A/N: I am really sorry about the long wait. I had four assignments due this month - actually there's one more left - so I couldn't continue this on my Easter break a few weeks ago. Anyway thank you for those who have been patient enough. Well without further ado, this is chapter 3. Enjoy!

Oh just a bit warning: the ending in my opinion is a bit off. Sorry..

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling.

CHAPTER 3

"Morning, Scor!" greeted Rose when she spotted him eating alone at the Great Hall. "Aren't you early this morning?" she said with a smile on her face, taking a seat across from him.

"Good morning, Rose!" he replied with also a smile on his face. "How are you this lovely morning?"

Rose tilted her head, looking at him as though she's talking to someone else. But she decided to answer his question, "I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm fantastic, thanks for asking."

She laughed. "Had a really good sleep, then?" she asked while pouring some pumpkin juice into her goblet.

"What made you think so?"

"Well for one, you're eating here alone which means you got up really early without waking Albus. Second is that you just asked me how I was this lovely morning. And you said you're fantastic," she said before taking a sip of her drink. "So I reckon you had a really nice sleep." Rose suddenly smirked. "Or you've seen someone that caught your eye today."

You have no idea, thought Scorpius. "Well all I can tell you is that I did have a really nice sleep last night. As for the other one you mentioned," he then shook his head, "it's a secret."

Rose widened her eyes. "Why? Is it because I know this someone? Who is this lucky girl?"

Scorpius just grinned noticing how enthusiastic she became. "I'm still not telling even if you beg me."

She pouted her lips. "Come on, Scor. Just tell me who this girl is."

"Why do you want to know? And what gave you the idea that someone caught my eye? I didn't say that."

"I want to know because I want to make sure that the girl is perfect for you."

He inwardly snorted.

"And for the second question: you didn't exactly deny it. So I really think someone did catch your eye." Rose leaned closer to him, causing his heart to pound faster. "Who is this girl?"

"What girl?"

Scorpius had never felt more relieved when he heard the voice of his friend. He let out his breath as he motioned Albus to sit next to him.

"Your friend here fancies some girl and he refused to tell me who it is."

"Really?" asked Albus, chuckling. He abruptly stopped when Scorpius kicked his foot and glared at him. He cleared his throat. "Err, did he tell you that?"

"Well, not really." Rose immediately help up her hand, knowing full well that her cousin was going to interrupt her. "But he's acting really weird today."

"What's so weird about asking how you are?"

She continued, ignoring Scorpius' question, "He woke up earlier than me, he asked me how I was this lovely morning, and when I asked him how he was, do you know the answer?"

"What did he say?" prompted Albus, looking really interested.

"He's fantastic," she answered, causing Albus to laugh loudly. "Don't you think it's a bit suspicious?"

Scorpius just rolled his eyes and continued his deserted breakfast. He then punched Albus on the arm as he realised that Albus couldn't seem to stop laughing.

"OWW!! All right, I'll stop laughing!" Albus' left hand went to rub the arm that was the victim of his friend's brutal attack. He then looked at his cousin. "Rose, it might just be because he's had a really nice sleep or dream last night."

It was Rose's turn to roll her eyes. "Even if he did –"

"I did!"

"Even if he did, he wouldn't say fantastic," Rose had once again ignored him. "Fantastic is too big for an answer to a question like that."

Albus then started filling up his plate with food and his goblet with some juice. "Why do you want to know who it is, anyway? If someone did catch his eye." He suddenly looked up, his right hand stopping in mid-air from reaching for his spoon. "You're not jealous, are you?"

"I am not!" exclaimed Rose, her face blushing like a tomato.

Albus and Scorpius, despite himself, snorted.

"Oh, shut it," she mumbled, joining her cousin to fill up her plate. "You both know why I want to know."

"No, we don't actually."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Well if you must know, I'm looking after you, Scor."

"Why?"

"We're best friends, aren't we? Best friends look after each other."

