He wasn't kidding. A couple of feet away two peacocks strutted up and down the Malfoy's lawn, their multi coloured feathers trailing behind them.

"Pretentious," I exclaimed in disbelief. "I guess you're not cheesy rich if you don't have peacocks."

"Cheesy rich, a great way to describe my father." He replied.

The weather outside was completely different to back home. The sun had been shining and the birds were singing in the trees outside. It was ginger burning weather. In the middle of nowhere at Malfoy manor, it looked like everything was covered with in shadows. The clouds above churned menacingly and a cold breeze every couple of seconds rippled through the grass. There were no trees just hedges lining the manor, impossible to jump over. There were birds but they were perched on the gates at the end of what looked like a mile long walkway.

The birds shot off into the sky, soundless. I shivered. Merlin, this was a sad place. I could totally picture Lord V. taking a morning stroll across the lawns. Scorpius put his arm around me.

"Want to try and pet them?" Scorpius asked teasingly.

I shook my head, then buried my head into his chest, sucking up all his warmth. The place was too eerie to leave Scorpius' side even for peacocks. I tried to picture a younger Scorpius chasing the peacocks or playing gobs stones but I couldn't.

"Creepy, isn't it?" He said.

"Yeah, it's so dark and quiet. No wonder you lack freckles."

"You get used to it, the quiet and dark part. Not the freckles thought. I'll always have freckle sized holes in my heart." Scorpius grinned. "Let's walk. I hate standing out here. It feels like someone's going to jump out from the bushes and attack us."

"And you're supposed to be the fearless one."

He pulled a face of mock hurt. I poked him and he returned it until my ticklish ribs couldn't take it anymore.

We started walking towards the end of the garden. There were more peacocks, these ones were pecking at the ground.

"Where are we?" I asked raising my eyebrows. "Exactly?"

"England." Scorpius shrugged. "There's a small muggle village ages away. I have never been there though. The old Malfoys bought nearly all the villagers land. I'm pretty sure they hate us."

"So, let's say in some horrible alternative universe you lost your magic, no floo or flying of any sort how to would you get back here?"

"Oh well," he smiled. "Looks like I'm stuck with Rosie in that universe. Just give me an excuse not to come back here… When I turn seventeen-"

"You're not going to abandon me you're taking me with you, where ever."

"When I turn seventeen," he started again. "I'm getting disowned. The second I can do whatever the hell I want I'm going to walk up to father dearest look him straight in the eye and say 'Go eff yourself.'"

"Oh, I want to be there for that. We'll invite everyone. It'll be a free Scorpius party."

"No comment on my bravery?"

"Oh, Scorpie," I said in an over dramatic swoony voice. "You brave soul."

"That's right." He said as we came around to the other side of the house. It was as dull and as boring except for a grey lake off in the distance.

"Then we'll come clean?" I asked. Recently since the whole Hagrid incident, it had been a question looming on my mind. It made me realise this was still real life not a story with a fairy tale ending. At any second I could be yanked from Scorpius or Scorpius from me. Just one wrong move and bang.

"Clean? You're looking pretty clean now, Rosie."

I frowned at him, "I meant the- this-" I gestured to the both of us. "Our tangled up lives, our interconnected-"

"I get it, I get it. Just trying to lighten the mood. My answer is: it depends."

"On what?" I demanded, trying to get to the facts.

"It could be different."

"I'll call the shots then. We come clean when you're seventeen or when we're getting on the boats for the final time and leaving Hogwarts."

"Fine," then he added quickly. "But you're saying it."

He laughed at my expression.

I pushed him teasingly. "I take back every good thing I've ever said about you."

"Great, Rosie, because you're going to hate me for what I'm about to do next."

I stopped walking. I folded my arms and watched him suspiciously.

"You and I are going to go flying."

I rolled my eyes and started walking again, "We've been over this before, Scorpius."

"I'm still not done with it." Scorpius caught up with me. "Come on, Rosie-"

"'Rosie'? You're really turning on the charm."

"Rosie," he repeated. "There's no one around."

"If we break our necks no one will come save us. Is that what you mean?"

"I'll take good care of you, I always do. And Dinky's just a yell away."

"Merlin, you're desperate."

"Try it, for me?" Scorpius pleaded. He stepped in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

"No."

"It's not right to bitch about it if you haven't tried it," he said poking me from a different angle. He knew me well.

I paused and chewed my lip.

"Pretty please." He said taking my hands. "Are you're scared you'll have to take back all the bad things you've said about brooms? That you're going to enjoy it?"

"Brooms are bloody traumatising so excuse me if I don't want to embarrass myself in front of you."

"Which is exactly how I felt before I told you about my boggart. You persisted and made me tell you."

"That's different!"

