Chapter Seven
Acquaintances

The fact that Rose Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy were dating despite Ron Weasley's hatred for the Malfoys naturally interested a lot of people. The girls would giggle behind their hands while the boys whistled as the two of them walked hand in hand down the corridors between classes, Rose and Scorpius ignoring them all, having eyes only for each other.

"They're in love!" a breathless Lily said to a less-than happy Albus.

"They're adorable," Jessica sighed, gazing at Scorpius and Rose on the other side of the library. Scorpius was speaking quietly to her, his words meant for her ears and her ears alone. Rose was smiling sweetly, her eyes cast down shyly. He gently took her chin in his hand, tilting her face up to look into her eyes. All the watching girls sighed dreamily as he kissed her. Albus broke the tip of his quill in his anger. Jessica and Lily ignored his dark grumblings, smiling at the lovebirds.

"They're perfect for each other!"

"They're so happy together!"

Albus, unable to stand seeing Scorpius kissing his cousin, stood up abruptly and left the library.

He didn't hate Scorpius; he hated Scorpius being with Rose. Rose deserved better than a Malfoy!

Stop it, Albus! he told himself firmly. You're judging Scorpius by his parentage. Maybe Scorpius was the best thing for Rose. She did look happy with him. And he looked as equally happy. And he saved her. From a werewolf. And he didn't regret it, even if he had been attacked in her place.

That was why he felt so uncomfortable with Scorpius being with Rose! It wasn't because he was a Malfoy! It was because he was a werewolf!

. . .

"So, what, you turn into a werewolf every full moon?" Rose asked nervously, biting her bottom lip.

It was useless trying to study with Scorpius. He was distracting her by whispering hopelessly romantic things that were annoying and flattering at the same time.

Scorpius grinned at her. "Nope."

"But I thought - "

"It turns out I was bitten by a wolf man. There's a difference. Werewolves are controlled by the full moon, and the wizard has no conscious thought whilst in werewolf form. Wizards transform into wolf men when their heart rate skyrockets," He grinned at her, wagging his eyebrows. "I'm like the Hulk."

Rose snorted. She had heard of the big, green, muggle created superhero from her mother. "So you'll turn into a wolf man if you get angry?"

"Yep," he said. "And I'll be able to think as I do now. Isn't that convenient?"

"Oh, sure, Scorpius. I'm positive that you'll be as calm as Hagrid after he's drank two barrel fulls of beer at the Christmas Feast when Garrett tries to ask me out again."

Scorpius grinned. "Don't worry about me attacking anyone, Rosie. I already have you. I don't have to worry about Garrett Bellorum. Besides, everyone already knows what's happened in the forest. He was there, he knows I'm a wolf man and that you are officially off limits."

Rose blushed, looking back down to her open book. "We need to study. We have that quiz on - "

"Rosie," Scorpius groaned. "We know all of this left, right, and center!"

He pouted at her until she sighed. "Oh, all right. You win. Walk me to dinner."

Grinning he jumped up, precariously shoving their books into their bags and then throwing them over his shoulder and taking Rose's hand. Once again, all the watching girls sighed as he led her from the library.

. . .

Even though Slytherins were no longer sworn enemies with the Gryffindors, they refused to allow Rose Weasley to sit at their table. The Gryffindors, however, welcomed Scorpius with open arms, though rather reluctantly. They didn't say anything about it though, because Rose Weasley was their princess and they all loved to see her smile and laugh, even if it was with Scorpius Malfoy.

It was pointless trying to talk to either of them while they were in each other's company. No one else existed when Scorpius looked into Rose's eyes.

"You're so cheesy," Rose said, shoving Scorpius's shoulder teasingly as they ate dinner together.

"I thought you liked it when I recited poetry to you," he said, grinning at her.

She blushed. "I never said I didn't like it, I just said it was fruity."

"Oh, so now I'm fruity?" he said, smirking at her jokingly. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't be such a baby, Scorp."

"Oh! So now I'm a baby!"