Scorpius looked really disappointed after he heard the words 'best friends'. But he quickly smiled as Rose looked up at him. "Thanks, Rose."

"You're welcome," she replied with a beautiful smile, melting him. She then began eating her breakfast, chatting with her cousin once in awhile. All Scorpius did was take a sip on his juice, just listening to what they were talking about.

Or maybe he wasn't listening at all. He's just staring at his goblet and occasionally at the girl sitting in front of him.

"Let's go, mate."

Scorpius looked up, startled. Yes, I didn't hear anything they said. "Where are we going?"

"Our class is starting in a few minutes, Scor," answered Rose, her eyes narrowed.

He looked around to see that almost every table was empty. He must have been daydreaming about ... wait, what was I daydreaming about? I don't even remember. He shook his head and stood up with his bag on his hand.

"You really are weird today," Rose muttered before going to her class by herself. "See you two in class."

As soon as she was out of view and hearing range, Albus turned to his friend. "You didn't listen to a word we were saying, did you Scor?"

Scorpius just shook his head and smiled. "Sorry, mate," he said before walking away, Albus following not too far behind, "What were you two talking about?"

"Just about our Christmas break. Oh which reminds me," he turned to look at Scorpius, "Do you think you can come to the Burrow for a day or two?"

Scorpius took a glance at his friend before looking back in front. "You really think the whole family doesn't mind me there?"

"Of course they don't. The more, the merrier." Albus paused. "Besides, I'm sure Rose really wants her family to get to know you better."

His face turned red. Clearing his throat, he asked, "How'd you know?"

Albus chuckled. "She kept looking at you whenever one of us mentioned the Burrow or Christmas. Of course you didn't notice that since you were so engrossed in your drink."

"And that's the only reason why you're so sure she wants me to come?" As a response, his companion just nodded, causing Scorpius to roll his eyes. "That doesn't make any sense." He then mumbled, "She didn't even tell me about it."

"Well I just told you," said Albus who then realised that Scorpius' face had turned even redder. "Oh, you want her to tell you?" He chuckled again before hitting Scorpius on the back. "Look, if you want her to ask you to come, you should be the one to first mention about this Christmas break and ask her what she'll be doing. I'm sure she'll ask you then."

Scorpius stopped as they had just arrived at the front of their class. He turned to Albus. "Why are you so sure these days? What if she doesn't want me to come?"

"She does; trust me," replied Albus before hitting him again. He was going to walk inside the class when he remembered something, "Oh about before; just because you two are best friends, doesn't mean that you can't change that."

"Change what?" His ears only caught the word 'change' as he saw her talking and laughing with her friends in the class they were getting in. Albus must have realised that since he hit his shoulder harshly this time. "OWW!!" exclaimed Scorpius, his hand immediately went to his shoulder. "What was that for?"

"For not listening to a word I was saying. Again."

"I was listening!"

"Really?" asked Albus, his brow raised. "What was I saying?"

Scorpius scratched the back of his head, a sign that he was nervous. "Err, something about change." As he saw Albus tilting his head slightly, he continued, "Okay, I wasn't listening. I'm sorry. My mind was –"

"Not only your mind, Scor, your eyes were somewhere else too."

"Well, is it my fault that she's standing right there where I can see?" asked Scorpius in a low voice.

"It's not her fault either because this is her class too. Your father doesn't own the class, mate." Albus paused before realising something, "He doesn't, does he?"

Scorpius shook his head. "I don't think so. If he does, he might have told me earlier." He shook his head again and looked at his friend. "So anyway, what were you saying? Something about change."

Albus sighed before answering, "Just because you two are best friends, doesn't mean that you can't change that. You have time, don't worry about it."

"I still don't –"

"Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy! Please take your seats, the class is starting!"

Both Albus and Scorpius ran into the class causing the other students to snicker. They took their seats just behind Rose.

"What took you two so long? I thought you were just behind me," she whispered.

"You don't want to know."

A/N: Don't forget to review. Til next time..