Disclaimer: All credit goes to JKR, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros, etc. so on and so forth...

Chapter Two

Scorpius

Albus had just arrived when Scorpius clapped him on the back. "Let's go, I'm tired of this party already," he whispered to his friend.

"What?" Albus' green eyes widened. "I've only just got here!"

Scorpius bit his lip and glanced over his shoulder at Rose, who had returned to her mates in the corner, and was now sipping a butterbeer while Emily Gallagher waved her hands wildly, telling some dramatic story. Albus' eyes followed his friends, and he groaned.

"Merlin, Scorp," he rolled his eyes. "We are not leaving because you're too much of a pansy to be around Rose. Why don't you just ask her out, already? It's been 'bout ten years you've fancied her."

"I don't - that is, I don't want to-" Scorpius spluttered, and Albus sent a knowing look at his friend before turning to catch the attention of the rather pretty girl behind the bar, leaving the blond to brood.

So perhaps he'd always had a bit of a thing for Rose Granger-Weasley, he admitted to himself. From the first time he'd met her, she'd seemed larger-than-life. Even as an eleven-year old, she'd been untouchable, and had charmed everyone she met. Over a decade later, and she was just the same, though slightly jaded by the years. Still, she was a natural-born leader, and people followed her blindly. She was an enigma.

To top it off, she was the cousin of his best friend, so of course he'd had various interactions with her. They always seemed to go a bit awry, mostly due to his nerves and unfortunate tendency to say whatever sprung to mind without thinking it through properly. He'd gotten better the more contact he'd had with her, though, especially after his fourth year when Albus' dad had come around a bit and let Al have him over for holidays.

But that whispered conversation he'd overheard between Rose and that git Macmillian in the hall... Scorpius couldn't get it out of his head. The way Macmillian had eyed her up and down in that stupid tiny dress even as he'd voiced his regret over being with her had made his blood boil.

And Rose! What business did she have sleeping with the man her supposed best mate was about to marry? Scorpius knew through Albus that she'd had issues since her rather public breakup with Toby Kirke six months ago, but Merlin, this was on another scale. Albus had always said at school that Scorpius had held Rose on a pedestal, hadn't been able to see her flaws through all the blind adoration. Perhaps he'd been right.

It was with this thought that Scorpius drank deeply from the steaming mug of whatever alcoholic drink Albus had just put in front of him. He coughed at its taste, feeling rather foolish.

A strong hand hit him on the back, and Scorpius had to grip the bar to prevent himself from keeling forwards.

"All right, mate?" a familiar voice came from behind. He turned to see Albus giving his older brother a one-armed hug, a genuine smile gracing his friend's face.

"Happy Birthday, Jamie," Al said, smirking, "you old bastard."

"Cheers, Albie," James smirked, ruffling his younger brother's hair affectionately while Albus tried to wave him off.

"Happy birthday, mate," Scorpius said, shaking the elder Potter's hand. James Potter had always unnerved him slightly. Scorpius always had found him to be something of a loose cannon.

"Have you seen Edwards?" James asked, nodding over to where Rose sat with her friends. "Didn't look like that at school, did she?" He waggled his eyebrows.

"I'm fairly sure she's dating Yann Fredericks," Albus said, sipping his drink. "Bad luck, mate."

"We'll just see about that," James said, already disappearing into the crowd. "Be good, lads!" he turned and made a beeline for Marjorie. Scorpius and Albus watched as he kissed her hand, causing her to giggle and blush.

"Incredible," Albus breathed, a hint of laughter in his voice, "I'll never understand how he does it."

"You've not been doing so bad yourself, to be fair," Scorpius said, taking another sip of his drink cautiously, "Helena seemed rather upset that you weren't around this morning."

Albus sighed, putting his glass down on the bar, and turning to his friend. "I've said I'm sorry, Scorp, it won't happen again."

"Until next week."

"Until next week," Albus agreed, his eyebrow raising, and half a smirk gracing his features.

"I don't know why you won't just admit you kind of like her." Scorpius said, shaking his head. Albus shot him a pointed look, and changed the topic quickly.

"So... what is it about my cousin that has you running for the hills tonight?" he asked, turning to look at Rose, who was letting off what had to be the most fake-sounding laugh he'd ever heard.

"What's up with her lately?" Scorpius asked, avoiding the question.

Albus sighed, running one hand through his messy hair. "Dunno, mate." he said, "she's been really messed up since she broke up with Toby in May. I overheard my Aunt Hermione talking to mum about it the other day - they're really worried about her." Al continued, looking serious suddenly. "Apparently she hasn't been home or to the Burrow in a month, and showing up hungover for work. If her mum were any less than the Minister for Magic, she'd have been sacked by now, for sure."

Scorpius took a sip of his drink, glancing at the redhead in the corner. "Wonder what happened between Rose and Kirke to make her go so barmy," he mused.

Albus shook his head and sighed, "You and me both, mate. You and me both."

Scorpius was quickly remembering why he hated parties. And crowds. Though he'd learned to socialise a bit better in his later years at Hogwarts, he'd always been a bit of a loner at heart. It was why he and Albus got on so well.

