Time: Breakfast

Place: Great Hall

Wildcard move of the day (so far): Glaring at Potter as I walked through the golden doors with the hint of a middle finger, nothing provable. Abby backed me up on my right and Kenny, not giving two Hippogriffs, strolled on my left. I felt fine and fabulous in my new getup. I felt pretty like my mum, and I was not ashamed to admit it.

After Albus, I scanned the table for Scorpius who was nowhere to be seen.

Abby, Kenny and I took our usual places at the Ravenclaw table. Abby waved her volumized hair in Kenny's face trying to get his attention away from 'The Trolls of England: VI'. A beautiful book about the same width as the piece of toast I was holding.

"So where's S. taking you today?" Abby smirked sweeping her hair across the pages. Kenny slammed the book trapping her hair in it.

"OW!" Abby screeched yanking her hair free. Using both her hands and sandalled feet she kicked Kenny off the bench and onto the floor. "You should be happy a girl like me wants your attention!"

"Waving your hair in front of me is not the way to achieve that." He said coolly from the floor.

"It's Valentine's day!" I exclaimed before whatever twisted words Abby's bared teeth were about to spit out came into existence. "And Hogsmeade."

"Clearly," Kenny snorted.

"Two Christmas' on the same day, Kenny," Abby laughed a humourless laugh, "And you want me to go to Hogsmeade with you?"

"Joke, Abby, it was a joke,"

"What happened?" I enquired leaning forward. "Fill in the gaps."

"It's complicated," he frowned scuffing his shoe against the ground.

"Nothing really is," I shrugged. "When you say it out loud." I looked the entrance to the Great Hall still waiting for Scorpius who's opinion of what complicated was I had just plagiarised. I'd become the worse kind of criminal.

I stared down at the book Kenny abandoned on the table. That's a first.

Are Abby and Kenny together? She was an awful lot closer to Kenny than I had ever been. They always hung out together even when I was not around to be the balance keeper. I think I saw Abby carrying some of Kenny's books once and Kenny doing the same with her broom when she wanted to go practice, she never let anyone touch her broom only admire it from a minimum distance of ten feet.

I was so lost in thought it took a hard nip from the owl next to me to make me realise it was there.

"Ow," I muttered. "What?" I turned to the small elderly school owl. My eyebrows shot to my hairline when I saw the single rose attached his foot.

My eyes immediately flew to the Slytherin table. Scorpius was there munching on a piece of toast watching me. I poked the owl to make sure he was real not some early morning half-dream. He held his leg out more eagerly. I unwrapped the rose and a piece of parchment came with it. Somehow this small rose was better than the whole bouquet Scorpius magicked up for me in the Library.

When the owl flew away, I looked back to Scorpius. His Slytherin mask couldn't conceal how pleased he looked with himself. I rolled out the parchment, biting my lip trying to keep in a squeal.

'A rose for Rose.' It read.

It said no name or anything. Like I would need a name. I knew Scorpius' handwriting as well as my own.

I made a show of sniffing the rose and putting it in my hair for him across the room. When he got up concealing his own smile. I followed him out.

It wasn't time to go to Hogsmeade yet so we sat in an empty corridor.

"You're so sweet," I said gripping his arm and pulling him close to me. "I love you so much, Scorpius. I feel like I'm going to explode!"

"How do you know it was me?" He smiled teasingly.

"My inner eye," I smirked.

He cupped my face with his hand.

"You're always beautiful," he said his hand moving down to my neck and stopping at the neckline of my dress. He swallowed hard, "I love you too."

I traced the line of his nose, it was perfect again not a bump in sight.

"I was worried about you," I murmured.

"I can take care of myself." He said his eyebrows raising. "I'm surprised you're not bored with me yet."

I laughed, "Tough luck. You're stuck with me. I'm never going to leave you alone. Shame I'm not a pureblood or Slytherin."

Scorpius pushed his fingers through my soft tangle free hair.

"It's no fun." He said. "I wish I was half-blood or even muggle-born. Being pureblood and having 'Malfoy' as a surname is the most disgraceful thing you can have these days. I'd be better off as a werewolf."

"You were adopted, that's the only explanation. You're nothing like the Malfoy's."

