Chapter 3:

Rose settled into life at Hogwarts quickly enough, as she always did. This year she couldn't help but feel a certain sadness. This was her last year, her last year in this, her haven. She loved the privacy the castle offered her. She might have to deal with the bashful stares of some of the newer students but it at least offered a break from the media, for which she was grateful. At school she could just be Rose, with little thought to her last name. Unfortunately it was a luxury she was about to lose.

The first weekend of term always brought some excitement for students. For most, it was the trip to Hogsmeade. The older students, however, had Michael Wood's first party of the term to look forward to. It was a tradition that had been started by the eldest of the Wood boys nearly ten years ago. Since then, on the first Saturday of term every year all those in their fifth, sixth or seventh year gathered in the Room of Requirement to mourn the loss of freedom they had suffered when they returned to school. Being a seventh year, this was Michael's last chance to outdo his brothers and he planned on doing exactly that. When the brothers reached their last year, each had done their best to make it the wildest night Hogwarts had ever seen, something the students never complained about. The Wood's had an uncanny knack of sneaking forbidden items into the school that had proven useful on many an occasion. It was rumoured that Sam, the middle brother, had once managed to sneak a dragon egg into the school, although it had been discovered before he sold it to an adventurous third year.

One thing was certain: it would be one hell of a night.

Rose smiled to herself as she thought about it, excitement brewing within her. She loved a good party. Before then, however, she had agreed to meet Al and Scorpius in the Entrance hall before heading down to the wizarding village. She had dressed in a grey knit dress and black work boots that morning, knowing that in typical English style, it would be cold. Not that she minded. Rose loved winter, loved wrapping up in her treasured wool coat and cosy scarf, loved sitting in front of a fire with a warm drink in her hands.

Her cousin was nowhere to be seen when she reached the entrance hall but she quickly spotted Scorpius among the crowd of students. He was tall, almost 6"4, with the typical good looks of the Malfoy men. Unlike his father, however, there was kindness in his grey eyes that made people instantly warm to him. Rose just wished people could look part his last name.

She knew how hard it was for him, constantly having to prove he wasn't going to repeat his family's mistakes. It was part of what had brought them together actually. Both of them had a lot to prove.

He smiled when he saw her. It was this smile that so many girls had fallen for, a smile full of promise, of love.

"Where's Al?"

"Mia's ill. He's taking care of her."

Rose chuckled at that. If they had been talking about anyone else she would have been extremely skeptic. Al was shy though, and a gentleman. He would be telling the truth. He loved Mia, that much was obvious to anyone who had seen the two of them together.

Rose couldn't help feeling jealous. She had long since given up on the idea of a normal relationship, knowing that for her at least, it was impossibility. Even if she managed to survive the media, as her cousin and Mia had, there was still her control to deal with. It was too dangerous to let anyone get that close to her. If the papers found out that she, daughter of one of the finest witches ever known, couldn't even keep her power in check, everything she had worked so hard to protect would be ruined. Of course, there was always a slight chance that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from hurting him. It was a risk she wasn't willing to take.

She felt Scorpius stiffen beside her and turned just in time to see the hurt flash across his face. Rose glanced around, her anger growing when she spotted the couple walking to the side of them. Scorpius and Jade, a pretty blonde, had dated last year until she broke his heart. Rose remembered his pain when he'd found out she'd cheated on him in the Christmas holidays with a scowl. Needless to say, the two girls were no longer on the best of terms after Jade had been subjected to Rose Weasley's famous temper.

Winking at him, she snaked her arm around Scorpius' waist, drawing him closer to her. He nearly protested until he saw the mischevious look in her eye. Bringing his head mere inches from his ear, he whispered.

"What are you doing?"

She turned to face him with a smile, her hand cupping his cheek

"Trust me." She breathed, her voice barely audible.

Scorpius relaxed at her touch. He may not have known what she was going to do but he trusted her.

A lot sooner than she had hoped, Rose spotted Jade headed their way, her new fling in tow. Jealousy was plain on her face.

"Scorpius! Hey!" Her voice had always made want to Rose throw her hands over her ears; it was sickly sweet and clearly fake.

"Jade, Darren, I haven't seen you in a while."

Scorpius fought back a laugh when Rose began whispering in his ears. From the look on his ex-girlfriends face, she clearly thought Rose was flirting with him. In reality, she was simply recounting a meeting with a foreign wizard she had met on holiday, though she was making sure to press her body against his, something he had no complaints about.

He hadn't realized Jade was talking when he interrupted her. Suddenly, he just wanted to get out of this conversation.

"You know, I hate to be rude... but... erm... we have somewhere to be."

"No, I understand," she began, disappointment in her voice, "I... I didn't realize the two of you were together..." she trailed off, her eyes locked on Scorpius' arm around his best friend's shoulders.

Rose dragged her mouth away from his neck, turning to face Jade with a smirk.

"Who said anything about a relationship?"

The two turned to leave but not before Scorpius saw envy contort Jade's face. He couldn't help the smile that crept across his face.

"You didn't have to do that - " Scorpius began when they settled into their table at the Three Broomsticks.

"Yes I did. The girl's a bitch."

"Do you ever let me finish a sentence? I was trying to say thanks."

Their eyes locked across the table. In that one look, she managed to tell him what she had never been able to put into words, something only he could understand.

They would stick together, no matter what.

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