Albus, it seemed, had grown out of his awkwardness somewhat. Their fourth year, the duo had become something of troublemaking team, and once Al had gotten over his crippling daddy issues, as Scorpius so fondly dubbed them, he'd used his newfound notoriety somewhat to his advantage. Scorpius could remember with acute embarrassment when in their sixth year Albus had shown up on September first with an old beat up leather motorcycle jacket that had once belonged to his father's godfather. Al liked to say it made him look "brooding". Scorpius liked to say it made him look like a "wanker".

Still, it was true that Albus had become surprisingly popular with the ladies over the years. Once, in seventh year, he'd even snogged Polly Chapman, though it was hard to say exactly how much alcohol she'd consumed on that specific evening.

Still, the birds loved him.

There was no clear reason why, Scorpius mused as he watched his best friend attempt to flirt, awkwardly, with a very pretty brunette towards the end of the evening. He sipped his firewhiskey as he watched Albus crack horrible joke after horrible joke about his career as a Herbologist, while the girl giggled at his every word.

"It's like watching a trainwreck, isn't it? You can't look away."

Scorpius knew without turning to look who had joined him at the bar. Her presence was felt, rather than seen, as she brushed up against him to take a seat at the stool directly next to him. He shivered slightly despite himself.

Scorpius had planned on ignoring her, childishly. That, or perhaps confronting her about their earlier conversation. He relished in the idea of making her squirm a bit. His mouth, however, replied almost instantly, partially because he couldn't help himself, and mostly because he was perhaps a little bit drunk.

"He's been talking about the medicinal uses of Bubotuber pus for fifteen minutes now," he said, his eyes trained on Albus and his conquest.

Rose giggled, pressing her mouth to her hand as she watched Albus wave his hands in a gesture as the brunette watched on, drunkenly fascinated.

"You think she's only after his name?" Scorpius said, meaning it as a joke.

There was a beat before Rose replied, and he turned to see a serious, sad expression on her face.

"Probably." was all she said.

Scorpius frowned, and was about to speak when another voice interrupted them.

"Right, you lot" A woman in her late thirties wearing heavy-looking magenta robes had sonoroused her voice so that it rang above the din of the crowd. "That was last call. Now get your arses out before I get 'em out for ya." She clapped her hands, and the seats in the pub all expelled their occupants.

Scorpius found himself unceremoniously forced to his feet, and quickly caught Rose, who teetered on her too-high heels beside him.

"You all right?" he asked, because while he may have been put out with her, he was a gentleman first and foremost.

"Yeah," she said, breathlessly looking up at him and nearly toppling over again.

He held her at arm's length and attempted to flag down Albus.

"Can you get her home, mate?" he asked his friend, "I think she's had a few too many and I can't see any of her friends."

Albus' eyes flickered back to the brunette he'd been talking to at the bar, but quickly sighed as he looked at his cousin. "Yeah, all right," he said, hoisting Rose into his arms with a grunt. "Let's get you to bed, Rosie-Posie."

"Stop it, Albie-Walbie" she giggled, snuggling into her cousin's neck as Scorpius ushered them outside.

"Hey, none of this Albie business, you horrible slag," he said, though Scorpius noted his tone was much softer than his words.

He turned to Albus. "The queue for the floo is massive, and neither of us are sober enough to apparate."

Albus sighed, looking at his cousin, who'd nearly fallen asleep in his arms. "The Knight Bus?" he suggested weakly.

Scorpius shrugged, and stuck out his wand. With a bang, the bright purple bus rocketed around the corner to end up in front of them. They clambered on, quickly, and Scorpius paid the driver.

As the bus sped left the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade and sped across the country towards London, Scorpius could hear Rose's breathing even out from where her head was propped up on Albus' shoulder. She sighed, snuggling into his jacket, as he slung an arm around her.

"I miss you, Albie," she said, her eyes closed. Albus glanced at Scorpius above her head, and the two men shared a look.

"It's okay, Rose," he said, finally. "I've got you."

It was the wee hours of the morning by the time the Knight Bus delivered them to the boys' flat in West London, and the sun was beginning to peek along the row of terraced houses. Scorpius unlocked the door as Al gently nudged Rose awake so that she could climb the steps to their top floor flat. As soon as they were inside, Al muttered a sleepy goodnight, heading towards his bedroom.

Scorpius busied himself in the kitchen, fixing himself a large glass of water, pretending not to notice the other occupant of the room. Rose, for her part, made a beeline for the loo and did not emerge until he'd drained his full glass.

When she reappeared, he wordlessly poured a second one for Rose, handing her the water without so much as a glance in her direction. She accepted it gratefully, groaning with pleasure as the liquid cooled her throat. His spine stiffened at the primal sound of it.

"Thanks," she said, her voice coming out raspy after her nap.

"'Welcome," he replied, finally looking down at her. In the dim light of the morning, the blue irises of her eyes had deepened to a dark cobalt. She looked at him over her glass as she drank, obviously emboldened by the alcohol coursing through her veins, while Scorpius breathed through his nose, making his best attempts to appear unruffled by her blatant staring.

