Scorpius

I walked into Potions and my heart stopped. I clutched the desk nearest to me. Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. Rose looked like a goddess, her red curls bound up in a messy bun. Her lips shone, just begging to be kissed. And I couldn't even see the shirt under her robe. If she's wearing one. Oh god. My palms started to sweat.

"So, um—are you, uh, seeing Lorcan today?" I asked her weakly.

She looked at me and I thought I was going to die. "Maybe," she said sultrily, "and maybe not."

"So, er, am I tutoring you today?" I had never felt so awkward around a girl. I kept wiping my hands on my pants and licking my lips.

"Well…" she seemed to think about it.

Oh god, say something, say anything, I thought desperately.

"I do need to pass those O.W.L.s."

"Uh, okay," I said, still dumbfounded and not wanting to leave. "Um, Rose—are you wearing makeup?"

She shrugged.

"Rose, I, uh—you're acting kind of… different. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm better than all right, Scorpius. I'm in love."

Oh shit. Oh my fucking god. Not Lorcan. Please not Lorcan. Anyone but Lorcan fucking Scamander the third year! Jesus! "R-really. Care to tell me with—"

"Scorpius Malfoy, sit down now!"

I scrabbled over to my seat, my heart hammering in protest. I was jumpy and jittery throughout the rest of class. She said she's in love… But she can't be in love with Lorcan Scamander! That's ridiculous! I sighed, leaning back in my chair. But then, so is the idea of her being in love with me. I continued along this circular train of thought until I finally decided that I had to talk to her after class. I packed up quickly so that I was sure that I'd get to speak to her and find out what exactly was going on. I lounged around until I saw red hair bobbing out the door, then dashed after her.

"Rose!"

She turned, and for a second I saw the old Rose, the real Rose, in her eyes. But then the seductive mask slipped over them and she said with a sigh, "Yes, Scorpius?"

"I need to talk to you. Alone," I said. I was confused and aroused and uncomfortable and anxious. I hated it, but I loved it, but I hated it, but I… oh my god, what is that look in Rose Weasley's eyes that I have never seen before? She's changed overnight! And I'm not at all sure I like it…

"Sure, Malfoy. I'm sure you have a lot of questions." She smiled. "Now, or later?"

"Er—now would be preferable, but we have class—" I sighed. "No. This can't wait. I'm sorry, Rose, and you can lay the blame on me entirely once we do get to class." There was confusion in her eyes.

I looked about. The hall was clear. I took a deep breath and pulled her to me. "Rose," I said intensely, like that name was my only lifeline, "Rose, what the fuck is going on?"

"What do you mean, what's going on?" Her arms were around my waist, and I knew that they belonged there. My breath caught.

"I—I mean, what's this about Lorcan? And what's with the makeup? Your whole manner has changed, and I'm worried about you."

"Why are you worried?" There was a bit of the new Rose in there, but I could feel my Rose in there, the one who was confident and strong and smart and not afraid to tell me I was a hormonal, irresponsible prat but also not afraid to tell me that she had fun doing Potions homework with me, of all things, in the library that night. I realized that I loved that undercurrent, that beautiful girl now hiding under this façade, and that while I was attracted to the new Rose, I was deeply and desperately in love with the old one.

"Do you love Lorcan?" I stroked her hair. "I'm not asking you to tell me who it is if you don't, because that can be hard, but I just need to know it's not Lorcan."

She sighed my Rose's sigh. "It's not Lorcan."

"All right. Because that would be cradle-robbing, you know," I teased gently, tugging a piece of hair out of her bun and playing with it. I took a breath. "I'm worried because I'm afraid that you're changing yourself for this new guy, whoever he is. And no matter what, no one is worth improving upon perfection." I tilted her chin up so that she was looking at me. "If you want to change what's on the outside, and it's entirely your choice, feel absolutely free to do so with my deepest approval. But for god's sake, don't—please, Rose, stay the way you are on the inside. I know I don't have any right to ask you to do that, but please." I love you.

She stood still and silent in my arms for a while. Then her hands moved swiftly up my chest to tightly embrace my neck. She just held me hard for a while, and I held her with equal strength, knowing that somehow, it was okay. Then she said in my ear, "You have every right to ask that of me, Scorpius Malfoy. More than you know." She let go, and my hands reluctantly removed themselves from her. Her eyes were shining with tears.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, fingers brushing her cheek worriedly.

Her breathing was erratic. "No. Oh my god, no. It's just—I—" she raised a hand and placed it on my left cheekbone. I held my breath. Slowly, my Rose let her fingers run down my cheek in burning lines that would be tattooed there forever. "Tonight," she said, "we'll study for Potions. And then we're going to have a long talk."

"Okay. So start earlier this time?"

Rose winced—my Rose, I thought triumphantly, so my words moved her!—and said dryly, "Actually, I was shooting for ending earlier."

"Mm. Maybe. If you're really nice."

Rose rolled her eyes. "You're incorrigible."

"And glad of it." I thought a moment. "We'll meet at the same time as usual."

She nodded, smiled, and then studied me a while. "So I can blame you for being late to class? What do I say?"

I smiled, then leaned in, putting my lips close to her ear. "Say," I breathed, "that we were having an argument."