Aria: Guess who's back? Yes after a long time of emotional turmoil and writers block I have finally got the next update for you (yes a proper chapter haha). Anyhow, please excuse the labeling of the chapter (or AN) previous to this because it is not actually meant to be labeled chapter 18 and this is the proper next chapter.

Yes, this story is far from finished and I would like to thank every single person that read this story while I hadn't been updating. Also, thank you for all the feedback I received from the Poll I did and the reviews that were made, they really gave me the final motivation to finish this chapter.

I would also like to say thanks to my co-author, Isla Star, and another friend for their huge support and contribution to helping me with this story. Without them, this chapter may never have been written.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way (aside from my OC's and some of the settings, and of course the plot).

Please enjoy and let me know what you think! :)

Chapter 17 – A Surprising day

Rose's POV:

- 18th of January 2022 –

Well…I'm so screwed…I thought as I was frantically rushing around the dorm room getting my uniform and school books together. I just woke up 5 minutes ago and first class has just started. In short…doomed.
Shirt? Yes. Skirt? Yes. Shoes and socks? Yes. What am I missing?
In my panicked state, I grab a small pile of disordered books and indelicately shoved them in my bag. Getting ready took a bit more than 5 minutes let alone getting to class.

"Damn bloody Merlin!" I hissed through gritted teeth as I flew out the door to the dorm room. I jumped down the stairs skipping steps and made a bolt for the door out of the common room.

Damn damn damn.

If running late wasn't enough, I happened to trip on one of James' prank triggers that spread slimy goo everywhere. I narrowly avoided the slime and stomped off to class. Note to self: murder James Potter the second later today.

I finally made it to Potions. I opened the door stealing myself for the embarrassment of showing up late. I had hoped to walk in quietly but the door apparently had other ideas. As it creaked on its hinges it alerted the whole class that Rose Weasley, the fifth year Gryffindor Prefect had not been punctual to class. I walked in with determination to not let any comments that I get affect me.

"Ah Miss Weasley, so glad you could join us this morning. Please take your seat. We'll continue with the lesson, I'm sure Mr Malfoy will gladly offer you his notes to copy," Mr Slughorn instructed and so I did as instruct. I walked to my desk that I shared with Scorpius only making eye contact with Mya and Fie along the way. They both had encouraging smiles as I flopped down in my chair.

"Now the Draught of Peace…" Mr Slughorn continued.

"Morning sleepy head," Scorpius greeted me. I grunted aggravated. He then asked with a smirk, "what happened to 'To be punctual is to be polite'?"

I turned to face him and gave him a death glare of annoyance. He quickly caught on that I wasn't in the joking mood. "Ok ok, it seems the beast has not yet been tamed this morning," He muttered just a sly grin on his face.
I glared at him, "what did you say?"

"No no, I meant your hair," he quickly replied but I could see he was holding back a chuckle.

It was then that I realised that I had woken up and completely forgot to even do anything to my hair. I would usually attempt to tame it but I was in such a rush this morning I forgot. No doubt it looked like a poufy fizzy chaos mane of some wild animal. I groaned at the thought that I walk out of the dorm room like this. I even forgot to put on my tie. I could tell that Tremaine – the now leader of The Toad's posy – two tables over was gossiping about me. Probably coming up with some elaborate rumour to make my life miserable.

"So what kept you up so late that you slept in so late?" Scorpius abruptly asked in a more serious tone.

There was no way I was telling him that. No way in hell. Mainly because it involves him and my feelings that I'm having trouble understanding.

"Just couldn't get to sleep because I was thinking too much," I replied as calmly as possible.

"Well just make sure you get enough sleep ok?" Scorpius near on whispered.

"I will," I smiled. Huh, I'm feeling better and less tired. Scorpius Malfoy – I swear – is the most confusing individual on the planet, and I don't even know why.

Abruptly Scorpius pinched my cheeks and said, "You've got your ugly face on stupid."

He was smiling.

I swatted his hands away from my cheeks and was just about to retaliate but stopped mid-breath. Then it occurred to me. I had been frowning. I shook my head, hoping to shake out all the scattered thoughts cluttering my head. I then turned back to what was going on in class.

"…Now we use this particular ingredient because we want…" Mr Slughorn droned on.

I side-eyed Scorpius who was studiously taking notes. I couldn't help but grin. However, I suddenly snapped back to Mr Slughorn when he announced, "Now let's see who can make the best Draught of Peace."
Multiple people in the class stood up and I turned to Scorpius. He was smirking knowingly. Which annoyed me.

"You weren't paying attention were you?" Scorpius arrogantly. I'd like very much to slap that smirk right off his face but it was true. I hadn't been paying attention.

"Maybe I wasn't," I replied with my head held high in protest.

"Riiiight," He mocked.

"Let's just make the potion," I suggested trying to change the subject.

"Fine fine, how about you go and get the ingredients?" Scorpius offered.

I took a look at the list and went to retrieve the ingredients.

A couple of minutes after starting the potion numerous things almost went wrong. I almost put in the wrong ingredient and done the wrong type of cutting. It's a good thing Scorpius was in charge of the cauldron or else we would have done a whole lot worse at making the potion. We just barely managed to make the potion – no thanks to me – and the lesson was finally over.

Thank Merlin. I was finished packing up and was about to head to the door when Scorpius stopped me.

"Rose, are you ok?" Scorpius asked bluntly with his concern evident.

