This chapter is dedicated to maripaz6 who is always so kind to review my updates AND I'm pretty sure has reviewed almost every chapter of the stories I've written. It's rather generous, so I wanted to give something back.

Disclaimer: JKR owns, I'm just trying it on for size.

Monday

"Hullo."

Rose looked up from her school work to see a bespectacled Scorpius Malfoy staring down at her. His shirt untucked and tie loose; his scruffy appearance looked almost foreign. He was also wearing a very cautious expression, something that looked just as peculiar as his attire. Rose immediately regretted sitting somewhere in the library she could be found so easily. (She also regretted not looking in a mirror that morning).

"Hi."

Scorpius began stepping from foot to foot, oozing awkwardness to a point that Rose could have found it laughable. Although she didn't laugh. She waited patiently, flicking her quill between the fingers of her writing hand.

She hadn't expected to see him. Or at least, other than their evasive eye contact during Arithmancy that morning she hadn't expected to see him. She managed to square her shoulders and tilt her head in question.

Rose felt no need to explain herself further to Scorpius Malfoy. Both him and Albus had caused her to re think quite a few things about the way she had lived her life recently. Some of those truths made her feel rather uncomfortable and she certainly didn't want to talk about them any more than she already had. It would be like flogging a dead hippogriff.

Her treatment of Elliot and how Albus and Scorpius had referred to it made her overly conscious that she had, quite possibly, besmirched her position as Head Girl. In their eyes at first and now her own. And if Chambers knew, who else did? She still felt overwhelmed beneath the surface, but something that was still constant was her position within the school. So, she couldn't let anyone see her crumble. She wouldn't allow it. Having taken the Head Girl position head on, she wasn't about to give it up so easily. There had to be a way around it.

"Can I sit down?"

"Can you?" Rose asked without thinking, she blinked mortified by her own mouth, speaking to Scorpius as if nothing had changed. She would be lying to herself if she believed that. He blinked back, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"May I sit down?" He corrected, his eyes now twinkling slightly; a much more familiar sight. She sighed and nodded, unsure how else to proceed other than packing up and running away. Unfortunately for Rose, she had brought too many books of her own to make a quick getaway from the library possible.

He pulled out a chair in front of her, turning the closest book so he could read the cover, "A Perfect Guide to Advanced Alchemy: Deviously Difficult Draughts. Whoa, Red. Is this anywhere near the reading list?" She could tell he was trying to make small talk. She wasn't in the mood for it today. Putting on a brave face did nothing to hide the humiliation and guilt clawing at her insides.

"What do you want, Malfoy? I'm trying to work here," she said tiredly, clasping the book out of his hands.

He sat watching her silently.

Of course, he was staring again. She felt the mildest of flutters in the pit of her stomach. She shuffled in her seat a little in the hope it would subside and she wouldn't have to dwell on what it might mean.

Finally, breaking her gaze he lifted his glasses from his face and began rubbing each lens in turn on his jumper, "Albus is rather angry at me." When he returned his glasses the sunlight seemed to glare off them causing Rose to squint. Scorpius must have noticed as he reclined in his seat out of the sun's rays, giving him a more relaxed appearance canny to his usual self.

"You and me both." She shuffled some parchment around in front of her again, in need of something to do with her hands. "Why is he angry at you?" she asked, although she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.

"You found something out he didn't want you to know." His voice was silvery.

Why didn't he want you to know? Rose found herself thinking. A lingering sensation that had started to accompany all thoughts of Albus since their argument was becoming more and more familiar. She wasn't entirely sure what it was, or what had prompted it. Along with Albus' rather sizeable indiscretion, she felt there was something that didn't quite add up. Her own choices were no doubt over shadowing something in the bigger picture she wasn't currently able to see. It couldn't possibly all just boil down to their broom cupboard scheme.

Settling into their conversationally vague routine, Rose rolled her eyes, "That's a bit cryptic." Unlike him, she spoke softly, unable to meet his gaze. She thought it would have been much nicer if today of all days, he might not beat around the bush so much.

