'Sprints in, drops off a very very late chapter, runs away before you can throw stuff' ;)

I want to give a BIG thank you to SunriseImagination for Betaing this story for me. She makes my story better for you guys. Definitely, go check out her story.

And thank you to all of you that have taken the time to Favourite/Follow and review this story. You guys are so amazing and I love you all. Thank you! xoxo

Now on to the chapter!

Chapter 14

December 10-11

Tuesday-Wednesday

~oOo~

The Girls

"Mar, what do you think of this one? I like the elegant look and I think it would go well with my dress." Grace held up her magazine and pointed to a hairstyle.

Mary finished pinning a piece of Grace's long brown hair back. She then leant down placing her chin on the girl's shoulder to look at the hairstyle. It was simple, a twisted bun with romantic curls framing the girl's face and small jewels pinned in places.

"Not bad. I think I would change it a little, pull it out more here," she pointed to the picture. "Add a braid here and maybe take a little less out at the front."

Grace nodded happily and scribbled down the page number in her notebook as an option. "You think I'll look good in it?"

Elizabeth, who had just finished wiping her makeup off and was now going through her nightly routine, poked her head out from around the bathroom door and smiled cheekily, "Gracy you look amazing in anything. But no matter what you do your poor date isn't going to be able to keep his eyes off you."

Grace flushed, "Sam's not my date. We are just friends. He only asked me because neither of us is in a relationship."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, smirking cheekily, "Sure you're not in a relationship. It's not like the two of you hide out together in the library all the time. In the back corner. Alone."

"Because we are studying!" Grace interrupted indignantly.

"Maybe if he wasn't such a Ravenclaw he would put his book down and ask you out already," Mary stated while braiding Grace's long hair back, "or better yet why don't you ask him? Then it would really be a date."

Lizzy winked and made kissy sounds along with a few more obscene noises thrown into the mix.

Grace gasped in outrage and grabbed the nearest thing to her, which happened to be a pillow and tossed it at Lizzy, who shrieked with laughter and ducked.

Mary let out a cry of indignity when the sudden movement ruined a good part of her hard work.

And suddenly all three girls were running around yelling and shrieking with laughter. Pillows flew, bed sheets and blankets were dishevelled, and books were knocked over. The girls ran about, hitting each other with pillows, scrambling over furniture, and generally making a joyous mess.

Soon they were all out of energy and they collapsed on the pile of blankets and pillows in the middle of the room. They were still giggling, their faces flushed and their hair a wild tangle as they gazed up at the dark ceiling.

They didn't mind though, it was moments like these, ones that were just carefree and happy that made Hogwarts the home that it had become to the girls. A place where they could all just be together and be content. It's what had brought them together and in the end, what would hold them together.

But then the smiles faded and they were all quiet, their minds drifting to the same sad withdrawn thought.

"I miss her," Lizzy's voice was quiet in the stillness and the girls felt the weight and sadness in her voice like it was their own. Because it was, they all felt it, the emptiness Rose's absence in their lives had left.

They still saw her, still talked to her, still laughed with her, but it was all different now. No longer was she in on everything that had happened to the girls over the weeks, inside jokes were something Rose wasn't really a part of anymore. She was missing the parts of their lives that had been some of the best before. None of the girls were angry at Rose for the lack of time spent with them, but that didn't make it any less painful to see one of your dearest friends slowly drift away.

Grace turned her head to look over at the bed that had once been Rose's. It stood untouched, none of the girls had disturbed it since Rose had moved out. It lay just like she had left it that morning before it all happened. The sheet and covers neatly made, the pillow just right. The drapes pulled back into the nice sweep that Rose always liked. Her side table still had that frame on it, a picture of them years ago. They were all standing in the snow, the first snow day they had had at Hogwarts in their first year. They all had their arms around each other, their noses pink from the cold, their smiles big and goofy from behind their scarfs.

They had been happy.

"I know." Grace said softly, turning to look back up at the ceiling, "I do too."

The girls were abruptly snapped out of their melancholy thoughts though when the sound of the dorm door creaked open. The girls, all sitting up and grabbing their pillows stared wide-eyed at the newcomers.

