Chapter Four
Bonding with the Enemy

Rose avoided Scorpius for an entire week after that, refusing to even so much as look at him. When Friday afternoon found them sitting once again in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Jessica leaned over the space between her and Rose and asked her why, exactly, she was affected by this the way she was.

"Because, Jess," Rose whispered, not taking her eyes off the essay she was writing, "we're suppose to hate each other, and now he's gone and messed that up by liking me!"

Jessica sighed and went back to her own work.

By now, Jim Hawkins had been cured of whatever it was Scorpius had done to him. Hawkins was terrified of Malfoy now, and when he first saw Rose he merely nodded in her direction, eyes wide with fright and throwing worried glances every now and again at Scorpius.

Albus finished his essay, distracting Rose for a moment as he stood up and handed it in to Professor Johnson. As he came back to their table, Rose's disobedient eyes found Scorpius, who was staring blankly at his already completed essay. One of his friends nudged him and his head snapped up and he looked at her, smiling slightly.

Rose's heart began to race and she looked away quickly and tried to concentrate on her work, but found herself, once again, glancing up at him every few moments or so.

She thought back to what Jessica had asked her moments before.

Maybe it bothered her so much because she fancied him too.

Her unwelcome thoughts were interrupted as Professor Johnson cleared his throat and demanded their attention.

"As some of you may know, this year is the first year we are allowed to take an overnight trip into the Forbidden Forest."

Those who didn't know this blinked in surprise, but the others had found out from something or another.

Johnson, looking slightly amused, continued. "It will take place next weekend. The Headmistress has decided that it will be this particular class allowed to take the trip."

Hesitant cheers erupted from the students. In the forest . . . overnight? It was one thing to go during the day . . . .

Rose, however, was feeling excited.

Jessica, always one to voice her worries and fears, raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Poe?"

"Aren't there werewolves in the forest?"

A group of misfit boys howled at her, and she blushed.

"That's enough, boys," Johnson said in a warning tone. "Yes, Ms. Poe. There are werewolves, so brush up on your defensive skills. Not many spells can stop a full-fledged werewolf, so be prepared. And do know, that this trip is part of your final grade, so those who don't attend can say goodbye to a passing grade this semester!" He finished picking up the rest of their work and then sat at his desk and began to grade them.

Johnson allowed them to talk quietly amongst themselves until the signal was given at the end of the class, then he dismissed them and Rose gathered up her books, telling Albus and Jessica who were waiting for her to go on ahead.

After everyone had left, she approached Johnson's desk.

"Ah, Ms. Weasley. What can I do for you?"

"Will we be unaccompanied in the forest?" asked Rose.

Johnson grinned at her. "The Headmistress doesn't quite like the idea, but yes, Ms. Weasley, you will be."

Rose smiled. "That sounds exciting."

"It will be. But rest assure, Ms. Weasley, if things get out of hand, the staff will be nearby. Just don't tell anybody else." He winked at her and she took that as her dismissal.

When she exited the classroom she found Malfoy waiting for her, like she knew he would be.

"What do you want?" she asked wearily, not in the mood to fight with him again.

He didn't say anything as he fell into step beside her. They continued on in silence until they were almost to dinner. As they were walking down the marble staircase he finally spoke. "I saw you smiling at me."

"I wasn't smiling."

"Yes, you were."

"No, I wasn't."

He started to laugh softly and she glared at him. "Stop that!"

"Stop what?" he asked her innocently.

"Pretending!" she exploded, throwing her hands up in defeat, all her impatience towards his inappropriate behavior for the past week catching up with her.

"I'm not pretending, Rose."

She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at him. He continued on for a few steps before noticing he had gotten ahead of her. She was still at the top of the stairs, Scorpius at the bottom.

"What?" he asked, gazing up at her.

"You called me . . . Rose."

"Yeah, that's your name. Rose."

She slowly shook her head. "You usually call me Weasley, or Weaslette, or Weaslebee, or - "

"Why pretend I don't like you when you know that I do? What's the point?"

Rose only stared at him as she slowly walked down the steps to rejoin him. She suddenly glared at him again, her anger back. "Don't expect me to like you back, or anything."

"I don't. I'd rather have you hate me then feel nothing at all. You know what they say: Hatred is almost as strong as love. Or something like that."

Rose rolled her eyes at him, indicating she had never heard something more ridiculous. "For six years you have insulted me, laughed at me, and made me cry. It's going to take a lot more than kind words and sweet smiles for me to forgive you."

She glanced at him when he didn't say anything. He was smiling -smiling!- to himself, looking happier than she had ever seen him before.

She looked straight ahead again as they walked into the Great Hall, and for once she didn't care that everyone was staring as she slowly started to smile. Everyone knew Scorpius liked her, but they never would have guessed that she might like him too.

. . .

Rose was just sitting down at a table in the library on Saturday morning, novel in hand, when she was joined by Garrett Bellorum. She smiled at him to acknowledge his presence, then opened her book and started to read. Glancing at her every now and again he copied her actions, opening up a much smaller book.

Minutes crept by, Rose enjoying the silence but Garrett, it seemed, was not.

"Um . . . Rose?"

"Hmmm?" she said distractedly, eyes still on the page.

"I . . . uh . . . need to tell you something."

She slowly looked up. Garrett looked nervous, where he usually carried himself with confidence and slight arrogant pride.

"Yes?" she prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"I uh . . . really . . . sort of . . . ."

Rose's eyes widened. Not another one.

"Like you!" he blurted out. He blushed and folded his arms tightly across his Quidditch Player's chest, glaring at his book. "I messed that up," he muttered.