She ignored him, turning her attention back to her food. "If we hurry and eat dinner we can get back to studying - "

Scorpius exaggerated his movements by inching his fork towards his mouth agonizingly slow. Rose snorted at him, grabbing him around the wrist and forcing the fork into his mouth. He threw his head back and laughed, Rose along with him. The people seated around them stared, itching to know what was so amusing to Hogwart's favorite new couple.

Albus, who was sitting on the other side of the table glared at Scorpius, his face less than happy. Rose noticed and frowned at him.

"Albus, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Albus muttered, stabbing his meat with unnecessary force.

"What are you guys doing this summer?" Jessica asked, oblivious to Albus's anger. "My parents were talking about going to New York. I've always wondered what American muggles were like."

"I'm not doing anything," Rose said, shrugging. "What about you, Scorp?"

"Dad was talking about visiting Mum," he said evasively. Rose put her hand over his, smiling fondly at him.

"That's really sweet, Scorp."

He grinned, meeting her gaze and then quickly looking down again.

They all looked expectantly at Albus who was cutting up his steak viciously. He looked up, noticing they were waiting for his answer.

"Nothing," he said abruptly. Rose creased her brow as she continued to watch him. She'd have to talk to him later.

"I can't believe the summer holidays are already coming up!" said Jessica quickly, not missing Albus's apparent anger this time. "We're all coming of age!"

"Scorpius is coming of age just before school gets out," Rose said fondly, squeezing his hand.

"Good for him," Albus said through gritted teeth, clutching his cutlery tightly.

Rose rolled her eyes. He was beginning to get on her nerves with his irritating behavior and obvious dislike for Scorpius. As if he knew what she was thinking, Scorpius whispered, "It doesn't bother me."

"It bothers me though," she muttered. He smiled slightly at her and then resumed eating, acting casual.

After dinner, Rose quickly kissed Scorpius goodnight then hurried to catch up with Jessica who was waiting for her at the top of the marble staircase.

Scorpius was about to go down to the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons when there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Albus.

"Can I have a word?" asked Albus. Scorpius nodded, knowing what this was about. Albus led him away from the constant flow of students dragging their heavy feet to their common rooms from the Great Hall. "Listen, Scorpius," Albus began, temporarily surprising Scorpius by calling him by name, "I love Rose, and I love seeing her happy, and she's happy with you, and you're happy with her, and apparently you two are in love . . . but I'm worried. Not because you're a bad guy, or a heart breaker or anything like that, you've proven to be everything but that. I'm worried that you'll hurt her because you're dangerous to be around. Being a werewolf and all that - "

"I'm not a werewolf," Scorpius cut across him. Albus looked at him in confusion. "Didn't Rose tell you? I was bitten by a Wolf Man, there's a difference, you know."

"There is?" asked Albus, looking utterly flabbergasted. Scorpius nodded.

"Ask Rose about it. I'm not dangerous. I'm practically harmless. Unless," he added, grinning maliciously, "you get on my bad side. And trust me, Rose is the last person that could ever get on my bad side. Example: Jacob Black from Twilight. I'm that kind of werewolf."

"I . . . believe you," Albus said hesitantly. Scorpius grinned, relieved. He stuck out his hand.

"Friends?"

Albus stared from it to Scorpius's face and then back. "Let's stick with acquaintances for now."

Scorpius shrugged. "Good enough for me."

Albus managed a strained smile. "You do realize I'll have to kill you if you break Rose's heart, right? James and Hugo, too. And Lily," he added as an after-thought. He suddenly began naming all of his cousins, "And Louis, and Victorie, Dominique, Molly, Lucy, Roxanne, Fred, oh, and Teddy and Lorcan and Lysander - "

Scorpius grinned, not at all intimidated by the Weasley/Potter army. "Wouldn't have it any other way. Night, Potter."

"Night, Malfoy."

With those words behind them, the Gryffindor and the Slytherin went their separate ways for the night.

"Scorpius, hold on!" Albus said, spinning around as another thought hit him.

"What?"

"You've read Twilight?"

Scorpius grinned, but didn't answer as he continued towards his common room.

Albus shook his head. Scorpius Malfoy was the weirdest Slytherin he had ever met.

. . .

I've discovered I don't like Twilight much anymore. Who needs Jacob Black when I've got Scorpius? ;)