A/N: Sorry for the almost-two-month absence. Life's been hectic (still is, to be honest). Anyway I don't know if it's good or bad news, but I think this story is going to end soon. Not sure when exactly, but chapter 25 is most probably the last one. Don't take my words yet though, I might write more.

Well, I hope you enjoy this.

Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me.

CHAPTER 23

Scorpius blinked. Twice. And looked up to stare at the corner where Rose has disappeared just now. He couldn't believe what just happened. Rose Weasley, the girl he was currently in love with, had kissed him! Not on the lips like what he sometimes imagined doing (hey, he's a bloke!), but it's close enough.

His heart started pounding faster as he touched the spot at the side of his mouth. Much to his disappointment, he couldn't really remember the taste of her lips because it happened so quickly for him to respond. He just recalled that he said something to her about having fun, and all of the sudden she kissed him. And before he knew it, she ran away. He thought he heard a thank you, but he wasn't sure. His mind was a blur after that peck.

He blushed. Wouldn't it mean that she somehow liked him back? Why else would she kiss him if she only thought of him as a best friend? Best friends don't kiss each other on the corner of the lips. Right?

Scorpius was brought back out of his own little world by a sudden shove on the arm. He looked to his right to see his roommate who just bumped into him.

"Ah, sorry, Scor," his friend said with an apologetic smile. "Didn't see you there."

He just smiled at the retreating figure, possibly going up to their bedroom.

And then he realised something: he's standing near the stairs that led to the students' dorms. He'd been on that exact location for the past five minutes. It was where Rose and he parted ways after their small 'date' to the Hogsmeade. Where the kiss happened.

He widened his eyes and turned around to find himself staring at the number of students sitting in the Common Room. Even though there were only six people at most (it was dinner time), he still felt shocked because Rose kissed him where anybody could have noticed. He silently gasped and mumbled, "Dear Merlin, help me."

His eyes then spotted the Potter brothers on the sofa they always occupied whenever the Common Room was quite empty. Hoping not to draw attention to himself, he fast-walked towards them. As he reached his destination, he hurriedly plopped down next to Albus who looked up from doing his homework.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," James made a comment before smirking. "Well not like you don't see them here every day."

Albus rolled his eyes. "Well, how was the date?"

"Err, it was fine actually. Great, even." He then paused, looking at the burning wood in the fireplace in front of them. "We had fun, just walking around and talking with each other." He nodded and smiled at the two friends beside him. But the smile quickly disappeared. "Something … happened though."

"Good or bad?" asked Albus.

Scorpius blushed again and looked down, not daring to lock eyes with the other two. "Good." He shouldn't have said it. Once they found out what really happened, they would surely make fun of him. And they would tell Rose and she would avoid him until they graduated. Or worse, until they're all dead and probably haunting the future generation.

James narrowed his eyes at his antics. He's being suspicious. "Scor, did you do something to her?"

The blond boy blinked and looked up angrily. "Why did you assume that I did something to her?" What is it with people thinking that it must be the bloke who has done something to the girl? Why can't it be the other way around? Rose had proved him right with the incident just now.

"Because you're blushing, mate," he replied. "For all I know, you might have snogged her."

Scorpius looked away, his cheeks and neck getting even redder. I should have just gone upstairs to get ready for bed, even though it's still so early. Now everything was out in the open, there's nothing he could do but admit. I just have to pray that Rose wouldn't murder me for telling these two.

Albus and James gasped and leaned in closer. "You did?"

"She kissed me," he finally mumbled after shaking his head. Before the others could ask more questions, he added, "Not on my forehead." He paused for a few seconds and gestured to the spot on his face after that. "Here."

Albus had his eyes wide open. "She did?" he asked softly. "Where?"

"Near the stairs just now."

"Where anyone could have seen?" James leaned back into his seat. "Wow, isn't she brave."

"How was it like?" Albus asked, also leaning back. "The kiss."

Scorpius turned to look at him. "It was more like a peck, actually. And she did it so fast, I couldn't do anything." He paused again. "She ran to her room after that."

