Sorry about the delay in this, you guys! You've all been wonderful. Please thank dropsofpuresky for reminding me to get my arse into gear and write this (I had to pull myself away from Fringe, which I am newly obsessed with).

This phrase was stolen from An Artists Accounts profile, and a similar thing was suggested by JAStheSPAZZrocks and I Can Hear The Sea, so thank you.

I hope you enjoy it:

A friend will be polite when they meet your boyfriend,

A best friend will calmly threaten to break every bone in their body if they hurt you.

"You've got to be kidding me," He grumbled dryly as I attempted to drag him down the main staircase, past the stream of students jostling us about in their haste to get to Hogsmeade and into the Entrance Hall.

I rolled my eyes. "Why, on earth, would I be joking?"

He spluttered. "I don't know… maybe because Greg is a douche?"

I glared at him, halting in my efforts halfway down the stairs, causing him to walk right into my back and have to catch me before I tripped down the next couple of steps.

"Why did you say it like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like that."

"Like what?" I gave me an innocent look. I didn't buy it for a second.

"Like 'Greeeeeg'," I placed my hands on my hips, daring him to argue.

Which, being Scorpius, he did.

"I didn't say it like that," He complained.

Then he smirked and cracked up, which gave him away immediately.

"Scorpius!" I slapped him, half-playfully, on the arm and he chuckled, evidently finding himself hilarious.

"What?" He protested, still grinning.

"Please be nice to him," I pleaded. "I'm begging you, do not do anything to scare him away. Promise?"

"Ahh, Rosie," I knew this wasn't going to be a smart comment, by the way my best friend patronisingly slung his arm over my shoulders and continued guiding me down the stairs. "When have I ever scared away a gentleman caller of yours?"

I would have shot him a glare, but he was standing too close and if I had learnt one thing about glancing at my best friend from such a close proximity, it was that I would be in danger of wanting to jump him.

And I, Rose Weasley, had a boyfriend.

So jumping my best friend was not the best idea. Not that it had been smart before I started dating Greg, but still…

So I opted for shoving Scorpius to the right slightly by knocking him with my body.

He smirked down at me, half a head taller - just enough for his chin to graze the top of my hair in a dangerously affectionate way.

I forgot the conversation for all of five seconds.

Then I spotted Greg standing by the front doors of the castle, having already made it past Filch and the queue to leave, and remembered that he probably wouldn't appreciate his girlfriend looking cosy with another guy - even if said guy was only her best friend, and there had been untrue rumours for years about them being together.

I wasn't regretful.

I wasn't.

Okay, so I was a little.

But I had Greg now - a kind, sweet, adorable guy who treated me as nothing short of a princess. No matter what Scorpius says.

And why should I believe Scorpius anyway? He was my best friend therefore, by definition, he treated me with cynicism, critique and by mocking.

I rolled my eyes for my own benefit as we reached the line of students signing out, and made a conscious effort to detach myself from my best friend.

"Okay," I sighed, putting on my best stern face (which usually lasted only ten seconds or so when faced with Scorpius). "I really like this guy, Scor, so… just don't be your usual 'funny-guy' self and scare him away with your terrible humour and ridiculous comments, okay?"

He hesitated, but could evidently tell that I was being serious. He nodded once, reluctantly.

"Kill joy," He murmured softly into my ear.

I just grinned as we gave Filch our names and he signed us out.

"And, by the way," He continued. "I have never scared off one of your boyfriends."

I let out an involuntarily, but truthful, exclamation of derision. "What? Yes you have!"

"Have not!"

"Have too!"

"Have not!"

"Alright," He challenged, as we made our way over to Greg, whose friends were now calling their goodbyes to him and disappearing out to the grounds and towards the gates leading to Hogsmeade. "Name one."

"Ben Sham, Luke Finnegan, Paul Rusk-"

"Okay, okay," He smirked at me through a sideways glance under his sweeping blonde fringe. "So I may be a little protective…"

"A little?" I managed to laugh out, before we reached Greg, and the conversation had to end.

My attention was suddenly grasped by this amazingly cute guy, brown hair spiked up and leather jacket making him look the epitome of cool.

