A/N: Here's the next bit. Let me know what you think at the end. :)

Chapter 2

"Rose! Rose, wait up!"

Rose turned around, her bushy hair flowing in the wind. She was in the courtyard, on her way back to Gryffindor Tower. "Scorpius. What is it?"

"I-er" He came to a stop in front of her, and bent over his hand on his knees to catch his breath. "Sorry," he gasped. "Hang on."

Rose nodded, and eyed her friend suspiciously.

After another moment, he took a deep breath and stood upright. "Sorry about that."

"You're a Quidditch player-"

"Brooms, Rose. Not legs."

Rose laughed. "So what is it?"

"Oh, I-er.." He rubbed the back of his neck, something Rose knew he only did when he was nervous about something. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

She arched an eyebrow expectantly. "Out with it, then."

"Right. Sorry. But somewhere a bit more private, please?"

Rose looked around and noted that there was no one in sight. She turned back to him incredulously.

"Oh, alright fine. But," he looked around, then reached out and grabbed her hand. "Over here." He led her to a bench and they took seats.

He fidgeted with his hands in a way that was so cute, but she shook her head of those thoughts.

"Well? What the heck is it?"

He looked back at her, sheepishly. "Right. Well, the thing is that I think Al knows."

She felt her stomach drop. Her hands were suddenly clammy, and her breathing ragged. He knew? Her cousin, one of her favorite cousins, knew? He knew that she was secretly meeting with their friend and doing- well who knew how much he knew. But he knew that she had betrayed his sister? His baby sister? The one he vowed from day one to protect? Oh, was she screwed or what.

"Wha- wh- how- I- wh-"

"Rose? Rose, breathe." Scorpius took her hands in his, and started to breathe evenly, in an encouraging way. The warmth of his hands in hers was usually enough to calm her down, but not now. Not when her cousin knew what she had done.

"How- wh- no. Scor-"

"Rose, please just breathe." Scorpius whispered.

She nodded, a grim expression on her face, and he waited patiently for her to calm down completely. He hadn't let go of her hands, and they stayed silent for what seemed like forever. All Rose could think was that she was dead. Even if Al didn't tell Lily, he would kill her for hurting his baby sister. How in the hell had he known?

"How?" she couldn't bring her voice any higher than a whisper, but Scorpius had heard.

"I don't know how he figured it out. But-"

"How do you know?"

"Well, right now we were leaving Charms, right?"

She nodded. The Gryffindor and Slytherin fifth years had just shared Charms, and she was on her way up to the tower because she was so tired, and had an hour until her next class.

"Well, I was packing up my stuff, and Al waited for me, we were going to go down to the kitchens for something to eat. On the way there we passed Lily, she was in a hurry, so we didn't really get to stop for long, but once she walked past and was out of earshot, I looked over and he was shaking his head. I asked him what was up, and all he said was 'shame'. I didn't get it, so I pressed him. And he turned to me, a certain evil glint in his eyes I haven't seen in eyes that green since your uncle Harry found out it was me and Al that had put all those gnomes in the attic, and he just stared for a long moment. Then he turned away and said he wasn't hungry anymore, but that if I was lonely, I could just go to you for some company."

Rose started to shake again. Those words pretty much proved he knew. But how did he know? What had been the thing to tip him off?

"I don't know, Rose. I have no idea how he found out. But-"

"So what now?"

He stopped, and just gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"Scorpius. What now? What do we do now?"

"Well, we try to convince him not to say anything and then-"

"And then we never talk again."

"Right, we get him to forget it ever happened." Scorpius smiled at Rose. "It'll be ok after that."

"No, Scorpius." Rose shook her head, and pulled her hands from his. He looked confused once again. "I mean we never talk again." She motioned between the two of them. "It's over."

"Wha- no! Rose," He reached for her hands, but she pulled them out of reach. He looked upset by this. "Rose I still want to be with you. I-"

"Scorpius. Is this just a game to you? Merlin knows I should have done this a long time ago, but Scorpius you can't have both. You have to choose, me or Lily. And I know you'll choose-"

"You."

A/N: HUH! what? does he mean it? or is it something else he's thinking? hehe. you'll find out next chapter. :) cruel, i know. but i couldn't help myself. sorry. so what do u think?