This chapter was written a long time back. I found it a few days back when I was deleting useless items saved on my laptop.

Just thought I'd post it since it'll take some time for me to post chapter 12 of the other story. My own way of making peace.

Originally a one-shot, it inspired me to write a series of one-shots based on Rose and Scorpius's life before MGIGO. But the one-shots would be in no particular order.

It's pretty long. So try and not doze off to sleep!

Disclaimer: Everything recognizable is owned by JKR. No copyright infringement intended.

Episode 1: November, 2020

Rose sighed. She had no idea why she was so addicted to this muggle romance novel. Her mother had made her read loads of them, but this was one novel she could never get enough of.

She sighed once again as Darcy proposed marriage to Elizabeth. She ate two spoons of bacon as she read further. She wondered if she would have a happy ending with her Darcy. Her dashing, arrogant best friend Darcy who wasn't even aware of the crazy feelings she had for him.

"Hey Rose!"

Speak of the devil.

Rose looked up from her book to see two teenage boys sit across her apprehensively.

They smiled hopefully at her. She gave them a glare and went back to her book.

"Rooooose!" Albus Potter whined, "Just give it up alright! We're sorry!"

She ignored him.

"If not him, at least talk to me," said Scorpius Malfoy, exasperated, "I'm your future husband after all"

She ignored him too.

"ROSIE!" Both chorused.

Rose looked up again to glare at them. "You call me Rosie once again, and you'll wish you'd never been born. Bat Bogey Hex is still very strong," she touched the tip of her nose, reminding them of the last time they got the jinx.

"Oh come on Rose! Give us a break!", said Scorpius, buttering his toast, "All we did was-"

"Add dragon claw powder to my potion when I wasn't looking! You ruined my perfect potion!" said Rose, seething in her place as she remembered her yesterday's Potions class, where her cauldron had exploded, covering the ones in the vicinity with a respectable amount of her good brew of Shrinking Solution, "Why me? I thought you had said you were going for Julio Baxter?"

"We have our reasons!"

"Really?! Do pray-tell!"

"One because you were the safest target," began Albus, biting into his toast, "Sluggy would never think we'd prank you."

"Two, you are the best potion brewer in our year," added Scorpius, "After me, of course."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Then you could have added it in your potion"

"And three, you were the one closest to Ryan Bighead Smith," continued Scorpius as if he hadn't heard her, "So it was a better aim that way."

"Ryan Smith was your main aim? I thought you were doing it because you were bored! Are James and Fred involved in this?" asked Rose, narrowing her eyes.

Albus looked sheepish, "Well they did help smuggle in Dragon claw powder. But they should not be the only ones allowed to prank that guy!"

"And Rose," said Scorpius, with a knowing look in his eyes, "You did find it amusing when the Bighead's head shrunk to one-fourth its size. I did see you smiling, so don't deny it. Don't try and say it was cruel and mean and…well scold us like you are, you know, the noblest person around or something."

Rose looked down immediately, colour flooding her cheeks. She hadn't joined in the laughter (they ruined her potion!), but she was very amused when she saw Ryan Smith running around in the dungeon, clutching his tiny head, and squealing like a girl. The fact that Scorpius did find the time to see her reaction to the explosion made a tingle go down her spine. She hated him for having such a huge effect on her.

Was she kidding herself? She loved him.

"Though it's a pity," continued Scorpius, "That his head wasn't the intended target."

Rose frowned in confusion.

"Well," started Scorpius, smiling mischievously, "He does think he's a hit with girls. So I just wanted to make him a little unpopular."

Albus snorted into his goblet of pumpkin juice, whereas Rose gaped at him.

"You're a sick git, you know that!" she said, feeling disgusted. She pushed her plate of breakfast away from her.

"No! I'm just funny. And I know it adds to my absolutely sexy personality," said Scorpius smugly.

Rose snorted, "Yeah right!" There were loads of things that added to his personality he had no idea about. She knew them, since she had spent hours just staring at him or thinking about him.

His smirk became more prominent. "I know you cannot resist me when I'm funny and so damn dashing. Admit it, Weasley."

