Scorpius found himself in a dimly lit and dull looking room. Was he in the right place? He had to be, the Falmouth Falcon's seal was plastered clearly on the wall. Why didn't he just apparate from the Manor? It would have been a lot easier... But then of course that would have resulted in possibly breaking his bat or his broom. And being a Quidditch player, a professional one at least, he couldn't afford that. Picking himself up from where he had landed, his eyes began to adjust to the light and he took a closer look around. Mops, brooms, a couple of chairs, there was nothing of real interest in the room. But it was a little dusty, that he could tell. Rubbing his nose, he gathered his things, thankfully his rucksack was still in one piece, and began to feel his way towards the exit. After bumping several things over and possibly breaking something expensive, Scorpius managed to ignore the cringing noises and tumbled out through the doorway.

Quickly shutting it to avoid anything running out after him, he looked at the sign on the door. As he suspected, he had ended up in the janitor's closet. Funny, out of all the places to end up in... But then again janitors got cold too. One would never know when they needed a fire. Maybe that was why he had ended up there, because all the other fireplaces were in use. He just hoped that he would never run into any of the janitors in the near future. Clearing his throat, Scorpius straightened his shirt and trousers and looked around. He was standing at the end of a long hallway. It was bright, filled with light. The light wooden floors seemed to glean and the clean white walls gave a fresh atmosphere. Each door along the corridor had it's own neat label plastered on. On his left were several large glass panes that allowed light to stream in.

Scorpius had to blink a little and squinted. Just beyond the small field outside the windows, stood the clear and confident structure of the Falmouth Falcons Stadium. The team colours of dark grey and white adorned the edges of the stadium. The sight warmed Scorpius' heart. The only issue was now how to get there. Scorpius breathed and began to walk down the corridor. It had been polished and he could his his feet sharply clack on the ground. Just like home, he thought. He didn't know where he was going exactly and for awhile it just seemed like he was going down an endless hallway. He was reading the labels on the doors but none of them seemed to apply to him. Finally he came across a familiar name, "Dressing Room (Male)" Well since he was apart of the team now, he might as well go in and take a look.

Scorpius turned a right to the door and pushed it open. He felt a breeze of cool air as he stepped in. There were lockers, all round the room. Dark grey and white lockers, alternating. There were names on each one, some of those names were names of people he had always dreamed of playing with. His heart began to race. It was only dawning on Scorpius how important this opportunity was to him, how much it meant to his career. As he walked around the circular shaped dressing room, he almost felt like tracing his fingers along the walls. Finally he came to a stop at one particular locker. It was a grey and gleamed with the shine of new paint. On the front, his name. He smiled. His. All his. It felt good. He gently opened the locker. It was empty apart from a small note that was pinned on the side of the locker. Scorpius gently detached it and began to read:

Dear Mr Malfoy,

Firstly I would like to congratulate you on being here today. Your tryouts for this team demonstrated the resilience, persistence, determination, skillfulness and the pure talent that this team requires at this time. It is our honour truly that you decided to accept our offer. I trust that you have begun to settle in so far. If you require any assistance, please feel free to ask, the Falcons are an open community who are always here to help.

On a more administrative note, your first practice session will begin promptly at 12pm this afternoon at the pitch. We trust to see you there on time.

Once again I offer my congratulations and look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Mr Oliver Wood

Scorpius' hands trembled. Mr Wood, a living legend. He had been part of the Griffindor team back in the day, an excellent keeper. He'd gone on to fly with the falcons and now he was their coach. He had written this, to him. It was so exciting he could scarcely breathe. Gently he took the tack and reattached the letter to his locker. This is something he would want to keep for awhile. It was an honour, a true honour. If only Rose could be here, to see him now. How happy he was.

He wondered about her. What was she doing at this moment? Was she thinking about him too? Probably not since she would be so busy. How were her practices going? At the Chudley Cannons. Ah the Cannons. The Cannons had been an all male team for years, losing every year. It was basic knowledge that for ages, they were going nowhere in terms of their true potential. But several years ago, the manager Ragmar Dorkins had opened up the team to female players too and nowadays the team was considered a force to be reckoned with. Rose had been so excited to join them. Especially since they were her father's favourite team. Ronald Weasley had been so pleased. Scorpius chuckled at the thought. Sighing, he found himself slowly sitting down on the bench.

It was hard being away from her. They had always spent so much time with each other. Days and days at Hogwarts to waste away. But now they'd see each other max. once a week? The concept seemed strange to him, foreign. He closed his eyes, rubbing his worn beater bat. His calloused fingers came across a small bump in the bat. Sensing the bump, Scorpius opened his eyes and looked down. There was a carving in the bat. Two simple letter surrounded by a heart, R and S. The memory came flooding back to him as he felt the all too painful lump in his throat...

Rose and Scorpius were by the lake again. Rose was sprawled on the ground, her tangled hair everywhere. She was staring up at the sky, thinking. Scorpius was beside her, swinging his bat and practicing. They had just come from Quidditch practice. Rose's bat was several feet away. It was quiet, only the sound of the water lightly gurgling.

