Dear mom,

Please send me an update on how the new house elf policy is going down with the ministry. It's the right thing to do and if they deny the policy they're complete idiots.

Anyway, nothing worth mentioning has happened so far. It's quiet for Hogwarts but I suppose that's good, we don't need another chamber of secrets opening. Professor Flitwick gave us a test in charms on Thursday, we haven't even been back for a full week! I think I've passed, it's revision, but my Incendio had a bit too much flick. I have to work on it like you showed me-

"Rosie, what the bloody hell is the 12th battle of the dwarves?"

I glanced up from my letter and across at Scorpius. Another Saturday another round of studying in the Library with Scorpius (awwww I love my life!).

Scorpius' hair was ruffled up from running his hands through it trying to finish his History of Magic essay. Professor Binns was particularly generous, his class had to write 29 inches. So Scorpius spent most of our time in the Library together cursing about the essay as he wrote it.

"Did you check the book?" I asked raising an eyebrow knowing fully well he couldn't be bothered to, especially when he can have much more fun pestering me.

Scorpius sighed and yawned, "Why should I when I have you? You can do exactly what the book does, only better and faster."

"Charming. Your honesty and admiration brings tears to my eyes," I replied opening his closed History of Magic textbook and flipping through the neverending black and white chapters on dwarf battles. "Merlin, why are there so many dwarf battles? The 12th battle was either over food and resources or leaders or magic as far as I can remember."

"Everything's a blur after I wrote about the 11th dwarf battle," he said ruffling up his hair some more. "My brain feels like it's about to melt out of my ears. Hey, do you think I'll get extra marks if my brain melts onto the page?"

I squinted at the tiny text on the 12th dwarf war.

"There's always hope," I said grimacing at a very detailed account of a dwarf being brutally tortured for information. "Also ew."

"I wish this was about the Battle of Hogwarts or some Golden Trio mission."

"The dwarves have really gone to your head, haven't they?"

"It would be easy. I have you, I would be done in five minutes,"

"Yeah, they have."

Scorpius on queue tapped my leg against his under the table.

"The 12th dwarf battle was a power struggle against-"

"Slow down," Scorpius said picking up his quill again and scribbling down what I had just said.

I gave him a nudge of my own from under the table. He glanced up at me at the touch giving me a flirtatious grin. My heart sped up a bit and I, of course, lost my place in the power struggle.

"What did I say?" I asked strained. "Scorpie, stop making me lose my place with your... act."

"Act? Tell me exactly what I'm doing in this act."

"The grinning and the eyes- It pretty much speaks for itself."

Scorpius struggled to contain his laughter. I gave him my own flirtatious smirk, stuck my arm out at a pointed angle and gnawed on my lip, the picture of sexiness. Scorpius burst out laughing within a couple of seconds.

I pushed my hair back behind my ears and continued, "Magic was a main factor in the struggle. Much like how the goblins envied the powers wizards and witches possessed. The dwarves felt intimated and wanted their own- power, to feel protected and important. Scorpius, could you have made your writing any bigger?"

Scorpius shrugged and finished his sentence, "Yes, Rosie, I probably could've but I have class. I'm not going to shove it into Professor Binns' face that I'm writing big to make up for the lack of actual information. What are you writing? Anything I could help you with?"

I looked down at the letter in front of me. The ink had dried and was smudged in the corner where Scorpius' book had rubbed against it.

"I'm writing to my mom."

"About me?"

"Of course, it's dripping with gossip about our very scandalous relationship. It's designed to give my dad and the entire wizarding world a heart attack."

"Tell them I said 'Hi'."

I grinned at the thought, "If you're offering to help. You could help me with-"

"Kiss?" he said. He dropped his quill and pushed away his History of Magic essay.

Oh, I wish that was the case. I really would not mind that.

"I meant," I said my voice higher than before. "I have to research for a Transfiguration essay. It's an extra points essay. I was supposed to do it with Jane but she's off in the land of popularity."

Scorpius pulled a face. I couldn't tell if it was because of the mention of my girl problems with Jane that I had earlier bored him with or the thought of a Transfiguration essay replacing the prospect of kissing.

"It's on the history and the use of the switching charm."