"Hi," I breathed timidly, my heart quickening a little.

"Hey Rose," He smiled back shyly.

The smile disappeared immediately when his gaze flickered over to Scorpius, whose hand had been hovering over the small of my back as we walked, steps in sync and bodies close together on instinct and through years of practice.

He glared him down a little, but Scorpius didn't back off.

He was protective.

"Erm… Scorpius just wanted to say 'hi'," I told my new boyfriend. It was a total lie - which we all knew - but I felt compelled to say that more than 'Scorpius just hates you and really doesn't want me to go out with you, but as you don't like each other anyway, I figured he better come and say hello so that I could at least be sane'.

It didn't really have the same calming effect on the situation, did it?

"That was nice of him," Greg said, his tone wary and suspicious.

"I guess Rosie is just that important to me," Scorpius snapped back.

I rolled my eyes, then decided to deflect the conversation. I opened my mouth to say Merlin knows what, but luckily Lily beat me to it.

"Hey Rose, Filch couldn't remember whether you and Scor were-" She stopped dead at the scene in front of her. My cousin took one look between the silent testosterone-filled competition between my boyfriend and my best friend, then at a nervous me, and promptly saved my life, "Oh, Greg! It's nice to actually meet you as Rose's boyfriend. You two make such a sweet couple, isn't that right, Scorpius?"

Scorpius raised his eyebrows at my cousin, glare completely obvious on his face, then muttered back dryly, "Yeah, bloody perfect…"

At the risk of one of them punching the other, I promptly asked Lily, "What was Filch fretting over?"

"Oh, he wanted to know whether you had paid the fee for the trip to Holyhead on Saturday?"

I sighed, "That man is so unorganised. I told him…" I rambled to myself as, completely forgetting the tense situation at hand, I stalked back over to Filch.

I only remembered that I had left two guys who would love nothing more than to beat each other up, once I was half-way in conversation with the old caretaker.

My only solace was Lily, who I hoped was keeping them from the massacre or shouting match they were no doubt itching to start.

Or so I thought.

As soon as the whole trip-fee thing was sorted, I spun back round, eager to help Lily with whatever nonsense conversation she had started up to stop them from arguing, when I noticed that she was standing directly behind me.

"Lily!" I exclaimed, aghast, spinning back to the doorway to survey the situation. "You left them alone?"

Lily just shrugged her shoulders, and mumbled, "Well, it was about time Scorpius snapped…"

I glared at her, ignored the comment (we were just friends! Best friends. Nothing more) and marched us back over.

They were standing close together, glaring at each other, but the conversation evidently hadn't gone past harsh words.

As Lily and I approached cautiously, they didn't notice us, and continued their argument.

Whatever it was, Lily and I made the unspoken mutual agreement to eavesdrop.

Scorpius appeared to be winning.

His tone was quiet, on the surface calm, but the undertone was unquestionably threatening and his voice dripped with venom and seething anger.

Scorpius had never really liked Greg.

Or any of my boyfriends, for that matter...

"-and if you ever do anything to hurt her, I will not hesitate to find you and knock some sense into you. Am I clear? Because she isn't just someone you can mess around with. She's important to me and she's special. You won't find anyone as fun, and kind and good as her. Break her heart, Greg, and I'll break your arm. In fact, I may just decide to break everything but your arm. You won't find getting that Quidditch scholarship very easy then, will you?"

Greg stared at him with wide eyes.

He gulped, then nodded slowly.

"I'm glad you understand me," Scorpius smirked evilly - the bastard! "I hope not to see you around very often."

And then he turned, waved cheerfully at me, and dragged Lily away to meet Al outside the Hogwarts gates, calling, "Don't forget that you're my date for the Spring Ball, Rosie, no matter how many pretty boys you find! Bros before… well, douches, girl!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his dorkiness, earning myself a surprised look from the evidently still shocked guy to my left.

"Erm, private joke…" I mumbled.

Greg didn't look impressed.

I found I didn't really care.

I hope you at least enjoyed it a little, and at the very least it made you smile. :D I'd love a review?