Most characters do not belong to me, but to J.K Rowling. The plot does, however.

Chapter 3

"AL! Albus Severus Potter! Did you hear me?"Rose practically screamed in her cousin's ear. Just the other day it had been the other way around.

Albus' drooping eyes opened fully, and he yawned, awakened from his open-eyed sleep.

"Uhm…what?" he groaned lazily as Rose looked ready to murder. Rose rolled her eyes and shoved a book in front of his face. (Pride and Prejudice)

"Do you have any idea what this quote means?" Rose sighed, and dropped back into the couch. "You are so going to fail this-no offense."

Albus looked scared. "You're still going to help me….right?" he asked tentatively.

Rose rolled her eyes. " 'Course I am, Sleeping Beauty. Now-" she thrust the book into his hands and practically forced his hands to flip to a specific page. "Read up!"

As Albus continued to flip the pages absentmindedly, Rose sighed once again. No one really got her way of thinking about literature. No one understood her respect for the fine art of poetry. And most of all-most of her cousins depended on her to look over their essays and paper works. Not that she disliked it-she thought that they would like to experience the fun of it. Yes, Rose weasley actually enjoyed doing homework.

Rose stepped out of the common room to get some fresh air, and was instantly reminded of her patrol duties. How could she have forgotten? She tore down the hall to the place she was supposed to be meeting Darfsthow and Malfoy. Rose lifted her wrist, and stared at her pale green watch. The slim, silver hands smoothly moved in a cirle, and Rose felt the seconds tick by. Why weren't they already here? They were over ten minutes late. Just as she was about to go to their Slytherin common room, a loud noise erupted not to far behind her.

Rose marched to where the sound was, and she turned red immediately, focusing on the wall next to the trouble. Darfsthow was positioned on top of Malfoy, who looked extremely uncomfortable. When he spotted Rose a look passed through his eyes- annoyance? Confusion? Relief? Darfsthow, oblivious to Rose's presence, continued to make eyes at Malfoy, while he inched away from her manicured fingernails.

Rose cleared her throat. "The time for doing this is on your own free periods-not while others are waiting to patrol the halls of Hogwarts."

Darfsthow's head snapped up, and she tried her best to inch closer to Malfoy and pull him up. He pulled away gently and stood up by himself, with no trace of redness on his ghostly cheeks.

As they patrolled down the corridors, Rose couldn't help but notice that Darfsthow was slowly moving closer to Malfoy. He, apparently, didn't notice and continued to look straight ahead and march silently.

Rose rolled her eyes as Darfsthow suddenly knocked her hip against Malfoy's waist and tugged his arm to the small of her back. Malfoy immediately recoiled, placing his hand to his side, where it twitched whenever Darfsthow made to grab for it.

Rose, chuckled, and realized her mistake a second too late.

"Care to explain what ever amuses you?" Darfsthow stopped walking, and glared at Rose, striking a pose with her hand on her hip. Malfoy looked as amused as Rose felt, and smirked slightly.

Rose stifled a laugh. "your endless attempts to flirt with a man." She retorted.

Darfsthow stepped closer to Rose, with a slightly crazy, angry look on her perfect features, and pushed her back. Since Rose didn't expect the push, she veered off slightly and crashed into Scorpious, bringing him down on top of her. Her hands were shoved against his chest and she couldn't help but notice that it was like crashing down on rock.

She stared for a moment. Were his eyes always that silver? She couldn't help but catch a whiff of his scent as she slowly got back up. Fresh picked oranges with a hint of lime and mint….the handkerchief! How could she have forgotten? And the handkerchief belonged to…

