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Chapter 8: Demons

The Kiss. That was how she would remember it; as soon as it started she knew every kiss after that one would be compared with it. He tasted so good; bittersweet, zesty. She could almost feel the sparks on her lips and her entire being was melted. She smiled as it deepened and intensified, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, never wanting to let go. All too soon it ended and she whimpered in protest, snapping her eyes open. She saw the boy she had been kissing only milliseconds before on the floor with James standing over him. It only took seconds for her to realise what had happened.

"Thought you could just save her and take advantage of her did you!" James said while kicking Scorpius, who was bent double on the floor. "You're just as bad as Zabini, only after one thing!" he continued, still kicking.

"James, stop it!" she yelled.

"You all think with your dick don't you?!" he hollered ignoring Rose,

"James! Get off him!" She yelled to no avail as James continued to kick Scorpius ruthlessly. She was angry now, with tears of frustration in her eyes. Why was he doing this?

"James, get the fuck off him, if anyone deserves being beaten to a pulp it's Zabini!" he still ignored her words and continued. She saw red. "Stop it!" she screamed moving her hands and throwing her cousin down the corridor and into the farthest wall without even drawing her wand or touching him. 'Shit, I forgot I could do that,' she thought. She barely had time to think anything else.

"ROSIE!" James called, "since when can you do wandless magic?"

"Since the summer. I only did it once, but I was fucked off then too!" Rose said, white hot rage coursing through her veins. What had Scorpius ever done? He was the one that pried the low-life-that-was Zabini off her, not the Professors, not James, not Al, not Fred, Scorpius. "Now tell me, exactly what in Merlin's name you think you're doing!" she said with venom in her words, holding her struggling cousin against the wall with the same force that she'd originally used to get him there.

"He was kissing you Rose,"

"I'm well aware of that James, but you aren't beating me up for kissing him back!"

"Well no but -" he started.

"But what? He's a Slytherin? He's a Malfoy? Blimey, James! Did you know that your Dad and his are working together? Did you know that we're going to his manor at Christmas? Hmm?"

"Yes but -"

"Oh come on! Look at him! If that were Tom Wood would you have done the same thing? No, you wouldn't, because you approve of him! Well wake up and smell the bacon because I have done a hell of a lot of things that you wouldn't approve of!" she spat. The anger coursing through her veins was raw and dangerous. James looked terrified. 'Good!' "Do you think your opinion matters? Well I'll tell you now it doesn't. You don't even know me James. No one does, hell, do you know why I hate these things?" he was mute and simply shook his head furiously, "because I hate the dresses. I hate that everyone seems to have a stick up their arse. I hate having to sit through speech, after speech, after speech. I hate that I knew something bad would happen to me tonight and I have absolutely no idea why I agreed to this," she said pointing at her dress, "but you should know by now that it is not me! Clearly you have no idea, about anything! Not who I am, not what I've done, not where I've been; so don't you dare kick the one thing I know knows who, what, I am!" angry tears were trailing down her cheeks now.

"I'm sorry." James choked and she released him of her hold. She was still angry and wanted nothing more than to hex him into oblivion at that moment in time but she didn't. She didn't because she saw Him coming closer and all he did was place a hand on her shoulder and the anger she had suddenly evaporated. James looked up from the floor still spluttering and coughing slightly, his perfect chestnut hair was ruffled and he still had shock on his face. "Listen, I'm sorry, I just – he – oh I don't know!"

"I've told you before," Scorpius said from beside Rose in a completely calm voice "I respect her. I wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to. I like Rose, a lot; I would never put her in danger." Rose smiled at his words but was still seething.

"Come on Scorpius," she said grabbing his hand, "I need some fresh air, come sit with me on the grass, we can discuss that project," she hinted.

"Actually Rose I'm not really in the mood to talk about our joint project. Maybe another time," he said kissing her on the forehead tenderly, "don't have it Rose, talk to him. Please?" How could she deny his wishes?

"Ok," she said.

Later that night, after talking to her still angry cousin, Rose walked down to the Slytherin Dungeons. She wasn't entirely confident down there with Zabini lurking somewhere around the school but she had to see him. She couldn't explain to herself why but she did. She needed to see him; to tell him she hadn't had the joint; that she'd told James about them. Whatever they were.

She knocked. She waited for someone to answer the portrait hole nervously, clenching and unclenching her fists. She was about to walk away when the entrance swung open.

"Hey," the sandy blond said, smiling. His grey eyes shining through his long, sweeping fringe.

