I apologize profusely for my late update, but seriously. My laptop broke, and I therefore couldn't get to the opening of the chapter, and there was no way I was going to start it again. So after a week, I finally gave it a quick-fix, so that I could get my original file :D So yeah...

Enjoy :D

EDIT: This is another A/N. I wrote the above with the intent to publish this on the 19th! FF was sooo broke /and still is/ but I have found a resolution, so hopefully this works XD Sorry for the EVEN longer wait XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 18

While Albus had witnessed the apparent betrayal by Scorpius and Rose when they had kissed, he had heard mere pieces of their conversation and had completely missed the beginning of it. So, he was unaware of Rose's reluctance to cause him harm, her wish to be able to have him be okay with herself and Scorpius, Scorpius' own opinion on how Albus treated his wishes and their regret at having lied to him – even if it was only minute.

Rose and Scorpius had talked, danced and smiled the night away, completely oblivious to the looks of a concentrated form of jealousy mixed with hatred Albus had been sending their way. While they didn't make it obvious that anything had happened, they found it extremely hard to keep the grins off their faces.

Everyone was having fun, Dominique's band were fantastic, the food was amazing, and when it had reached 10pm the decorations released a selection of indoor fireworks that amazed everyone in the Great Hall. Violet had done a good job, and that was felt everywhere. Therefore the grins on Scorpius and Rose's faces were interpreted as happiness that the Ball had gone on flawlessly and without a hitch. Some even speculated that this meant that next year, the possibility of another Winter Ball was evident.

Albus was the only person who hadn't enjoyed the Ball in the least, he couldn't even enjoy his dinner – a fact that unsettled him.

XxX Rose & Lorcan XxX

"Mornin' Rosie" Lorcan said to Rose with a grin. She was lying on a chaise longue looking at the cylindrical and starry ceiling of the empty Ravenclaw Common Room the day after the Ball. Her mouth pursed in thought as Lorcan approached her from the boys Dormitory.

"Morning Lorcan," she replied distractedly, not noticing the nickname she hated, her hand reaching out in front of her as she counted on her fingers.

Lorcan cocked an eyebrow and leaned over her, looking at her quizzically. Her arms fell back down to her sides heavily and quickly and she sighed. "I'm in a predicament Lorie," she said closing her eyes and putting her hands to her face, lightly rubbing at her closed eyes.

"What kind of a predicament?" Lorcan asked, sitting at the edge of an armchair. Rose turned her head and blinked slowly before sitting up and turning her body toward Lorcan. "You are acting strangely, did you take something?"

"No, of course I didn't Lorcan, I have a problem, a really difficult problem, and it's not one I have encountered before." She combed a hand through her curls and looked intently at Lorcan, her voice soft though agitated.

"Very well, but it's like you took a calming draught, you never move that slowly." He replied, smiling lightly and resting his right ankle on his left thigh.

Rose rolled her eyes and his smile grew.

"Go on then Rosie, tell me what's going on in your head."

She suppressed a glare and nodded, "well, last night," she paused and frowned, "last night when me and Scorpius."

"Scorpius and I," Lorcan said quickly, and Rose threw a pillow at him.

"Fine, if you don't want to hear it, I'll just wallow." She looked dejected and her eyes moved towards the large windows, it had started to snow again.

"I promise no more interruptions," he said straightening himself, and looking keen. "When you and Scorpius were on your patrol?"

Rose nodded and sucked in a breath again, "he kissed me," she said quickly, allowing what she had said to flow out along with her breath.

Lorcan's eyes grew and then he smiled, "well I half didn't expect you to admit that to me if it ever happened. Not surprised though, he hasn't exactly looked like he has wanted to stay in the friend-zone for a while."

She frowned, "so you kept this from me, you know I'm not good at reading people Lorcan!"

He shrugged, "why? That makes watching it unfold less fun, doesn't it Rosie dear?"

She threw another pillow at him, and folded her arms across her chest.

Lorcan laughed and stood up, sitting next to her on the seat. He put an arm over her shoulder and she leaned against his. "Didn't you want it to happen?" he asked.

"I suppose, but –,"

"You wanted to be in control and you didn't want it to be so surprising," Lorcan finished for her and Rose nodded.

"I just feel guilty because I lied to Al and I didn't tell him how I felt and I should have. And then Scorpius says everything will be alright, but I don't believe that." She said sighing, "that's not weird, is it?"

Lorcan shook his head, "not at all, that's just your way, don't feel too guilty though Rose, things happen and it gets out of your control, there's nothing you can do about it. Plus you can always tell Albus," he suggested.

