpius smiled, taking her hand.

Just as he was leading her onto the dance-floor, he noticed Albus looking at him pointedly and glancing towards Rose. Scorpius quickly shook his head, but suddenly noticed that Rose was doing exactly the same thing. Scorpius was thoroughly discombobulated. Was that signal not meant for him? But what would that signal mean to Rose? It didn't make any sense.

However, he didn't have much time to think about it as the music started rising from the speakers, and he brought Rose closer to him, and she smiled.

It was so ridiculously easy, just asking her out like this, and pulling her close. He'd been wanting to do it forever, but he just couldn't before. And now, just because they were 'dating', it was just so simple to take her in his arms. This was why he hoped their fake relationship would never end. As long as the illusion was up, he could hold her like this as long as he liked.

Suddenly, he recognised the opening chords of the song, and the voice was easily recognisable. It was one of his songs, his own songs. He was dancing to one of his songs, with Rose Weasley.

He oddly felt like fainting, right on the spot, just like he had done after that fateful day in Fourth Year. (He'd told you he had been close to death).

"Oh, this is one of yours isn't it?" Rose looked up at him. It was at that moment he remembered just how much he loved the fact he was a head taller than him.

"Jealous they're not playing yours?" he teased, but she just shook her head with a smile.

"No, I'm just glad you're singing. It's a beautiful song."

"Thanks," he said, and she placed her head on his shoulder.

"Were you thinking of anyone, when writing it?" she asked. It was so innocent, but it ripped him apart.

"I don't think so."

But that was a big, far lie.

The entire song was for her. Every single word was for her. All of his songs were.

Maybe it seemed like a bit of an obsession, but it was true. And it was oddly successful; this particular song had been and still was top of the charts. People loved it, the same way they loved all of his songs about her, not that they knew who he was singing about. But, he'd noticed it.

Everytime he poured his raw emotions into his song, it sky-rocketed. His producer had tried to make him do new stuff, but it was always a huge flop. Soon, he'd simply given up and let Scorpius channel what he called 'pure gold' into his songs.

Scorpius had liked that, 'pure gold'. That was Rose, for him. It always had been. So, he'd written it into a song, the song that he was now crooning to himself. So, while this was absolute pure bliss—Rose's head was on his shoulder—it was also slightly awkward. Who danced to their own auto-tuned voice?

When you look across the room, baby

Rose looked up at him once more, and he could clearly see the gold little specks at the back of her eyes. He hadn't noticed them until very recently, but it made so much sense. A girl like her was gold in and out.

When you touch my hand, baby

Suddenly, as if in a trance, Scorpius couldn't help but lean forward, just a little bit. It was completely unconscious, and he only realised it when he saw Rose moving towards him, too. He didn't understand what was going on? What was she doing?

When you're next to me, baby

Their lips were so close now. He was so painfully aware of the ridiculously little distance between them, and yet, they still weren't touching. The moment was electric, positively electric. The saying 'sparks fly' was awfully cliché, but so terribly real. Maybe he was going to burst on fire. Maybe he wouldn't care. If only she brought her lips to his.

You're pure gold.

Fusion. Their lips met, and it was like fireworks. Her lips weren't soft at all. He'd never expected them to be. They were chapped, and somehow, that made so much sense. Scorpius could taste the strawberry parfait on them. And, for some reason, neither of them had closed their eyes, they were still looking at each other, with wide surprised looks.

But, as all good things do, the kiss ended.

Scorpius wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. Already, the moment was gone, and the noise of his own music was filling his ears again, and he could here the camera shutters in the distance.

"Well, that ought to keep them busy for a while," Rose said.

Scorpius' heart broke once more.

It had only been acting. He'd known that all along, and he shouldn't have pretended it was anything else. A small part of him had perhaps noticed that Rose's voice was just as broken as he felt, but he pushed it back. It wouldn't make any sense. Rose didn't love him, she was probably just ashamed she had kissed him under all of the cameras, even though they had agreed to it. Rose hated it whenever there were pictures or videos of people kissing. She said it made her uncomfortable, that a kiss was something private.

"Yeah," he finally agreed.

They swayed some more, before Rose added, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"The kiss, it was nice."

He smiled. It was so typically Rose to say thank you. But he wasn't going to focus on that. It had only been an act. "Nice? I've been told my kisses are fantastic, at the very least."

"Because you've gotten a lot of feedback?"

"How do you think I got this good?"

She hit him lightly in the chest. "Don't speak nonsense."

He laughed, and they continued to dance under the soft lightning, until the song was regretfully over and Scorpius had to let go of her. Rose was asked to another dance, and Scorpius very much had to force himself not to get jealous.

Instead, he headed back to the bar where Albus was waiting for him.

"You've got it bad, mate," Albus said.

"I know." Scorpius sighed. He had. He had it so, so terribly bad. And, by the looks of it, nothing was going to change about his feelings, or Rose's. She was just his friend, his fake-girlfriend.

But, Scorpius would enjoy every moment of it, until it ended. After all, she was pure gold.

A/N: Please review!