"Except my hair," he pointed out.

"You make that your own," I said getting as close I could to him.

"Don't," he said brushing his lips tenderly against mine. "If you get any closer to me..."

"What?" I asked softly.

"Someone might see or I'll mess up your makeup."

I stared deep into the silver pools that were his eyes. The morning light coming through the window made them glisten.

I don't care. I really don't care.

It's just me and Scorpius.


We had to separate again when we joined the long queue of students for Hogsmeade. Filch was taking his sweet time checking permission slips, his usual snarl consuming his face. Scorpius stood behind me. The back of his hand kept brushing against my spine. His breath, hot on the back of my neck, was enough to bring colour to my face.

Maybe we were getting careless- okay we were being careless and in front of half the school- but touch had become an asentural part of life like breathing or eating a handful of Bertie Bott's every hour.

After getting past Filch, we were walking the path less travelled in the woods. I could beam at Scorpius all I wanted.

"Happy Valentine's day," he grinned at me. We were making our way to the least popular Hogsmeade destination, the Shrieking Shack. He swirled me around catching me as I stumbled over a root.

"I miss the snow," I said steadying myself using his shoulders.

"I don't," he replied. "I was thinking, Rosie,"

"Oh, now, don't do your head in." I teased.

"Easter break is coming up," he said confidently, he was leading up to something, I could tell from his showmanship. "If this sounds pervy tell me. My house, not to boast, is gigantic. My parents are at a fancy pureblood-thingy for most of the week and I'll be so lonely."

"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" I giggled.

"What are you thinking, Rosie?"

"Sleepover, Scorpie?" I whispered.

"Actually," Scorpius said casually. "I was going to throw you in the lake behind the manor but-"

"I'll throw you in the bloody lake," I jabbed my finger accusingly at him.

"I'm so scared," he said deadpanned.

I elbowed him.

"So will you able to get away from your parents?" Scorpius said trying to get me back but I dodged him like an Auror.

"Who says I want to come?" I laughed.

"I know you can't resist me." He smirked.

"I totally can!" I exclaimed sprinting away.

"Liar!" Scorpius caught up with me in mere seconds and tackled me to the ground.

"I'll tell them I'm going to Abby's." I panted. The dew on the grass soaking through my clothes. "And where in Merlin's name shall I sleep?"

Scorpius smirked, "Wherever you want."

"Where do you want me to?" I said directly, sitting up and wiggling out from under him. I bit my lip I lame attempt at being sexy just to make him laugh.

"You're ridiculous." He laughed.

"Thank you. Now answer my question. Embarrassing you is one of my favourite past times."

His eyes wandered down to the hem of my dress. The fabric had risen up, revealing where my freckles from the sun stopped. He pulled it down and straightened it. I blushed.

"You know where." He replied quietly.

"With you," I answered for him using the same tone. I gave up the chase. I wanted to escape the cringe as quickly as possible. "Scorpius?"

"What?"

"I don't want to do anything."

Now it was Scorpius' turn to go red in the face.

"I don't want to either and I wasn't planning on it for a long, long time."

"How about never?"

Scorpius smiled at me, "Never is fine as well, Rosie."

I changed the subject, "I'll wear my cat pyjamas. I have several pairs. In all the colours of the rainbow. Let me guess you have a silk cap and gown?"

"Close, so close. I have snitches on mine."

"Ugh, quidditch."

"I'll break out my owl ones just for you."

"You're truly one in a million," I laughed. "The grass is cold."

"That's because it's wet," he said.

"Really? I couldn't tell." I made my eyes as round as galleons.

"You might want to get that checked out." He said standing up, he held his hands out for me to take. I grabbed both and let him do all the heavy lifting as he hauled me to my feet. "I wish the crowd would die down so we can go to Honeydukes."

"It'll be okay," I said with mock sympathy. "We'll live."

"I've got you anyway." His hand found the back of my head. "We need to make the most of it while we're alone." He pulled me forward and pressed his lips to mine. The buzz was undeniable.

"ROSE!" A roar came.

We broke apart. I wouldn't let go of him. I dug my hands into his shoulder. I could feel his heart pounding under his skin it was going as fast as mine. I wasn't going to let him go for anyone.