"He probably wouldn't understand that, he seems to hate me all of a sudden."

"I don't think he hates you Rose," he said easily.

Rose didn't say anything, she just breathed out.

Lorcan went sifting around in the pocket of his trousers, and pulled out a medium sized bar of Honeydukes Chocolate, and offered it to Rose. "Want some chocolate?" he asked with a smile.

She looked down at the bar and smiled, turning fully to Lorcan and hugging him tightly, "that's exactly what my dad would have said. Thanks Lorcan."

"You're welcome, I suppose," he said slowly.

"He messes with my head, you know. I swear he does," she said, slightly muffled by Lorcan's jumper covered shoulder.

"What? Like an Imperius curse?" Lorcan questioned, chuckling lightly.

Rose let go and frowned, "but what-," she started but Lorcan interrupted.

"No Rose, Scorpius is not using an Imperius on you, you strange girl." He shook his head and put his head in his right hand. "You surprise me sometimes."

"Fine, but still, I'm behaving completely illogically because of him." She said slightly angry.

Lorcan laughed again, "I think they call that love," he nodded knowingly.

Rose reacted with a disgusted face, he smiled and placed the chocolate back in his pocket.

"Why are you carrying that anyway?" Rose asked, looking at him quizzically, he didn't answer and the answer slowly dawned on her. "I thought you didn't believe in all that Divination mumbo jumbo, Chi really scared you, didn't she." She said, now grinning.

He frowned and crossed his arms, "better to be safe than sorry, that's the saying, isn't it?"

Rose smiled, "where did you learn that?" she asked, "it's not like your family readily follows that, do they? Crumple-Horned Snorkack, anyone?" she said teasingly, and nudging her shoulder against his.

Lorcan rolled his eyes, "do you want to go for a walk?" he asked and watched as Rose nodded. "Anyway Rose, love is never logical." He said as they separated.

Rose looked back swiftly and then continued into her dorm, meeting Lorcan back in the Common Room 5 minutes later, with her coat, scarf, hat and gloves.

They exited and began their way down the spiral staircase, deciding to go to the lower gardens, which connected to a Porch off the castle. It presented a view of the Forbidden Forest and the Black Lake, while giving a cliff like feel. It wasn't the safest of places in the school grounds, so it was off limits to years one to four.

XxX Albus & Scorpius XxX

"How was last night?" Albus asked, plastering on a fake smile as he watched Scorpius attach a letter to his Owl and watch it fly away.

"It was great," Scorpius turned to him smiling, and moving towards the door of the Owlery. "How was it for you with Jessica? You clearly didn't want to take my advice," he said shaking his head at Albus' actions.

Albus shrugged, "she doesn't matter."

Scorpius made his way to the stairs of the Owlery and began his descent, sending a quick glance at Albus. "Good, I worry about your taste sometimes Al." He said smiling.

"Really?" he replied lowly and reaching the bottom of the staircase, "is that all you worry about me?"

"Nah, I worry about your sanity at times," Scorpius replied with a smirk, "you do go a bit off when Rose comes around."

Albus looked away, hiding his frown and walking ahead of Scorpius slightly, asked breathing through his nose; "how is your girlfriend, anyway?"

Scorpius laughed brokenly, "we're just friends Al, do you have to keep saying stuff like that." He replied, looking at the floor.

Albus, who was still in front of him had his fists clenched, his mouth set in a line, gradually going redder with suppressed anger.

"Yeah," he replied distantly, and started his way to the lower grounds, quickening his pace.

"Slow down Al," Scorpius said after him, slightly jogging and smiling again.

Albus didn't reply, but stuck his hands deep into his coat pockets and trudged on. Scorpius frowned and walked with him, his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

Scorpius was about to say something when he noticed Rose and Lorcan walking ahead of them, their heads low and talking in whispers. Albus was looking at the ground and grunting to himself. Scorpius watched as they approached the porch area at the bottom of the castle.

He watched Albus, who was now kicking at the ground, which was being covered with fresh snow.

XxX

"Did he seriously say that?" Lorcan asked, his hands stuffed in his pockets for warmth, and his head low next to Rose, whose cheeks were very red and freckly from the cold and flurries of snow hitting her.

She nodded and sighed, "What should I do? Scorpius wants Albus to be irrelevant, and have nothing to do with... well us and I know Albus would murder me. Scorpius was his best friend first."

Lorcan bit on his lip in thought, "well let's look at this situation logically, because Lysander would probably say something about following your heart and your heart is the problem."

"I thought you said that 'love is never logical'?" Rose said, frowning.