His unique pale blue eyes were dancing with mischief, the smile on his face was playful and his whole face was alight. His jaw was becoming more defined with each passing year. So was his body, filling out brilliantly with each Quidditch practice and match, not to mention that he was shooting up in height rather quickly. Merlin! Why did he have to be so gorgeous?!

"You make me want to throw up, really, you do."

"Rose, I know you want me. Just say the words and I'm yours," he said, his voice becoming deeper and more mature as he leaned closer. Rose got a whiff of the expensive cologne she had bought for him as a gift for his fifteenth birthday the previous week. As much as she was pleased that he was using it, the smell meant trouble for her. Every time she got a whiff, it sent her reeling, without fail. She had bought the cologne to give him a hint about her feelings, but Merlin! The blonde was denser than the densest thing in the world.

She gathered herself before she made a fool of herself.

"Oh yes Scorpius! I secretly lust for you. I cannot wait to get married and have kids with you," said Rose, batting her eyelashes and pouting, while Albus chuckled.

"Fine. You. Me. My Dorm. NOW," said Scorpius, winking.

Rose rolled her eyes, "You need better pick up lines, Malfoy."

"Two of us are going to have really good-looking babies, you know that? So hop on for a ride. We'll ask Daddy Weasley and Daddy Malfoy to throw a party to celebrate the union of two souls."

"You know," interrupted Albus, "It's actually pretty disturbing, thinking about both of you getting together."

"I'm still straight," drawled Scorpius sitting straighter to put emphasis on his point, making Albus chuckle, "And I have no plans to swing the other way."

Rose felt stung as she heard him make that statement. As always.

She was known as one of the boys. She was short even for her own age. She had a million freckles which made her face look absolutely despicable. She had inherited her mother's rather large front and uneven teeth, and to correct them she was currently wearing braces, making her feel more conscious. She had the frizziest red hair which was affectionately nicknamed 'copper wires' by Scorpius, not to mention she hadn't developed the real curves yet. She was fourteen for heaven's sake! It was either now or never!

The only thing she liked about herself were the eyes she had inherited from her father. But then, the list of her favourite physical features ended there.

She had been mocked endlessly by her peers because of her looks many times in the past, but she didn't care since she knew that it was the beauty on the inside that really mattered. But now she doubted if that was enough.

What made her more cognizant of her appearance this year was the fact that Scorpius had started to notice girls around him. He would always look twice (and many more times) at any girl who looked good or had good assets. She felt awful as she was neither beautiful nor did she have any assets. And the fact that Scorpius thought she was a boy made her feel worse.

"Do you want to go flying in the evening?" asked Albus, checking his timetable for the day.

Rose shook her head, "I have two essays due in transfiguration-"

"-which have to be given in next week. Scorpius convince her-Scorpius?"

Rose and Albus stared at their blonde friend who seemed to have become speechless and was staring at something beyond Rose's head.

Rose turned around to see the thing that could divert Scorpius's attention from Quidditch related talks and felt her stomach drop.

Scorpius was staring at Melissa Bright. Again.

The bloody gorgeous Ravenclaw everyone loved gawking at. Especially him.

The tall brunette with the most beautiful black hair, loveliest brown eyes, and mile-long legs. The first girl Scorpius ever noticed.

The stupid bimbo, who was sitting with her gaggle of girls on the Ravenclaw table. She wasn't stupid, he always argued.

The pompous prissy who just threw Scorpius a dazzling smile.

The ice queen who made Scorpius wink back at her.

Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.

One, two, three…

She stared at Scorpius, who was still looking at her with longing and fascination.

What on earth was the wink for?

Albus looked at Rose, and she nodded. He picked up an abandoned Daily Prophet on the table and smacked Scorpius on the head with it.

"Ow!" the blonde yelped, rubbing his head.

"So would you like to say something?" asked Rose, trying to keep her voice calm, whereas she actually wanted to scream murder.

"Well?" Albus said, waiting for an explanation.

"Well what?" asked Scorpius innocently.

"Care to explain what was with the winking? Is there something going on between the two of you?"

Scorpius sighed, "Okay. All right. You know I've been tutoring her for DADA ever since the term started, right?."

"Yeah."

