Rose Weasley had style. Or at least Scorpius' Mother did.

"Damn, girl." Abby catcalled from the common room. I was walking down the stairs, flicking my hair and pouting my lips. "Do you hear that, Kenny?" She nudged Kenny beside her.

"No, Abby, I do not." He answered, scanning the book list again.

"'Hips Don't Lie' is the soundtrack for today!" Abby snapped her fingers.

I ran my hands over the soft material of the grey skirt. "Thank you, Abby, I think. I feel powerful."

"Backflip powerful?" Abby raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"Never. Like I could reach all the high shelves in the Library without magic," I grinned, doing an experimental twirl. "Apparently, Scorpius' mother has connections with Twilfitt and Tattings, all tailor-made-"

"No wonder Scorp's robes are always on point."

"And bloody expensive." Kenny inputted.

"If my parents saw me now…" I shut my eyes trying not to cringe at the face my mum would pull if she saw me wearing something from that store. Pureblood reputation and too posh for any Weasley- not that the woman who runs the shop cares about war heroes. Madam Malkin was much more family friendly.

"My parents would say marry him now," Abby said. "And anchor him with children. Get the keys to Gringotts."

"For the tenth time, Abby, that fortune is Scorpius' parents' not his," I said, crossing my arms. "It's bad enough you asked him for money-"

"For quidditch, Jesus, Rose, just because you hate the sport."

"Can we please get our timetables now?" Kenny stepped between us. "I want to start the school year early."

"Can you hear the crap that comes out of your mouth?" Abby asked, jabbing her finger at him. "Sometimes- actually most times- I wonder if your bedroom is painted floor to ceiling grey."

"It's painted blue," Kenny answered seriously.

"But if-"

I sighed, cutting across Abby. "Let's go to the Great Hall. Two against one, Abby. Before you know it we'll be sitting our Christmas exams, then end of term exams and oh wow the OWLs."

"You just want to snog your Slytherin boyfriend before lessons."

My cheeks pinkened. Maybe- no. No. Stop it, Rose. "I need to get to my lessons on time."

Kenny took that as a 'let's move' and led the way out of the common room past Eric Longford with Jane on his arm. Abby hissed at her as we passed. A reflex now. I glanced at my old friend. She looked the same as last year, still makeup and Longford obsessed with a stuck-up attitude. I wondered how she got through the day without giving Longford a well-deserved kick.

"Interesting skirt, Rose," Jane said politely.

I stopped. "Interesting how?"

Eric snorted.

Jane smiled. "It's mismatched with the rest of your robes."

Abby copied Longford's snort making it into more of a pig noise.

"Good luck in the OWLs," I scowled at Longford. He should have the detention with Flitwick polishing trophies. His record should be tainted. "The exams will separate the hippogriffs from the hinkypunks."

Abby, unable to help herself, crinkled her nose. "Nice hickey, Templeton. You know you can get a blood clot from that?"

Jane pressed her lips together.

"And we're leaving." Kenny pulled Abby away. "What have I told you about sinking to other people's levels?"

"I'd keep my mouth shut next time." I smiled sickeningly polite at Jane and Longford, following Abby and Kenny.

"We won't be keeping our mouths shut," Longford called after me. "Tell Malfoy-" the door to the Ravenclaw common room shut behind me. Good. Keep snogging and keep getting hickeys then you two.

A couple of flights of stairs later. Kenny had stopped dragging Abby and I could smell the beautiful reassuring smell of rashers and scrambled egg wafting from the Great Hall.

"It really is great to be back," I said lowly to myself. There was a smile tugging on my lips as I walked in. The Great Hall was alive with action. It was half filled, owls were soaring in to deliver packages and indistinct conversations filled the bright hall.

It was fine until I looked at the Slytherin table. My smile fell into a frown. Scorpius waved at me from across the Great Hall. Something was very wrong with his face. Before I could stop myself I was walking towards the Slytherin table. Scorpius was raising an eyebrow at me, leaning back as if he could stop me through the power of body language.

