The book of love is long and boring

And written very long ago

Full of charts,

And facts and figures

And instructions for dancing

And I, I love it when you read to me

And you, you can read me anything

-The Book of Love; The Magnetic Fields

CHAPTER 16

SCORPIUS MALFOY

Blood spurted from Scamander's nose almost instantly. Dominique looked weak at the sight of the blood, and Rose had her hand over her mouth in horror. Scamander had fucking fainted, the prick. The whole hall was silent. Well, except from mine and Albus' uncontrollable laughter.

"Mr Malfoy! How dare you! Explain yourself!" McGonagall had made her way over and was demanding answers from me – answers that I couldn't give because I was laughing so much. He was such a fucking prick, he deserved to be punched. Especially after grabbing my Rose like that.

Again with the psycho thing, really?

"Mr Malfoy, detention! Two weeks!" She threw a disgusted look at my laughing form. Her look of distaste deepened when she saw Albus, who was doubled up with laughter, literally unable to contain himself. "You too, Mr Potter! The nerve of you, boy!" She turned around and walked away, as Madam Pomfrey conjured up a stretcher and magically lifted up Scamander onto it. Albus and I were still laughing as Scamander's bloody form exited the room. The hall immediately broke out into a buzz of noise, everyone discussing what had just happened. Most of the girls were shocked and worried for the dickhead, whereas the boys were laughing as much as Albus and I were.

"He was just like… and then you were… and then he was…!" Albus reinacted the scene, ending by falling on the floor, still unable to contain his laughter. I joined in, incapable of stopping myself. I turned to Rose when I'd calmed down.

"So, my red Rose, was my gallant rescue enough to make you stop avoiding me?" I winked at her, and she blushed. I loved it when she blushed.

"I'm sorry. There's just been so much go–"

"Spare me the excuses, Rose, I don't mind. Well, I mean, obviously I mind, but I mean… it's forgotten. Besides, I have a present for you, remember?" She nodded weakly, and I rummaged in my pocket for the ring box. I saw her eyes widen when she saw it. "But no, I'm not proposing." I winked at her and she smiled back. I opened the box and I pulled out the ring, stowing the box back in my pocket. I slid the ring onto the ring finger of her right hand.

It adjusted to her finger so it fit perfectly.

I let out an almost inaudible gasp, as did she, when the words 'semper et aeternum' appeared on the ring. I wasn't aware of this part. She looked up at me questioningly. In the back of my mind I noticed the hall was silent again.

"Scorpius, wha–"

"Wait. Just tell me how you feel first." I nodded to her, taking hold of her shoulders and looking deep into her chocolate brown eyes.

"I…" She looked around, and noticed everyone was looking at her. She shook her head.

"Rose, I need to know this. It's not going to make a difference whether we do this here or somewhere private. Either I walk away with my dignity intact or I don't. Please, just let me know."

She stayed silent so I released my hold on her. I gave the ring one more look. The ring that adjusted to her finger, just as I knew it would.

But I'd lost.

"Oh."

And I walked away.

XXXXX

When I woke on Saturday morning I was tempted to stay in that bed forever.

I'd lost.

That's all I kept thinking.

I'd lost.

Adrian was trying to cheer me up. Poor bastard. Wasn't gonna work. Could've told him that from the start. Actually I did. But still, he persisted. He told me that Fate had been asking for me. I already knew she had been; she tried to catch up with me as I'd left the Great Hall.

"Scorpius! Scorpius!" I'd heard her shout for me, panic in her voice.

"What, Fate?" I almost yelled at her, noting the exasperation in my voice.

"Oh, what did she do to you?" She squealed as she caught up to me. "That little bitch! I told her she wasn't to touch you. I told her to stay away from you. Nasty, attention-seeking whore!"

"Listen, Fate," I said, my voice dangerously low, "If I ever hear you even fucking breathe a bad word about Rose, I will personally see to it that you don't ever make that fucking mistake again. You are nothing, Fate. Now I'd appreciate it if you left me the fucking hell alone." I turned and I stalked off, leaving her rooted to the spot.

"Mate, you need to get up. You'll get over her. It was probably just a crush, anyway." Adrian reasoned.