"What am I going to do other than distract you and possibly fall asleep?" he said a teasing note evident in his voice. "Or get books from high shelves?"

"That was one time." I protested.

"Nine actually, I counted."

"I grew a few inches, I measured." I defended. "And I can use the levitation charm for that. You can help me by just being there and helping me look through the books."

Scorpius suddenly grinned at me like he had just remembered something.

"Well on the subject of magic."

He whipped out his wand and took a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching us in our private corner in the Library.

He then stood up and slid into the empty seat beside me.

"What are you doing?" I asked warily wondering why Scorpius had his wand pointed directly at me.

Scorpius, in reply, flicked his wand and muttered a barely audible incantation under his breath.

A bouquet of flowers sprouted out of the end of his wand. My eyes went wide. I had seen this charm performed once or twice before but the results weren't like the flowers that emerged from his wand. About twenty types of flowers, even roses, appeared. They were all different colours and they sparkled, really they sparkled, but not in a cheesy glitter-bling sort of way but elegantly beautiful.

No one had ever procured flowers for me before. If I liked him before I really, really liked him now. I was speechless. Without warning, I pulled him towards me and wrapped my arms around him.


That night I sat in my dorm and gawked at the flowers. It was alright to get a little crazy about them since the dorm was empty. The flowers were sitting in a water jug that I was substituting for a vase (it's the same thing) on my bedside table. The flowers brightened up the room, they made everything about the blue and bronze interior feel warmer.

Scorpius was definitely the greatest wizard alive, there was no doubt about that. My heart was brimming with feelings for him. I wanted to show everyone and rub it in everyone's face. I wished I could write to my mom about it. I knew if it wasn't for the whole Malfoy, Slytherin, Pureblood, dad hates his guts issue she would like him. And dad would too if he could see past hating his guts they could talk about quidditch. Then they could see what I could see. The real Scorpius Malfoy.

Scorpius was far from a death eater. I could see some Slytherin traits, ones that he puts to good use. He's good at being sneaky and getting what he wants at all costs. He's smart but logical, funny but not ridiculously and caring, even if he doesn't realise it.

The door of the dormitory sprung open and Abby came in stretching and yawning loudly. She was practically crawling through the doorway.

"Where is everyone- Oh my God, what is this angelic sight I see?" she jumped to life and ran over to my night stand almost crashing into the flowers that gave a slight wobble.

"Careful!" I warned straightening the flowers.

"Someone definitely has an admirer, stalker, or lover, or all three," Abby said cocking her eyebrow unable to take her eyes off the brilliant glowing sight.

If I told had Abby about Scorpius she could react badly, very badly. Scorpius in the Hospital Wing badly and the whole castle knowing badly. I was reminded of the conversation Scorpius and I had earlier in the week.

"Don't tell Sliverton, Rose." he had warned one hundred percent serious. "And I won't tell anyone. It will get bad if anyone finds out. Lily isn't going to tell, right?"

"Abby Sliver, Scorpius. No, Lily isn't. I told you Lily's smart, she understands." I said. "Are we ever going to say anything?"

"Don't worry about it," Scorpius said taking my hands in his and giving me some reassurance. "It's too soon anyway. We probably won't have to talk about this for another four years and a lot could change by then."

"But let's say if someone did find out-"

"No one is. It would've already happened by now. I don't think you've noticed but we aren't exactly secretive or careful when we hang out. This is boring let's talk about something else. Did you see the quidditch cup over Christmas?" Scorpius said brightening up at the change of subject.

I was brought back to earth by Abby slapping me across the face with a pillow.

"Merlin!" I exclaimed almost falling back onto the bed behind me.

"I'm sorry, Rose. There was no alternative. You were completely gone and drooling. It was my duty as your best friend to revive you." Abby said throwing the pillow across the room. "You're hiding something. I've been patient, painstakingly patient, ask Kenny he'll tell you."

"Abby, not this again. Those flowers are from my mom." I lied trying not to be the terrible liar I was.

Abby, unconvinced, frowned, "No mother gives such nice flowers. Rose, it's not fair you and Jane are lying to me all the time."

I shrunk at the sound of Abby's desperate tone. I wanted to hit myself with the pillow.

"I tell you everything. Everything."