Ashley sighed as she saw the mess the girls had made. " I can't leave you guys alone for two seconds can I?"

Lizzy moved to get off the floor, helping pull the other girls up as well but keeping her eyes trained on the doorway and the visitor. "Ash, what is Al doing here?"

Ashley shrugged, walked over to her bed, and flopped down onto it, grumbling at the rumpled sheets and blanket. "Dunno, found him walking down the hall. He was trying to find our dorm, or so he says. Figured he had gotten this far, no harm in bringing him here. No clue what he's up to though."

"I'm not up to anything," Albus said, stepping into the room, "I'm here to talk."

"How'd you even get up here though?" Mary asked, staring in confusion at the boy.

Albus smirked at her with the slightest hint of amusement, "I got my ways Mar." His amusement faded into distress, "but that's beside the point. I'm here because of Rose."

And just like that all the girls were in front of him, their face painted with worry pillows clutched to their chest and all talking at once.

"What?"

"Is she alright?"

"Has something happened to her again?"

"She's in the hospital, isn't she?"

"We have to get there right away!"

They all started forward as if to dash from the room and to Rose that very instant.

"Shut up!" yelled Albus, already frustrated from having to explain himself to many times that night, "She's not at the hospital. It's nothing like that. I need your help breaking up Scorpius and Rose. The Gremlins won't help me. But you girls know Rose. You know this isn't right for her. Will you help me?"

Everyone stared at Al in shock. No one knew what to say. It was a full minute before Mary got up to speak, "Ok Al. Let's talk about this. Privately." In a move, she had his arm in hand and was dragging him towards her bed. She had him sit on her mattress, drew the curtains around them, and mumbled a privacy charm, silencing the girl's voices outside, "Alright, spill."

Al once again laid out the story, telling everything that had happened for what felt like the millionth time. When he was about finished, Mary held up her hand to stop him.

"Okay, let me get this straight. My Rosey, my sweet somewhat shy Rosey tried to kiss Malfoy?" She was teasing, gauging his mood before she got serious.

Albus scowled, "Well I don't know who tried to kiss who but... yes that's the gist of it."

"I see..." Mary clasped her hand in front of her and looked seriously down at them. "You do know what this means right?" Mary lifted her gaze and met his eyes. Before he had time to reply Mary's face had suddenly split into a grin, her eyes lighting up and her hands rubbed together with glee, "I taught her right! That's my girl! Going after the hottest hunk in the school! I'm like a proud mama." She sighed happily and grinned like an idiot.

Albus groaned in frustration. He was just about fed up with females and their unwillingness to understand. "No." He said through clenched teeth. "It's not amazing or awesome, it's horrible. Rose isn't ready for this and she is only going to hurt herself and Scorpius. So please stop acting like this is a wonderful fairytale come true and help me stop them."

Mary huffed and glared at Albus. "Fine, I'll stop swooning- "

"Thank you."

"-but I won't break those two apart."

"What?! But I came to you for help, I thought you of all people would sympathize with me on this?"

Mary shook her head at the irate boy in front of her. He may be cute but he needed help in the brains department. "Albus Potter, do you think Rose wants your help?"

Albus was taken aback. He stared at her in confusion. "I-I- How am I suppose to know?!"

"Look," Mary leaned forward, "I've talked about this with Rose before. She really does not want your help scaring away boys who try to date her. She understands you are trying to protect her, but she wants to figure this stuff out on her own. Rose doesn't want you to be her parent or her big brother. She wants you to be her friend and support her and her decisions." Mary's smile was soft and warm, trying to calm Albus down so he could understand.

"Rose is a big girl now. She's not eleven anymore. She doesn't need someone holding her hand. She's dating now, granted not in a normal way, but that's what this is now. And aren't you happy it's with Scorpius? Your best friend? You know him better than anyone here and you trust him completely. Isn't that a good thing? And why are you so scared that Rose is going to end up hurt anyway?"

Albus wouldn't meet her eyes. He started fiddling with a blanket, his black hair almost covering his eyes, "I don't know. I just don't think she's ready for a relationship yet."

