In the early dawn of Sunday, I awoke to find myself in the bed of Scorpius Malfoy. His arm over my back holding me tight to him, myself tangled in the sheets. We were still fully clothed, thank goodness. Except we were both sock footed and our red and blond hair tousled dramatically over the green silk pillows. Panic settled in as I kicked my legs, freeing myself from the sheets, then I froze. I scanned the room, which was a low ceilinged rectangular room with five beds lining the same wall, each of the other beds were perfectly made and solitary. The door, directly parallel to Scorpius' bed, clicked and began to open. In a fluster I jumped off of Scorpius and from his vice like grip on me and rushed to the ivory wardrobe in the corner. I stepped inside and just as I closed the closet door, the dormitory door swung open with a bang and someone angry stepped inside. Tentatively, I bent over and peered through the keyhole. Oh god, how I wish I was not here. Well, just my luck, Albus was the one who stepped inside and looked around, fully pissed. But when he saw Scorpius his face turned into a smile. He smiled down at him and sat on the edge of his bed. Scorpius was still asleep, he looked so cute. At that moment, I'd say Al was thinking the same thing. With a jerk Scorpius awoke, he looked around with a groggy smirk on his face, he reached around himself for something, like someone should be there. Me, I should be there.

Albus opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but Scorpius grumbled and sat up. "Where's Rose?" He said, his morning grumble taking over. He looked around the room, when his eyes grazed over the wardrobe, he smirked knowingly. I might just be paranoid but I swear we made eye contact.

Albus' face went from content to angry in about zero point two seconds. "...Was she here?" Albus asked, his voice seething.

"Yeah," Scorpius answered, then he looked around and realized who he was talking to, and his mood changed. "Why should you care? You haven't been exactly Mr. Best-Terms with us."

"Well," Albus grumbled and crossed his arms. "Rose has been getting on my nerves, prancing around here like she's the queen of England."

"Rose doesn't do that." Scorpius defended.

I felt a feeling of pride, Scorpius stood up for me. Then Scorpius literally stood up, and I noticed he was shirtless, and his red plaid pyjama pants hung low on his hips. Okay, maybe he wasn't fully clothed. Good thing I was.

"Of course, you're going to defend her." Albus said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well it's no secret that you like her!" Albus shouted.

My hands started to feel sweaty as I became nervous. I wiped them on my skirt. Through the keyhole I had a limited view of the scene unfolding, so I angled myself a different way, and I could see Scorpius move to the bathroom door, Albus followed him in and I could hear shouting even when the door closed. I relaxed and sat down on the wardrobe floor. In the wardrobe, shoes and socks littered the ground. Jackets, cloaks and dress clothes hung above, just grazing my head. Being the curious nosy-person I was, I reached my hand into a jacket pocket, and grasped a piece of paper. I pulled it out and struggled to see the words in the dim light. Instinctively I reached for my ear, expecting my wand to be there. It wasn't there. So I held the paper up to the keyhole, where a sliver of light passed through. The piece of paper was all crumpled, so I smoothed it out, and read the short note.

Dear Scorpius,

As in reply to your request, my answer is no. Do not go near my daughter, do not think about Rose! She is off limits to you and anyone else who goes "after her". May this be a warning to everyone. You are still invited for christmas this year at the Weasley home. Invitation from Harry, Ginny and Hermione. If I had it my way, you wouldn't be allowed over in the first place. Again, Stay away from Rose!

Sincerely, an angry father! (Ronald Weasley)

My heart stopped as I shoved the letter back where it came from. Did Scorpius write to my dad? Asking permission... For something... I didn't want to admit the very thing that was staring me in the face. And was is it really that bad of a thing to admit?

The voices from the bathroom abruptly stopped and the door opened again. In came Scorpius and Albus. First Scorpius, wearing a grey t-shirt, looking startled and completely baffled. Albus came after him, looking about the same. I sat up, alert for more arguing.

"What just happened?" Scorpius demanded.

"I-I... I don't know... Exactly." Albus stuttered, he sat down on a bed, and stared off at something.