"We're not talking about love in this instance, we are talking about whether you should inform Albus about everything first, because really, if it was any other girl, and not his cousin, he wouldn't have such a problem with it, would he?" Lorcan questioned, gesturing his head to Rose.

"I suppose you're right about that, but he doesn't exactly act cousinly to me normally, so why would he start now and with this situation?" Rose asked.

"Oh, he doesn't care about Scorpius hurting you, he probably just cares about you messing with Scorp, and the fact that if you started going out, he would see less of him."

Rose gawped and crossed her arms, "wow, I feel the love. Well it's not like that with you, is it?" she questioned and Lorcan shrugged.

"Anyway Rose, logically, you should come clean to Albus, get it all out, no matter how embarrassing, he'll at least respect that you have the guts to tell him, I think. Even if he does hate you for all eternity." Lorcan smiled and Rose pushed him with her gloved hands and groaned.

"Why didn't I just like someone else, this is rubbish." She felt her cheeks redden more as she crossed her arms across her chest.

Rose stepped onto the porch they had now reached, noting it was empty. She made her way across it to the wall and sat on it, not scared of the height.

"It's not bad, it should be fixable." Lorcan nodded and leaned against the wall next to her.

"Hmm" Rose muttered out, "sometimes I wish I could fly away and just go anywhere."

"Too bad you can't fly a broomstick."Rose sent Lorcan a glare and kicked him lightly. "Plus, your mum would kill you."

"I blame you, you know," she stated, looking up at the empty pale white sky, which had now stopped emptying its contents on them.

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"You told me to go outside that day, we could have stayed in and played Exploding Snap, but no, you had to have fun," she said sighing.

Lorcan laughed easily, "first of all, you hate Exploding Snap and it would have happened at some point anyway Rosie, remember what Chi always says. It's fate."

She kicked him for real this time and looked at the stone floor, her face shadowed by her fringe of curls and the huge woollen hat.

"Thanks anyway," she muttered as she twiddled with her gloves.

XxX

Albus had become active again, though they were nearing the porch much quicker now.

"I'm serious Scorp, 27" Albus said, gesturing the amount on his fingers unsuccessfully.

"I think James is lying to you, Al," Scorpius replied, pulling a hand through his hair and placing his hands in his trouser pockets again.

"I doubt it," Albus said harrumphing and squinting ahead of him, finally seeing Lorcan and Rose talking, Rose nearly hanging off the wall of the porch.

"Let's go over and talk," Scorpius said perkily and Al sent him an angry look, though was however dragged by the scarf onto the porch.

"Hi," Scorpius said easily and as Rose looked up, her cheeks went a deep shade of crimson and her blue eyes grew.

"Hello" she replied, slipping off the wall and standing in front of it.

Albus took a side glance at Scorpius, to see he was grinning like a fool and that Rose was looking quite flustered. Lorcan was indifferent to the whole situation, just leaning back on his elbows on the wall.

"Last night was good, wasn't it?" Scorpius asked, though he was mostly speaking to Rose than Lorcan.

She nodded and nervously turned and looked at the Black Lake before turning back.

"Did you enjoy yourself Albus?" She asked, breathing slowly to calm herself. She felt it was a good opportunity to bare her soul right now.

He had his face set in a grimace and just grunted in reply.

She stepped back unconsciously, her back hitting the wall. Her brain had taken the reply as a personal insult.

"I'm glad you did, Scorpius and I worked really hard to make it perfect." She said smiling sincerely at Albus, though he wasn't look at her, but behind her at the forest and lake. She avoided Scorpius' gaze, which she swore she could feel burning her skin.

"I bet you did," Albus replied, he looked at Rose quickly, and she caught a flash of dark emerald that was not the usual bright and happy colour Albus' eyes used to be.

"Well I enjoyed myself," Lorcan said quickly, smiling and diverting the conversation.

"Yeah, me too," Scorpius agreed with him and this caused Albus to give him a withering look.

Rose felt lost, and it could be read on her expression.

She finally looked up at Scorpius who was still sending her a beaming smile. Rose couldn't help reacting straight away, and she felt her mouth turn up into a smile without her input.

Albus looked at them both and felt his face heat up and his hands made fists.

"You did look rather beautiful, Rosie." Scorpius said grinning.

Rose didn't show the slightest sign of anger, which is what infuriated Albus even more. No one managed to call Rose 'Rosie' without her getting annoyed. What was worse, is that her smile widened.

"Thank you, you didn't look too bad yourself." She replied, a twinkle in her eyes.