Mary tried to catch Al's eye, "Could it be that this fear is more about yourself than it is about Rose? You fear that you would end up hurt if you got into a relationship?"

Al made no reply. He continued to fiddle with the blanket on the bed.

She sighed, "At the end of the day Albus I think this is something you need to talk to Rose about. It's not right doing this all behind her back. Talk to Rose and you'll see it will all be okay."

Albus let out a deep sigh, lifting his head, "I'll think about it," Then he was moving off the bed his hand reaching to pull the curtains aside. He looked back before he did though. "You sure you won't help?" A pillow to the face was his answer. He chuckled, "Can't fault a guy for trying."

The minute he left the room all the girls turned to look at Mary, eyes wide and questioning.

Mary grinned, "You are not going to believe what Al just told me!"

~oOo~

Rose POV

The moon hung low in the sky. Its light cast dim long shadows across the room. Rose lay in bed, her form still and small, her eyes trained on the sleeping figure next to her.

Scorpius lay sprawled out, his chest rising and falling in deep steady breaths. His lips were parted slightly in sleep, the light stubble that ran over his jaw almost transparent in the moonlight. Rose closed her eyes for a moment and listened to the sound of his steady breathing. This was something she did often now when she couldn't sleep or was troubled. she would just close her eyes, breathe, and listen.

And there it was in the back of her mind. Thump. Thump. Thump. His heartbeat, his breathing. It was a comforting thing to her now, knowing that he was always there, that he was always alright.

Rose hadn't been able to sleep well after getting out of the hospital. The darkness when she closed her eyes still frightened her enough to keep her awake. The only thing that had helped, that had comforted her, was Scorpius.

She tried not to think about why it was comforting as she pushed herself closer to his sleeping figure. All she knew was that it was and that she didn't mind it as much as she thought.

His face was peaceful as he slept, his features so much calmer than when he was awake. It made her calm too. He was so untroubled like this, like not even his dreams could bother him.

She felt a small smile tug at her lips. His hair was in disarray and it fell all over his eyes in small wisps of white blonde. Just like it had that day out by the pitch. His nose wasn't pink from the cold, his lips weren't red from him worrying at them with his teeth but he still somehow looked... what? Handsome? Dashing?

Then it came to her. He looked beautiful. She snorted slightly when she imagined the face he would make if he heard that description of himself, but it was true. Scorpius Malfoy was beautiful. Not in a feminine way but in a striking, breath-taking way. And it wasn't just his features that were beautiful, but it was him, who he was as a person. It was the way he smiled at everything, the way he made people laugh. It was him taking some first years out to the pitch and playing Quidditch with them. It was him sticking up for people who were being teased. It was the way he listened like he actually cared about what you were saying. It was him helping her Grandmother with cookies during the holidays. It was him telling stories to her little cousins by the fire. It was him holding her hand while she lay there on that hospital bed, the way he had held her so close when she had woken up. It was every little thing he did for others without thoughts of himself.

'He needs a haircut.' She thought idly, her hand reaching out to gently push the blonde locks away. She found herself wondering what she was doing, playing with his hair like they were a couple or something. It wasn't something she should be doing, something that would only confuse Scorpius if he were to wake up. She was crossing a line and she knew it. Maybe it was the late hour or the fact that Rose just didn't give a damn at that moment, but she just let her hand continue to play with the soft piece of his hair.

'And anyway, he did try to kiss me. If he gets to pull stuff like that, I can at least play with his hair a little.'

That's what she told herself as she moved closer. It's what she told herself when she nuzzled her face into the side of his neck, sighing as her body came to rest pressed against his.

It felt so right.

He was warm and strong, a comforting presence beside her. She had never realized how nice it was to sleep next to someone. To have their soft breathing rock you to sleep, to have their comforting smell, always the same fill your senses in the most soothing of ways.

To have a hand gently run up and down your arm in lazy calming circles.

She was too far gone in her thoughts and her slow descent into sleep that she didn't realize that the hand running along her arm meant that she had woken him. Or that she had been caught snuggling up to him in the middle of the night. Or that Scorpius Malfoy had the faintest of smiles pulling that stupidly handsome, sleep ridden face.

