A/N: I'm back!...and stuck in tutions. I hate life. Anywho, massive thank you and many kisses to Pal the Bad Ass for uploading the last chapter (Right? Right?). Have not eaten for 24 hours and therefore must save brain cells. Keep this short, et al. I might occasionally include lyrics at the beginning of the chapter when i'm feeling particularly musically inclined- These lyrics are not mine! Okay? Okay.

Merci Beaucoup to those who revved: ooh, RoseWeasley85, tikincloks, Adira, scentasia, Love without expectation, ainat92, SaruDM, amy, lilbuddie715, Cass, Sundance1989, TheInnerMusingsOfMe, , XXXmeggie-loves-to-readXXX, cantgetenough, xx-JacintaLuvsYa-xx, x-rayLady and euphoenix.

And alerters: Okay for now, judypkoi, xx-JacintaLuvsYa-xx, Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandu , hgrbetter, HarryGinny465, Lucifer718 and frostykitten. Review you guys, so we can get to the bicentennial ASAP! :D

In response to Cass' review: YES. :D

Amy- You're absolutely right, it IS a great motivator. In fact it's one of the only motivating factors for someone to upload their chapters. I mean, it's our incentive right? That, and the joy of writing, I suppose. ;) Well, keep guessing at who the killer is. Maybe you'll get it right. :D

Just when you think that you're in control,

Just when you think that you've got a hold,

Just when you get on a roll,

Here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again.

Here it goes again- OK Go

Chapter 12:

"You want me…to go to Egypt?"

"Well, yes." Bill Weasley tugged at his collar and looked around for help even as Rose's eyebrows shot up.

It was no good of course. The study was empty aside from the two of them.

"Why now?" Rose asked suspiciously. "I've been angling for this trip for seven months now. And what about the rest of my team?"

Bill sighed, shifting his weight against the desk behind him. "Why not now? I mean, now is as good a time as any, right?"

Rose actually rolled her eyes at him. Honestly. She wasn't five years old. "You're sending me away because of what happened with the mansion and the aurors right?"

Bill grimaced and shrugged apologetically. "Not my decision, Rosie. Everyone was furious once they found out you'd been there. Scorpius is in trouble as well of course."

"Wait a second though," Rose interjected. "How did you all find out I was there in the first place? I didn't think anyone recognized me. Unless Scorp-"

"No. It wasn't Scorpius- though he really should have reported what you did, it was so reckless….honestly though, don't tell your dad I said this but I would have done the same if I were you. I wouldn't be able to sit back and relax knowing Al was in danger…" Bill broke off for a moment, staring contemplatively at the Gryffindor-red carpet. "Anyway, as I was saying, it was Proudfoot who told Harry he'd seen a girl with red hair hanging around who seemed to know Malfoy. Harry put two and two together of course. Very badly handled Rose, you should have been more discreet about it."

"Whatever," Rose said dismissively. "So what's the deal with Egypt?"

She was of course, quite surprised and more than a little amused that Bill approved of her escapades but there was no way she was addressing that admission. He'd backtrack faster than her dad confronted by a Potions textbook.

"Aah yes, Egypt. Well, you'll be joining the group currently stationed at the pyramid- whatever it was called- and they'll assign you whatever tasks they see fit. And don't look at me like that, you're still new to field work, they're not going to make you team leader or whatever."

Rose stopped pouting and straightened up. "What about my pet?"

Bill regarded her, confused. "Your….? Oh! You mean Scorpius. Erm, he's going along I suppose. I heard they wanted to send along someone else seeing as he apparently can't handle you during a crisis but the aurors can't really afford to send out more people at this time…"

Rose spluttered in indignation. "Handle me? Bloody hell, I'm not a crate marked fragile, in case you didn't notice! I can bloody well handle myself."

"I'm sure you can," he said diplomatically. "But that's not something I have a say in. I'm just the guy who had to pull in ten favours to get you on the next portkey to Egypt. I can't get passes for an entire team of people, Rosie. I really am sorry."

"It's alright, I s'pose," Rose acquiesced moodily. "Still, I suppose I am getting to go so that's a good thing…selfish as that sounds. Thanks, Uncle Bill."

Bill sighed in relief, glad she wasn't going to yell at him. Rose's temper really was a much-feared legend in the Potter-Weasley clan. He pulled the door open, stepping aside gallantly to let her through. "After you. Let's join the others before they start pelting dungbombs at the door, yeah?"

XXXXXXXXX

"Dom, honestly….I can pack my own bags…."

"Poppycock! If I let you at it alone, Merlin only knows what rubbish you'd think to take along."

