THE BUTTERFLY RETURNS

Love is beyond logic.

Even if it is a scum's wish,
true love will prevail all odds and prejudice.


CHAPTER ONE
The Beginning of June

It's just for one night after all.

That was what Rose Weasley kept telling herself while moving as stealthily as she could towards the Owlery—in the middle of the night, of all times. Sneaking around like this (not to mention, breaking school rules!) was so unlike the model student image everyone knew her for. She was annoyed at how her mind and heart were still at war with each other, pushing her resolve to its absolute limit.

It's all his fault.

Why was this person always on her mind, no matter how much she had tried to forget about him? Even if she had the brains to come up with a million reasons to blame the whole world for the torment she had been going through for the past few months, deep down she knew they were merely empty excuses to escape from the throbbing pain in her chest.

Why him? Why can't it be someone else?

It didn't take Rose long to reach her destination, but she couldn't help shuddering at the pitch blackness around her. The Owlery seemed more intimidating at night, so different from what she could remember about her sanctuary at Hogwarts. She let out a frightened squeal when she suddenly felt something ticklish brushing past her shoulder.

"L-Lumos."

The ball of light from the tip of her wand was greeted with a chorus of angry hoots and screeches all around her, with many pairs of yellow eyes that seemed to be glowering at the red-haired girl.

How silly of her. To think that she, the fearless daughter of Hermione Weasley, would be afraid of the owls in the dark!

It didn't help her nerves when she heard the all-too-familiar snigger from behind. She whipped around and almost jabbed her wand into the ribs of her cousin whom she hated…

But loved all the same.

Rose recollected her composure, rolling her eyes at the wry grin on James Potter's face. "How rare to see you up here on the dot." She recalled how he'd always show up fashionably late when they were still snogging each other every night back then.

James let out a snort of laughter. "What, so you think I'm incapable of turning up on time for a date?" Then his expression softened. "You're like an open book to me, remember?"

Rose narrowed her eyes at him and pouted. "I really detest that side of you."

She expected another snide comeback from her impish cousin, but James had dropped the lopsided smile on his face, holding her gaze with a look of concern. "And I can also tell that something's up. What's wrong?"

The genuine question came as sudden as the hand that patted on her head, so much so that Rose didn't know how she should react. Words refused to form on her trembling lips.

So much to say… but where to begin?

"Rose?"

Before she knew it, she had thrown herself into the arms of a shocked James, bawling her eyes out in his embrace.

I'm sorry, Scorpius. I'm really, really sorry. Just let me be with him for this one night, and no more.