~oOo~

James POV

The next morning

The morning light cast shadows across his form. Will Clark's blonde hair fell across his forehead, his bare chest rose and fell in slow deep breaths and his rosy lips were parted just the slightest bit. The sheets that were tangled among his limbs did little to disguise his lack of clothing and the faint outline of his body could be seen easily. He looked like a prince laying there. Regal and elegant even in sleep.

James Potter, sleep ridden, tousle-haired, stood leaning against the wall. Dressed in nothing but a pair of pants, his eyes twinkled with more thought than normal as he gazed on, his arms crossed over his bare chest.

Last night had been one of the best nights of his life. A smile played across his lips at just the thought of it. Of him. Will Clark. But he was also troubled.

Yesterday, after the meeting with the Gremlins was finished and Albus had stomped off, James had slipped a small piece of paper into Will's hand while passing him.

He had meant to give it to him at dinner but now was better. The note said simply,

Room of Requirement. Midnight.

James had been leaning against the wall of the seventh-floor hall, the cloak of Invisibility slung over his shoulders when he had heard Will coming. He had smirked at the startled squeak that Will had uttered when he had pushed the hood of the cloak down.

"I really hate that thing," Will had murmured as he walked to James. "What are we doing up here anyway? What's wrong with the hideout?"

James had pushed off the wall and started pacing in front of the hidden Room of Requirement. "Katy and Eva were going to be working late on a few things there. Plus I wanted to do something a little different tonight."

When James had opened the door to the Room of Requirement and led Will, who had been instructed to close his eyes, inside he had not been prepared for what would happen when the Ravenclaw opened his eyes.

James had spent hours on the room, making it perfect for Will and what he liked, making it more comfortable than what they normally had. The room had been dim and warm, a cosy couch had set off to the side with a projector and screen for them to watch some of Will's favourite muggle movies on. His favourite food had sat on a cart, his favourite music had played lowly, and the sweet smell of vanilla drifted through the room.

Will had stood there for a minute, taking in the room and everything James had done, then he had turned and before James could register it Will had been kissing him.

James had smiled into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Will's neck and melting into his embrace.

They had stood like that, swaying to the music playing, kissing softly, slowly.

"Do you like it?" James had whispered against Will's lips.

Will had pulled back slightly, just enough to look at James but still keeping his arms tightly around the Gryffindor. "I love it." He had murmured, brushing his nose against James'. James had closed his eyes, loving the feel of Will's hand slowly brushing circles into the skin of his back. The feel of him so close. And then, "and I love you."

James' eyes had snapped open at that, and he had stared wide-eyed at the boy in front of him. Had he just? Did he just?

Will had chuckled at James' deer in the headlights expression and leaned down to press a soft kiss to his startled lips. "You don't need to say anything. You asked me to be honest so I'm just letting you knew where I'm at."

That had brought James back to reality, but his thoughts had still been all over the place.

'He loves me' was racing through James' mind. He had felt panic start to rise but then he had stopped. This wasn't something to think about now, he could ponder it later, right now he wanted nothing but to spend some time with Will.

He had attacked Will with his lips, kissing every part of skin he could find. Will had laughed at the onslaught of kisses and pulled James even closer. His hand had moved to gently cup James' face and then they were grinning at each other.

But that had all been a fantasy really, a night of recklessness, a night where anything could happen. That hadn't been a reality.

Looking over at the wall he saw that the clock was ticking closer and closer to the time that they would both have to leave. James sighed. He hated to wake Will, to break the bubble of fantasy and go back to reality.

But he knew he had to.

Walking over James sat on the edge of the bed. He reached a hand and brushed the hair from the other boys face, trailing his fingertips lower until he was cupping Will's face. James's smile returned as the boy stirred and he bent down, pressing his lips gently to Will's.

There was a little groan as James pulled away and he smirked when Will opened his blue eyes to stare sleepily up at him.

"Morning," His voice was low, a rumble through his chest and the lazy smile that pulled at those perfect lips made James melt all the more.

"Morning," James hummed, his hand dropping to run lightly over Will's stomach, tracing the faint outline of abs.