"Well I'll tell you, what happened exactly. You Kissed me!" Scorpius spat in his face. Scorpius' face turned red and angry rather quickly as he started to pace. Albus, on the other hand, smiled to himself and laughed a little.

"What?" Scorpius asked. "You think this is funny? Dude, I'm not gay! I like Rose! Sorry but you need to find yourself a new best friend!"

Albus smiled. "That's okay." Then, being weirdly calm, Albus stood and put his hands on Scorpius' shoulders. Scorpius seized up at his touched but Albus didn't make a move on him. "I shouldn't have done that. I realize it was... A little surprising. But Scorp, you have no idea how long I've been holding that in. I hope this doesn't affect our friendship. I'll move on now." Then Albus walked to the door, but he turned around last minute. "I'll see you at practice tomorrow night." Albus reached out for the handle, turned it, and left the room. A gaggle of laughter and talking sounds drifted into the room, but stopped when Albus closed the door behind him.

Still looking quite baffled and confused, Scorpius staggered to where the wardrobe stood, I leaned back and pressed myself to the back of the wardrobe, but it still wasn't far enough back to hide myself. Scorpius opened the wardrobe door and looked down at me, quite unsurprised. "Can you tell me what just happened there because I have no idea." Then he paused and started again. "C'mon Rose, the wardrobe? You're in ravenclaw, you can find a better hiding spot than this!"

I gave him a small smile and held my hand out to him, he grabbed it, pulling me out of the wardrobe. "Well." I said, then I sighed, laughing a little to myself. All that time I thought Albus was mad at me because I was spending too much time with Scorpius, that much is true but then it turns out he wanted more time with Scorpius for himself. How could I have been so blind? It's so obvious now. "I think you know what happened."

Scorpius caught his breath, his eyes darted around my face and the room; searching for an answer, or something that made sense. "I just... I can't believe it. I've known him for years!"

I smiled, showing my teeth, and hugged Scorpius round his waist. Usually he was so in control and confident, this was a whole other quidditch field for him, a fish out of water. "Don't worry, you're still just as manly as you were before the kiss."

"About that." Scorpius tentatively pat his arms on my back, usually he started our less than rare hugs. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

"Not if you don't want me to." I said into his chest, Scorpius smelled like a wood stove, and fir trees. Sap, ashes and... Lavender? "Although, don't be surprised if Al comes out, to Hogwarts soon. I think he meant it about moving on from you."

Scorpius laughed and hunched his shoulders over mine, he dug his head in the crook of my neck, I could feel his smile on my neck. "Okay. I think I can handle that."

I smiled and hugged him tighter, he did the same and for a minute we stood there. Until we pulled away, we still had our arms around each other but we pulled our heads away so we could look at one another. I became hesitant and shy again. "Ummm, by the way, what happened last night. We didn't ummm, you know."

Scorpius laughed, throwing his head back. "No, no, you remained fully clothed. Except, you showed me your tattoo."

I cringed. "Which one?"

Scorpius' eyes went wide. "There's more?"

I laughed. "Which one did you see?" Scorpius hesitated before answering.

"The quote from Rowena Ravenclaw."

I physically relaxed and Scorpius gave me a questioning look. "C'mon red, can I see the others?"

"I only have one other, and you can't see it... Not today." Scorpius' eyes alit with hope and excitement. "Wait... I have more questions." I said.

"We better sit down then." Scorpius pulled me to one of the beds that was made up and we climbed onto it, resting our backs against the headboard.

"Okay." I took a deep breath, considering either or not to tell him that I know about the letter. And that I was snooping. "Why did I show you my tattoo? Only Jillian knows about the quote, and no one except me knew about the other. Also, why don't I remember anything that happened last night? Did you get me drunk?"

Scorpius laughed and took my hand, he rubbed my fingers with his and looked down at them. "You showed me your tattoo, because I told you I had one as well. And I did not get you drunk, there was an accident in the potions room, we were in there, because we had a question about potions. We went looking for professor Burnley, but he wasn't there. We began to look for the answer ourselves. Well, you bumped into a box and fell, the stuff inside, some kind of glitter, got on your skin and one of the side effects is long term memory loss. Only for the night, so you won't ever have a recollection of what happened. You'll be fine though, memory like an elephant, madam Pomfrey said."