"What do you suppose it'll be like?" Rose asked.

"What?" Scorpius turned to face her.

"Leaving school?"

"I wouldn't know." he smiled.

Rose sat up and stared at him for a moment, her hazel eyes had a look of resolve in them.

"I'm serious." she pushed.

"So am I" he said taking a step towards her.

"I mean, everything's going to change."

"Change is inevitable" Scorpius murmured, quoting his father.

"What if I don't want change. What if I'm fine where we are right now?" she persisted.

Scorpius sighed and sat down beside her.

"Wouldn't we get bored of it eventually Rose? Staying the same always, never changing."

"I suppose." she conceded staring out towards the water.

Scorpius watched her for a moment.

"Are you afraid or something?" he asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe a little. Of losing things."

"Memories?"

"Something like that."

"Wanna elaborate?"

"People can change after school. I mean I've seen it. In my relatives. What if I become this whole other person who I don't wanna be?" she asked him.

Scorpius chuckled and wrapped his arm around her.

"I highly doubt that will happen. Yes people change but not always for the worse."

"I just like stability." Rose explained.

"I know."

Scorpius could see where she was coming from, leaving school and heading out into the world was a frightening thought even for him to come to terms with. Being completely independent after you had been so sheltered for so long... How did people do it?

"Well you can always count on one constant in your life." Scorpius added.

"Yea?" Rose asked, "What's that?"

"Me"

Rose turned to face him and she gave him a smile, a lovely smile.

"I should have seen that coming. Trust you to be so full of yourself." she chuckled.

Scorpius pouted.

"Me being full of myself?" he gasped.

Rose laughed and playfully punched his shoulder.

"You're right though, I can always count on you." she sighed.

"I hope I can do the same with you?" he asked her.

Rose sat up straight.

"Of course you can!"

Scorpius held her close.

"Good"

Just then Rose wriggled out of his arms and reached for his bat.

"What are you doing?" Scorpius asked trying to peer over her shoulder.

Rose did not reply.

"Rosie?" he asked again more urgently.

If Rose was going to physically damage his property, he wasn't going to be too happy about that.

"Shh!" she called back to him and simultaneously whipping out her wand.

Scorpius frowned as she flicked it expertly and pointed it at his bat. Soon he realised that she was writing something down on the bat.

"Wha..." he began until his brain began to process what she was doing.

Rose was using her wand to carve into his bat. She had carved a heart and now was adding two letter, and R and an S. She didn't need to elaborate, they both knew what the letters stood for. Scorpius found himself smiling and relaxing. Finished, Rose put the finishing touches to her handiwork and tucked her wand away. Settling back into his lap, she handed the bat back to him.

"Now you'll always have a constant for me, even when I'm not there." she whispered.

Scorpius gently kissed her head.

"Thank you"

Scorpius touched the carving again. Just then he looked down at his watch and his eyes nearly jumped out of his head. 11.40! He had to be in for practice by 12! How was he going to make it there in time when he didn't know how to get there. Panicking slightly, Scorpius placed his rucksack in his locker and grabbing his beater bat and broom, he began to hurry out of the locker room. Rushing down the hallway, he looked left and right for any possible directions. There were none in sight. Being late for his first practice would not set a good impression, something he wanted to desperately establish. Panting a little from jogging, he felt a mild sweat on his forehead and his heart was racing. Glancing at his watch again, he failed to look where he was going and the next thing he knew, he was sprawled on the ground, his head spinning.

Rubbing his forehead, Scorpius slowly picked himself off the ground. What had he knocked into? Looking up he realised it hadn't been a what but a who. A young woman was opposite him on the ground, still rubbing her temples. Immediately Scorpius hurried over to her and began apologising profusely as she slowly got up. She said nothing but was still wincing from the apparent impact of their collision. However she willingly took his hand as he pulled her to her feet. Looking at her more closely, Scorpius could study her features. She was young. Older than him but barely. Perhaps around 20-21? She had fair, alabaster skin and it glowed slightly. A sharp nose and pale green eyes. She had long and straight blonde hair and a slim figure that reminded Scorpius slightly of Rose's half Veela cousins. She might have been called frightfully beautiful.

"I'm sorry again about that." Scorpius rushed the words. "I'm in a hurry."

The young woman seemed to have regained her powers of speech and calm and shook her head politely as she took in the person in front of her.

"Don't worry about it. I was in a rush too. Trust us to not look where we are going!"

"Yea..." he added.

"Do you need any help?" she offered.

Scorpius shrugged. What harm could it do to ask? Oliver Wood had advised him to ask.

"I'm new" he explained. "I need to get to the stadium."

The young woman's face broke out into a smile.

"You're Scorpius then aren't you? Funny I was just being sent to go and find you! I know the place is a little difficult to navigate" she laughed.

Scorpius ran a hand through his hair, relieved.

"My lucky day then." he smiled.

"Right this way" she began to turn around and Scorpius immediately hurried after her, eager for directions.

"By the way," she called turning around to flash him another one of her increasingly attractive smiles,

"I'm Aurore"