When Ophi and I walked through the doors to the Three Broomsticks, the first sight that met my eyes was that of Scorpius and Eurydice holding hands at a table. Something inside me boiled, but I tried to suppress it. This double date was not going to work if I throughout the entire date had alternating images in my head of pounding Scorpius' head against the table and kissing him.

"Oh, there they are," Ophi said, and led the way over to the two lovebirds.

Eurydice beamed and waved when we arrived at their table, which was ridiculous, because we were standing four feet away. But never mind that.

There were four butterbeers on the table, waiting for us.

"Hey," Scorpius said as we sat. "Did you enjoy your food?"

"Yeah, it was great," Ophi said.

"How about you, Rose?" Scorpius asked. "Did you like your meat?"

"I'm a vegetarian," I said coldly.

"Oh, really?" Scorpius drawled. "Well, it didn't really seem that way when-"

I kicked him under the table. Hard. Scorpius flinched, but didn't say anything.

"You're a vegetarian?" Ophi asked, looking horrified. "Oh, Merlin, Rose, I am so sorry! I wouldn't have taken you to the steakhouse if I had known."

"It's fine Ophi," I said, still glaring at Scorpius. "I should have told you. And besides, the salad was good."

Scorpius seemed to have regained his strength, because suddenly, without warning, he kicked me under the table, really hard. Harder than I had kicked him.

In fact, he gave me such a jab in the leg that my leg twitched awkwardly, causing me to slide from my chair to the floor.

"Rose!" Ophi cried.

"Is she dead?" Eurydice asked shrilly.

"I'm alive," I said dully from below. From my spot on the floor I could see that Scorpius' whole body was shaking with laughter. He suddenly bent down to look at me.

"All right down there, Weasley?" he asked.

I decided not to honor him with an answer and instead clambered to my feet and back into my chair.

"Rose, what happened?" Ophi asked, looking concerned.

"Did you have a seizure?" Eurydice asked.

"No," I said.

"Did you faint?"

"No."

"Did you have a near – death experience?"

"No," I snapped. "I'm fine. My leg twitched."

"Your leg twitched?" Ophi asked. "That can be dangerous. It can be a sign of a brain tumor. Maybe you should get it checked. It's easy, St. Mungo's will do it, it takes five minutes."

"Thanks Ophi," I said.

"Oh, Merlin, you have a brain tumor?" Eurydice asked, her eyes wide.

"No," I sighed, glancing over at Scorpius, who was silently laughing again.

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to get it checked," Ophi said kindly.

"I'll do that," I said.

"Brain tumors are dangerous," Eurydice said solemnly. "My aunt died of one."

"Oh," I said. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yeah," Eurydice said. "The funeral was so sad. But the things everyone said was really nice."

"You know," Scorpius said, "People say such nice things at funerals that it actually makes me sad that I'll miss mine by only a couple days."

"I feel exactly the same way," Eurydice sighed. Scorpius clearly tightened his grip around her hand, which made my stomach tighten.

"I went to my great – grandmother's funeral a few months ago," Ophi said. "I brought along Scorpius, remember? You brightened me up a little."

"What can I say?" Scorpius shrugged. "I put the 'fun' in funeral."

Ophi and Eurydice laughed, I didn't. Scorpius' eyes met mine, and he smiled. The only thing I did, however, was send back a Death Glare. Scorpius quickly looked away.

"You should always go to people's funerals," Scorpius said with the air of someone sharing valuable words of wisdom. "Otherwise they won't come to yours."

"That's so clever, Scorpius," Eurydice said, looking adoringly up at him. Scorpius grinned at her and disentangled his hand from hers – only to wrap it around her shoulders. The most provoking thing about this was probably the fact that he glared at me the whole time. Glaring right back at him, I snuggled up closely to Ophi. Ophi seemed to tense by my sudden presence, but he wrapped a hesitant arm around me all the same. Scorpius' eyes narrowed and I grinned. Ha, Scorpius. Just because you can cruelly kiss me and then ask out someone else doesn't mean that you're the only one that I can be with.

"You know what I think?" Scorpius suddenly said after an awkward pause. "I think that meat is fantastic."

"I totally agree," Eurydice said automatically.

"Yeah," Ophi said. "You're really missing out on something, Rosie."

"Oh, I don't know," I said casually. "I don't miss meat that much."

"Really?" Scorpius said. "Not even pork tenderloin? Roasted pork tenderloin drizzled with a sweet glaze?"

"No," I said coldly. "I don't miss that."

"That's funny," Ophi said. "That's exactly what I had for lunch."

"Really?" Scorpius said. "And Rose, your mouth wasn't watering?"

"What my mouth does and doesn't do, Scorpius, is none of your business," I said. The only problem was that as soon as I had said this, my mind drifted towards the kiss we had shared only a few days before.

Scorpius only raised an eyebrow. "I only know that if it were me, I would just have to steal a little piece."

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. Thankfully, at that exact moment, I was saved by Demetria. I never thought that I would be happy to see her, but at that moment, I could have kissed her.