Lorcan could tell the atmosphere had shifted as he watched anger continually grow on Albus' face. He leaned off the wall and stepped closer to the group, they were further away from the wall now. Much more in the centre of the porch.

"Now what about me?" Lorcan interjected, trying again to navigate the conversation onto a safer path.

"You looked beautiful too, Lorie," Rose said smiling, and patting Lorcan's shoulder.

He rolled his eyes, but he thought he saw Albus go slightly paler still.

"Jessica did look rather nice too, didn't she Al" Rose said, smiling at Albus who still wouldn't grace her with the image of his own smile.

"Not really actually, she looked as skanky as usual." Albus muttered, his hand tightening over the wand in his pocket.

Rose grimaced, but she quickly hid it, "why?" she asked, unable to complete her sentence because of her confusion.

Albus didn't reply so she took a deep breath.

"Mum sent me the weirdest letter today-," Rose started.

"I don't care," Albus interrupted, now looking directly at Rose, and his eyes going from her to Scorpius. "I don't care about a stupid letter from your mum about how great you are and how proud she is of you. How they all are." He began angrily. His hand now clenched tightly over his wand.

Rose frowned, "I don't know what-,"

"What did you both do last night?" he asked, interrupting again, even though he knew the answer.

"Nothing Al," Rose replied defensively, "what's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"Don't lie to me," he shouted now, Rose jumped and Lorcan and Scorpius stepped closer to him on either side of her. "Don't lie to me anymore."

"But Al, I don't know what you mean," Rose said, her voice shaking and trying to get in front of the two boys.

"I hate you," he said maliciously, though as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

She winced but sucked in a breath. "That's not fair, Al."

"I can tell you plenty of things that aren't fair Rose, and this isn't one of them." He replied, his hand coming from his trousers, his wand held resolutely at Rose.

Rose stepped back fearfully and Scorpius and Lorcan stepped in front of her.

"Come on Albus, this is getting a little ridiculous," Scorpius said, trying to laugh the situation off. "Just calm down mate."

Albus glared at Scorpius who frowned, Lorcan was shaking his head.

"Al, this doesn't have to go like this, now come on, just think about what you are doing. You're scaring us," Lorcan said, his hands up defensively, though empty of a wand.

"No," Albus shouted loudly, further pointing his wand at Rose, even with Lorcan and Scorpius in the way. "I'm angry," he screamed furiously.

"Let's talk about this Al," Lorcan pleaded, though Albus was gritting his teeth as if in physical pain, his eyes became slits and his breathing shallow.

"Al," Scorpius started, putting a hand on Al's shoulder, but Al, being in the wrong mindset threw a jinx unthinkingly at Scorpius, who fell to the ground in slight pain. In the same thought, Albus turned back to Rose and sent a knock-back jinx at her, and though they had stepped away from the wall, they were still rather close to the edge.

The jinx would push her two metres, and she was only one metre away from the wall.

Rose rolled over the top of it, screaming as she was just about grabbed by Lorcan as she swung across the ledge. Her feet dangling, and tears falling from her face. Lorcan was trying to pull her up, his face going red with the effort.

Albus had frozen.

Scorpius blinked hard and looked up confused, he saw Rose's hands just peeking over the wall. He got up as quickly as he could, grabbing onto her hands with Lorcan, and they slowly pulled her up over the wall.

She was sobbing, crouched against the wall, her hands wrapped around her knees.

Lorcan and Scorpius were staring at Albus with confusion and shock.

"I... I...I" Albus spluttered, hardly managing to breathe.

Rose looked up, struggling to wipe the tears from her cheeks. When she saw a lack of reaction from Albus, she slowly pulled herself up, looking at him with burning eyes. Lorcan and Scorpius were still worried, trying to get her to stop, but she pushed their hands away.

She stood straight in front of Albus, a look of intense betrayal and sadness. Her wand now held loosely in her hand, out of fear of sending a jinx or worse at Albus, Scorpius held her wand hand away from him, not wanting to make the situation worse.

"How could you do that to me?" she asked slowly, her voice and body slightly shaking.

Albus was frozen, his mouth stuck in a gape and his thoughts going all over the place.

"Fine, you've won Albus, you've finally cracked me, well done." Rose said screaming, tears still pouring down her cheeks. "Do you really want me gone from your life that badly? Do you hate me so much you'd rather let me fall of the side of the castle then let me 'have my way'. I thought we were... family. You've won! Are you happy now? I won't talk to you anymore if that's what you have strived so hard to show you want. We aren't cousins anymore. You can have Scorpius, if he is all you care about, because it seems like you don't love me like I you. I shouldn't have to deal with your abuse 24/7, it's not fair. I'm sorry that I let my feelings get in the way of what you want. But I give up, thank you Albus for making me understand why you've done all of this. If you had told me before, at least then I could have stopped myself from treating you like I wanted to be treated for so long."

