Hi all! Slightly shorter than CH1, but I'm trying to pace myself in getting to the points I want. Do enjoy x

Rose always felt a little bit homesick when she thought of her parents, but readapting to Hogwarts life was one of the easiest things she'd ever had to do. She loved the hustle and bustle of life between classes, robes whizzing past her, the smell of ink and parchment, a thousand frantic voices, a thousand searching eyes. She loved evening walks along the Quidditch pitch – loved her picnics with Al by the Great Lake. Hogwarts was home. It had always been special for her parents, and it would always be for her.

In an effort to be diplomatic, it had been noted that the Hogwarts staff weren't keen on awarding the title of Head Girl or Head Boy to neither her, nor Al, nor Scorpius. She supposed it was logical. Favouritism would surely be the first call – the child of a Weasley and a Granger, or the child of Harry Potter. Scorpius – she ground her teeth at the thought – she was sure had put in a special request not to be considered. He was a stellar academic, an athlete, and as charming as the Slytherins came, but he had (under instructions from his father, she assumed) declined even being considered.

But even so, their student history could not be excused. Both Rose and Scorpius were selected to be Special Seventh Year Prefects. In short, this was a fancy term for Well-If-You-Can't-Be-Head-Boy-And-Girl-We'll-Pretend-To-Be-Professional-About-This-But-Still-Give-You-A-Pretty-High-Up-Position. They would be only below the Head Boy and Head Girl in standing. Rose had accepted with a beam, Scorpius with a slightly less enthusiastic crooked smile.


Rose was sitting on the bleachers of the Quidditch pitch. She liked coming here. The October air was cool and crisp, and the chill in the air made her cheeks pink. She had her Advanced Herbology text on her lap, newly closed. She loved Herbology. She loved Professor Longbottom. He had always favoured her and Al – not so much Scorpius. But Neville was too good a man to ever hold a grudge forever, her mother had said.

Sorry.

Professor Longbottom.

Lost in her own thoughts, she was thrown out of her reverie by shrill giggles coming from behind her. She turned around, and felt her face flush with annoyance. It was Gwen Posey. Gwen had just arrived with a large group of her friends, and was babbling loudly.

'You know it's true what they always say – Ravenclaws and Slytherins ALWAYS match nicely. And anyway, we've done it multiple times around the school and he tells me he's serious about me so I really think this is going all the way! I think he loves me!'

'Has he ever said it?' a curly haired blonde interjected.

'No, but he will,' replied Gwen wisely. 'I'm sure of it. And I love him too! I can't wait to tell him. But he has to tell me first, I won't sink to any levels..'

Rose stifled a laugh. Behind her, she felt the group stiffen – and she knew they had heard her. But Gwen carried on.

'I mean, why not, right? He could have any girl he wants, and he's chosen me. Much better than the sort his friends hang around with I'd say. Gryffindors and Slytherins don't mix. Never have, never will. And he's so ambitious and his family's so rich! Well maybe not that part..' she trailed off into a hearty laugh.

Rose got to her feet, and daintily turned toward them, clutching her Herbology book.

'Next time you wish to disregard a Gryffindor so casually,' she said with a grin, 'you should probably make sure it's not me. That'll be ten points from Ravenclaw, and twenty if you do it again.'

Walking away from the scene, she knew full well she was wrong for penalizing the girl as she had. But it had infuriated her to hear Gwen disregard her as though she was nothing. As though she was no one. Even this infuriation confused her. She was known to have a temper at times – but she had never had a problem with Gwen before. And she had never taken House points so haphazardly.

'OOF!'

She had walked straight into someone.

Of course! This was the stuff of novels.

Scorpius Malfoy.

She rearranged her book in her arms and made to skirt around him, but he blocked her way.

'Where you off to, Weasley?'

'I just took ten points off Ravenclaw because of your little girlfriend,' Rose spat. 'And if you don't get out of my way, I'll take fifty from Slytherin.'

'What's gotten into you?'

Scorpius was laughing, his eyes bright with surprise. 'I don't have a girlfriend. What on earth are you talking about?'

Rose felt very self satisfied. 'Well you'd want to tell Gwen that,' she said importantly. 'I just overheard her saying that she thinks you all are very serious, and you're close to dropping the love bomb.'

'And you took ten points away for that?'

Rose felt like punching herself in the face.

'Yes well – she was loud. And she was badmouthing Gryffindors. She was badmouthing me.'

She felt herself desperately sinking into a hole of even more terrible justifications. Justifications that would only give Scorpius more ammunition to pick her apart with.

'What did she say?'

'I don't have to tell you!'

'I think you're forgetting we have equal power in this school. If you've done something unjustly, it's my duty to just as quickly take points from your house.'

Rose scowled. 'She just said that Gryffindors and Slytherins don't get along. She can't say that! That's fostering inter-house discord - and she said that she's prettier than the sort of Gryffindors your friends hang around with – she called me ugly!'

'Since when do you care what other people say about you?'

'I DON'T!' Rose half-yelled. 'She was wrong. And you're annoying. End of. I'm going in. Let me pass.'

Scorpius was smiling at her, as he made a show of sweeping to the side so she could pass. Not a grin – a crooked smile. It seemed almost genuine.

'Well she's half right, Rosie,' he called out to her from behind. She didn't stop walking, but he had just called her Rosie, and it slowed her down by a fraction.

'Gryffindors and Slytherins do get along,' he continued – even further in the distance behind her. 'But as for the other part - Gwen's pretty and all, but if I'm honest, I've always had a thing for girls with blue eyes and red hair.'

When she turned back, he was gone.

Thanks for the feedback you guys! The reviews and responses really make me feel like people want to read more of what I've written. And you have all my thanks and appreciation. Please continue to give feedback! And I hope you continue to enjoy x