"Not to me. No one's going to see you. I won't try anything-"

"Fine!" I finally gave in. I couldn't take another second of it. He had finally out willed me. Months of his pestering had finally driven me overboard.

Scorpius fist pumped the air, "Yes!"

"Don't get too excited," I said annoyed. The memory of being younger clinging to dad and his broom hit me. I remembered screaming as the ground got farther and farther away, my heart pounding in my ears. I was certain I would fall and die. I was so caught up in my past I didn't realise Scorpius had led me to the side of the garden until a brown shed tucked away neatly in the hedge was right in front of me.

The memory of being younger clinging to dad and his broom hit me. I remembered screaming as the ground got farther and farther away, my heart pounding in my ears. I was certain I would fall and die. I was so caught up in my past I didn't realise Scorpius had led me to the side of the garden until a brown shed tucked away neatly in the hedge was right in front of me.

"What's this? An outhouse?"

"No," Scorpius shook his head opening it. "It's glory, wood, sweat and tears. Not my tears of course."

About twenty broomsticks were mounted to the walls like trophies in the shed. I stepped back instinctively.

"Mother has a no brooms in the house rule. This is where they sleep."

"Why do you need so many brooms?"

"They are mostly old models from Great Grandfather's time and beyond that are too special for the bin. I only own one as you've seen."

"I was expecting a quidditch pitch as well."

"We used to have one but Mother said it was polluting the scenery."

"What scenery?"

"I know right. Since the quidditch pitch went I can't even remember the last time father was in the garden. Flying alone isn't that much fun." He pulled the beast from the shed. There was a manic glint in his eye, or maybe I was just imagining that.

"I can argue that," I said tightening my ponytail. "Merlin, I hate this." I moaned.

"Yeah, standing around is hard work, Rosie." I frowned at him in reply. He laughed and pecked my nose.

"Onwards and upwards as a random person once said." Scorpius set up his broom. It hovered at hip height off the grass. Another cold breeze ripped through the air. "It's warm up in the sky anyway."

"Do you seriously think I was born yesterday, liar?"

"Here," he said gently like talking to a frightened deer. He led me closer to the dreaded wooden stick. I squeezed his fingers, not wanting to let go for anything. I cursed each step I took. Damn my pride. If I wasn't so up my own arse- well, I wouldn't be doing a death march.

"Merlin, Rosie, you're getting on a broom not going into labour. Cut the swearing, that's what I do."

I rolled my eyes at him, my cheeks flaring. "Shut up."

"I'll get on first, like the gentlemen I am. Can I trust you not to run, apparate or strangle me?"

"This isn't a joke. This is me caring way too much about what you think."

He didn't let go of my hand as he swung one long leg over the hovering broomstick. He looked at ease on the broom like it was a bigger version of his wand he was sitting on not a wild broomstick.

He looked into my eyes. This time the humour in his features had dropped. His expression and his voice softened as he said, "Trust me."

The capital 'T'. I sighed, "Promise?"

I sighed, "Promise?"

"Promise. I swear on-"

"Not that again."

"How about this. You do this and I'll tell our parents when the time comes."

I felt my own anxious expression soften. "We'll both do it." I stepped forward, closer to him. He released my hand. He brought his hand across my stomach balancing me as I swung my significantly shorter leg over the broom.

I released the breath I was holding in. The tips of my toes were still touching the ground.

"Okay?" Scorpius asked his hand burning through my jumper.

I nodded and let a thought escape, "We're not going to die."

"See?"

"Yet."

"Would you be comfortable-"

"Forgetting about this yes, Scorpie."

He chuckled, "Coming closer to me?"

"Explain?" I said turning to him. I cocked my head innocent and clueless just to embarrass him. I was feeling cruel today.

He didn't redden or wave me off. "Practically sit on my lap."

"Isn't that a bit riské?" I sniggered. I had done that about million and one times. Every time we kiss, when we sit anywhere together it's either throwing my legs over his lap or draped over one leg impossibly close…

"Well, you can't dispute safety." Scorpius shrugged.

I snuggled back into him forgetting where we were and what we were about to do. Oh, the power of the tease.

"You can't." I agreed as he used his free hand to brush my ponytail from over my left shoulder.

He rested his chin on my shoulder, his body warmth sinking into me. If you had told me Scorpius Malfoy's skin was warm a year ago I would've laughed in your face and said he was cold blooded like a snake, fangs included. But now I had to think back to everyone I had ever stood close to my parents, grandparents, cousin, brother and Abby none of them were as warm as Scorpius.

"Ready?" He whispered, his breath hot on my ear.

"What?" I snapped out of the 'my-boyfriend-is-on-par-with-a-cat' daze.

He removed his hand from my stomach and wrapped my fingers gently around the neck of the broom. He returned his hand promptly to my stomach and placed his other hand over the two of mine.

"This is stupid," I said weakly sounding like a whining toddler.

