"No! said Rebecca, rushing forward. She grabbed Rose's wrist. "Please don't tell..."
"Leave her alone," snarled Scorpious, pushing Rebecca away.
"Don't push her like that!" said Jmaes angrily, moving forward.
"I can push her how I want. Especially after what she's did."
"She hasn't done anything!" said James.
"No, of course she hasn't," said Scorpious sarcastically.
"Rose...please don't tell," whispered Rebecca, her green eyes' watering.
"He deserves to know," said Scorpious briskly. He grabbed Roses's hand and pulled her away.
"Rose! No!" shrieked Rebecca, pulling Rose back. Rose winced as she felt her arm being pulled harshly by Rebecca.
"Leave her alone, bitch!" screamed Scorpious, pushing her away.
"What's going on over here?" asked a confused voice behind them. The four turned around to see Albus.
"Al!" said Rebecca. "What...what are you doing here?"
"Well...I was on my way to the common room." said Albus slowly. "And then...I heard voices..."
"Did you hear what we were talking about?" asked James softly. Rose inadvertently dug her fingernails into Scorpious's wrist. He didn't wince or tell her to stop. He just stared at Albus expectantly.
"I...no," said Albus finally. He scrutinized their faces. "What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important," said James quickly.
"Yeah, we were just talking about someone's birthday," added Rebecca in a convincing voice. Albus turned to Scorpious and Rose.
"Guys I- Rose, are you crying?" asked Albus his green eyes' darting from her to the other three.
"No," said Rose quickly, brushing at her tear stained face. "I wasn't."
"Guys..." said Albus slowly "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"NO!" said Rebecca and James loudly. Albus turned to Scorpious.
"Cori?" James and Rebecca shot pleading glances at Scorpious. Scorpious ignored them. He turned to Rose. She shook her head. Turning back to Albus, he spoke.
"No." There was a relieved sigh from Rebecca and James but Rose was oblivious to it. Pushing past Scorpious, who made no attempt to stop her, she strode out of the corridor. She heard Albus make a noise somewhere betwen confusion and exasperation.
"Rose!" shouted someone behind her.
"Go away, Rebeca," said Rose sharply.
"No, Rose please. Listen..." said Rebecca, hurrying towards her, choking back a sob. Maybe it was the noise that softened Rose. She didn't exactly know as she slowed down.
"What?" asked Rose tiredly, finally coming to a halt.
"We didn't mean...I didn't...we didn't want you to find out like this."
"Well, I did," said Rose.
"And I'm sorry!" said Rebecca desperately.
"It's not me you should be apologising to," said Rose.
"I know! It's just..." Rebecca trailed off, looking down. There was a long pause, and then she spoke again.
"It was different with James. It was just...real, you know?" she asked
"No, I don't," said Rose tiredly.
"With Albus it was just...it wasn't...right. But with James everything just seemed to... fit."
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about," said Rose coldly. Rebecca looked up.
"You know, for a girl with your brains, I'd have expected you to know. Hell, you don't even know what's right in front of you."
"What are you talking about?" asked Rose. She was getting a little tired of the conversation. Something in Rebecca's tone made the girl sound oddly cliche.
"Scorpious."
"What?" asked Rose, frowning. "What the hell has Scorpious got to do with this."
"What, don't tell me you haven't noticed!" said Rebecca, letting out a bark of laughter.
"Noticed what?" asked Rose impatiently,. Rebecca looked at her oddly.
"That's he's in love with you." Rose spluttered.
"What, Scorpious?"
"Don't sound so surprised," said Rebecca softly. "I've seen the way he looks at you." But before Rose could utter another word, the blonde girl whirled around and walked in the opposite direction.