When Scorpius first laid eyes on Rose Weasley, he was eleven years old and standing next to his father who was nervously surveying the area. Rose was small, knobbly and had a big bush of frizzy red hair. Her mother, the famous Hermoine Weasley (nee. Granger) was fussing over her, much to Rose's discomfort.

When Scorpius saw her again in sixth year, after being apart from her over Christmas break, she looked worse than when he'd left her. Her hair over the years had tamed, and grown longer and longer still if possible. She was still fairly small compared to most people but she had grown into her bones after all. She looked up and saw him before immediately turning away, tucking her hair behind her ear and stepping onto the Hogwarts Express.

He didn't know what was bothering her, well, other than what bothered them both. Scorpius had assumed that after being apart for so long, that they'd at least catch up.

"God Scorp, how would that go? Hey dreamt about me lately, I've been dreaming about you but you knew that I told you in that creepy letter I gave you." He said to himself, hoping on the opposite end of the train.

What was worse is he'd given her that necklace. Honestly, he was sick of having it sit there in his room, staring at him. He wanted to let go of that part of him and it felt like a good idea at the time. Fuck.

"Hey Scorpius!" Angela Hops called out to him through one of the cabin doors, he ignored her and her greeting and proceeded on through the halls.

"Hey mate," Donald Woods huffed. "How was your holidays?"

"Yeah good." Scorpius replied sitting down opposite him.

"Got off a week early, nice!" Woods elongated the 'nice', not awaiting the confirmation or denial of said statement. Donald was sort of tubby, still very tall, like Scorpius himself with a splash of dusty blonde curls on his head. Donald was also the closest thing to a friend Scorpius had ever got. Donald didn't care to write him over the holidays, nor did he send him cards on his birthday but every morning they ate breakfast together on the Ravenclaw table (even though Donald was a Hufflepuff) and in every class they had together they sat together and worked together. Donald was his Hogwarts Friend. "Seen any more of that Weasley girl did ya?"

"No Don. Not a peep." He didn't like that fact either, he had spent his whole Christmas break expecting to fall into another dream walking situation with her but hadn't. He didn't exactly expect her to send him letters or anything but he'd hoped for maybe a reply to the one he'd sent Christmas Day. "Saw her catching the train though." He added.

"I don't understand the rumours mate, you'd never be able to close on a girl like that!" Woods laughed, his body shaking with vigour as he did so.

"Firstly, close? What are people saying?" Scorpius struggled not to laugh, Donald's laugh was always infectious; half the reason Scorpius liked him. "Secondly, what does a girl like that mean?"

"Never mind mate," Donald laughed at the window. Catching Scorpius' dark glare (one he'd mimicked from his father a long time ago) he conceded. "Okay, okay. Rumour was that you two got sent home early because you got caught by a teacher doing it in a broom closet or whatever. And… a girl like that," Woods hesitated. "A girl like that would mean a good one. One whose parents were on the right side of the war."

Donald hadn't mentioned the war before, he didn't ever seem to care that Scorpius was a Malfoy, another reason he liked him so much. Scorpius couldn't help but feel sick at the pitiful look was throwing him at that moment and promptly changed the subject. "Why would I need a girl anyway when I have a tonne of exams to prepare for this year anyway?"

Donald gave a weak smile and Scorpius returned it.

He hadn't really noticed it until their first potions class back from break, over the past few weeks they'd spent their time working potions together in class, sometimes not speaking at all, sometimes speaking of everything under the sun except for the dreams. First class back though Rose paired up with Marcie Adams, who he knew Rose thought to be a dimwit.

After a while, he recognized a pattern of avoidance. They didn't bump into each other down the usual corridors, they didn't eat meals at the same time anymore and whenever they did run into each other she would duck away, often leaving her best friends behind.

It'd been three weeks and his frustration was mounding, he'd asked that Nott girl about it and she just sighed and shook her head. The blonde one also said nothing which was even more peculiar. After a month he was desperate and caved, he needed to get to someone closer to the source. But who?

Surveying the crowd of the great hall one morning he settled on Lily Potter. Female and young, friendly probably easier to get information out of and not likely to punch him in the face for sticking his nose in her cousin's business. Unlike the rest of the Potter-Weasley clan.

"Good morning Malfoy," Lily caught him in the library one morning.

"Ugh, sorry. Good morning." He recovered, getting called by his last name always caught him off guard. "Hey, I've been meaning to talk to you."

"I know." She smiled, "You've been staring at me at breakfast for the past week."

He stuttered out some syllables but got nothing intellectual out other than "Oh, er, buh, er, um sorry yeah."

"Don't worry. I see it too, you want to talk about Rose." Oh thank god, she understood idiot, he thought.

He nodded in response.

"It's not just you. She's withdrawing from everyone. Even her friends, even us. Has been like that since the break." She explained. "Don't know why, won't tell anyone."

"Oh," was all he could manage and Lily Potter left him to his own devices. That and his Charms homework, which was due the next period.

That night in bed he didn't want to sleep. He didn't want to dream. He lay there in his bed, curtains closed willing himself to succumb to another dream walk. Rose couldn't avoid him there could she? He was awake for hours, he actually thought maybe he should give up and just do some homework or something.

"Rose!" He called, her figured stood with her back to him.

She turned and mouthed 'No' distinctly. In this dream she looked more frazzled than in reality, maybe a manifestation of her inner struggles, who knew? All Scorpius knew was that it worked and he was here with her.

He hesitated. Everything ended quickly when they reached each other last time, so maybe if they kept to the edge of the circle the dark hooded figures were making, they could buy some time.

"I had to see you." He began, "Why won't you speak to me? To anyone?"

"You did this? You brought us here?!" She almost yelled, but her voice was dampened by the dream, like it was suffocating sound. "Why would you do that to me?"

"Rose! It's just a dream remember? Please. You have to talk to me!" He steeled himself, "I'll try again if you don't. I'll persist. I won't stop until you let me in!"

"Let you in?" She cried, her face distorting against itself. She was willing herself not to cry, not here, "Haven't I let you in enough? Look at us!" She gestured around the circle.

"Rose. I'm sorry about the letter, if I upset you. I'm sure being a Slytherin wasn't easy on you either. I don't know what I was thinking, I just thought I was being nice, or something. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the rumours too. I know they must be hard on you. If you could tell me a way I could fix any of it I would!"

He was rambling, and it was sweet, he had no idea. She would have smiled at him if she didn't feel someone approach her from behind.

The sword was coming. She would die again.

In a flurry of movement, shadows and blonde hair. Scorpius swooped her up in his arms, much different from the way he did in the corridor that one time before break. She turned her out of the way, exposing his back to the swords sharp stab. He grunted in pain as it struck between his shoulder blades and his eyes fell lifeless before his body even dropped out of her arms.

"Rose." The hooded assailant whispered, a voice graver than death.