"Hey," she said smiling back. He indicated to her to come into the dark common room and she stepped across the threshold into the dingy dungeon.

"I thought you were going back to the tower," Scorpius said.

"I wanted to see you first and tell you I didn't have it, just like you asked. I also didn't really feel like going back to the common room, my cousin Lily's up there and she'd grill me if I turned up early and I didn't want to go back to the ball because he's there and so is James and the rest of the family. I can't deal with their questions right now and I know that this is his common room but I just needed to be somewhere, anywhere, and I knew you were here so..."

"How our very own Halloween Ball, just us two?" he asked. She nodded and with a flick of his wand music started to play. He held out his hand to dance. She accepted and he immediately started to sweep her across the floor.

They danced for hours, enjoying each other's company. They were lost in the embrace until people started to file in from the ball and Rose gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek before heading back up to the Gryffindor Tower.

"What. A. Dick."

"I know Jazz!" Rose said. She had missed her phone conversations with Jasmine; they always brought her right back down to Earth.

"I can't believe he did that to you!" Jazz was Rose's best friend outside of school. She had met her a few summers previously in the muggle village not far from where she lived. It turned out that Jazz was a witch too, and was muggle-born, but went to Beauxbatons.

"Neither can I. I have to be a little more careful now though. I just never expected anything like that to happen in Hogwarts, y'know?"

"Yeah, I'm sure most people will be more wary a little more now. Speaking of careful, what's this I hear about you and a Malfoy?"

"Oh. Right. You mean Scorpius?"

"Yeah, probably, I don't know his first name. Seriously Ro, be on your guard with that one -"

"Why?!" Rose cut in angrily "he's the one that dragged that wretched being off me! Everyone else just stood around staring! He's a good guy, Jazz, really he is."

"If you say so Ro. I just don't want your heart broken that's all, especially by him. It's not exactly a secret that your Dads hate each other nor is it a secret that your Dad tends to overreact. If you like him you just have to be careful, y'know?"

"Yeah, I know, but it'd probably be the same for any boy that took my fancy. Dad doesn't like the fact that I'm growing up. I'm sorry I snapped it's just James almost beat him to a pulp when he caught us kissing. I can't understand it, he's done nothing wrong. Hell, I don't really think that his Dad did either."

"Ok, babes. You really like him don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. He's different and I like that."

"What are you going to do about Ben?"

"What is there to do? We only kissed once, we barely did anything! He just thought that meant something for the rest of the summer."

"I guess, but he still thinks he's in with a chance with you."

"Maybe I should talk to him. I don't want him to hate me or Scorpius."

"Tell me about him then."

"Oh, Jazz, where to start? He's blond; amazing eyes; gorgeous arms; fantastic kisser. He knows about the weed, that's how we met; we shared a spliff outside the castle. He seems to understand me, I completely let my guard down a couple of weeks ago and he wasn't scared, he just held me. Did I tell you he was a fantastic kisser?"

"Ha ha, yeah I think you did, I'm happy for you Ro, I thought I was going to lose you."

"A lot of people have said that lately, that they thought they were going to lose me. Not many people are happy for me though. This comes back to the 'what did he do wrong?' question. James obviously doesn't like it, although he's keeping his mouth shut since it started; Fred is just keeping quiet; Albus says he doesn't mind but I see the way he looks at Scorpius sometimes and I know he doesn't trust him; Lily and Roxy seem to be the only ones genuinely happy for me."

"Don't worry, honey, they'll come around."

"Sorry Jazz, I've got to go, I'm meeting everyone in about five minutes. Speak soon!"

"Yeah, bye sweetheart."

"Bye."

Rose loved the rain. Even on days when she was outside. It made her feel somehow relaxed. There was an odd beauty to the stormy clouds that she found comfort in. She liked getting totally soaking wet so that her robes clung to her and her mascara ran and her usually neat French plait fell out of place slightly. She would get a blanket and sit outside on the grass, just so she could feel the water drench her clothing. It made her feel alive. The hole that she had felt growing inside her was slowly decreasing in size but she still did the things that helped remind her that she wasn't completely unfeeling. Sitting in the pouring rain was one.

On one cold, wet, blustery day in November Rose was sat on her blanket in the blistering winds and pouring rain looking out at the lake. She liked to watch the still water dance with patterns the ripples made on the usually still waters. It helped her think, cleared her head, she could spend hours of her time sat at the edge of the lake just looking out across the waters whilst it rained. It gave her peace of mind. She was thinking over what Jazz had said to her when she first started to see Scorpius; what James had done; what her father would do if he found out. She worried about what Jazz had said; worried about James had wanted to say; worried about what Zabini had said. She was so lost in thought she didn't even notice Lysander Scamander sit next to her on the blanket.