Scorpius kissed below my ear making me shiver. He leant forward bringing me with him.

"I know you, Rosie, if you really didn't want to do it, if you really thought it was that stupid you wouldn't be sitting here with me. You're curious, admit it?"

I shook my head, "I will puke all over you if you go fast. No freaking jokes or loops. My wand is in my pocket." As I was saying this so focused, so mad, I didn't notice we were slowly rising from the grass. Scorpius' laughter gave it away and made me look down.

"Scorpius!"

"What?"

We were still rising. Getting high enough to make a fall on the head lethal. I swallowed hard bringing Scorpius' arms tighter around me.

"Merlin, I hate heights," I muttered my voice wobbling like I was about to cry.

"Don't look at the bloody ground then," Scorpius instructed. "Focus on what's ahead of you. There's a rainbow!"

"Where?" I looked up from the distant grass to the stormy clouds. No rainbow. I frowned. "You doxie."

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I could feel Scorpius positively beaming beside me.

It wasn't bad, I had to admit to myself, better than just standing in the Malfoy's garden. This way you could see the fields, the lakes and even a small mountain range off in the distance. So remote and far away from everything.

"It's okay," I said stubbornly.

"It's horrible actually."

"You just said-"

"It seemed like an appropriate thing to say."

My limbs were shaking as we edged forward but my mind was rock solid.

"You could've said 'You are what makes it beautiful, Rosie' or some other flowery crap."

"You are what makes it beautiful, Rosie." He repeated.

"Aw aren't you cute."

"Want to go faster?"

"Do you want me to start calling you Malfoy again?"

"No."

"Then don't, Scorpius," I said.

"Admit it, you're loving this."

"The wind in my hair. The possibility of being pelted by rain or struck by lightning."

He nuzzled my neck. The was chilly wind bringing me closer to him if that was even possible. My skin was goose pimpled from the cold. The air was damper up high near the grey clouds. It was going to rain soon. And we're in the perfect place for it.

"I know, the peacocks must be so jealous." He said his voice muffled.

"Can you focus on where we're going?" We were currently drifting over the grounds of Malfoy manor aimlessly.

"It's okay, you'll scream if an obstacle gets in our way. There's a minus percent chance of that." Scorpius head was still nestled in the crook of my neck.

"Merlin, how I am I so comfortable with you of all people." I would've flicked him off me if we weren't a hundred feet up. "And not with my own freaking dad."

Scorpius laughed. "I feel the same way but… go on, Rosie, finish the sentence."

"You're beautiful."

"Thank you, but the phrase I was looking for was I wouldn't change it for the world." His voice became clearer as he pulled away from my neck.

A new wave of colour came over me.

"When we're alone, really alone, you're too nice," I muttered.

"Let me change that," he said increasing the speed but to nothing more than a trot. He was still too nice.

I giggled, somehow going semi-fast was more bearable than inching along a hundred feet in the air. He held onto me tighter as we flew over the hedges at the end of the garden and into the fields beyond. It didn't last though. Scorpius came to an abrupt halt about two minutes later.

"What?" I gasped. I lurched forward with him but was in no danger. Scorpius had amazing balance even with me weighing him down in the front.

"Sorry. Stopping isn't my best skill." Scorpius admitted straightening up, bringing me with him. Slowly the broom lowered faster than it had come up in the air. And my feet had found the grass again. Thank merlin. "This is the end."

"What?" The only significant thing marking the field was a big oak tree. It looked out of place near Malfoy manor.

Scorpius bent down and took a rock from the pile at the bottom of the tree hidden in its oversized roots.

"What?" I repeated as he pulled my good hand away from the broom handle. He put the rock in my sweaty palm. "Why?"

"You'll see. Throw it hard, then duck."

I frowned, threw it with all my might and ducked. A second later it made contact with something three steps ahead of us. Sparks like lightening buzzed. The rock was flung high of above us by the invisible power. Scorpius covered my head anyhow.

"Protection," I said cheerfully as we straightened up.

"Yeah, the old kind. I know how you like old magic and the history of magic. I thought you'd like to see it. No one comes in and no one gets out."

"If your parents knew that you showed me your defence system and what kind of magic it is…"

"Doesn't matter."

"It's cool though. Thanks, Scorpie." A couple of books from the library I had seen this in flashed in my mind. I turned and kissed the space next to his lips. "It's better than the ink drawings in the books."

He laughed then pressed his lips to mine. The first drops of rain fell on us slithering down Scorpius' nose.

"This is where our flying adventure ends," I beamed.

"No, not until we get back." Scorpius took off without warning.

"Scorpius-" I choked. "Still very new to this!"

"Don't you want to stay dry?" He said humour lacing his voice.

"Yes," I said irritably as the drops turned into a steady shower. He flew full speed back to the manor. Why did I leave my cloak there?