Monday Morning, Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, A Week Before Holidays:

Scorpius' POV

My head jerked up from my parchment that I was doodling on. Apparently I was supposed to be dueling with Rose. Rose Weasley.

This was going to be interesting...

I glanced at her expression and I noticed that her mouth was gaping open. She looked like she really did not want to work with me, which just made me annoyed.

I watched as she sauntered over to me, and my eyes couldn't help but be drawn to her smooth lean legs.

Professor Wells easily moved the furniture out of the way with a flick of his wand, while Rose and I stood awkwardly together: neither talking nor looking at each other.

"Alright, now everyone stand across from their partners," commanded Professor Wells.

Luckily this was a huge classroom. I stood across from Rose, my wand in hand while I waited for further instructions. Her expression was unreadable and stoic, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I quickly rearranged my own face into a vacant look of indifference.

"You and your partner are to duel until one of you is disarmed. No curses, and be careful of your aim," he paused looking at each of us, "bow to each other, and you may start on the count of three."

I bowed deeply to Rose while she did the same, but we both kept our eyes trained on each other.

"One—" I got into a proper stance and leveled my wand, ready to attack. Rose mimicked my actions. She had a look of deep concentration on her adorable freckled face. Wait, did I say adorable? Focus Scorpius...Focus...

"Two—" I could feel the nerves of everyone else in the room while I stared down Rose. It was a contest: whoever blinked first would be the weaker one. Her eyebrows furrowed, and I ran through a list of shields, jinxes, and hexes in my mind.

"Three."

Hell broke loose as that word left Professor Wells' mouth.

I watched as Rose shouted, "Stupefy!" I knew she was going to attack first, so I easily dodged the stunning spell. Almost immediately, she sent another hex my way.

"Protego!" I yelled, effectively blocking her hex. I couldn't help but have some fun with the situation though, I taunted, "Is that the best you can do Rosie?"

Her blue eyes flashed menacingly, and she screamed "Flippendo!"

I rolled away in time, while I smirked at her. "Langlock!" I shouted over the increasing pandemonium. People bumped into one another, and jinxes flew aimlessly, but at the moment it was just about Rose and I.

She cast a shield charm, and I decided to rile her up more.

"C'mon Rose! Are you even trying?" I asked arching an eyebrow at her. Nonetheless, we were easily matching each other. She flushed angrily, and I could practically see the steam coming out of her ears. I would never admit this out loud, but when Rose was angry it kind of turned me on. "You know I don't think McLaggen would like it if I put you in the Hospital Wing—not that I couldn't take him if I wanted too." I continued. I wasn't in charge of my words and sentences anymore.

"Leave Max out of this!" she snarled, her chest heaved up and down from her exertion. Her cheeks were flushed and I could see a fire burning behind her blue eyes. She was violently beautiful.

"But I'm serious Rosie. You'd think he'd date a girl with more sense. I mean you haven't made a scratch on me yet!" I mocked. It wasn't me who was talking—someone else had taken over my vocal cords.

"Shut up! Impedimenta!" she cried.

I ducked and fired more spells at her while I persistently provoked her.

"I honestly wonder how you became his girlfriend Rose. What does he see in you?"

"He is not my boyfriend!" she shrieked. I could sense how close she was to snapping, but I still continued relentlessly.

"Really? Could've fooled me with the way you throw yourself at him." I retorted angrily.

"I do not throw myself at him!" she roared. She was so close to breaking. She sent more hexes my way, but I blocked them easily.

I felt an invisible force urge me on to say the one thing that I knew would send her over the edge.

"Yes you do! You act like a slut around him."

I saw everything so clearly at that moment; the way she gasped, the way she held her wand limply, the hurt in her eyes, the mixture of emotions on her face, and then the way her fury came back.

"Petrificus Totalus," she whispered, cursing me despite the rules.

I felt the curse hit me squarely in the stomach. I felt my limbs bind to my sides tightly, and my body rocked from the lack of control. I felt myself falling to the cold floor. The wind was knocked right out of me.

I felt my body unbind and I could see Rose standing over me and she looked furious.

I got up quickly and looked at her pale blue eyes. I noticed with a shock that they were welling with tears.

"Stay away from me Malfoy," she whispered vehemently. She made my last name sound like gum you find on the bottom of your shoe. Her tone affected me more than any other passing wizard did when they recognized the hated Malfoy family.

And then she slapped me, right across my cheek.

A/N: Oooo it's getting interesting, yes? :) I'm excited to see how this goes...Drop a review please! And I'm terribly sorry about how long it's been!