It was Hagrid. His face twisted in a mixture of shock and anger. He raised his ratty umbrella in his hand threateningly. There were a couple of dead ferrets swinging over the shoulder of his moleskin coat.

Merlin, kill me now.

"What do yeh think yer doin'?" He snapped.

Was this the end? It couldn't be.

It was not going to be.

The truth was already in the air. I blurted out, "Don't tell anyone, Hagrid, please." I said my mouth dry. "Please."

Hagrid charged towards us. Before I could stop him, he pushed me away from Scorpius. He grabbed Scorpius by the shoulder with a grip strong enough to break bones. Scorpius stood up straight and strong but I could see tension in his muscles and well-hidden fear in his silver eyes.

"Why would yeh take advantage of a poor girl?!"

"I didn't." Scorpius snapped back. He tried but failed to loosen Hagrid's grip.

"I'm brin' yeh to the Headmistress 'n yeh'll be expelled!" He spat.

"She's my girlfriend! Back off!" Scorpius aimed a kick at Hagrid.

Hagrid's eyes were like fire. He shoved Scorpius and he fell backwards, "Yeh Malfoys were always ruddy liars."

"Hagrid stop!" I yelled.

I scrambled to help Scorpius up or at least protect him from whatever Hagrid had coming next for him.

"HE'S NOT LYING!" I screamed louder than I ever had before as Hagrid tried to push me away. "I LOVE HIM I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK!"

A murder of crows sitting in the trees around us shot off into the sky. Hagrid stared at me like I was a stranger.

"Rose," Hagrid said a lot calmer than he looked. "Yer not makin' any sense. Yeh need to come with me-"

"Leave her alone!" Scorpius stood up darting in front of me.

Hagrid took in a shaky breath. He reached for me but Scorpius was there first. He had his wand out and pointed at Hagrid's face. Scorpius' face was deadly white, I could see his veins pulsing under his skin. In that moment, I realised with a pang, inappropriately, I could see the centuries of power hungry purebloods and Death Eaters running through his veins. He was Slytherin and part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. He was prepared to kill for what he wanted or at least seriously injure. I would never tell him though. There was no difference between good and evil there was just large pooling grey when it came to situations like this.

"I'm a professor." Hagrid reminded him sharply.

"I don't take your class," Scorpius said like it justified his raised wand.

"Be careful," I muttered to Scorpius low enough so only he could hear. Maybe some part of me was Slytherin and Pureblood too. I didn't want Scorpius to put his wand down. I was shaking from head to toe with fear. One of my hand was on his back, digging into his ribs, the other was on my wand ready draw if it came to it.

Scorpius cleared his throat, "Can't we just talk?"

The Death Eater crawled back into its box.

There was beat.

"Please, Hagrid," I squeaked from behind Scorpius.

"He's a Malfoy, Rose."

"No," I said suddenly feeling something wet on my cheeks. I reached up and found they were hot tears. "He's Scorpius. Just Scorpius."

"But when yeh were in first year he was horrible-"

"I was eleven and stupid." Scorpius inputted. "Everyone wants to be like their dad. I don't want to be like him anymore and I never will be." He dropped his wand to his side. Scorpius turned to me. His eyes softened when he saw the fresh tears on my face. He wiped them away with the back of his wand hand. I couldn't find it in me to be embarrassed right then.

"Yer parents... Harry..." Hagrid trailed off.

I could see the Hagrid I saw every day again. The half-giant who was there since I was born. My heart swelled in my chest.

"It depends if you tell them," Scorpius said wrapping his arm protectively around me. "And you're not going to." There was a threatening edge in his voice. My words were all clogged in the back of my throat. If they weren't I would've told him to stop. "Please," he added like he could sense my inward protest.

Hagrid sighed, "Right, Malfoy, we go back to my place and we talk. Yeh get one chance only 'cos of Rosie."

The walk to Hagrid's took forever, by the time we were back at Hogwarts and front of his hut I felt like I had aged two years. Scorpius' arm didn't leave me, no matter how many remarks Hagrid made. It was Scorpius' silent way of telling me everything was going to be alright, I won't leave you.

