Disclaimer:I own nothing.

AN: Drama, drama, drama. it's part of the genre too, if you haven't noticed. I need to get to work on Chapter Ten! Haha.

Chapter Eight

Everyday for the next couple of weeks were the same. Scorpius and Rose would sit beside eachother in every class, then they'd sit outside for a while before going to the library to do homework. It seemed that they spent every waking moment together.

Albus was starting to notice that everytime he saw Rose, Scorpius was there too. At first it seemed like a coincidence, but soon he realized it wasn't. Something was going on with those two, and he was going to find out what it was.

It was raining outside and everyone had just had their last classes before the weekend. Professor McGonnagal had just announced that there was going to be an event around Christmas. "It is optional if you attend. First through third years will have a dance, and the fourth through seventh years will have theirs. It will be a Masquerade ball, so everyone will be required to wear a mask, you will also have to have a costume..." the Headmistress had continued to drone on, but none of the rest was really important.

"So are you going to the dance?" Rose asked Scorpius, as they walked down the coridoor. They didn't wory about anyone except her family seing them. They'd had their trouble convincing everyone that they really weren't dating, but everyone finally left them alone. Well, at least they didn't talk about them to their faces. Behind their backs was a whole different thing.

"Maybe. Dances aren't really my scene."

"Don't tell me you've never been to one!"

"I have. Only the really fancy ones my dad used to force me to go to."

"Tell me if you change your mind." She said. "I think it'd be really brilliant to go to a Masquerade ball. I might go as a fairy, or something..."

Albus turned the corner ahead of them, and they both took a step away from eachother. "Still haven't told him we're friends?"

"He's been so angry lately. I'm scared he'll blow up at me."

"Yeah, me too."

Albus reached them and grabbed Rose's arm. "I need to talk to you." He glared at Scorpius and Rose tried to make him let go of her arm.

"I don't know why you're looking at him like that, Al, but he hasn't done anything."

"Right." Albus said, pulling her over to the wall. Scorpius looked back at them and made a book with his hands while mouthing, "Library."

Rose nodded and then looked at Albus. "What? I honestly don't know what is wrong with you-"

"I'm not the one with a problem, Rose. Malfoy? Really?"

"What are you talking about, Albus?" she asked, glancing down the hallway, where Scorpius was just turning the corner.

"You think I don't hear what people say, Rose? Even if I didn't, I have eyes! You're with him all the time!"

"Well we do have all of the same classes, so naturally we'd be in a lot of the same places. I also see you whenever I see him, are you going out with him?"

"Rose." Albus put a hand on her shoulder. "You know he doesn't really like you, don't you?"

"You really just need to stay out of my life, Albus."

"I'm trying to look after you Rose, I don't want you to end up hurt!"

"I thought he was your friend!"

"He is! But I know how us boys think, Rose."

"He isn't like other boys, Al."

"So you admit it. You are talking to him."

"Of course I talk to him! We've always talked."

"But it's different now."

Rose sighed and walked away from him. "I do not feel like talking to you right now, Albus."

"I'll tell your dad."

" What are you going to tell him?" Rose stopped walking and turned around to face him again. "That I'm talking to Scorpius?"

"I'm going to tell him that you've fallen in love with a Malfoy."

"That's a lie."

"No, it's not Rose." Albus walked to her and hugged her. "You do know once he gets what he wants, he'll never talk to you again."

She broke free from the hug and slapped him across the face. "Your stupid assumptions and accusations are pissing me off, Al. Stop it. Or I'll do something just to spite you. When did you become such an arsehole? I've heard stories from Aunt Ginny and you're acting just like my father. Act a little more like yours. I miss my best friend, Al. I really do."

Rose left her cousin standing in the middle of the hallway, his hand to his cheek and mouth wide open. Despite what she said, Albus's words got to her, and she believed them. By the time she was in the library, tears were streaming down her face. She found Scorpius and wiped the tears off her cheeks. She sat across from him and he smiled. It faded away when he saw her face.

"What happened Rose?"

Rose took a deep, shaky breath. "N-nothing. I j-just don't think we should be friends, Scorpius."

He gaped at her and the silence made her cry harder. "Why? Rose, if this is about Albus, we can deal with him, he'll get over it Rose, it's really no big deal-"

"No. No, Scorpius. I wouldn't be able to handle it when you..."

"When I what? What would I do, Rosie? What did Albus say?"

Rose shook her head, and looked down at the table. "This has nothing to do with Albus."

"Bullshit, Rosie! We were fine until he came and dragged you away! What did he say, Rosie?"

"Don't worry about it. Just forget everything. Find another girl to mess with."

"Rose, you know me better than that! Well I thought you did."

"You're right. I don't know you that well, Scorpius. I'm not doing this for anyone but me. I don't need my family hating me, Scorpius."

He grabbed her face with both of his hands and stared at her. "What are you doing?" she asked him.

"I want to remember your face like it is now. Whenever you look at me with hatred, I want to be able to remember you like this." He ran his thumb under one of her eyes. "Don't do this, Rosie."

She turned her head and kissed the palm of his hand. She almost gave in and forgot everything she'd said. Almost, but not quite. "I'd better go." she said, standing up and pushing in her chair.

"I'm not giving up Rose." he said. "I need you. You're the only true friend I've got."

Rose let out a sob and covered her mouth with her hand. She shook her head and walked out and left. Scorpius stared at the spot she had just been in and slammed his fist on the desk. He felt something like hatred deep inside of him and he knew it was directed towards himself. It was not fair to have two mid-teen crisises. Not fucking fair. He was going to kill Albus.