"We became friends and now I think I've fallen in love with her."

WHAT!?

Albus choked on his pumpkin juice, and started coughing violently.

Rose felt herself stop breathing as she saw the words roll off his tongue. She suddenly felt faint, and she had to grip the edge of the table to prevent herself from falling off the table. She could hear her blood pounding in her ears. She was getting a very strong urge to hit someone. She could try hitting James later, since he was always in trouble with her.

Albus looked bewildered, "Are you serious?" he squeaked.

Scorpius grinned nervously, running his hand through his hair, "I've never felt this way about any other girl. Melissa's gorgeous, funny, sweet, smart, and gorgeous-"

"You've already said gorgeous."

"I know. She is, isn't she?"

Rose wanted to cry. Her insides twisted and she felt a sharp pain in her heart. She could feel herself deflating. She wanted to put her head down on the table, close her eyes and never get up. This had to be her worst nightmare.

He said he loved her because she was gorgeous. Something that she wasn't and perhaps never could be.

Albus looked unsure, "Mate, maybe it's just a crush."

"It isn't," said Scorpius impatiently, "Look, I'm going to ask her out today. I reckon she feels the same way…"

Albus turned to look at Rose for help, who was trying her best to hide her tears and not throttle Scorpius till he came to his senses. She shook her head, and went back to her book, but everything in front of her seemed blurred.

"Rose," Albus pleaded.

"Yes," said Scorpius, crossing his arms, "Do you agree with what Albus has to say?."

Rose took a deep breath, thinking of the right words to use.

"Albus is right. You aren't in love Scorpius, it's just infatuation." She said softly, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.

"No, my dear. It is much more than that. I know she's the one."

Rose felt as if she couldn't breathe anymore. Her eyes were burning. Was he really in love with her? But he had known her for only three months!

Albus shook his head. "But you hardly talk to her! How can you fall in love with someone you hardly know? Three months of DADA lessons aren't enough to know a person well."

Rose was rather amazed by the sensibility showed by Albus. Usually, both were equally stupid and insensitive.

"Sometimes a glimpse is enough to fall in love. That way three months is a pretty long time."

Rose laughed, making Scorpius glare at her. This wasn't the Elizabethan times. This wasn't the world of Jane Austen.

"Scorpius you aren't being reasonable," she tried again.

"You aren't being reasonable!"

"You're just fifteen!"

Hypocrite!, her mind shouted at her.

"So? You said your dad was eleven when he fell for your mum!"

They were attracting stares from adjoining tables. Some were looking on rather curiously, some gleefully. A Rose Weasley-Scorpius Malfoy argument was always worth listening to.

Rose and Scorpius were now on their feet, glaring furiously at each other and still arguing. Albus looked terrified. This row was slightly 'louder' than their regular ones. He hoped both would be alive by the end of it.

"Why can't you just accept what I just said and move on with your life?" said Scorpius irritated.

"Because you are being too unrealistic. There's no logic in what you're saying. Looking good is not a reason strong enough to love someone."

"There's a reason why I didn't want to tell you guys," said Scorpius angrily, "I knew you wouldn't understand me."

"There wasn't anything worth believing," said Rose scoffing. She could feel her temper surface; she was just a second away from blowing up.

"What would you know about falling in love? There's nothing too logical about it. So it's obvious you'll neither understand nor experience it," Scorpius spat.

Albus stared at him in shock, while Rose looked dumbstruck. Scorpius picked up his bag and stormed out of the Great Hall. There was pin-drop silence in the hall, all eyes on Rose.

Breathing heavily, Rose stormed off after him.

Albus followed with their bags, knowing very well that a showdown was on the way. He had to be there just in case curses started flying and someone had to be taken to the hospital wing.

Rose entered the entrance hall, fuming from head to toe. How dare he accuse her of not knowing what love was? She had been in love with him for the past three years and yet he had the guts to tell her that she hadn't any-well, he'll see!

Her eyes looked for the blonde in the busy corridor. He wasn't too far away. He was standing against one of the windows, leaning against the wall and looking outside the window.

She walked towards him, and turned him towards her with a strength that could not be associated with the size of her frame.