The oldest boy tilted his head slightly. "I wonder why I didn't hear them coming in." He turned to his brother. "Did you?" As soon as he got a headshake from him, he looked at Scorpius. "This is weird. I mean there are not that many people right now. And it's really silent, except for a few laughs now and then. So of course we would have heard the door open."

He shrugged off his shoulders. He also wondered himself why these two didn't bother looking up when he and Rose entered the Common Room. Either they were too busy with their homework, or he and Rose were as quiet as mice (even though in reality it was the opposite). Then again, it was better for them to just be ignored because he didn't think he could handle the teasing.

"What time did you return?"

"10 minutes ago, I guess. Didn't check."

It was Albus' turn to shrug his shoulders. "I guess we're too immersed in our work," he said before continuing to do his deserted homework.

Scorpius had to fight the urge to laugh at the response. But he reckoned his friend had a point. He remembered joking around with Rose even when they're already inside the Common Room. Then again, she seemed to space out at some point for a bit. She only responded to him after they reached the stairs.

Maybe that's when she contemplated about the action she was about to do?

He immediately blushed at his own thought, diverting his attention to the fireplace. He hoped the others would think that the reason why his cheeks had turned red was because he's currently staring at the fire in front of them. He didn't need any mockery from anyone because he thoroughly enjoyed the date. He also liked the small peck even though it happened less than a second. Well, he would have loved it if he was more aware of it.

He blushed again. I really have to do something about this. People would think that I'm coming down with something.

"Scor!"

The person being called blinked and turned his face to Albus whose eyebrows were raised. He took a glance at James who's smirking at the moment. Great. He inaudibly cleared his throat. "What?"

"It's your turn to be too immersed in your 'work'," James said, making an air quote with his fingers for the last word.

Scorpius narrowed his eyes and sent him a set of glares that he hoped they could be called as death glares. He turned to Albus and repeated his question.

"Have you finished with your homework?"

For a moment, he just blinked a few times. Then a heartbeat later, he widened his eyes, seemingly realising that he had a lot to do for Potions. He abruptly got up from his seat and ran to the dorm upstairs. He could faintly hear the brothers laughing at his antics just as he rounded the corner.

The next morning came. With tired eyes for not getting enough sleep last night, Albus and Scorpius walked down to the Great Hall. Since it was quite late, there were not that many people left in the big room. But before they got to their usual place for their breakfast, someone – she – was there. Scorpius halted and pulled his friend's hand to do the same.

"Hmm, what is it?" asked Albus, with a sleepy voice. He only looked at the companion beside him, tilting his head slightly.

"She's here."

Albus frowned. "Who?" Without waiting for a response, he turned his face to see where exactly Scorpius was looking at. He then mumbled an "Oh". But unfortunately he still couldn't get why they had to stop in the middle of nowhere. He looked back to his friend. "So?"

"Do you not remember what happened last night?" he hissed exasperatedly.

The green-eyed boy frowned again, not really following what the other person was saying. "I'm hungry, mate." He pulled his hand away from Scorpius' grasp and walked towards Rose, completely ignoring the incomprehensive sentence coming out of his mouth. "Hey, Rosie."

The girl looked up from the book she's currently reading and put a smile as soon as she noticed who it was who greeted her. "Hello. You're a bit late today."

"Yeah we were doing Potions last night."

Seeing that Rose was no different from usual, Scorpius walked to where the two were sitting. He reckoned she might even forget what she did to him yesterday. He might just be exaggerating. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, was there? It was just a small peck, for Merlin's sake.

"Hello, Scorpius."

He looked up at the sweet voice. He found himself staring at her usual smile but he could have sworn it's accompanied by a blush on both of her cheeks. As he took a seat beside Albus, he replied her with his own bashful smile. I guess I'm not the only who's shy about it.

A/N: Thanks for reading and don't forget to review please. Til next time..

P.S: Anyone in Pottermore? Should we be friends over there too? ;]