"No, it wasn't."

"How'd you know?"

"Because I gave her the ring. And it fit."

"Er, am I supposed to know what this ring is?"

"My grandfather's ring. He died a few months… or weeks or something ago. My parents didn't tell me. He left me the ring. It's some sort of 'true love' bullshit ring. It adjusts to the finger of the owner's true love. It adjusted to Rose's. Fucking bullshit!" I kicked the bedpost.

"Ah, mate, I'm sorry. But hey, if she's your 'true love' or whatever, then you've got to get her back at some point, don't you?" He said, trying to act cheerful.

"Sure, whatever. I'm gonna go eat." I said, dismissing his comment and heading down to breakfast.

XXXXX

ALBUS POTTER

As much as I hated to admit it, I felt bad for Scorpius. I pitied a Malfoy. Something was very wrong. But I couldn't help it. She hadn't even told him she didn't love him, she just didn't say anything. I was almost mad at Rose for it. But not really, 'cause I still didn't like the guy. Even if he did punch Scamander.

But I knew Rose did love Scorpius, as much as it annoyed me. She loved him, so why didn't she say it? I voiced this thought to her down at breakfast.

"I don't know, Albus, I just couldn't do it."

"But do you?" I asked. I couldn't help being a nosy bastard, it's who I am. She didn't answer for several moments, and her head snapped up when the doors of the Great Hall opened and Scorpius walked in. He looked a mess, the poor dickhead. Rose's eyes followed him as he sat down, and I noticed him purposefully not looking towards our table.

"Yeah. I think I do." She sighed, "I love him, Al. I really do. So why can't I say it to him?"

"Okay, as much as I hate to admit this, he… deserves to know." I grumbled, making Rose smile.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Fuck you."

"Love you too, Al." She winked at me.

Her eyes were on Scorpius for the rest of breakfast, which seemed pointless to me as he wasn't even doing anything interesting; he wasn't even eating. He just sat in his seat looking at an empty plate.

Boring fucker.

I finished my breakfast and I headed out the door. I waited outside the Great Hall with my back against the wall until Scorpius came out. When he did, he looked worse than he had when he walked back in. I got a good look at him, and I wished I hadn't. His hair was messed up in the way that wasn't intentional, his eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was waxy. He walked right past me without noticing me, and I resisted the urge to slap him. Grudgingly, I went after him.

"Malfoy!" I called after him, making him stop.

"Potter." He nodded towards me. I noticed his eyes were blank, empty.

"I… I… gah why is this so hard for me to say?" I cringed, trying to figure out how I was going to put what I was thinking. He shrugged, his eyes still blank. "Oh for fuck sake, I don't do the big fucking dramatic moments. But she does… feel that. What you feel. So, don't give up on her or whatever." I ended awkwardly, shuffling my feet. I looked up and his eyes were still empty, no spark of life behind them.

"If she did, she would've said. Bye, Albus." He turned and walked away, his voice flat and emotionless. I didn't know what shocked me more, how detached he looked or how casually he used my forename.

"Fucking…" I grumbled, kicking my feet and walking back up to the common room.

Rose and Dom were sitting in our usual spot by the fire, talking about the random shit that they talk about. Merlin, they didn't waste any fucking time catching up, did they?

"Brown was saying all this crap about Malf– Scorpius being hers, and how they were gonna get married and shit like that and I was just there like 'yea okay, sure, that's gonna happen…' and she was going on about him and all this and I swear she's fucking crazy!" Dominique was saying. Rose was laughing, but her smile didn't entirely reach her eyes. I knew how much she was hurting, and I knew how much she loved Scorpius. And as much as I hated to be the one to do it – I knew what I had to do. I had to get them back together.

Fucking hell.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

soooo? haha, I'm almost sorry. I know I had it all nice and happy and now I've gone and ruined it, haha. I couldn't help it though, they can't get together now, for reasons. It's all building up to a certain point, don't be mad;)

I really have to thank you guys for all the lovely reviews you've given me over the past few days, I do love you guys:D I will ask again for you to review - ideas, comments, anything you think would be helpful or anything you liked?

thanks guys!

beccasophX