"What?" growled Scorpius, his jaw clenched as he looked down at her. For a minute, she was blown away by just how amazing he looked. There was fire in his eyes, his muscles were tensed, his unkempt blonde hair fluttered ever so lightly with the wind and his face was flushed.

He looked perfect.

All Rose wanted to do pull him down by his tie and snog the daylights out of him. But then he wouldn't like it, would he, since he'd prefer Melissa Bright's bee-stung lips to her rather normal-looking ones?

Like the waves of the ocean during storm, her anger rose violently in her. Her insides were on fire, a monster was roaring inside her, wanting to attack her prey and release its fury. She took a deep breath to try and stop the angry tears waiting to spill from her.

"I may like to see and know things logically," began Rose, her voice shaking, "but it doesn't mean that I don't know how to feel. I'm a girl-yes, Scorpius-a girl. And every girl knows how to feel. They are not insensitive, mean, stupid, and selfish like boys. I have felt more emotions by now than you could just think of feeling in your lifetime. Just because I don't show them, doesn't mean I can't feel them. There's a reason they say boys and girls are different. So don't you DARE tell me what I think or not think? DO-YOU-GET-THAT-MALFOY?" she shouted, poking his chest angrily, making him wince.

"All right Rose!" came James Potter's cheerful voice from the crowd milling around them, "That's the spirit girl! See I called you a girl."

Rose wheeled around in anger, "Do you want me to start on you now?!" she shrieked, advancing on him.

"Whoa! Easy there, darling," said James, backing a little. Provoking an already irate Rose Weasley was the stupidest thing one could do, "Wow, were those sparks coming out your hair-OH DAMN!"

James Potter took off, Rose hot on his heels.

Maybe she'll get some respite for the day.

Rose sighed as the peace of the area washed over her. It was a lush green hilly area towards the end of Hogsmeade. Cool breeze hit her face, and she sighed again. The weather was unusually warm for November. The view of village was splendid from up here. Having found a nice spot under a tree, she felt the peace relaxing her instantly as she lay on the grass with her eyes closed. She wondered how she had never been to this area of Hogsmeade before.

Oh wait, it was because Scorpius and Albus always dragged her off to Zonko's and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes every time they visited Hogsmeade. But today, both weren't here with her. Albus had a detention, which meant she had to go with Scorpius alone. But he seemed pretty mad at her, since they hadn't hung out ever since the fight. And it was also possible that he would be with Melissa on their first date as a couple.

It had been over a week since she talked to Scorpius. For the first time in their history of arguments and making up, neither of them was ready to relent first and apologize. Atmosphere was rather tense during their classes after the agrument, where Albus had to act as the buffer. He had threatened the both of them to start talking to each other, or else he'd complain to the headmistress about mental harassment he was receiving from the two of them. When both ended up jinxing him, he finally gave up.

"I'm sick and tired of acting as the buffer every time you two argue. Both of you need to grow up. Unless the two of you mend your ways and apologize to each other, I won't be talking to either of you."

Scorpius started sitting on the Slytherin table instead of joining her on the Gryffindor table. Albus sat on the Hufflepuff table, where he sat with two of his good friends, Elora Longbottom and Lorcan Scamander, to avoid Rose and Scorpius. She too started avoiding them, preferring to not be in a place where Scorpius was present. She started sitting in front during classes. She started studying more by the lake, since she knew Scorpius and Melissa would be there in the library.

But it hurt. Library seemed lonelier without him. Breakfast, lunch, dinner wasn't the same without Scorpius around. Hell, her life wasn't the same without him around. She missed him.

Usually after any major argument, they refused to talk to each other for maybe a day or two. But it had been exactly eight days and two hours since they talked to each other or argued which was the same thing.

She didn't even know if he and Melissa were together yet. They must be, she reasoned, they're on pretty friendly terms anyway. And no girl in the world could turn him down.

While walking in the halls, she feared running into Scorpius and Melissa snogging in a corner. When she didn't spot them, she assumed they had found their private corner, making her feel even more miserable.

It had been the most awful week of her life.

She wanted to blame Scorpius for their tiff, but she knew she couldn't. She was to blame as well.