"Well to be honest Red, you made a correct assumption based upon very little and now I'm paying the price," he supplied flatly. "I shouldn't have taken that Ravenclaw logic for granted." So, he is admitting it. When Rose remained in contemplative silence, he began fixing the tie around his neck properly with long, slender fingers. This seemed to trigger something in her mind, as a mental image of a young woman with rusty coloured hair was pushed flush against a wall by a blond headed man swam behind her eyes, accompanied by a ghostly graze that felt like fingertips beneath her shirt. She shivered involuntarily, tensing at the scene she had unwittingly envisaged.

"You cold?" asked Scorpius, sounding concerned, a dirty blond eyebrow rose above the dark frame of his glasses.

Rose shook her head, a warm blush flooding her cheeks. Where the hell did that thought come from?

"My correct assumption…" she spoke meditatively; almost to herself than to Scorpius. He looked at her vacantly, as if expecting her to elaborate again. Everything considered, Rose knew she wasn't being very overt with her side of the conversation either. She was already planning to add "massive hypocrite" to her Curriculum Vitae, now "evasive in socially adverse situations" might also be an accurate addition.

"Why is he angry at you for it, though?" She didn't want to freely admit that the boy in front of her apparently fancied her, she instead did what she thought was the best way of avoiding having to directly discuss it. Especially after what her mind had just conjured. However, something failed on the delivery and her voice took on a headier tone.

Scorpius seemed to ponder this for a moment, tapping his chin, "I think Albus doesn't like the idea of … blurring the lines."

When Rose looked even more perplexed, he continued. "I think Al likes having you as his cousin and me as his friend. For six years he's had the best of both worlds because I agreed never to tell you."

"Wait…how long?...I mean…" Rose blushed a darker crimson, the skin of her face heating in another wave of embarrassment.

An unmistakable smirk graced Scorpius' face. It distorted his features in such a way that was striking. Rose felt her stomach tighten again as he regarded her over his glasses. He was too fucking good looking.

"You seem awfully interested in hearing the details of my attraction-"

"What?! No!" Rose now immediately regretted her wish that he would be more explicit.

"Ah, that's a pity. I could go into detail if you wish." He paused for effect, raking his eyes brazenly over her flushed skin. "A while. I've fancied you for a while, Red. Will that feed your curiosity enough?"

"I wasn't asking you about that," she snapped. She began pulling her belongings towards her. It might have been the end of a Scottish February but the library felt more like the Mediterranean for all Rose knew. She was feeling hot and bothered by this sort of talk in the library on a Monday evening. She might have found it flattering, if it didn't already feel intimate in the way Malfoy was talking to her. He seemed more relaxed now his truth was out in the open, even though she had given him no reason to think she reciprocated his feelings in any way. He was acting with just as much confidence and essence of bravado as usual. And yet she wasn't thinking about that. She was thinking about how easily his glasses could get steamed up in a cramped broom cupboard. That thought itself both confused and frustrated her. Enough to warrant her swift exit from the library.

This new state of utter ambivalence towards Scorpius was a little too much. His smug look vanished as he realised she had every intention of leaving him sat there alone.

"Look, Red. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I've got nothing left to hide. Think I was getting a little carried away."

Something tugged in her throat. How could he be joking around one minute then apologetic the next? Suddenly the realisation hit her like a slap in the face; that was exactly how Scorpius was. Or that's how he always was around her. She swallowed. Unable to look at him, her thoughts flitted back to him lashing out at her about Elliot. Suggesting that was something she should be ashamed of. He remained sat before her, more sombre, but wide eyed and hopeful looking. She had stopped half risen from her chair but sank back into it, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked out of the high windows to avoid looking directly at him.

"You lashing out at me was a little out of character. I don't think you'd ever spoken to me like that before."

"That's what gave it away?" Scorpius asked, curiously. Rose shrugged, relaxing a little, the whole thing just seemed so…odd.

"You were actually much nicer to me than Albus."

"You know how he gets."

"Eugh, it's still not nice," she scrunched up her face with distaste.

