Author's note: ATTENTION ALL HUNGER GAMES FANS!

I just finished the third book of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay yesterday. I really liked it, but it made me cry SO much and left me with a lot of questions. So, I have decided that after this story, I would write a Hunger Games story!

In order to do that, I would like any Hunger Games fans who are readers of this story to please answer a poll question located right on the top of my profile page. I would strongly appreciate it if you did. :) And now, on with Chapter 17…. Incentive

Chapter 17: Fights Between Friends

(Rose's pov)

Albus was in pain. I could see jealousy in his eyes every time he even glanced in Luke's and Alana's direction whenever the couple was together, and as it was with Scorpius and I, that was often. This pain and jealousy caused a change in Albus's personality. He was very touchy and argumentative, and snapped at other people more than usual. Al was also stricter on his prefect rounds, when normally he was the more laid back of the two of us. Ben, Sahara, and Scorpius noticed this change in Albus as well, but only I could see just how bothered he was by Luke dating Alana. Luke and Alana didn't even seem to notice the change in Albus at all.

What was bothering me most about the situation was that Alana didn't even seem happy with Luke, at least not in the way that I was with Scorpius. With Scorpius, I felt as though I could want nothing more. With Alana, it seemed as though she wanted something else, an entirely different person than Luke. It was true that Albus was protective of me, but I was protective of him as well. That caused me to feel the need to do something about it.

One evening in early November, around Scorpius's seventeenth birthday, Alana, Sahara and I were in our dorm studying when I decided to question Alana on her new relationship. Zoey and Violet were still outside of the dorm somewhere, giving me the perfect opportunity to talk to her.

"So, Alana, why did you start dating Luke anyways?" I asked out of the blue.

"Well, he asked me out, and he's really nice to everyone and he's certainly cuter than most boys, so I said yes." Alana admitted. "Besides, you don't know how badly I wanted to be loved by someone other than my own parents and grandparents."

"Didn't you just admit that you fancied Albus a couple of months ago?" I asked Alana angrily.

Alana looked shocked. "Yes, but…"

"Then why, Merlin, are you dating Luke Phillips!"

An angry look formed in Alana's eyes, angrier than I had ever seen her. "Didn't I just tell you all that? Why do you care anyway? It's not like I'm questioning you about your relationship with Scorpius."

"Yeah, Rose, what's gotten into you?" Sahara asked, joining in the conversation.

"I care because my cousin is involved. I don't want you deceiving him."

"How would I deceive him?" Alana cried. "Albus barely talks to me, and when he does it's only if you are talking to the both of us at the same time! I can't wait forever for him to notice me, Rose. I am allowed to date other people, you know."

"If you like someone bad enough, you would wait for them, no matter how long it takes." I argued. "When I realized I was in love with Scorpius, I didn't go dating twenty other guys first!"

"If I do that, I'm going to be waiting my entire life!" Alana snapped. "You really think I want to do that?"

"Has Albus specifically told you that he doesn't want to go out with you? If not, and I'm sure he hasn't, who says you have to wait that long? It sure wasn't me."

"Yeah, I seriously doubt he fancies me when he barely even talked to me!" Alana yelled. "What do you want me to do, Rose?"

"Simple." I snarled. "Ask him out."

"You're one to talk!" Alana snapped. "You waited until Scorpius kissed you before you admitted your feelings for him. And if you're so good at giving advice and think you know everything about every boy in Hogwarts, you could have helped me with this! Found out if he fancied me, or something! He's your cousin, for Merlin's sake!"

"At least I have a boyfriend that I truly love instead of pretending to love a boy, who loves me, just to have a boyfriend!"

Alana looked as if she was about to cry just then, and that last statement had quieted her, giving Sahara a chance to speak. "Why are you being such a bitch, Rose?" She snapped. "This isn't like you."

I glared at her. "Fine. I'm out of here." I stormed to the dormitory door and stepped out into the corridor, slamming the door shut behind me.