She had felt that she went a little too far with the issue of thinking-and-feeling-logically. On a regular day she would just have a comeback for his nasty things. But she was just too upset. She just wanted to shout at Scorpius to make herself feel a little better. But it didn't really work.

How was she to just accept the fact that he was in love with someone who wasn't her?

She dug her fingers in the ground, scooping some grass in her fists, trying to stop the tears which were threatening to spill out of her eyes.

She refused to cry about the whole issue, for she knew that if she lets a tear out, the rest won't hold themselves in, and they would never stop. She never thought there was anything in the world that could totally break her. But boy oh boy, she had to be proven wrong.

The pain of heartbreak was so bad that she wasn't sure if she could feel anything else now. It had numbed her. There was a heavy weight on her chest that she couldn't seem to lift, making breathing rather difficult for her. There was a dull ache in her heart that showed no signs of disappearing. Whoever had said love was a beautiful feeling was a complete idiot. It definitely didn't make her skip with joy and make her feel contented. It made her feel all the more selfish, impatient, depre-

"It's quite peaceful out here, isn't it?"

Rose willed herself to not say anything as she felt Scorpius sit next to her on the grass. She could pretend to be asleep. She tried her best to not sigh as his scent washed over her.

"Rose, stop pretending to be asleep. Get up now. Butterbeer is waiting for us at The Three Broomsticks. Not to mention the brand new sugar-quills at Hogsmeade."

No response.

"Do you want me to pick you up and carry you all the way to the Three Broomsticks?" came Scorpius's incredulous voice.

She wouldn't actually mind that.

"Fine. Suit yourself."

What?! Oh-

Scorpius locked his one arm under her knees and the other one on her lower back and then scooped her easily in his arms. Her eyes snapped open and she almost fainted.

Their noses were almost touching. She could feel his minty breath on her lips. Toothflossing Stringmints from Honeydukes, she figured. Something they had bought in excess in their previous visit to their village. She was dying to move her head forward by an inch so that she could feel his lips against hers. They looked rather soft, pink and absolutely delectable. She was feeling rather light-headed and dizzy, her stomach churning violently. Damn those hormones!

Her eyes locked with his, and BAM! It was as if electricity was passing between them. The air in her lungs seemed to escape, and the surroundings seemed to have vanished. She could only see him and sense his presence only. Her insides quivered as his eyes bore into hers; it was almost as if he could read the emotions running through her mind. She felt herself stop breathing as she looked into his eyes. They were beautiful. And he was looking at her, very intensely, making her blood boil, and skin heat up.

Merlin, she could get lost in those eyes of his!

"Put. Me. Down. Now," she said spitefully, feeling very uncomfortable. He was holding her so intimately against himself, she willed herself not to lean her head against his shoulder and finally melt in his rather strong arms. She had dreamt of him holding her like this. Right before they were step into their household for the first time as a married couple.

Something flashed in his eyes, and he immediately let go, making her fall on the ground on her backside.

"Ow," she moaned, rubbing the area that had come in immediate contact with the ground, "Why did you do that?" she asked indignantly.

Scorpius looked down at her with his arms crossed across his chest, "You asked me to let you go. And so I did," he said waspishly.

Rose glared at him. She stood up, brushing her clothes to get rid of any dirt or glass blade stuck on it.

"Before we go to the Three Broomsticks, I want to talk to you," said Scorpius, looking sharply at her.

"Well I don't want to go with you. Just leave me alone!" She had just turned her back at him, when she felt him grab her hand rather forcefully.

Before she knew she knew it, she was pushed against the tree and Scorpius stood in front of her, hands on either side of her head, making sure she couldn't escape.

"What are you doing?" she spluttered as she looked up at him. There were countless no. of times when she had fantasized about Scorpius pushing her against the walls of a deserted corridor and snogging her senseless. The current situation was similar to her fantasies. The only difference was that Scorpius didn't have a loved up gaze as he looked at her.

"I'm just trying to get you to talk to me!" he said, sounding exasperated, "You've been avoiding me for the past eight days, two hours and-" Scorpius looked at his watch, "-twelve minutes."

