*Disclaimer* All original plotlines, characters, settings etc. belong to the lovely Ms. J.K. Rowling. Much thanks for letting me borrow them :)

*Author's Note** Due to my lack of power from Hurricane Sandy and lack of inspiration after my power came back, this chapter is a bit late, as might the next one be.

Rose ran the entire way from the Slytherin dungeons to the Gryffindor common room and up to the girls dormitory without stopping. Out of breath, she flopped miserably onto her bed.

She wondered why she felt like crying. Was it because she wished Scorpius Malfoy hadn't been her first kiss? Or maybe it was because she wished she hadn't had to go and ruin it out of pride.

On one hand, he was a snarky, annoying, spoiled brat.

On the other hand, his grey-blue eyes, pale blond hair, and Quidditch-sculpted body weren't exactly bad to look at. And besides that, he had been almost bearable tonight. He was excellent at flirting.

"Rose, is that you?" Asked a soft and heavily irish-accented voice.

Rose tried to take a deep breath, then said shakily, "hey, Siobhan."

"So, the party didn't go great?"

"Uh, it's not that, just..." She trailed off for a second, but the incident she was about to tell weighed heavily on her tongue. "Scorpius Malfoy kissed me."

"And you're upset?" Rose thought she caught a bit of resentment in Siobhan's tone.

"I didn't ask him to!" Rose said quickly. 'It's not like we're..."

"No, no. But, you don't like him? Even a little?"

"He's a jerk."

"Maybe he just likes you."

Rose let out a muffled, sarcastic bark of laughter into her pillow. "He has a funny way of showing it."

"I think kissing someone is a pretty good way of showing them you like them."

"Not that way. He was so strange about. Told me he wanted me to leave and then it sort of came all out of the blue."

"Maybe he was too nervous that you wouldn't take it well."

"He could've grown a pair and told me." Rose muttered, her voice still stifled.

"Well, how did you react?"

Rose said something incomprehensible and angry sounding into her pillow that distinctly end with the word "jackass."

"Come again?" Siobhan asked, sounding slightly offended.

"I sort of just...ran..." she muttered.

Rose took it that Siobhan had proven her point as she said nothing more. She heard the clink of her roommate's glasses on her night stand and the rustling of covers. Finally, Rose removed the pillow and looked out into her bed canopy, eyes focused on nothing in particular.

Yes, Scorpius hit on her all the time, but he was just making fun of her. If he really liked her, he would just ask her out already. Then again, Slytherins were not known for being bold and brave.

Or maybe this was all some sort of a sick joke, or a bet. Maybe all his Slytherin friends were just waiting to see if he could get her in bed with him. The thought that she was just another one of the many girls that always eventually succumbed to the charms of Scorpius Malfoy made her sick to her stomach.

Rose heard the door open with a groan and slid down into her comforter as the light from outside the dorm filled the gap in her canopy. The door creaked shut again and the swish of Lorelei's slippers passed her bed. When she was finally sure Lorelei's canopy was drawn, Rose sat up. She massaged her temples gently, then slid her feet out of the comfort of her bed. Carefully, Rose tiptoed out of the dormitory and down the twisting stair case to the Gryffindor common room.

She looked around, taking in the empty common room with tired eyes, then sank into an overstuffed armchair. Finally, as the warmth of a dying fire spread over her face, she slept.

"Rose...? Rose Weasley? ROSE!"

The sleeping girl groaned and blinked, then rubbed her eyes into focus. Leaning over her was a tall, reedy boy with light brown hair and glasses almost as thick as Siobhan's. Through her sleep-induced haze, she couldn't quite remember his name. She had always been shit at names.

"Are you okay?"

Rose tried to speak, but her voice came as a croak. Turning pink, she cleared her throat. "I'm fine, thanks."

"Hey! Scott, practice starts in 15 minutes!" Came another voice from behind Rose's chair.

That was it, Scott Finnegan, Siobhan's twin brother. She knew that. Rose stretched and rubbed her neck tenderly, realizing how ridiculous she must look in her white dress and last-night's makeup.

"What time is it?"

"Almost 11." Scott answered, turning to face his Quidditch friend. "Hope you feel better."

11:00. 11:00 on a Saturday morning. Something was happening, but what? Rose racked her brain, sure there was somewhere she was supposed to be. She massaged her neck again, then jumped, remembering suddenly where she was supposed to be in 15 minutes.

**Author's Note** I have nothing to say. Literally nothing. In my author's note. So...you know. Review. Please. I'm begging you. I only do this for your entertainment.