Will smirked at the tousled-haired boy in front of him. "I could get used to waking up like this."

James looked up into those blue eyes and smiled just a little, "I would like that."

Will pushed himself up on to his elbows, his smile growing. "Then let's make this a regular thing, we can meet here, spend the night and leave the next morning before anyone misses us. We can spend some time together without everyone around us." Will ran his hand along James' fingers, gently grasping them in his own.

James felt his smile fall as Will's words washed over him. He turned his face away and breathe deeply against the pain of what he needed to say. "Will you know I can't." He said quietly, not meeting his eyes.

Will lifted a hand and nudged James face, making him look into his blue eyes. "But you can James. No one will know, no one will even suspect it." Will pressed his forehead against James, closing his eyes. James sighed contentedly and wrapped a hand around the other boy's waist. "Please. I-I want to be able to look at you without worrying that everyone can see how much I want you. I want to be able to hold your hand, to touch your face, t-to-to kiss you and pull you closer in someplace that isn't a broom closet of an old classroom. I want to be with you without worrying."

"Last night was amazing, James. I want so much to do that again, to just sit and talk, to hold hands and cuddle on the couch and just enjoy each other's company. I want that. More than anything. I want you to be my boyfriend."

James felt his heart clench, because he wanted that too, so much. There was a lot he wanted when it came to Will Clark. He wanted to be able to be a couple with him. He wanted to be able to kiss him and hold his hand. He wanted to be able to say that Will was his, to stop the girls that flirted and batted their lashes at the Ravenclaw. He wanted to be able to take Will home, to introduce him to his family. He wanted to tell his mom about him, to talk to his dad about the boy he had met. He wanted a fairytale. He wanted fantasy.

And it was a fantasy because he knew he could never have it. Being gay in the Wizarding World was just as bad as being a Squib. It was not accepted. It was not allowed. Muggle culture was more accepting and that wasn't saying much. Back in the early days of the statue of secrecy, wizards and witches were few in numbers. Children of magical blood needed to be born. If you were gay and married another man, well, there were no children.

It was a stupid backwards old bitter prejudice, but it was still alive and well. James had watched kids be bullied and disowned, adults lose jobs and get hexed on the streets. People had gotten killed. If he came out as gay it would be social suicide. Not even being Harry Potter's son would save him from becoming an outcast.

James didn't want that. No matter how much he wanted Will, he didn't want that more.

And at that moment James realized that this had gone on for too long. This wasn't supposed to happen. He had never intended to feel anything for Will, to feel anything for any boy. He had promised himself that he would never let himself do that, to spare himself the pain of it all.

But somewhere along the line, the stolen kisses that were meant to mean nothing, the nights where they just wanted comfort had turned into something else. Something that James both longed for and recoiled from at the same time.

He had let himself care about someone he could never have. Not truly.

When had they crossed the line from people just letting off steam, to people who ached to be held by the other? When had James let his guard down, let Will into his heart? When had he betrayed all logic and sense?

Last night had been everything James had ever wanted. He had felt normal, felt like for once what he was doing wasn't forbidden. But now the sun was up and he couldn't hide in the shadows any longer.

"No Will." James pulled away. He moved off the bed, grabbing his shirt and robes from off the floor and pulling them on as he went, "I can't and you said you understood that. You said you wouldn't pressure me and yet you're bringing it up again."

"James-"

His step faltered. His name, spoken by those lips. The lips he had kissed, the ones that had whispered those words to him, those three deadly words. It hurt. So much.

He knew now that they needed to stop. He had been able to tell himself before that this had been nothing, that they were just letting off steam, that it didn't hurt when Will walked away from him.

And last night? Why had he let last night happen? Why hadn't he left when Will had told him that he loved him?

Because for once he hadn't given a damn about logic, hadn't cared about the consequences. He had been happy.

James scrubbed a hand down his face. You're a fool, he told himself. You're an idiot, you let yourself fall too far. Now how are you going to get back up?