"Avoiding you?!" Rose said incredulously, "You were the one avoiding me!"

"Really? The day after we jinxed Al, I tried looking for you, but you were never around. Trying to catch you after class was the most difficult thing, since you always sat in front as compared to our regular seats at the back. If I'm not wrong, you were the one who took off early for Hogsmeade today. Why didn't you wait for me?"

Rose scrunched her face in mock thought, "Hmm..I don't know..Oh yeah! I can give you reasons. One; you haven't been talking to me. Two; I assumed that you were going with Melissa!"

"I haven't asked her yet. Feeling too nervous."

Rose let out a snort, despite how she felt about the situation, "You? Nervous? That's a first!"

"I don't know. I seem to choke on my words whenever I'm around her."

Rose scoffed. Scorpius narrowed his eyes at her.

"Coming back to our conversation," he said, "It seems you were the one more eager to cut out all means of communication between the two of us. Why?"

Rose lowered her eyes to the ground.

"This has never happened before. Tell me if there is any problem. I want to know if you have a problem with me calling my feelings for her love like you had said or do you have a problem with the girl I fancy? Or is there something else?"

"All of them!" she blurted, and then covered her mouth instantly. She wasn't supposed to say that! Blame the lapse on the bloody cologne!

"Why?" asked Scorpius frowning, "You can tell me anything, Rose. So what is it that made you so mad at me?"

Oh damn! Oh damn! The moment of truth has finally arrived. I am screwed. Can't the earth crack up and eat me alive?
She so wasn't expecting this moment to come up so soon. She tried her very best to come up with another excuse. Why wasn't her brain working? Where had all her mother's intelligence gone?

"Well," she started slowly, giving her brain time to think. His insides were churning violently. Her breaths were becoming shorter and louder.

"Yes?" snapped Scorpius impatiently.

"You won't understand it."

"There's nothing I can't understand. Try me."

"All right. It's only because you asked for it," said Rose, biting her lower lip.

DOOMED! DOOMED! DOOMED!

I love you, Al. You are welcome to take all my possessions after I die, except maybe my underwear.

"Rose!" said Scorpius exasperated.

"You said you loved Melissa because she was gorgeous. And I'm not gorgeous."

"Eh?"

"I told you, you won't get it! So just forget it!" Rose cried, looking for a way to escape. She was trapped between the tree and Scorpius and Merlin was he standing close or what? She could count his pale eyelashes. One, two, three…..

"Rose, please repeat it. This time, enunciate and make sense," said Scorpius pleaded.

Rose took a deep breath. This was it.

Unless…

She smiled inwardly. She finally got what she had to say. God bless her mum's brain.

"Can we sit down first?"

They both sat down side by side. Scorpius looked at her expectantly.

"Well you had said that you loved Melissa because she was good-looking, right?"

"Uh..yeah. That's how the attraction started."

"I was mad because you were acting pretty shallow. A person cannot be loved just because they are good-looking. You can fancy them, but you cannot say its love."

"Okay. Maybe I had exaggerated a bit about the liking part. I have a HUGE crush on her. Anything else you have a problem with?"

"Even though it's true that good-looks cannot make you fall in love, but then, it is important right? You made me realize that I don't stand a chance of being loved by anyone. I mean I get good grades, I play decent Quidditch, but I'm not good-looking at all! No one would ever want to date me. "

Even though, she was just kidding about her reasons, the thought scared her. What if no one thought she's decent-looking, forget good? No one would want to date her, forget marrying her. She'll die an old spinster!

Scorpius looked at her incredulously, "You're fucking mental, you know that!"

Rose glared at him, "Language!" she snapped.

"Fine. You're bloody mental! What makes you think no guy would ever fancy you?"

"To begin with, most of the guys think I'm a boy, an impression put forward, especially by you," said Rose, turning red as she said so. She always felt rather odd whenever she hung out with Lily, Roxanne, and Dominique as she grew older. They seemed to become more graceful and ladylike, whereas she enjoyed bashing up guys and wrestling with them, "I'm clumsy. I have a wonderful temper that intimidates everyone. And also the fact that I'm not good-looking-"

"If you'll say that you are not good-looking one more time, I'll seriously hex you all the way to India."

