Hey guys, I love you all so much for the support. Actually. You're amazing. And I'm sorry that this chapter might seem out of the texture, but I liked the idea for it so I really just ran with it. And I'm sorry the character and plot arcs aren't as in depth as I would have liked. There's only so much I can do with only one chapter for year. So I'm sorry. And also, I won't really be posting every day much, but your reviews kind of inspired me today. Your support really does help me write/post faster. So thank you again. Xo

~Dani

Year 3

"And bring on all the pretenders

I'm not afraid"

"Hey, Weasley!" A voice called down the hallway, "How 'bout Hogsmede next Thursday?"

I didn't even turn around before answering, "I said no," and then after a pause, "Two or three thousand times."

"Well I'll keep asking until you say yes," he said, falling into step with me.

I sighed, "You know, you seem a lot like Uncle Harry's father."

He raised his eyebrows, seeming genuinely interested, "How so?"

"He was an arrogant twat who asked out Lily Evans a thousand times, just for kicks, even though he got rejected every single time."

"Yes, but didn't they eventually get married?" he asked.

"That is very much besides the point."

"And have a kid?"

"Malfoy!"

"Sorry, sorry," he chuckled, raising his hands in surrender, "But you'll be here tomorrow, right? Same time, same place? I've asked you eight days in a row now. Wouldn't want to break the streak."

"Are you actually-"

"Maybe I'll even bring flowers."

I scowled, "Don't you dare."

"Roses."

I felt my face burning. I didn't respond.

He smirked, "Glad we sorted that out," he said, and turned to leave, "Catch you later, Red."


"Oops, sorry, Weasley," came a high pitched, nasally voice as my books were shoved out of my hands.

I looked up into the expectant face of Ashlee Goyle, the girl who had made her goal in life tormenting me since I'd set foot on Hogwarts grounds. I raised my wand. Not to disfigure her pinched, smirking face, not to turn her perfect brown hair into snakes- no. I couldn't do that. Just to pick up my books.

"Careful," she said, "Wouldn't want another accident like in Defence Against. What did you do again? Set your robes on fire?"

Her prissy little group of friends snickered, and I ground my teeth. Defence Against the Dark Arts admittedly wasn't my best subject, but both she and I knew that I'd done nothing of the sort.

"It's sad, isn't it," the Slytherin continued, "Your parents and your Uncle were so great at Defence Against. In fact," she paused, "Your cousins are decent too, aren't they? So it's just you, isn't it." She pouted in mock sympathy, "Poor little Rose, are you sure you're not adopted?"

I clenched my fist as she laughed. I bent to gather my books, but someone beat me to it. Apparently charmed, they stacked themselves and levitated into my arms. I looked around, and shocked, found myself looking into the face of Scorpius Malfoy.

"Don't you have anywhere better to be, Goyle?" he practically spit at her.

Gaping, the brunette girl just stared at him, "Scorpius? You two know each other?" she finally said.

"Yes. You'd think that would have been apparent."

She blinked, dumbfounded. "But why are you on her side? We've known each other forever. Our parents used to be such good friends." Her shrill voice seemed to stress almost every other word.

"Our parents do not make us, Ashlee," he said, "Rose and I are friends. Now leave her alone."

With that, he turned and walked off, without another word to either of us.

I didn't follow, and Goyle and her friends walked off, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the hallway.


"Malfoy, can we talk?"

Classes were done for the day, and I caught him on the way back to the Ravenclaw Tower, stopping him by the side of the hallway.

"Sure," he said, leaning up against the castle walls, "What's up?"

"About today," I said, shifting my weight, "When Goyle and her friends were saying stuff..."

I trailed off, but he raised his eyebrows, almost asking me to continue.

"You said we were friends..." Scorpius and I had a complicated relationship. We were on friendly enough terms, but our conversations never drifted far from Quidditch and schoolwork. The only other times he talked to me was when he teased me about stupid things, and when he seemingly randomly decided to ask me to Hogsmede. 'Friends' would not have been the first word I used.

He smiled, so far from his usual arrogant smirk that I almost stepped back. But his mystifying answer was what left me staring blankly at the wall even after he'd walked away: "Well I had to say something, didn't I?"


The next day, I found him waiting for me. Same time, same place; flowers and all.