"Yeah, absolutely, totally a-ok over here." He didn't look convinced.

"Well ok then," He replied with uncertainty in his tone, "anyway tonight you and I are scheduled to do prefect patrol."

Brilliant…I sarcastically thought. Another late night. My serious lack of sleep is affecting my school work. I need to fix this. I sighed.
I was also a bit annoyed at Fie and Mya from not hanging back in the classroom and just leaving me. I'm not having a great day. Then again they did have to get to their next lesson. Scorpius and I have a spare now.

"Shall we head to the Library?" I asked Scorpius as we were walking down the hallway away from our potions classroom.

"Sure, lead the way," Scorpius gestured to the hallway in front of us.

- In the Library -

I did do a bit of homework but it was quite the slow process. It took forever to get to lunch time. In the end, I just was napping by the window and I had been woken up by something poking my cheek.

"Hm, ugh," I grunted as I was just waking up.

"Come on you, it's lunch time," Scorpius stated with a smile, "and I know how much you love food."

I couldn't help but chuckle. We then made our way to the Great Hall. However, as soon as I walked in and started approach the Gryffindor table, a large group of people jumped up and yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE!"

…what? That can't be right…Wait! Oh my gosh…it's my 15th birthday… I was so surprised I was speechless.

"Don't tell me you forgot about your own birthday?" Scorpius chuckled.
"No, I didn't forget," I replied matter-of-factly.

I hadn't really. Right up until today I had been excited about my birthday but the night before I had been slightly stressed about homework and had stayed up late. Then this morning it had all been a whirl of events, I didn't have time before now to think about my birthday. I looked over at the Gryffindor table and there was a cake, my birthday cake. I smiled brightly and replied, "Thank you so much you guys."

Scorpius and I came and sat at the table also and we all celebrated and had cake.

"Rose sorry about leaving so early before, we actually came here to organise the cake," Fie – who sat to my left – confessed. She flicked the stray hairs of her raven black hair over her shoulders. How the hell does Fie not have a boyfriend yet, she's beautiful, smart, and kind. It's either no guy has the guts or everyone is blind. I'm thinking it's the latter.

"Scorpius did a good job stalling you," Mya commented with a chuckle. Her honey brown eyes were quite animated and the rainbow coloured ends of her blonde hair tickled her shoulders.

"Oh really," I turn to Scorpius with one eyebrow raised and my arms crossed. Scorpius looked away slightly and had a guilty expression on his face.

"Yeah, I was stalling a bit," He sheepishly admitted. I laughed at the fact that I was such an air head today.

The day from that point on was a great day. I got surprise cake and presents and spent time with my family and friends. It just generally was a great day.

- After dinner in the 5th year girls' dorm room -

I pulled on my jumper and braided my hair to keep it contained at least.

"Ooh it's the big date with Scorpius tonight isn't it?" Emily teased.

"It's not a date, it's prefect patrol," I countered matter-of-factly.

"Same diff'," replied Emily with a cheeky grin.

"Anyway, I'm leaving now, I'll be back later," I said as I went to open the door.

"Ok then, see ya later," Mya replied.

Emily called out, "Don't feel the need to come back straight away." I could tell she was definitely having fun giving it to me about how 'apparently' Scorpius and I act like a couple. But, she is wrong because we're not at all together.

But you do have a small crush on him, don't you? My minded decided to counter.

Maybe I do. But that doesn't mean he likes me. I mean he probably doesn't even see me that way. That thought made me a bit sad somehow. I shook my head to snap myself out of it. This was no time to be distracted. If I want to get the Head Girl position in my last year I need to step up my game. Before I knew it I was already at Professor McGonagall's office. Scorpius as already there waiting patiently.

"Look who finally decided to show up. Where'd you go? To Venice and back?" He asked sarcastically with that arrogant grin of his.

"Ha ha, very funny Mr I'm-too-impatient-to-wait-for-anything," I chuckled quietly to myself.

"Oh watch out we got a bad ass out here tonight," Scorpius joked.

"Just walk will you," I smiled and pointed down the hallway.

"Fine fine," He put his hands up in an 'I surrender' stance.

We walked around for a little while occasionally making small talk until Scorpius stopped walking.

I turned to him and asked, "What's up?"

He was lightly blushing and stated, "Here is your birthday present from me. I hope you like it." He pulled out this box and offered it to me shyly.

Seeing him act this way was, well, endearing you could say. "Thank you," I took the box, "Should I open it now?"

"Sure, why not," He replied hurriedly.

I unwrapped the box and inside was a necklace with a pendant on it. The pendant had an adorable cat that moved on it.

"Awww it's so cute," I immediately said, "thank you."

"Your welcome," He beamed.

I put the necklace on straight away, "how do I look?"

Scorpius opened his mouth to say something but stopped halfway and just whispered, "Beautiful."

I couldn't help but stare at Scorpius. It sent tingles up my spine when our eyes met. After what seemed like a long time, Scorpius cleared his throat and said, "Now why don't we go see if there are any banned items we can confiscate shall we?"

I snapped out of my trance-like state and the moment was gone.

"Sure, let's go," I replied with a smile.

It certainly was one of my best birthdays so far I can confidently say. I had received my presents from everyone and I received letters from my parents. Strangely though the one I remember the most is the pendant Scorpius gave me. It reminded me of the moment he gave it to me. That is a memory I cherished the most about my 15th birthday.