Word Count: 541


Rose watches the way Scorpius moves. He keeps his head ducked against the chilly wind, and each step is careful and calculated as he maneuvers across the snow and ice. She bites back a laugh. Only Scorpius Malfoy could make trying to reach the castle look so exhausting. Even Uncle Percy is more relaxed on snowy days, and that's really saying something.

She knows she should just let him be, but she can't resist. Grinning to herself, she leans down and scoops up a bit of snow, forming a loose ball. Once Scorpius is closer, she pulls her arm back, taking aim before slinging the snow. The snowball makes contact with his head, bursting into smaller clumps of snow.

"Hey!" He looks up, eyes narrowed. It only takes him a moment to find the culprit, as Rose is too busy laughing to even think about pretending to be innocent. "Rose!"

She sends another snowball at him. This time, he barely manages to dodge in time. "Yes, Scorpius?"

"I'm warning you! Cut that out!"

Instead, she throws another at him, hitting his stomach. "Ooh! Warning me, are you? Let's see what you've got!"

That's all it takes. To her surprise, he is fast and slings one at her, catching her off guard and nailing her in the face. She sputters, teeth chattering. Still, the adrenaline drives her forward. This is what she had wanted, after all. It's another way that Scorpius slowly comes out of his shell, and she loves him for it.

"Oh, this is war!" she calls.

By the time they call a truce, she's shivering and her mittens are so soaked that she has to pull them off.

"I did warn you," he says, out of breath and grinning. His pale face is flushed a deep pink, but he looks so pleased.

"Yeah, well, have you met?"

With a soft laugh, he nudges her playfully with his elbow. "I have," he confirms. "About four years ago, if I'm not mistaken."

"Scorpius Malfoy, do I detect sarcasm?" Rose lets out an impressed whistle, linking her arm with his. The two start for the castle. "Albus is really rubbing off on you, it seems."

"He says sarcasm runs in the family," Scopius confirms.

"It sprints, actually."

She remembers first meeting him. He had been so shy and awkward then; he still has his awkward quirks, but he seems so much more himself now. She wonders if he can see it. He smiles a little more now, and he doesn't seem like he's trying to hide away.

"You're staring," Scorpius says, pulling his arm away and touching his cheek. "Have I got something on my face?"

"No." She bites the inside of her cheek, blushing. "Would you… Would you maybe like to get a butterbeer with me on the next Hogsmeade visit?"

"Are you asking me on a date?" he asks, and there's no denying the hope in his tone.

"Yeah. If you want it to be a date, anyway."

"I thought you'd never ask."

And as they make their way along, snow crunching beneath their boots, Rose can't help but smile. She's been in many snowball fights over the years, but she thinks this might be the best one yet.