"Oh, hey," Scorpius said. Demetria pulled up a chair and sat at our table without asking. She took a swig of Scorpius' butterbeer and sighed.

"I just escaped," she told Scorpius. "Never make me go on a date with Mortimer again. He's awful and so boring. And then he even expects me to kiss him! Huh! As if. I would rather bite him."

I had a spooky image in my mind of Demetria biting someone in the neck with her fangs.

"Sorry to hear that," Scorpius said lightly. "Demetria, you know Rose and Eurydice, don't you? From Gryffindor."

Demetria frowned at me. "All too well," she said.

"The pleasure is all yours," I told her in my most icy tone.

Demetria only narrowed her eyes. I saw her glance at the proximity of me and Ophi, and then she looked over at Eurydice and Scorpius.

"Hmm," she said. "I'm going to the loo for a moment. Rose, would you like to join me?"

"Me?" I asked dumbly.

"Yes, you," Demetria said impatiently. "Your mascara is running. Come on." Not letting me escape, Demetria closed her claw – like fingers around my arm and wrenched me away from Ophi. She marched me all the way to the Ladies Room, and then slammed the door shut.

"Demetria, what is going on?" I asked. I looked at myself in the mirror. "Hey, my mascara isn't running!"

Demetria wasn't listening. She was checking all the stalls, banging the doors open and looking inside.

"Why did you want me to come here when my mascara is fine?" I asked. "I don't even have to pee; really, I've barely touched my butterbeer."

Demetria finally seemed satisfied that there was no one in the room and turned to face me. "What are you doing?" she finally asked.

"Wondering why I'm in here?" I said awkwardly.

"No," Demetria said, shaking her head. "What are you doing with Ophi? Snuggling up to him like that?"

"Because he's my date," I told her.

"But you barely know him!" Demetria exclaimed. "You two have a completely platonic relationship. You're going to lose Scorpius, you know."

"Lose Scorpius?" I cried. "I never had him! I know what the two of you did! You decided to tell me that he liked me and then he kissed me. And then the next day he asked out a different girl. It was all just to mortify me and guess what – it worked. Now, if you don't mind I'd like to go back to my date."

"You've completely misunderstood everything!" Demetria said. "Look, what I told you was the truth. Why would I lie to you? You don't have anything I want."

I frowned, trying to figure out this logic.

"And the kiss you're talking about? I'll bet anything that that was real too," she continued. "The only thing that isn't real is his date with Eurydice."

"But then why did he ask her out?" I asked, desperate. "I mean, it seemed like he liked me, why would he want to go on a date with her?"

"I don't know," Demetria finally sighed. "Sometimes, I swear, I have no idea what goes on inside his head."

"Why do you care, anyway?" I asked.

Demetria sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. "Because, if I have to be completely honest, I would rather see him with you than that half – brain sitting next to him."

"Thanks," I said, suddenly flattered.

"Honestly," Demetria said, "I think that the only reason that he's holding hands with her and everything is to make you jealous."

She looked in the mirror one last time and ran a hand through her hair. Then she walked towards the door and opened it.

"Hey, Demetria?" I said.

She turned around.

"I'm really sorry about pouring pumpkin juice on you and starting the food fight. You obviously didn't deserve it," I said.

Demetria shrugged. "Whatever," she said. "I probably deserved it for all the shit I've said to you through the years."

I didn't say anything, but smiled at her and she smiled back. To be honest, those fangs aren't quite so intimidating when she's smiling.

"Now can we get back out there?" Demetria asked. "I don't want to have a moment with you."

"I think we just had a moment," I said, following her back to the table.

"Oh, shut up."

**

An hour later I was in the one place that I had expected never to visit in my life. I was sitting in Hogshead. It had been Demetria's idea and Scorpius had agreed. As soon as he had said yes, Eurydice thought that going to Hogshead was the most marvelous thing in the world. I had of course said no right away, but Scorpius wouldn't have that.

"Oh, right," he said. "Little do – gooders like you don't go to Hogshead."

"That's right," I said. "We don't."

"You're no fun," he said. "We all know that the reason you're not going is not because you don't think it's fun, it's because you're afraid."

And then, of course, I had to go, because I couldn't Scorpius have going around saying that I was a coward.

So we arrived at Hogshead and ordered a butterbeer (for me) and a firewhiskey with four glasses (for the irresponsible teenage – drinkers). And so now I was sitting in Hogshead with four people who were growing steadily more and more ridiculous, clutching my butterbeer for dear life. I didn't approve of drinking for many reasons, but the top two were probably that it's unhealthy, and you only grow more and more stupid.

"I've always thought that Professor Longbottom was sort of handsome," Eurydice said now, nodding solemnly. "Something about his eyes."

"No!" Demetria shrieked shrilly. "The only handsome teacher at Hogwarts is Professor Zabini."

"Oh, come off it," Scorpius said. "We all know that you think it's Slughorn."

Demetria smacked his arm.

"I have a brilliant idea," Scorpius said. "We should play a game."

"Ooh, yeah," Eurydice said. "What game?"

Scorpius grinned mischievously. "I never."