"OOH," said Rose sarcastically, "I've always wanted to go to see the Taj Mahal!"

"What's that?"

"Never mind."

"Look. Don't think I'm lying. Because I'm not," said Scorpius, taking her hand gently in his. Rose started at his touch and tried not to sigh; his touch seemed perfect. "You are the most gorgeous girl in Hogwarts right now."

Rose felt a stab at her heart. This made her feel worse. She hated sympathy.

"Scorpius," she began tiredly, "You don't nee-"

"I'm not trying to make you feel better! You are the most beautiful girl I've ever known. It is the bloody truth! You are incredibly funny, so kind, generous except when it comes to copying homework, caring, loyal, the best friend anyone could ever have. Rose, I can go and on about how incredible you are. Haven't you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?"

"Yes. Everyday," said Rose sighing, "And I cringe every time I look at myself in the mirror."

"And you really don't think you look decent?" asked Scorpius, sighing heavily.

"NO! Not even without the metal in my mouth"

"I'm afraid I'll have to take you to Mungos, darling! There's something wrong with your eyes and your brain. What makes you think that you're not beautiful? And don't say it's because of what other people say." He added sternly.

"Maybe it's the fact that no-one's noticed me," said Rose in a small voice, wanting to drown herself, "Really Scorpius, if you think I'm beautiful, why hasn't any guy ever noticed me till now? Last year, remember Valentine's Day? All the girls in our year got a rose and a singing valentine from a secret admirer. Everyone but me!"

"Hey!" exclaimed Scorpius, "Al and I got you flowers! Doesn't that count for anything?"

"As much as I think the gesture's sweet, it's actually more pathetic!" spat Rose, "Flowers due to sympathy from best friends! Melissa made fun of me for the whole week."

"She did?" asked Scorpius frowning.

"Have you been blind Scorpius?! The woman started the Lets-Taunt-Rose-Weasley-About-Her-Freckles movement! That bi-witch thinks every girl in Hogwarts is inferior to her. How can you fancy her? The idea of you fancying her is difficult to fathom. That's another reason why I have a problem with you liking her. You deserve so much better than that twat!"

Scorpius let out a defeated hiss.

"All right. Maybe she's a cow. She is self-indulgent. She is spoilt. But that's the side that you've seen. I got to know a fantastic girl during those DADA tutoring lessons, someone really incredible. Maybe if you get to know her better, you-"

"I'd rather date Ryan Smith."

"-might realize that she's actually not that bad," finished Scorpius, annoyed by her stubbornness to not socialize with Melissa, "Coming back to the topic of you-" Rose let out a small groan "-You needn't think that a guy won't fancy you because you aren't good enough. I know there would be loads of guys who'll be after you, but would shy away from revealing their true feelings for they'll know that you deserve so much better than them. You deserve the best," said Scorpius with a small smile.

"Really?" asked Rose uncertainly.

Scorpius looked at her, amazed.

"OF COURSE! Finding a girl like you is next to impossible! That's why you deserve the BEST, though you'll have a tough time choosing the right guy, since there would be too many guys after you, since you are so fucking beautiful."

Rose looked at the ground as she blushed harder. Why was it so easy for Scorpius to win over her?

"You mean to say I can get any guy I want?" she asked in a timid voice, not wanting to give anything away.

"Anyone. One day, you'll find a guy who would love you more than life itself, someone who'd want to marry you, have kids with you, and spend the rest of his life with you."

"Really?" asked Rose hopefully.

Scorpius nodded and then smirked, "Oh yes! Since he would be blind and all!"

She swatted him on the arm, earning a good-natured chuckle from him.

"Come on let's go. I'm hungry."

"As Always!" he chuckled getting up as well.

"You can laugh as much as you want, Mr. Hopeless Romantic," teased Rose, as they walked towards the village, "Do you honestly believe in love at first sight? I didn't know you were such a romantic at heart!"

Scorpius's neck turned red, "Would you mind not mentioning that to anyone? I don't want to ruin my tough boy image," Said Scorpius, flexing his muscles, and flashing a cheeky grin.