Rose rolled her eyes. "It's not 'poppycock'. Dom, I really don't trust your judgment when it comes to my clothes."

Dominique gasped in mock-hurt. "How dare you insinuate that my skills are sub-standard or in any way deficient?"

"Err…that's not what I said. I just think that maybe we want different things out of clothes…"

Dom waved a beaded red top around. "Claptrap! Clothes are clothes. We all want the same thing out of them. And do you know what that thing is, Rosie?"

"Umm…to be comfortable and not have to walk around in the nude in public?"

"Balderdash! What we want is to look good! We want to showcase our assets to our best advantage! Always remember," she said sagely. "A well dressed woman is worth more than two wands and a thestral. Beauty is power, my friend." She clutched the beaded top to her chest in a reverent salute, gaze fixed on a distant horizon.

Rose scoffed. "Dom, I'm going to Egypt. To work in the pyramids. I'm not going to be wearing a dragonhide corset and feather boa while I'm at it!"

Dominique shrugged in response, turning around to rummage in Rose's closet. "I bought most of this stuff anyway, so I may as well pack for you. Now, how about something like this..?"

She tugged out a printed summer dress, holding up a pair of wedges next to it.

Rose sighed in defeat. "Fine. I'll take the ruddy dress. Don't think I'll need the shoes though…"

Dom chucked both dress and shoes into the half full trunk and turned back to the cupboard. "Rose, you're going to Egypt with an incredibly fit male specimen. I'm not letting you dress in overalls and combat boots. God, it's going to be so romantic with the two of you jetting off to Merlin knows where, all alone with just the stars for company…" Dom sighed happily even as Rose's jaw hit the floor.

"DOM! What the fu-Come on! Me and Malfoy? Nuh uh! We already went down that road remember? And it did NOT work! And this is a business trip! With….business to take care of!"

"Sure, sure…"Dom said dryly, looking at her through narrowed eyes. "And can you really sit there and tell me you haven't wanted to snog him senseless even once?"

Rose's mouth opened and closed for a full ten seconds as the gears in Dom's mind whirred and slowly clicked into place. Her mouth fell open, "Aaaaieeeee! What did you do! Rosie, did you sleep with him?"

"Wha-NO! God, no! Why would you even think-"
"Well, did you kiss him then?" she demanded, grasping Rose's arms.

Rose was aware that she was blushing furiously but she nodded almost imperceptibly, hoping Crazy-Dom would let go of her.

"I don't believe this!" Dom released her abruptly, clambering onto the bed beside her. "When? How? Why?"

Rose groaned, shielding her face with a pillow. "After we got back from the ministry…As for how and why…Well do you really want to know how we did it?"

Dom grimaced. "Okay maybe not that. But really, the nerve of him! I can't believe he just kissed you!"

"Er, actually-"

"What?"

"Umm, I'm sort of the one who kissed him." Rose shrugged helplessly as Dom sat back on her heels and looked at her for a full two minutes. "Wow," she said eventually. "Well. That's it. I'm packing your thongs."

"What?"

"Well," Dom said, twisting a lock of blonde hair around her finger. "Clearly you two cannot keep your hands off each other. I think you're going to have sex pretty soon- unless you want to own up about something else, hmm?"

Rose made a choking sound, beginning to give up on her cousin. "Shut up! We're not-We're not even…we don't like each other that way anymore. I mean, I don't even trust him, how on earth am I supposed to like the bloody bloke? And I thought you didn't like him either!"

"It's not about like Rosie," Dom said patiently. "It's about carnal need. And anyway, it's been a bajillion years since you guys broke up, I think it's safe to say you can get past your differences now…"

"Don't be so naïve, Dom. It doesn't work that way. And anyway, I don't even know how he feels about the- about what we did. I've been with Al at Mungos and then we had the funeral…and now it's his 'day off' or whatever. I don't think we've been alone since then."

Dom sighed and walked back towards the wardrobe. "Fine. We'll see. He's a good bloke Rosie…And, well…maybe you weren't exactly spot-on when you accused him of using you back in school…Anyway, what do I know? Now, should we go with the khaki shorts or the denim ones? What do you think-…."

Rose turned Dom's words over in her head, wondering with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach if Dom could possibly be right. What if Scorpius hadn't been using her? What if he really was innocent with no agenda or ulterior motives? Had she screwed up massively or dodged a hex? She hadn't given him too many chances to explain. She'd always been able to come up with a lame excuse every time he'd tried to talk to her. What if-

Rose shook her head and tuned back into Dom's monologue. It was all ancient history, anyway. It didn't matter because she didn't like Scorpius that way anymore…no, it was just lust or 'carnal need' or whatever. Yeah, that's what it was. And she was sure she'd get over that soon enough. After all she was Rose Weasley, and she thought with her head, not….other parts.