Scorpius still held onto her arm but she shrugged him off, wiping the tears from her face. Albus still didn't say anything, realising his mistake, all the mistakes he had made.

Albus had always thought about finally beating Rose. Finally doing so hadn't given him the feeling he wanted. He didn't feel happy, as if he had fulfilled something, made the world a better place. He felt like a bully, he felt like a fool, an idiot, and he didn't like the feeling one bit.

"Al, what...Why would you do that?" Scorpius asked.

Albus paled even more and stuttered something incoherent, before turning and running towards the castle, he heard footsteps behind him. He quickly turned seeing Lorcan running after him, however his wand was not in his hand.

He felt disgusted in himself. He did love Rose even if he had said otherwise. Always.

He continued running, Lorcan shouting at him to slow down, but he didn't let up. Not until he reached an unfamiliar corridor somewhere on the 7th floor, and he stopped by an unusual tapestry of trolls doing ballet.

Lorcan stopped a couple of metres behind him, frowning.

"Albus, are you literally insane? You could have killed her! Then what would you have done?" Lorcan shouted, his face going red with anger.

"I, I" Albus couldn't hold it back any longer, he started to cry, turning on himself and walking back and forth. "I'm sorry, I didn't- I wasn't thinking, I was being stupid, and I, oh God, Lorcan what's wrong with me? I can't stop acting like an idiot, I feel so ill, I feel so sick of myself." He cried out, turning a third time and walking. "I'm such a vile person, I can't believe I did that, I can't believe I keep on doing this."

Albus heard a grating sound and swiftly turned, it sounded as if a crank was being pulled, a loud pop happened, and a door appeared.

He slowly wiped at his eyes, and turned to the door.

"Albus look, just talk to me, I can help you." Lorcan said, lowering his tone.

Albus shook his head quickly, combing his hands through his hair and turning towards the door. He pulled it open, stopping for a moment before entering the room.

"Don't go in there Albus!" Lorcan shouted after him, as the door shut. He quickly ran towards it, tugging it open and following Albus in.

The door shut behind him, and he turned but it had already disappeared. Albus had crawled into the corner, next to what looked like a severely burnt wardrobe.

The room was a mess, there were pieces of burnt furniture, mannequins, smashed glass, books, various pillows and smashed lamps.

"Where are we?" Lorcan asked, edging closer to Albus.

Albus shook his head, covering his face with his hands.

"Come on Al, I know you would never really hurt Rose like that, just tell me what's wrong and we can fix this."

"We can't fix it, I can't fix this. I've ruined everything, just leave me in here. I deserve to be punished for the way I've treated Rose, I've been selfish and horrible for so long." Albus replied feebly, sniffling and crying into his coat sleeves as he held himself in the small corner.

Lorcan sighed and turned back to the space where the door was, feeling the wall for the handle or the edge. It was just flat wall, and there was no sign of another exit in the whole destroyed room.

"Albus don't be like this, you fell apart, it happens sometimes, but it's still fixable." Lorcan started, noting that he couldn't find a door on this wall.

"It's all my fault, you don't understand Lorcan, you'd never understand. You have your brother and your mum and your dad, your family isn't like mine. You wouldn't understand, especially what it's like to be the biggest git."

"You're not that bad Al, just –"

"No, I am" Albus interrupted, "that's what it's all been about, I'm a git, and Rose is... Rose. Perfect perfect perfect, I'm not."

"No one is perfect Al, and I can definitely say that Rose isn't." Lorca replied, making his way over to the wardrobe, and sitting on a charred box.

"Stop it Lorcan, just let me fucking die in here." Albus said angrily, looking up at Lorcan and sending him a harsh look.

"Even if I wanted to leave, I can't, there isn't a door. Stop being dramatic Albus, we've got to talk about this. You need to understand that you don't need to compare yourself to Rose, you are just as special. Just because she likes Scorpius, wouldn't ever mean he wasn't your best friend anymore Al." Lorcan said soothingly.

Albus looked around for a door quickly, before looking back at Lorcan; "you don't know what it's like being second fiddle to Rose Weasley, and you'll never understand how I feel."

Lorcan stared at Albus earnestly before saying; "well tell me how you feel then. Because it looks as if this room won't be letting us out for a while."

WOW

:D THANK YOU. Can you guess where they are? ;)

X

Review! I beg of you!