"James," Will's hands were warm as they cupped his face. Tilting his head back to look him in the eyes, "I know that look, you're thinking too much, you're over analyzing everything. I'm sorry I said anything, I promise that I won't bring it up again, not if you don't want me to. Just please don't be mad, I didn't mean to upset you with it. I-I just didn't think for a minute."

James lifted his hands and pushed Will's arms down, trying to not see the hurt expression on his face. "That's the problem Will. We haven't been thinking." His voice sounded broken even to his ears.

"What? James what are you thinking in that head of yours."

James stepped away from the blonde boy, crossing his hands over his chest as though to shield himself from the pain, the ache, running through him. "This has gone on for too long. A stupid one night stand has turned into something it never should have."

"James-" Will stepped forward and James stepped back.

"This needs to end Will, the longer we go on the more it will hurt in the end. I mean why are we doing this to ourselves? The pain we're causing outweighs the rest. You can't stand there and tell me that this will work out or that we'll find a way to be together."

"Wha-End what? Where is this coming from? Did I do something? Why are you suddenly talking like this, like- like you want to end things? I'm sorry for what I said earlier James, I swear I won't bring it up again. Just take a breath and think about what you're saying."

"I am," James said sharply, lashing out, trying to ignore the pain. "I am thinking Will. I'm thinking this was all a mistake, that this never should have happened in the first place, our one night stand should have stayed at that, a one night stand. Yet here we are."

"James you can't say that. You can't tell me that you think last night was a mistake. Last night was amazing. Right?"

James turned away, his eyes prickling with tears, he roughly rubbed at them, cursing his lack of control. "Yes," He admitted weakly, "Last night was amazing." He was crying now, not able to stop the tears as they ran down his face, "It was magical and breath-taking. Every minute of it."

He could feel Will's hope behind him as he moved closer, it was almost palpable. "Then why are you doing this? Why are you saying these things?"

"Because last night was amazing." James breathed, "because every fibre of my being wants to do it again, and again. I want to be held in your arms, I want you to kiss my neck while we watch that stupid movie you love. I want to eat popcorn and talk and laugh and just be with you. I want to be your boyfriend."

"And that's a problem?"

James whirled around, eyes fierce. "Yes, it's a problem. Because you told me you loved me last night Will. You told me you loved me and then you kissed me and I realized I was falling for you. For your stupid smile, for your stupid why of always seeing the best in everything. Your kindness and gentleness. That little bit of hair that always falls across your forehead no matter what." James's fingers itched to reach up and touch that piece of hair but they stayed but his side, unmoving. "I fell for you without meaning too. I went too far. I should have ended this when I first realized that there was something more between us. But I didn't. I was foolish and let this go on. But I can't any longer." The tears fell hard and fast now, blurring his vision and clinging to his eyelashes. "It's over Will. I'm done."

He turned to go, his steps steady even despite his shaking hands. But then a hand was grabbing his wrist, stopping him. "Don't do this James. Please. I love you."

If only that were enough.

There were tears on Will's face too and James had the urge to wipe them away, to brush his thumb along his soft skin.

Will was his weakness, James supposed he had always known this, ever since that Ravenclaw boy had smiled at him so many years ago. It was his weakness for Will that had let this go on. That was what he told himself later though, that it was his weakness for Will that had made him do what he did.

James stepped closer and in a move his hand was in Will's hair and he was pulling the boy down and pushing himself up at the same time. Their lips meet in a desperate kiss, demanding and rough. Their tear-streaked cheeks brushing. Will's arms wrapped around James and pulled him close, so close that James knew he was trying to never let go.

He didn't know how long they stood there for, how long they kissed, all he knew was that somewhere in that time, the kiss turned soft. The roughness evaporated and the gentleness came in. Will's grip on James was still tight, but one of his hands came up to cup the back fo James head in a gentle caress.

Their lips moved against each other, slow and soft, seeking something, someway out of this mess.

Then James was pulling his head back, breaking the kiss. Will's blue eyes looked down at him and the sadness and hurt he saw there killed him. "Please."

Will's voice was broken, just like he was. There was a part of James that just wanted to hold him, to ease that pain. But a bigger part knew it wasn't his job anymore.

And then he was gone, like a whisper of wind, closing the door soundly behind him.