Rose sighed, and he looked up at the sound. He was relieved she wasn't angry, but deeply disappointed when he saw no emotion whatsoever on her face.

"Here's the problem, Garrett," she said gently, reaching across and putting a comforting hand on his forearm. "You like me as more than just a friend. I like you only as a friend. Do you understand?"

He nodded hesitantly.

Rose smiled and returned to her book. "Good."

"Rose?"

She sighed, knowing he wouldn't give up that easily. "Yes, Garrett?"

"Can you at least consider me? I know it's a pretty hard pick between me and Malfoy, but, you know. Just consider it."

He stood up, surprised her by kissing her on the cheek, and then left. Rose had frozen when he had mentioned Scorpius, feeling shocked . . . and embarrassed.

Her mood suddenly spoiled, she closed her book and left the library. She needed to talk to someone about all of this. Jessica was an option, and so was Lily, but neither were her first choice.

. . .

Rose climbed the steps to the owlery, letter clutched tightly in her hand, the slight wind blowing her hair around her face. As she reached the top she sighed again when she saw Scorpius there as well. He smiled at her, causing her to frown.

She gently called her owl down from the rafters, and the majestic bird perched on her arm as she led it over to the window, passing by Scorpius without so much as a glance in his direction.

After Rose made sure that the letter was secure she watched the owl take off into the clear blue sky.

"What's his name?" Scorpius suddenly asked her. "The owl's?

She jumped, startled, then turned to look at him. "Remus. You know, named after Remus Lupin. He was a good friend of my parents."

"Right. The werewolf, correct?"

"Yes," she said, noticing how oddly formal he was being. He caught her watching him and smiled, nodding at his own letter.

"Writing to mum. In Azkaban. You know the rest."

A smile escaped her lips. Writing to his mum . . . that was sweet of him.

"Are you going on the overnight trip?" he asked casually, calling down a large eagle owl. She watched him carry the owl to the window, forcing the stubborn bird's beak open. The owl snapped at his fingers and nipped one, causing him to shake it in pain. "Stupid bird," he muttered, forcing it open again and shoving the letter in its mouth. "Behave for mum, will you?"

He threw the owl, none to gently, out the window, it dropping several feet before gaining control of its wings.

"This is the third time, you know," he said as they walked out of the owlery together.

"Third time what?" she asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

"Third time we've talked to each other without screaming in each other's faces," said Scorpius. "And please don't ruin it by starting to yell at me, Rose."

She blinked in surprise. He had said please and Rose in the same sentence.

He started to laugh softly, watching her. "You're adorable when you're confused."

"I am?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He nodded, still watching her with those stormy gray eyes.

"Yes. You are."

. . .

Rose decided to give Scorpius a chance, so that was how Albus found them sitting at the edge of the lake under the beech tree that was favored by so many.

"Uh . . . hi, Rosie," Albus said, glancing at Scorpius who was beaming at his giggling cousin.

"Hey, Al. How are you?"

"I'm good."

"Why don't you sit down?" she suggested, patting the space next to her.

"As appealing as that sounds, Jessica just sent me to find you."

"Oh," said Rose, glancing at Scorpius and smiling. "Did she tell you why?"

"No. She just wondered where you had gotten off to."

Rose smiled fondly at Scorpius. "Tell her I've been spending time with a very good friend."

Albus turned on his heel and stalked off, but Rose didn't notice the abrupt manner in which he had left, too distracted by Scorpius's smiling face.

"Did you really run into a tree the first time you were on a broomstick?" she asked, smiling.

"Hey, I was three!"

Rose threw back her head and laughed, her beautiful brown hair cascading all around her small frame. Without thinking she threw her arms around his waist and laughed harder, unable to contain herself as her shoulders shook with the force of her uncontrollable giggling. Rose suddenly noticed what she was doing and sat up abruptly, staring at him with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

He grinned crookedly at her, causing her to smile slightly. "It's fine," he said softly.

Rose, like many times before, broke eye contact first, blushing at her shoes. Scorpius continued to smile at her for a moment before he looked away too.

"Father was upset," continued Scorpius, glancing at her.

"Because you were hurt?"

Scorpius snorted, causing Rose to look at him. "No. Because I broke his first broomstick."

Rose's face split into a huge grin. "That's . . . that's horrible!"

Scorpius beamed at her again. "It is, isn't it?"

Rose started to laugh again, nodding. She stopped quickly, noticing how distant his eyes had become.

"You worry about her, don't you?" she said softly. Scorpius slowly looked back at her, his eyes focusing back onto her face.

"Yeah," he said simply. "But I'll get over it."

"You shouldn't, Scorpius!" she said angrily. "She's your mother! You're suppose to be worried about her!"

"Spare me the lecture on feelings, Rose," he muttered. She fell silent, noting that his eyes were cold and unreadable. She realized she didn't know a lot about him, outside of school, that is. His personal life was a complete mystery to her. She was itching with curiosity about the conversation she had overheard between him and his father.

Rose simply gazed at him, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her chin on top of them. She casually reached towards him and took his hand.

"Scorpius . . . ." she whispered his name, feeling the pleasant weight it held on her tongue.

He looked at her, his dark eyes revealing nothing.

"I don't want this," she confessed, tracing the dark veins in his forearm, "but I think I need it."

He looked surprised, and Rose decided it was time to leave him and let him be alone. She leaned over and softly kissed his cheek before standing up.

"Remember, Malfoy," she snapped, "nothing has changed."

"Of course not, Weasley," he smirked. "Now shove off."

"With pleasure," she snarled.

And with butterflies in her stomach she walked back to the castle, feeling his eyes still on her long after she had looked away.