Hogwarts was draped in white when the students returned in January. The giant squid was caged beneath a thick sheet of ice, the whomping willow shaking icicles from its branches every hour. The castle itself glowed from within, smoke billowing from every common room chimney, window panes glowing an inviting gold. As they filtered off of the Hogwarts Express and piled into carriages, the students bundled up and huddled close as they rode from the station to the grounds.

Trunks floated on their own to their proper places and the path abandoned for other festivities. Footprints made in the snow ran every which way as first years and seventh years alike attacked classmates with snowballs of fresh fallen powder.

By the time the Potter and Weasley clans made their way into the entry hall, their noses were red from the cold, scarves and coats soaked to the bone. Laughter echoed off the stones and fluttered around and through the ghosts giving a rousing welcome to their recently returned friends.

James and his mate Gavin McLaggen tumbled towards the kitchens after a pair of Hufflepuff girls in hopes of a pre-dinner snack, while the rest made their way to Gryffindor tower.

In one swift move, Rose was relieved of the warmth around her neck and saw it dancing off in front of her.

"Oy, Hugo, give it back!" giggled Rose, reaching for the scarf her younger brother was now wearing like a feathered boa.

Hugo simply laughed and darted up the steps through the crowd, weaving his way several levels above. Rose followed, breathless from first the snowball fight and now this venture, halting when she spotted his next move. Hugo was leaning over the railing, her scarf in hand, dangling it over the hall below. "Hugo, don't, I'm freezing!" Her teeth were chattering, her cheeks pink, and her wand drawn.

"Oops."

Fluttering through the air, skillfully missing staircase after staircase as they moved this way and that, her scarf landed in a gold and red knit puddle on the floor of the entry hall. It was immediately trounced by a sea of Slytherins making their way towards the dungeon, until one kind soul reached to pick it up.

When she saw who it was, Rose frowned. Scorpius Malfoy was hardly a kind soul.

Scorpius ran his hand over Molly Weasley's precise stitches, finding three letters embroidered in gold. RNW. Gray eyes lifted and scanned the hall, but before he could find its owner, the material flew out of his hands and up towards the heavens.

"Accio scarf!" Rose cried, and what was lost soon returned. She dared a final glance over the banister to find Scorpius staring up at her. His smirk appeared first and hers followed. "Don't touch my stuff, Malfoy," she hissed, pressing her lips into a flat line as she spun away from the railing. "You either, Hugo," Rose added, brushing past her brother in a huff.

Hugo's brow furrowed and his shoulders slumped. "I was just playing around…"

"Well don't!"

Rose knew she was overreacting, but she didn't care. Heat rose to her cheeks as she clutched her snow-soaked scarf, barreling up the steps toward the common room. The hurt from Christmas had bubbled up in her heart moments after delight in seeing Scorpius had betrayed her.

Sighing, she pushed into the common room, knocking over a chessboard on her way. "Sorry," she grumbled as the second years scrambled for the pieces. Sinking into an armchair by the fire, she tossed her scarf onto the floor mere inches from the dancing flame.

Rose had to put all thoughts of him out of her mind. She was foolish to ever think they could be friends, let alone anything more than that. But her heart had held onto hope anyway. And what did that bring her? Disappointment, heartache, and nothing more.

Her mind ran wild, pounding in pain as the feeling came back into her toes and fingers. The last of the chill was banished from her being just as James and Gavin stumbled through the portrait hole, hands full of sweet treats.

"Oy, Rosie, want some?" James managed, his words muffled by two chocolate chip cookies in his mouth.

Rose sighed. "No."

James knew that tone. In a family as large as theirs, and with as many women as it held, he knew when someone's feelings were hurt. Plus, Rose was more of a sister than a cousin. Nodding to Gavin, they moved in unison, perching on either side of her chair. "What's wrong?" James asked, nudging her shoulder playfully.

Rose brushed the cookie crumbs from her arm and shrugged.

"Do we need to beat someone up?" asked Gavin, offering her a cupcake.

When Rose saw that it had a bite taken out of it already, she gave a half laugh. "No. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" he continued, bumping her playfully as James had. "'Cause we will. Especially if it's some dumb bloke." Gavin punched a fist into his palm, forgetting that he held a squishy sweet treat in his grasp. "Ack!"

The trio laughed as Gavin revealed a handful of crumbs and blue icing and reached to wipe them on Rose's face. "No! Stop!" He managed to get one swipe across her cheek, only because James held her captive. "Gav!"

Gavin chuckled as he licked the icing from his fingers. "I'm serious though. Who did it?"

Rose's laughter settled and she ran a hand through her ringlets. "No one. It's just me. I'm fine, I promise."

"Whatever you say," replied James, offering up a cauldron cake. This one she took. "Can't have you moping around practice this week. We need you in tip-top shape for the match against Slytherin. Think you'll be ready?"

Just the thought of taking to the sky was a comfort to Rose. Especially if it meant beating Scorpius at his own game. "Oh, I'll be ready." She tore into the cauldron cake with a vengeance, tossing the wrapper into the fire.

James watched it burn then glanced again at his cousin. "That'a girl, Rosie." He ruffled a hand through her hair as he pushed off the chair, moving toward his dorm. Gavin however lingered.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Gavin gave it a light squeeze. He then leaned forward to whisper, "Whoever he is, he's an arse. You can do way better." With a wink, he dashed after James, leaving Rose mightily puzzled, staring after him.

Settling back into her chair, she picked at the cauldron cake and savored the rich chocolate taste. In her book, Scorpius Malfoy was definitely an arse.

And Gavin was right. She could do –and should do—way better.