I elbowed past a couple of girls, Percilla Goyle might have hissed at me. Then I was standing next to Scorpius in forbidden territory. Territory I had only been once before to get Goyle off his lap. I squinted at his face, he tried to squint back at me but winced in pain. Going from his left eye to his cheekbone was a blue bruise, puffed and standing out on his usually flawless pale skin.

"What, Rose?" he asked, not very kindly.

"You know what."

"I don't."

"What is that." I pointed.

"What?"

I groaned and grabbed a spoon from the table and shoved it into his hand.

"I suppose you want to walk to class or something?" he said.

"Or something?" I cringed. "Look at your reflection for Merlin's sake. I'm not going to be treated like an idiot."

Scorpius' gaze softened. "I wouldn't do that." He said, looking into the spoon now. I stepped back once he got a look at the blue. He cursed. "You weren't supposed to see that." He set the spoon down with a bang.

I actually laughed. "Really?" I grabbed his arm. "Come on, you're sitting with the non-violent people at the Ravenclaw table."

"I'm not dying. It's fine. It was my own bloody fault." He tried to pull his arm out of my grip.

"How-"

"Excuse me," Goyle coughed, strutting over to Scorpius and me. "Fifteen points from Ravenclaw."

I released Scorpius' arm. Scorpius face-palmed and instantly regretted it.

"Why?"

"Ravenclaws can't sit at the Slytherin table." Before I could respond, she pushed me hard into the Slytherin table and Scorpius. I winced as the side of my ribs hit the table. I grabbed onto Scorpius to steady myself.

"Touch her again, Goyle-"

"Just doing my job as prefect, Malfoy." Goyle beamed. "So I'll decide what I'll do again."

"That's abusing the power of the prefect." I snapped. "I will report you."

"I'm so scared, Weasel!"

Scorpius snarled at her. "That's not her name. Don't call her that."

Goyle was grinning ear to ear. "Oh sorry, Ms Malfoy. That's it, right?"

I scowled. That wasn't even an insult.


"Apparently, the entire school and maybe the entire wizarding world knows we are together." I summed it up. We were sitting in the corridor on a bench. Scorpius ran one of his hands along the front of my new skirt. "Soft right?" I added with a smirk.

"You're always soft, Rosie." Scorpius murmured. "I really like that you've stopped caring."

"I'm just not advertising it especially not to my parents." I focused my attention on his tie, not his face. It was lopsided so I straightened it. "But this year has started off terribly. I'm worried it's going to get worse."

Scorpius slumped back against the wall and groaned. "Merlin hates us but it couldn't get worst, Rosie."

"Your parents-"

"Let's just talk about the two of us." He advised. "My parents and the ministry are serious topics. Not a conversation we need to have now or ever."

I rolled my eyes. "And that bruise on your face."

Scorpius leaned down and kissed me. I pushed him away but I could feel the corners of my mouth lifting.

"You can't distract me that easily," I said, turning my cheek to him so when he came in for round two all he got was skin. "I've been a good girlfriend for the last two minutes. I have kept my mouth shut about it like you asked. But the time has come- Don't touch my chest!"

"I was going for your waist!" Scorpius exclaimed. "But you moved. Sorry."

"Sorry?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I have to tell you now, don't I?" Scorpius sighed. "I tried to duel Longford and the Ravenclaws last night. It was a stupid thing to do- don't look at me like that- Longford got me from behind with Petrificus Totalus and some massive guy punched me in the face."

"I-"

"Rose, don't start telling me how stupid it was or how stupid I am." Scorpius scowled. "I tried to hide the bruise with magic but I guess the charm wore off or wasn't strong enough. Maybe it had something to do with the stupid spellcaster."

I sighed and pulled my legs up across his lap. "You're not stupid. I could never think you are stupid. You're the second smartest person I know after my mum."

"The highest grade I got was in Divination."

"You know what I mean." I continued because I knew just by looking into his silver eyes he needed to hear it. "You're obviously, very handsome, kind, funny and the best kisser ever. And I'm skipping breakfast because of you, I can't give anyone else that love and attention."

"I know, I know," Scorpius said, fanning himself. "I'm too good for this world."