"Alright," Demetria said. "Are you in, Rose?"

"No, I don't think so," I said.

"Oh, come on," said Scorpius. "Don't be a bore."

"Yeah, Rose, don't be a bore," Eurydice said, which just about pushed me over the edge.

"Fine," I said. "Fine, I'm in."

"Brilliant," said Scorpius. "I never… kissed a boy."

Demetria and Eurydice immediately swallowed a mouthful of firewhiskey each.

"Oh, my God, Rose," Eurydice said. Her eyes were slightly red. "You've never kissed a boy?"

I saw that Scorpius was looking closely at me.

"Give me the firewhiskey," I whispered. At once a glass was in front of me, the amber liquid glittering in it. Taking a deep breath I raised the glass and swallowed the contents. The alcohol burned my throat and continued to burn all the way down to my stomach until it dimmed and there was just a pleasant warmth.

"There," I said.

I caught Scorpius' eye, but he quickly looked away.

"Hey, look," Ophi suddenly said. "Isn't that Mortimer and the other guys?"

"Oh, yeah," Scorpius said, and the two of them were off towards the other table, clutching their glasses and the bottle of firewhiskey and waving.

"Alright," said Eurydice. "I never… slept with a boy."

"How slept?" I asked cautiously.

Eurydice rolled her eyes. "You know," she said. "Sex."

Demetria raised her glass and swallowed.

"Oh, Merlin," Eurydice said. "You have? How was it? Did it hurt?"

Normally Demetria didn't talk much, but under the influence of alcohol she suddenly became remarkably chatty. I told myself not to listen to her graphic descriptions of "the first time" but I couldn't help myself, and soon I knew much more about Demetria's sexual escapades than I ever needed to.

"Has – has Scorpius ever done it?" I asked hesitantly after about half an hour.

Demetria nodded. "Twice, I think, but never with anyone he really loved," she said, and gave me a significant look.

"I can't believe how good friends the two of you are," Eurydice mused. "It's so unusual for a boy and a girl to have such a close friendship."

"And it's completely platonic," Demetria said.

"Platonic?" Eurydice asked, looking blank.

"No physical attraction," Demetria said, speaking slowly as though Eurydice was a small child.

"Really?" Eurydice exclaimed. "Never? But he's so hot!"

"Look," Demetria said. "I don't care how hot he is. When we were little he ate worms. I will never be attracted to him after that."

I laughed despite myself. Suddenly, Scorpius was back at our table.

"Hello, dear friends," he said loudly.

"Where's the firewhiskey?" Demetria asked.

"Gone!" Scorpius yelled, gesturing wildly with his hands. "Gone, gone, gone. Gone. Gone, gone, and gone. Gone. Gone. Gone! Gone –"

"Alright, we understand," Demetria interrupted. "Aren't you a bit drunk?"

Scorpius shook his head wildly. "I swear to drunk I'm not God!"

I couldn't help myself. I laughed. As soon as Scorpius realized what he had said he started laughing as well. And not just laughing, but really out – of – control laughing. He pounded the table and wiped tears from his eyes.

"Sh!" Demetria shushed. "Don't draw attention to us! You know what we're doing is against the rules."

Scorpius continued to laugh, but stopped abruptly when he looked at me.

"Rose, can I talk to you?" he asked, suddenly serious.

"Me?" I asked stupidly.

"No, the rose bush outside," Scorpius said, and started laughing again.

"Alright, alright," I said, desperate to stop his laughing. "I'll talk."

"Come on, then," Scorpius said. He stood up unsteadily and gripped my arm. I noticed Eurydice staring at us with a frown on her face, but it only gave me some sort of savage pleasure.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Outside," he finally said.

I lead the way outside and slammed the door to the disgusting place shut.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I need to tell you something," Scorpius said, leaning in very close to me. His breath stank and I recoiled a bit.

"What?" I asked.

"You seem angry with me," he said.

I snorted. "No, really?"

"Funny," he said dryly. "You're angry with me because I asked out Eur – Euryry –"

"Eurydice," I finished for him. "And yes, that's why I'm angry. I was confused, you know. You – you… kiss me and then you ask out her! Why?"

"Yeah," Scorpius said. "And – and the thing is that I was the confused one."

"You?" I cried, my temper rising.

"Because you told me to ask out Euryrydidice," he said very quickly. "What was I supposed to think? One day we kiss and… and everything is really nice and then the next day you tell me that she likes me! What am I supposed to do with that?"

"Oh," I said, at loss for words. "Well, well I just… I didn't mean that…"

"Well, I know that now," he said. "But I didn't know it then. And I've been spending all night trying to make you jealous, but I don't think it worked."

"And so now you're drunk," I said, for lack of something better.

Scorpius winked. "Only children and drunken people tell the truth," he said.

I couldn't help but smile. Suddenly Scorpius started leaning in closer. It only took me a moment to realize that he was going to kiss me. My heart started racing again and –

"Mr. Malfoy? Miss Weasley? What on Earth are you doing here? Have you been drinking?"

I turned around and saw a furious Professor McGonagall glaring at us.