Lysander was much like his mother; he constantly had a far-away look in his big blue eyes. He shared his parent's passion for magical creatures and wore many charms, which his maternal grandfather had given him, around his thick dark neck on a thick leather cord. Both he and his twin brother were considered heartthrobs within the school, being among the best looking 6th years.

Before speaking he looked at Rose with wonderment and said, "He loves you." Rose was suddenly startled out of her trance.

"Who loves who?" she asked eventually.

"Scorpius. He loves you. He doesn't know it yet," Lysander said airily.

"Don't be ridiculous Ly. For a start how can he love me without knowing? It's absurd." She said, 'no one will ever love me.'

"He will break your heart Rose but remember that he will always be there."

"What are you on about; break my heart?" Lysander did not reply but merely stood up and offered her a hand.

"Come on Rose, you'll catch your death out here, come inside," she complied.

Ron Weasley sat at his desk in the Auror Department in the Ministry of Magic deep in thought. This was not a particularly regular occurrence unless there was a particularly big case on. His thoughts, however, had nothing whatsoever to do with his work. He was worried. He was aware that people were starting to find his behaviour slightly suspicious and was conscious that any small slip up would mean that his cover would be blown. That would be bad.

He was well aware that people were starting two and two together, especially Harry. Harry always did like a bit of a mystery and Ron suddenly realised why some people had said to him to mind his own business whilst they were at school. Harry wasn't stupid, in a way Ron knew he knew but he also knew that he'd leave it to Ron to tell Hermione. He also had the sneaking suspicion that his daughter knew. She had become very observant over the summer and changed dramatically. He had also caught her looking at him a few times with an accusing look in her eyes; a look of mistrust. She had inherited her mother's intelligence and so he was very mindful that it was likely she knew. He also knew that she wouldn't necessarily keep it from her mother but, since there had been no confrontation on his wife's part, he thought that she was not going to tell her either. No, Rose would send him glares and throw snide comments his way, insinuating his wrongdoings.

He was very grateful that Hermione was ignorant. He loved his wife but he knew that he was her blindside. He knew that she would play happy families quite willingly without really noticing the change in atmosphere. She was usually very susceptible but when it came to home life she didn't seem to notice changes. That was why she bought the same excuse over and over again; because she had no reason to be suspicious that he was doing something other than working late.

He was still worried she'd find out though. She'd been close a couple of times but he had narrowly escaped it. He didn't want to have to leave her but he knew if she found out he wouldn't be given a second chance. He'd be out on the doorstep with some clothes and canaries pecking at his head. There would be no going back. He wanted his cake and be able to eat it. He knew what he was doing would eventually destroy his marriage when she did, inevitably, find out but he didn't want to stop what he was doing.

An owl came fluttering through the window and landed graciously on his desk. He recognised it immediately. He took the letter from its foot, stroked its head and gave it a treat before reading the short note.

Ron,

We need to talk. Meet me at the usual place at 3.

AG

It was quarter to. Sighing he got up from his desk, grabbed his cloak, popped his head round his boss's office door to say that he was just going out for half an hour to clear his head before heading to a small coffee shop on the corner of a muggle street. There he waited.

Contented. That was the only word she could think of to describe herself in that moment in time. She and Scorpius were in the library studying and she decided that she had never felt happier. She had books in front of her, which she would always consider her first love, and her... man next to her.

They were not officially an item, which Rose was fine with because she was scared that once it was made official that she would make a pig's ear of the relationship. She didn't want that. She liked Scorpius a lot and she didn't want to ruin anything with him because he had quickly become a good friend. A friend with benefits.

They had only kissed once in the two weeks since the Halloween ball. It seemed that they were both unsure as to how to proceed with their relationship. Rose hoped that he had felt the same energy from The Kiss that she had but his behaviour made her think that maybe he didn't. She had briefly thought that maybe he did like it but was scared of her family killing him. She'd understand that. What he didn't know was that if they did that then she would kill them all afterwards. Much like she nearly did with James, who was now avoiding her at all costs.