"I know, Abby." I muttered, 'but I've been telling you nothing since the start of the year' I wanted to say. A knot formed in my chest and twisted painfully.

Abby exhaled with such force she whistled through her teeth.

"My only real friend is Kenny. And he's just weird. You're never around, Rose. Your always busy, you say your studying but you're not in the Library. I know it's a boy. It's been written all over your face since Christmas and now it's written everywhere." She pointed to the flowers.

My mouth went dry. I couldn't think of any reply that didn't sound pathetic so I kept quiet and let her finish tearing me apart.

"Longford's an asshole. We don't need another stupid boy breaking up our group." Abby spat. "I miss the old Rose Weasley. The bitch who used to study all the time, eat waaaaay too much, rant about quidditch like it's Voldemort, and get into vicious fights with Malfoy."

I swallowed hard. That last bit has definitely changed.

"I'm sorry,"

"I just want the old Rose back and I want the old Jane back. I hate the way things have turned out. I will unearth and dig a grave for whatever's going on." Abby shook her head at me. "Then we can go back to the way things were."

"Abby, that's not how it works."

"We'll see about that," Abby snapped. "If you actually want to be my friend I'll be in the common room with Kenny."

"Abby-"

Abby marched out of the dorm and slammed the door not once but twice. She reopened it so she could slam it again.

Now that she was gone a new emotion filled me up, dark and boiling anger. I wanted to scream after her to mind her own business. I wanted to Reducto the stupid water jug. But I didn't instead I gritted my teeth, clenched my fists and glared at the door she had just marched out of.

Why couldn't everything have stayed perfect!? Abby had to come along and wreck it. Why couldn't she have left it alone? I wanted to tell her, I wanted to snap at Jane for turning into a bitch and adding fuel to Abby's fire against me.

I couldn't tell her. I couldn't make everything right. I could either lose one good thing or another.

But that thought didn't stop me from heading down to the common room after Abby and trying to get both good things. I was mad and frustrated but not enough to leave her walk out of my life and abandon our friendship.

It felt like the whole of Ravenclaw was packed into the common room. Everyone was playing games and talking. I trudged my way around the common room trying not to trip over books and games. Abby and Kenny were at the hottest place in the common room sitting on the floor in front of the roaring fire with gobstones laid out between them. Abby was already looking expectantly in my direction when I came forward. When she saw me she dropped her head.

"Abby?" I said when I reached her trying to get her head to pop up again. "Abby, please."

I sighed, letting out some of my building frustration. I didn't wait for an invite I sat down with my back to the rest of the common room. The waves of heat coming from the fire made it hard to think. I had to think slowly and carefully or I could lose my wits and get angry.

Abby glanced up and started clapping, "Congratulations! You're not a complete idiot after all!"

"Complete?" I said raising an eyebrow. I didn't care how much of an idiot she thought I was, I knew I was an idiot. I was trying to steer the conversation away from the inevitable topic.

Kenny shifted uncomfortably and looked for an exit. He tried to stand up but Abby protested,

"Kenny, stay. You're the Jane now, remember? You need to be the balance."

"Don't drag me into this," Kenny complained. "I don't want to be the 'Jane' in your cat fight."

"Cat fight?" Abby said calmly. "I don't see any cats. I cut my nails last night so that's not going to happen. We're witches we solve our problems with duels and words."

"How about we don't use duels and words. We forget about the whole thing," I suggested.

Abby didn't agree with that. Her nose twitched in agitation.

"Fine," Abby said in a tone that suggested the opposite. "You have it your way and I'll have it mine. Kenny and I have a plan and connections-"

"You mean you." Kenny crossed his arms firmly. "I'm not snooping around the castle-"

"Not in front of Rose!" Abby exclaimed. "You've ruined it, Kenny, I wanted to be sneaky Nancy Drew with magic and with maybe an X-Men twist-"

"What?"

"I'm still here you know!" I spoke up.

"We're talking about something that is epic and doesn't involve you," Abby said.

I nodded like 'yeah- right'. "Then, please, continue and I'll sit here and listen."

Kenny laughed and Abby not at all discreetly turned around to face palm.

Great, now I had to watch my back if Abby, and possibly Kenny, were about to come after me and Scorpius. But it's not as cliché as that. Abby despite her efforts didn't find out like that.