A/N: I actually finished this a week after the latest chapter. Hopefully I can maintain this quick update. I seriously have nothing else to do anyway.

Disclaimer: Every character belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 12

"Scorpius!"

The person being called looked up from his plate. It turned out to be Rose, who was holding something in her hand, running towards him from the other side of the Great Hall. I wonder why she has to run and scream my name from across the hall.

"I think she's going to ask you about the quill she got," mumbled Albus, eating his dinner.

"That or she just wants to show off that she got a new one," said James.

"Or she just wants to ask me something else," said Scorpius. "Judging by the way she runs, I guess it's quite important."

"Shows how much he actually knows her," James mumbled to his brother sitting on his left. Albus chuckled after hearing the comment from the older brother, whereas Scorpius snorted.

Rose finally arrived at their seats. She then sat just beside him, panting as she just ran. "Scorpius," she called out to him, seconds after her breath was normal again.

"Yes?"

"I've got something to tell you," she said. "Something important."

From the corner of his eyes, he saw the Potters trying hard to stifle their laughs as Scorpius actually guessed it correctly. Scorpius, himself, tried his hardest not to roll his eyes as Rose was waiting for a response from him. "And that is?" he said to her.

"I just got an owl from my Mum," answered Rose, waving the letter that she was holding in her hand before (and I thought it was my gift). "You remember that I asked you whether you could come to the Burrow this Christmas break?"

James and Albus stopped eating, while Scorpius calmly nodded.

"I already asked for her, and of course my Dad's permission and they said OK," she said. "They even said that you're allowed to spend some nights over there."

"You actually asked Scorpius first before you asked your parents?" asked James, smiling.

Rose just narrowed her eyes at him before turning to look at Scorpius again. "So since you have their permissions, you are welcome to visit m-us!" She blushed. "You are welcome to visit us," she repeated slowly.

Scorpius smiled as he realised that she almost said 'me' instead of 'us'. He still felt happy though as he was invited to come to the Burrow.

"Have you asked your parents yet?" asked Rose, still blushing.

"As a matter of fact, I did," answered Scorpius. "And I'll be visiting you all most probably in the Christmas afternoon." He paused. "Unfortunately though, I don't think I can spend some nights there. My parents and I are going to visit my grandparents on the next day."

He could see that she was a bit disappointed. "That's okay. As long as you come."

"Out of curiosity, why do you want Scorpius to come so badly?" asked Albus.

"Why do you ask?" Rose asked him back. "Jealous that I asked him, and not you?"

Albus smiled. "I'm always invited so you don't have to ask me," he replied. "So what is the answer?"

"The more, the merrier," she answered. "Am I not allowed to invite my friend over?"

"Of course you are," said Albus. "I'm just curious that you invited a bloke, instead of your friends who are girls."

Suddenly Rose smirked. "Albus, my dear cousin," she said before she leaned in closer. "If you want my friends to come to the Burrow, just say so. You don't have to be shy about it."

It was Albus' turn to blush causing the other three started laughing.

"You do?" asked James, making sure that he comprehended correctly.

Albus shoved his brother's shoulder. "I didn't say that; Rose did," he said, childishly. He then turned his head to his cousin. "What I meant was: why didn't you invite them? Because then I could invite Scorpius here to come and visit us." He narrowed his eyes. "Are you not close with your friends?"

Still smiling, Rose replied, "They already had plans. Besides," she then looked at Scorpius, "this is the least he could do after I've helped him do his extra work not too long ago."

"Thank you by the way," said Scorpius whose heart was beating quickly as he saw her smiling at him.

"Oh, thanks for reminding me. I have to show you all something," said Rose, suddenly looking for something in her bag. "Though I'm sure you lot heard that I got another gift from that mysterious boy." Succeeded in finding that something, she took it out and showed it to the boys. It was a box with a quill inside.

Scorpius' heart started to pound faster once more.

She opened the box and took the quill out. "I got a quill from him." She turned it around to show the others the inscriptions at the bottom. "And he even got it inscribed with my initials on it."

"Wow," James made a comment; he acted as if he didn't know anything about it. He took the quill from his cousin's hand. "It looks great." His eyes wandered to Scorpius for a while before smiling at Rose.

"It does, doesn't it?" said Rose, taking back the quill. "The inscriptions are perfect. I think he went to the quill shop and asked the person there to have it inscribed." She looked at her initials as if they could give her some answer. "This must be expensive."

It's not. I should've given you more if I know you're like this.

Rose sighed. "Too bad; I still don't know who the mysterious boy is," she said. "Had I known, I could thank him for sending me this wonderful gift."

"Which one do you like the most: the rose or this quill?" asked Scorpius, carefully.

"Both of them are wonderful," she said, still looking at the quill rather than her friends. "I can't decide." She paused. "Rose was unusual. I didn't expect anyone to give me a rose. Then again, it's probably because of my name." She paused again. "The quill … It was very thoughtful of him. I was going to buy a new one on the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend."

Without her knowing it, the other three boys shared a smile.

"It's a surprise that he knew my intention to buy a new quill."

"He knows you so well then," said Albus.

James suddenly stepped on his brother's shoe, worried that Albus just gave out a clue to Rose as to whom the sender was. "It might be because he thought you write a lot. So he bought you a quill."

"Why not a parchment then?" asked Rose. "Or maybe an ink."

Maybe I should have bought her a whole set.

"You can't inscribe both of the items you mentioned, my dear Rosie."

"That's true," she said, sighing.

"You know, you sound disappointed that he didn't buy you those two things," said Albus. He widened his eyes. "Don't tell me that you expected more?"

Rose smiled. "I'm allowed to expect more, am I not?"

"He might as well just buy every single thing you need," mumbled James.

It was Scorpius' turn to step on James' shoe. He gave the older friend a look that said, "Don't give her the idea. I don't own a shop."

It seemed like James got the idea as he saw him mouthing, "I'm sorry."

"Well, I'd better get eating then," said Rose. "I have some work to do."

The four of them then talked more about the upcoming Christmas break until Rose had to go to the library.

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