I nodded along, processing the information. "So I got a dose of Extract of wormwood?"

"Sure." Scorpius said. Obviously he hadn't been listening to madam Pomfrey when she explained the cause of my state.

"Okay. Can I see your tattoo?" I asked, actually I was very curious to see what he had, and since I won't remember the first time I saw it...

Scorpius didn't hesitate, he ripped off his shirt. I laughed as he did, and he turned his back to me. On the nape of his neck, between the tops of his shoulder blades, there was the Slytherin crest. A green crest with a bold silver serpent curling in the centre, it was an enchanted tattoo as well, the snake slithered around it's cage and hissed at me. "Why haven't I noticed it before?" I asked as Scorpius put his shirt back on.

"Usually my collar covers it. It's kind of a tradition in the family. My dad has one just like it."

"Really?" Dad has told me so much about Draco Malfoy and has never mentioned anything about a tattoo. Or any kind of real emotion at all.

"Yeah."

"What..." I said, Scorpius looked at me. "What else happened, from the beginning."

"Well, first, I believe you remember the first kiss?"

I nodded.

"Well you sat back down, and we talked, we talked for a long time. Mostly not about Potions. We talked about tattoos, hence the removal of clothes. We talked about our families, our parents, friends. We talked about quidditch and our house teams. We laughed and talked. Then, I actually wanted to know a little about Potions, so we packed up and went to the potions room. Then you got showered with extract of wonderwood, or-"

"Wormwood." I corrected. Scorpius looked down at me again.

"I believe I am telling the story."

"Oh, sorry."

"Anyways." Scorpius put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him. Without thinking I 'snuggled' into him and leaned my head on his shoulder. "You got drugged by wormwood, and you went kind of loopy, singing and giggling at random times. So, being concerned like the good boyfriend I am, I brought you to the infirmary. Keep in mind it was around nine o'clock at that time. Madam Pomfrey said you needed to sleep off the wormwood, and drink lot's of fluids. It was almost curfew and the Slytherin common room was closer than the ravenclaw tower, so I brought you here. Only the guys in my year saw you come in, they made jokes and all that, by then you were practically asleep in my arms. The guys were sleeping in the common room so I left you to sleep in David's bed. You looked so lonely. Plus, you mumbled something, and I didn't want you to freak. The looniness was wearing down but you were so tired. So, I got in beside you and we cuddled. Do not worry, you're still a virgin."

I expect I should have been surprised, Scorpius knows I'm a virgin, but I can imagine myself telling him something like that, especially when I've been 'drugged by wormwood'. "So... That's all that happened?"

"That's the truth. Scout's honour."

I smiled. "Okay then, one last thing. And it's important so listen close."

Scorpius cupped his hands on his ears, as if to amplify the sound coming his way.

"You wrote to dad, didn't you. Asking permission, for a date?"

Scorpius sighed. "Yeah, that didn't go as planned. He really, really doesn't like me." He looked away, like he was ashamed, like he failed in his mission.

"I told you." I said. "And... I don't care what he thinks."

"Really?" Scorpius asked. His eyes perked up.

"Yeah..." I said. Usually I always went the safe route, but I was tired of dad and his rules. He needs to stop controlling my life. Also, Scorpius is a nice guy, a nice, supportive, tall, attractive, daring, confident, quidditch playing Slytherin guy. "Scorpius, will you go to the halloween dance with me?"

Scorpius smiled, his one dimple peeking out on his cheek. "I thought you'd never ask." Then he leaned down. Cupped my face with both his hands, and he kissed me. I kissed him back. Bringing my hand to his head I ran my fingers through his hair. Scorpius lowered his left hand to rest on on my hip bone, right over my tattoo. We slipped under the covers, didn't even bother to fix my shirt, which was riding up my back. Self-consciously I pulled it back down to my waist. We stayed like that for awhile, kissing and hugging. I was getting used to the fact that I was literally in bed with Scorpius Malfoy! When I remembered a charms test, I was to take the next day, on Monday.

"Scorpius... Scorp!" I mumbled, while Scorpius kissed my neck. "I have a test tomorrow. I have to study for it!"