"He thinks he can get away with it because you're family." Scorpius said bluntly. Rose shot him a withering look, but it had less of it's usual punch.

Scorpius reclined, his hands behind his head, hair swept away from his face by the glasses that now sat like a crown on top of his head. "It could well have something to do with him having issues about living in his family's shadow," said Scorpius almost wistfully. He cracked his knuckles behind his head, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"I always knew you were smart, Malfoy. I didn't know you were insightful." It wasn't an insult, it was a statement. One that was complimentary on numerous levels to Scorpius and it paved the way for Rose to say what she really wanted to. Something that itched at her, irritating in so that she couldn't put her finger on why.

"When did you become nicer than Albus? I mean he basically said he didn't trust me because I wanted to be Head Girl. I thought it was a bit far reaching as an excuse."

"And I only insulted you out of jealousy. Is that really better?"

"Of course not. Generally though, you are nicer to me than Albus. When you're not infuriating or annoying or pranking me or cutting my hair in Herbology-"

"That wasn't me, Red I swear, at least it wasn't intended to cut your hair-"

"When," she spoke over him then, struggling to raise her voice to dominate the conversation without yelling, "did you become nicer?"

"You're really upset about Albus aren't you?" he asked, leaning over the table. Rose nodded. All those temporarily buried insecurities flooding back. Scorpius' eyes bored into her own. He looked like he was taking a moment to wage an internal struggle of whether to be honest (and potentially damning) about his friend by telling the truth or deciding to avoid an answer that might further frustrate her. Rose appreciated the struggle, but right now, all she wanted was the truth.

"When it all started to gain traction, we knew in the long run it would leave a sort of legacy. Even if it was a bit seedy compared to Quidditch Captain and Head Boy, James Potter. Let's be honest, Albus was always going to be outdone by him with those sorts of credentials. So, my instinct tells me that Al would be mighty upset if the one thing he had achieved outside of academics was taken away. And by his cousin, no less."

Rose sighed, resigned to an unavoidable conclusion, "but I'm Head Girl, I can't not tell McGonagall!" she said in a hushed voice, taking a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure they were still alone. "Also, is the Quidditch team not enough of an achievement these days?"

Scorpius chuckled, "I guess not."

Rose began to absently fiddle with the spine of the book closest to her. The fabric cover fraying more as she twisted it.

"Self-preservation."

"Huh?" replied Rose, now tugging keenly at the strands of fabric between her fingers.

"Arguably one of the more Slytherin of character traits that Albus possesses."

"Yes," she said, trying to cotton on to where he was taking the conversation.

"It makes perfect sense that the biggest thing that Al has – to Al himself at least – to show for his Hogwarts career, could cause him to be agitated about losing it. Self-preservation, right? Not living off his famous parents. I guess that's why we bonded early on. You remember how James was when Al first got into Slytherin?"

Rose struggled not to cringe when remembering back to the first few months of their time at Hogwarts, "eugh, I should have sent a letter home sooner. He was an utter shit to Albus."

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, the whole thing just means a lot to him. Naturally he is going to want to protect it. Although, I don't think he went the right way about it getting angry at his cousin …. and the Head Girl," Malfoy gave a mock bow before leaning back in his chair so only the two back legs touched the flagstone floor.

"I was about to ask you when you got so mature as well, and then you started leaning back in your chair like a second year." Rose couldn't help but give him a satisfied smile as he brought the front two chair legs down, readjusting to sit up straighter in the chair.

"I believe my new maturity was found somewhere between you finding out about our escapades and Al and I having out first real argument," Scorpius stated confidently.

Rose tried not to look too awkward at the reminder that he too was in the middle of an argument with Albus because of her. Something must have passed across her face as Scorpius watched her because what he said next was exceptionally perceptive.

"Ah, it was bound to happen. I didn't expect it to be over a girl in the way it's shaped out though." He rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully. "Sorry for mentioning Elliot like I did the other night, it really wasn't my place. It's just I'm not one to go quietly when it looks like I'm losing an argument. I had to keep your attention somehow," he threw her an apologetic look for good measure.