Rose laughed as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. The rest of the Hogwarts students eyed the pair suspiciously as the joyful duo passed them. But the pair couldn't care less. They were back together again.

Soon they reached the Three Broomsticks, which was teeming with Hogwarts students. She looked through the glass window to see if they had space inside. She immediately spotted two seats next to the bar.

"Hey Scorp! I think I saw two-Scorpius?!"

Scorpius didn't seem too bothered about the seats since his attention was somewhere else. Melissa Bright stood alone, a few meters away from them, carrying what seemed like tonnes of Honeydukes sweets and Scorpius was yet again looking at her with longing.

Rose felt the familiar burning sensation in her. She hit him on his shoulder. His face flushed with embarrassment as he looked back at her.

"So let-lets go inside," he said uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair, "Don't worry. If you don't want me to get together with her, I won't," he added, on seeing her stern expression.

Rose sighed. Scorpius really wanted to be with Melissa. Even though she was feeling bad about Scorpius fancying another girl, she felt worse about forcing Scorpius to stay away from the girl he fancied. If he really wanted to be with Melissa, who was she to stop him?

"You really like her, don't you?" she asked, finally resigning.

"Yeah," sighed Scorpius, with a defeated shrug.

"Go. I think she'll appreciate some company."

"Why should I give her company?," said Scorpius, looking surprised, "I'd rather be with you."

Really? Why do I find that hard to believe?

She took out her wand and pointed at the bags in Melissa's arms.

"What are you doing?" Scorpius hissed, eyes wide open.

"Diffindo," She muttered. The spell found its mark. The paper bags containing the sweets tore from the bottom, making all the sweets fall to the ground. "Help her pick her stuff, will you?"

Scorpius looked at her, dumbfounded. "You want me to go and help her?" he asked slowly, in disbelief.

Rose shot him a glare, "Yes! Before any other guy does." She nodded her head at Melissa again. "Go!"

Scorpius's eyes lit, his face brightened. He looked more handsome than ever.

"But you'll be alone. I don't want to leave you alone," said Scorpius hesitantly, his smile fading a little.

"I'll be fine. James is sitting inside. I'll see you later, okay?" she faked a smile trying to make him believe that she would be just fine.

Scorpius looked happier than he had been when he had pranked Ryan Smith. He threw her a dazzling smile.

"Rose! You are the best! I love you!"

She hadn't digested his last words yet when he placed a kiss on her cheek and immediately left to help Melissa. Her cheek burned at the place where his lips had come in contact with her skin. That was the first time any guy who wasn't related to her, had kissed her.

A bittersweet smile broke on her face as she saw Melissa laughing as Scorpius said something to her. He looked rather pleased with himself as Melissa placed her palm on his forearm as she talked to him.

He looked so happy. And it pained her to know it was because of someone who wasn't her. She really didn't know if she should be happy or sad.

They looked so perfect together. Both were unbelievably gorgeous, flawless, tall and were walking with a grace she could never master. She was sure she and Scorpius could never look that beautiful together.

But he thinks you're beautiful.

Who was she kidding? He was just trying to make her feel better. Scorpius was good at making up things to make her feel better.

She turned her back at The Three Broomsticks and headed back to the castle.

Before she knew it, she was already in her empty dorm sitting on her bed, staring blankly at the engraving she had made on the headboard of her bed in her first year.

Rose+ Scorpius

She lightly traced the marking, feeling tears stinging her eyes.

She had to get over him. Nothing would ever happen between them. She knew she was giving up rather early. It was just fourth year. But then she had loved him for over three years. She didn't want to wait any longer. The hurt she felt on seeing Scorpius with Melissa crippled her. And she had a feeling if waited for him any longer, it might actually kill her.

She sighed heavily as she lay down on her bed, not allowing her tears to fall. It was over. She and Scorpius were never meant to be. Scorpius already knew that. She just had to deal with it.

I love you.

The words in his happy voice resonated in her head.

"I love you too," she whispered wistfully, wrapping her arms around herself.

After months of worrying if Scorpius would notice her, she finally had her answer.

She could finally get some sleep tonight.

AN:-

Well…so what do you think? If not asleep, drop a review to let me know!