Scorpius groaned and leaned back on the pillows. His hand on my lower back sent tingles along my skin, I melted at his touch. But I knew if I stayed any longer, there would be only one direction this is headed. And I do not plan on showing up at christmas dinner pregnant!

"I understand." Scorpius leaned on me and kissed my forehead. "I'll walk you out." Together we climbed back out of bed, Scorpius retrieved my phone, wand and charms textbook from under his bed, I straightened my skirt and blouse, I ran my hands through my hair and tucked my wand behind my ear before we walked into the Slytherin common room, which was bustling with Slytherin students. As we walked through groups of giggling girls and clusters of laid back guys to get to the exit, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at us, as we moved away. Scorpius held my hand, and led me around a black leather couch draped with a furry green blanket. We arrived at the door, everyone in the room stared at us, absolutely silent. The Slytherins look at me quizzically, judging me, they saw Scorpius and they smiled. I opened the door clumsily with my free hand and pulled it open.

"Goodbye." I whispered to Scorpius, my voice came out croaky and barely audible, he kissed me on the cheek. And I vanished on the other side of the Slytherin house door. Just as I shut it, I heard someone give Scorpius a high five. Followed by laughter.

I left the dungeons, heading for the room of requirement, my mind reeling about the days events. I slept in the Slytherin house boys dormitory with Scorpius Malfoy, I witnessed Albus coming out as gay, I made out with Scorpius in his bed! The night before I was 'drugged' with wormwood, told somebody about my secret tattoos, and now the whole Slytherin body saw me leave Scorpius' dormitory, looking disheveled and mangy. A few days before, Jillian was freaking out about Spencer, and his crush. Now considering that what I thought I knew about society and interactions, is wrong, (I terribly misjudged Albus' intentions). So, I am not going to take Spencer's whims too seriously, Spencer has been involved in the dramatic arts for awhile and has acquired a skill in acting. So, he must like someone other than Amelia, besides, Amelia Longbottom is nothing like her father, she is arrogant, spoiled and selfish. Spencer sees through those kinds of girls in seconds. Not all the Longbottom children are like that. Amelia's elder sister, Alice is a surgeon in the muggle world, she is married to a muggle and has three children, (all wizards and all in Hogwarts). Amelia's younger brother, Frank, is a real sweetheart. He is a Hufflepuff and in Hugo's year, Alice used to be a Gryffindor.

Also, Jillian was freaking out, about the dance, if I didn't know any better, I'd say she's nervous about it. Jillian is always so cool as a cucumber, she can't see when she needs help and gets flustered about it. I'm not sure if this is one of those times but you can never be sure.

What will the next week bring? I approached the room of requirement and willed the room in which I led Scorpius to show up. It did, and right in the corner, was my shoe. I walked to it and slipped it on. One down, one to go. I looked around the room, just as I last remembered it to be. All the books we pulled out were still sprawled on the table, our two chairs stuck close together on the end. I smiled and left the room, all the while gazing up at the beautiful painting above. Michelangelo is a genius. I left the room and set my sights for the library. Where my last shoe remained. While I walked I let my mind wander to Hugo, who I haven't talked to lately he always seemed very distant to me. Unhinged and disconnected. Hugo loathes me, as well as Lily, Victoire, Roxanne and every other female cousin in the Weasley family. He isn't a feminist, he more, prefers his own sex. Not saying he's gay! He openly revealed to mom and dad that he thought he was ready for the sex talk, and wanted to start drinking. He's in third year. I don't know what goes on in his dirty little mind, but I don't intend to find out.

I strolled though the arch-like doorframe of the library opening and walked to the back. To the table Scorpius and I laid on. The ceiling had changed during the day to picture a summer sky, now again nearing nightfall, the enchanted ceiling pictured a setting sun. Casting the shadows of bookshelves, dancing along the carpet floors. I found my left shoe under the table and slipped it on. Glad I don't look like some raggedy anne doll anymore, wearing no shoes, wandering the corridors like a lost girl.

I checked out a book called 'The Theory of Magic, Time and Space', to look over with Jillian. I left the library and headed for Ravenclaw tower. Almost at the very opposite end of the school.