XXXXXXXXXX

"Have you got everything?"

"For the last time, yes! Merlin!"

"Well, I'm just checking. Our portkey is in precisely 43 minutes so I suggest you hurry it up unless you want to travel the muggle way."

"Bloody hell, Scorp. What are you, my mother?"

"No," he smirked down at her. "That would be incest."

Rose pinned him with a glare and strode around him, heading towards the kitchen.

"Did you pack your toothbrush?"

"Yes," she bit out, roughly pulling a banana from its bunch.

"Towels? Sunscreen? Tampons?"

Rose choked on the banana and whirled around, eyes blazing. "Malfoy!"
He laughed and held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll shut up. But really, did you remember to keep your muggle cell phone?"

Shite! She hadn't even thought about that.

"Erm. Yes," Rose mumbled, looking around shiftily.

"Really?" He said smoothly, taking a slim black object out of his pocket. "I suppose that's how it ended up with me then. Have a habit of leaving stuff in men's pants Rosie?"

Rose gaped at him, cheeks colouring. "At least there's something in your pants for once," she said snidely. "I can't believe you went through my stuff! You're such a creep!"

"A useful creep. Nice innuendo by the way. But I'll have you know there's quite a lot going on down there. I could show you if you'd like."

"Umm no thank you. I'd have to fetch my spectacles. I'm unable to see microscopic objects without a visual aid." Rose made to snatch her phone away from him, but Scorpius held it out of her reach, tutting at her.

"That was mean, Rosie. You wound me deeply."

"I'll do much worse if you don't give that back, you prat!" Rose snarled at him, standing on the tips of her toes to reach the black object. Where the bloody fuck had she left her wand again?

"Well," Scorpius said casually, raising his fist even higher till her fingers were scrabbling uselessly against his wrist. "I could cut you a deal. What are you willing to do for me if I give this back to you, eh?"

Rose gasped in mock-outrage. "Do for you? Well, I could not do you in for starters."

"Har Har. Ever the comedian, aren't we? Well, how about a kiss?"

Rose froze in her position, eyes widening. Her fingers were wrapped around his wrist and she let go quickly. "Er-"

"What?" he said mockingly, his eyes seeming to issue an unspoken challenge. "You were fine with it a couple of days ago."

Rose flushed, suddenly noticing how close together they were. She was practically on top of him, for Merlin's sake! She took a step back, her hand falling from his shoulder where she'd gripped it to steady herself. "That was different," she mumbled.

"Different how?"

Rose ignored the question, her insides burning in humiliation. Why was he bringing this up? She tried to divert his attention, glancing up at the phone. "Are you going to give that back?"
"I want my kiss," he said adamantly.

"Well, the mirror's all yours," Rose retorted.

Scorpius quirked an eyebrow at her, looking completely at ease and highly amused.

"We don't have all day, Rosie. And anyway, you know you want to…"

Rose felt her blush deepening, surprised that it was even possible. The thing was, she sort of did want to….And this confused her deeply. She hated Scorpius! She was supposed to detest him! Well, okay…so hate was a strong word but she held a…deep dislike for him. Right? So why did she want to press her lips against his and lean in till they were- oh, Merlin. She was in trouble, alright.

Lust. It was lust. Right.

"Fine," she sniffed snootily. "You'll probably die from deprivation if I keep my divine self away from you anyway."

Scorpius had only a moment to look surprised that she'd actually agreed before she leaned in and kissed him quickly, lingering for a few seconds longer than she'd intended to.

She pulled away and Scorpius grinned at her. "Well. I'm impressed. You win, cherie."

Her face and neck turned the colour of the Hogwarts express as he slid the thin phone into her back pocket, looking right into her eyes.

Rose looked away first, highly flustered and unable to believe that she'd actually kissed him. Again. Was that Gryffindor courage or Gryffindor stupidity?

She cleared her throat awkwardly, breaking the silence.

"Don't we have a portkey to catch?"

A/N (READ IT!): Do you think Pal the Bad Ass should continue to entertain us with her witty(?) columns? If yes, say AYE! If no, say NAY! But you'll break her(our) heart(s). Now you better say something, or we'll be crying into our ice cream all night.

Next chapter will be up super-duper fast because I know this was slightly filler-ish though necessary. Also, I want to reach 200. Don't you?