Rose suddenly moved closer and smirked when she realized he'd caught his breath, affected by her close proximity.

"I didn't get to thank you properly earlier, for keeping my secret," she said, and Scorpius felt his blood race at the mention of her conversation with Demetrius. He finished his glass and set it down on the counter with a bang, startling himself with his own violence.

"I don't want to be your secret keeper, Rose," he said, his frustration evident.

"I know," she replied, leaning against the cabinets as if rather enjoying herself, "but you know now, and I trust you to keep it."

He said nothing, and she boldly rested a hand on his chest. He knew his heart was beating an allegro rhythm beneath her palm and his cashmere jumper.

She moved her face closer to his, brushing his lips softly with her own, and Scorpius cursed himself as his eyes involuntarily slid closed his eyes in response to the kiss. It was warm, and it was slightly wet, and it felt entirely wrong - not at all the way he'd imagined it.

"That can be a secret, too," she said, smiling over her shoulder as she retreated to Albus' room.

Scorpius awoke to a crash, and a string of half-whispered expletives. He rolled out of bed and opened his bedroom door to see Rose Granger-Weasley sprawled in the middle of the living room he shared with Al, half-dressed in one of Albus' old Slytherin jumpers, rubbing a spot on her leg where a bruise was already blossoming.

"You've got so many fucking lamps," she said, as way of a greeting.

"Calm down, Weasley," he said, rolling his eyes, his heart beating a tattoo on his chest at the sight of her after their encounter last night, "You've probably done more harm to the lamp than it's done to you."

She glared from her spot on the floor, and rooted around for her wand.

"Where the hell is..." she muttered, her wild hair tumbling around her shoulders like a mane.

Scorpius plucked the object from the end table by the couch, where she had placed it for safe-keeping the night before. He handed it to her, and she took it with a huff.

"Thank you...?" he prompted.

"Yeah," she said, winding her hair into a knot, and tucking her wand in for safekeeping. "Thanks."

Scorpius wandered across their living room into the open plan kitchen, taking two mugs from the cabinet as he did so, and flicking his own wand at the kettle, which started to boil right away.

"You're up early," he said casually.

"I've got work," she said, grumbling.

"On a weekend?"

"It's..." she blushed, and Scorpius had to take a moment to convince himself he was unaffected by how pretty it made her look. "I'm working a couple of Sundays in lieu of days I've missed recently." She said this while staring at her toes.

Scorpius raised his eyebrows, but decided to tactfully stay silent to spare her any embarrassment.

"Tea?" he asked, pouring the kettle for his own drink.

"Please," she said, coming to take the mug he offered her.

"How do you take it?"

"White, three sugars," she said, and he passed her the sugar dish with an incredulous look.

"Three sugars?" he asked, judging.

"What?" she grinned cheekily, practically dumping the sweetener into her drink while he watched on incredulously. "My grandparents are dentists, I had to rebel somehow."

Scorpius bit his tongue to stop himself from saying something sarcastic about how Rose's tendencies to rebel stretched far beyond her sweet tooth. After a beat, he decided to steer the conversation in a slightly safer direction.

"Dentists? Aren't those like... don't remind me...muggle teeth doctors?" he asked, stirring his own tea.

"Yes," she said, and then added, quirking her head, "You took Muggle Studies?"

He smiled back at her airly. "I guess you weren't the only one who wanted to rebel."

A thump from the other room told them that Albus had woken up. He appeared at the doorway, wearing a too-small Wimbourne Wasps shirt and a pair of muggle boxer shorts. "Morning," he said through a yawn, his hand rumpling his own messy black hair. "Is that tea?"

Scorpius passed him a mug of tea the way he liked it, wordlessy, as Rose looked on. "You two are like, married." she remarked, wrinkling her nose.

"He should only be so lucky," Scorpius grumbled good-naturedly, and Rose laughed.

"Better him than you, Rosie," Al said, tugging on one of her errant curls. "You snore like a forest troll."

"I do not!" she protested loudly.

"You do," he countered. "And you hog the covers. That's the last time I let you crash in my bed, you'd have been fine on the couch."

"I wouldn't have, your couches are rubbish and hard." She replied, finishing her tea

"Fair enough," Al laughed. "Guess it's better it was my bed rather than Scorp's, then." He waggled his eyebrows at his cousin in a way that made Scorpius want to die.

"Yes, well that would have been very... inappropriate." Scorpius said, lamely. Albus sniggered into his tea, and Scorpius made a mental note to hex him later.

Rose seemed to miss the tension between the pair of them. "Well, I have to get to work," she said, performing a quick Scourgify! on her empty mug and setting it back on the counter. She grabbed her things from beside the couch, and kissed Al quickly on the cheek.

"Bye, Malfoy," she called, sending him a little wink. Scorpius fought to control the muscles on his face from breaking out into a smile.

"Bye, Weasley," he said, in a tone he thought was appropriately casual, and watched her walk from his flat to apparate outside.

When she was gone, Albus turned to him with a laugh. "You are such a goner, mate," he said, clapping him on the back and returning to his bedroom with a shake of his head.