...

"Brothers and sisters I have none but this man's father is my father's son. Who is this man?" The Ravenclaw door remained shut but I answered the question almost immediately.

"My son." I said.

"You've heard that one before." The bronze eagle laughed as the doorway opened. I walked inside the common room, shivering slightly due to the tower's breeziness, I spotted Jillian, Spencer and Stewart Langley sitting at a table. I walked to their circle of armchairs and sat down on the armrest of Jillian's plaid chair.

Stewart reeled over laughing as Jillian retold her signature knock knock joke.

"Okay, okay, knock knock!" She giggled.

"Who's there?" Stew asked, he already knew the joke, but he was a grin it and bear it kind of person, and did it for Jillian.

"Interrupting wizard..."

Spencer answered. "Interrupting wiz-"

"EXPELIARMUS!" Jillian shouted.

The boys doubled over in their chairs, laughing and snorting. I rolled my eyes and got up to leave, Jillian grabbed my elbow as I stood.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to study for Charms in our dormitory." I said.

"Study with us Rose." Jillian said, she got up and dragged another armchair into their circle of three, now a square. I said thank you to Jillian and sat down. Jillian was on my right, Stewart on my left and Spencer right across from me. A wide coffee table stood squat in the middle. I put my two books on it and tucked my phone into the armchair's cushions. (It lesses the amount of distraction when I study).

I released my wand from its place behind my ear and put it down on the table, I picked up 'Theory of Magic, Time and Space', and looked around. Jill, Stew and Spencer all stared at me hopefully, like they were expecting mw to burst out rapping 'Alphabet Aerobics'.

"What?" I asked. Jillian moved first.

"Where were you last night, and why didn't I see you?" She slammed her hand on the table like a lawyer might. She frowned down her nose at me, as did Stewart. Spencer was trying not to laugh.

"I was in the hospital." I said, also trying not to laugh. Technically that wasn't lying, I was in the hospital. This whole thing was ridiculous. Jillian playing good cop bad cop. Stewart hanging out with us, usually he can't be found within ten meters of a sixth year. Spencer is just as rare, he likes to be around his inter-house club.

"Mhhmmmm." Jillian muttered. "Then, why don't you have a bandage on? You didn't break your ankle! And you always get a strawberry banana flavoured sucker when you leave."

I silently cursed myself. Jillian knows of my previous tendency to breaking my left ankle. I broke it three times before I came to Hogwarts, and once in third year, I was running from Al and Scorpius because they were teasing about turning my hair yellow. I fell down, hard. Jillian also knows of my irresistible desire to eat strawberry banana suckers.

"Okay..." I admitted, suddenly I was very embarrassed, my cheeks tinged pink as I said. "You got me. I was with Scorpius!" Spencer and Stewart scoffed in disbelief.

I expected Jillian to hit me or something but she only smiled slyly. "You cheeky devil! Did you... You know, do it?"

I laughed. "No! We just cuddled."

"Slut." Jillian laughed. "So are you a thing now? Can we stop avoiding him in the hallways and hating him behind his back?"

"I don't know... Were going to the halloween thing together."

Jillian squealed. She leaned out of her chair and gave me a hug, much tighter than I would have preferred. "Finally!" She sighed as she leaned away. Spencer and Stewart still watched us in shock.

"You? Rose Weasley? Spent the night with Scorpius Malfoy?" Stewart asked, his eyes widened as I confirmed his disbeliefs.

Stewart stood and walked off, muttering about one to many fire whiskies. Spencer only shrugged and smiled. "Congratulations, you got a boyfriend!" He shook hands with me.

I laughed at their reactions. "Now, I'm a little offended, why are you so surprised I got someone?"

Spencer and Jill laughed. They turned to their books and didn't answer me. I picked up my own book, gave them one last quizzical glance, then I began reading for Charms class. Oh, well.

Thank you guys for reading this far. Your support means a lot to me. I hope you enjoyed that chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. And I hope you had a fun winter break! Welcome to 2015! Please comment your thoughts on these newest developments in Rose's life.

-AbbyJo