That filthy piece of Slytherin scum!

Rose stormed up the stairs, furious. She was so wrapped up in her angry thoughts, she forgot about the vanishing 32nd step on the staircase up to the seventh-floor left-hand corridor.

"Bloody hell!" She cried as she sunk knee-deep into the stairs. She managed to get herself straightened up, then continued her stampede up to the Gryffindor common room.

"Password?" The Fat Lady demanded.

"Malfoy!" Rose snapped.

"I'm sorry, that's not correct, dearest."

"I mean, Malloy Venarctulum!" Rose said, flustered.

"That's it, love." The portrait swung open, and Rose clambered in.

"Well, well, well, looks like someone's having their time of the month." Albus remarked from his armchair as he peeked over his Potions textbook to observe his cousin.

"Your friend is a bloody bastard!" Rose shrieked, turning on Albus.

"Hush, Rose, darling." Albus said sedately. "Now, what on earth are you going on about?"

"Malfoy . . ." Rose spat venomously.

"Oh, Scorpius. What's he done to you, now?"

"That scumbag - HE'S GONE AND STOLEN MY FIRST SNOG!!!" Rose burst, clearly not being able to hold it in. "I abhor him - how could he've just done that - I would've hexed him into the next century - but McGonagall -" Rose stopped, breathing hardly. Tears were rising in her eyes.

"What?" Albus straightened up.

"Did you not hear me? Your dick of a friend has made a move on me!" Rose then proceeded to burst into tears.

"So he's finally had a revelation, hasn't he?" Albus smirked. "I've been telling him this all along."

"Al - what - you're smiling!" Rose was mortified. "How could you mock me with this? And what the bloody hell are you talking about?"

Albus went back to his Potions book. "I've been telling him since third year that he's had a thing for you. Stubborn prat, wouldn't hear of it."

Rose started, opened her mouth, then closed it. She was silenced by her own shock.

"You're surprised. " Albus stated.

"Albus, your theory is absolutely ridiculous." Rose regained her angry composure. "He's always acting like a berk around me - he's never shown any sign of affection or even politeness towards me."

"Because he always puts his guard up around you, even though he doesn't realize it." Albus explained simply.

"Al?"

"Hmm?"

"You're barking."

Al shrugged. "You two are both too stubborn for your own good."

"I mean, even if he does like me, that doesn't go on and give him the right to kiss me without my permission! That's a violation!"

"Maybe he couldn't control himself. Or maybe . . . . ." Albus raised his eyebrow. ". . . . you might've misguided him into thinking you wanted to kiss him?" He smirked. "Maybe you subconsciously wanted to kiss him."

Rose bristled. "Albus Severus Potter, you're mad! I would never, ever, EVER, even think of letting Death Eater dirt like Malfoy touch me like that!"

Albus stiffened. "Rose, why must you be so judgmental and prejudiced against Scorpius?"

"Me? Prejudiced? It's blood like him that are prejudiced - what with discriminating people like Mum."

"That's the past, Rose. Right now, you're the one that's making the same mistake his parents made so many years ago. I mean, what do you have to base your accusations against Scorpius? You know, besides his parentage."

"He's a prat." Rose shot back.

"How so?"

"He - he's just annoying! He says annoying things and he's a flirt -"

"So is Lysander, but you don't seem to mind." Albus smirked.

Rose turned as red as her hair. "But - but - Lysander's okay!"

"Because you're madly in love with him?" Albus rolled his eyes.

"No!" Rose spluttered. "It - it's because I know Lysander's still a good person in the end."

"And how do you know Scorpius isn't a good person?"

"Because!" Rose answered childishly. "Anyways," She said, quickly changing the subject. "Why're you so keen on advertising Scorpius?"

Albus sighed. "Rose, you have no idea . . . . .he cares about you so much, it makes me vomit."

Rose scoffed. "Right."

"He's in denial, of course, he'd never admit it - but I can just tell. Whenever I mention your name, this glint always appears in his eyes, and he can't help smiling. He's always complaining about you, but I can completely see through his act; he just uses it as an excuse to talk about you."

"You're off your rocker." Rose huffed, heading towards her dormitory.

"You just won't give him a chance, will you?" Albus asked, frustrated, and stuck his nose back into his Potions book. So he didn't see his cousin pale and stiffen as she recalled a recent memory.

You just won't give me a chance, will you? His voice rang through her head.