Rose shook that thought out of her head as they continued to walk down the hall. Darfsthow was positioned in the middle, occasionally, elbowing Rose or making eyes at Malfoy, who clearly did not notice or did not show it. The tension was slowly suffocating Rose, and she could tell that Darfsthow had the similar thoughts about her. Her thoughts veered towards Scor- Malfoy. She remembered when they had met- on the Hogwarts Express. He had constantly been knocking into her, pushing her frame or accidentally-on purpose- shoving her aside. He was so conceited back in those four years….. but something changed about him in the fifth year and now, in sixth year. It was awkward-she kind of missed the rows and fights she fought with him. It had been a regular game- no one else had been able to keep up with her, or understand the "complicated phrases" she was stating, quote from Albus. Oh, how she wished she could find a friend-or someone that she could confide in. She was sick and tired of being the "second Hermione Granger." Rose rarely cried-not when James and Fred decided to blow up her bed when she was outside the door, not when Malfoy had charmed her red hair to look like a rainbow afro, not even when he had transfigured her wardrobe into one of a clowns. She had to go down to breakfast in one of those frilly, flowered suits- none of her relative's clothes fit her, being to wide, short, long, skinny, or tight. Rose almost always kept her feelings inside, pushed up against a wall of protectiveness that she had never opened to anyone. It seemed as though no one understood her- because no one truly did. She felt like a human slowly suffocating, cutting herself off from air-not that there was any. She wasn't saying that all of her classmates were dumb or stupid, she just felt they didn't know the true meaning of literature and how to appreciate it and…oh merlin, I sound like a total wacko. Unfortunately enough, the only one who had matched their grades in class with hers was the one person Rose wished not to be…..Scorpius Malfoy. Why did it have to be him, of all people? Rose knew she wasn't being fair, considering he had taken the perfume away from Darfsthow and given her his handkerchief…

Rose's eyes drifted over to the other two prefects, one staring solemnly ahead, the other trying to flirt with him, twirling a piece of her hair around her finger and casually puffing her chest out. Rose almost puked right then and there when Darfsthow hitched her skirt even higher-it had already been around six inches up her thighs, and now it veered dangerously close to a whole foot. Malfoy looked away politely, and Darfsthow pouted, disappointed in her failed mission. Luckily we were done with the patrol….Darfsthow had been leaning closer to an uncomfortable Malfoy, batting her mascara- submerged eyelashes and giggling flirtatiously at the top of her tight lungs. Anyone could tell Malfoy didn't fancy her, I just didn't get how Darfsthow didn't take the obvious hint. Maybe she did, she just didn't want to back down….what a determined rat.

Scorpius ducked just in time as her arm reached around, probably to tug his earlobe and coo weird lovey dovey stuff into his ear drum. Hah- take that, Scorpius Malfoy. For unknowingly flirting with everyone, and succeeding. Wait-that sounded wrong. I don't mean everyone…

"Bye, Scorpy! You know I'll miss you- because you'll miss me!" Darfsthow squealed, jumping up to reveal an embarrassing view of her underpants. Most guys would look at that. But Malfoy's eyes stayed on her face, almost seething with annoyance. Or so I hope.

He takes a step towards her, and opens his mouth, taking a deep breath as if he wants to start lecturing. Trust me, I've seen this look before-right after Lissa Jonies tried to feed him breakfast. Honestly, they weren't even dating! But why do I CARE? I don't. I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I don't I DON'T I DON'T I DO! Wait, what?

I shake that an absurd though out of my head, just as Malfoy finishes off his lecture, face tomato red and breathless from either rage or not stopping to breathe throughout his whole three minute speech.

"Bye, Rose,... Asheline." Scorpius finished, taking one last look at Rose before marching down to his Slytherin dorm. Rose felt a jolt of…excitement? Ecstasy? Jubilance? Longing? She hoped it was none of those. She definitely, times one trillion, did not fancy Scorpius Malfoy. She wasn't one of those starry eyed Scorpius lovers that practically swooned when he came by. Though she did have to admit that he had changed immensely from his past years. Now he seemed more…mature, more knowing, she supposed. Or maybe…or maybe this was actually him. Maybe he actually put on a show for others, acting like a confident, cool Slytherin that was ready to ace Potions tests (which he did) and snog two girls at once…..maybe he was a good person, inside, just hadn't let it out fully yet. Wait, what? Again? What was with her! Did someone slip something in her pumpkin juice….she couldn't think straight! Or maybe she could, just didn't because of someone on her mind today….SHUT UP, ROSE. YOU ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT. NOT AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

Rose sighed, and trudged to her Gryffindor dorms, where she plopped onto bed. She sat up almost immediately, hearing a pecking noise coming from the window. As quick as can be, before others came back to sleep, she pushed the window open, snatched whatever was tapping it, and closed it again, bringing the struggling creature up to her eyes. She almost gasped in surprise. It was an owl…a black one, with golden feathers scattered along his chest and beautiful silver flecks in its round, gray eyes…..she stared deeper into them, reminding her of someone else's eyes. The owl hooted, and Rose gently set it on her bed, carefully unwrapping the letter from the owls outstretched leg. What was this….and who would send a letter at this time of the night? Many were asleep anyway…