I gave him a playful shove, he shoved me back and before we knew it we had a shoving war on our hands.

It ended abruptly when Professor Flitwick appeared out of nowhere and cleared his throat.

"Sorry, Professor," I said blushing and moving away from Scorpius.

I glanced at Scorpius who didn't look at all sorry.

"I thought I'd find you at breakfast sitting at the Ravenclaw table. Miss Sliver directed me out here." Professor Flitwick said, handing me my timetable for the year. "Quite a lot of subjects on yours, Weasley, are you sure you'll be able to handle them?"

"Yes, Professor. I am more than capable." I replied. Scorpius was after taking my timetable and had started comparing it alongside his own.

"Mr Malfoy, what happened to your face?"

Scorpius smirked. "I fell. The basilisk from the chamber must've pushed me. You know what the Slytherin dungeons are like, Professor."

"Watch the humour, Malfoy."

"Rose was just about to fix it anyway." He said, handing me back my timetable. "She learnt all about advanced healing charms during the summer and about ten other types of charms and jinxes. She should be doing the NEWTs right now with the speed she's going at."

"Right." Flitwick nodded stiffly. "Off to class then the both of you. Don't forget detention tonight, Weasley."

"Of course, Professor, thank you for reminding me."

"We have potions together first thing," Scorpius said as Professor Flitwick hurried away. He kissed my cheek. "You look... upset."

I stood up and dusted down my robes. "Well, you know me Miss Perfect-"

"According to Goyle, it's Ms Malfoy." He wrapped his arm around my waist as we started walking.

"I have to have everything right," I said. "Thank you for greatly exaggerating what I learnt over the summer, Scorpie. And for the skirt… I mean your mum didn't have to get me two. I have to pay her back."

"Good luck with that." Scorpius chuckled. "In the letter Mother wrote me this morning she said she was attempted to buy a whole uniform."

"Merlin, that is frightening."

"But she was worried you'd be uncomfortable and look out of place next to the other 'half-bloods.'"

"This skirt feels like it's made of magic."

"Do not encourage her," Scorpius warned. "She already wants to buy you dress robes as well."

"Dress robes?"

"Not just buy them. Get them fitted and tailored." Scorpius grinned, clearly imagining me suffering.

"Why would I need dress robes? I don't even own ones that fit me now."

"Mother's thinking about the Christmas banquet we hold at the manor every year. She wrote this and I quote," Scorpius cleared his throat and put on a high posh dead-on impression of his mother. "'You should consider bringing Rose, you are old enough to bring a date. You always look so lonely and bored. Your father has even remarked you are at an age where you shouldn't be forced to entertain your grandmother during our banquets at least not alone. Rose, of course, will need dress robes and I will be more than happy to go shopping with her- someone who appreciates dress robes, Scorpius.'"

"Yes, Scorpie," I teased. "I will go with you to this pureblood shindig."

"It will not be a shindig for us." Scorpius crinkled his nose. "The food's terrible and all everyone talks about is their medical problems and the glory days. I or we now get to spend the night with Grandmother which means cutting up her food, listening to her insult dead people, bringing her around to every guest at the party, telling her who they are about a hundred times, listening to her insult them, fixing and watching her jewellery, dancing with her-"

"You dance, Scorpius?"

"Every respectable pureblood does." He winked at me, grabbing my hand. He twirled me until I felt dizzy. "I can waltz and do that French dance where you lift the girl in the air." He came for me.

I stepped back. "Don't you dare!"

"But with you as my date, we could go outside for some air. Put snow down each other's robes."

"You always know how to make me feel weird inside." I grinned, skipping down the corridor now. I shut my eyes and I could see it. Forgetting about his grandmother. Something to look forward to. Getting dressed up- nice robes just as soft as my skirt- and waltzing (however you do that) with Scorpius near a Christmas tree. In my daydreams, Dinky was cheering us on in a cute suit and I was laughing at something Scorpius had just said. The warmth of his hands on my waist burned through my dress.

But now it was time for potions.


Author's note: Thanks for reading! I really appreciate the reviews (I read all of them :)) and love hearing from you. Your support means the world to me. Thank you X100!