Think of the strangest thing you can. Scorpius sitting in one of Hagrid's over-sized armchairs will top it. His eyes scanned the inside of the cabin. I imagined it was the strangest place he had ever been in.

Before anyone could say anything, I started telling the story, the heavily censored, fairytale version.

"Scorpius and I became friends, then close friends, we had feelings for each other and now we're together." I put on my best innocent smile. "Long story short."

"How?" Hagrid asked he was calmer than I had expected. He was putting the kettle over the fire. "And why didn't yeh tell me?"

"I tried once... you exploded."

"I still don't think it's right. How long has this been goin' on for? The together part?"

"Since Christmas."

Hagrid sighed, "Do either of yer families know?"

"No," we answered together. Another innocent smile.

"Are yeh planning on telling them?"

"No,"

"I don't think it'll last," Hagrid said sitting down on the opposite side of the hut. "Yer poor dad's going to have a heart attack when he finds out, the gossip columns will have a field day and about a hundred bloomin' other things will come along with it. How Al takin' it? I imagine he has some common sense."

"How would he know?" Scorpius frowned.

"He's yer friend."

"He's not anymore," Scorpius said shifting uncomfortably. "He's an asshole." He said bluntly.

Hagrid's face sunk, "Al is a nice boy."

"He leads the Slytherin Death Eaters in training. I never asked to be put in Slytherin. The hat just heard my name and decided to take a break from doing its job."

"And what is Draco Malfoy gonna do when he finds out?"

Scorpius shut his eyes for a second and breathed, "Let's put it this way I'm too young to be disowned."

"I don't like it, Rose, it's not safe." Hagrid turned his attention back to me. "You could get hurt or become a target. I don't care what any Auror says they're still out there."

"They're?" Scorpius asked in a false polite voice.

"Death Eaters." Hagrid spat.

"He's not a Death Eater." I protested.

"He's connected to them."

"That's not the same thing." I protested again. "Hagrid, you can't tell-"

"It's me duty to your mother and father." Hagrid snapped, fury returning to his eyes. "Voldemort wasn't defeated so you could go waltzin' around this castle with the Malfoy heir. How you got around for this long is beyond me. I knew there was somethin' different I should've listened to my instinct, I should've…"

It was times like that I wished Abby was there to balance out the peace or slap some sense into Hagrid.

"I'll do anything," Scorpius suddenly voiced.

Hagrid snapped out of his ramble, "What?"

"To stop you from telling everyone."

"Reputation to uphold, Malfoy?" Hagrid sneered.

Scorpius rolled his eyes, "I'm doing this for Rose my family will see your words as dung."

For a second Hagrid looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes," Scorpius said without hesitation.

"Stay away from Rose," Hagrid said shortly.

"Merlin, no, choose something else."

"Malfoy-"

I butted in, "How about this Hagrid I'll tell my parents once we've finished school."

"Have yeh lost yer mind? This stops right this second."

"Can you sleep on it?" I asked weakly.

"No, I'm writing to your parents and that's final."

"Hagrid!"

"Enough! I've had enough. Out of here the both of yeh I'm sick of lookin' at yeh." He waved his hand as the kettle hissed angrily over the fire.

"Please!" I said feeling the sting of tears coming back. My heart was breaking in two. Hagrid had never looked or talked to me like that before. Would he ever be my friend and family again?

Scorpius stood up, "Come on, Rose. Don't make it worse."

"Scorpius-"

"I know." He said pulling me up. He led me out of the hut ignoring Hagrid's glare.

The door banged shut behind us.

"What bull- Rosie, don't cry." He said pulling me into an embrace. I inhaled his scent like it was the last time I would. "It'll be fine. I promise."

"You can't promise that."

"I'll make it fine then."

"No, it won't be because everyone will hate us and we'll never see each other again. I'll be probably put into a different school across the world. You'll marry some Slytherin and then in twenty years I'll see you but you won't even recognise me."

Scorpius chuckled, despite the seriousness of the situation, "That's not going to happen. Come on."

"I'm not going back to Hogsmeade."

"Of course not."

"We need a plan." I stated.
"And some sweets." He added.