Rose and Scorpius had come to a silent agreement to meet in the library. They did spend a lot of time together on the grounds with their friends but when they wanted alone time it was more difficult. They knew there was some hostility from Rose's family, especially the boys, in the Gryffindor Tower and neither Rose nor Scorpius wanted a confrontation. The Slytherin common room was also somewhere that neither particularly wanted to go. Rose didn't want to go because of Zabini; although she would be safe with Scorpius, she knew she would never really be comfortable in the same room as him again. Scorpius didn't want their meetings to be in his own common room because of the people that were in the house; along with Zabini's revolting behaviour, there were other students who would be even more vindictive. They used the Room of Requirement occasionally but they both found more comfort in the tall bookshelves studying in almost silence with small touches of the hand or knock of the knee throughout.

"Scorpius?" Rose said quietly one session, looking at the blond boy sat to her left.

"Yes, Rose," he replied without looking up from his parchment.

"What is this?"

"What is what?" he asked looking up from his notes, expecting her to be stuck on the potions she was doing. Instead she met her hazel eyes with his grey and knew what she was talking about, "what do you want it to be?" he asked eventually.

"I don't know. What I do know is that you aren't just a friend anymore. You're more than that, like my protector when I need it. It's not the same kind of protection that my cousins or brother offer it's more... complete. Does that make sense?"

"I know what you mean, so are we going out then?"

"No. We aren't there yet. I don't think I trust myself that much yet."

"Well then, there is no name for us. When you think you can trust yourself... tell me?"

"Yeah, I will. Thanks," Rose said smiling before looking back at the impossibility-that-was the Potions essay in front of her before heading back to her common room.

Albus Potter was one of the most observant people in the large group of cousins; this was partly why he was such good friends with Lysander Scamander. Albus had noticed that Rose had needed help a long time ago and that she would never ask for it; he had also once caught her (without her knowledge) sneaking out to have a cigarette; he had noticed that she never really liked Thomas Wood in the way he did her; he had noticed that since very close to the beginning of term she and Scorpius Malfoy had grown closer; he had noticed that after the detention with Slughorn she was starting to get better and that Scorpius Malfoy was around her a lot more; he had noticed the look in Malfoy's eyes as he confronted Zabini at the school ball; he had noticed that James had been avoiding his younger cousin since that night.

He had learnt to be observant due to the fact that no one ever told him anything. When he found out about things that threatened his family's balance he was often the peace keeper. He needed that skill at that moment. He knew that whatever was wrong with James and Rose had something to do with Malfoy, however, he deducted that it was not Malfoy who was the reason for the rift. This meant talking to both his brother and his cousin separately before getting them to make up.

That was not going to be easy. Rose was stubborn and James was proud, neither was good traits for an apology and forgiveness, but Albus Severus was going to try his damndest to keep the peace. On this last thought his cousin stepped through the portrait hole. He walked up to her with purpose in his stride.

"Rose!" he called with a stern undertone in his voice.

"Yes?" Rose answered, she knew what was coming and didn't particularly want this conversation, but she knew it couldn't be avoided forever.

"What's up with you and James recently?"

"Oh. Well. Erm. See at the ball - I ran – after – James saw – Scorpius – I -"

"Come on Rosie, I don't have all day!"

"I kissed Scorpius after the ball and James saw us."

"Is that it?" 'James really does have some issues.'

"No, James started kicking Scorpius and -"

"God. I need to talk to James."

"No wait, I haven't finished. He saw us and – I was really angry you see – I mean what right does he have -"

"Rosie!" Albus said growing impatient.

"Sorry. Well I kind of used wandless magic on James and yelled at him. I think I must have been choking him or something because afterward he found it hard to breath. I didn't mean to hurt him and I was too angry to say sorry then but I was, I am, and now he's avoiding me."

"Rosie," Albus stared at his cousin in astonishment before getting back to the task at hand, "ok. I'll go talk to James. I'll tell him you're sorry but you need to say it too alright?"

"Yeah, I know, I will."

"Good, well night Rose, see you in the morning."

A/N: Wow... another chapter done. Sorry it took so long, haven't had the opportunity to write it recently.

The chapter name will correspond with a later chapter so even though it's a little shitty at the moment you'll understand it later on in the story.

Thanks for all the reviews I'd like to say a couple of special thank yous now because some people truly deserve them.

1. Avanell and jn.v13. I want to say thank you to both of you for reviewing every chapter from the Prologue to the end. Your feedback is much appreciated.

2. Principessa Dell'Opera. Thank you for your very thorough constructive criticism. It was refreshing and I'm glad someone isn't afraid of telling me how it is.

As always reviews are welcomed and thank you to all of those who have reviewed already. Constructive criticism is also welcomed and I will try to reply to any questions that you have for me regarding the story.