"Funnily enough, that's why you're in a fight with Albus. Because he was shutting me out, I just panicked and blurted it all out."

"What? That I may or may not find you attractive?"

"Something like that." She smiled at him despite herself. A warmth spreading through her chest as he gazed at her across the table.

From behind Rose, the sound of giggling reverberated around the shelves. She found that she didn't want to break his eye contact so soon, but as the volume of the giggling heightened she twisted in her chair to glare at a group of third year girls who appeared to be huddled together, pretending to read a book upside-down. Narrowing her eyes as the sunlight flashed across the badge pinned to her chest the girls had the good grace to look startled and run off, dropping the book where they had been stood. Rolling her eyes, she stood up to put the book away on the shelf.

"Do you ever get tired of that kind of attention?" asked Rose, grazing the spines of the books lovingly before sitting back opposite Scorpius. Another case of word vomit was met with a raised eyebrow from the man sitting opposite her. He began tucking in his shirt.

"I know better to ask if you're jealous, don't I?" he asked cheekily.

The side of Rose's mouth tugged to one side. "Actually, it was a genuine question."

Scorpius was quiet for a moment before replying, "It can be tiresome," he paused to stretch the skin of this neck with his hands contemplatively, "especially when there is one woman whose rapt attention I'd rather have."

Her breath caught in the back of her throat, her curiosity fuelling her to oblige him. Just this once. "Are you flirting with me, Scorpius?" she asked good naturedly before she could stop the words tumbling out. Her cheeks flushed with a heat so warming it made her heart begin to race.

"Are you letting me?" he threw her a winning grin getting up from his chair, tugging his satchel onto his shoulder as he stood up straight. Not for one second did he take his eyes off her.

She pulled a face through her smile.

"It's difficult not to when we've strayed from our common path, Red."

"What do you mean?"

Scorpius smirked down at her again, "you've never seemed this relaxed around me. In all of six years. I'd say that was enough progress for me to be a little more myself; be a bit more honest. And I'll take this mild flirtatious venture we just embarked upon as a successful start."

Rose felt almost unable to wipe the smile off her face. "It's not like I could stop you, even if I tried," she said, shaking her head. She felt her hold of the conversation noticeably unravelling yet the warmth that accompanied each look Scorpius gave her now kept her comfortably in her seat.

"Yes. Perhaps I'm being far too presumptuous, perhaps I could wear you down one day, Red. Right now though, I've got a hot date with Trelawney."

Rose laughed then, a bubbly laugh that echoed off the high walls. She heard a distant shushing. "You take Divination at N.E.W.T level?" she asked trying not to sound too derisive. It was a fact that genuinely surprised her and unwittingly amused her.

"It's an easy E. Surely you can understand that." Nudging his glasses up his nose one last time, he swirled round so that his back was to her and as he walked away, his shiny shoes tapped rhythmically on the stone floor until the sound was swallowed by the stacked tomes.

For one glorious moment, Rose Weasley sat smiling contentedly down at her notes still spread out in front of her. She greedily soaked in the tangible temperateness her conversation with Scorpius had caused her, replaying it in her head; eyes fluttering closed of their own accord to see his own eyes staring back.

But the dark green dirtied to brown rapidly, the blonde hair shifting to wet sand. It was like a jump start to Rose's brain. How had this escalated so quickly? Was she suddenly not caring of self-control? And at what point had Scorpius Malfoy got under her skin enough to cause her to indulge in his all of a sudden, pleasurable company?

With that scandalous realisation, she knew she needed a change of scenery. She packed her belongings away in a hurry and left the library without a backwards glance.

Many thanks to all readers! Apologies this is a little shorter than the previous chapters. I've been struggling with the Albus/Rose interactions for this story and I really wanted it to sound in character rather than me just rushing to get out updates. I love writing this Rose/Scorpius so this section was quite straight forward by contrast.
I'm taking a holiday for a few weeks so another chapter won't be for a while, I hope this will suffice for the time being.
**Mischief managed**