(Scorpius's pov)

"I know it's only November, but I can't think of what to get Alana for Christmas." Luke was saying as I joined him, Ben, and Albus at the table in the back of the library. "I mean, I have no idea what to get a girl, let alone a witch. My little sister's easy, but she's ten and a muggle. Alana's totally different. Any ideas guys?"

"You could get her jewelry." Ben suggested. "All girls like jewelry."

"Or, you could buy her a rocket ship, and fly off with her to Pigfarts on Mars so that we that we don't have to listen to you go on and on about her." Albus added moodily, only to receive strange looks from all three of us.

"What's your problem, mate?" Luke asked. "Ever since I started dating Alana, you've been all grouchy."

"I have not." Albus muttered.

Ben shook his head, unconvinced. "Luke's right, Al. You're not yourself. What's going on?"

"I'm fine, alright." Albus snapped. "I'm just sick of all this talk about Alana this, Alana that. It's getting annoying."

Luke frowned. "You know what I think? I think you're just jealous that I have a girlfriend and you don't. Why am I any different than Scorpius?"

"Hey, don't drag me into this!" I exclaimed, only to be ignored.

"Scorpius doesn't talk about Rose twenty-four-seven." Albus growled. He was right. Although Rose was constantly on my mind, not all of my conversations were about her, – in fact, most of them weren't – while every time Luke opened his mouth, you could bet it was going to be something about Alana.

"I have a right to talk about my girlfriend if I want to." Luke snapped.

"Not if that's all you talk about." Albus yelled. "It's always 'Alana and I made plans to visit each other over Christmas break' or 'Alana keeps getting more beautiful everyday it seems' or 'Today Alana and I snogged for two and a half hours'!"

"I never said that last one!" Luke cried angrily.

Madam Pince must have had enough, because she was at our table in an instant. "Quiet down right now, or you will be forced to leave the library." She ordered.

"Fine. I'll leave." Albus snapped. He gathered his stuff and stormed out of the library.

Suddenly, a strange but extremely likely suspicion flew into my mind. After muttering, "Excuse me," I took off after my best friend.

"Albus!" I called after leaving the library. "Wait up."

Albus didn't stop, but he didn't speed up either. When I finally caught up, he asked. "What do you want, Scorpius?"

Taking a breath, I replied softly, "You fancy Alana, don't you? That's why you've been so… angry at the world lately."

Albus sighed. "Yes." He whispered. "It is."

"I'm sorry, Al. I can't imagine how hard this must be."

"Just leave me alone, okay, Scorp?" Albus muttered. He speed up, and I made no move to follow him. After a half hour of wandering the corridors aimlessly, I decided to go to the Gryffindor common room to see if I could find Rose.

And find her I did. She was sitting in the nearly empty common room, gazing into the fireplace. What startled me most were the tears that were silently falling down her cheeks. "Rosie?" I asked softly.

Rose looked up at me, startled. "Hey, Scorpius," she said weakly.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting on the couch next to my girlfriend and wrapping my arm around her.

Rose sighed. "I got into a row with Alana and Sahara." She whispered.

"About… what?"

"About Alana dating Luke."

"That's strange." I muttered, accidently saying my thoughts out loud.

Rose looked at me in confusion. "Why?"

"Because Albus got into a row with Luke. About Alana, actually, and how she's all Luke ever talks about."

Rose was quiet for a moment. "He fancies Alana, you know."

"I know." I whispered.

"The thing is, she fancies him too, but she doesn't want to 'wait forever for him to notice her' as she put it. I just wish there was some way to help them." Rose sighed.

"I'll help them, Rose, don't worry." I said, kissing her on the forehead. I would find a way somehow. The tricky part was helping Albus without hurting Luke. But I would try, for Al, and for my Rosie, too.

Author's note: Oh, how I love spring break. :) It gives me a lot of time to write.

Preview for next chapter: "Mum, Dad…" I said nervously. I wanted to tell you that… that I'm in a relationship with someone. A romantic one."

Dad smiled at me. "That's wonderful, Scorpius. What's the lucky girl's name? She better be a pureblood". He laughed, as if making a big joke, and ignored my mother's glare.

"Dad… it's Rose Weasley."